The Legendary Rebuilding Of A World By A Realist Demon King Chapter 33

The Old and Eccentric Weapon Seller

The town district was on the other side of the refugee camp.

This district had existed long before I came to be in this world.

According to Eve, it was a very old, historical place from the time of the previous Demon King.

And the weapon store was in a small corner of this place. And there, I would find the weapon that Gottlieb had made. The Fire Dragon Axe.

I came with this knowledge, only to find the shop in a depressing state.

Aside from the size of the store, there was nothing to suggest that it had once been thriving.

The sign in the front was covered with grime and the words could not be read. The doors creaked and the interior of the place smelled like mold.

It was a young girl of ten years of age that greeted us.

She called from behind the store's counter.

Well, she was so small that her voice sounded like it was coming from under it.

"Welcome, customers."

The voice was surprisingly cheerful, but I could not see her face.

I had to lean over the counter and look down in order to finally see her.

Yes, it was a little girl.

Her flaxen hair was separated into two braids.

Was she keeping watch? I asked where the owner was.

But she looked at me with a troubled expression.

"Do you mean my grandfather? That will not be easy."

"Why is that?"

"The thing is… My grandfather is ill."

"I see. That is pitiable."

I said sympathetically. But perhaps that was a bad idea, because I could then hear an angry voice coming from the back.

"Pitiable! Who is? I am not even ill!"

Said an old man who used a walking stick as he walked towards me. His whole body was shaking.

No matter what he said, he looked very sick.

The old man looked at us suspiciously.

"And who are you?"

Jeanne replied with a hint of anger.

"You should know who he is. How could anyone not? He is the…"

I covered Jeanne's mouth to shut her up.

It may not have been a bad thing to negotiate a price while letting him know that I was the lord of the castle, but I didn't want my authority to affect things in this case.

I wanted things to carry out naturally.

"…My name is Ashta. These are my companions. I heard that you have a weapon known as the Fire Dragon's Tail, which was made by a renowned blacksmith. And I would very much like to buy it."

"What? You know about the Fire Dragon's Tail?"

"Yes. Rumors, anyway."

The old man continued to look at us suspiciously.

He seemed to be thinking about it for a while. But then he finally shook his head.

"No, no. There is no way that you people could handle it."

He shook his head and tried to drive us out.

"Are you sure that won't change your mind? I won't say that the sky's the limit when it comes to price, but I will pay more than what you'd make at market price."

"It is not a matter of money. I choose who holds what weapon. I will only sell weapons to those who can make the most of their potential."

"My companions are excellent warriors."

"I can see that. But that eastern man uses a sword. I doubt he's ever fought with anything else."

Tos.h.i.+zou nodded.

"That slender frame is no good for wielding a battle axe."

"Quite reasonable."

Tos.h.i.+zou said readily.

After all, his own Izuminokami Kanesada sword was something that he had gone through great lengths to acquire. He understood how the old man felt.

I wanted to ask him just whose side he thought he was on, but kept silent about it.

And so his attacks moved over to Jeanne.

"As for that girl. It is out of the question. She must be a sword-wielder as well. They are never good with axes."

"I have used them to cut firewood."

Jeanne said proudly.

"She has even less muscle than that man. There is no way that she could wield it."

He gestured for her to be gone.

Jeanne stepped back, but she stuck her tongue out the moment before moving behind me.

Sometimes she could act very immature.

It was rather awkward now that he had denied two warriors that were Heroes, but I would now have to ask if he would give it to me.

When he heard my request, he made the most displeased expression he had shown that day.

"…But you aren't even a warrior. You're a sorcerer."

To be precise, I was a Demon King. And I could handle weapons.

"Allow me to buy that battle axe if I can use it. If not, I will not bother you again."

"That's very arrogant of you. Very well. You have one chance. Swing that axe in front of me and then I will accept your request."

He said and then brought me the axe.

…with the help of his granddaughter, Tos.h.i.+zou and Jeanne.

"Why must I help with this…"

Tos.h.i.+zou complained and then added,

"The weight of this is not normal. Ordinary humans would not be able to carry it."

The old man's stance made a little more sense now.

"Yes, humans won't be able to lift it. But, you do know that I'm a Demon King?"

I said so that only Tos.h.i.+zou could hear. But there was one thing that I wondered about, and so I asked the old man before picking it up.

"It's been bothering me since we came here. But who are those ruffians outside of your shop?"

"Ruffians? What!? Surely, not!?"

He ran to the front door to see.

What he saw was a man who looked like a merchant and some Adventurers.

The fat merchant entered the store and began to talk while ignoring us.

"Now look here you old man, when will you be settling your debts?"

The old man fired back.

"I have no debts. At least not with the likes of you."

"But you had debts with my father. He was kind enough to say that you could repay him when you wanted, but I am not like that. I am in charge now, and I will have my money returned."

The merchant added that an old man like him was in danger of dying at any time. Then he laughed.

He looked like a cla.s.sical villain.

However, it seemed that he truly did have debts. His granddaughter was shaking and muttering to herself in distress.

I moved close to her and asked her what the amount was.

She hesitated at first, but then Jeanne knelt by her and began to talk to her with their eyes on the same level. After a few words, the girl relaxed. She was a Saint, after all.

"…It is two hundred in gold."

"That is outrageous."

I said in surprise, and the girl explained.

"It had only been a few dozen at first, but the interest… But the original agreement was that he could pay it when he wanted at no interest…"

She said with teary eyes.

"These are evil practices for a merchant. But debts are debts. Very well. I will pay it."

I said. And so Tos.h.i.+zou pulled out the coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter.

We had brought three hundred in gold with us. But Tos.h.i.+zou put all of it on the counter. Perhaps it was his way of showing pity. Even after the debts were settled, this girl and old man looked like they would be living in poverty.

However, just as the merchant was about to take the coins, the stubborn old man refused my offer.

"Don't bother. I won't accept charity from anyone."

By this point I was very annoyed, and so I raised my voice.

"This is for the weapon. And it is a fair price for it. The Fire Dragon's Axe is Gottlieb's best weapon. It is worth three hundred in gold."

"It is for the buyer to decide what the product is worth. I see no issue with paying more than the market price. Or would you rather see your granddaughter be sold off?"

The old man looked at his granddaughter.

He was a stubborn old man, but he also loved her. Looking down at her seemed to change his mind.

Still, he hesitated to sell something to someone who may not even be able to handle it.

He was a frustrating old man.

I decided that it was necessary to put on a little show. And so I picked up the Fire Dragon Axe with my right hand alone. Of course, I was using magic to strengthen my muscles.

The villainous merchant watched me in shock.

As did the shopkeeper and his granddaughter.

"Old man, it is not good to judge people by appearances. This is nothing to me."

I said, then swung the axe downward.

Towards the merchant.

Of course, it landed at his feet.

I made a hole in the ground and the merchant stepped back. He had wet himself.

"Ahhh!"

He let out a cry.

His followers were also alarmed, so I pressed in.

With a step forward, I said to them,

"This land is ruled by the Demon King Ashtaroth. He is compa.s.sionate and hates wrongdoing. But he especially hates money lenders like you who trick people. I will say nothing to him. As long as you take your things and leave this town by tomorrow."

Upon hearing these words, the merchant's men tried to unsheath their swords, but with a flash, Tos.h.i.+zou's sword soared through the air and their belts fell to the floor. They were quiet after that.

They picked up their pants and fled, leaving the merchant that had hired them.

The merchant cried and then ran after them.

"…They weren't even worth fighting."

Tos.h.i.+zou muttered. But his sword had purified the town a little.

It was something he could be proud of.

And that was how I bought the Fire Dragon Axe from the old store owner.

He was a stubborn old man, but when we parted, he said,
"…Thank you. Demon King."

So he figured out who I was. But I was glad that at the very end, he seemed a little embarra.s.sed.