164. An Invitation from a Vampire
164. An Invitation from a Vampire
- 1 -
"Now, here—the first hammer of the 「Ash Heap Artisan Corps」 presents to the Lady of the Dungeon. We humbly offer a weapon for your most dangerous knight."
The burly old artisan lifted the sword, trembling from head to toe.
He appeared to struggle under the sword's mana, but in truth, the blade he was offering was so precious in his eyes that he was handling it with the utmost care.
And indeed, even just looking at the sheathed sword, an extraordinary force was emanating from the blade.
"Pray be careful not to inadvertently infuse it with mana. This sword has been washed once with a spirit, so it will recognize whoever first feeds it mana as its master."
"Understood."
I nodded at the artisan's warning and drew the sword he offered.
Once, it would have been difficult to even hold a sword properly, but now my 「Specialization」 trait for swords assisted my movements, so it was no longer so hard.
Sreureung.
'Good heavens.'
The sight of the sword drawn from its black scabbard was a work of art in itself.
The gleaming white blade seemed as if moonlight had been condensed, and the surface of the cutting edge was engraved with a fine pattern like hoarfrost.
That pattern shimmered subtly whenever it caught the light.
"These marks are dragon scales, are they not."
"After applying dragon scales to the surface, we melted the pattern into the blade. Normally, it's a technique that damages the blade's durability, but since we used dragon bone for the core, it will not break easily and will accept mana even better."
"Impressive skill."
Dragon scales could be obtained even from were-dragons, so they weren't a rare material, but they were still precious.
Such a precious material had been used merely to create a pattern.
The dragon bone was likewise.
That could only be obtained from true dragons, making it far rarer than dragon scales.
'Just adding a core makes the durability entirely different from an ordinary sword's.'
It wouldn't match a 'Dragon Slayer' class weapon made from a whole dragon bone, but such weapons were difficult to both craft and purchase.
Whether as a crafting fee or a selling price, such a sword was literally 'worth whatever you ask for it.'
Though I possessed much wealth on the continent, it couldn't be fully converted into assets in the Demon Realm.
'This...'
I lowered my gaze.
The sword's guard drew an elegant curve, protecting both blade and hilt.
The guard's shape resembled an angel crouching around a massive golden wing. The delicate feathers carved into the wing added to the realism.
'The shape of an angel on a sword made for a demon. It's in bad taste, but... it's beautiful.'
A wry smile at the artisan's tastes escaped me, but considering the appearance of the one who would wield this sword, it was a perfect fit.
Ssaak!
I turned the sword half around and examined the hilt. Even the sound of the blade cutting the air was almost nonexistent.
The grip visible beneath the guard was wrapped in leather with a black barbed pattern, and at its end, a single transparent diamond was set.
It was beautiful, but there was nothing there yet. It seemed he had left it so I could engrave magic upon it later.
I turned the sword again and looked back at the blade.
"This... you put a great deal of work into it."
"Thank you for recognizing it!"
Looking again, what stood out was the unique texture of the pure white blade.
The surface was transparent like glass yet possessed depth, reflecting light as if looking at the scales of a living dragon.
Though it currently bore a pure white color, its interior was now completely empty. As though it were an empty vessel, it seemed to be waiting for something to fill it.
"Eve. Come here. Quickly."
"Yes, Master."
I grew impatient.
A strong desire welled up within me to see how she would look infusing this sword with her mana.
She knelt on one knee before me and raised both hands, and I carefully placed the sheathed sword upon them.
"Then. I shall test it."
"Do so."
Evangeline, in her Black Knight form, rose from her spot and gave me a reliable smile. Then she turned around, faced the opposite direction, and drew the sword.
Sarak—
When I had drawn the sword, there was certainly a sound of friction, but no sound came from the sword in her hand.
Having drawn it, she placed her index and middle fingers upon the blade, then pushed them all the way to the tip.
Ssaak—!
The act of feeding the blade with blood. It was a ritual performed by some warriors of this world when they obtained a fine sword.
Even if not to the extent of vampires or dragons, the blood of all races held dense mana within it.
Wooong.
The sword, with only the mana contained in the blood, seemed to have already recognized its master.
The blade slowly began to turn black, then red.
"Just as expected."
As I thought, the transparency of that blade was meant to contain the master's mana in its pure form.
"An excellent sword. Its sharpness is no less than its beauty, Master Artisan."
"I am pleased that it is to your liking. Try swinging it now. Your master is waiting."
Eve, who smiled gently at the orc's booming voice, slowly infused mana and kindled a light along the blade.
—!
And then, a dark red arc traced the air.
A trajectory whose traces lingered long after the swing.
Cheolkeok.
She sheathed the sword immediately after swinging it once at a boulder, then turned around and approached me.
And kneeling on one knee, she spoke.
"I thank you for my master's consideration and grace. I vow to become a knight not unworthy of this sword."
"You are already such a knight. So, until I prepare an even better sword, become an even finer knight for me."
"I shall, gladly. My Master."
Krggeung—!!
By the time she uttered her last words, a long crack had appeared in the boulder behind her that had been the test subject.
Kung—!!
The boulder split in two and collapsed onto the floor.
I could see Skeleton Mages hastily clearing away the dust that arose, preventing it from spreading.
A young magic sword, containing no particular magic yet, with only the property of accepting and amplifying mana.
This was the result of swinging that sword just once.
The corners of my mouth softened of their own accord.
"Magnificent. Master Artisan."
"Words of the highest praise! It is because the knight is so excellent that she draws out more than double the sword's ability!"
I smiled at the artisan, and his compliment made that smile deepen even further.
"I do not dislike your flattery."
"Kuhkuhkuh... By the way, what will you name it? The Lady? Or the knight?"
His gaze moved back and forth between Evangeline and me, but Evangeline's gaze was fixed only on me.
I pondered for a moment, then spoke a single phrase.
"Grail Sword. That would be good."
A sword that holds something. Evangeline, who can contain anything.
I thought it was a good combination.
"A holy grail... A fine metaphor."
"Truly excellent insight!"
"It is embarrassing to be so praised after having already shown all there was to show. Enough."
After a modest gesture of humility, I turned to the artisan, who had been wearing an anxious expression since earlier, and continued.
"Master Artisan. With this, I will mention your fault no further."
At my words, his face brightened.
The orc master artisan had brought weapons for my people after already exceeding the initially promised deadline.
However, I decided to simply forgive such trivial matters.
Because the armaments he had made were more satisfying than I had imagined.
"Continue to do so in the future. It is fine if you are a little late, but make them with certainty. And when you are late, be sure to inform me."
"Thank you for the Lady's benevolence!"
The orc prostrated himself on the spot and bowed deeply.
Seeing his trembling body, he seemed to be feeling genuine fear.
But what I felt from him was gratitude, nonetheless.
"Next time, I shall strive to come as quickly as possible! This time, we were a bit... afflicted with an artistic disease, as it were."
"I am glad you acknowledge it."
"Hehehe..."
The orc master artisan was thus a decent merchant in his own way, but also a figure who possessed an artisan's spirit befitting his massive frame.
A suitable desire for money and a suitable desire for achievement.
We would likely continue trading for a long time to come.
"Sonia. Come here. Armaments prepared for you are also ready."
"Ah, yes. Teacher."
"This is a weapon for an axe wielder. Come here and try holding it."
—Thank you, Master!
After that, I spent an enjoyable time finalizing the purchase of the armaments prepared for my people.
"Ah... I'm not interrupting, am I?"
"Of course not. Serica. Come quickly. I've been waiting."
Until Serica, who was scheduled to arrive today, finally came.
- 2 -
An invitation from the Baritra Marquis Household, delivered by Serica.
It was a matter that caused me to let out a sigh involuntarily.
'What is all this, really.'
Honestly, the invitation itself was expected.
In any case, I was in a position where I had entered a deep relationship with their heir.
But to think it was for this reason.
"A son-in-law candidate... no, a daughter-in-law candidate?"
My head had been throbbing ever since I first heard the business.
The opposition of the women who loved me was plain as day.
"Master. This is an invitation you do not need to accept."
After Serica returned, even the rational Eve momentarily lost her composure and gave such unreasonable advice.
A tension was evident in her voice, something rarely seen in her.
"Eve. You know this as well as I do. If we refuse, they will extend an invitation for something we cannot refuse."
"...Master's words are correct."
"..."
"Huu."
Shue and Ran's expressions turned sharp as soon as they heard the news from Eve.
Shue bit her lip so hard it turned white, and Ran, covering her mouth with a long sleeve, could not conceal her discomfort.
"A woman and a woman... marriage...?"
Sonia still seemed unable to properly understand the situation.
In this world, romantic escort between women was common, but same-sex marriage was not, so it was a natural reaction.
'It's so nice it makes me feel sorry.'
The situation was complicated, but amidst it all, I felt a secret pleasure.
Usually, they possessed rational and calm sides, though the degree and direction differed. Seeing those women lose their reason when it concerned only me felt sweet.
Sorry to all of them, but their reactions were deeply satisfying to me.
It was a vicious taste of mine that I hadn't even realized.
"Come here, Eve. What's with that sad expression?"
I gently lifted the chin of the kneeling woman who had approached me.
There, the figure of the fine knight who had swung the Grail Sword during the day was nowhere to be found; there was only the appearance of a woman filled with jealousy and anxiety.
Her skin felt flushed against my fingertips.
When I softly turned her averted face, blue eyes tinged with a faint red aura finally met my gaze.
I was satisfied.
The dark emotions swirling in those eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I know all of your hearts."
I slowly looked around at them.
Shue still hadn't loosened her tightly closed lips, Ran was stealing glances at me from over her sleeve, and Sonia, still seemingly bewildered, didn't know what to do with herself.
"You all worry too much."
"It is not worry. It's just..."
Ran continued with a furrowed brow.
She seemed afraid of giving the impression that she did not trust me.
"I apologize. My irritation was getting the better of me..."
It was a frank expression of emotion rarely seen from her. Naturally, the smile on my lips deepened.
Evangeline spoke while gripping the magic sword she had purchased today tightly.
"I will accompany you. An escort is necessary anyway..."
"That's even worse."
Shue sharply interjected.
Though she furrowed her brow as if in pain, she continued her rational analysis.
"If they see that any of us are at Master's side... they might push Lady Serica forward even more aggressively.
The Demon Realm does not concern itself with gender regarding an individual's marriage, but succession is a bit different... If they are to accept same-sex marriage between women anyway, they will think it better to secure the position of the principal wife for each other."
Ran agreed with that opinion and spoke in a voice mixed with a petulant complaint.
"That is correct. Therefore, if you simply do not go at all..."
"Enough. All of you."
When I spoke in a resolute voice, everyone froze and focused their gazes on me.
"I will accept the invitation."
"Teacher...?"
When I gestured to them, looking at me with anxious eyes, they immediately approached.
Women gathering near me, each kneeling on one knee or both knees, in loyal and demure postures.
"Everyone, pull yourselves together."
Ttak!
"Ah."
"Uck."
I flicked each of them on the forehead in turn.
Their expressions were perplexed as they clutched their foreheads.
Especially seeing even Sonia or Shue, who usually showed little emotion, making deeply aggrieved faces, it was so cute I nearly laughed.
"It is not a betrothal or a pledge, it is merely an invitation to a meal. Whatever is talked about, there's no reason I'd be forced into it right away. Or do you not trust me that much?"
The Marquis was a person who certainly possessed a level of authority and power I could not yet oppose.
The probability was low, but if his pride was hurt and he tried to coerce me, it was obvious that Serica and I would face difficult times.
It would be better to meet in a more relaxed situation.
In the worst case, it wasn't as if he would pull out a shotgun or something the moment we met at the place he had invited us to.
"Ah..."
"Th-that's true..."
Seeing them avert their eyes as if feeling guilty, I snapped my fingers to gather their gazes again.
And then I showed them a warm smile.
"The banquet at the Marquis household is still some time away. Let's focus on what we need to do for now. There are many pressing tasks, aren't there?"
The matter of wrapping up the cleanup of the information merchants in the north.
Supporting Elena's ongoing succession in the southwest.
The issue of drawing in, ruling over, or dealing with the lords of the riverbanks in the southeast.
The work of extracting and organizing Arpina's knowledge.
And even the matters of Camaya or Nirvana, who were to become Dungeon Lords.
Even just the things we needed to handle right away were to this extent.
There was no time to divert our attention to things that wouldn't be solved by worrying.
To begin with, wasn't Serica, for her part, helping with the matters of Camaya and Nirvana among these?
"Indeed."
"We're sorry..."
"Do not apologize. It's fine."
Only then did they seem to calm down, and we were finally able to have a constructive conversation.
"The reunion that Lady Echidna mentioned will start first, so we must prepare means for smooth 'negotiation' with the lords there..."
"Nobles are all greedy, so if we just prepare an appropriate amount of money..."
But amidst that discussion, I still felt an elated mood.
Everything about them was beyond precious to me.
Their jealousy, their worry, their love.
The fact that all of this was for me.