Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Pouring Water into the Pit
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Chapter 2. Pouring Water into the Pit. (6)
I nodded in greeting.
"What brings the Young Master all the way here? I was planning to deliver it to the castle once it was finished."
Alessia looked at me with clear embarrassment. Melina had been fidgeting visibly ever since I appeared.
"Bored of waiting."
More precisely, I didn't want the castle residents to see me receiving the item.
The image of Diego sitting in his office came to mind. And possibly the person he might be meeting with.
'I'll know for sure soon enough.'
Finishing my thoughts, I sauntered over to the two of them.
"How far along is the item?"
"It's in the final stages."
A cheerful smile rose naturally at Alessia's polite response.
"I thought you'd never touch metal again, but it seems not."
"That's……."
Alessia wore an expression too complex to put into words. Gratitude toward me for forcing her back to work, mixed with lingering fear of me.
"Well, good."
I plopped down into the chair beside the forge. It didn't make much noise, but Melina flinched anyway.
"Finish it up quickly."
As I waved my hand dismissively, Alessia looked troubled.
"You're going to sit there?"
"Why, is that a problem?"
"No, it's not that……."
"Don't mind me. Keep doing what you were doing."
From Alessia's side, Melina spoke with her expression.
'How can I not mind with you sitting there!'
I snorted loudly on purpose. Seeing that, Alessia sighed in resignation and picked up the tongs again.
"Please wait just a moment, Young Master."
Clearly, the mother had more backbone than the daughter. Melina would probably grow into something like her eventually.
I pulled the pocket watch from my breast pocket.
"Still about three hours left."
"Pardon?"
"Three hours until the three days are up."
Embarrassment and urgency flashed across Alessia's face. Behind her, Melina's mouth gaped open.
"Th-that three days is like that?"
"Did you think it was until midnight tonight?"
It wasn't like assigning school homework or anything.
I'd come to the forge myself partly to hurry them in case they had such a misconception. I wanted the gauntlet in my hands as soon as possible.
'And I wanted to see the moment it was completed myself.'
I was curious if Alessia had truly awakened her talent.
"……Understood."
Alessia steeled her face and dove back into the work. Melina, realizing the situation, helped her mother.
"Hmm."
I watched Alessia's work while tapping my foot. The moments when she tied the leather straps, refined the fingertips of the glove, and smoothed the opening for the hand.
Alessia glanced my way, then at Melina.
"What should I bring you?"
Melina asked innocently in return.
"……Never mind."
Alessia gritted her teeth as if she'd made up her mind. Then she threw herself into the work with even fiercer intensity.
Time passed, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Now the final step."
Alessia raised the hammer and struck the hem. At that moment,
Flash!
Green light burst from the gauntlet.
"Ah!"
"Huh?"
Alessia and Melina stepped back in surprise. I shot to my feet as well.
"That's!"
A warm, soft hue that caressed the eyes. It was just like the symbol that appeared when the 'Guardian's Hand' manifested.
'Exactly like in the original story.'
No, seeing it in person was far more impressive. It truly felt like it could protect someone.
The green light poured out one final brilliant flash before being sucked back into the gauntlet.
"What in the world……."
Alessia hurriedly picked up the gauntlet. Melina asked in a trembling voice.
"Wh-what was that just now?"
"I don't know. It's never happened before……."
Alessia turned the gauntlet this way and that, sweating profusely.
The gauntlet was silent, as if nothing had happened. Its color and shape were exactly as when it was completed.
"What was it? Did I imagine it?"
"Didn't a green light come out?"
The mother and daughter huddled around the gauntlet, whispering.
They were so absorbed they didn't notice me approaching.
"That,"
I said in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Hand it over."
"Ah."
Alessia noticed me and started sweating coldly. She fiddled with the gauntlet, hesitating.
"Y-Young Master. I don't really know what just……."
"Hand it over."
Alessia and Melina looked at each other. Their faces paled, thinking something had gone wrong.
"Hurry."
At my urging, Alessia reluctantly held out the gauntlet. I snatched it almost violently.
"……."
The gauntlet looked excellent up close. The tanned leather felt smooth, and every seam was meticulously connected without gaps.
But more importantly,
"……Ha."
Slipping it on, I let out a low exclamation.
'I can feel it.'
The warmth that embraced the wearer.
It was distinctly different from the mere warmth of wearing armor. It felt like protection from all the harms and malice in this world.
'With this…… I can stand against Requiem.'
I stood there motionless for a long while with the gauntlet on. More precisely, I was busy swallowing waves of relief.
"You've done……."
It took a while before I could utter a single word.
"well……."
"To make something like this."
Alessia's body trembled. She clenched her scarred, wounded hands tightly.
"I'm sorry, Young Master. It's been too long since I worked……."
"Yeah, it has."
I smiled contentedly and slowly removed the gauntlet.
"But to think you'd do this well."
Alessia had done splendidly. She'd made exactly the gauntlet I'd hoped for.
"It's excellent."
"?"
Alessia stepped back. Fear crept across her face.
"That was…… the best I could do."
"So it seems."
That's why she'd awakened that talent.
I neatly folded the gauntlet and tucked it into my breast pocket.
"Ugh."
Alessia gritted her teeth. Then she stepped sideways, positioning herself to shield Melina from me.
"Mother……."
Melina clung to Alessia's arm with a terrified face.
"Alright, then."
I lifted my head with a smile. And found the mother and daughter prostrated on the ground.
"……What are you doing?"
The two cried out desperately.
"Young Master, please forgive us!"
"I'm sorry! Please, spare my daughter at least!"
Alessia raised her head first.
"My skills are limited, so it must fall short of your eyes. But we worked without sleep for three days straight, focusing only on the gauntlet. Please have mercy on our sincerity!"
Not to be outdone, Melina cried out.
"It was my fault, so punish me instead! My mother is innocent!"
What in the world.
I stared at the two with a dumbfounded expression.
"Hey."
"Young Master, please show mercy!"
"Pity us and forgive us!"
"……."
I pressed my forehead and sighed.
"Then I'll forget about the shoe price."
"Please spare my daughter…… What?"
"That's enough."
With business done, there was no need to stay. I turned away without regret.
"You've worked hard."
I tossed out one last word and left the forge.
❖ ❖ ❖
Left alone, Melina and Alessia looked at each other.
"He just…… left?"
"Seems so."
It felt like a storm had swept through. They couldn't hide their bewilderment.
"How did this happen? It seemed like he was angry that this was all we could do."
"That's what I thought too."
Abel's face, slowly lifting the corners of his mouth after putting on the gauntlet, had been enough to scare the wits out of them.
"Oh, but didn't he say he'd forget the shoe price?"
"You heard that too?"
Alessia's eyes widened.
"So I didn't mishear."
"I definitely heard it. He said that's enough."
Confirming it brought a surge of emotion. The mother and daughter hugged and cheered.
"We're saved now!"
"Oh my goodness!"
They bounced in place, clinging together. After sharing their joy briefly, Alessia pulled away.
"Exactly!"
Her large, callused palm smacked Melina's back.
"I told you to stop drinking so much, you foolish girl!"
"Ow, it hurts! You drank a lot too, Mother!"
"You little fool?!"
Alessia pummeled Melina with a face that could have been laughing or angry.
"Ow, okay! I got it!"
Melina rubbed her stinging back with a pout. Her gaze turned toward where Abel had gone.
"It feels a bit weird."
"What does?"
"About Young Master Abel……."
Melina fidgeted with her hands and mumbled.
"……It felt like he was scolding me to get my act together."
"Did it?"
Alessia looked in the same direction as Melina.
'I thought I'd never hold metal again.'
If not for Abel's command, what would she be doing now? One thing was clear: thanks to Abel, she'd stood up again.
'I even thought of leaving this territory.'
She hated this place that constantly reminded her of her husband's death. She just wanted to run away and hide.
But standing before the anvil again, she realized.
'Wow, dear. Is this what you made?'
That what her husband had loved and cherished most was her sweating over the anvil.
"Lucas……."
Alessia slowly closed her eyes.
❖ ❖ ❖
After returning from my outing, Philip came to my room.
"Young Master, I have something to report."
I nodded for him to speak, and he lowered his voice.
"As per your orders, I observed Lord Diego's every move."
Even though there was no one around to hear. That's why I could guess what he was about to say.
"Go on."
"Yes. In the morning, he handled his backlog of work, and in the afternoon, he went on a territory inspection."
"And?"
"After visiting farms and shops, he returned to the castle and checked on the servants' conditions."
My eyes gleamed for a moment. Maintaining a calm expression, I asked naturally.
"Servants—who specifically?"
"Yes, first he met with Head Chef Max and all the kitchen staff. Then……."
Names I already knew passed by my ears.
"And……."
Philip's voice carried reluctance.
"He met with Pierre last, then ended his day."
He seemed quite embarrassed to say that name in front of me.
"That's all."
After finishing, he subtly checked my reaction. I slowly stroked my chin and murmured.
"Hmm."
Anxiety spread across Philip's face.