Chapter 329: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 329
Pio pointed at Olivia's clockwork doll placed on the table.
"Since when have you been making this?"
Olivia blushed, seemingly embarrassed.
"......It took about three days."
"That's really amazing. I didn't know Lady Olivia had such talent."
Olivia was so pleased with the compliment that her shoulders naturally rose.
"Ahem! Hmm! Well, isn't this something anyone can do?"
"Absolutely not. Neither I nor Lady Aurora could ever make such an intricate doll. Right? Lady Aurora?"
Aurora nodded as if it was obvious.
"Of course. Do you happen to have other things as well?"
"Well...... I did make one thing."
Olivia took out a pocket watch she had been keeping inside her clothes and showed it. The pocket watch seemed to have been made by attaching various parts together, as each section was made of different materials.
"How did you make this?"
"Just, well...... By chance! I just picked up things that had fallen on the ground by chance and made it. I absolutely did not steal anything."
'......She definitely stole it.'
Looking at the tools and materials placed on the table, all of them showed signs of use.
When Pio and Aurora's gazes subtly changed, Olivia got unnecessarily angry.
"More importantly, aren't you staying too long in a lady's room? Quickly say what you want to say and leave."
"Theon had something he wanted me to tell Lady Olivia."
Olivia, feeling awkward, rapidly fired off words.
"Don't tell me he's saying his screwdriver is missing? Or the springs? The springs? I don't have those. I really, truly swear I don't have them."
Pio and Aurora's eyes turned toward the screwdriver. The screwdriver had Theon's name written on it. Olivia's face turned bright red.
"Oh my? Theon's name is written here. Goodness, I thought someone had abandoned it, but it was Theon's. I didn't know. Here, tell him to take it back."
Nevertheless, Olivia was clearly reluctant to hand it over, as her hand holding the screwdriver wouldn't extend readily. It was because without it, she couldn't make other clockwork dolls.
"Theon didn't say his screwdriver was missing."
"......Then why did you come looking for me?"
"Theon said he wants to pass on his skills to Lady Olivia."
Olivia blinked her eyes and said.
"Skills?"
"Yes. Theon said he's never seen anyone as gifted as Lady Olivia among the technicians he's met. If you don't mind, would you like to learn?"
"Me? Why?"
Aurora scratched the back of her neck as a completely unexpected answer came out.
"Um...... Because Lady Olivia is good at making these machines?"
"I am a noble. What would happen if rumors spread that a noble is doing this kind of mechanical work?"
"But you've discovered something you're good at. Wasn't the reason you came with us to see the wider world and find what you're good at?"
"That's true, but not this. It's fun, but it should be just a hobby."
"Then what would you like to do?"
Olivia didn't immediately answer Aurora's question.
"......It might be the sword."
When Aurora and Pio silently stared at Olivia, she dropped her shoulders and said.
"I'll be honest. I tried hard to learn swordsmanship, but I didn't really enjoy it."
Olivia is 18 years old.
At that age, Aurora was certain she wanted to become a knight and immersed herself in swordsmanship, but many of Aurora's friends were not like that.
Even at 19 or 20, some friends were wondering whether to give up because they couldn't feel aura, and some just trained with swords because they heard knights could earn a lot of money, even though they didn't really enjoy swordplay.
Aurora was reminded of her friends who wandered, not knowing what they liked or what they were good at, when she looked at Olivia.
Aurora adjusted her posture and said.
"Lady Olivia. The reason I became a knight was because I was good with a sword. I couldn't have become a knight simply because I liked swords."
"......What do you mean?"
"People who want to become knights are as numerous as stars in the sky. Children read fairy tales and dream of becoming knights. But not everyone becomes a knight. That's because most people don't have the athletic ability to become knights, and they can't detect aura. No matter how much you sing about wanting to be a knight, if you can't handle aura and don't have good athletic ability, you can't become a knight."
Pio also agreed with Aurora's words and continued.
"Everyone has something they're good at. In my case, I was good with a sword. But I was even better at eavesdropping on people's conversations and gathering information. So I worked as Count Vex's spy and assassin. In other words, I had talent for spy or assassin work rather than being a knight."
"Then will Sir Pio continue doing that work?"
"No. I no longer want to do things that would shame Hiya. I plan to work applying my talent in different ways."
"How?"
"Nothing comes to mind immediately, but I could become a journalist or a police officer. So I think it wouldn't be bad for Lady Olivia to try what she's good at as well."
Olivia fiddled with the pocket watch and fell into thought.
"To be honest, working with machines is fun. When I just look at the inside of a machine, the structure automatically pops! into my head. I enjoy disassembling and reassembling”
"Making and improving them is fun in itself."
"But are you afraid of people's eyes?"
Olivia nodded slightly.
"...I want to succeed. Since I've already defied my father's wishes and came out, I'd like to meet a good husband and stand proudly before my father."
"Must you become dignified through a good husband? Miss Olivia could become great herself."
"No matter how great I become, how great could I be? Unlike my brothers, I can't use aura or handle a sword. Being born in the Vex Count family and not being able to handle a sword is no different from being a fool. I want to become someone who is acknowledged by my father. But I can't be acknowledged with these wind-up dolls."
Olivia, without realizing it, had a tear drop fall. Olivia didn't want to be seen crying in front of others, so she wiped her tears with her arm.
"Ugh... Why did dust get in my eye."
Pio and Aurora fell into deep contemplation watching Olivia cry.
They thought she was simply an immature girl, but they never dreamed she had such wounds.
Olivia handed the wind-up doll and pocket watch to Pio and Aurora.
"I don't need these anymore. Take them."
"What? You worked hard on these."
"I'm not going to do this anymore. Give these tools to Theon too."
Olivia looked at the cold bread and soup placed beside the table.
"Now I'm going to eat. Would you please leave?"
"...Miss Olivia."
"Please go. I'm asking you."
Pio and Aurora looked at each other. It seemed best to retreat for now.
"Alright. Then rest well."
Olivia ate the bread and soup without even looking at them. Pio and Aurora closed the door and left. Only then did Olivia burst into tears she had been holding back.
Teardrops fell into the soup, diluting it.
***
Pio and Aurora went to find Theon. Theon was staying at Pesson's forge.
"Theon! Are you in there?"
Instead of Theon, Pesson opened the door and came out. Pesson seemed heavily drunk, as the smell of alcohol wafted out.
"What? Where did you hear we were drinking and come from?"
"Pardon?"
"I guess you didn't know. Well, since it's come to this, let's have a drink together. Come in! We don't want rumors spreading."
Pesson grabbed Pio's arm and pulled him inside. Inside, there was Theon hugging a liquor bottle and dancing, and Giggs examining an armstone from different angles.
"Giggs! Put down that damned piece of scrap metal and drink!"
"I need to study this piece of scrap metal, so you guys drink by yourselves."
"What kind of freaking study! Can you study while drinking?"
"Damn it! Whether I study while drinking alcohol or drinking oil, what business is it of yours?!"
"You're making me bored! Sit down and drink!"
"Damn it!"
Giggs put the armstone in a corner of the table and sat at the drinking table. With five people sitting around in Pesson's forge, it was packed.
"Here! Have a drink."
Pio and Aurora accepted the alcohol Pesson offered.
"What are you doing? Do you have a habit of praying before drinking? Drink up."
Pio downed the drink.
Aurora followed and frowned after drinking. Although Aurora had tried various alcohols, this was the first time she had tasted something so unpleasant.
"Hahaha, I guess Lady Aurora doesn't like alcohol?"
"...This alcohol is not to my taste."
"As expected, not only your face is high-class, but your stomach and tongue too. Just like this damned Giggs."
Giggs glared at Pesson and said.
"Why are you picking a fight again, you damned bastard!"
"Because it's annoying! Because it's annoying!"
Pesson blew into the liquor bottle like a horn and sighed deeply.
"The world has come to this state, and all we can do is drink. Luca, does that idiot not know how great this weapon is?"
Pio poured alcohol into a cup and said.
"I understand it's a somewhat amazing item. But why is it so great?"
"Are you blind too? Can't you see how great it is?"
"I know it's a decent weapon. But I'd like to hear an exact explanation."
Pesson reached for a sack placed beside him. The sack was full of lowest-grade magic stones.
"You might not know about low-grade magic stones, but lowest-grade magic stones are minerals often found in mines.
Of course, since the magic content is so low, they're no different from regular coal and were used as kindling."
Pesson slapped Theon's back.
Theon fell over, dropping the liquor bottle.
"But this great gentleman used this garbage-like thing to create a useful magic. In other words, Theon has essentially turned everyone who carries that into a magician!"
Theon nodded.
"That's right. That's what I wanted... I wanted to become a magician too. When I was at the magic tower, you don't know how many eccentric magicians I worked under..."
"I've heard that more than 100 times, so don't say it."
"Yes... I should."
Pesson sighed deeply. A terrible smell of alcohol filled the room.
"Mobilizing all the knights to remove the cause of the devil outbreak? Damn it! Does that make sense? Not knowing the cause of the devil outbreak, not knowing if the cause is in Sanctus Lumen, but sending knights straight in. I really wonder if Luca has any thoughts at all..."
Pesson took a swig of alcohol.
"Anyway. Why did you come here?"
It's really hard to talk with a drunk blacksmith.
"We came looking for Theon."
Pesson raised up the fallen Theon.
"Theon, the knights have come looking for you."
"Uhhh...?"
"I don't think we'll be able to have a conversation today. This friend has a good head but is weak to alcohol. Usually, those with good heads are strong drinkers."
Pio and Aurora could see that too.
Theon was so drunk that he looked like he would fall asleep immediately if thrown onto a sack of coal.
"Then we'll talk tomorrow."
"No, go ahead and speak. When this gentleman wakes up tomorrow, I'll tell him."
Pio and Aurora were somewhat tired of Pesson going back and forth, but since they had to depart in the morning, they opened their mouths.
"It's about Lady Olivia."
"Olivia?!"
Theon suddenly sat up and looked at Pio and Aurora.
"My apprentice! Olivia!"
"...Lady Olivia is not yet your apprentice."
Judging by Theon's reaction, it seemed he had quite an attachment to Olivia. Despite having properly met only a few days ago.
Pio took out the clockwork doll that Olivia had made and showed it.
"Lady Olivia made this doll by herself. Even to me, it looks quite good. What do you think?"
Theon immediately took the clockwork doll and examined it from all angles. Despite being drunk, Theon's hand movements were extremely delicate.
Theon wound the spring, listened to the sound, touched it here and there, and then put it down on the table.
"...It's somewhat clumsy, but to create this level of work with just scrap metal... would be difficult."
"She made it in three days."
"Three days?"
Pesson and Giggs looked at the clockwork doll on the table and spoke.
"To make something of this quality without any blueprints certainly indicates talent. My eyes weren't wrong after all."
"Does Olivia perhaps have Aura talent?"
Pio shook his head.
"No. She doesn't. That's why she couldn't become a knight."
"That's a shame. With this level of precision, she would do well as a blacksmith."
"This Theon fellow has lucked out. Found a good apprentice in his later years."
Aurora sighed softly and said:
"But Lady Olivia doesn't want to become a mechanical engineer."
"What? She doesn't want to? Why?"
"She says that working with oil would make it difficult to get married."
Pesson looked at Aurora as if he couldn't believe it.
"What? Marriage? Why is that important! This talent is heaven-sent! Letting this talent go to waste would be a sin punishable by heaven."
"Look, Pesson, since you live alone, it might not matter to you, but for a noble lady, it's different."
"How is it different?"
"For noble women of that age, marriage is very important. Of course, if Lady Olivia were a knight like Lady Aurora, she would focus on knight duties rather than marriage, but Olivia doesn't have that option, right?"
"So why is it important?"
"Because the world demands it of Lady Olivia! Damn it!"
Pesson furrowed his eyebrows.
"Come on, why is public opinion so important? If you do what you're good at, doesn't honor naturally follow?"
"That's what's difficult to overcome. So I've been wondering how to persuade Lady Olivia."
Giggs folded his arms and spoke:
"Is there any need to go through such trouble? People naturally figure out what they need as they live."
"Wouldn't it be better to help her though?"
"Why bother?"
"Actually, I persuaded Lady Olivia to come here. I told her that if she didn't know what to do at the Vex County, she should find her usefulness in the world. So I'd like to help her if possible."
"Ah, so you feel responsible."
"That's right."
Giggs took a drink and then spoke:
"But it seems the situation isn't favorable for such leisurely concerns right now. Especially since Lord Luca is planning to invade Sanctus lumen in a week."
Gigg's words were also right.
In the current situation, helping Lady Olivia find her dream might be somewhat presumptuous.
"I just don't understand. Why is Luca so obsessed with Sanctus lumen? Although it's true that the devil outbreak started from Sanctus lumen, there's no clear evidence that the cause of the devil outbreak is in Sanctus lumen, is there? Honestly, I think sending scouts first would be the right approach."
"May I look into that?"
Giggs' eyes widened.
"Sir Pio, you?"
"Actually, I have some ideas about it. I want to confirm it."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Giggs took a sip of alcohol and then spoke:
"What can I help you with?"
"Time, freedom, and the authority to interrogate people."
"Hmm... So you need something like a police position."
"That would be perfect."
Giggs nodded.
"Alright. Go ahead. I'll back you up."