Ignoring the black-haired girl who was frozen in shock, I moved on to the final stage of crafting.
I picked up a piece of Forest Stone lying nearby and sharpened it against a rock to make arrowheads.
After shaping the Meeenbird Feathers and attaching them to the rear of the carved arrows...
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**Hiroeda and Meeenbird Wooden Arrow**
**Quantity:** 10
**Quality Level:** 18 (Material Level 5 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Job Bonus 10)
Arrows made from Hiroeda, Meeenbird feathers, and Forest Stone.
Thanks to various bonuses, they excel in accuracy.
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Yeah, not bad for something made on the spot.
After checking the finished arrows, I bundled the ten of them and handed them to the girl.
"Here, ten times what you lost. If it's not enough, I'll make more."
"Th-Thank you very mu... ch..."
The girl accepted the arrows with both hands, her face looking like she was in the middle of being tricked by a fox spirit.
Her polite speech and refined gestures suggested she was probably a young lady like Monaka.
Then my eyes were drawn to the bow she was holding under her arm.
"Hey, isn't that a Western Bow?
From the way you were holding it, you're a user of the 'Kyudo' skill, right?
In that case, you should be using an Eastern Bow instead."
Bow skills differed by region. There was "Archery" that originated in the western countries and "Kyudo" that originated in the eastern countries.
Both used a bow and arrows to hit targets, but the tools and techniques were completely different.
The girl answered with a puzzled expression.
"Eh? Ah, this was made for me by a woodworker from another class..."
"Let me see it for a second." I took the bow from her almost by force.
It was such poor quality that there was no need to even appraise it.
"Seriously, just because he's an apprentice woodworker doesn't mean he can slap something together like this..."
Unable to hold back, I looked around for materials.
"Um, what are you planning to do?"
"Since I'm here, I'll make you a proper bow too."
While the girl blinked in surprise with an "Eh!?", I cut off a thick branch and started carving it with a stone knife.
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**Small Shinari Wood**
**Quantity:** 1
**Quality Level:** 16 (Material Level 3 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Job Bonus 10)
Soft and flexible wood.
Thanks to various bonuses, it is hard to break and suitable for wooden weapons.
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"Amazing... It's like magic...
Ah, that shape, that length—it's exactly like the bow I used to use!"
The girl's dark eyes had been filled with confusion until now, but they finally sparkled like jewels.
"Right. Western bows are symmetrical top to bottom, but Eastern bows are asymmetrical.
For beginners, Western bows are easier to handle, but if you're used to Eastern bows, it must have felt off."
While I explained, the main bow body took shape.
Then I tied Daija Vine Thread—which I had brought as a substitute for string—to make the bowstring.
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**Shinari Wooden Bow**
**Quantity:** 1
**Quality Level:** 46 (Material Level 33 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Job Bonus 10)
An Eastern bow made from Shinari wood and Daija Vine.
Thanks to various bonuses, it is light, durable, and excels in power and accuracy.
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The girl spoke with an entranced expression.
"Incredible... Truly incredible...!
Even in my country, such a fine bow is rarely seen!"
"I see. Arrows are consumables, but a bow is something you use for a long time, so I was careful with the materials. Here, take it."
After checking the bow's quality, I handed it to her.
The girl looked like she was being pinched on both cheeks by a fox and a tanuki at the same time.
"Eh!? I cannot possibly accept such a magnificent bow from someone I just met!"
"It's fine. I made it because I wanted to.
I could tell from the way you held it. This bow is perfect for you.
Try shooting it and you'll understand."
"Y-Yes..."
The girl accepted the bow in a dreamy state.
She nocked one of the arrows I had given her earlier and drew the string.
...Perfectly!
It was a beautiful, poised form.
But I did not miss how her white fingertips, about to release, were trembling.
"Wait. Your mind is distracted, isn't it?
Take a deep breath and calm your heart."
She snapped back to herself with a start.
She closed her eyes, breathed in and out deeply, then opened them wide.
...SHUPAAAAAAAaaaaaaaah!!!
A refreshing shot scattered the treetops.
The arrow, like a beam of light, pierced the Meeenbird on the branch before it could even take flight.
A "Pigyaa!" scream rang out, and I let out an impressed "Ohh."
"One-shot kill, as expected. So you really are..."
Before I knew it, the girl had prostrated herself at my feet.
Her hakama sleeves and long black hair trailed on the ground.
She even placed both hands on the ground and bowed so deeply that the white crown of her head was visible.
When I asked "What's wrong?", she spoke with her forehead still pressed to the ground.
"My name is Kotone from Class 1-19!
Please, make me your disciple!"
Class 1-19 was a class led by a girl with the advanced job "Miko."
Like Monaka's Class 1-2, it seemed to consist entirely of female students.
Kotone's tone was resolute.
"You observed my stance with a single glance and created a bow that feels like a part of my body...
Not only that, you even saw through the disturbance in my heart!"
She suddenly lifted her face and stared at me with an intense expression.
"I beg you, Master! I will not move from this spot until you accept me as your disciple!"
Being called "Master" was a first for me in my life.
I had no intention of taking a disciple, but I chose my words carefully to convince her.
"Hmm, a disciple is a bit much... But giving advice when we meet occasionally would be fine."
"'Advice,' you say...?"
"Yeah, like guidance."
"Understood. If I can earn your approval with that, then you will accept me as your disciple!
I will do my very best to meet your standards, Master!"
"No, that's not quite what I meant..."