Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Caravan Master's Secret
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Please take good care of me.
After finishing the sparring match, Arsen washed the sweat from his body in his room and changed clothes.
He put on a white shirt and leather pants, then draped a fur coat made from magic beast hide over them before stepping out of the estate hall. Snowflakes licked coldly at his cheeks, melting as they touched.
The snow that had been falling since last night blanketed the front yard in white, crunching pleasantly underfoot with every step.
Of course, not everyone found it enjoyable.
"Damn it, this snow is piling up like crazy."
"If you've got the energy to complain, shut up and clear it faster."
Two servants were grumbling as they shoveled snow in the front yard of the estate hall.
With snow still falling steadily, it piled right back up in the spots they cleared.
It had to be one of the world's most thankless tasks—snow removal in the middle of a blizzard.
Fortunately, as a member of the privileged class, Arsen didn't have to deal with such drudgery. He left the servants' complaints behind and kept walking.
The person Arsen ran into in front of the mage tower was the mage Groom.
He had once lived as a slave in the south, but after arriving in the territory and eating well for a few months, his complexion had improved noticeably, and he'd put on some healthy weight.
And now, surprisingly, Groom was sweeping snow in front of the tower like a servant, broom in hand.
"Groom."
"Oh, Knight! Good day to you!"
At Arsen's call, Groom smiled brightly, bowing his head with the broom still in his grip.
It was a cheerful sight, but the situation was too odd to just laugh off, so Arsen questioned him directly.
"Why are you clearing snow here? This is servants' work. Did someone order you to?"
"Not at all. It's just been so long since I've felt snow falling that I came out because it was novel. I asked a passerby for a broom, and they gave me one!"
Groom beamed with genuine delight and resumed sweeping the snow.
He swept in brisk strokes, occasionally clapping his hands together to produce bursts of light from his palms. Arsen knew this was one of the new spells Groom had learned.
According to Luden, it applied the principle of echolocation—perceiving surroundings through sound—to help sense the environment when vision was impaired.
It only detected nearby obstacles, but for the sightless Groom, even that was a huge help.
"...Hope you enjoy your snow clearing. Is Ellie inside?"
"You mean the young lady? Yes, she's in! She'd be thrilled to see you, Knight."
"Unfortunately, I'm not here with news that would thrill her."
Passing Groom, Arsen stood at the tower entrance and knocked.
After a moment, the door creaked open like unoiled hinges, revealing Eloise's face.
She had clearly been working hard; beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
"Sen!"
"Sorry to interrupt when you're busy, but I need you to patch up some injuries."
"Injured again?"
"'Again'? The way you say it makes me sound like I get hurt every day."
"But you do. How many times this month alone... Come in first."
A shiver ran through her as the cold wind hit her sweat-dampened skin.
Arsen brushed the snow from his hair and shoulders, stepped inside, and closed the door.
In the center of the room floated an orange orb emitting heat in all directions.
Warm air enveloped his body.
He hung up his coat, then gave a sheepish smile at Eloise's pouty expression that seemed to say, *Why do you keep showing up injured?*
"I heard you needed practice subjects for healing spells. So I skipped getting treated by Groom outside on purpose."
"Nice excuse."
Debating further seemed pointless, so Arsen shut his mouth, rolled up his sleeve, and offered his bruised arm.
Seeing the entire forearm bruised purple and swollen, Eloise sighed.
"Knights really know how to abuse their bodies... This isn't cracked bone, is it?"
"Nah, not that bad."
Eloise placed both hands on Arsen's arm and focused.
Soon, green light emanated from her palms, seeping into his arm. It repaired burst vessels and circulated the pooled blood back into his system.
After a few seconds, she lifted her hands, and the bruise on his forearm had vanished cleanly.
"There, all done. No other injuries?"
"None. Doesn't hurt at all now. Thanks, Ellie."
Arsen ran his hand over the now-smooth forearm and smiled. Eloise smiled back.
Just then, Luden descended from the second floor via the stairs.
"What's this, you? No wonder that guy bolted up like a maniac. Your gear's finished right on time—I was about to call you. Come check it and take it."
"Finally done?"
"Yep. Took forever because I put real effort into yours. The others were rushed jobs."
Up on the second floor, war trophies from the recent battle—weapons and armor—lay scattered in a corner.
On the table sat a spiked mace and several javelins, neatly arranged.
All made from pure black star iron—top-quality stuff.
Luden first lifted the mace with both hands, straining to hand it over.
"Here, give it a feel. Damn thing's heavy..."
Naturally, Arsen took the mace effortlessly with one hand—the one Luden had struggled with using two.
Turning away from Luden and Eloise to avoid risk, he swung it lightly a few times. It tore through the air with a vicious whoosh.
"Nice. Not too heavy."
"You guys..."
Arsen set the mace down and picked up a javelin next.
These four elegant yet simple javelins were sturdy enough not to break after repeated use and sharp enough to pierce anything.
As Arsen examined one piercingly, like a fascinating curiosity, Luden asked.
"You any good with javelins?"
"Decent. Sir Palato taught me. I've always wanted to try black star iron ones. Skill's lacking, but I can practice. Not like I haven't before."
"Whatever, use what you want. Your call."
The southern expedition had yielded far more black star iron for Belluan territory than planned.
Enough to arm ten new knights with leftovers.
Participating knights thus gained rights to craft extra gear from the surplus.
Some reinforced their armor thicker; others added weapons.
As one of the two who earned the greatest merit alongside Ramun Knight, Arsen got the most black star iron allocation. He reinforced his armor and added weapons.
These were the ones he chose.
"Eloise made the javelins herself and enchanted them. That's what took so long."
They bore Eloise's specialty: explosion spells, like explosion lances—striking then detonating on impact.
Unlike disposable metal explosion lances, these solid black star iron ones could be reused even after exploding.
"The explosion magic is one-use. I'll need to re-enchant after. Refreshing prior enchantments doesn't take long, though."
Eloise added from the side. Arsen nodded, twirling a javelin with a flourish.
A throwable exploding javelin—like a portable cannon or missile.
Not quite that powerful, but imagining it scattering magic beasts or raiders improved his mood.
"Thanks, Ellie. Really... I love them. Awesome."
Seeing Arsen's genuine joy, Eloise grinned happily.
It wasn't empty flattery; he truly loved them. He whistled unconsciously.
Luden chided him like a child with a birthday gift.
"If you're gonna test it, do it outside. I don't want to imagine the mess if it goes off here."
"No way. Anyway, thanks so much. I'll put them to good use."
Laughing off Luden's joke, Arsen set the javelin down and headed to the first floor.
Eloise saw him donning his coat and asked.
"Leaving?"
"Yeah. Lunch appointment."
"With who?"
"Caravan master. Said he had important business and evening dinner too."
* * *
Snow poured relentlessly, leaving few people about in the village.
Descending toward the estate hall, Arsen saw only pitiful patrolling guards and folks clearing snow from their doorsteps.
They saluted or bowed; he waved back lightly. Soon, the restaurant was in sight.
Opening the door, the owner bowed in welcome.
"Meeting Azure Caravan Master."
"Private room upstairs, Knight."
As directed, he went up to the second floor, opened the reserved room's door, and found Azure seated.
Azure rose to greet him warmly.
"Sir Arsen!"
"A bit late. Caravan Master."
Since their first meeting, Arsen occasionally accepted Azure's invitations for meals or drinks.
Officially, repayment for introducing him to fellow knights for business.
The seasoned wandering merchant regaled him with tales of customs and cultures from territories and fortresses he'd visited. Arsen reciprocated with Belluan incidents, mishaps, and exploits.
Azure stayed in Belluan for winter.
Even tough wandering merchants who braved wilds avoided spending harsh winters outside settlements—it was grueling and dangerous.
Lord Nut had permitted the caravan to winter here, swayed by advance artifacts.
Food arrived; they chatted over it.
This week's topic: a massive flying magic beast Azure claimed to have seen far west.
"...Unbelievably, it was moving. Seeing it alive and writhing made it undeniable. A living magic beast as huge as sky clouds."
"Not dangerous?"
"Like bugs ignoring humans, they ignore people. Locals say avoid provoking them."
Over months, Azure had dissected and analyzed this young knight through constant interaction.
How he thought, his motives, reactions.
He probed personality in talks and cross-checked with fellow knights, squires, soldiers—what others thought of Arsen.
His conclusion: Arsen was pretty decent.
Once aware Azure was caravan master, he always showed minimal respect, voicing displeasure—if any—gracefully.
His past threat stemmed from Azure's unease around mages—not a deduct point.
Even hinting at hoarded artifacts, Arsen never demanded bribes or intimidated.
Deeply curious about powerful artifacts and worldly mysteries, he accepted "can't say" without pressuring.
Azure deemed him restrained and just.
Crucially, no prejudice against mages.
Obvious with a mage lover, but Arsen never used common derogatory terms.
Other knights, squires, soldiers viewed Arsen remarkably positively.
By their accounts, this genius knight—awakened young, many feats—lacked arrogance, respected peers and seniors, warm to subordinates.
Partly due to his Earth memories giving different mindset from other knights.
Even honorable Palato treated squires as regrettable losses if dead, useful tools if awakened.
Arsen saw saving lives in peril or thanking efforts as natural; squires and soldiers treated it as huge favors.
Such trifles, combined with exploits, built stellar reputation.
Thus, Azure concluded: righteous, restrained, no mage bias, considerate to all, talented genius knight and good person.
The mage conclave's sole judgment on Arsen was Azure's view; they adopted his positive stance.
Months later, they now attempted direct contact.
As meal ended, Arsen wiped his mouth and asked.
"By the way, what's this important matter you mentioned?"
Azure's smile vanished, face tensing like pre-battle.
Arsen straightened, listening intently.
Azure declared solemnly.
"You once asked how our caravan handles so many artifacts."
"Yes. You said it was secret."
"Time to reveal that secret."
The caravan master drew a crystal orb from his bosom.