Chapter 23
As the tutorial boss, I sowed the seed of opportunity and gazed at the wreckage of the crumbled golem. Amid the debris, a faint black gleam caught my eye. I reached out and sifted through the rubble. A hard, hefty chunk of stone snagged on my fingertips. Adamantite ore. It was the raw form of adamantite, the strongest natural magic metal known. The premium material used for crafting top-tier weapons and armor—something only available here in the early-game zones.
Having gotten what I wanted, I handed the ore chunk to Barie.
"What the hell is this?"
Barie was leaning against the wall, breathing raggedly. Unfamiliar with the pain, she was holding out, but her face was pale, sweat trickling down her hair and jawline. She clutched her severed right arm with her left hand, groaning. She was berating herself for her body's weakness.
"Adamantite ore."
"What? How's that here? Isn't it only from the Adamantite regions?"
"No idea."
I turned back and stowed the ore in my bag. "We'll take just this for now."
"What about the rest?"
"We'll have to hire adventurers or laborers in the city to haul it."
What, carry all that by myself?
"Just certify it for me, Lady Barie. Say I found it. If you don't acknowledge my rights as the discoverer, I won't see a single coin. You will, right?"
"Fine. Leave it to me."
Barie gave a wry smile. Her expression soon hardened into something complicated. She fiddled with the ore in her hand for a moment, then tucked it into her bag.
"Eck."
"Yeah."
"We need to talk about the contract."
Barie stared down at her severed right hand, wiggling her fingers. "I failed to uphold it."
She continued in a flat, emotionless tone. But her clenched fist trembled with rage.
"I did my best within the bounds of the lady's conditions, but things turned out like this. I was going to pay you the penalty and demand you never give me orders again—but forget that now."
"You sure that's okay?"
"Yes. I have my pride. I don't take back my word."
"Hm..."
I pressed once more. "Really okay?"
"I won't hold it against you for not stopping me. A commoner blocking a noble? Impossible from the start."
Barie pushed off the wall and stood, picking up her sword from beside her piled armor. "From this day, I am your sword. I'll swing for you when you need it."
A knight's sword meant a noble's sword. And a noble's sword meant the knight herself. Lijet had boldly wagered her most prized knight to show off her noble confidence.
"If I don't become your sword, it tarnishes the lady's honor. My words and deeds reflect directly on her."
Trust me on that, she was saying.
"So don't doubt my blade—use me as you will."
"...You mean you when you say 'sword,' Lady Barie?"
I knew, but played dumb to avoid future backlash.
"I figured a commoner wouldn't grasp noble phrasing and proposed it innocently—but really? Unbelievable."
"How's a commoner supposed to know noble talk? Sword means sword. Didn't think the knight came with it."
"But it's contracted now. No backing out."
Barie insisted on rigidly honoring it.
"Then if you're my sword, shouldn't you use formal speech with me?"
"Don't forget our stations just because you wield me. No matter my will, your head could roll in an instant."
A commoner wielding a noble as a sword? Perfect excuse for other nobles to send assassins.
"Eck, what will you have me do?"
Barie's voice bristled like a hedgehog raising its spines.
"Stuff me like those women you bedded? Or throw me to monsters and watch me birth their spawn?"
"You think I'd do that if you say it like that?"
"How the sword is used is the master's choice. I'm a body deserving punishment. For the lady's face, I'll endure any humiliation."
Barie gritted her teeth.
"But mark this: my body may be your sword, but my heart stays in the lady's embrace forever."
The sturdy knightswoman awaited my demands with resolve. Silence fell briefly.
"Hm."
A wry smile crossed my face. "Here's my proposal."
"What?"
"I'll take something else instead of the sword called Barie."
Barie's eyes wavered.
"What do you want?"
"Your friendship."
"......Friendship?"
She narrowed her eyes, face full of surprise.
"Why?"
"Just make me your friend, Lady Barie."
"Friend...? I don't get it. That's all you want?"
She genuinely couldn't comprehend, her eyes questioning.
"Maybe it's too much, but please bear with me."
For a commoner, a noble's friendship was worth gold. Someone to contact freely and flaunt ties with. Plenty of uses beyond game knowledge.
"If it's still lacking, it'd be great if you boasted our friendship to others to make up for it."
"...Hah."
Barie's lips twitched—not mockery, but relief. I could see the negative feelings toward me washing from her eyes.
"Fine."
She extended her right hand. "Eck, I acknowledge your strength. Cutting off my arm—even under control—that was impressive. I allow you to call me friend. No—let me call you friend."
"Just what I wanted."
We shook, sealing the deal.
Perfect.
I was satisfied. Dragging a noble around would've been pointless anyway.
Barie was strong, sure—but at this point, without the protagonist's help, she'd get outpaced by power creep mid-game, just another companion NPC #1.
Sending her back to Lijet and using her as a contact was most efficient.
I shouldered my gear as Barie donned her armor, finishing preparations to return.
"Eck."
"Yeah."
"Sorry for judging you on rumors. I thought you were a greedy, lecherous thug, impatient with beatings and murders. Fooled by nonsense. My apologies."
"....."
No, that was spot-on. Agreeing felt off somehow.
"Not wrong. That was me. Just been thinking a lot lately. Got this kid to raise, and trying to for her changed me naturally."
I grumbled, "Now she's a pain in the ass," imprinting Elena's existence in Barie's mind.
"Oh, right—the girl you've known for a month? Impressive kid to snag a guy like you. Pretty?"
"Decent-looking, I guess."
I talked about Elena; she talked about her lady. Swapping stories on our interests, we headed back to the city.
The Red Moon faded. The blood-red sky cleared, sunset dyeing the city's rooftops. Elena headed straight home—no, out. Today was troll-hunting day. Before meeting her party at the rendezvous, she went to the guild to see Uncle.
Opening the guild door, Jeina was idly wiping down the tavern tables.
"Elena, hey! Here for Eck?"
"Yeah. Where is he?"
"Probably at the blacksmith."
"Why there?"
"Dunno? Didn't stop by the guild, but I heard he went to the forest when the Red Moon rose. If he's back, he's there by now."
Back from the Red Moon forest? Uncle had said it was minimum A-rank territory.
Oh right—Uncle's A-rank.
She recalled his rank anew. One of only three A-rank adventurers in the city. It suddenly made her glad that such an amazing person was looking after her.
He'd said he was raising her to care for him after retirement, but considering his help, she felt no loss. After envious reactions from others when she mentioned it, Elena had doubted his intentions.
Borudo's Blacksmith wasn't far. She'd been once—reaching for that thick iron door.
"...Well, this guy's..."
An unfamiliar woman's voice.
Who's that?
She eased the iron door open and slipped into the forge. Eck was first in view, standing before Borudo's workbench where the dwarf sat. Beside him stood a silver-haired woman in full plate armor. Dirt and dried blood stained her armor here and there. It clicked with the news of Eck's Red Forest trip—she'd been with him.
The woman continued to Borudo. "Even if I said so, dumping all the monsters on me? A knight deserves at least a couple aimed her way, but he got cocky."
Borudo chuckled awkwardly in agreement. "That's him alright. Needs a good thrashing. How could he use a knight like that? Tsk tsk. Eck, how'd you plan to work her?"
"Don't be too hard. Those monsters were no match for me, even in hordes. He'd just get in the way."
She crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.
"But when it got really dangerous, he didn't run—helped out. Knows loyalty. Borudo, good friend you got."
"Heh... heh heh. Yeah."
Borudo replied awkwardly.
"Even A-rank monsters berserk was dicey. Thanks to Eck, I came back intact."
She clapped Eck's shoulder.
"In hindsight, maybe went too deep. But worth the adventure. Thanks, Eck."
"No big deal, ma'am."
"No 'ma'am.' Call me Barie."
Borudo's eyes widened. The woman approached him, showing a bag by the workbench and requesting reforging. It held black ore and materials glowing red. She detailed processing and uses to Borudo, placing the order.
"...."
Elena watched Eck secretly from the entrance. His gaze was on the woman. Something stabbed her chest. She couldn't say why.
Then Eck's eyes turned to her. Elena startled and approached.
"U-uncle."
"What're you doing here this hour?"
"Well..."
Her eyes flicked to the woman. "What's with you and her?"
"Huh? With Lady Barie..."
"Told you—call me Barie."
The woman called Barie spotted Elena and eyed her up and down.
"You're the kid Eck mentioned? Hmm. Heh. Eck, where's 'decent-looking' about her? You picked her for her face, admit it."
"Nah."
"Blushing."
Barie's gaze swept Elena from head to toe. Her lips curved long. Her hand reached Elena's head.
"Heard about you. Take care of Eck, Elena."
"I was gonna... anyway..."
Elena dodged behind Uncle. Barie's sly eyes shifted from Elena to him.
"Jealous?"
"Don't tease."
Uncle wryly smiled at Barie's poking words. Seeing it, Elena tugged his sleeve, lips pouting.
"Uncle, I'm going troll-hunting today."
"Know. Didn't forget."
"Tell me troll tips one more time."
"Forgot already?"
"W-well..."
Elena stammered.
"Can't mess up if I misunderstood."
"Hm..."
Uncle met Barie's eyes, said "Mind if we step out?" and led Elena from the forge.
Elena pursed her lips. Uncle exchanging looks with Barie stuck in her head. It irked her each time. She didn't know why yet.