◈Episode 88 I Want to Talk (4)
I got off the boat late to avoid all the events.
Actually, I didn’t plan on getting off this late, but somehow it ended up that way. When the Archmage said that I was famous in Jakrati, there was absolutely no truth to it.
I disembarked mid-way without making a fuss, and in less than 5 minutes, I experienced a gathering of close to 100 people. I added it because I have external characteristics that make it impossible for me to confuse it with others.
No, there was no time to deny it and everyone rushed in with confidence.
“You are now Zakrati’s hero.”
Thanks to this, even Windson, who had developed a sense of distance, sympathized with me for a moment. It was unfair.
According to the truth, Baramson is also treated as a hero, so why am I the only one…!
“what the. “This is the first time I’m glad it’s a common face.”
I was able to go out leisurely by only changing my clothes – I brought 7 million gals for that outing and gave them to me – but I was saddened by the loss.
If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have had my hair cut half-and-half…!
“The road has been opened.”
Still, as we moved under the cover of night, escorted by personnel sent by the castle lord, there were no more crowds. That was definitely comfortable.
“You’re here.”
…It was convenient, but I never wanted the castle lord to be right in front of the castle gate!
After checking the number of guards lined up behind Seongju, I made eye contact with Seongju. Even though it was in the front yard of where he lived, I don’t know why he brought only 10 people with him.
Is there any purpose?
“Oh, the others are probably resting in the room provided. “Don’t worry, I have a room prepared for you.”
Meanwhile, Seongju seems to have interpreted my gaze back as he was looking for a companion. Her answer revealed the party’s location.
It wasn’t something I was curious about, but it wasn’t a bad thing to hear.
“More than that, welcome to Jakrati.”
“Useless.”
“is it. Still, please look at it. “I just came out because I felt regretful that we couldn’t even give a proper welcome ceremony to the savior of Zakrati.”
I got behind Seongju, who turned around as if he was going to lead the way. The manpower that originally guarded Seongju and the manpower that brought me here were combined to form a camp.
Since Baramson and his crew members had almost reached the castle, the guards were very meticulous.
“I heard the story. He said he wasn’t feeling well because he was cursed. Are you feeling better now?”
curse…? No, it’s not wrong. I guess I didn’t convey the facts properly here.
“black.”
I changed the subject by pointing out that fact. Unless the other person is trying to exploit your weakness, if you avoid it so blatantly, they won’t ask any more questions.
“Don’t worry. “The sword is complete.”
Look at me. No more talking?
“But my father-in-law… said he desperately wanted to see you. Do you think it would be okay? “If you’re offended—”
Separately, why is my father-in-law me? There’s no reason why you can’t take a step, but why are you calling me?
I need to know who will write my masterpiece! Is that roughly the sentiment?
“Does not matter.”
If the sword is well-made, it is not difficult to match it to that level. Moreover, he is a craftsman and not anyone else.
“Right. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning.”
“I will go myself.”
Oh, I need to buy something more. Never go to the blacksmith shop in person.
“…I understand. “If you do that, I’ll post a guide tomorrow.”
“He’ll have to be someone who doesn’t bother me.”
“That won’t happen.”
Instead of getting angry at my rude answers, Seongju always responded gently.
The guards standing around only occasionally shook their bodies and did not show much of a sharp reaction like before.
“The repairs have been prepared in the room. For convenience, I have divided it into platinum coins, gold coins, and silver coins. I hope you will like it.”
After all, Seongju even paid the promised bounty.
It was unexpected. From what I heard on the ship, Seongju was ripping through the warehouse and rescuing people.
So I was prepared to hear people ask me to delay the payment date, but I guess that kind of preparedness wasn’t necessary from the beginning.
“If there’s anything else you want, let me know. “Under the circumstances, it may be difficult to listen to many things, but that doesn’t mean everything is impossible.”
Still. Can you afford it?
I didn’t even listen to the talk about additional compensation and looked around indifferently.
After entering the castle in earnest, I first saw the stone walls and floor. It looked somehow desolate.
“Is there really nothing you wish for?”
…Was this how it originally felt? Last time, I never felt this desolate.
Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I took a closer look at the castle. And soon I realized the truth.
Everything that decorated the castle, including carpets, curtains and decorations, disappeared. What people used to say about ‘scraping all the way to the warehouse’ was literally what it meant.
“What are you looking at? Ah, it seems awkward that the interior of the castle has changed. “This is popular these days, so I’ve organized it a little bit.”
Vintage is all about vintage. It’s strange that vintage is popular in this worldview in the first place.
I withdrew my gaze from my son-in-law after seeing Seongju’s words, which were clearly just excuses. Sometimes, even if you know the truth, there are things you have to turn a blind eye to.
“This way.”
Anyway, after walking for a while, I came across an annex. There were several signs that the group was staying here.
“Would you like to take one of these before I leave?”
Then, as I was about to go inside for a moment, Seongju caught me.
“Originally, it was going to be handed over at the triumphal ceremony, but somehow it ended up like this.”
A white light flowed from her hand as she took something from her escort. It was pure light, not magic or anything.
“Praise to the savior of Jakrati.”
For example, it is like the light of a jewel that breaks the moonlight into small pieces and scatters it in all directions.
“And the honor that goes with it.”
A medal was placed on my hand.
“No matter what anyone says, you are the benefactor of this land and a hero who lifted the dark cloud and brought hope. Even if hundreds of years pass, that fact will not disappear and will be remembered in this land for generations.”
It was the second decoration.
“So, don’t forget at any moment. “Some people may think of you as darkness, but you are the one who shines brighter than anyone else on this earth.”
…Now that I see it, it’s not like I didn’t receive it properly.
“If you have money to spend on something like this, you don’t care about people out there.”
“haha. Are you worried about them? Don’t worry. “This is not something I intended to make, but something citizens created voluntarily and delivered to me.”
“…!”
“So please accept it. No, take it. “Thank you from those who have been saved by you.”
In the end, I ended up getting malicious inventory again.
It didn’t feel too bad.
* * *
Instead of retorting, Piion simply chewed his lip a couple of times and watched the person leave.
Every time we ran into each other, I didn’t recognize his face because it was so fierce, but now that I saw him, I thought he was really young.
“It’s a strange thing.”
“yes?”
“I am now able to tolerate something I thought I could never forgive for the rest of my life, and I am becoming more grateful for something I would have originally detested.”
That is extremely sad. Yes, it was sad.
The burden they entrusted to such young people was too much.
“…and by the hands of such young people.”
She lowered her gaze. When you think of young people, the person who comes to mind next to the Demon Knight is a boy with very beautiful bright red hair.
『Yes, I know. There are still many people in this country who hate denominations. But I never expected to get everything from the beginning.”
It was as bold as the provocative hair color. It was the first time someone responded that way to the words, ‘There are still many people who hate you.’
『It will always be our responsibility to atone. It is also our responsibility to be alert and not forget the past and prevent it from repeating itself. Lastly, it is our job to try to make them want to accept help.』
…It was also the first time for a poet to be so simple.
『So it’s okay. God loves those who work hard, so we will knock as hard as we can until you open the door for us.”
It was all for the first time, so much so that we ended up believing it.
“…The Demon Knight doesn’t look very young.”
“Phew. “Do you really think so?”
The red-haired priest successfully captured her heart. That young knight also became the hope of the people through his own power.
So young, so young.
“I look just as young as that red-haired priest.”
…Or was it possible because he was so young?
Is it possible for them to put in that much effort to make the world they live in better because it is theirs?
“…Young people are trying so hard, but old people can’t stand still.”
I don’t know. It probably isn’t that important.
What’s really important is…
“Now, let’s go back. “There is still a lot of work left to do.”
She should not waste the opportunity that those young people worked hard to give her.
The fight against the devil is over, but the fight for Zakrati’s future has just begun.
* * *
The next day, I moved toward the blacksmith shop as soon as dawn broke. This was a measure taken out of fear of crowds of people.
The fact that it was sailing time soon, so I had to get there before that also played a part.
“That place.”
Fortunately, the blacksmith shop wasn’t too far from the castle, and the guide had the skill to guide us through only the most unpopular paths.
I reached the forge safely.
“It’s smaller than you thought?”
Dev chirped from a position where the blacksmith shop could be easily seen. He said he had something to buy and followed along… Anyway, what he said wasn’t wrong.
The blacksmith shop looked small even from a distance.
“Still, your skills are good.”
At Dev’s words, the guide urgently put up a shield.
Although there was no evidence, the belief went. There is no way the castle lord would have entrusted the request to an incompetent person unless he was crazy.
“mister! “Can I eat this?”
“You can eat it, but take it in order! “Other kids need to eat too, so don’t be too greedy!”
“Elderly refugees sent us food to thank us for the help…”
“They’re only going to put it in their own mouths, what else are they sending? Give it back!”
“I bought cornmeal with the money you paid, but… Gridana was so expensive that it was more expensive than I expected…” “
What? You bastards! “Are you using other people’s misfortune to make money?”
“I’m sorry….”
“Damn. First of all, make porridge with that! “It’s time for the kids to come soon!”
…Maybe so.
“…is this a blacksmith shop?”
Dev really has an outstanding ability to say things for me that I couldn’t say.
I also wanted to ask the guide. Is this really the right place?
“Yes, that’s right.”
“It looks like a free meal site?”
“It’s because the old man is such a nice person.”
As we seemed to be gradually losing trust, the guide quickly spoke up.
What follows is an explanation of what a good person the owner of the blacksmith is and how much good he does.
He is the biggest supporter of the orphanage, or he collects talented children and teaches them for free, and as soon as this incident broke out, he gave away weapons that were commercial items for free to help them deal with it. Now that it has been sorted out, he buys food with the money from selling the weapons and feeds the people around him. Saving it or something.
“Are you a good person?”
“Of course.”
When you hear that he was the people of Seongju, he was truly a good man.
“He is a really good person. “They make it so well that people from the mainland stop by and buy it.”
Of course, in many games, good people like this often turn out to be surprisingly disappointing… Well, I have no intention of digging into it that far.
And the evidence of good deeds is too clear to be left behind. Those who appeared to be apprentices and those receiving help were all smiling.
“I’ll wait outside then.”
“yep.”
I left my guide and entered the blacksmith yard. People’s eyes were all focused on the half-and-half head, which could be distinguished even from 300 meters away.
The once bustling market suddenly became quiet.
“That person…”
“Driver? “Are you a driver?”
Why is this city selling my name and appearance so well?
I created an inhospitable atmosphere so that people could not approach easily. I feel sorry for the kids looking scared, but I don’t like being surrounded by crowds here.
“I came to find the sword.”
He quietly stated his purpose in the middle of the yard. Then someone straightened his bent back and came towards me.
“Is it you? “The person who asked the Lord of the castle to make a sword?”
He was a man with a rugged body and a stubborn face.
“You take care of it! Follow me. The finished product is inside.”
“Um, can I come with you?”
“…Come!”
“yes.”
My father-in-law led Deb and I into a building inside the yard. When he asked me to see his face, I thought he was going to do a test or something, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like there was anything like that.
“There are no products?”
“Are you looking for something?”
“I was going to buy a dagger, but…”
“I sold everything so I don’t have any.”
“Is that so?”
The inside of the building we entered was divided into a product display area and a further workshop.
The shelves were empty, as if all the items had really been sold. Dev, who seemed to have come to buy a replacement for the broken kukri, stretched out his ears and tail.
“If you ask me to make it for you, I will make it for you.”
“It’s okay because I don’t have time to wait.”
“Tsk.”
Meanwhile, the craftsman went into the workshop and rummaged through a box there. Soon something wrapped in cloth was pulled out by the hand.
“This guy is the finished product. “Check.”
The craftsman placed the sword on the display table and removed the cloth so that we could see it.
For a moment, admiration rushed through my teeth.
“The blade was made by melting down something that looked like a piece of scale, and the hilt and scabbard were made by carving out bone. It was decorated with gold and jadeite in a small way so as not to be distracting. “What do you like?”
I placed my hand on the half-exposed sword. The first thing my fingers touched was the pommel inlaid with jadeite.
Then, he passed the dentin sword hilt wrapped with a jet black leather strap and reached the dark blue blade.
“It’s pretty…”
I ignored Dev’s muttering and slowly swept the blade with my finger. The blade, which was a dull dark blue and not shiny, but had a more elegant and dangerous charm, was very cool.
At this level, I am satisfied with the appearance.
Sreuk.
“…?”
“uh?”
The appearance was satisfactory.
I was satisfied….
“…the sword is short.”
The truth that was revealed as a result of sweeping the blade and removing the cloth that covered the sword was truly gruesome.
The blade is too short. Considering the length of the blade alone, it seems to be between 30 and 40 cm, and the handle combined is only 70 cm, so you can get a rough idea.
This is almost like a dagger.
“What happened?”
I urgently urged someone to find out the cause. The father-in-law, who was watching from a step away, shrugged his shoulders.
“I hope you don’t blame me for the lack of materials.”
“They said they didn’t have enough ingredients.”
“okay.”
No, that wasn’t enough? Of course, if you make it with just that, it may not be enough… but don’t you usually make up the amount by mixing it with other metals?
“If it’s insufficient, shouldn’t we just make up for it with other metal?”
“Ha, if that were possible, I would have done it right away!”
…didn’t it work?
“From iron to copper zinc… I took all the metals I’ve ever worked with and mixed them together, but none of them worked. They just separated like water and oil. Even though it was like that, there was no contact with the orderer! “What can I do there?”
It didn’t work….
“So I had no choice but to make it with as little material as possible. “If you give me additional ingredients and melt it again, I’ll make it for you, but if not, you’ll be satisfied with that.”
There are additional ingredients. Because the Archmage said he got more of my share of corpses.
But that’s on the mainland. It’s a bit difficult to bring it back here and make it.
Because of this, I was devastated. This was not my father-in-law’s fault, and it was difficult to say it was my fault, which made me feel even more heartbroken.
“Uh, then what should I do?”
“What should I do? “You either accept it or have it remade.”
Even during this time, the sword is incredibly beautiful.
Absentmindedly, I raised the sword, which was a little longer than a dagger and much shorter than a one-handed sword. Even considering it was a dagger, it was very light.
“…It’s light.”
“okay. It’s light. Compared to an iron sword of the same length, the ship will be lighter. In addition, sharpness and strength…”
The craftsman said and held out something to me. It was an iron rod about 4cm in diameter.
“Hit it with all your might.”
He swung his sword as if possessed. Although some resistance was felt, the iron bar was easily cut. Even though no magic power was used, the iron was cut off in chunks.
“…When I swung it, it only got stuck in the iron. In any case, it is harder than an iron sword and has excellent cutting power. “Just about anything won’t ruin or dull the blade.”
I quickly checked out the options. It didn’t mean anything. The options were all marked with ???. Damn the system.
“I hope you know that I broke a few hammers making it.”
“…Definitely a worthy show. “You cut iron like you would cut a radish.”
However, even if the option does not appear, you can tell that this sword is well-made. The problem is that the days are too short!
I checked the sword a few more times, feeling like I wanted to hit my forehead hard.
It was really, really well made and the design was very pretty, but the length of the blade due to the lack of materials was an obstacle. At least it would have been usable if the blade had been longer than 50cm.
“Hey Hanta. Are there any?”
“…?”
While I was grieving, a familiar voice reached my ears.
“Do you have wind hands?”
“huh? “What, why are you… Ah, I guess the Lord of the castle entrusted it to Hanta.”
“Surianya.”
“Uh huh.”
“Why did you stick your head in? “Isn’t it time to go make money?”
“I’m not going today because I have to fly those humans to land. And… well, I stopped by to tell him that I didn’t have any money to give him. “I don’t think I can help for at least a few days.”
“what?”
“sorry.”
“Tsk, that’s it. “If you can’t help, there must be a reason.”
In the meantime, why is the sound of the conversation between Baramson and his father-in-law so easy to hear?
I barely suppressed the urge to cry and put the sword into its special sheath.
While the blade is dark blue, the scabbard has a gray-white ivory texture and is decorated with gold, giving it a different charm. I wanted to cry more.
How did this ordeal come to me?
“…take it like this.”
But in the end, there was only one choice I could make.
No matter how hard I try, it’s not something I can use, but… just because I can’t use it doesn’t mean it’s useless.
The father-in-law’s gaze returned to me.
“Then get out.”
It was really cool treatment.
“yep. Let’s go, Nari.”
No, wait. I still have some business left to do.
Well done.
My hand went into my bag for a moment, took out something, and dropped it on the desk. The sound rang out clearly and beautifully so that anyone could tell that its contents were metal.
“…?”
“It’s a fee for your trouble.”
I don’t like the length of the blade, but the sword itself is well made. I’ll give it a tip.