Chapter 532
Chapter 532
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 532
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in the Count Family
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"Master! It's finally complete! We have created a masterpiece for you, one that will never be seen again in this world!"
Phesus exclaimed excitedly.
Dozens of dwarves stood before me. They all looked in poor condition. Their appearances were disheveled, and their already dark complexions had grown even darker. Exhaustion was written all over their faces.
Only Phesus among them seemed perfectly fine. In fact, his eyes were gleaming. The reason was obvious. This guy must have worked his clansmen to the bone.
'Well, as long as the item is properly made, it doesn't matter.'
I swelled with anticipation.
It was an item made by the dwarves, but Yuria had joined in midway to help them complete it. With Yuria's name attached, there was no way it could be garbage.
"Phesus. Can't you see the master is waiting? Bring it here quickly."
"Yes! Lady Yuria!"
Phesus led the dwarves into the largest building in the village and then returned. The dwarves carefully carried over a massive wooden box the size of a coffin. They placed it cautiously before me.
"Open it."
"Yes, Master!"
The wooden box opened.
It was wrapped in indigo cloth. The moment I saw it, I felt a chill. It was something comparable to the Fire Lotus Sword... no, even superior, my instincts told me.
"......A spear?"
It was a massive spear. Over 2 meters in length. The spearhead was large and sharp, the shaft smooth and thick. Thanks to the main material being blue brightstone, it had an overall luxurious blue hue.
"We named it Stormbreaker! What do you think? Isn't it amazing? In your hands, it will shatter storms just as the name implies!"
"......I get that it's an incredible item, but..."
It was a spear.
I used swords. Even if not a straight sword like the Fire Lotus Sword, I wanted a blade. A sword was better for using the Eternal Heaven Style.
I knew nothing about spear techniques.
"You seemed interested in spear arts lately, so I suggested it."
Yuria said calmly.
"Oh, uh, yeah? But I'm interested in javelin throwing, not spear arts."
I'd grown interested after seeing Seong Hari, the final boss of the [Academy Savior] world, frequently use javelins. They were powerful and efficient.
"I know. Stormbreaker..."
"Stormbreaker has a total of five functions!"
The excited Phesus cut Yuria off. I noticed a small smile on Yuria's lips and her eyebrows twitching ever so slightly.
Hm. Once I'm gone, Phesus is going to get chewed out by Yuria. It was his own doing, so I had no intention of stopping it.
"The first function is transformation! The great spear you see now is its basic form, but it can change into a sword, javelin, great spear, or armor! The downside is that it requires continuous mana infusion to maintain the changes!"
"Hoo."
I looked at Stormbreaker with renewed interest. Hm. The name somehow felt more suited to an axe.
"You know those Ironroot dwarves? They were great at making armor, right? We made a weapon and armor in one! That alone proves we're superior dwarves to them! ...Of course, we had Lady Yuria's magic help, but the base is our dwarven craftsmanship!"
"Phesus. Too many unnecessary words."
"Oops. The second function is repair! If there's mana around, it can repair dents or breaks. The downside is that it takes some time, but compared to the advantages, it's nothing."
"Even if it's shattered into pieces?"
"As long as it's not completely obliterated, no separate repairs are needed. It won't get destroyed to that extent anyway! Stormbreaker boasts durability that can easily withstand an Aura Blade!"
"Really?"
I asked in surprise.
Phesus snorted proudly and nodded. Doubting him, I glanced at Yuria.
"Yes. The durability test is complete. Even my full-power Aura Blade could only leave a scratch."
It could block Yuria's Aura Blade.
"Impressive item."
"Master! The third function is clones! It can make the most clones in javelin form—up to 12 including the real one! Retrieval is of course included."
"I like that. Fourth function?"
"Body enhancement! In armor form, it will strengthen your body!"
"The fifth must be even more amazing, right? Tell me quickly. I can't wait."
"Heh heh... The fifth function is fusion! It can fuse with other weapons! Stormbreaker can then use the abilities of the fused weapon!"
Fusion. In other words, sex.
Stormbreaker was a sex-compatible weapon. It's growing on me!
"What do you think, Master? Doesn't this prove our Frosthammer clan is superior to those Ironroot whatevers?!"
"After seeing this, I have to admit... you're superior!"
"Heh heh... Thank you for acknowledging us. Your words alone melt away all our hard work!"
"But wasn't this possible only thanks to Yuria?"
"L-Lady Yuria helped a little... no, quite a lot, but the basics were all us dwarves! We poured our souls into every scrap of metal! Look at our weary clansmen!"
I shot Yuria a look. How did you make this? Even with her help, was something like this possible?
"I found magic engineering books and materials in the magic tower we dealt with before. We used the knowledge from those."
I nodded. Yuria deserved extra cuteness in bed tonight.
"Hm... In recognition of your efforts, I grant you a one-month reward vacation."
With war approaching, armor and weapon prices were skyrocketing. Giving them a whole month was generous.
"O-Only a month?!"
Phesus despaired, eyes tearing up. I frowned. This guy was getting bolder because I let him off easy.
The quick-witted Phesus immediately dropped to his knees.
"Thank you for a whole month of vacation!"
"Good. You know gratitude."
"Master. The dwarves worked hard. It would be good to reward them more."
"......If Yuria insists... Hm. Add half a month..."
"It would be better to grant them authority."
"Authority? What kind?"
"The right to command slaves. There will be many slaves soon."
"Ah, right. Fine. You have the right to command slaves."
"Thank you!!"
Phesus grinned broadly.
Once war broke out, captured enemy prisoners would become slaves. Handing skilled ones to the dwarves for management would increase quality slaves.
Since I'd already discussed prisoners with Yuria before, I agreed without hesitation.
"Now that I have a new weapon, shall we test it?"
"It would be best to register you as the owner first. I'll help."
"Owner registration? How does that work?"
"First, grip the shaft..."
???
A week had passed since receiving Stormbreaker.
I dedicated three hours a day to javelin practice. I had no talent for swinging the spear, so I gave that up. But javelins required little skill. Thanks to my shooting aptitude, I hit 100% at close range.
'Within 100m against stationary targets, I can hit with about 90% accuracy.'
Standing in the plains, I threw one spear. Focusing on maximum distance, it flew over 700m. It didn't land where I wanted, though.
"Master! Amazing!"
"So cool!"
"Here's the next spear!"
The maids around me praised me. Not a drop of sweat on me, yet they wiped my body with towels and held cold drink straws to my lips. A smile never left my face.
"Master. It might be better to lower your knees a bit more."
"Like this?"
I gladly accepted Yuria's instruction. Following her advice, the spear flew faster and farther.
"Retrieve."
Of the 12 javelins, the 11 clones vanished, and only the original flew back to me. Stabbing it into the ground returned it to great spear form.
"Let's head back. Time to wash up and eat."
After that, happy times as usual.
Before storing Stormbreaker in my inventory, I swung it lightly. Whoosh. Unlike swords, spears felt awkward.
-Master. Marquis Petras has arrived.
"......"
My senses detected no presence, not even Marquis Petras's. Pretending ignorance, I swung the great spear randomly. Acting like I sensed him here would complicate things.
"What poor spear work."
A voice came from the right. Lukman Marquis Petras strode toward me confidently.
"What brings Marquis Petras here?"
"Don't ask when you know."
Lately, Marquis Petras had been visiting and testing the heirs of the Furkus Count family. He went to Gent first, then Kyle the day before yesterday. Today was my turn, apparently.
"I thought you'd come tomorrow."
"You were nearby. I planned to come yesterday."
"May I ask your evaluations of my brothers?"
"The eldest was somewhat ordinary. But he was noble. The second impressed me as a warrior. At that young age, peak level... I even felt jealous for a moment. The second will surpass his father."
"May I ask why Marquis Petras is evaluating us?"
"Personal curiosity about that man's sons and to gauge their potential. One of you will succeed Count Furkus. I want to see the caliber."
"Shall we fight here?"
"......"
The giant of the north glanced around. Then he stepped back, increasing the distance between us.
"Leaving?"
"From the traces, it seems you're into javelins, not spear arts. I'm interested in your throwing skill. Throw a spear once."
"I might kill you."
"Bold. If you can, try it."
Lukman widened the gap to 100m.
"Yuria. Take the maids and fall back."
"Yes, understood."
"Master! Do your best!"
With the maids' cheers, I raised the great spear. I didn't switch to javelin form. Though less precise and slower, hurling it in great spear state had more destructive power.
'He's not someone multiple throws will work on. Put everything into the first.'
I drew up mana and used brain lightning.
Bzzzzt!
Lightning started at my toes, raced up my body, and gathered in the spear.
I tensed my whole body. Muscles strained, and my gripping hand creaked. Faint blue aura flickered at the tip.
'I'll send it like lightning.'
I visualized lightning enveloping the spear, obscuring its form.
Feeling maximum power loaded, I hurled it at Lukman.
Kaboom!
Like firing a cannon, the spear tore through the air in a straight line toward Lukman's front—no arc.
"...More decent than expected."
Through my mana-enhanced hearing, I caught Lukman's mutter.
Then, Lukman threw his spear.
The golden-aura-wrapped spear clashed with the lightning spear mid-air. The golden spear won. Lightning shot skyward, lost power, and fell, while the golden spear embedded 5m before me. If Lukman willed it, it could have pierced me.
"Impressive."
"No soul in your words. Have you seen a better throw than mine? From some master of a thousand spears?"
It was Seong Hari's javelin. I still remembered her spear piercing my chest.
"Who knows."
"...Fine if you don't want to say. Now draw your sword. I must see the Furkus family's other genius with my own eyes."