Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: What is Love?
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[ Cornelia von Delbar ]
Favor: 【■?□】
Status: 【■Still】
■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■ (?$#/!@#?)
Info:
[She's imagining Adel has fallen for her.]
Psychology:
[Heh... By now, she's definitely fallen for me!?]
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The moment I equipped the 【Cupid's Ring】, Cornelia's thoughts appeared crystal clear.
Her face was still hidden behind the mask...
But I could tell exactly how smug her smile must be under there.
I didn't even need to picture it.
‘Fallen for me... huh.’
I repeated those words in my mind over and over...
And finally reached a conclusion.
I have no idea.
Not some half-hearted dodge like "I don't know," but truly, I couldn't tell.
‘What is it, exactly?'
I feel all sorts of emotions from Cornelia.
Even someone as numb to 'emotions' as me...
Can't deny that I feel something toward her.
But...
What exactly is that emotion? Can I even call it an emotion?
And if so, what is its name...
I had no clue.
"...What's wrong?"
Had I zoned out for a second there?
Cornelia tilted her head and asked.
That gentle gaze piercing through the mask.
...I gave a wry smile and held up my whiteboard.
[It's nothing]
Just like always... this time too.
...And next time.
It'll be nothing.
"...Really?"
Thud.
Cornelia lifted a hand and removed the 【Illusory Mask】 covering her face.
I hesitated for a moment... then raised my whiteboard again.
[President]
"...Yes?"
[Why are you so nice to me?]
Even if I'm oblivious, one thing I know for sure...
Cornelia favors me excessively— to the point of calling it favoritism.
Is that kindness mere interest, or something more...
Or maybe... she's using me as a means to an end.
I... couldn't make sense of it.
"......"
Then...
Cornelia stared at me silently, made a sullen face, and whipped her head away.
She picked up the discarded 【Illusory Mask】...
And plopped it right back on her face.
"You're really... a total zero."
[?]
...Oh no.
I'd only asked one question...
And got zero points again.
***
"I'm hopeless at that stuff myself, but..."
Uncle Beru leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, letting out a groan.
Wrinkles etched deep into his forehead by time, he seemed lost in thought for a while...
Before finally turning his gaze to me.
"...Adel. It's not like... she likes you or anything?"
[Me?]
"...Yeah. Seems like proof she has feelings for you, in her own way."
It wasn't that I didn't understand.
I just... couldn't wrap my head around it.
My brain got it, but... my heart wasn't on board.
[Why?]
"......"
Uncle Beru made a "good lord" face and covered it with both hands.
A sigh carrying the weight of all the world's exhaustion.
He spat out the words in a tone like he was losing his mind.
"You really have no idea... seriously, no clue..."
Same here.
I really had no idea.
The feelings Cornelia directs at me.
She acts like she doesn't care but looks out for me, keeps her distance but won't leave my side.
But...
Why does that mean 'she likes me'?
Maybe Uncle Beru is the weird one?
"Adel... just to be clear, don't think I'm the strange one here."
[I don't]
I startled inwardly but kept my cool on the outside as I moved my pen.
How does he read my mind like that...
...Are my thoughts that obvious?
Lately, everyone I meet seems to... well, one is a dragon, sure...
But they all see right through me so easily.
"Sigh... Adel."
[Yes]
"You're top of your class, right? Super popular at the Cradle?"
Am I?
Me, popular at the Cradle...
"......"
Yeah.
For better or worse.
But if I had to pick... probably more for the worse.
"But why, how, just what the hell is wrong with you?"
[What?]
"Your emotions! Emotions! Sometimes I can't tell if you're human or a machine!"
The more we talked, the darker the bags under Uncle Beru's eyes got.
...Getting that worked up isn't good for your health.
"I've heard plenty of girls already orbiting around you..."
[Who said?]
"Neru."
[What'd Neru say?]
"Some mole rat keeps scurrying after you nonstop, he complained."
Mole rat... must mean Rev.
But...
[So?]
"Sigh――@#-"
Something erupted that wasn't even words anymore—a guttural roar.
Uncle Beru looked ready to tear his hair out.
"Adel, is there no romance in your life? No heart flutters, no pounding chest, no butterflies in your stomach—"
[That's a medical condition, Uncle]
Heart fluttering, pounding, tickling—that's a symptom.
You call that love?
I don't buy it.
"Adel... I'm dead serious, just once."
[Yes]
"Girls following you around... whispering in your ear... you feel absolutely nothing?"
[I appreciate them as friends]
"What about love?"
[How's that love?]
Uncle Beru clutched his neck and stared at the ceiling, gritting his teeth like he was in agony.
"Seriously... Adel... you..."
[What about me?]
"Not knowing is the problem..."
[Then tell me]
Uncle Beru finally tore at his hair with both hands.
I could see his blood pressure rising with every word.
"That's love...! Affection! Favor! Emotionally 'liking' someone!"
[How am I supposed to know that?]
"That's why I'm telling you...! I'm hopeless at it too! You know how pathetic I feel watching you go through this...?"
What the hell is this love thing.
Why does talking about it make you feel more pathetic?
I was just as frustrated.
‘Love... love...’
Too vague to label and etch into my brain...
Too awkward to hold in my heart.
In the end... I clicked my tongue and held up my whiteboard to Uncle Beru again.
[Let's talk later]
"...You wanna revisit this crap later?"
[I came to check on things, actually]
That was why I'd gone all the way to the Cradle and come back to Falling Moon.
Also to drop something off with Uncle Pergon while I was at it.
[How's everything?]
"...All good now."
This place isn't "Moonlight" anymore.
Under the new name "Falling Moon," no one's bound by painful contracts or swallowing tears in fear.
More like a community cooperating for mutual benefit.
"By next week... it'll be fully settled."
[You've been through a lot]
"Yeah... thanks to you."
[Praise?]
"Nope."
[Aw]
"More importantly, give some warning next time you drop by..."
Uncle Beru raised a weary hand.
A red thread dangled from his wrist.
"You're gonna give me a heart attack."
[I'll save you]
"......"
[Anyway, bye]
Before Uncle Beru could reply, I gave a quick wave and bolted.
‘Hmm...’
Afterward, I strolled through Falling Moon's corridors, taking in the surroundings.
Then stopped in front of a room that hadn't been fully cleared out.
Creak...
The door opened, dust trickled from above...
And soon, a massive shadow in the room's center turned toward me.
"What is it?"
[Hello]
"...Hey."
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[ Pergon Anvil ]
Attribute: 「Steel」
Skills / Traits: 【Artisan】: 【…】
Unique Skill: 【…】
Unique Traits: 【Hephaestus】: 【…】
Stats: Stamina: 34 (A)
Strength: 35 (A)
Intellect: 30 (A)
Mental Strength: 32 (A)
Mana: 25 (B)
Talents: 【Forging(S+)】: 【Crafting(S+)】: 【…】
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As far as I knew, the world's top blacksmith from 'Akarejang.'
Originally a wandering artisan who roamed from place to place, but got bound by Moonlight's contracts.
And now, he's working under me.
[Can I ask a favor?]
"...Let's hear it."
[I want you to make a weapon]
"......How'd you know I'm a blacksmith?"
[I know everything]
Might sound suspicious... but honestly, I didn't need to say it.
This room screamed blacksmith workshop to anyone.
The cold forge.
A big anvil and hammer in the corner.
Metals lined up along the walls.
Anyone would know.
"......"
He must've realized it too...
Uncle Pergon silently closed his eyes.
***
"Hey... just to check... this is..."
Uncle Pergon stared down at the two tiny somethings in his hand, at a loss for words, face baffled.
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【Petite Veronica's Scale】
Grade: Legendary
A small, precious scale from Veronica!
Shiny by default!
Usefulness... maybe?
: Reflects 'magic.'
Don't underestimate it just 'cause it's small!
This petite scale will protect you!
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The small, precious 【Petite Veronica's Scale】... and...
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【Petite Veronica's Fang】
Grade: Legendary
A small, cute fang.
But don't let the cuteness fool you!
It might kill you if it bites! For real!
: Ignores all 'defenses.'
Veronica smiles petite today too, baring her fang!
Small and adorable, but its power is legendary!
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Uncle Pergon held one tiny, adorable 【Petite Veronica's Fang】 in each hand, eyes wide in shock, and muttered softly.
"Dragon..."
Spotting it with his eyes alone and nailing it as a dragon's body part.
I nodded, impressed as expected.
[And while you're at it, this too?]
"...A ring?"
[ Released 【Cupid's Glasses】. ]
[ Released 【Cupid's Bracelet】. ]
[ Released 【Cupid's Ring】. ]
I unequipped the full Cupid set and gently placed them in Uncle Pergon's hand.
[Make them into earrings]
"...Unique taste."
[I'll take that as a compliment]
"......Weapons?"
This time, I pulled another material from my inventory and carefully set it on Uncle Pergon's palm.
【Seraphim's Crown】.
The legendary-of-legendaries gift from Cornelia, for Lux.
[A dagger]
Uncle Pergon confirmed my answer with a silent nod.
Then... he took a quiet deep breath and flexed his hands.
"Haven't held a hammer in months..."
With those words, he carefully placed the materials on the anvil and gripped the weathered hammer.
I watched him and made one request.
[The dagger can't have any mana. Not even a speck]
"Mana? Why?"
[The mana threads got broken]
"Mana... threads?"
[Yes]
"Hah... nothing surprises me anymore. Got it."
Pat pat.
He brushed dust off the forge and spoke calmly.
"Dagger'll be done within a month. Earrings... one day."
[Fast]
"Obviously."
His confident tone made me nod in satisfaction.
What masterpiece will come out?
I looked forward to it—eagerly awaiting that day.
***
The next day.
The massive forge breathed red flames back to life, sparks flew from hammer strikes on the anvil, metal rang out.
And amid it all, I...
[Uncle Pergon, do you know what love is?]
"......"
Was still wondering about love.