The Blacksmith's Greed
The sharp rap of knuckles on wood echoed through the quiet hallway. Whether it was because he had gone to bed early from exhaustion after the long journey, Dain rose at the crack of dawn and knocked on Yujin's door.
“Yujin, you up? We need to get ready. We’re moving out right away!”
There was no answer, but he could hear the rustle of blankets and a groan-laced mumble of protest.
“Yujin! Get up!”
“Ugh… uuu…”
With a faint creak, the door opened just enough to reveal Yujin’s disheveled, bleary face.
“What the—? Didn’t you sleep?”
“I did… Haa~ mmph… ugh.”
“Today’s the day we reach the rendezvous point. You need to manage your stamina better.”
“I’m fine, sir. I just sleep in a lot… I’ll get ready right away.”
Dain went down first and sat at the table. Soon, a still half-asleep Yujin shuffled down and took the seat across from him. It looked like he had come in quite late the night before. Exhaustion was written all over his face.
“You said you explored the village yesterday.”
“Ah…? Yes! That’s right! Haha, I’m just a country bumpkin, so I wandered around in a daze.”
“By yourself? Weren’t you with Rillen?”
“…Ah, aah! We were together at first. We split up halfway through. Haha…”
“Hmm.”
Dain still felt a sting of disappointment, but he didn’t want to show it. When breakfast was served, he naturally steered the conversation toward the day’s schedule.
After they finished eating, the group gathered at the village entrance and immediately set off for the rendezvous point on horseback. Yujin, who had looked so drained earlier, now wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear once he rejoined the women. Had he taken a liking to Rillen? Dain felt a pang of guilt, remembering how Rillen had come looking for him the night before.
They rode hard for half a day from Sarsana and reached a border area slightly removed from the main royal army. There, they met the unit that had already secured the position and was waiting.
What followed was swift and decisive. The pre-planned operation launched like a surprise assault. With Dain at the vanguard carving a path, the Hero’s Sword Qi sliced through the air, felling demons without resistance. The leaderless demonic beasts scattered in every direction.
Compared to the three days of hard riding to get there, the battle felt almost anticlimactic. Even Dain, who had slain more demonic beasts than anyone from the front line, suffered only minor wounds. For the group, the heavier burden was the knowledge that they now had to ride another three days back.
Just as they were about to leave behind a spark of hope among the countless soldiers of the main force—thanks to the Hero’s power—a messenger arrived with good news.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang…
The sound of hammering that had filled the forge suddenly stopped.
Grahn, who had been swinging his hammer for hours, let his head drop and let out a deep sigh. No matter how hard he threw himself into his work, the unease in his chest refused to fade. If anything, his concentration kept slipping.
There was only one reason: ever since he had held her, she no longer approached him with the same friendly warmth as before.
Did I do something I shouldn’t have?
She had been a cute, playful friend. They could talk about anything, and he liked that someone relied on him. He had told himself he would be content just staying good friends. But that night, he had given in completely to lust.
Looking back, the whole situation had been bizarre. That guy was supposed to be the Hero? No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem like something Ceres had wanted. From the first time he saw that Zarco bastard, something about him had felt off.
Grahn had lost his mind the moment he saw Ceres’s naked body spread wide open. But more than his own weakness, what tormented him most was the belated pity he felt for Ceres caught between them. He could only blame himself.
Saintess… Ceres… Haa.
If the shadow that had flickered across Ceres’s face was because of the Hero, then Grahn could never forgive himself for making that shadow even darker.
“It felt good, Ceres…” Did I really say that? Ugh, what an idiot.
Those were the words he had spat after dragging her to this place and finishing inside her. And yet—
That pale, beautiful naked body of hers refused to leave his mind. He wanted to hold that soft flesh again. He wanted to push himself back into that slick, gripping warmth.
If only he had never tasted her, he wouldn’t be like this. But once he had held her, forgetting was impossible.
As he sighed again, the voices of two soldiers passing by the forge drifted in.
“Seriously, isn’t the Hero going too far? He should’ve left Rillen behind.”
“It’s been three days already? Damn it, when the hell is he coming back?”
“That Yujin kid… he wouldn’t have, right? He wouldn’t dare touch her when we weren’t even allowed to.”
“When he gets back, let’s beat his ass. If it were Rillen, fine, but… ugh, I’m so pissed!”
Has it already been three days?
If Ceres returned, Grahn wanted to apologize. But he was also worried she wouldn’t accept it.
Damn it, just focus on work. Work.
He rolled his stiff shoulders and back, sat down again, and gripped his hammer.
Then, from below, came a short cheer followed by the ringing of bells announcing the Hero’s return.
In the open clearing just off the central path of the outpost, the Hero’s party suddenly appeared, drawing soldiers from all around.
Of course, the one who came running fastest at the sound of the bells was Gardan.
“Hero! Wait—how…? When did you arrive, sir?”
“Gardan, haha. The main force had a teleportation magic circle prepared.”
“A teleportation magic circle?”
“Yes. They say a genius mage has appeared.”
From behind the group, a small woman in a robe stepped forward shyly and bowed.
“I-I’m Gerta…! P-please take care of me…”
She was a petite mage with long, neatly braided light brown hair. Gerta clutched her robe with obvious nervousness, twisting her body in embarrassment. She looked exactly like the scholarly type of mage.
“The circle is one-way, so we’ll need to set up another one inside the outpost. I’ll need you to show us around, Commander.”
“Ah, yes! Hero, Saintess, you’ve all worked hard. Please rest well today!”
Applause and cheers erupted. As the Hero raised his hand in response to the pouring praise for another victory against the demons, only Grahn kept his eyes fixed on the weary-looking Saintess.
He needed to apologize. But the desire to hold her again still burned unresolved inside him.
Watching her tired figure head straight for her quarters, Grahn eventually dragged his heavy steps back toward the forge.
“Goddamn it.”
For better or worse, he was an honest man. He genuinely wanted to return to being close friends with Ceres. He genuinely wanted to have sex with her again. But he also hated the idea of sucking up to a Hero he didn’t respect.
A true Hero should be someone like Dain. Zarco didn’t seem worthy of the title at all in Grahn’s eyes.
Isn’t there some way…?
It would have been better if Ceres had enjoyed the sex as much as he did. Being half-dwarf and carrying their culture, Grahn could only feel regret. Among dwarves, if both parties wanted it, they simply did it. There was no awkwardness afterward. They could be friends and lovers at the same time.
How nice would it be if he could keep that subtle distance with Ceres?
As he trudged toward the forge, a voice drifted from behind the workshop.
“You little shit. Tell the truth.”
“Y-yes? Seniors…?”
“We already know, so spit it out. Something happened during the journey, didn’t it?”
“What… do you mean?”
“Look at this guy pretending he doesn’t know. Were you called by the Hero or not?”
The tone was clearly interrogative. Without thinking, Grahn pressed himself against the wall and peeked. Two soldiers had cornered Yujin, the young soldier who had gone with the Hero on this operation.
“W-well…”
“See? Of course you did. So that’s why he took Rillen with him!”
“…How did you know?”
“How? We used to do it with her every night up there.”
“What?”
“While the Hero was fucking the Saintess, we were right beside him fucking Rillen.”
The memory of being summoned to the command center at night flashed through Grahn’s mind again.
“So? Did you do it with Rillen too?”
“N-no…”
“Reeeally?”
At Yujin’s answer, the two soldiers’ faces lit up with delight.
“Aha, so he was just going to make you watch.”
“Too bad. Rillen’s an adventurer, so her grip is insane. Still, you got a nice show, right?”
“Um… I… I did it with the Saintess.”
“What?”
The soldiers’ faces, which had been shocked, quickly hardened.
“…For real?”
“Y-yes.”
“…Haa… Isn’t the Hero going too far?”
“Shouldn’t it have been us first? Damn it… You bastard!”
What started as half-joking, half-serious violence born of envy and jealousy rained down on him.
“Damn it, damn it! How was it? Did the Saintess’s pussy feel good?”
“Ow! Seniors! That hurts!”
“My heart hurts more, you asshole! A green rookie like you—argh!”
That Zarco bastard… he’s completely…
Grahn had often been told he was slow to catch on, but this conversation let him piece everything together instantly.
If it weren’t for the Hero, I’d have beaten that kid black and blue.
Grahn was an honest man. He truly wanted to be close to her again. He truly wanted to hold her again. And right now, he truly worried about her. All of it was sincere.
That night in her quarters, Ceres found it nearly impossible to lift herself from the bed. It wasn’t just the fatigue from the journey—her heart had been pushed to its limit. How long would she have to keep doing these unwanted acts? Would Dain find out? Above all, the weight of having to bear this burden entirely alone pressed down on her.
Knock, knock.
“Um… Saintess?”
“…”
It was a familiar soldier’s voice—one of the younger men who was always in the command center.
“The Hero has summoned you.”
“I’m not going.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I’m not going!”
“B-but… it’s the Hero’s order.”
Ceres, who had been lying flat, shot upright in a burst of anger.
“I’m not going! Is only the Hero’s word valid and mine worthless? Go away!”
“Still…”
“Go tell him. I’m not coming today. Tell him to leave me alone!”
“U-understood…”
The sound of the soldier’s footsteps retreated outside the door.
After venting like that, her heart felt a little lighter, but Ceres knew all too well that this would only buy her a single day’s rest at most.
Outside, the floorboards creaked under approaching footsteps.
Knock, knock.
“I said I’m not—”
“Ceres?”
It was Grahn’s voice.
“…Grahn.”
“Can I come in for a moment?”
“…”
He was the man the Hero had permitted to have her. He had also been the only friend she could trust inside the outpost.
Please… don’t.
It wasn’t so much anger as fear. Ceres had no emotional reserves left. If any more burden was added, she felt she might abandon everything—Saintess or not.
Creak.
Grahn opened the door without waiting for an answer. Though she hadn’t said a word, Ceres glared at him with eyes full of worry and rage. But when he showed her the bottle of liquor with an awkward smile, her expression softened.
“How about we talk for a bit, Saintess?”
It was the face of Grahn, who had once been her friend.