episode_0079

‘Oh come on, no way. I thought the assault squad captain was 21 years old. Then the user is a genius, but Expert is too much…’

Mina considered the possibility of Eugene being a Sword Expert through circumstantial evidence, but her thoughts were immediately suppressed.

It just doesn’t make sense.

A Sword Expert at the age of 21 is by far the most legendary among commoners. Even among nobles, he is a genius among geniuses.

‘I think I need to think differently… Was I too confident in my skills? Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve actually made a Greatsword Armor since I was under my master. It’s also an armor that is greatly affected not only by mana but also by general physical abilities.’

Therefore, Mina’s thought process turned to her own problems.

It is absurd to even ask the other person if they are a Sword Expert.

Depending on how you think about it, it could be seen as blaming Eugene for her own lack of skill.

So Mina revisited the Greatsword Armor production knowledge she possessed and began to examine Eugene’s Greatsword Armor accordingly.

‘I see, Mina seems to be thinking it’s her fault? Hmm… realistically, that’s the right way to react. Unless you have absolute confidence in your skills.’

Eugene could also see Mina’s eyes and behavior.

‘Should I tell Mina about my Expert awakening situation? Otherwise, I can’t make proper armor at my current level. Even if I trick her into making it, it will break down again soon. In fact, that’s the rule in the Knights Order, where there are Experts.’

Among the nobles, even reaching Sword User status is enough to have a dedicated blacksmith.

The reason is that even at the User level, mana manifestation is considerable, so detailed differences are created depending on whether the blacksmith knows the level of the awakened person well or not.

In the realm of mana, this detail ultimately creates a huge gap in the practical realm.

Therefore, needless to say, this is even more true for Experts.

Thus, the relationship between an Expert Awakener and the blacksmith who creates and manages the equipment of that Expert Awakener is intertwined with great trust.

On the other hand, this means that Expert Awakeners carefully select and find trustworthy blacksmiths.

Therefore, it is the rule for those who have achieved Expert Awakening within the Knights Order to tell their dedicated blacksmith about this top secret.

‘I can’t judge Mina’s skills as a blacksmith, but no matter what, I think her trustworthiness is overflowing.’

Eugene is well aware that although he has achieved a 2nd awakening as an Expert, his knowledge as a swordsman and the depth of his awakened abilities are poor.

In other words, realistically, the only area where he can reconsider and question his blacksmith partner is trust.

From that point of view,

Mina the blacksmith, who is full of craftsmanship unlike her age,

is trying to live a righteous life,

and did not succumb to Kyle’s threat to protect her trust with the human Eugene Schneider,

she is a perfectly trustworthy blacksmith from Eugene’s perspective.

“Hey Mina, I think I need to be honest with you. There has been a big change in me recently, and it’s related to that.”

So in the end, Eugene decided to tell Mina about his 2nd awakening.

“A big change recently? Is there anything else besides becoming a User?”

Mina reacts to Eugene’s words, but judging from her expression, it seemed that she had given up on the Sword Expert side and was thinking about other changes in Eugene’s personal life.

“Actually, I had my 2nd awakening during this quest. I became a Sword Expert. I think that’s why the armor broke. I’ve been fighting and training with Sword Expert stats for a few days.”

In this way, Eugene revealed the fact that he had awakened as a Sword Expert to Mina in an open-hearted voice.

“You became a Sword Expert??? Really???”

It was truly a bombshell confession, and as a result, Mina’s eyes widened by about three times and she was shocked.

“Yes, somehow that’s how it happened. But for now, I’ve grown too much at once, so I’m just telling other people that I’m a User officially. Except for the captain. It has also been updated to User in the association.”

After that, Eugene indirectly explained the reason why he registered as a User instead of an Expert in the association profile.

“Ah…well, that’s inevitable…of course…it would be shocking if you were a Sword Expert.”

Nod…! Nod…! Nod…!

Mina nods slowly with a slightly spaced-out expression, the story of the association record did not seem important to her.

‘Did he really become an Expert at the age of 21?’

First and foremost, what fills Mina’s head is the fact that Eugene is a 21-year-old Expert genius awakener.

And,

“But why are you telling me that…”

She doesn’t understand why Eugene is telling her this amazing story.

“Well, of course, Mina is the one in charge of my Greatsword Armor. I know that from Expert onwards, you have to have such in-depth conversations with the blacksmith.”

Eugene gave a manual-like answer to that.

“No, it’s not that, you should find a more skilled and renowned blacksmith. From Expert onwards, equipment is really important.”

However, what Mina is saying is not that.

She’s saying, why don’t you switch.

If you relied on the skills of a mediocre blacksmith when your skills were so-so, it is natural to leave and find a blacksmith who is suitable for the vessel after becoming a swan.

In other words, Eugene would say it indirectly and then break off his relationship with Mina, and it is common sense to go to the blacksmith whom the Sword Experts of the Imperial Knights Order rely on.

And around the level of Sword Expert, it is a privileged area where no one thinks it is strange or feels sorry even if you do so.

However, Mina does not understand Eugene, who reveals the fact that he has awakened as a Sword Expert to herself, a common mercenary street blacksmith, without recognizing such a situation.

“……”

Eugene looks at Mina silently for a moment at that moment.

Smile!

Then he gave a warm smile with a subtle feeling.

“Because I trust blacksmith Mina. Furthermore, I said it because I trust the human Mina. As far as I know, one of the most important things between an Expert or higher awakener and their dedicated blacksmith is trust, and I think Mina meets that 200 percent.”

Mina thinks it’s natural to leave her, but Eugene doesn’t think so.

The reason Eugene is walking the path of a swordsman is not simply to desire strength, and efficiency.

I want to completely shake off the trauma of the past and become a good person.

Eugene has such a purpose, but how can he leave Mina, who has a precious heart?

‘He trusts me as a person? Me, a vulgar person from the underground city?’

Something like science fiction, for Mina, someone sending her human trust, absolute trust, means that.

For humans from the underground city, there is no value in projecting the value of trust.

Like Kyle said, just a one-night stand, just a consumable.

Eugene told her, who was like that, about the fact that she had awakened as an Expert, which was such an important matter, and said that the reason was because of his human trust in Mina herself.

That thing that Mina only had in words and never actually did happened.

Therefore, blacksmith Mina repeated Eugene’s words with a dazed feeling and a feeling that she clearly understood in her head but could not accept.

“This time, our mercenary group got a plus grade, so I think the quest will be quite high level. I think my role will also increase. So, Mina, please believe in my sincerity and stay with me.”

Eugene, who knows that Mina’s self-esteem from the underground city is very low, believes that the current appearance is also linked to that, so he more persuasively tells Mina to stay with him.

‘I should refuse, I’ve lived like that until now. The answer is to refuse and send him to a better blacksmith.’

Mina’s low self-esteem can be seen as understanding the subject from a realistic perspective.

If she had raised her head and looked up without doing so, her neck would have been cut off or she would have fallen back underground before she reached this point.

In fact, confronting Kyle to protect the relationship of trust with Eugene was, in a way, not understanding the subject.

‘I keep getting greedy for Eugene…’

What can’t be helped.

Because Mina likes Eugene.

Apart from the ways of life, the logic of the world, Mina is looking at Eugene as a person who is simply craving affection.

She gets greedy.

“Yes, I will take responsibility for Eugene’s armor. I will actively respond to that trust.”

Thus, Mina raised her head for the first time since leaving the underground city and looked at the sky.

It was Mina’s appearance, who decided to be greedy.

She will become the dedicated blacksmith of Eugene, a genius awakener Sword Expert.

So that Eugene’s trust does not fade as she said now.

‘Huh?’

Mina’s determined acceptance comment, which felt quite determined and firm, Eugene’s eyes widened slightly when he heard those words.

‘Oh! Mina called me Eugene!’

In the meantime, Mina called him Eugene-nim or Eugene Assault Squad Captain.

When Eugene first came to this smithy, her eyes, which were quite wary while bowing, were keeping a distance.

The DNA of vigilance is deeply embedded in the body as she is from the underground city.

That continued even though she had feelings for Eugene.

But now, as she takes a step forward completely, a change in her name that is very natural without being conscious is created.

“Okay, Mina, please take good care of me. We were already colleagues, but now I want to shake hands as colleagues who share our true hearts.”

Chuck!

So Eugene smiled proudly and asked Mina for a handshake.

This would be the beginning of the relationship between Sword Expert Eugene and his dedicated blacksmith Mina, not the relationship when Jeanne introduced her to Mina before.

“Yes…please take good care of me, Eugene. I will do my best to make and care for armor that will never tarnish Eugene’s reputation as a Sword Expert.”

Then, Mina took Eugene’s hand with a demure attitude and answered with a slightly lowered head with a blushing face.

“Uncle~ You have to keep your next promise~? You have to come to our village with our Mina unnie~?”

Eugene entrusted the Greatsword Armor to Mina for repair and upgrade and headed out of the smithy door.

Looking at Eugene leaving like that, Margaret hugged Mina and waved her hand brightly.

“Okay! I’ll definitely keep my promise, Margaret! See you then!”

Eugene, wearing leather armor and carrying a greatsword, responded to Margaret’s greeting with a bright smile.

‘I see…’

The beautiful light of the sunset was shining on such Eugene.

Then, at that moment, Mina, who had raised her head and looked at the sky, realized.

‘Eugene is a nobleman.’

Unusual dignity and manners, and although it was an awkward fashion, it was an undeniable beauty.

When the 21-year-old Sword Expert was added to that, Mina felt that he was a nobleman.