episode_0055

“What happened? What is this guy who says Baldite or something?”

Entering the workshop with my companions, I glanced at Pegma locking the door and patted Petra’s back, who was still crying.

“Sniff…well…that bastard has been targeting me and making all kinds of excuses. Actually, it’s been like that for quite some time, so I didn’t want to pay attention this time either… but suddenly, as if they had made a plan, they even dragged a soldier in and claimed that our workshop was guilty, citing documents we didn’t even know about. Sigh… The biggest crime among them was the defects in the weapons delivered to the lord’s castle and the weapons given to the lord… But we are truly innocent! Obviously, he changed it to something worse along the way…!”

“Oh, calm down. Because I understood everything. He was such a bad guy. If I had known it would be like this, would I have handed the finishing touches to you?”

“Yes?”

Petra, who opened her eyes round, immediately smiled and hugged me tightly.

“Hehe, that’s right. One hit from my hammer would have blown his head off… but that’s okay. I feel like my heart has been opened because you solved the problem so easily.”

“That’s a good thing.”

I laughed and looked at Pegma, who had returned to her seat.

He looked at me and my companions with complicated eyes and sighed softly.

“…It seems like there are more women than when I saw it before.”

“Huh? Ahaha. I’m a bit popular.”

“Phew…”

“Why are you sighing like that? Do you think you can’t handle it after killing the lord’s son? don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything and leave. Pegma Don’t let any harm come to you and your granddaughter Petra.”

“…Isn’t that natural? Mr. Zanderom.”

“Why are you being treated so respectfully all of a sudden? Do as you say.”

“I was treated harshly earlier for insulting the nobility…huh, damn noble bastards.”

“You bastard! What kind of nonsense did you do in front of the master…”

Karen tried to yell, but I raised my hand to stop her.

“Karen. Please don’t react to things like this. Every time something like this happens, I have to stop you, scold you, and explain it to you. It’s hard work.”

“Even so, there is a clear difference in status. If you ignore it, the system will be shaken!”

“Keuung… To be honest. Anyway, stay still. Because Pegma has the right to speak informally to me.”

Wow!

After smacking her ass, I looked at Pegma again. He and Petra were looking at Karen with distant eyes.

“…She is a formidable woman.”

“Master. What kind of relationship does that person, Karen, have with you?”

“Ah, I’ll explain that later, so let’s start with organizing it first. Are there any documents or contracts on the agenda that Baldite found fault with?”

“Of course.”

“Hand over all of that. I will use that as an excuse to take good care of you.”

“I don’t think it’s an issue that can be easily overlooked. Is it because you’re young that you don’t understand the situation well? You killed the lord’s son.”

“Well, Baldite also says a lot about my age. I’m so sad that I should get older quickly…you don’t have to worry about that problem. I’ll handle it quietly somehow.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Maybe? If things don’t work out, you have to force yourself.”

“Speaking is too light. I can’t trust you at all.”

“Just accept it. The situation has already happened and we have to clean it up somehow.”

“Whew… So, what are you going to say to clean things up? ”

“Well, somehow… Oh, there are a few things I need to check before that.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Valdite…No, does the lord of Bamkatul know Petra’s abilities?”

“No, I don’t know. Because I didn’t tell anyone about that ability. To be exact, I never told you either. You just found out how I found out and came here.”

“I see. So, does that mean that Baldite simply coveted Petra’s body? Then, the second time. Pegma you and Petra. Are you willing to move to our territory?”

“Hmm? That would be impossible, right? Even if we were willing, the lord would not let us go easily.”

I grinned and showed my teeth.

“That’s important. The lord would have treated an outstanding craftsman like you with the utmost respect. But the lord’s son ran wild like a thunderbolt, unaware of his father’s efforts? There will be no such figures. So tell me now. Are you willing to move to our territory?”

“Of course. There’s no way I want to stay here after being put through something like that. The amount that was there suddenly fell. Besides, unlike that bastard Baldite, you at least won Petra’s heart.”

“Huh? Heart?”

“Ha, grandpa!?”

Petra hurriedly tried to stop Pegma, but Pegma waved her hand with a bitter, sly smile.

“Since you left, there hasn’t been a day without the sound of you being a master. There was so much noise that my ears were covered in scabs. Of course, I haven’t acknowledged you yet. But, at least it’s clear that your granddaughter likes you… Ugh, I heard there’s no point in raising a daughter.”

“Grandpa! Why do you say that!”

Petra’s fist hit his shoulder. Even though she looks quite sick, Pegma smiles empty-handed and does not move a muscle.

“Keuhm, you say nice things. Oh, one last thing. Does that Baldite guy have a brother?”

“There is. My younger brother is two years younger than him.”

“Oh. Good. Then the succession issue won’t arise. okay. Then right away…”

“Delheim de Zanderom, please accept the lord’s call!”

At that time, with perfect timing, a voice calling me rang outside the workshop. It must be an article or messenger sent by the lord. After laughing, he stood up and patted Petra’s head.

“Wait a moment. I’ll take care of it and come back soon.”

“No…I’ll go too.”

“You too? Hmm…well, maybe it’s not that bad. Let’s go.”

“Ah! young master! You need to take the documents and contract with you!”

“Oh, that’s right.”

We hurriedly grabbed the wad of paper that was handed to us and went out of the workshop together.

The one who came out to meet us was a knight riding on a horse wearing gleaming full armor.

He had a number of knights and soldiers behind him, and he looked down at me with a stern expression, clutching the handle of his sword.

…That’s pretty good. It would be at least expert level.

“Delheim de Zanderom. Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Would you like to respond to the lord’s call? This is related to the death of Bamcatul de Baldite.”

“I will agree.”

“…Thank you for responding obediently. There will be no need for detention procedures. Please get on the carriage.”

“Wait a minute. I want to be with my companions?”

“The lord only called Zanderom.”

“Hmm…”

I gave up trying to remember what kind of person the Lord of Bamkatul was.

I would have known this if I had debuted in the social world a long time ago, but I was so uninterested in that field that it was tantamount to ignorance. In that case, it would be better to assume the worst and prepare for it.

“Then please wait a moment. I have something to discuss closely.”

I’m not afraid of going alone, but something might happen to my group while I’m gone. The driver frowned as if he didn’t like it, but then sighed and nodded.

“…How much can I give you?”

“It only takes 3 minutes.”

“Okay.”

I headed back to the workshop with my group, closed the door, and looked at Pegma.

“I have to come alone. In the meantime, I want to come up with my own countermeasures in case something happens to the people left here… but I need consent for this.”

Although I was speaking to everyone, I only looked at Pegma with a serious look on my face.

“Everyone knows about my abilities, right? Oh, Pegma and Petra don’t know. Well… to put it simply, I have my own subspace. You can put people in it, and you can change their personality, beliefs, etc. or raise their potential.”

“What, what!?”

“Is that also a type of superpower…?”

He nodded, looking at Pegma and Petra who were surprised.

“That’s right. However, there is something I haven’t told anyone until now…Once you enter my subspace, you can never escape. Let me show you an example. Thankakal, Saraha.”

“Yes! Master!”

“Yes. Master.”

“Stay inside for a moment.”

As soon as I said those words, the two women disappeared without a trace.

“Did you see it? In this way, you can enter subspace anytime, anywhere. In other words, once you enter, it becomes mine and mine from that moment on. So…Pegma.”

“Uh, hmm?”

“You just have to choose. Are you going to enter my subspace? We will guarantee your safety. No one will be able to harm you unless I die.”

“…Why are you asking only me? Other women…”

“No choice. Because every single woman here will be thrown into subspace. I can’t bear to see anyone get hurt or die while I’m away. If that’s the case, I’ll make it mine by force.”

“…You were a person with dangerous thoughts.”

“It doesn’t matter what you say. Now, choose. Oh, but since we’re talking about it, I’d like to ask, is there anyone among you who would refuse?”

When I said this while looking around at the women, they laughed with absurd expressions on their faces.

“No, you already said that. What kind of answer do you want? I don’t even have a choice.”

“I don’t care.”

“Me too! It seems a little romantic, so I’m actually excited, right?”

“Hehe…”

Even with my trash talk, they smiled in a calm atmosphere. I really can’t help but be grateful.

“Petra. What about you?”

“Yes, yes? Oh, I, I…”

Petra thought for a moment and then met his gaze with firm eyes.

“It’s okay. Instead, you must definitely take responsibility?”

“Of course. Okay then, Pegma. Only you are left. I honestly don’t want to put it there, but it’s a special treat. What do you want to do?”

“…I feel like a strange person here. Anyway, I don’t know what young people these days are thinking. You can’t believe you throw away your life so carelessly… I’m done. Just go.”

“Are you okay?”

“Hehehe. Even after all this, he is a well-known blacksmith. This means that he is a talent that is difficult to kill. Besides, I’ve met the lord here a few times, but he’s not the kind of person who moves emotionally.”

“But things are different now.”

“Of course it is. Since it was not someone else but their son, their eldest son, who died… how could I understand the feelings of parents who lost their child? There is a good chance that he will lose his temper and go on a rampage.”

“…So you still want to stay here?”

“Obviously. I have no intention of becoming yours. Just talking about it gives me goosebumps.”

“Hehe. Actually, I was reluctant too. The man had no intention of adding it to my collection.”

“…Please reveal appropriately.”

I immediately purchased character slots at the coin shop and added Harriet, Vanessa, Xenia, Karen, Halona, and Petra in that order.

Now you can take them out and put them in anytime, anywhere.

“Phew…good. Then let’s go. Take care of yourself. Pegma.”

Pegma looked at us with an indescribably complex expression and waved her hand.

“My body will take care of itself, so please take care of my granddaughter.”

“Sure.”

I went outside the workshop and looked at the knight who was waiting quietly.

“That’s it now. Let’s go.”

“Yes. Please get on the carriage.”

***

The lord’s castle, like the lord’s castle of Delheim, was built in a practical and easy-to-defense form.

Thick castle walls, a standard moat, and even a castle gate that controls access and acts as a bridge.

“…The question that comes to mind now is, why isn’t Pegma’s blacksmith shop located in the inner city of the lord’s castle? If it were his skills, the lord would have tried to take him.”

“Of course it was. But Pegma refused.”

“A nobleman’s suggestion?”

“Of course, it’s not just that. I understand that there is a condition for donating a certain amount of weapons every year.”

“Aha. That’s how it happened…”

As I entered the garden of the lord’s castle, a grumpy old butler with a handsome mustache guided me. Not to the drawing room, but directly to the lord’s office.

“Nice to meet you. Delheim de Sanderome. My name is Bamcatul de Garnis, lord of Bamcatul.”

“Nice to meet you. Lord.”

Garnis, of course, was very similar to Baldite. Baldite looked like he would become Garnis when he got older, so I guess all is said and done.

“You probably know why you were summoned.”

“Okay. I have no idea.”

“…I heard it was a fair duel.”

“That’s right.”

“But there were no witnesses.”

“What do you mean? Numerous soldiers, Pegma, and Petra who were there are witnesses. They are the ones who watched the situation from beginning to end.”

“…Why did you challenge me to a duel?”

“Because he targeted what was mine. And in a very cowardly way.”

A very fast and sharp catch ball comes and goes.

When that was said, the butler came carrying a tray.

“Sit down first.”

“Let’s do that.”

As I sat down on the sofa on one side of the office, Garnis also sat across from me.

The butler placed a teacup in front of each person and quietly left the room.

“When you say it’s yours, do you mean Petra?”

“Yes.”

“Why is Petra yours?”

“Because she loves me.”

Garnis’s brow furrows slightly at the bold answer.

Then he sighed as if he had resigned himself and leaned deeply into the backrest.

“Phew… Baldite was definitely a child who lacked education. But still, he was the eldest son who would take my place. How will you compensate for that?”

I thought he was going to ask about Baldite’s ‘cowardly ways’ and was preparing to answer, but no such thing was mentioned. Did I already know everything? Well, it’s strange not knowing.

“Hehe. Compensation for those who died in a duel? This is my first time hearing this.”

“Of course, there is no obligation to do so. Not only that, if I were to say something like this in social circles, I would be laughed at. Loss of honor and face is natural… but that’s not what I’m talking about right now.”

“Are you saying that’s not the case?”

“I’m very emotional right now. Because I lost my beloved son. I might lose my temper and do something. okay. For example, I could mobilize all my troops to kill you.”

Saying that with a face that doesn’t show even a single bit of anger makes me laugh.

“If you can, try it.”

“I don’t know what confidence you have.

“I have the skills to not die anywhere.”

“Hmm…interesting.”

He smiled softly, drank a cup of tea, then leaned his upper body forward and looked at me.

“If you do me a favor, I will let this matter pass. Let’s forget it cleanly and without any regrets.”

“I would have said that. Compensation for those who die in a duel is not acceptable.”

“Then you will return home with an enemy today.”

“……”

He sat there making threats that were unbecoming of him.

“Ha…”

Dealing with it afterward is more annoying and annoying than killing it. If I have to kill a noble in the future, I’ll just assassinate him.

When I come out like that, my rebellious nature may come out, but I suppress it when I think of my women and family.

Control your anger well.

“What is your request?”

“There will be a party at my mansion in a few days. Could you participate as Baldite’s representative there?”

“What does that mean? I’ve never even heard of you being a party agent.”

“To be exact, it is an agent of honor duel. I want you to fight there.”

“Duel…”

“It looks like my poor son provoked the other person quite severely. So the other side will definitely try to take the head of our duelist. Would you accept it?”

I looked at his face for a moment.

“By any chance…was it out of desperation that Baldite tried to satisfy his desires by doing such a cowardly thing to his important father-in-law? Since your life was limited anyway, were you planning on getting the woman you always wanted?”

“…maybe.”

“That means he is a strong opponent. They say they will definitely take your head… That’s a difficult request to just accept. I will place a condition. No matter what the outcome of the duel is, we will take Pegma and Petra to our territory.”

“……”

He narrowed his eyes and looked at me for a moment, then raised one corner of his mouth.

I feel uncomfortable with a smile that seems to look down on me.

“It doesn’t matter.”

You give up surprisingly easily. Is there another ulterior motive?

“…Good. But who is the opponent?”

“Hehe. You’ll see it for yourself then. It’s not like you don’t have confidence, right?”

“Unless you’re a sword master.”

“You are really confident. That’s not it, don’t worry. Hmm, then from now on we will treat you as our guest. Do you have company?”

“…there is.”

“Let’s treat them all as guests too. Oh, and don’t worry about Pegma and Petra. I promise not to cause any harm.”

“Thank you for that.”

“I’ll just go out now. We also need to prepare for the duel.”

After saying hello, I nodded lightly and left the office.