Chapter 87
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Purchasing a Sword
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After building the safe, I took a short break and headed to Jackson's.
In this slow-moving medieval world, it was necessary to place orders in advance. Kanna tried to follow, but Hana grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and stopped her.
The same middle-aged man as before was guarding the front of Jackson's house.
He looked weaker than Jackson no matter how you sliced it; the word 'bodyguard' didn't seem to fit.
"Not right now."
"Why?"
"...He's busy."
Just then, a familiar voice drifted from inside.
"No matter how much you try to stop me, Father, I will become the shadow of Casedic! I've already made a promise with Aron! Aron will rule Casedic from the light! And I, from the shadows! We will dominate!"
That idiotic voice was undoubtedly Ska's.
For a guy his age, who even had a wife, to be saying such things... I couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for Jackson.
"Ahem... Anyway, not today."
The middle-aged man cleared his throat, looking embarrassed.
"I think I should go in. The 'light of Casedic' he's talking about is me."
I said lightly, a smirk playing on my lips.
"How old are you! Still haven't come to your senses, going on about the shadows! I'm telling you, it's not your calling! If you just showed up to the carpentry shop properly..."
"Not my calling? I already have twenty mouths to feed! Twenty! And do you have any right to say that, Father?! The reason I chose this path is because..."
As the conversation inside grew more heated, the middle-aged man's expression twisted beautifully.
"Being a thug seems harder than it looks, huh? Not exactly something you can pass down as a family business."
"Ahem... Go away."
"I told you, I'm the partner of that aspiring shadow of Casedic. If you let me in, I'll help preach his dream with him."
The middle-aged man scowled and glared at me, but the mood was shattered by Ska's subsequent shout of, 'You don't know shit, Dad!'
Bang!
Ska, with a bruise on his face, roughly threw open the door and stormed out.
"...Aron?"
"Yeah, Ska. Looks like the family's opposition is pretty fierce."
"Don't worry. It'll take more than this to break my will."
Looking at his serious face, I found it hard to tell if he was joking or being sincere. I hoped it was a joke, but seeing him pound his chest, it seemed he was serious.
'The ruler of the back alleys, fighting against his family's disapproval... Good grief.'
Since the back alleys this ruler operated in were under my jurisdiction as a guard, I couldn't just laugh it off.
"...Let him in."
A deep voice came from inside.
I patted the middle-aged man's shoulder and walked past him.
The middle-aged man scowled but seemed to be forcing himself to swallow it. A well-trained dog.
The inside was a mess.
'Then again, it was always a mess.'
It seemed Ska's messy office took after Jackson.
"...Aron."
The hairy Jackson slowly opened his eyes and called my name.
"Yeah, Jackson. Looks like your kid isn't turning out the way you want?"
I spoke with a bitter smile.
"Even an emperor can't control his own children. ...Not that you would know."
Jackson put a pipe the size of a man's forearm in his mouth and puffed out a cloud of smoke.
"Yeah, well."
I answered casually, but my mouth felt dry for some reason.
"...What brings you here?"
"Ah, I'm here to buy a sword."
"A sword?"
"Yep. A good one."
At my answer, the hair above Jackson's eyes shot up.
"...What exactly do you take me for?"
"A retired fence."
"A fence..."
Jackson muttered quietly, then began to laugh loudly.
His laughter was so loud it made the room ring.
"You've lost it. Was it that shocking to see your son inherit the family business? If it were me, I'd have taught him the family secrets. Like how to grab someone by the scruff of the neck to make them cough up more money."
"Isn't that your specialty? Make sure you pass that down later. Anyway, about the sword..."
Jackson's muttering reminded me of Kanna, who had copied me by carrying stones to build her own safe, and I felt a strange sense of unease.
For a moment, I pictured Kanna scowling and throwing a punch, but I quickly shook my head.
'Nah, no way...'
She might have acted younger than her age, as if seeking attention, but she was a sharp kid, smart enough to survive among thugs. She was clearly different from Ska, that big, oafish simpleton.
"What kind of sword are you looking for?"
"Something around 30 gold."
"A large sum, but a bit short for a masterwork sword."
After puffing out some smoke, Jackson fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"As you know, masterwork swords are managed by the Empire. It's not impossible to get one out, but the price skyrockets... making it highly inefficient. A waste."
Jackson wiggled the fingers of his hand, which was as large as a pot lid.
"But cursed swords are different. The Empire is lenient with them. Thanks to that, a cursed sword of the same quality can be five to ten times cheaper."
Jackson took the pipe from his mouth, held it in his hand, and swung it lightly like a sword.
'...A cursed sword?'
The folks around here were susceptible to superstition; they'd call a sword cursed if a few of its owners died in a row after falling from their horses. Even if it was called a cursed sword, it was likely just an unlucky object.
Besides, I already had the Devil's Handprint, so what difference would a cursed sword make? But still...
'Even so, the Devil's Handprint and a cursed sword...? Isn't that a bit much?'
It felt like I was heading down a seriously wrong path.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of a cursed sword?"
Jackson's words were strangely irritating, but I nodded. This was a chance to haggle.
"Of course. They don't call it cursed for nothing, right? Ugh... It gives me the creeps."
"Hmph... I'll lower my commission a bit. For 30 gold, you could get a truly magnificent cursed sword."
"I said it gives me the creeps. Besides, I'm an honorary monk. How would it look if I carried a cursed sword? I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with my current one."
"...I'll lower it a little more. I'll find one that suits you perfectly."
Watching Jackson try so hard to push it on me, I stroked my chin. The amount was large, but Jackson was being unusually proactive. Jackson turned his head, avoiding my gaze.
"You've been commissioned to sell a cursed sword, haven't you?"
"Khmm..."
Someone had clearly put in a request to sell a cursed sword. The reward must be quite high. Otherwise, there was no way Jackson would be this eager.
Jackson grunted and continued to avoid my eyes. I fiddled with a bizarrely shaped piece of iron on the display cabinet and waited.
Tap, tap.
After the sound of tapping iron, Jackson's mouth opened.
"Fine! I took the commission! You go around acting like a fool all over town, but your intuition is disgustingly sharp!"
Jackson, who had been avoiding my gaze for a while, suddenly yelled.
Jackson was the type to clam up when he was extremely angry. This was clearly an act.
'When did I ever act like a fool...?'
I gauged how much I could knock the price down.
"If it weren't cursed, this thing would go for 200 gold. Are you going to miss this great opportunity to buy such a masterwork sword for 30 gold?"
"That's not right. It's originally worth 30 gold, but the 'Empire premium' makes it 200. You need to get your math straight."
I countered, wagging my finger.
"...Empire premium? Anyway, you said you needed a sword! Do you have 200 gold! You don't, do you? What kind of sword do you expect to get for a mere 30 gold!"
"I have a sword. A close friend gave it to me as a gift. And as for a cursed sword, for an honorary monk like myself, it's a bit..."
"A guy like you is an honorary monk! The Empire must be on its last legs!"
A sharp back-and-forth ensued, where a single slip could cause the price to fluctuate wildly.
However, since Jackson's hand—that he'd already taken the commission—was revealed, I held the advantage. I leaned back against the bookshelf behind me, while Jackson leaned forward as if about to rise from his chair.
"...20 gold."
The atmosphere around Jackson suddenly grew heavy, and he became quiet.
'This must be his final offer.'
I licked my lips and nodded.
"What about the dignity of an honorary monk?"
Jackson asked, the hair above his eyes twitching.
"Dignity doesn't come from appearances, but from a person's essence."
Crack.
The armrest of Jackson's chair crumbled like tofu.
"Ah, by the way, how did the previous owners of that cursed sword die?"
Nodding at Jackson's satisfying reaction, I handed over five gold coins as a deposit.
Jackson wasn't a fool; up until now, he hadn't answered any questions that would clearly reveal a flaw.
Jackson, who snatched the gold coins with a jaunty air, opened his mouth.
Or rather, the hair where his mouth was presumed to be moved.
"Death by passion, they say."
His voice, which had been full of anger just moments ago, was now filled only with mirth.
'So that's why it wasn't selling.'
There was no way these uncivilized medieval folks, who blindly believed in superstitions and whose greatest pastime was making children, would buy such a thing.
If it weren't for me, someone who doesn't believe in such superstitions, it would never have sold.
'I could have haggled for more.'
As I clicked my tongue in regret, Jackson waved his hand dismissively.
"I'll get you the item as quickly as possible."
Jackson's facial hair parted to reveal yellowed teeth.
'So it was an act.'
I licked my lips as I watched him.
***
The next day when I went to headquarters, a much thinner Brick greeted me.
"Jojang-nim, are you feeling better?"
"...Yeah."
Whether it was because his wife was feeding him fish bread for all three meals, the kid's once-chubby cheeks were completely gone.
"Jojang-nim, marriage is a wonderful thing."
Brick muttered beside me like a chant as I changed my boots. His lifeless eyes and flat voice were strangely chilling.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I'm happy. Marriage is the best. I hope you get married too, Jojang. No, not just you, I hope all the other squad members get married too. So I'm not... the only one..."
Brick trailed off.
A moment later, his usual smile returned as he continued.
"I cannot be happy."
Hearing the resolve in his voice, I shook my head and stood up.
Afterward, I went to report to the Daejang, who told me someone from the inner castle was looking for me.
I told Brick to go to the gate and oversee the inspections, but he shook his head violently, telling me not to leave him alone.
The kid seemed to be broken, so I smacked him on the head.
That seemed to fix him, and he marched briskly toward the gate.
I watched him for a moment before heading to the inner castle.
In front of the inner castle, the bastard's bastard, Jayce, was on duty with another guard.
"A commoner, so slow to learn."
Jayce was lording over the other guard, who seemed to be his junior, with a condescending look on his face. A leopard can't change its spots.
"Hey, 'Bastard Squared' Jayce!"
"...Don't call me by that moniker."
Jayce's face soured instantly as he waved his hand.
His unpleasant face reminded me of Brick.
"By the way, are you still seeing the 'Dung-Spreading' lady?"
"...I told you not to call people by weird monikers."
"Didn't work out, I see. My condolences."
"...Just go away."
"I actually had a feeling. Your personality is so..."
"Get in! Just go in! Dammit! You Outer Wall Guard bastards have it so easy!"
I patted the shoulder of Jayce, who was yelling out of the sorrow of his breakup, and headed inside. The junior guard next to him smirked, then straightened his face when Jayce turned his head.
Knock-knock-knock.
"Come in."
When I opened the door and went in, Nova was at her desk, working in the exact same posture as last time. It was a space where time seemed to have stopped.
"You said you had a cold, but you look well?"
"Achoo."
"You could at least put some effort into faking it."
Nova said, furrowing her brow.
"Achoo!"
When I shook my head as well, Nova's lips twitched before she turned away.
"But if you had a cold, why did you go to Karzan?"
A moment later, Nova's usual chilly expression returned as she asked.
"Karzan is famous for its cold medicine."
"...Karzan is?"
"Yep."
Nova scowled. When I mimicked her expression, she turned her head and took a deep breath.
"I heard Karzan was in an uproar over vampires. You look fine?"
Nova asked, her face back to its usual cold mask.
"Ah, that. I heard the legendary vampire hunter, Takgu, took care of everything."
"Takgu... Takgu... Takgu?!"
Nova, who had been muttering, shot up as if having a seizure and shouted.
Startled by her own reaction, she sat back down, then slowly stood up again and asked calmly, "Takgu?"
Of course, her face was already red.
As I stared at her without answering, her face grew redder and redder. It looked like it might explode if I left it any longer, so I opened my mouth.
"Yeah, Takgu. The legendary vampire hunter."
"You were only there for a day... You didn't cause any trouble, did you? No, the last time you went to Karzan, too... How big of a mess did you make? Did you burn it all down? This is important for Casedic too, so speak plainly."
I was dumbfounded by her attitude, asking as if she was already certain I had caused trouble.
"Trouble? I told you, I hunted vampires. Everyone was overjoyed, it was a huge celebration. If there were reviews, it would've been five stars."
"What nonsense are you... Anyway, so nothing happened? Look me in the eye and tell me."
"Aside from a few minor things, nothing much happened."
I looked straight into Nova's orange eyes and said clearly.
"Minor?"
"Those crazy vampires burned the Imperial flag and smashed up the inner castle. Vicious bastards! I hate Black Blood!"
"...?"
Nova's eyes widened at the slogan that slipped out by habit. Crossing her arms, she tapped her fingers against her chest.
Clink, clink.
The clear sound, like a wind chime at a temple, cleansed my mind and body. I offered a small prayer in response.
"The Empire is making a move... Not bad. No, it's actually good."
When I opened my eyes a moment later, Nova was smiling brightly.
"You didn't leave anything behind, did you?"
Nova asked, tapping me on the chest.
I thought for a moment, then nodded.
The only thing I left behind in Karzan was Takgu's noble spirit.
"Good. Whatever your intentions, you've done a good thing for Casedic."
Nova let out a small sigh of relief and smiled like a teacher stamping a 'Good job' seal, then began to drum on her chest.
Clang, clang.
A more brilliant performance, a confident smile, and even a slight sway of her body.
'...What's with her?'
It was bewildering, but I couldn't just ignore a foreigner performing a frenzied rhythm, so I clapped along to the beat.
After the passionate performance ended, Nova wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled brightly.
"That's all for now. I have to go see the Lord."
With a smile similar to that of a dancer who had just finished her routine, Nova walked past me and out the door. Her smile and her steps overflowed with confidence.
'Hmm...'
It seemed my laughing because it was funny had been interpreted differently by Nova.
I shook my head, brushing it off lightly, and started walking.
As I left the inner castle and headed for the gate, I saw Brick talking to a coachman.
"You're married? Well then! You're free! Go on in! We're comrades! Comrades! There'll be a few days of quarantine inside, but... quarantine! Dammit! I'm so jealous."
Something was definitely off with Brick.
I knew the coachman wasn't a vampire, but the quarantine was an order from above. I sent the coachman to the quarantine facility and called Brick over.
"What's wrong with you?"
"...Jojang-nim."
"Yeah."
"Women are truly terrifying."
Brick's body shivered.
"Jojang-nim... Do you have any more of that chili powder?"
At Brick's desperate question, I took out the vampire fang tucked into my belt.
Would goblin chili powder really work as an aphrodisiac? The chances were slim. But the naive Brick believed my words as if they were gospel, so he was clearly experiencing a strong placebo effect.
"Wha... what is this?"
"This is the fang of a very nasty vampire. It belonged to a vigorous fiend who sucked the blood of men and women alike. Just keeping it on your hip will boost your strength to unbelievable levels."
At my words, the look in Brick's eyes changed instantly. Like a thirsty man who had found an oasis, Brick stroked the fang with a trembling hand.
"Stay strong."
I patted the shoulder of Brick, who was cradling the fang preciously in his arms.
Whether it was thanks to the fang, strength returned to Brick's slumped shoulders.
It was the largest fang, but as a fellow male, I couldn't put a price on it. This was an existential dilemma that only men could share.
"How much do I owe you?"
"Two silvers."
I quickly pocketed the silver coins Brick handed me.
***
"The castle walls are plastered with the face of some bizarre man! Is this even acceptable! And was that man, Deokgu, the only one who stood against the great darkness! The knights of House Pener also..."
'First, Gerel.'
Pulpuchu didn't listen to Gerel's words to the end, simply nodding. Adela chimed in to support Gerel midway through, but he paid her no mind.
When Gerel finished, Pulpuchu gestured to Nova.
"In exchange for including the image of the hero Deokgu, we are receiving a swift supply of high-quality stone. Furthermore, with the construction of the walls bearing the hero Deokgu's image, the number of travelers has increased. The two knights in service to House Pulpuchu have also been greatly influenced by the hero Deokgu."
At Nova's sharp and articulate response, a complete contrast to Gerel's, Pulpuchu nodded in satisfaction.
Nova did have a tendency to be a bit excessive when it came to 'Hero Deokgu', but Gerel's and Nova's opinions were polar opposites.
There was no need to rack his brain over it.
In the first place, with the surrounding situation so chaotic, as long as the walls were being built, it didn't matter what pictures were drawn on them. If the images became a problem, he could just have the surface scraped off later...
'No. Deokgu is officially a hero who died for Casedic. Couldn't I exploit that a little more?'
Nova would draw up the detailed plans later.
Pulpuchu gestured with his hand, signaling to move on.
Hmph...
Gerel made a strange noise and scowled.
"Next is the discussion regarding Lady Vivian's birthday."
At Nova's following words, a low murmur spread through the room.
'A birthday... The timing is not good.'
Pulpuchu stroked his beard, organizing his thoughts.
The eastern part of the Empire was suffering from a vampire plague.
If he held a birthday party in this situation, how many would even attend...
"As you all know, the current political climate is very unstable. Considering that we in Casedic have suffered relatively little damage, you can imagine how dire the situation is. However."
Nova paused, looked around, and then continued. The corners of her mouth were turned up, a clear sign she brought good news.
"According to recent news, Black Blood has openly declared war on the Empire. Because of that, the Imperial Army will immediately..."
'Declared war on the Empire? The vampires are finished.'
Pulpuchu guessed what would happen next.
The moment the Empire got involved, it was over for anything.
"...No matter how long it takes, the vampire situation will certainly be resolved before the young lady's birthday. The 'White Leaf' guild predicts that Black Blood will go into hiding before then. The timing is perfect."
Everyone nodded at Nova's words.
'Coincidentally, it works out well again.'
Pulpuchu frowned at the premonition that misfortune kept turning into good luck. A game of dice was bound to be lost eventually.
"House Pener has already sent word of their intention to attend Lady Vivian's birthday. No, they said that regardless of the vampires, the eldest son of House Pener, bound by the promise of marriage, would attend no matter what."
Gerel said with a face full of pride.
"Come to think of it, House Pener's Bolt Castle suffered almost no damage this time, did it?"
Pulpuchu asked again, feeling a sense of suspicion.
"Yes, it is likely because entering Bolt Castle is quite difficult."
"...Difficult to enter."
Pulpuchu muttered lowly, tapping his finger.
It was true that Bolt Castle's inspections were stricter than Casedic's, but they weren't thorough enough to filter out vampires.
'Even Count Behart is having trouble, yet Marquis Pener stopped them so easily...'
It was suspicious, but not something to bring up in a meeting like this.
"Yes, the inspections at Bolt Castle are famous."
Pulpuchu wet his lips with wine and waved his hand.
The meeting continued.
Most of the discussion was about preparations for Vivian's birthday.
The meeting dragged on longer than expected due to Gerel's constant objections, but Pulpuchu just sipped his wine and watched him.
Everything was functioning normally, so his mind was at ease.
'Pener...'
Before, he would have gone through with the marriage to House Pener. But the situation was different now. Unlike then, his number of knights was now equal to theirs, and on top of that, he had Aron. If it came to a fight, he had a chance.
Of course, if a territorial war broke out over a mere broken engagement, he would surely be ridiculed by the world, but excuses could always be fabricated.
'...A maximum of two years, was it?'
Pulpuchu swirled the golden goblet and muttered. The blood-red wine spun, creating a small vortex.
Pulpuchu didn't believe the story that such a healthy and beautiful child could die in a year.
Even Swalovitz, who had delivered the news, had phrased it as a possibility. Besides, he had heard enough of such vague, unsubstantiated stories to fill a cart.
Pulpuchu had ordered Swalovitz to keep it a secret and requested a detailed investigation. His welcoming attitude was grating, but he had no other choice.
"Let's make it as grand as possible, so that even the citizens can enjoy it. Even if we have to spend a lot on the budget."
Pulpuchu raised his hand to stop the conversation and spoke in a voice full of fatigue.
With that, Pulpuchu's headache worsened, and he pressed his temples firmly as he remained in his seat.
After the discussion about Vivian's birthday ended, the last item on the agenda was...
"Aron, the Jojang of the Outer Wall Guard, took some of the stones stockpiled for the wall. For now, I've left him be as per your Lordship's orders, but..."
"...Stones?"
The chief constable's hesitant voice drew Pulpuchu's attention.
"Yes, I heard he built a safe."
"A safe out of stone? He has that little magician with him, is he using magic?"
"Not magic, but he apparently made the door so heavy that no one but himself can lift it."
Pulpuchu had to mull over the chief constable's words several times before he could understand. They weren't difficult words, but the story was so crude that it took him a while.
"W-well, if only he can open it, then it's a safe! Since no one else can open it!"
Nova, her face strangely red, hurriedly added.
'...Doesn't he misunderstand the concept of a safe?'
Pulpuchu forced himself to swallow the word 'ignorant' that had reached his lips. His words carried weight here.
"His strength is incomparably greater than others. It may seem a little... a lot... crude, but since there is no one in Casedic stronger than him, it will undoubtedly be effective."
Nova, uncharacteristically excited, defended him.
As everyone else grunted in response,
"What do you mean he's the strongest! What is the meaning of this!!"
The knight, Adela, suddenly shouted.
"That's right! The eldest son of House Pener is also extremely famous for his strength!"
Gerel chimed in to support her.
'The castle... is running so smoothly.'
Pulpuchu pressed his temples firmly.
***
'Hoo... This is for the sake of the magical world.'
Guo Bao Rou... no, Swalovitz, took a deep breath and steeled his resolve.
Kanna had learned the most basic light magic just by watching his hand gestures, but this foolish, foolish young lady was still stuck on it.
'How could such a foolish, foolish woman...'
Swalovitz looked at the concentrating young lady and felt genuinely sorry. Even if mana was a prankster, wasn't this a particularly cruel joke that crossed the line?
'Why is there no reply?'
He had added as much as he could, but the paper hadn't been big enough to describe her foolishness further, which bothered him. It seemed the gravity of the situation hadn't been properly conveyed to the other party.
'The one beloved by mana.'
Swalovitz looked at the young lady's left breast and gulped. If he could attach that to Kanna... The thought of Kanna calmed his raging heart a little.
Too lost in thought, Swalovitz didn't see the young lady's shoulders flinch.
"I did it!! I did it!!"
At the young lady's bright voice, Swalovitz snapped back to his senses.
Despite her words, there was nothing in her hands.
'...What did you do.'
Just as Swalovitz was about to click his tongue, the young lady, with her eyes squeezed shut, shouted loudly.
"Light!!"
A small sun appeared in the young lady's white hand.
The brilliant, dazzling light seemed to fill the world, and Swalovitz's vision was flooded with white.
Of course, basic light magic had no heat, so it wasn't much of a problem.
When his vision finally returned, the young lady was gone.
'An unbelievable amount of mana.'
Swalovitz looked at the empty space and replayed what had just happened.
Even though it was basic light magic, the amount of mana was so monstrous that it had become a completely different spell.
Seeing it in person solidified Swalovitz's resolve even further.
'Her birthday is soon.'
Swalovitz, with sunken eyes, stared across the way before getting up.
It was time to go teach Kanna.
The thought of her made the knot in his stomach instantly loosen.
Swalovitz rubbed the area around his solar plexus and quickened his pace.
Today, they would move beyond fixing the fire with wind and start moving the fire itself.