Chapter 375
Chapter 375
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 375
Chapter Title: Side Story 60. Sword and Star (5)
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The breeze brushing past the palm trees was warm.
Unlike the capital, where the leaves were just beginning to turn, the southern lands still lingered in summer.
The plaza of Manteeka, the largest city in the south, was bustling with people as always today.
"The undead have been confirmed eradicated as of yesterday! Carriages to Chilston resume normal operation today!"
"Come on, who cares about carriages right now! Extra! Extra!"
"Oh my. Is this article real?"
It was always a busy place, but today the atmosphere was even more electric.
The hawkers in bread hats handing out telegrams were stopping passersby in their tracks.
Right in the middle of it all, a black-haired man burst into laughter.
"There. All done! Now, show me that leg of yours."
"Huh?"
The girl sitting across from him tilted her head.
In the man's hand was a prosthetic leg for the little girl.
Or at least, it was realistic enough to make one think so.
"A-Already finished?"
The girl's father, sitting with them, let out a bewildered exclamation.
He had watched the entire process with his own eyes, yet he couldn't quite process it.
The time it took the man to craft a single prosthetic leg was less than thirty minutes.
Including the time to measure the girl's body.
"Yeah. Why so surprised? It says 'fast' right here."
The man pointed upward with his index finger.
A large signboard read in bold brush strokes: Arms, legs, wings made to order. Fast and precise.
"W-Well, that's true, but..."
"Don't worry. I didn't skimp on it at all. Now, the leg!"
"Y-Yes!"
The girl cautiously extended her right leg.
Her father bit his lip.
Below her crushed knee, there was nothing left.
The man's jovial expression turned serious.
"It must have hurt. Rest easy now."
He chanted unintelligible words like a spell and began attaching the prosthetic to the girl's leg.
It didn't take long.
Once finished, the man flashed his cheerful grin again.
"Perfect! All set! Now, take a nice walk for me!"
"Huh? My leg...?"
There was no pain at all.
The girl slowly opened her eyes.
It was clearly a prosthetic, yet it felt connected to her senses.
When she instinctively flexed, her little toes wiggled.
"Wow."
The girl covered her mouth.
This time, it wasn't phantom pain.
The leg the man had just made and attached was perfectly linked to her nerves.
She sprang to her feet and took a step.
Though she limped at first, she waved to her father.
"Dad, look! I'm walking!"
"G-Good heavens...!"
The girl's father stood frozen, speechless.
His wrinkled eyes reddened.
His daughter was wobbling but quickly finding her balance.
Her small face bloomed with a smile he thought he'd never see again.
The man who finished the job dusted off his hands.
"Quick learner. Kids are something else."
"Th-Thank you so much! Thank you! I thought she'd have to depend on others her whole life...!"
"Heh, technology sets life free."
He bowed repeatedly like a woodpecker.
His only daughter had lost her leg due to the undead giant soldier incident caused by the necromancer Kiersaji.
The leg bitten by the living corpse had rotted away, and to save her life, it had to be amputated.
Thanks to Ronan and Asel stepping in, the crisis was resolved quickly, but victims like his daughter still lingered throughout the south.
Those hellish days flashed through his mind like a panorama.
The girl's father wiped his face.
"Sniff... Thank you... Anything you want, it's yours."
"Anything? Can you handle that?"
"Y-Yes! Name it. You saved my only treasure...!"
He was truly ready to give anything.
He'd even rip out his own gall bladder if possible.
The man didn't answer right away, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Suddenly, the girl toddled up and held something out to him.
"Um, here, for you, mister."
"Hm?"
"It's my friend. Mom made it. It's the dragon from my favorite fairy tale."
In her delicate hand was a small dragon doll.
Made of cloth and stuffing, it was a black dragon with four wings.
Its fierce eyes made the model obvious.
The man fiddled with the doll and chuckled.
"Popular guy, huh, kiddo."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Giving me something this precious? I'll treasure it."
"Heehee, take good care of it. It likes having its wings rubbed."
The girl smiled.
Hard to believe this was the same gloomy child from moments ago.
Now, with her front tooth missing, she exuded mischief.
She gave the petite Orse one last hug and ran off into the plaza.
"Thank youuu!"
The girl bowed deeply once more.
She kept turning back, reluctant to part with her old friend.
Her playmates in the plaza spotted her and cheered.
They were friends, it seemed.
She was soon hopping along nimbly. Kids really did learn fast.
The man grinned at the doll.
"Alright, here's the deal!"
"H-Have you decided on your reward?"
"Yeah. I was gonna charge a fortune, but this is so precious, I'll waive most of it. Just one coin for the difference!"
"P-Precious? You mean my daughter's doll?!"
"What else? Anyway, it's beautifully made. Every stitch full of love."
The man admired it genuinely.
No empty words.
He loved objects mortals poured affection into.
It showed how much the mother loved her daughter.
Except for modeling it after that rude punk, it was collection-worthy.
"B-But... that's not nearly enough..."
"Hey! I hate repeating myself. You saying even one coin is too much?!"
"N-No way! H-Here it is!"
The man barked.
The father flinched and handed over a single coin.
It was silver, not ideal, but the man took it anyway.
"Good. Now go to your daughter. No worries about growth spurts. My prosthetics are special—they grow with the owner."
"To bestow such grace... May I have your name...?"
"I'm a busy man. Be off."
The man cut him off coldly.
The father hesitated but realized the kindness and fell silent.
"......Thank you."
He thanked him one last time, but the man didn't respond.
As the father turned away, the man glanced and murmured a soft incantation.
Orse's doll floated silently into the father's backpack.
The zipper opened and closed on its own, unnoticed.
"Sorry, missy. That guy's too young to be my friend."
The man muttered to himself.
He whistled as he packed up.
All his prosthetic-making gear fit into one massive trunk.
Once done, he called over a newsboy.
"Extra! Extra!"
"One copy. You've been excited all this time."
"Heehee, big news! Huh? This is silver?! Let me get change—"
"Keep it. Passion deserves reward."
"Th-Thank you, sir! Blessings upon you!"
He bought the paper with the coin from the father.
The boy bowed till his head nearly touched the ground.
He was about to read when—
"That girl earlier was cute. Good manners too."
"Ah... You saw? You're right. I think humans are cutest at that age."
"Hehe. Was she the last one? You're taking down the sign."
"Yeah. I've helped everyone hurt in the south. Time to move on."
The man turned.
A silver-haired elf woman stood demurely beside him.
Her ears were exceptionally long even among elves, her ruby-red eyes striking.
She spoke.
"You're always so passionate. I like that, Alibriehe."
"You're no slouch yourself, Elcia. You already restored all the undead-ravaged areas?"
"Just buildings, roads, terrain."
"That's plenty. Any trouble?"
"Eh, the kids did great... No, one thing. Orse set such a massive fire... Putting it out was tough."
Elcia grumbled.
Kain the Savior's right hand and founding member of Nebula Klazie.
One of history's strongest spiritists, she wandered the world with Alibriehe, helping people.
They'd come this far south to clean up after the third-rate villain Kiersaji.
Paradoxically, dealing with the artificial valley (blazing like hell) left by Asel and Orse was the hardest.
"Haha, if even you say that, the flames must've been fierce. Our black dragon's fire is sticky. That kid's improving."
"Tell him to go easy next time. Hey, it's been noisy around here. What's going on?"
"Was just checking. Let's see..."
Alibriehe unfolded the paper.
Sure enough, bold headlines everywhere.
Scanning it, he raised a brow.
"Oh ho. Zaifa Terugen's challenging for Sword Saint again."
"Oh? Zaifa? Well, he did reach the rebirth realm."
"Yeah. Even Schlieffen, who got crushed last time, is re-entering. Not enough time for such a leap, but who knows. Kids grow and learn fast."
Alibriehe nodded.
He'd likely lose again, but it was Schlieffen—expectations were high.
A man whose talent rivaled Ronan or Abel.
No need to rush.
Elcia's eyes sparkled.
"Exciting! Shall we swing by the capital?"
"Doubt it. This is the real big news."
"What?"
"The Sword Saint finals are in Parjan. You know, where the Sword Festival was held."
"Whaaat?! In Parjan?"
Elcia's ears flicked back.
First time the Grand Circle finals were elsewhere.
And in Parjan, of all places.
Where the Sword Festival was held until Ronan found the holy sword.
"Yeah. New emperor, new traditions? I wanna see this."
"Then go! We're done here anyway!"
"Alright. Long way—let's head out. Feel like stretching your wings...?"
Alibriehe folded the paper.
Suddenly, his pupils narrowed to pinpricks.
He was releasing his polymorph, reverting to true form.
Scales rising on his neck, Elcia panicked.
"W-Wait! Calm down! I get you're excited, but this isn't like you!"
"......Ah. City center. Sorry."
"Riding Hairan would be way faster. Hairan!"
"Hm?"
Before Alibriehe could question, a massive magic circle bloomed in the sky at Elcia's call.
A house-sized eagle tore through the circle and clouds, descending.
"Whoooosh!"
"Kyaaah! What, what is that!?"
Sudden gale whipped the plaza.
Screams erupted everywhere.
Awnings turned into paragliders, flying off; every woman's hair became whips lashing bystanders.
Whoosh!
Hairan circled gracefully and landed before the old dragon and elf.
"......So that's why it was dried?"
"Huh? What'd you think? Oh, don't worry—perception block magic. No one else sees it."
Elcia beamed innocently.
Alibriehe started to speak but shut his mouth.
Long life dulled some senses.
"......No matter. Let's go."
"Yes! Fast!"
Elcia hopped on like a circus act.
Alibriehe followed.
The Prince of Winds soared elegantly.
Another gale hit, shops flying, screams ringing, hair whips claiming victims.
"Parjan. Been ages."
"Tell me about it."
Elcia laughed.
Alibriehe laughed too.
Now, it was all good.
Days like this happened.
The clear autumn sun shone on the two executives carrying on the Savior's will.