Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Artisan's Village
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Chapter 65
1
“Then, I’ll be off.”
“Erica, say goodbye to your brother.”
“Uuu….”
Standing in front of the Agrit Count Family’s main gate, Erica puffed out her cheeks while nestled in Bellisa’s arms and reluctantly waved her hand.
“Bye-bye….”
It didn’t seem like she disliked me; she was just upset that she couldn’t go herself.
She still said goodbye, though.
What a good girl.
“Anyway, I’ll be back soon, so that’s enough for greetings.”
Johan, standing beside me, adjusted his hat.
Johan and I were heading to Hilfenberg territory starting today.
It was a one-way trip that would take at least five days, and it wasn’t for leisure.
It wouldn’t be easy to bring along Erica, who was still so young.
“Travel safely. Dear.”
“I’ll do my best. My lady.”
Johan merely nodded and boarded the carriage.
I thought he was being cold, but… upon closer look, he was staring only at Erica and Bellisa through the carriage window.
This guy, always…
“Something you want to say? Staring like that.”
“Nothing at all.”
I sat down opposite Johan.
Before long, the carriage began to move.
And I already felt like I was dying.
Five whole days. Five days.
And that was just one way!
Bellisa wasn’t even in the carriage—no, not even Erica!
Just me and Johan Agrit? This was torture like no other!
I could hardly breathe.
How on earth was I supposed to survive the next five days?
At least I had Choco.
I tickled the side of Choco, who had naturally claimed my lap.
Choco twisted its whole body around as if it tickled, mouth agape.
So this is where you’re sensitive, huh.
“That raccoon seems pretty clever.”
Johan suddenly spoke while looking at Choco.
Choco curled up into a ball under his expressionless, emotionless black gaze.
It seemed uncomfortable, but there was no hostility—just pure roundness.
“Choco’s pretty smart, yeah.”
Sometimes smart enough that it didn’t even seem like a raccoon.
At this point, it wouldn’t be strange if Choco wasn’t a raccoon at all, but its own unique species.
“Even when you were brought in unconscious, it wouldn’t let anyone else touch you recklessly, causing quite a bit of trouble.”
“Was that so?”
“No one but the doctor could lay a hand on you. Even the doctor was wary at first and kept getting monitored the whole time.”
Maybe it was protecting me when I was defenseless.
Such a tiny thing…
Instead of tickling, I stroked Choco’s head.
Choco lifted its head, half-closed its eyes, and surrendered to my touch.
Then, slyly rubbing its head against me, it burrowed into my arms.
I’ll spoil you rotten.
As I petted Choco with both hands, Johan added with a faint smile,
“Sir Dariund holds you in high regard.”
“…Is that so?”
“Given how you performed this time, it’s only natural.”
He seemed quite pleased that the vice-captain of the Iron Wall Knights held his son in such high esteem.
Though I had no desire to get tangled up with that man…
It was already too late.
“By the way, why is Sir Dariund traveling with us?”
He wasn’t riding in the same carriage, but Dariund was accompanying us on this journey.
As I subtly voiced my displeasure, Johan started to reply.
But before he could, the carriage window was yanked open from outside.
“Haha! I’m heading back to the capital anyway! Same direction, so why not travel together?!”
What do you mean, “why not”?
It was true that the Hilfenberg Duchy bordered the capital, Esset.
But bordering didn’t mean it was right next door.
The path from Agrit County to the ducal city of Riverflo, our destination, was completely different from the one to Esset.
Going via Riverflo would add at least a day or two to reach Esset.
In other words, Dariund was deliberately taking the long way around.
His intentions were obvious, but… I couldn’t show suspicion.
For now, I flashed a bright smile.
“Detouring through Riverflo? Looks like the knights have some leisure time.”
“Hm? Haha! The knights are always busy! But since something might happen to you, I made a little room in the schedule! A day or two—for a friend’s son, it’s nothing!”
“It’s not something I desperately need, but I’ll gratefully accept the help.”
“Ahaha! I always love that confident attitude of yours! It suits you!”
“Thank you for the praise.”
Haha, hahaha. Dariund laughed heartily as he stepped away from the carriage.
I inwardly clicked my tongue the moment he did.
Even after I deliberately tried to get under his skin, he didn’t show a single opening.
Despite his brutish looks, he was sly as could be.
Haa…
Awkwardness was awkward, stomachache was stomachache.
The five-day journey ahead was already cause for worry….
2
The days were starting to get hotter.
Soon, we’d hit the peak of the sweltering heat.
The moment I stepped out of the carriage, the warm sun made my body sizzle.
“We’ll stay here today. Need to get your clothes fitted.”
Johan, who had dismounted, adjusted his hat.
Fitting clothes? What a hassle.
I’d wanted to just wear the ones from the academy banquet…
But those were Winizden formal wear, unsuitable for noble social gatherings, apparently.
Being modern-style attire, wearing it to conservative noble society would be like declaring war.
What ridiculous etiquette.
To think he’d follow such rules.
I couldn’t understand it… but then, I was originally a modern person.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do—so I’d quietly follow the etiquette here.
We could’ve saved time by getting fitted back in the territory…
But he’d deliberately set aside time midway through the journey for a reason.
“This is Sterraf, right?”
“Yes, the artisans’ village. I had my formal wear made here too.”
Johan pointed to a wooden sign reading Sterraf.
Beyond it, the village landscape was… extremely small.
A short stroll would let you circle the whole place.
The buildings, narrow as the village was, rose high instead of wide, interlocking in intricate, block-like precision.
Sterraf, the artisans’ village.
It was quite modest compared to its reputation.
Not a large city, nor glittering with lavish facilities.
But this town… was a gathering of true masters unmatched by any rivals.
Just looking at Sterraf’s origins proved it…
It started when a renowned architect built a home for his retirement.
Then, his artisan friends moved here one by one.
Naturally, other artisans followed.
Not only that, but their apprentices settled in Sterraf too.
Now, even those aspiring to become artisans’ apprentices lived here.
In the end, despite its small size, every resident was an artisan—an extraordinary phenomenon.
Word spread quietly, drawing nobles and merchants.
Now, comfortable retirement was a distant memory; it was widely known as the artisans’ village.
“This way.”
Johan led the way into an old tailor shop.
I meekly followed as a stern-looking bespectacled artisan took my measurements as instructed.
Discussing fabric, lining, buttons, and overall design took a good two or three hours.
“…Haa…….”
“You look tired.”
“Honestly… I feel like I’m dying.”
“You’re an adult now, so get used to it. This is on the mundane side.”
This… is mundane?
It felt like I’d heard something outrageous.
For now, I just nodded.
“Go back to the inn first. I have somewhere to stop by.”
“Then, see you later.”
Johan nodded and headed deeper into Sterraf alone.
With this rare freedom, I relaxed my shoulders.
No Dariund either—time to enjoy some peace.
Alright, what to do?
Guess I’ll sightsee Sterraf first.
As I pondered where to start, a strange gaze fixed on me.
Something was crouching beside me.
Even bent low and crouched, it was a massive man.
Rivaling Ethan… no, even more muscular than Ethan.
And that man was staring at me.
“…Do you need something from me?”
“The magic sword caught my eye—first time seeing one, so I couldn’t help…”
-Oh ho, this one saw through my true nature? What an intriguing fellow.
Piercing Deathwise’s identity as a magic sword.
Until now, only Anirja had figured it out.
Was this guy one of Anirja’s dolls too?
I scrutinized the man’s face.
Unlike his Ethan-level massive, solid muscles, his face was honest and kind.
His calm brown hair, unmanaged and roughly cut, hung below.
His blinking brown eyes oddly evoked a calf.
…This man wasn’t one of Anirja’s dolls.
No, he couldn’t be.
-Know him?
Know him? Impossible not to.
This man, Memphis… was a blacksmith greater than anyone I knew.
A human born in the wrong body—a dwarf, inheritor of the blacksmith god’s blessing, showered in every superlative.
His skill was so exceptional that he’d soon handle gear for Leon’s party.
Memphis’s equipment had unmatched durability.
Effects were not just superior but occasionally rivaled divine relics.
Even among Sterraf’s artisans, he stood out.
Top 1% of the top 1%.
Those massive muscles? All from blacksmithing work.
No need to explain how much of himself he’d poured into it.
Though his rise to prominence was in the future.
No rumors now, so I’d put him on the back burner… but to meet like this.
“If it’s alright… could I take a closer look at the magic sword?”
Memphis asked politely.
His voice was as quiet as a winter snowscape, mismatched with his bulk.
Hmm, normally I’d refuse…
But since it’s Memphis, that changes things.
No ordinary person could acquire his works.
Odds like hitting the lottery twice in a row… no, surviving three lightning strikes unscathed were higher.
Building ties now could pay off.
The world runs on power, money, and connections.
Unlike the others, connections must be forged when possible.
“If it’s just looking, sure.”
-You fool! Handing me to some stranger?!
I know him, I said.
-Argh! Shut it! Let go!!
I ignored Deathwise’s outburst.
I drew the sword from my waist and offered it to Memphis.
Taking Deathwise carefully with both hands, Memphis held the blade to the sunlight and marveled.
“Hoo… beautiful. If I may be so bold, could I see it in my workshop?”
“If you’ll have me along.”
“It’s humble, but… this way.”
Memphis, beaming innocently, took the lead.
His massive frame blocked the view ahead.
Yet he moved carefully to avoid obstructing others—his gentle nature intact.
Memphis didn’t walk far.
Sterraf was a small village, after all.
But our destination exceeded my expectations.
“It’s modest, but…”
Memphis smiled bitterly and pointed to a rundown smithy on Sterraf’s outskirts.
No, calling it a smithy was questionable.
The interior looked ready to collapse, worn out.
The forge was caked in layers of soot, the anvil so worn it seemed useless.
Utterly unworthy of Memphis’s reputation.
…Wait a minute.
Didn’t Memphis struggle hard before meeting Leon?
If memory served, he’d failed once due to some unsolvable issue…
I hadn’t heard the details.
So that’s it.
Memphis was in the midst of ruin right now.
What terrible timing—life really is unpredictable.
Haa…
No helping it.
All for the sake of connections.
Annoying as it was to step in…
I’d resolve Memphis’s problem.