Episode 107

“That’s right.”

“It’s thanks to the notes Alicia brought. Someone taught me, and that alone let me succeed at the smithing.”

I’m different from the kind of smith Bestel was looking for.

He didn’t give me any hints. But I got a hint from elsewhere, and with that I completed the forging.

“That may be so. But you have people who help you. That, too, is talent.”

Bestel.

He let out a fleeting laugh and then looked up at the ceiling.

“I’ve handled everything on my own. People often called me a lonely genius. No one knew about this sort of personality. I was just shy, that’s all.”

Bestel laughed dryly…. So that’s what it was.

Rumors tend to get exaggerated, so I thought it had been passed around in a strange way.

“You are not like me. You can involve those around you and turn that into strength.”

“…The people around me are just kind.”

“That may be true. You probably can’t become the legendary smith Bestel. You’re a completely different type from me.”

Bestel stared at me. His serious gaze held a trace of kindness.

“But you might be able to become the legendary smith, Faik.”

“…Bestel.”

“Take care of that shop.”

“…Yeah, thank you, Bestel.”

When I answered, Bestel smiled and then his form simply vanished.

There was a slight sadness, but right now delivering this sword to Bertie comes first.

I left the smithy and headed off to find Bertie to deliver the sword.

When I arrived at the mansion, I noticed something noisy going on.

The atmosphere was completely different from usual. What on earth had happened?

As I wondered, Alicia came over to me.

“Faik… what’s wrong?”

Alicia looked at me anxiously. She seemed like she was desperately trying to hide something.

“…The sword is finished.”

“Esrea Magic Ore!?”

“Yeah. So I want to deliver it to Bertie.”

When I showed Alicia the sword I was carrying on my back, she let out a relieved sigh.

“Th-the Horned Dragon is approaching from the west! Adventurers and soldiers are heading there to fight right now. My father is the commander-in-chief!”

“What!? Wh-why didn’t you tell me sooner!?”

“…Everyone didn’t want to put extra burden on Faik. Even my father thought, if Bertie will keep quiet…”

“So I should go west, right?”

“Eh!? Y-yes, but Faik, you’re going alone!?”

“Yeah! If I reinforce my body with Enchantment and run at full speed… I should probably arrive quickly!”

I gripped the sword on my back,

and the next moment, mana surged back into my body.

Mana flowed from the sword’s hilt into my body.

Presumably, it was absorbing my mana, strengthening it, and returning it to my body.

For an instant I was struck by a disgust as if a foreign object had been inserted, but the next moment my body felt lighter.

“Thanks…! I’ll head there right now!”

I gripped the sword’s hilt and started running with my now lighter body.

With my hand on my body, having reinforced it with Enchantment, and combined with the sword’s enhancement, I ran through the city.

I ran faster than I had planned.

I drew closer and closer to the west gate.

The night city was completely empty—how eerie.

Everyone seemed to be evacuating.

When I reached the west gate, a soldier who noticed me let out a surprised cry.

“L-Lord Faik!?”

“Let me through! I’ve come to deliver a sword!”

“A-ah yes…! But there are a lot of monsters outside!”

Through the slightly opened gate, I could make out the situation outside.

Magic Stones were scattered outside, making it unnaturally bright despite the night.

Compared to monsters, humans don’t see well at night.

It seemed they were scattering those Magic Stones used as lights to even out the visual difference.

Because of that, the state of the battlefield was easy to see.

It was a terrible sight.

People were collapsed here and there. Most of them had been pulled back from the front before dying, but their wounds were quite conspicuous.

More than the injured, the presence of monsters’ corpses might be the only small consolation.

…If only I could’ve made the sword sooner――

No, regret comes later.

“It’s fine. I’m just delivering the sword…. I’m going!”

I have some experience fighting monsters.

Aside from the Horned Dragon, there didn’t seem to be any monsters that strong.

They’re only numerous; there’s no need to be afraid. Besides, if I stand here doing nothing, more people will die.

I dashed out through the gate and gripped the sword’s hilt.

Please.

Lend me your power until I deliver it to Bertie!

I took the sword I had on my back with both hands.

Bertie might be able to swing it with one hand, but it feels a bit heavy to me.

“Gaaa!”

A wolf leapt at me.

I… learned how to deal with it from the sword.

…This thing is really excellent.

Matching the approaching wolf, I swung the sword.

Huh?

The wolf’s body was effortlessly sliced in two.

That wasn’t all.

That single strike abolished the very concept of space.

It even cleaved the wolf that was behind it.

…What a sharpness this is.