episode_0225

“How is it, Ska?”

Bendrick, the King of Lionel, asked Jeong Yushin.

“It suits you well.”

Jeong Yushin nodded and replied.

Bendrick’s appearance was different from the beginning.

His brilliant blonde hair was tinged with brown.

His handsome face had transformed into a hawk nose and a goldfish mouth that protruded out.

“Did you use a magic tool?”

“That’s right.”

Two days had passed since Bendrick arrived at the inn.

With two high-ranking people staying at the inn, even Jeong Yushin, who had a big nerve, had to be careful of his behavior.

Jeong Yushin scratched his head.

He didn’t know why the king had suddenly disguised himself.

Nor why he had sent most of the Royal Guards inside the inner castle, only bringing one bodyguard with him.

“But why are you in full armor?”

Bendrick asked.

“I’m going to the smithy to get my equipment repaired. I wore it in advance because I was too lazy to carry it around.”

“Hoo. Is that so? But you have a lot of swords. Three of them.”

“That’s right.”

Not only Beatrice.

But also the bastard sword from the Jereus Workshop.

And the blue longsword made at Boron’s smithy.

Two swords were slung behind his back, and Beatrice was hanging from his waist.

Beatrice insisted on being at his waist.

Every time he walked, the scabbard smacked his butt, and he suspected that Beatrice was deliberately aiming for it.

“Ska, let’s go together.”

“Yes?”

“I need to see the city.”

“Yes. Sure. But you’ll have a meeting at the inner castle soon, aren’t you going to prepare separately?”

Bendrick shrugged.

“Why would I? The subordinates do the detailed work. And I prepared everything before coming here.”

“Then why is Ingrid so busy?”

“It’s a tribal alliance, isn’t it? Everyone has different opinions, so they have to coordinate. She must be very tired.”

No wonder she’s been going out so often lately.

“You could do it at my inn?”

“I guess she wants to keep it as a place to rest. She handles work outside and rests comfortably inside.”

“Are you close to Ingrid?”

Bendrick smiled.

“She is one of the pillars of the Eastern Alliance. Of course, I’ve met her several times at meetings. We’ve had quite a long relationship.”

“Is that so? What was Ingrid like in the past?”

Bendrick rubbed the back of his neck at Jeong Yushin’s question.

“She was a great warrior. She wielded a huge broadsword in one hand and a dagger in the other, and she was fearsome. She was young, had leadership skills, was calm and considerate, and was even beautiful, so all the Beastmen looked up to her.”

Jeong Yushin imagined it.

Ingrid fighting with a huge broadsword and a dagger.

“She was a flower on a cliff.”

“That’s right. And still is, even after losing her husband.”

“Ahem!”

A cough came from behind.

Ingrid was standing there with a stiff face.

“Bendrick, your compliments are excessive from the morning.”

“I’m just telling the truth. You must be quite bothered these days? I know there are many tribal chiefs proposing to you.”

“I have no intention. They’re all trying to grab power.”

Ingrid finished speaking and looked at Jeong Yushin.

“Ska, are you thinking of going into the dungeon?”

“No. I’m going to the smithy to get my equipment repaired.”

“Is that so? Have a good trip. I think I’ll be late again today.”

Bendrick smiled and waved his hand.

“Ingrid, take care. I should take a walk with Ska. And see the city while I’m at it.”

“As you wish.”

Leaving behind Ingrid’s strangely sharp gaze.

Jeong Yushin, Bendrick, and the female knight who was the escort left the inn.

“Ska, are you going to the western district?”

“That’s right. The smithy street is on that side.”

Bendrick took a deep breath of the chilly autumn air and walked.

Jeong Yushin scratched his head.

He was walking down the street with the king of a country.

It was a dazed feeling.

Moreover, this king was looking around the streets with eyes full of interest.

Beastmen and Elves, Dwarves and Humans.

Occasionally, even monsters were mixed in the streets.

‘He’d be shocked if he went to the eastern district.’

Beatrice muttered in a smiling voice.

Jeong Yushin stroked Beatrice without answering.

“By the way, can I ask who those bums who were spying on me a few days ago were?”

“You have no idea who they are?”

“I have a guess, but I’m asking just in case.”

“I’ll tell you when the walk is over.”

“Yes. I understand.”

As he entered the western street, Granny came running up to him, panting.

“Mr. Ska!”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Ah! I didn’t come here on purpose. I was on my way back from delivering furniture to the Fire Spirit Temple when I saw you, so I came to say hello. But… who is this person next to you…?”

Granny looked at the smiling Bendrick and asked cautiously.

Jeong Yushin stepped forward instead.

“He’s an acquaintance. I’m showing him around the city.”

Granny nodded.

“I see. If he’s your acquaintance, Mr. Ska, then we’re not strangers either. Welcome. Um…”

“Call me Ben.”

“Yes. Mr. Ben.”

“So, you’re young, but you’re in the furniture sales business?”

“Yes, I mainly make furniture for older people.”

“He’s a wonderful young man.”

Granny scratched the back of his head as if he was embarrassed by Bendrick’s compliment.

“It’s only natural as the leader of the Grandma Lovers Clan.”

“…”

Bendrick closed his mouth and blinked.

A moment of silence passed.

Bendrick opened his mouth again.

“Grandma what?”

“Ah! It’s the Grandma Lovers Clan. I’m the clan leader, Granny.”

“Heo…”

Bendrick put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

Clear and high. Is it autumn?

“A young man has fallen in love with late autumn. Like a tree with falling leaves.”

“It’s just the appearance. Inside, I’m full of overflowing vitality.”

Bendrick nodded without showing any emotion at Granny’s answer.

“That’s right. The glory of young men is their strength, and the glory of old men is their white hair. He was a young man with deep aesthetic sense.”

As expected of a king, his expression was elegant.

Granny smiled brightly.

“You’re someone who knows something. Ah! Mr. Ska, I’ve made a symbol for our clan, would you like to see it?”

When did he even make that?

He hadn’t even named the small and medium-sized clan alliance yet.

“Should I make myself scarce?”

Jeong Yushin shook his head at Bendrick’s question.

“No. It’s okay.”

Granny took out a neatly folded cloth from his pocket and unfolded it.

The picture embroidered on the cloth was familiar.

Jeong Yushin widened his eyes and said.

“A sickle… and a hammer?”

“How is it?”

A picture of a sickle and a hammer crossing each other was clearly visible on the cloth that Granny unfolded.

Moreover, the color of the cloth was red.

Bendrick admired the picture embroidered with a sickle and a hammer, then tilted his head.

“Looking at this symbol… for some reason, my heart is fluttering.”

Jeong Yushin was silent.

As Bendrick said.

Where did he get the red picture from?

‘What’s wrong?’

Beatrice asked, but he didn’t answer.

Granny went one step further.

“I’ve also named the small and medium-sized clan, would you like to hear it?”

“What is it?”

“Most of our clan members are people who work and explore at the same time, right? So, I’m going to name it the Workers’ Union Clan.”

“Workers’ Union?”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin also put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky for a moment.

The season of high sky and stout horses.

The autumn sky was.

As high and clear as Granny’s ideals.

“Granny.”

“Yes. Just say the word.”

“Let’s calm down and think carefully first. We have plenty of time.”

Granny’s expression darkened.

He thought he was a clear and simple young man, but was it just his imagination that he felt strangely scary?

Jeong Yushin patted Granny’s shoulder, feeling a strange fear.

“It’s a symbol with high ideals. You’ve worked hard.”

“I understand. I’ll come back more prepared than before.”

Granny neatly folded the symbol, put it in his pocket, and left.

Bendrick stroked his chin, looking at Granny’s retreating figure.

“Are these the people who live in the dungeon city? I feel like my perspective has broadened.”

“There are many unique people. Haven’t you heard?”

“I’ve heard rumors about unique stigmas, but it’s different when I see it in person. I heard that a mage who lives with the word ‘trash’ attached to him entered the kingdom’s academy recently, and the students’ expressions are grim. I should have gone to see him before coming here.”

Jeong Yushin couldn’t help but smile.

He remembered the old mage with the bratty stigma.

He had a relationship with him from being in a failure party together.

How is he doing these days?

“Is that mage doing well?”

“I heard that he’s doing his job meticulously and well, so he doesn’t have to worry about being fired. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin headed to Boron’s smithy.

Einhofer was working separately, and there was a banging sound from inside the smithy.

Only Boron was sitting at the counter.

Boron saw Jeong Yushin and waved his hand.

“Yo. Master Ska.”

“It’s been a while. Boron.”

“Congratulations. I heard you became the head of the small and medium-sized clan alliance this time?”

“Yes.”

“I saw the duel too. You fought really well.”

“You flatter me.”

“But who are these people?”

“They’re acquaintances who came out to see the city.”

“Is that so?”

Boron looked closely at the sword of the female knight standing next to Bendrick and turned his head.

“What did you come for?”

“I came to get my equipment repaired and to see Einhofer.”

“I see. You deliberately wore the equipment, huh? Take it off.”

Jeong Yushin put a bottle of alcohol on the counter and took off his equipment one by one.

Meanwhile, Bendrick and the female knight spent time looking at the weapons hanging in the smithy.

Boron looked at Jeong Yushin’s equipment and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. You used it roughly. It’s scratched all over.”

“Is there anything that needs to be repaired separately?”

“No. It’s not that bad, you just need to replace the armor tightening straps. And sharpen your sword. Didn’t I give you a whetstone?”

“I’ll sharpen it more often in the future.”

Boron piled up the armor and two swords next to the counter and glanced at the inner door.

“Einhofer is working, are you going to see him?”

“Of course.”

Bendrick stepped forward.

“Can I watch too?”

Boron shrugged.

“Suit yourself.”

Jeong Yushin, Bendrick, and the female knight went into the room.

A room full of hot forge fire.

Einhofer was hammering away.

Thud!!!

Thud!!!

Thud!!!

Jeong Yushin admired Einhofer’s hammering.

He looked skillful, unlike a Dwarf with the tremor stigma and the stamina depletion stigma.

As expected, Einhofer hadn’t neglected his efforts as much as he had.

He felt relieved and grateful for that.

Then.

“Oops.”

Einhofer’s hammer slipped out of his hand and flew towards Bendrick.

Whoosh!!!

Before Jeong Yushin could reach out, the female knight stepped forward and knocked the hammer away.

Clang!!!

Bendrick blinked and opened his mouth slightly.

“Is this an assassination attempt?”

Jeong Yushin’s heart sank.

What a big deal that was.

“Ah, no. Einhofer has a tremor stigma, so he sometimes drops the hammer from his hand.”

“Ah. Is that so? I misunderstood something. Hehehe.”

Jeong Yushin and Bendrick looked at each other and gave awkward smiles.

Einhofer turned his head.

“Ska?”

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Of course. I saw the duel in the central plaza. It was impressive.”

Jeong Yushin smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

He was happier than anyone else at Einhofer’s compliment.

Einhofer looked at the woman who drew her sword and Bendrick, and then he realized the situation.

“I’m sorry. The hammer sometimes flies out of my hand.”

Bendrick waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

“Einhofer, I bought a bottle of alcohol, would you like a drink?”

“Sounds good.”

Jeong Yushin, Einhofer, Boron, and Bendrick’s party.

Gathered in front of the smithy counter and opened a bottle of alcohol.

Bendrick looked down at the cup with a dazed face.

“Why are you drinking alcohol from the morning?”

Boron’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Morning? It’s lunchtime now. Don’t drink if you don’t want to.”

“No. It’s not that.”

Dwarven fiery liquor was poured into each cup.

The female knight took a sip first and nodded.

“It’s good.”

“Heo. To think I’d be squatting in a smithy and drinking in the afternoon. Am I dreaming?”

Bendrick muttered with a subtle expression and picked up the cup and downed it.

Boron grinned.

“Daytime drinking is the joy of life. You’ve wasted your life, huh?”

Bendrick let out a hot sigh and picked up the cup again.

“Hoo. That’s right. Pour me another one.”

“Sounds good.”

People took turns emptying their cups and chattering about various things.

Bendrick also enjoyed the conversation with a much more relaxed expression.

Before long, it was evening.

Bendrick got up from his seat.

“Let’s call it a day and go back.”

“I understand.”

Boron also got up from his seat and waved his hand.

“It was a good drinking session. Come by often.”

“I will.”

Jeong Yushin bowed slightly to the two dwarves.

“Boron, Einhofer, I’ll go back first.”

“Okay. Come again later.”

“Goodbye. You can come and pick up your equipment in a few days.”

Jeong Yushin and Bendrick left the smithy and slowly walked down the evening streets.

Bendrick’s face was red, as if he was quite drunk.

“I’m having a lot of different experiences today.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin didn’t have anything to say.

Bendrick volunteered to accompany Jeong Yushin, he hadn’t forced him.

“You seem quite drunk, should we go back? I’ll guide you to the inn.”

“No. There’s one more place left.”

Jeong Yushin tilted his head inwardly at Bendrick’s words.

“Where are you thinking of stopping by?”

Bendrick, who had been walking in silence for a long time, slowly opened his mouth.

“My son.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin immediately realized.

The reason why Bendrick hid his identity and took a seat at Darmong’s inn from the beginning.

Quietly.

To see his eldest son without anyone knowing.

There may be other reasons as well, but he couldn’t know.

“Are you going to see Iron Mask?”

“Iron Mask. Yes. I’ve roughly figured out where he is. Are you going with me?”

“Yes.”

The female knight walked ahead silently.

The place where Iron Mask stayed.

Was a place where houses close to the dungeon were gathered, past the smithy street.

The group passed through the alley and stood in front of a dilapidated wooden house.

The female knight knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock.

The noisy sound beyond the door subsided.

Someone burst out, throwing the door open.

A dwarf wearing only his underwear, naked.

It was Kubo, the priest who served the Fire Spirit God.

The dwarf looked up at the dazed Bendrick and asked.

“Who are you?”

“Uh…that I am…no, I mean me. Heo. No, is this right?”

Bendrick Lionel, who had never stuttered in front of countless vassals.

Seeing the naked dwarf’s belly and plump thighs, he had stopped.

He stuttered and revealed his inner thoughts.