Ch.29Chapter 29 – Meeting with the Imperial Chancellor, Bergen Staler (2)

Bergen Steiler couldn’t tear his eyes away from the astonishing scene unfolding before him.

With just three strikes of the hammer against the broken sacred sword, a faint light enveloped it, and the weapon regained its former glory.

If this wasn’t an ability bestowed by the gods, the only comparable magic would be “time reversal.”

Yet the man demonstrating this remarkable ability before Bergen’s eyes didn’t look like a grand mage.

He had simply raised his hammer and struck the sacred sword three times.

By witnessing firsthand how Pathos’s ability worked, Bergen became convinced that he was indeed an ability user.

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In truth, Bergen had learned about Pathos through intelligence agents spread throughout the empire, who reported the appearance of an ability user capable of fixing anything.

Although ability users had been appearing more frequently lately, most displayed abilities that were merely degraded or replicated versions of existing powers—enhanced strength or creating fire that couldn’t be extinguished with water.

That’s why Bergen hadn’t shown much interest when intelligence agents reported new ability users.

After all, weren’t all these ability users essentially the same?

Some could create light with physical force, but even that was merely an ability that ancient heroes possessed in history books.

However, this recently emerged ability user possessed a power never before reported.

This was about Pathos, who had the ability to fix anything.

Bergen became interested when he heard about someone who could fix everything, and was delighted to learn that this person was coming to Glesius Academy.

How could he not be pleased that the man was coming to him on his own two feet, rather than Bergen having to seek him out?

So Bergen instructed his intelligence agents to keep close surveillance on Pathos and report all information about him.

His interest in Pathos grew as he received reports about incidents that occurred while Pathos stayed at the Arcenium.

After learning everything that had happened to Pathos through these reports, Bergen sent his head butler Heron to invite Pathos to his mansion.

Before that, he had sent intelligence agents disguised as commoners to have several items repaired, and was quite surprised to see the objects perfectly restored.

Moreover, after witnessing Pathos’s ability behind his mansion, Bergen realized it was incomparable to the abilities possessed by other users.

Having seen Pathos’s ability with his own eyes, Bergen made a firm decision.

This man with the ability to fix anything must become a citizen of the Gelebrio Empire.

For this purpose, he was willing to commit illegal acts he had never considered before.

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Phew, I was worried my ability might not work with the new hammer, but fortunately, it functioned properly even with the different tool.

The sacred sword, enveloped in a faint light, once again displayed its brilliant form.

This sword, which had lost its luster due to countless scratches and had rust eating away at its blade, had been given new life.

I picked up the sword and presented it to Chancellor Bergen.

“I’d like you to touch it and examine it yourself.”

“Yes, indeed I should.”

Chancellor Bergen accepted the perfectly repaired sword with an expression of disbelief.

“Remarkable. It looks exactly the same as when His Majesty bestowed it upon me thirty years ago.”

Huh? A sword given by His Majesty? Could it be that the sword I just fixed was given to him by the Emperor of the Gelebrio Empire?

“This sword couldn’t be repaired by even the most skilled blacksmiths. Even the Dwarf King, from a race of master craftsmen and blacksmiths, said it was beyond his ability to fix.”

Chancellor Bergen’s eyes seemed lost in memories as he gazed at the sacred sword.

“I’m truly grateful. Thanks to you, the treasure given to me by His Imperial Majesty has regained its brilliance.”

Hmm. This sword must have been quite precious to Chancellor Bergen.

But why did he neglect it and let it deteriorate to such a state?

“I see you’re interested in the story behind this sword, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am…”

“Haha, this sword was originally made for ceremonies, not for battle. His Majesty presented it to me when I became Chancellor. However, during a rampage by a crazed black mage, part of my mansion was damaged, and the curse that mage cast caused this sword to deteriorate like this.”

Ah, so that’s how the sword ended up in such a state.

Speaking of crazed black mages, there was a mission in Erasto Chronicle with a mad black mage as the boss.

What was that black mage’s name again? It started with ‘De’ something…

Ah! Now I remember.

“By any chance, was the black mage’s name Deretheo?”

“Oh! You know that mad black mage’s name? For it to be known even in the Eastern Continent, he must have been quite infamous indeed.”

So I was right.

Deretheo was the boss of Chapter 3, a crazed black mage who had become a lich.

I remember that students from Glesius Academy went on a field trip, and unfortunately, Deretheo’s dungeon was there.

While exploring the dungeon, they encountered Deretheo who had become a lich, and after much struggle, they managed to defeat him.

I don’t remember the specific details because I rushed through the early story so long ago that I’ve forgotten most of it.

“Anyway, I never thought this damaged sacred sword could be repaired so perfectly.”

“I understand. Even I, with this ability, am amazed every time I use it.”

“Hahaha. I thought as much. Usually, people with unique abilities often have trouble believing in their own powers.”

Seeing him laugh at my response, it seemed Chancellor Bergen was pleased with my answer.

Especially in this fantasy world with a rigid class system, offending a nobleman with a high position could truly make life miserable.

My goal was to live a long and peaceful life, so I had no intention of getting on the bad side of important people.

“Good. Heron!”

“You called, Chancellor sir.”

“Go fetch some documents and a pen.”

Chancellor Bergen called for his head butler and ordered him to bring something.

Following the order, the head butler went inside the mansion and returned with some documents and a quill pen.

He had the items on the table cleared away, placed the quill and documents on it, then stepped back.

“By the way, you haven’t received official ability user verification yet, have you?”

“What is official ability user verification?”

“Hohohoho! You’re giving this old man quite some amusement. Well, I suppose since ability users don’t appear in the Eastern Continent, you wouldn’t have such a system there.”

Chancellor Bergen seemed to misunderstand that I was truly from the Eastern Continent.

Well, I am Asian, but I’m not sure if that makes me a person from the Eastern Continent in this world.

I suppose if there’s something I don’t know, I can always use being from the Eastern Continent as an excuse.

“If you’re verified as an ability user through the official system, you won’t have to live as hard as you do now. Even that inspection incident at your shop happened because you weren’t verified as an ability user.”

I listened quietly to Chancellor Bergen’s explanation.

“Well, I’ve taken care of what happened at your shop, so don’t worry. Everything has been resolved. By the way, what would you like to do with your life from now on?”

Chancellor Bergen asked me a question while writing something on the documents.

What would I like to do with my life?

“I’d like to run a repair shop, save enough money, meet a good person, get married, build a family, and live happily.”

“Hmm. Simple yet modest, and still pursuing your own happiness. A true young man.”

Huh? I just stated my wishes, but he interpreted it that way?

“Having ambitions beyond your station can be dangerous, but not properly utilizing your abilities isn’t good either. So, let me make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

An offer I can’t refuse? What kind of proposal could the empire’s second-in-command be making to me?

“Would you like to study at Glesius Academy?”

I was speechless at Chancellor Bergen’s proposal.

The main stage of Erasto Chronicle, where the heroines lived, breathed, and were active.

He was now suggesting that I enroll there.