Chapter 127

Translator: Willia

It was a place where the rhythmic sound of hammering iron could be heard. Steel was born from flame and completed by cooling with tears.

But in one corner of the forge, it wasn’t iron being worked on, but wood. The large-framed Molty was meticulously shaping the wood with his rough and rugged hands over and over, gauging its weight by feel, then shaping it again.

At first, he carved it with a chisel, then smoothed it with sandpaper, and finally polished it with a leather strap.

From Ricardt’s point of view, there didn’t seem to be anything left to touch, but Molty continued refining it for another hour. Molty’s expression was so earnest that Ricardt didn’t dare speak to him.

Then finally, after fitting the guard onto the sword and attaching the wood, he fixed it by heating it with fire, and wrapped the handle tightly with thin twine to complete it.

“Wanna try holding it?”

Ricardt received the sword. He thought he would just have to get used to the weight, but as he held it, he could understand why Molty had poured so much effort into it.

It fit so perfectly in his hand, and the weight distribution was flawless, it made him wonder if he had ever felt something like this before.

“Wow, this feeling is a first. It's perfect. You know better than the sword’s owner.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ricardt pulled out some money from his pocket. But Molty shook his head and held out his hand.

“The payment’s already been made long ago.”

“When?”

“My life. What else?”

Back when Ricardt was a student at the academy, he once joined a mission to track down a deserter and ended up saving Molty from a surprise ambush.

Thanks to that, Molty survived, later married Lara, and now already had two children.

“...Ah, right. I forgot. But isn’t this a bit much for just saving your life?”

Ricardt said with a playful smile, and even the usually stern-faced Molty smiled deeply.

Molty wiped his neck and hands with a towel that had already been used many times. As he did so, he said,

“I’ll talk to the master. Can’t promise anything though.”

The master Molty referred to was the blacksmith who had once given Ricardt the Meteoric Iron Sword. That man was now suffering from cataracts and couldn’t work anymore, so Molty was running the forge in his place.

And saying he would talk to him meant he would bring up the matter related to the Nordian mercenary.

The Nordians who had settled in Beringen had, over generations, lost much of the bloodline of their ancient berserker ancestors and had mostly assimilated into the Empire. But there were still new Nordians arriving. He was one of them, and he had connections with Nordian mercenaries.

If things worked out and a true Nordian mercenary was sent, it would be an incredible help, far beyond the value of a life debt.

“I should meet him and give my greetings sometime, but I broke the sword, so I feel a bit ashamed.”

“No. Considering what you did with that sword, it’s more of an honor for the master. Money aside, a true blacksmith's greatest honor is seeing a weapon he made end up in the hands of a proper owner. Ricky, you’re bound to accomplish great things from here on. I know it.”

“Great things.”

Ricardt turned his head away with an embarrassed smile. He vaguely remembered what the master had once said.

‘A hero needs a weapon worthy of him. The payment will be the glorious deeds you achieve in the future.’

Cataracts, it really was a shame. But that’s life, isn’t it? And he didn’t believe something like cataracts would hold that man down.

"I'll be going."

“Yeah. Make sure you win.”

Ricardt equipped his new sword handle and scabbard, fastened it to his waist, and left the forge.

Then he untied the reins of the horse tied outside, mounted it, and rode off, seeing off his old friend’s farewell.

With this, he had secured the funds he needed for now, and also obtained information about the mercenaries. Things had gone more smoothly than expected, but there was still much to do.

The Order of the Flame Knights was located at the southwestern edge of the Empire’s border, so to reach them, he would either have to take a ship or visit their branch.

Ricardt first thought to return to Adelivari, explain his plans to Marie, Bori, and the people, comfort them a little, and then tell them he would be away for a while.

He left Beringen and rode swiftly. His heart was full, and he felt as light as if he could fly.

Because, simply put, the unwavering support of his friends made him realize, he hadn’t lived his life wrongly after all.

With the cool headwind blowing against him, a smile naturally spread across his face.

As he approached the border between Beringen and Adeloron, he saw villages as he passed along the road.

People were slowly restoring the broken and burned villages, continuing their harsh lives as best they could.

Though a terrible misfortune had befallen them, seeing that they had returned to their villages meant that, thankfully, the mercenaries who had roamed like packs of jackals were no longer around.

He hadn't come to meet anyone, but he approached a small group of soldiers guarding the road with spears and asked,

“What happened to the mercenaries?”

“Most of them fled across the Ern River. They were too scattered to be completely wiped out.”

They might go to other regions and cause trouble, but what Ricardt could do ended here.

However, with time, those remnants of defeated forces would naturally disappear. After that, their individual fates would be to either become wandering criminals or return to their hometowns and spend their days beating their families.

In the end, it was all a matter of personal choice. There was no need to blame the goddess of fate.

Ricardt rode on with his red cloak fluttering in the wind.

Then, someone pulling an ox cart from the opposite direction saw Ricardt, stepped aside from the road, knelt down, and removed the hat from his head, bowing deeply.

Ricardt was about to tell him not to do that, but stopped himself. He simply passed quickly, feeling awkward, and headed toward the mountain pass.

Clop. Clop. Clop. Clop.

As he crossed the pass, the panorama of Adelivari came into view. Of all the cities he had visited, it was the most beautiful. Despite the war, this city, harmonized with nature, looked like another world.

But in truth, this was also the last preserved city of the kingdom.

When Ricardt arrived at the castle gate, the guard checked his red cloak and face, then opened the gate without question.

Then, as the people going about their daily lives saw Ricardt, they all knelt and bowed their heads. Every single person, regardless of gender, did so, and the children naturally followed the adults’ example.

By coincidence or not, Markwin, who happened to be passing by, also bowed his head not far away.

Ricardt approached him, dismounted, and said,

“What’s all this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are people showing me respect fit for a king?”

“That is because you, Hero-nim, fought against a mighty enemy, saved them, and protected them.”

“I didn’t do it for reward or to be treated well.”

“That’s why they bow all the more deeply.”

“Why?”

“If you were just someone who coveted the throne, you would’ve used the people as tools. But Hero-nim, you treated them as if they were your own.”

“...Did I? I’m not sure. Anyway, I have something to discuss, so Mayor, come with me.”

Though Ricardt was of noble birth, he had never ruled over others. In Stormhertz, nobles and commoners alike had simply lived together in harmony.

He considered himself a dreamer, one who saw beyond. So he only felt awkward about things others might crave.

Upon entering the annex and heading to the office, he saw Bori scribbling over some documents.

“Where’s Marie?”

“Probably in the armory or with the other women. Roy’s practicing axe swings.”

“I see? Mayor, could you call Marie, Lester, Harbert, and Bremen? I have something to say.”

“But of course. By the way, please lower your speech.”

“There’s no need for that from you, Mayor. There is no high or low between us. If I fail or things don’t go smoothly, you just rule this place as you’ve always done. We’ll be gone.”

“That will not happen. If you leave, Hero-nim, it means you are abandoning us. Where would sheep without their shepherd go? Sheep are blind, they keep walking even when there’s a cliff ahead, and then fall. We’ve already resolved to die, so please don’t say such things.”

“...Well then, just call the others.”

“Understood.”

After Markwin stepped out, Ricardt looked at Bori, who raised his eyebrows and shoulders as if to say he had no idea.

After a short while, Marie was the first to arrive, followed by Bremen and Roy entering the office, and then Lester and Harbert came in together.

Roy didn’t need to attend, but he came anyway. Apparently, he had been training hard, his clothes were soaked in sweat. Ricardt grabbed a towel and playfully wiped down his disciple.

Then, looking around at everyone, he gave a sort of progress report.

“Kalli said he’d lend us money. A thousand gold coins, to be repaid in installments over five years. Oh, Kalli is the head of Beringen Academy, he’s a friend of mine. And he agreed to help us get in touch with mercenaries who graduated from the academy. Molty is looking into Nordian mercenaries. In the meantime, I plan to check if the Order of the Flame Knights can assist us.”

“Huh? Order of the Flame Knights?”

Marie, who had been quietly listening, tilted her head and asked. The Order of the Flame Knights was famously known as the world’s most powerful assault unit, almost a household name. So while it wasn’t unfamiliar, it did feel a bit out of place in the current situation. And it was quite far away.

“My second brother is a member of that order. I’m going to ride out to their branch office first. If I have to go to the main base, I’ll take a ship. Once we’ve gathered a force, we’ll strike. My goal is to crush Grantz before the year ends and wrap up the war by next year. Kalli may be lending us money, but it won’t be enough to last long.”

“I already know your brother’s a knight there, you told me, Ricky. But isn’t that too far away?”

Adeloron, aside from the Eastern Frontier, was at the easternmost edge of the Empire, while the Order of the Flame Knights’ headquarters was in the southwestern edge.

Depending on how many horses you switched out, it could vary, but even riding hard, it usually took a month. That was assuming you traveled by land.

“Three days to reach the port, three more by ship to Sinatria. I think it’s worth a try.”

“You need to catch the right time to board a ship. You can’t just sail anytime. Sometimes you have to wait a whole month. The wind must permit it. If the wind’s not right, you could end up somewhere totally wrong.”

Bremen, who was well-versed in Imperial geography, chimed in.

“If it looks like that’s going to happen, I’ll just come back. Anyway, what’s the enemy’s current situation?”

Ricardt asked Lester, the leader of the rangers.

“They’re regrouping the force that was supposed to hit the rear.”

“Should be around seven thousand strong. And from recent intel, they might go to the capital for reorganization. They probably have to watch out for other warlords within the kingdom as well.”

Lester replied first, and then Markwin, who seemed to be doing his own sort of intelligence work, added on.

“Then we’ve got time. While I’m away, everyone just keep doing what you’ve been doing. If any directives are needed, follow Marie’s lead.”

Traditionally, when a husband went off to war, the lady of the house guarded the domain. And Marie was not only a Sword Master, her status was beyond question. She hated it herself, but she was, after all, the former Emperor’s daughter.

“Hmm… but you’re not leaving right now, are you?”

Marie asked. Ricardt felt a strange sense of unease in her question.

“...That’s true.”

“Then I’m fine with it.”

If Marie gave her consent, no one else would object.

Thus, a rough plan for the future was set, and Ricardt departed again after resting for three days.

Though, whether he had really rested was questionable, his face looked gaunt. On the other hand, Marie’s skin was glowing like smooth porcelain.

“I-I’m off.”

“Take care of yourself. Don’t overdo it. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

Ricardt hurriedly gave Marie a light kiss and then fled Adelivari on horseback.

It felt like he now had one more reason to end the war quickly. Even while moving busily, some things still had to be done.

****

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