Ch.132132. Gwendolyn’s Ensis Weapon Shop

The operation to eradicate the Slaves wasn’t widely publicized. The fact that slave traders engaged in human trafficking existed in the heart of the Empire was quietly resolved, as it would damage the Empire’s reputation.

For this reason, the knights and cadets who participated in Operation Gehenna didn’t receive significant rewards. Since the justification for rewards couldn’t be publicly announced for the aforementioned reason, there was no way to formally recognize their achievements.

Of course, Seraphina, who was skilled at managing people, didn’t just wipe her mouth after saying “good job.” After all, the most important aspect of managing people has always been proper recognition and reward.

With the rationale that if honorable rewards couldn’t be given, material compensation would suffice, she granted the knights special leave and bonuses. The academy cadets received special merit points and gold coins under the pretext of academic support funds for successfully completing their field training.

Some knights and cadets who had been disappointed that the operation wouldn’t be officially acknowledged were delighted upon receiving Seraphina’s rewards.

She’s definitely a people person.

Gilbert, who had achieved the seemingly impossible feat of cutting a Golem Soldier in half, received a heavier pouch of gold coins than others. Though he had never struggled financially since arriving in this world, money was always better to have more of.

Since his sword had broken, he thought he could use this money to visit Gwendolyn and commission a new one. He also had the Moon’s Tear obtained from the Wild Rose Obitus branch manager, so it seemed like a good opportunity to craft an end-game level sword.

In Tactical Combat, the best sword was Imperion, the Lion King’s Sword, but it was impossible for Gilbert to obtain it currently.

Imperion was a family heirloom of Ian’s Linebarrel family, and was currently in the possession of Ian, who had been designated as the successor.

Normally, one would have to complete various complex quests to obtain it, but in reality, he simply owned it outright. Thanks to this, Ian had already acquired Fresia by what would be the mid-point of the scenario.

Not that it matters anymore.

Whether Ian met Fresia and experienced explosive growth was no longer Gilbert’s concern. Ian was already absent from the plans Gilbert had made, replaced by other characters who filled his role.

Even if Ian were to come to his senses and grow now, Gilbert wouldn’t rework his plans to include him.

Gilbert, having brought up the subject, submitted an outing request and left the academy to meet Gwendolyn.

He hadn’t visited her for quite some time and wondered if she had become a renowned blacksmith by now.

According to occasional news from the Hart County family, the quality of the swords she supplied was so excellent that everyone was amazed.

Dorothy’s surprised reaction, asking where on earth they had found such a blacksmith, had been quite entertaining.

“Hey, some bastard is cutting in line!”

“You son of a bitch, get to the back of the line!”

Near Gwendolyn’s modest shop, numerous people were lined up. Judging by the swords at their backs or waists, they appeared to be mercenaries.

Despite their general disregard for order—about as much as an ant’s tears—they were diligently queuing outside Gwendolyn’s shop.

Come to think of it, Gwendolyn, who disliked crowded shops, was a principled person who absolutely refused to sell swords unless people lined up properly.

She made no exceptions even for nobles, which often caused considerable trouble.

Of course, all such issues were resolved by her innate talent as a blacksmith.

Whether one owned one of her swords had become a topic of conversation in social circles, showing just how tremendous Gwendolyn’s influence had become.

Eventually, she would catch the eye of Seraphina, who had a keen interest in talented individuals, and end up in the Imperial Palace—enough said.

But when am I supposed to wait through all this?

Gilbert made a troubled face.

He hadn’t expected Gwendolyn’s weapon shop to gain fame so quickly.

He had thought it was only a matter of time given his full support, but he hadn’t anticipated it happening this fast. Apparently, rumors about her regular supplies to the Hart County family had spread.

Should I come back later?

Gilbert scratched his head, estimating the approximate time.

By all appearances, the day’s business would end around halfway through the current line. This was unfortunate for Gilbert, who had only requested a brief outing.

Having decided to return another time, he turned around with regret.

“Lord Gilbert?!”

By coincidence, Gwendolyn, who had opened the door to receive the next customer, spotted a familiar figure in the distance and called out Gilbert’s name loudly while waving her hand.

He had been quietly planning to try again another time, but at Gwendolyn’s call, he slowly turned around.

“Business is over for today! We’re closed!”

“What? Do you know how long we’ve been waiting?”

“Why should I care about that? A more important guest has arrived, so everyone go home!”

Gwendolyn shouted firmly at the complaining mercenary with an incredulous expression. Her personality of never changing her mind once it was made up was showing.

“We’re customers too! How can you treat us like this? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting here?!”

“So what? If you don’t want to buy, then don’t! Besides, I don’t have any swords worthy of selling to you!”

Gilbert sighed deeply. It was obvious that problems would arise if he just left now.

Reluctantly, he approached Gwendolyn under the glaring eyes of the mercenaries.

“Lord Gilbert, please wait a moment. I’ll sort this out quickly!”

“That’s not necessary. Do what you must do.”

“How can that be important when you’re here, my benefactor!”

“It’s not right to mistreat customers who came to see your swords just because of me. Have some responsibility as a blacksmith.”

“Well…”

At Gilbert’s words, Gwendolyn looked at the customers waiting in the long line. The mention of responsibility as a blacksmith had struck a chord with her.

The most important thing for a blacksmith was to create excellent swords, but a sword only gained meaning when it was held in someone’s hand.

Then, a blacksmith’s duty extended to placing that sword in the hands of someone worthy.

Gwendolyn calmed herself and shouted:

“Only 100 more swords! After that, the weapon shop will close. It would be proper to show swords to everyone currently in line, but the shop doesn’t have that much inventory.”

“Damn, I should have come earlier.”

“I was here yesterday too.”

Complaints erupted here and there, but upon hearing about the limited inventory, mercenaries at the back of the line began to leave.

They couldn’t do anything about the lack of inventory, and she wasn’t suddenly closing the shop without reason.

“Please wait a little longer. I’ll sort this out quickly!”

Gwendolyn quickly entered the weapon shop and began recommending suitable weapons to those who had come to purchase swords.

Gilbert watched the rapidly diminishing line and took a seat on a chair placed outside the shop. Since things had turned out this way, he might as well review his future plans.

Various thoughts surfaced and subsided in his mind.

He classified the upcoming main scenarios by risk level and set aside those that seemed unlikely to occur.

Most of those scenarios were main storylines that could only be experienced as Ian, so Gilbert didn’t need to worry about them.

Quite a lot left, huh.

The main scenarios he recalled would fill an entire parchment.

This crazy Tactical Combat had such a substantial volume of scenarios that the playtime was incredibly long.

Playing through all scenarios conventionally would easily take hundreds of hours, so it was understandable that the remaining main scenarios were numerous.

However, it was a headache for Gilbert, who might have to clear them all in reality. Even playing it as a simple game would take hundreds of hours.

Some scenarios might not occur, but the pressure of having to clear so many was immense.

His goal was ultimately to return to his original world.

Currently, he was mechanically clearing main scenarios without finding any clues to return, but there was too little time to clear such a large number.

This was not a game world but a real, existing world.

Despite having spent half a year since awakening here, the main scenarios he had cleared could be counted on one hand.

How much time would it take to clear all those scenarios?

Even by simple calculation, it would easily exceed ten years.

Of course, barring any better solutions, Gilbert intended to clear the main scenarios even if it took over ten years. He wasn’t the type to turn away from a problem just because it was difficult.

But what if, after spending all that time clearing every main scenario…

What if he still couldn’t return to his original world?

Could he endure that?

Gilbert couldn’t relax his hardened expression.

Somehow, he felt like he already knew the answer to that question.