Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Anniversary - 4
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The next day, I went with Sua to find Koon.
It was to hear the guard's opinion directly on whether her summon could be used as a substitute worker on festival day.
"Uh... Can adventurers really do things like this?"
"Not just anyone. Even among mages, few know summoning magic."
Sua draped her arm over the summon's shoulder with a triumphant expression.
Koon watched her with eyes full of awe.
"It's hot. Even from this distance."
Koon held his palm near the summon's shoulder.
Heat radiated from it, just like flames burning inside a knight's armor.
"What if it sets the forest on fire?"
"I've toned down the firepower as much as possible, so it should be fine if we're careful."
"The trees are so dense... One spark, and the whole forest could go up in flames."
It wasn't perfect in every way, but I judged it sufficient to cover the two of them for a day.
We decided to station it one step further from Koon's usual guard post, a bit more removed from the entrance.
Koon, fascinated by Sua's magic, peppered her with questions.
"Does it move?"
"If I command it?"
"C-Could you show me?"
"Uh... sure. That's not hard."
The summon stepped forward.
Then turned around and returned to its spot.
It even thrust the spear it held into the air.
"It moves more cleanly than I do."
"Hmm, music to my ears. Praise it some more."
"I'd believe it was a living creature."
Sua, basking in the ego boost, commanded increasingly complex maneuvers.
Twirling the spear dramatically or charging forward with a thrust.
Even a one-armed handstand.
...Why a backflip, though?
"Incredible."
"Don't applaud that stuff. You're egging her on to make it do weird things."
"But it really is impressive..."
Koon rarely got to see magic.
Most adventurers he observed were rookies who could barely handle a sword.
And even those were limited to certain times.
The guild sparring he'd watched with Ellie? He had no chance, tied up guarding the forest entrance half the day.
Unlike that, Koon's personal interests lay with adventurers—especially top rankers.
He'd recognized Amelia even in beginner gear, after all.
"Can it talk?"
"No, no vocal structure. Combine it with other spells, and maybe force it...?"
"I see. One more personal question..."
Koon's first real concern was the summon's response protocol.
If the summon only moved on its mage owner's command, wouldn't Sua have to micromanage every guard duty?
"Just set up a command hierarchy in advance."
"Uh..."
"Hard to grasp?"
Sua explained it as simply as possible for Koon, who knew zilch about magic.
"It can't act consciously on its own, but sending a signal to the owner on issues is plenty."
"I get the gist. Next question: Can this summon work nonstop?"
"It's a mana construct—no need for rest if I keep supplying it."
Dissipate the mana, and it had no physical form left.
"How long...?"
"One alone? A week easy."
"One? You can summon multiples?"
Sua held up three fingers.
"Thirty."
"..."
Of course, multiples turned control chaotic.
Simple commands were fine, though.
"Then yeah, we can enjoy the festival worry-free."
Positive response from Koon too.
Now it was truly a festival for every 1st-floor resident.
"Even hearing it from Delion, it didn't feel real. A festival just for us? Sounds fun."
"He was pretty dry about it."
"He just didn't know your summon yet. Looked like he regretted not being able to relax."
Would Delion have looked forward to it more if he'd seen Sua's magic firsthand?
I asked Koon what he wanted from the festival.
"Someone who's played knows the fun stuff, but I'm always working—nothing comes to mind."
"Same vibe as Delion."
"For us two, just relaxing guilt-free is enough."
Koon turned toward the forest.
"Haven't had a proper drink since starting as a guard... Looking forward to a night I can get smashed."
"Won't you pass out after a few, not having touched booze in ages?"
"I used to drink plenty, so even if tolerance dropped, I'll outlast most."
Tower time alone was six years—longer as a guard. No real chances to cut loose.
Hangover ruining the next shift? With only two on rotation, couldn't risk it even if wanted.
Since Sua and I had both come on Ellie's request, we bid to look forward to festival day and passed the entrance.
This was separate from festival prep anyway.
After finishing the request, I headed with Ellie to the last stop.
We arrived at the forge that doubled as home for Harman and Sylvia.
"Earthbound Spirit? What're you doing just standing there?"
"..."
"Knock."
"Yeah. Was just about to."
Nothing to it.
Just here to inform them about the festival, right?
Like with the others: tell the date.
Explain the communal meal for all villagers, talk drinks and street food.
Ask their opinions, brainstorm events.
Past forge visits always had a purpose—this casual reason felt different.
Now—
"Sigh. Cut it out. No more thinking."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself."
I cleared my head and called for Harman.
A much smaller figure faced us from the open door.
"Oh, sis and bro."
Looked like she'd forgotten the 'don't open the door rashly' lecture again.
"Sylvia? Is Master Harman out?"
"Grandpa went out. Said no materials."
"Rare for him—he doesn't fetch them himself."
Metal resources? No one else needed them, so suppliers delivered on schedule.
Easier for bulk payments that way.
Same for finished goods.
Plus, I handled delivering weapons to Tiana's training ground myself.
'Come to think, swords must be piling up in the workshop. Usually I'd swing by now to deliver.'
"How long's he been gone?"
"About ten minutes."
"Back soon, then. Mind if we wait inside?"
Sylvia nodded.
We weren't outsiders—we visited plenty.
I popped in often, and Ellie was neighborly enough to call 'sis.'
Ellie sat at the central table's chair, waiting for Harman.
Meanwhile, I opened the workshop door.
As expected, familiar crude swords filled it.
Precise duplicates, rough ones too.
"...Well organized."
Quantity and quality unchanged.
Unlike usual, though—the swords, once dumped haphazardly in the corner, were neatly arranged.
Harman, fully immersed in work as a master craftsman, naturally cherished his creations.
Aligning them made sense.
Yet he'd stored countless crude ones carelessly before—they were mere failures.
Not the swords he wanted, just space-hogging metal lumps shoved aside.
These crude swords weren't one bit different, but changed purpose changed their treatment.
"Earthbound Spirit! Master Harman's back!"
"Faster than I thought."
I hoped he wouldn't yell about barging into the workshop.
It was their home, but four chairs meant me, Ellie, Harman, and Sylvia could all sit around the table.
Had to fill Sylvia in on festival prep too.