Ch.407Chapter 407 – Meanwhile, in the Kingdom (3)

At the same time the meeting was taking place in the magic tower.

A small forge in the Kingdom of Mikea had its lights on.

The light from inside reflected off the emblem indicating it was a shop belonging to the Lavencha Guild, illuminating the interior more brightly. Beneath it, Diana quietly spoke to the figure before her.

“This is the item.”

The object, which had been carried with difficulty by five strong men, was laid down on the forge floor.

It must have been quite heavy, as it raised a small cloud of dust even though it was set down gently. Looking at it, Rudger’s eyes widened.

“No way…”

“Is this real?”

Diana nodded at the question from her old friend, the aging blacksmith.

“Yes. It’s real.”

With Diana’s assurance, Rudger quietly gazed at the sword and spoke its name.

“Dragon Slayer.”

As he uttered the name of the sword that had taken his arm, Rudger gently clutched his right shoulder.

Seeing him like this, Diana quietly asked.

“Does it hurt?”

“The place where I was cut feels a bit numb.”

When Rudger added that he was fine anyway, Diana nodded.

Then the blacksmith, after glancing at the two of them, quietly asked.

“So, how did you get this? Did the Dragon Slayer suddenly change its mind and beg you to take it?”

“That guy would have to be crazy to… though he might be. He is actually a bit insane.”

“In what way?”

“He’s the type who constantly mutters about needing to discard this or that to become complete.”

Thinking about the behavior of the one who had taken his arm, Rudger quietly said.

“So he discarded this to become complete, is that it?”

“Something like that.”

Rudger looked at the sword again and said.

“…I wonder why he wants to become complete. He might have even discarded that purpose itself.”

“Hmm.”

At Rudger’s enigmatic words, Diana quietly shook her head slightly.

It was probably some world she couldn’t understand.

However, Diana didn’t find Rudger particularly strange for it.

‘If that’s what he says, it’s probably right.’

Having decided to trust her old friend Rudger’s thoughts, Diana quietly set aside her curiosity.

Then she pointed to the man behind her.

“Well, if you’re curious about what happened then, ask this fellow, Kurs. He was at the scene.”

“I was only present at the scene, but I didn’t actually see it. Is there anything you’d like to know?”

“No, that’s fine.”

Rudger responded politely to Kurs’s words.

Then he looked down at the sword for a moment and said.

“That guy is strange, but I just find it hard to believe he ran away. I’m not saying I don’t believe you.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d get angry saying, ‘I lost to him, but someone else beat him?'”

“Why would an old man like me care about such things? Besides, isn’t it said that no throne is eternal? It wouldn’t be strange at all if someone appeared who surpassed him someday.”

Rudger said with a grin.

“So there’s no reason to be jealous or dislike someone who defeated the opponent who beat me. Well, I do find myself wanting to see his face.”

Recalling a man who had once taken it upon himself to be his teacher, Rudger smiled.

“I wonder what it would feel like to meet him now. I’m quite curious.”

After saying that, Rudger silently gazed at the sword for a while.

Various emotions seemed to cross his face, making it brighten a little.

After leaving Rudger alone for a while, Diana soon quietly called to him.

“Are you curious about him?”

“It’s fine. I can ask when I meet him.”

Rudger said with a smile, seemingly confident in their eventual reunion.

Then he asked in a small voice.

“By the way, may I touch this?”

Though it was the object that had taken his arm, it was still a legendary sword, and Rudger wanted to hold it once.

Diana asked incredulously.

“This thing cut off your arm, and you want to touch it?”

“When you put it that way, it’s not that I don’t have reservations… but there’s no reason why I shouldn’t. It’s not like the object itself is guilty.”

“That’s not wrong, but it’s still baffling. No, you old man.”

Diana glared at Rudger and said.

“Kay, that friend trusted us with this. He’s the owner, so I can’t allow it.”

“Kay, that guy would have said ‘Do whatever you want, Master’ and permitted it.”

“I think that friend would say the opposite, that ‘that damn old man isn’t allowed.'”

Diana and Rudger glared at each other briefly before chuckling.

In truth, both of their statements were half right.

“If it were him, he’d say ‘damn old man, touch it if you want.'”

“It’s not like it has much meaning anyway, since it’ll soon become scrap metal.”

After saying that, Diana moved aside slightly, and Rudger slipped into her place.

As he caressed the sword, Rudger murmured.

“A legendary sword truly is different… I can feel its history stained with blood.”

As if smelling the blood that remained on the sword, Rudger spoke quietly.

After staring at the sword for a long time, Diana addressed him.

“Seeing how much you wanted to touch it, it seems quite desirable. Aren’t you going to ask me to sneak it away for you?”

“Why would I covet and seize someone else’s property? Besides, it’s only right for the old to step back with their hands behind their backs, trusting the young.”

Rudger said that and then sighed.

“There was a time when I lived day by day, farming and hoping to see my grandchildren’s faces, but now I’m being dragged back to the battlefield, which is somewhat frustrating.”

Perhaps he had grown quite weary during his time as a paladin.

Rudger sighed deeply as he spoke.

And Diana, looking at him, smiled brightly and said.

“You know I also said I was retiring but got dragged back out, right? Congratulations. Get to work.”

“You old hag.”

Despite his words, the two actually empathized with each other’s situations to some extent.

They were just old friends, and among the few companions left to each other, exchanging meaningless banter.

And their other friend spoke gruffly.

“You two, keep it down.”

The old half-dwarf blacksmith glared at them as he spoke.

Then he looked back at Diana.

“So you want me to make this into a shield, right?”

“Yes. That’s what he asked for.”

Diana said, looking down at the Dragon Slayer.

“He said since it’s a blood-soaked item, let’s make it reborn as something that protects others.”

“That’s interesting. It feels like a provocation to the Dragon Slayer.”

Rudger laughed brightly, finding it amusing.

“The intention is good. Honestly, it’s admirable. But…”

The blacksmith narrowed his eyes and said.

“…it will be quite difficult.”

“What’s difficult about it?”

“I’ve never worked with this metal before.”

The blacksmith looked at Diana.

“If I make this into a shield with my skills, the quality might be lower than expected. I’ll try my best, though.”

“You’re not confident?”

“I’m always confident. But this is my first time, so I’m just setting expectations.”

The blacksmith glared slightly at Diana.

“Honestly, I’ll need to constantly consult with my newly appointed master. I might even need to request assistance from the magic tower. I might have to bill the Lavencha Guild for materials.”

“Since the guild master has approved it, our support isn’t an issue, but…”

Rachel, the vice guild master of the Lavencha Guild who had been quiet until now, made a slightly pained expression.

Of course, they had sufficient financial resources, but it wasn’t entirely pleasant to spend money on something that wasn’t for her own use or for the guild’s benefit.

Naturally, being a merchant, Rachel didn’t voice these thoughts, but the blacksmith had already read her mind.

“Since the guild master approved it, accept it gladly.”

“Our guild master Eve. It’s good that she finally got a boyfriend, but things like this…”

Rachel sighed lightly.

“I’d be less worried if she would just catch that man and marry him.”

“Hmm.”

“The young lady is shy, you know. She’s probably hiding somewhere…”

“Oh?”

Diana briefly considered mentioning that the guild master and her boyfriend had already gone all the way, but she thought it might be strange for someone not directly affiliated with the guild to relay such news, so she hesitated.

Meanwhile, the blacksmith tapped his body and said.

“Anyway, I’ll do as ordered, remember that. I’ll be learning as I go, so I don’t know how long it will take, but it’s not impossible.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Diana turned her face away as she responded to the words of the most skilled blacksmith she knew.

The major task she had come here to do was finally complete.

Then, Diana narrowed her eyes slightly and said.

“By the way, where is your master?”

Diana quietly inquired about the whereabouts of a person whose identity made them impossible to ignore.

It would be best to assign guards to such a person if possible.

And the blacksmith grinned and said.

“He went out with Peri to buy some things. Along with that Lara, the dwarf freeloader.”

The blacksmith mentioned the name of the female dwarf whom his apprentice had unexpectedly brought back from Ferarius.

Looking at the blacksmith’s slightly smiling face, Diana quietly asked.

“Speaking of which, I heard that dwarf girl and Peri are getting along well. Any thoughts on that?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. His business is his business. Why should I care?”

The blacksmith said with a grin.

“Anyway, it will take quite a lot of time. Remember that.”

“Alright.”

Diana shrugged her shoulders as she looked at the half-dwarf who seemed to want plenty of time due to his lack of confidence.

Among her acquaintances, there was no craftsman more skilled than this half-dwarf blacksmith, so she had no other choice.

That’s why she trusted and entrusted it to him, but…

“Try to do it quickly.”

Rudger said seriously.

The blacksmith chuckled and said.

“Trying to act like a master to my apprentice?”

“That’s part of it… but no, it’s for a different reason.”

Rudger scratched his cheek slightly and said.

“Somehow, I feel like there will be a major battle in the near future.”

“You?”

“Everyone.”

Rudger quietly said.

“I don’t know what it is, but looking at the Dragon Slayer gave me that feeling.”

Rudger’s eyes narrowed.

“A great battle will occur soon. Definitely.”

As if telling himself.

Rudger quietly said.

“It might just be an old man’s worry. But still, I think it’s best to prepare as much as possible.”

‘So you feel that way.’

Diana didn’t say anything more.

Was it because she had spent many years fighting?

She too felt that sensation, albeit faintly.

If she herself felt this way, the words of Rudger, who had spent even more time in battle than she had, couldn’t be taken lightly.

“Do you know who the opponent is?”

“How would I know that?”

Rudger answered as if it were absurd.

“But I think it’s probably related to Kay. That guy tends to get entangled in incidents and accidents to an unusual degree.”

Thinking of his disciple who would now be in Bestia, Rudger quietly said.

“…I suppose it’s time for old folks who just want to rest to pick up their weapons again.”

After saying that, Rudger.

Raised his “right arm.”

Below the severed part of his right arm, a metal armor served as a replacement.

“Be prepared. It can’t hurt.”

With a clacking sound, the noise of Rudger moving his arm spread around them.

And a moment later.

“I still consider myself active duty.”

The blacksmith said this with a grin.

“Right. I’ll prepare as hard as I can.”

Pointing at the Dragon Slayer, the blacksmith said.

“I’ll make it as quickly as possible with all my strength. Ah, for that, I’ll need help from the vice guild master lady over there. Understood?”

“Me?”

“Who else? Support me diligently.”

The blacksmith spoke gruffly, looking at Rachel.

And Rachel sighed lightly, then smiled bitterly and said.

“Well, the young lady isn’t married yet anyway. Fine, let’s do it.”

“Don’t spare any support. As Rudger said, there will be enormous events ahead.”

The blacksmith said with a grin.

Rachel smiled and said.

“In return, please help with preparing the young lady’s wedding trousseau?”

“Yes, yes. I got it.”

The blacksmith smiled at Rachel.

Just as the conversation in the forge was about to end.

“I’m back… there are a lot of guests?”

“You’re back.”

The blacksmith frowned deeply at his apprentice who had finally arrived.

“You’re late.”

“We had a lot to buy. So what’s going on? Sir Rudger, is there something wrong with your prosthetic arm?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Peri and Lara entered through the door first, and Rudger answered their question.

“But just in case, since you’re here, could you check its condition?”

“No problem.”

Peri smiled and approached Rudger.

And Rudger sat on a chair to have his arm checked.

While Peri brought tools to examine the condition of Rudger’s arm, the blacksmith said.

“You kids, where’s the master?”

“Ah, if you mean him, he’s behind…”

Lara was about to answer about the location of the newly appointed master.

However, before Lara could finish her answer, someone suddenly appeared.

With his gaze fixed on the Dragon Slayer, the man muttered.

[I step out for a brief rest, and it seems this is what caused all the commotion?]

A dwarf wearing dwarven steel armor poked his head in, stepping past the blacksmith.

Naturally noticing this, the blacksmith quietly murmured.

“Master Dvel, take a look at this.”

[Hmm.]

Dvel, the blacksmith of the hero’s party, was entering the forge.