Episode 131

Since I had never made a sword for myself before, this time might have ended up being the longest.

Because I could try it myself immediately, being able to adjust small inconsistencies right away was also a cause.

Doing it over and over like that, I gradually began to lose my sense of what’s right.

Like tasting a dish while cooking, after doing it many times I even fell into situations where I thought the previous version might have been better.

However, I think the sword finished after taking the time is unquestionably suited to me.

After rechecking the Enchantment I had inscribed to the very limit, I gripped the sword with one hand.

When I stroked the hilt of the completed sword, it shimmered slightly.

It was similar to the feeling I had with the Eria Ruler I made before.

Unlike a sword made of Esrea Magic Ore, it didn’t have quite that level of strength, but I felt a similar kind of power.

As I held the sword, power slowly welled up from deep within my body.

The more strongly I thought of Alicia, the more that sensation seemed to increase.

…It seems that because I stuffed it full of my hopes, it turned into that kind of sword.

Well, I’ll probably only use this sword when protecting Alicia, so that’s fine.

I sheathed the sword and put it at my waist.

With that, all the work was finished. I put all the swords I made today into boxes; now it’s just a matter of carrying them to the mansion.

When I left the smithy carrying the boxes, it had become evening.

Among the soldiers stationed to watch over the smithy, Capri came over to me.

“Lord Faik. Those are the finished swords, right? I’ll carry them!”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, please leave it to me!”

“Then, I’m counting on you.”

I handed the box to Capri, who had his hands outstretched.

If Capri were the only guard, I should carry the boxes myself, but there are other soldiers as well.

Apparently, accepting the goodwill of your subordinates as much as possible is how one should behave as a noble.

As for me, I want to do my own work, but if the lord is doing chores, the subordinates seem to be unsettled…

Hmm, it’s difficult.

For now, since they don’t seem to dislike it, I’ll proceed with this approach.

We headed to the mansion with the soldiers, and once inside I only took out Alicia’s rapier.

To hand these swords to Sir Rigard, I walked to the study where he was.

The guards at the study’s entrance noticed us and gave a slight bow; then, apparently understanding the situation, they knocked on the door.

The guards requested permission to enter, and then I went inside.

They seemed to be discussing the dungeon raid, and the soldiers who had attended the previous meeting turned their gazes toward us.

“Ah, Lord Faik! Could those swords be for the dungeon raid!?”

“Yeah.”

Capri set the box down in front of him.

The soldier who checked inside had eyes that sparkled.

“They’re all splendid swords! That makes ten in total… Even so, you’re really fast at your work…”

“And yet, each one looks several ranks above ordinary swords… A blacksmith who can work Esrea Magic Ore is really amazing.”

Being praised so much by the soldiers made me feel a little embarrassed.

I glanced at Sir Rigard and he had a frown between his brows.

The tremendous intensity could, at first glance, look like a face full of determination for the dungeon raid, but to me it seemed like he was angry, as if saying, “Faik! You’re forging too fast!”

“Faik… you’ve already made them, huh.”

“Yes. I thought that if the swords’ completion were delayed, the raid plan might collapse, so…”

“Don’t worry about that. Your health is more important. Well, I am grateful that you got them done…”

The reason he sounded low-energy despite saying he’d be grateful was probably because they were finished too quickly.

“Lord Rigard, with these we could even move the schedule earlier!”

“Leave it to us!”

The soldiers raised spirited voices, but Sir Rigard answered them with a contemplative expression.

“No, you might be fine because you’re fairly experienced, but there will be soldiers experiencing a dungeon raid for the first time, right? They should be making mental preparations for the scheduled day. If we recklessly shift the schedule, they might lose their mental and physical balance. Let’s proceed with the plan as is, allowing plenty of leeway.”

“Lord Rigard…!”

“You are… too kind…!”

The soldiers looked at Sir Rigard with eyes full of the utmost respect.

…Sir Rigard’s cheek twitched slightly.

Surely, for him those words probably came from not wanting to go on the raid too soon.

The meeting ended there, and the soldiers took up their weapons and went outside.

Capri and the soldiers who had been guarding me were dismissed there, but Sir Rigard beckoned me.

“Faik, I need to speak with you for a moment.”

“…Yes.”

When he said that, I stayed behind, and once everyone had gone outside,

“Faik! You’re making them too quickly!”

Sir Rigard, wailing pitiably, closed in on me.