Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: They Strike When You're Relieved (5)
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"Blacksmiths who awakened the Guardian's Power never met a peaceful end."
In a flat, emotionless tone like an old folktale, the cruel story continued.
"The rulers of every nation coveted that power without exception and tried to monopolize it by any means necessary."
"......"
"If the world found out that you've manifested that power, well."
The corner of my mouth twisted upward into a sharp line.
"At the very least, you won't be able to work in this forge anymore. You'll probably spend the rest of your life locked in some underground chamber, churning out items."
Alessia's face drained of color, turning ashen white. As she staggered back, Melina steadied her from behind.
"Mom."
"Ah, Melina."
I let out a short chuckle as I watched the mother and daughter embrace.
"But right now, who knows about this fact?"
I pointed my finger at the two of them.
"You and your daughter."
Then I turned my finger back toward myself.
"No one but me, right?"
"Ah, Young Master Abel."
Alessia trembled violently as she dropped to her knees. She looked utterly overwhelmed by the truth she'd unexpectedly faced, struggling hard.
"......"
Alessia stared blankly at me with a dazed expression. I flashed her a crooked smile.
'She's so easy to handle.'
I hadn't even issued a single threat yet, and she was already sinking into despair. Once a person has fallen into the abyss once, they slip back in far too easily.
Having information others don't know about, and using it at the right moment.
This simple strategy put a person so effortlessly in a position of superiority.
Truly, disappointingly so.
'In truth, the Guardian's Power has limited applications.'
I recalled information I had deliberately not told her.
To be precise, the Guardian's Power was useless against physical strikes. It only reacted to protect the user from magical or spiritual energies.
So it was completely ineffective against monsters that could tear a human apart with their bare hands.
In other words, it was a power of little use even if Abel Kindriel, the ruler of this barren Ovest Territory, possessed it.
'But what if the Four Seasons Swords come into play?'
The story changes.
For me, once I obtain Requiem, it becomes a power of immense utility above all else. It would also prove handy against the other swords that appear later.
'Of course, no need to tell her that much.'
I suppressed the grin tugging at my lips. And just as I was about to speak,
"......"
I noticed Melina gazing at me with sharp eyes. She had stepped slightly forward, as if embracing Alessia protectively.
"Young Master."
Melina's low voice cut through the forge.
"What should I do? What should we do?"
Her words were similar to before, but the intent behind them was entirely different.
"You're explaining this so kindly because you want something, right?"
I whistled inwardly.
'Did she wise up in the meantime?'
Instead of answering, I curved my lips upward, affirming Melina's question.
Melina thought for a moment before adding,
"If we just make the ring you mentioned, somehow, will that do?"
Her eyes resembled those from when she vowed to accomplish anything no matter what.
Eyes that would surely see it through, like the clear, biting sky over Ovest Territory.
"You're quick on the uptake. Good."
I praised her in a light, amused tone. Then I got to the point.
"My proposal is simple."
I picked up a piece of ore rolling around on the table. I pointed at Melina.
"Put the gem Melina crafts,"
I shifted my finger sideways toward Alessia.
"into the ring Alessia makes. Of course, that ring must be infused with the Guardian's Power."
I set the ore back down on the table and crossed my arms.
"And the ring you make that way must be supplied exclusively to me."
Alessia, who had been listening dazedly, murmured,
"You want to monopolize the Guardian's Power......"
"There's no need to share the Guardian's Power—the only one of its kind in the entire empire—with anyone else."
Finishing my words, I gave a soft smile.
"You don't want to be separated from your daughter, do you? If the ring comes smoothly into my hands......"
Alessia looked at me with eyes filled with fear.
"Who knows? I might just forget that the Guardian's Hand was ever born."
"I, I understand what you're saying, Young Master. We'll definitely make the ring you want. But......"
Alessia, seeming to finally pull herself together, stammered,
"......But if that's the case, then Melina doesn't need to do the gem crafting, does she?"
That demeanor suddenly reminded me of Diego lecturing Abel.
You're not good enough. You can't do it.
As if declaring it outright.
An inexplicable irritation made the tip of my brow twitch.
"Then why should I go find someone else?"
A curt tone slipped out involuntarily.
"Pardon?"
"There's a skilled gem cutter right here."
I nodded toward Melina with my chin.
"Melina has more than enough talent and aptitude. Stifling her from following in her parents' footsteps would be the real folly."
"......"
"Mark my words. Melina will become the empire's greatest jeweler."
This wasn't empty flattery or bravado.
'That's how it was in the original story.'
Before the protagonist Cain set off to conquer Requiem.
Melina confessed her shy feelings to him. In return, Cain gave her a necklace with a small gem.
Gazing at it whenever she had the chance, Melina suddenly thought she could make something like it.
'That was the start of Melina's Gem Shop.'
She possessed astonishing talent and mastered gem crafting at a terrifying speed.
The pinnacle came when Melina developed her own original cutting technique.
Gems cut with the so-called 'Melina Cut' sold like hotcakes at astronomical prices.
Melina and Alessia were rolling in money in no time. In the end, they used that wealth to protect themselves.
"......"
Melina's face flushed bright red.
As if she'd never boldly confronted me, she bowed her head deeply again. Then she fidgeted and hid behind Alessia.
'What the?'
I tilted my head.
I'd expected her to be pleased that I took her side, but the reaction was unexpectedly lukewarm.
I shrugged my shoulders and addressed Alessia, whose face was complicated.
"For the time being, refrain from using the power. If rumors start flying that green light keeps flashing in this forge at all hours, it'll be trouble."
Alessia swallowed a sigh and nodded readily.
"Understood."
Now that she knew the conditions for the power's manifestation, controlling it shouldn't be too hard.
"And keep the completed ring with you for now."
"Not sending it to the castle?"
"Yeah. Just hold onto it. Until I call for it."
"Uh......"
Alessia hesitated for a moment.
"What? Doesn't a longer deadline mean something better for you?"
"No, that's true, but. Anyway...... Understood."
"Good."
I nodded heavily and immediately rose from my seat.
"I'll be expecting it."
Leaving those words, I left the forge without even hearing a farewell. I still had other matters to wrap up next.
❖ ❖ ❖
Abel's figure, who had arrived like the wind, vanished in an instant.
"......"
Melina and Alessia, the mother and daughter, stood speechless for a moment.
"For some reason......"
Melina was the one who broke the silence.
"I feel like the Young Master might just leave for somewhere like this."
"You think so too?"
Alessia whispered softly. Her eyes followed Abel's spot, now noticeably smaller.
"For some reason...... I get that feeling too."
Then it would be for the best.
Alessia muttered to herself as she turned her gaze away. But Melina couldn't easily tear her eyes from Abel.
"......"
Her ash-gray eyes, like the sky, darkened further.
❖ ❖ ❖
Late into the night, at the entrance to Ovest Castle.
A single horse halted before the firmly shut main gate.
Neigh.
"Whoa, whoa."
The exhausted horse let out a rough snort.
Yonas gently stroked the horse's sweaty nose.
"Easy now, easy."
But the horse, having galloped nonstop, wouldn't calm easily.
"Shh, good boy?"
After Yonas patiently soothed it for a while, the horse finally settled.
"There, good job."
Yonas withdrew his hand from petting the horse. Then he swept back his disheveled hair.
Dust and sand clung thickly to his palm.
"Oh dear."
As he gave a troubled smile,
"Sir Yonas."
Butler Philip came rushing out. Despite the late hour, there wasn't a trace of sleep in his eyes.
"We've been waiting for you."
He had already received word of the approximate arrival time and prepared accordingly.
"Please wait just a moment."
He hurriedly opened the castle gate.
Yonas dismounted lightly, took the reins, and entered. In a crisp, disciplined tone, he said stiffly,
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Yonas Klein."
"Yes, we've already heard about you."
Philip welcomed Yonas with polite courtesy.
"You must have had a hard journey here."
"No, I merely did what needed doing."
Philip smiled as if fully understanding Yonas's modesty.
"Please, come inside."
Yonas followed behind Philip.
The path into the castle was lit only with the minimal lights needed to identify surroundings—a consideration to avoid disturbance for a midnight guest.
Philip first led him to the stables. A space had been prepared there for Yonas's horse to rest.
"You can leave the horse you rode here. I'll instruct the stablehand to take good care of it. Any special instructions?"
Yonas handed over the reins to Philip and firmly instructed,
"This one's like a comrade I've been with for a long time. Please take good care of it until I return."
"Of course."
Philip smiled affably, as if it were a trifling matter. As Yonas glanced around, he noticed another horse nearby.
"This horse......"
Next to it stood a sturdy, impressive dark bay mare blinking its eyes.
"Yes, the one for you to switch to."
Philip said in a reliable tone.
"As the Lord instructed, we've prepared ample food and supplies. When do you plan to depart?"
"I'll rest my eyes for a few hours and then head out. Time is short."
"Understood."
Ovest Castle, built entirely of stone, was as quiet as ever. As Yonas walked with Philip, he suddenly asked as if it had just occurred to him,
"And Young Master Abel?"
"He's asleep. If you'd like to see him......"
Philip trailed off with a subtle expression.
"No. No need for that."
Yonas replied calmly.
In truth, he hadn't asked out of genuine curiosity about Abel's well-being.