Episode 62—Morgan's Perspective

I lost the position of head smith, and a person said to be an acquaintance of the Knight Corps Commander assumed the position.

He has no talent for smithing, but it’s supposedly a personnel move to rebuild this rotten blacksmith division.

I haven’t been smithing much lately either. Anyway, I was busy sending letters to those who had become royal court blacksmiths.

I was able to get in touch with a few, and some actually came back to the court.

I desperately kowtowed. It was humiliating and painful…

Even so, I cast away my pride to survive.

Because if I didn’t, I couldn’t live.

“Now that you’ve been eyed by the Knight Corps Commander, we can’t keep you in the house.”

“Papa! Help me! Without your backing I’ll die! Are you going to abandon me!?”

“Shut up. You’re already expelled from the house. Besides, we were the ones abandoned first even though we got you into the court through connections! Your actions have worsened our standing compared to before! Be grateful we don’t demand you take responsibility!”

“P-Papa!”

…This was a conversation that happened when I returned to the mansion the other day.

I had nowhere to belong anymore, so I was now sleeping and living at this court.

Even after doing all this, yet… some people still haven’t replied.

Are you kidding me…? After everything I’ve done…!

The person I most need to call back is Faik.

The Knight Corps Commander is absolutely mistaken. Faik is not some excellent smith.

If I can prove that, my position might improve even a little.

That’s why I absolutely need to bring that guy back.

And yet, yet! That bastard…! He hasn’t sent a single reply!

If he’s with Alicia, tell him to reply quickly! If he’s not, at least send word that he’s not there!

I was furious at people who couldn’t even do such basic things.

While all this was happening, all my cronies were fired.

Even completely isolated, I have to bring Faik back no matter what.

What on earth is happening to the Barnast family right now?

Why aren’t the letters getting replies?

I was irritable and angry when, at that moment, the door to the blacksmith division opened.

“Alicia and her Faik have come to attend a society event!”

Shock ran through the entire blacksmith division. I heard him and bolted out ahead of everyone.

Finally, finally you’re back!

With this, my safety will be secured!

After attending the society event, Faik returned home together with Alicia.

…Apparently he became Alicia’s fiancé.

Impossible. This can’t be happening.

They say the Knight Corps Commander also spoke to Faik, but Faik refused, saying he wouldn’t return to this country.

…Now I was facing the Knight Corps Commander, who looked down at me with an expressionless face.

“You’ve done well bringing back the smiths so far.”

“…Th-then—”

“One of my units is in need of hands. I wouldn’t be opposed to hiring you as a knight.”

“…A-a knight. C-couldn’t it at least be a slightly better position—”

“Then I’ll consider this matter as if it never happened. Goodbye.”

“W-wait! I-I understand! A-a knight is fine!”

“…Is that so. In that case… Hey, Rucor, that’s the man.”

The name the Knight Corps Commander called rang a bell.

Rucor, the demon instructor.

I’d heard that his unit was composed of criminals.

They say they put slave collars on hopeless criminals, train them, and use them as soldiers.

…Th-this is one of the most dangerous units in this country.

Rucor is a man with many scars on his face. His intimidating face made me tremble.

Then Rucor looked down at me.

Rucor turned his utterly emotionless eyes toward me.

“You’ll serve as a general errand boy for my unit.”

“G-general errand boy?”

Those words irritated me somewhat. I may have no status now, but I’m still the son of a former count, you know?

“You’ll do things like cleaning up after yourself. That much you can do, right?”

“C-cleaning!? I’m a smith!?

“Shut up!”

Rucor’s voice made my whole body freeze.

“You’ll build basic stamina as an errand boy! I’ll give you a room in the barracks! Obey what the senior knights in that room tell you! A senior knight’s orders are absolute! If you’re told to clean the latrines with your bare hands, then do it! And let me be clear: there’s no such thing as corporal punishment in my unit—all of it is ‘education’!”

“Eek!”

“Come on, let’s go! Once you build up strength, we’ll start training you as a knight!”

Rucor grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and dragged me along.

Th-this is the worst…

Why is this happening to me?

I became head smith and thought my future was secured forever—!!!