Who Is the World’s Strongest Appraiser? ~Living in Another World With Satisfying Meals~

Blacksmithing, Glass, And Jewelry

“I did it~”

The cheerful voice of Yuuri echoed, not in Scarlet Lynx’s hideout, but in the workshop of the jewelry craftsman, Bright.

As for why Yuuri was in Bright’s workshop, it was connected to his skills. Yuuri actually had a modest skill in blacksmithing. This blacksmithing skill comes with a bonus for handling precious metals and ores, which are categorized under metalworking. Basic skills in crafting, including processing materials like wood, leather, and bone, fall under blacksmithing.

While blacksmithing may typically evoke images of weapon and armor craftsmen, jewelry-making is similar in metalworking. The processes differ by field, and even with the same blacksmithing skill, proficiency varies. Specializing in each field can lead to advanced or specialized skills in blacksmithing. With that in mind, and considering Yuuri’s acquaintanceship, he was thrown into Bright’s workshop.

It was Ali who threw him in. Ali, realizing Yuuri’s absent-mindedness, thoughtlessness, and lack of common sense, wanted to properly build up his skills through various experiences. This time, Yuuri was at Bright’s due to blacksmithing, but for alchemy, he would be left to Leopold, the perfumer and pharmacist.

“Oh, did you finish? How did it turn out?”

“Like this.”

With a joyful glance towards Bright, Yuuri showed him the small object he had been diligently working on in the palm of his hand. It was a decoration where a dish-like shape made of the same metal as the square metal plate was created on top, with glass placed inside that dish. It was like a pendant top, like an unattached brooch without a needle, and like a strap without a string.

The tools given to Yuuri were somewhat familiar, like those used in technical classes in modern Japan. The difference was that they were all magical devices powered by magic stones, sometimes surprisingly high-performance. Anyway, using these magical tools, Yuuri utilized scrap metal and glass shards to create decorations.

It wasn’t that he was making a product. He was just playing around with leftover materials to learn how to use the tools and utilize his skills. It was like a child happily chopping vegetable scraps with a knife next to their mother preparing a meal, something like that.

However, Yuuri’s skill level was 50. Even if he did it just for a bit of comfort, the finish was guaranteed to be upgraded. Specifically, the metal parts emitted a glossy sheen, and the glass parts were transparent. Normally, an amateur touching tools for the first time couldn’t produce work of this level. Scary how skills can cheat.

“…Did you make things like this back home too?”

“No, this is my first time. But occasionally, I made decorations with my family…”

While examining the decoration Yuuri made by turning it over and lightly tapping it with his fingertips, Bright asked puzzledly. Even from a professional’s perspective, the finish was excellent. Moreover, the materials used were scraps that would normally be discarded. If such a work could be made from leftover materials, it was deemed excellent and deserving of approval.

By the way, what Yuuri had made with his mother and sisters back home were dragonfly beads and resin. Recently, even 100-yen shops had all the parts, so they enjoyed making their own straps, pendants, earrings, and such. …Kugimiya and the women of the house were heroines who naturally dragged Yuuri in, involved him, and enjoyed it, whenever they became obsessed with something. They wouldn’t invite their normal son, but a reasonable retort that they wouldn’t do that was not reached.

“To be honest, if you can make this much, I don’t think there’s anything I need to teach you. Weaponsmiths are better at making ingots and such.”

“That’s not true. I really love the accessories you make, Bright-san.”

To Yuuri’s smile, Bright scratched the tip of his nose bashfully. Bright, known for being skilled enough to own his own workshop, was also a novice. It’s a fact that he’s not well thought of by old farts with a hard head, because he’s teamed up with the outrageous, eccentric queer perfumer Leopold. Even without that, some people see a man carefully finishing accessories as sloppy.

In such a situation, Yuuri’s unfounded favor was pleasant. Rather than being praised himself, he was happier to be praised for the work he made. Bright was a hardcore craftsman in that regard. Probably, even if he had a favorite woman, he would be happier to hear “I like your made accessories” than “I like you.” Definitely.

“I’ll process this a bit more.”

“Oh, do as you like. You take good care of your tools. If it’s those materials, feel free to use them as you like.”

“Thank you.”

Carefully holding the decoration he made in his hand, Yuuri returned to the workshop. Watching his small back, Bright also started working. He was in such a good mood that his handling of tools seemed enjoyable. It’s his theory that products that aren’t made seriously are out of the question, but it’s also his theory that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying what you like. And now, it’s time to enjoy making.

The reason is because Yuuri praised him.

Now, Yuuri, who didn’t even think he set Bright’s motivation on fire, quietly began working. What he was doing was attaching other parts to the metal plate and making holes to thread a strap through. Since it’s pendant top size, it’ll be a pendant when you put a chain in there. And if you pass a short strap through it, it’ll be a strap. Yuuri was trying to make a strap.

He initially tried to make a key holder, but the structure of chains and fasteners was difficult. Rather than doing something so difficult, he decided it would be easier to make it into a strap by passing a string through it. Also, why he was doing such a thing is because he thought he did it well enough to want to attach it to his school bag. Since this is a different world, no one would complain about Yuuri attaching cute items to his bag. In contrast to being teased and ignored beyond bullying for attaching cute key holders to high school bags in modern Japan, people in this world are tolerant of others’ attire. Rather, they may be indifferent. Since attire varies by occupation, men are not criticized for being flashy.

In other words, Yuuri thought that in this world, it would be okay to admire and wear cute and beautiful things according to his heart’s desire. …However, the biggest culprit for giving him such an impression is the invincible queer perfumer Leopold, but no one told him that he was out of the norm. …It was a judgment that he would think it was out of the norm even if he didn’t tell him, but the other person was Yuuri. One person should have corrected the orbit, even though it’s too late now.

“Extend this here, stick this here~”

With a magical tool in hand, Yuuri looked like he was having fun. Basically, he likes making things. Cooking, sewing, and handicrafts—making something with his own hands is something he really enjoys. He’s unexpectedly multifaceted in a form dragged by his family, but each one has its own shape, so Yuuri’s ability value is high. He just didn’t have the awareness of it.

He ended up making dragonfly beads and resin happier than his mother and sister, who had started making them eagerly. It’s the same for sewing. I liked to draw my own drawings and embroider them, but it was also fun to sew their favorite characters for small relatives. Fundamentally, Yuuri likes making someone happy. It’s certainly fun to admire what he likes. But at the same time, when someone is pleased with something he made, he is truly happy about it. …It may be a kind of approval desire. For Yuuri, who has been denied his essence many times, the people who accept him are all kind and important people.

“Is this about it?”

Attaching the hole for threading the string to the metal plate, Yuuri took out the string from his school bag. This string was left over from when he made a sachet before. The magical bag that is a school bag is full of purchased materials. Since it has a time stop and sort function, no matter how much you throw in, you won’t be in trouble. And unlimited capacity. It’s a dream bag.

The decoration with the string passed through became a splendid strap. Yuuri attached it to his school bag with a gleeful expression. The metal and glass reflected the light from the window, shining brightly. It was very beautiful. And because he made it simple, there was no discomfort even if it was held by young Yuuri.

And then.

“Yuuri, that’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“…Huh?”

For some reason, Yuuri froze in surprise at Hermine’s voice suddenly sticking to his back.

Turning his head, he saw Hermine clinging to his back, smiling at the strap. It was a truly lovely smile. Because she has wings on her back, it is clear to everyone that her tension is rising. …Bright is complaining that he shouldn’t come in from the skylight, but feathers are not understood by anyone who enters the workshop anyway.

“…This?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“A strap I made. For this, I passed a string through it to attach it to bags and stuff… like jewelry? I guess.”

“It’s so beautiful.”

Hermine repeated the same words after hearing Yuuri’s explanation. “Beautiful,” she said multiple times, with an entranced and somewhat blissful smile. She looked like an angel straight out of a shoujo manga, complete with white wings on her back.

However, Yuuri understood what Hermine wanted to say. His ability to pick up on such things probably came from being raised around women. Most likely.

“…Do you want me to make one?”

At Yuuri’s words, Hermine’s face lit up with joy. The beautiful girl nodded enthusiastically, and Yuuri answered with an “Okay.”. Then he asked her to let go of him. Normally, a boy being hugged from behind by a pretty girl would feel something, but Yuuri felt none of that. To him, it was like a friend playing around. Otomen are scary.

“Then, I’ll make the metal base first. Hermine, can you look for glass pieces?”

“Look for?”

“We’re using leftover materials from here, so pick out your favorite color of glass.”

“Got it! Thanks, Yuuri!”

As Hermine happily went off to search for glass pieces, Yuuri smiled awkwardly. He called out casually, “Don’t hurt yourself,” to which she cheerfully replied, “I’m fine!” Meanwhile, Bright, the workshop owner, muttered about entering through the door, but Hermine, thrilled about getting a new accessory, paid no attention to him.

Incidentally, Yuuri ended up spending several days working in Bright’s workshop after the other women got angry that Hermine was the only one who got something new.