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TLN: Hey guys, Reigokai here!

Just wanted to say that I have solved the issue with the previous chapter (I think). If you guys have any issues, feel free to write them in the comments!

Dark mode has been causing so many issues. Don’t know if it is the webpage template that causes this. Considering to change it in the near future to see how it goes.

Anyways, enjoy!

——

※A story in the far past, before Ilias was born.

“Having dreams is your own business, but don’t go dragging others into it.”

I spit that out towards the brat on the ground while lighting a cigar.

‘I will become a wonderful knight, so please sell me a strong sword that will fit this!’ -is what he said while opening the door with strength.

Even though teaching the harshness of the world to a brat isn’t the job of a blacksmith.

“Haah… Haah…! I won’t give up! I will come tomorrow—”

“You are obstructing business. If you want me to give you the light of the day, come back next year after training more.”

I ignore the brat and return to my work.

There are no few brats in Taizu that would want to become knights.

It can’t be helped if you were to witness the strong and proud knights when you are young, but…I can’t sympathize.

I am one of the people who has been dragged into such types of people.

I was made to train together with my young friend who had those same eyes. Even when I try to remember my youth, the only thing I would be able to remember are memories of clashing blades with my stupid friend.

They continued holding strong emotions and became knights, but I couldn’t hold such feelings of admiration.

I became an adult by the time I noticed, and the only jobs I could choose were ones that could take advantage of the muscle I pointlessly obtained.

“What, Tro. You are making a serious face as always.”

“A brat similar to you people came crashing onto my place this morning. My condition is terrible today thanks to that.”

“Hooh, a boy that’s aiming to become a knight, huh. That brings me back. The days when us three, Cara and Tro, trained together.”

I went drinking at a bar with my childhood friends when night came.

We were evenly matched in the past, but after a few years of becoming a blacksmith and a knight, I could tell by just their presence that the difference in combat power grew clear.

These guys are becoming knights with a decent standing, and yet, our relationship still continues. It feels somewhat strange.

“Speaking of which, we did something similar in our times. We would invade the place of the old blacksmith to have him make us a weapon, and me and Boru were tied up and hung in front of the store.”

“Right right. You were beaten black and blue, and were made to build a new shelf for the one we broke.”

“Don’t make me remember…”

Well, the work of that old blacksmith I saw at that time remained in my mind for some strange reason, so it became a trigger for me to hold the hammer when I became an adult though…

That said, it has been a few decades since I began my blacksmith work… I haven’t felt like it was worth it.

I could have heard stories from him if he were still alive though.

“Right. Tro, is it okay to request a new spear?”

“Aah, I was thinking of getting a new hammer as well.”

“It is already that time… No, it is probably because my skills are not good enough though. You two have gotten a decent pay raise, right? How about asking this from a better blacksmith?”

I finally said that most likely because we are having drinks.

These two immediately requested equipment from me the moment they heard I became a blacksmith.

I was happy with just getting work as a newbie blacksmith, so I agreed at that time, but…I am aware that I am providing bad quality equipment compared to other seasoned blacksmiths.

They don’t suit the growth of these two knights. The proof of this is that the equipment I make gets broken one after the other.

These two continue requesting me for decades despite that.

“Well, I know your skills aren’t that good.”

“Same.”

“Oh, picking a fight?”

“But you are the one that understands us the best. I can’t choose equipment that I have to entrust my life to with purely rumors and popularity.”

“Even though they don’t take long to break?”

“It is true that they are easy to use. Cara and I have gotten brand new stuff from other places, but we still end up choosing your place.”

Understanding…huh.

It is true that I have known these two since we were young. I at least understand how they use their weapons and how they want to use it.

“…Well, we can break them without worrying much. Of course they would be easy to use.”

“Yeah! I will break them in the blink of an eye, so stock up on a few more.”

“Treasure them a bit more!”

I have my thoughts about the gap between my childhood friends, but I didn’t dislike our relationship despite that.

Even if it is a relationship that may be cut off one day, as long as it lasts for a bit more… I think this as the days went by.

“I have come again as promised!”

“There was no such promise though.”

The next year, the brat that I drove away showed up. I beat up that brat again.

He put up a bit more of a fight compared to last year, but he is in the end a brat of around 10 years old who can’t even use mana strengthening.

“Damn it… Is it the difference in mana strengthening?!”

“No. There’s almost no way for you to show your skills if you are swinging something like that that doesn’t suit your stature.”

The brat brought a wooden branch the length of an adult. There’s traces of it being roughly shaved to forcely make it into a sword shape.

“Then make me a sword! One that suits me!”

“It is 10 years too early for you to handle iron.”

I took away the wood branch from the brat, shaved it with a tool to shape it into a wooden sword, and threw it back at him.

The brat’s eyes were shining at first, but he soon came back to his senses and showed a dissatisfied look.

“I am going to become a knight! I am not looking for a toy like this one!”

“Shut up. Don’t talk all big when you can’t even swing that toy properly. Come back when you can actually swing.”

The brat showed up the next year too.

He grew a bit and his appearance when holding the wooden sword was now a bit more decent.

“I have come back as promised!”

“As I said, I made no such promise.”

The brat could swing the wooden sword a decent degree now.

It is a wooden sword that wasn’t properly dried. It wouldn’t have lasted even a month if you were to hit stuff with it haphazardly.

He must have swung it with care.

The grip is dirty to the point of it being black.

It is not only from finger marks but also a lot of blood.

“Haah, haah… Damn it…! Why…can’t I land a single hit…?!”

“The years we have swung the blade are different after all.”

“…Hey, old man, why didn’t you become a knight if you are that strong…?”

“—I had no admiration. If you think every single person desires to become a knight with a proud duty, it means your field of view is narrow as someone who can only see your own dream.”

After seeing the eyes of my childhood friends when we saw knights, I realized ‘Aah, I am sure I won’t be able to become a splendid knight’.

A gap will definitely be created if I were to walk the same path as them. I wouldn’t want to live a life where I have to accept this.

“…Can’t I see only my dream?”

“—It is not bad. Even if your vision is wide when you are a child, you won’t be able to look at something seriously. They would need as much passion as you in order to become a proper knight. Here.”

I repaired the wooden sword and threw it back to the brat.

It is exactly because I have been watching my childhood friends to a sickening degree that I could tell clearly: this brat will become a good knight in the future.

I have absolutely no intention of pampering him, but there’s no reason to ignore him using a weapon that doesn’t suit him and having him learn weird habits.

“…I will come back next year.”

“Don’t come, don’t come. Come back when you have become a knight at least.”

In the end, the brat came every year.

His swordsmanship would improve every time he showed up, and would sometimes bring along like-minded friends, and grew up more than I imagined, just like my troublesome childhood friends.

“Troid, I have come back as promised this year as well! Now, make me a swo—”

“There you go.” (Troid)

“…Eh?”

On the day when the brat grew and was the same age as my childhood friends when they became rookie knights, I gave him a sword.

My body is growing duller by the year, and he is getting better in contrast.

If he learns to use mana strengthening, I will be the one losing.

I don’t want to suffer pain at this age.

“You are going to be taking the enlistment exam, right? Advertise me at that time while at it. That will be the payment for this.” (Troid)

“…W-Wait a moment! The promise was that I would get a sword from you after winning against you, right?!”

“There was no such promise. Are you a bandit?” (Troid)

The brat unsheathed the sword and looked at the blade.

His face is a lot more bratty than the time when he got a wooden sword.

“I…will treasure this sword!”

“Don’t. Run it down to the ground. And then, come request a new sword once you get paid a salary. I will be charging you for the next one.” (Troid)

“Okay…”

In the end, that brat, Omiros, passed the exam as I imagined and became a Taizu knight. Well, I was surprised when I heard later that he entered the same division as my childhood friends though.

My exchanges with Omiros continued after that. Or more like, they increased.

“Man, the sword of Troid really is nice!” (Omiros)

“You idiot. If you think that, come back here with a bit more of an apologetic face. Is there anyone else who would come report with a smile that he has worn out their sword?” (Troid)

“But your swords are getting better by the year, Troid. I can feel that you are telling me to become strong so I don’t lose to those swords, and it makes me so happy.” (Omiros)

He is a rare genius if we are talking purely about talent. He might even match Salvet Ragudo.

I have been desperately making swords to match up with his consumption pace.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his technique grew the most in the few years he became a knight.

Thanks to that, my name is decently known between the knights and the blacksmiths. I ended up getting more work as well.

“I see. My objective recently has been to create a sword that you won’t be able to run to the ground.” (Troid)

“That won’t be possible. I am going to become stronger after all.” (Omiros)

“You…” (Troid)

“Right, I have one more thing to tell you about today.” (Omiros)

“What?” (Troid)

“Actually, I am going to be marrying. That’s why I would like to invite you to my wedding.” (Omiros)

Makes sense how he became strong then. So that brat has grown to the point of marrying by the time I noticed, huh.

I don’t want to look at myself in the mirror.

“Depends on the bride. Is she pretty?” (Troid)

“Yeah, and also strong. It is to the point that I lost to her the other day even when I fought her seriously.” (Omiros)

“Winning against a Taizu knight? She is a monster.” (Troid)

“But a cute monster. So, you will come, right?” (Omiros)

“I am not your parent or your workmate though.” (Troid)

“You are still one of my masters, Troid. I want you to see my time of triumph just as much as my parents and friend knights.” (Omiros)

“…I see. Well, I can’t refuse the request of a regular.” (Troid)

I said this, lit up a cigar, and returned to my work.

Omiros told me I was on the same level as my childhood friends who I felt the whole time as if there was a gap between them and me. I felt a bit ticklish when he told me that.

Omiros grew just like that and finally got promoted to becoming a vice-captain of the Ragudo Division that could be said is the kernel of the Taizu Knight Order.

Even a blacksmith like me can tell just how much of an outstanding feat that is considering his age.

“Man, Ilias is so cute…” (Omiros)

“The vice-captain shouldn’t come here to fawn.” (Troid)

Even with that, the Omiros in front of me still maintained the shadow of that past brat.

Just thinking about the possibility that this might be a man that will leave his name in history, made me not care about the worries I have had until now.

“It can’t be helped. I have to act like a proud knight in front of Ilias since I am her dad.” (Omiros)

“Try putting yourself in my shoes as the one who has to look at your useless side.” (Troid)

“Sorry, sorry. I would like to request a sword as an apology.” (Omiros)

“What? If it is your sword, the other day—” (Troid)

What Omiros placed on the desk was a big gem I don’t know the name of. But after working for 3 years as a blacksmith, I  can tell just how much worth a gem has with just a glance.

One that you would never be able to see as an average blacksmith. It is super rare stuff that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call a legendary material.

“Omiros, this is…” (Troid)

“It is something that we obtained from Mejis—from Filia.” (Omiros)

The wife of Omiros, Filia, was a cleric that got rid of devils. She was apparently from a small country that separated from Mejis, Supine.

Speaking of Supine, I heard from my childhood friends that it fell from the attack of a necromancer a few years ago.

Filia was saddened at losing her hometown.

If a big country like Mejis or Serende had moved fast, they might have been able to save a lot of lives.

She is apparently trying to think of ways to form a friendly relationship between countries and moving for the sake of this.

“And what does that have to do with this?” (Troid)

“It can’t be helped that countries will hold a secret or two. But showing their stance of walking together can become a trigger to move the hearts of many. Filia is trying to create something that combines the techniques of both Taizu and Mejis.” (Omiros)

The techniques of Taizu and Mejis. A supreme sword that combines both.

It seems like the objective of Filia is to close the distance of each other’s hearts by achieving an outstanding feat that wouldn’t be possible alone.

And so, Filia entrusted this gem to Omiros.

She said that Omiros was the appropriate person to be the wielder of that sword as the representative of the knights of Taizu’s future.

It is true that that sounds really nice and all as a dream and ideal, but…

“Why me?” (Troid)

“Troid, I think you are the best blacksmith in the country.” (Omiros)

“Don’t speak nonsense. There are other blacksmiths who are better than me.” (Troid)

“There might be. Even so, there’s no one I can entrust this with aside from you. This is the request of my wife. The future.” (Omiros)

The eyes of Omiros are the same as ever. Gem-like eyes that yearn for his dreams and walks earnestly towards it.

I won’t be able to bend his will.

“…Got it. I can’t assure you of the quality, but…I promise I will pour everything I’ve got.” (Troid)

“Yeah! Thanks, Troid!” (Omiros)

That’s how I made a single sword.

I was dragged into the dream of a single man, was influenced by the heat of his heart, and poured everything I had in ways unlike me.

But…I couldn’t give him that sword.

The sword was completed, but Omiros died by the time it was sent to Mejis for the finishing touches.

He fought with his life to protect the people against the demon that attacked Taizu.

I have no intention at all to complain about the way of life of Omiros. But…I wanted to see his face when he saw the sword that he entrusted everything to me with.

◇◇

“Troid, are you here?”

It is the first time I have come to the store of Troid after coming back to Taizu.

I wanted to thank him for having made it in time for the new gauntlets of Wolfe for the decisive battle, but I was swamped with a lot of work cleaning up the aftermath, and ended up coming late.

I managed to make time, so I have come here together with Ilias.

“Oh, it is that girly Ratzel and Nii-chan, huh. Your sword finally died?” (Troid)

“Yeah, completely.” (Ilias)

Ilias said this and placed the dredges of the sword she used before.

Troid opened his mouth wide at the beloved sword of Ilias that lost strength in the battle against Zahava.

“You… Just what kind of monster did you fight for it to end up like this?!” (Troid)

“What kind… A demon.” (Ilias)

“I…I see… Can’t be helped then…” (Troid)

She was a monster among monsters after all.

It is on the level that she might be the strongest when it comes to physical strength alone.

“I was thinking about requesting a sword.” (Ilias)

“I don’t mind that, but…hm? You, the sword you have on you right now…” (Troid)

“Aah, this?” (Ilias)

Ilias unsheathed the holy sword and showed it to Troid.

Troid saw that blade and froze in place. He trembled after a while.

“…I see. It properly reached you.” (Troid)

I heard this holy sword was made by many people through the mom of Ilias for the sake of Ilias’s dad.

And the one who crafted that blade was the blacksmith of the Ratzel household, Troid.

This holy sword lost its owner in the time they were waiting for its completion in Mejis.

After that, it was stored at the place of someone related to the master of Maya-san.

Lord Leano retrieved it and delivered it to Ilias.

“Yeah, I managed to survive the battle thanks to this sword. I most likely wouldn’t have been able to survive against awakened demons like Zahava and Lazarikata, and against the Black Demon Lord.” (Ilias)

“I see… Against the Black Demon Lord… Against the Black Demon Lord?!” (Troid)

Ilias nodded and Troid was dumbstruck.

Of course he would end up like that after being told that his sword was used to fight the legendary Demon Lord.

“That’s right. It is the best sword that didn’t lose even when faced against the demonic sword that the Black Demon Lord used. Even Yugura praised this sword.” (Ilias)

“Yugu—” (Troid)

“Ilias, let’s slow it down for now.”

He won’t be able to endure being poured so much shocking info in one go.

We have to properly explain to him slowly.

And so, we told Troid what happened until now.

There’s no need to hide anything at this point after all.

Troid finished listening, lit up a cigar, and puffed out smoke.

“I see… It sounds like a dream.” (Troid)

“The future we are heading towards is technically a dream-like scenario too. But with everyone and this sword, I am sure we can do this. Troid, I would like you to help out as well.” (Ilias)

“…Well, being dragged into a dream isn’t that bad.” (Troid)

Troid’s expression was gentle.

I feel like that smile was not only directed at Ilias, but the people behind her as well.

“But I feel a bit apprehensive about training with this sword, so I want to request a sword.” (Ilias)

“Makes sense. Training with a holy sword would shock even your pops.” (Troid)

…I definitely can’t tell him that she was doing practice swings with the holy sword for a few days after returning to Taizu.

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