Chapter 40 – After the Subjugation (1)

Four days had passed since Carpeng’s subjugation and Luchi’s death.

The world kept spinning, largely unchanged. But a few things were different now.

First, Hephaestus’ blacksmith shop had become incredibly popular. The fact that I had almost killed Carpeng using the sword she gave me had turned her business into a massive success. Because of that… I couldn’t even go near it anymore.

I tried to buy some things, but there were just too many people. I thought I might suffocate if I stayed! Of course, I did try going once. Holding Rubia’s hand, I cheerfully skipped inside. But then, everyone freaked out and ran away in a panic. Some people even screamed…

Is Rubia really that scary? I mean, maybe at first, but once you get to know her, she’s not so bad… I guess it’s her authority that terrifies them. After all, she outranks most nobles.

Next, Rubia… On the first day, she cried all day. She even woke up in the middle of the night crying. On the second day, she managed to eat something, but she cried while eating. She cried while talking, while bathing, even while laughing.

So I told her if she laughs and cries at the same time, she’d grow hair on her butt, which made her laugh again. Then I added she’d grow horns instead, and she giggled even more.

By the third day, she was back to being the old Rubia. She stopped crying and started speaking properly again. We even ate steak together and took a walk. We sighed together while looking at the collapsed south gate. We cheered on the villagers as they cleaned up the west gate.

A gold-ranked adventurer approached to say hello, and Rubia glared at him. Other adventurers loitered around Rubia too, but I chased them all away. I glared, mimicked Carpeng, and growled, “Arrrrr!” They all ran off. Cowards.

And as for me… They insisted I rest completely, confiscating my greatsword, and I spent two days clinging to Rubia like some kind of comfort toy. I really felt like a stuffed doll. At least Rubia made sure to wash me… I mean, I felt really refreshed after being taken care of.

Oh, speaking of comfort toys… My greatsword… they said it couldn’t be repaired. Even Hephaestus and the other blacksmiths gave up… Sure, the sword Hephaestus gave me isn’t bad, but… It just doesn’t feel the same as my old one. At night, hugging it helped me sleep so well…

So yeah, I spent some sad, gloomy days with Rubia. But at least she hugged me tightly, and it was… somewhat comforting.

Sometimes, when I felt the urge to get some fresh air, Rubia and I would go outside and set off fireworks. Once in the village center. Once at the steakhouse. Once at the empty lot that had turned into a mess from our battle. And once at the southern gate where we fought Carpeng.

Each time, Rubia would sniffle. And I’d feel sad about my lost greatsword. It had only been three days. But I missed it so much.

Oh, right, we were supposed to spar at some point… Now that won’t happen. Nothing will.

“Hey, kid! When we meet again, how about we arm wrestle once more?” Heinzel had said.

“You already lost once… It’ll just end the same again,” I replied.

And today, on the fourth day… Standing in front of me with a smirk, Heinzel announced that he was returning to his village. He said he would be taking Luchi with him. I wondered how he’d manage with one arm, but a group of adventurers had come from his village to escort him.

But seriously, not a single one of them had a greatsword? Tsk, these days, people just don’t appreciate romance. Ugh.

“You sure know how to hit where it hurts, huh… Anyway, listen up, kid. Eat well, go to bed early, don’t get into too many fights. And, don’t lose your way—keep moving forward.”

After what felt like ten minutes of nagging, Heinzel pointed at Luchi’s sword hanging on my waist.

“He cherished that, so take good care of it. Hahaha! At least I won’t have to buy you a meal! See you next time, kid!”

His laughter, though quieter and weaker than usual, echoed as he turned and walked toward the village exit. His loose sleeve flapped in the wind. I could hear my teeth grinding.

“Now that Heinzel’s gone, shall we get ready too, Noah?” Rubia asked.

I pretended not to see or hear her. Then I smiled faintly and turned to face her. Rubia reached out, gently taking my hand in hers.

“Yes,” I nodded, grasping her hand in return.

Her warm touch… It eased the memory of the familiar grip of my greatsword, just a little.

“Noah, you don’t look so good… hmm, how about we go get some jelly?”

Gasp… I didn’t know such beautiful words existed…

“Yes!!”

“Haha, I’ll buy you plenty, but make sure not to eat it all at once. Okay?”

I nodded energetically, pushing all distractions aside.

Mm… jelly. Maybe I’ll ask for only peach-flavored ones this time. A whole bag full of peach jelly…

A whole bag? Wait… oh no, oh no!!

Jelly??

That bald guy, Heinzel… he never bought me jelly!

That stingy, bald, shiny-headed jerk!!

One day, far in the future, when we meet again…

No, I’ll definitely meet him again, and I’ll make sure to squeeze double out of him.

Absolutely!

But that’s for later! Right now, it’s time for jelly.

Smiling brightly, recalling a familiar grin from the past, I walked hand-in-hand with Rubia, laughing softly.

Moving forward. Moving forward.

***

Prrrr- Neigh!

“Hmm… This should be enough. We can restock at Ursphere along the way,” Rubia said as she fastened bags to the horse’s saddle.

Oh, right. The annoying horse that spat on me was still alive and well. The stable had collapsed, so I thought it might have died, but it came galloping back from afar. Chewing on a goblin’s arm… I’m glad it survived, though. It’s kind of cute, in its own annoying way.

“And don’t forget the shard. If you start feeling weird or have headaches, or if something doesn’t seem right, tell me immediately, okay?”

“The shard…? Oh, this thing. Yeah, no problems… yet.”

I squeezed the small shard in my hand. It was a fragment from Carpeng. Known as “The End’s Fragment,” it’s something created by the End that monsters like Carpeng carry inside them.

Hmm… that’s what this world calls it, anyway. If we were talking in game terms, it’s an Epic Magic Stone you can get from raid bosses!

Common. Rare. Unique. Epic!

It’s a whopping four tiers above normal! It’s super rare! It’s the kind of magic stone that grants amazing effects when embedded in weapons!

Just thinking about it made my face break into a huge grin.

But what was Carpeng’s effect again? I remember it being powerful, but the penalty was a pain, so I didn’t use it often. Was it “Thirst”?

Eh, whatever! I’ll figure it out once I use it! I’m sure it’ll come in handy!

“I’m glad there’s no issue with it… But I never expected you to be the one to receive it. The Adventurer’s Guild seemed like they were going to take it. What could it mean?” Rubia wondered.

“Yeah, it was weird…”

It was still a bit puzzling. On the third day, a woman from the Central Adventurer’s Guild—what was her title again? Anyway, some high-ranking lady came to ask me questions. After asking for my name and background, she handed me the shard. She said, according to adventurer law, it belonged to the one who defeated the monster, and forced it into my hands.

I tried explaining that Luchi was the one who killed Carpeng, but she insisted it should go to the surviving adventurer who fought alongside him.

Well… I wasn’t about to argue. As soon as I held it, my heart started racing. The thought of growing stronger made my head feel light. But I also felt a little uneasy…

“Still, it’s officially yours now, so let’s think positively. I bet it’d sell for a fortune. Not that I expect you to sell it, though. Haha,” Rubia teased with a smile.

I chuckled, nodding along. Of course, I didn’t plan on selling it. I wanted to embed it in a weapon as soon as possible, but there wasn’t anyone in this village who could do it. I didn’t know if anyone in Ursphere could do it either…

But I hoped so. Ursphere was a pretty big city, so there should be someone, right? I really didn’t want to go all the way to the Empire’s capital… that’d take forever! Plus, I didn’t feel like going. And I was sure Rubia wouldn’t want to either.

Please… let there be someone in Ursphere!

Prrrr-

The horse next to me snorted, sticking its nose toward my hand, curious about the shard.

“W-wanna take a look?”

Prrrr- Neigh-

The horse nodded its head up and down.

“Hmm… Just don’t eat it, okay?”

Prrrr!

“Alright… Just be careful. It’s really important…”

I carefully held it out for the horse to see. The horse’s eyes sparkled as it examined the magic stone curiously.

But what do you even know…?

Prrrr-

The horse snorted again as if it was satisfied.

See? You don’t even know what you’re looking at.

I tucked the stone back into my pocket.

Rubia chuckled at the sight. “Oh? Looks like you two are getting along now.”

Neigh- Prrrr-

The horse turned its head sharply.

What the—?

“I-I’m not getting along with it… It’s ugly and smelly…”

I turned my head away as well. I didn’t like it either!

“Pfft… Is that so?” Rubia patted me on the head.

“Yes… That’s how it is… I don’t like it…”

Prrrr- Neigh- Clomp- Clomp-

The horse stomped its hooves dramatically.

So I…

“U-ugh…!”

Shuffle- Shuffle-

Hmm… My stomping wasn’t as impressive, but… At least I tried.

“Anyway… let’s get going.”

“Yes… it’s time to go.”

Rubia nodded and quietly glanced back at the village. I followed her gaze, imagining the village in my mind.

But… In this emotional, meaningful moment… What… is that?

“Heh… Huff, oh! Noah! Priestess!”

From a distance, Hephaestus was running toward us, waving frantically. And what was with that massive bag?

“Hephaestus?” Rubia looked at her, clearly confused.

“Huff… Oh, it’s… so heavy… whew…” Hephaestus collapsed in front of us, gasping for breath.

“Uh… what’s going on?” Rubia handed her some water as she asked.

“Thank you… gulp gulp… Are you heading past the Karahan Mountains?”

“Um… yes?”

Hearing Rubia’s answer, Hephaestus jumped to her feet and shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Please take me with you!!!”

“No. It’s too dangerous. You could die,” Rubia replied firmly, cutting her off without hesitation.

“I’ll repair all your gear for free along the way!”

Hephaestus didn’t give up and offered a tempting deal.

“There are no monsters on the Halvion Plains right now,” Rubia responded, remaining unmoved.

“Ugh… Well, in that case…”

Hephaestus’ face twisted for a moment, but then she pulled out her trump card.

“I can work with the shard… I know how to embed it… So, please take me with you.”

My jaw dropped. We’d been too busy to ask Hephaestus about it with her shop swamped with customers. But she could work with the shard?

However… even if she could, taking her with us would be risky, as Rubia had pointed out. Protecting her while fighting would just make things more difficult.

We should still refuse—

“I’ll also embed the shard for free,” Hephaestus added.

“Deal…!”

“Noah…?”

I pretended not to notice Rubia’s sharp gaze.

But hey, it’s free!

I reached out and shook Hephaestus’ hand. She grinned from ear to ear as she clasped my hand.

Good business, Hephaestus!