Episode 644
Episode 644
Upon closer inspection, it wasn't an ordinary artifact either.
To instantly grant the wearer considerable physical strength without any noticeable side effects? Moreover, the innkeeper didn't look like a mage or an experienced adventurer.
Even artifacts that slightly boost strength with side effects are difficult to craft and considered precious, so one like this... 'Just who created this?' Ratford stared intently at the artifact.
The more he looked, the more extraordinary it seemed.
While Ratford couldn't distinguish its patterns and residual mana from a distance like Wardanaz could, he could still sense how meticulously crafted this artifact was.
A masterpiece radiates its aura no matter how far away you view it. '...
Wait, but why on earth does an innkeeper have something like this?!'
"Ghk... ghk. Th-this..."
"Did you mess up or not?!"
"This bastard's trying to kill me! Help!"
"!"
Ratford tensed at the coughing dwarf traveler's shouts for his companions. 'He's got friends!' Sure enough, with heavy thudding from the second floor, another dwarf emerged, brandishing a pickaxe.
And that wasn't all. A fellow dwarf from outside threw aside his beer mug and charged in wielding a club.
"By my beard, you won't lay a finger on my comrade! You monster!"
"You think you can cause trouble like this and walk away unscathed?!"
"Shut it! We're miners from the Sunset Vein Mine! You can't stop us!"
The innkeeper, still gripping the dwarf traveler, now faced off against two more.
Realizing three might be too much, the innkeeper shouted to the clerk again.
"Bring the ladle! The ladle!"
"??"
By this point, Ratford was less concerned about stopping the dwarves and more curious about what the innkeeper would pull out next.
"A ladle?! Shouldn't you bring out the pot lid too?!"
"Bring that too!"
The subdued dwarf traveler coughed out, "St...stop them!"
"Stop... what?"
"The ladle and pot lid...!"
"???"
His companions were baffled.
Why would they need to stop someone from bringing out a ladle and pot lid?
"If we don't move now, we can't stop them!"
"W-well, we still have to try..."
Just then, the scrawny clerk came darting out. In one hand, he held a ladle; in the other, a pot lid.
The dwarves burst into raucous laughter at the sight of the trembling clerk glaring at them.
"Little human! You think those will work?!"
"Get back to the kitchen and hide until your shift's over!"
"Behold, the Wardanaz family ladle!"
The clerk shut his eyes tight and shouted.
Never did he imagine he'd be the one wielding an artifact bestowed by the Wardanaz family!
Ideally, he'd have preferred the innkeeper to handle this terrifying object...
BAM!
All three dwarves were flung out of the inn. It was as if an invisible giant hand had swatted them away.
"!!!!!"
Ratford was stunned. 'This is no ordinary artifact!' It didn't just attack enemies—it autonomously detected hostile intent within the inn and expelled them!
The dwarves tumbled across the ground, dazed by the impact. Though sturdy and well-armored, the blow had left them gasping for air.
"Th-this crazy innkeeper... what kind of... artifact... cough..."
"Hey, you damned dwarf bastards!"
A neighboring general store owner, late to the commotion, came running in a rage.
The three dwarves, still sprawled on the ground, were dumbfounded at the sight of this shopkeeper who looked like he'd never been in a fight in his life.
What gave him the nerve to charge at them like this?
"Take this broom!"
The shopkeeper pointed the broom at them like a staff.
Suddenly, the three dwarves felt a chill of foreboding.
No way...
No way, even the general store owner is...?
"Broom of the Wardanaz Family!"
BAM!!!
The three dwarves were hit with a binding spell and immediately fell unconscious.
The villagers dragged them off to the guardhouse prison while hurling curses.
The commotion was over.
The innkeeper apologized to the guests and handed out a round of beer.
"Guest."
"!"
Ratford was startled when the innkeeper suddenly called out to him.
"Yes?"
'Did he figure out I'm a mage?'
"I understand your surprise. But please don't spread any rumors. If strange rumors start circulating in the village, travelers will stop coming."
"......"
"Please..."
The innkeeper's expression was pure desperation. Overwhelmed, Ratford found himself nodding without realizing it.
"B-but where on earth did you get that artifact just now...?"
"...Sigh. I suppose it's only natural you'd be curious. This is a treasure bestowed upon us by the Wardanaz Family."
"The Wardanaz Family! ...Wait, but why a hat, a ladle, a pot lid...?"
"There's a story behind those too."
The innkeeper sighed.
It all happened during the time of his great-grandfather.
Back then, this inn wasn't even called <Cloud-top Skiff>...
-You have managed the <Pony of Lava Volcano> inn splendidly. We wish to reward you in the name of the Wardanaz Family.
-Th-thank you, Demon... Supervisor... Administrator... Chief... sir.
"Demon?"
"...Did I say that? Not demon, I meant supervisor—Chief. That he looked like a demon, that's what I was saying."
The innkeeper quickly corrected himself and continued.
-We wish to bestow an artifact upon you. How does that sound?
-I-it's f-f-fine!
The innkeeper's great-grandfather hadn't wanted to receive an artifact.
In truth, the other villagers felt the same.
Ignorant outsiders might chatter, 'Wow, if you get an artifact, you could sell it for a fortune!' But this village's circumstances were different.
First, no one knew what punishment awaited those who dared sell items bestowed by the Wardanaz Family.
There was no stupider act than provoking the Great Archmage's displeasure.
And for ordinary villagers just trying to live their lives, the Wardanaz Family's artifacts were more objects of fear than convenience.
What if they accidentally summoned a demon while mishandling one?
-Why do you refuse?
-W-well, artifacts are too difficult for an innkeeper like me to use. How would an innkeeper like me wield a crown or scepter?
-Understood! I shall report this.
The demon disappeared, then returned after some time.
-The order is to enchant items you actually use at the inn. That should suffice, no?-......
He should have refused, but since it happened to be the demon's shift instead of the golem's, the innkeeper had no choice but to nod.
Ever since, the Wardanaz Family periodically gifted artifacts to the people of their domain as rewards.
Of course, they never forgot the thoughtful consideration of enchanting everyday items.
"...And that's how it came to be."
"Wow. The Wardanaz Family is truly amazing. To regularly gift such artifacts to their people!"
Ratford was impressed.
As expected of Lee Han's family, the Wardanaz Family stood among the Empire's greatest noble houses.
And not only that—they cared so little for appearances while showing such consideration for their people.
The innkeeper's heart swelled with emotion at the oblivious traveler's admiration.
If only you had to deal with the occasional demon visit, you wouldn't be saying such things!
"...We can only be ever grateful for their kindness. Haha... If travelers knew the villagers possessed artifacts, they might get frightened, so please don't spread this."
"Don't worry. I'll keep it secret. But are you really okay telling me this? Artifacts are treasures..."
"Anyone stupid enough to try stealing them can go ahead and try."
The innkeeper said this nonchalantly.
Then, realizing how indifferent he'd sounded, he quickly tried to smooth it over.
"It was a joke. Just a joke. Haha."
"Ah. I see."
"But may I ask what brings you here...?"
"A distant relative sent me a letter asking me to come and help with some work. I'm a craftsman from the Locksmith Guild. I should get going now."
"Oh! The Locksmith Guild, you say! Could I trouble you with one small request?"
"What is it...?"
"Some crazy guest left an eight-horse carriage in the stables and just walked away! I can't sell it, but I need to store it properly, so I was thinking of adding a lock just in case."
"First that dwarf guest earlier, and now this—with so many travelers passing through, we really get some strange ones! Don't worry. I'll stop by once I finish my work if I have time."
Ratford thought to himself, 'What odd people there are,' as he left the inn.
"Brother, take care of yourself."
Arsil hugged Lee Han and patted his back.
He was always worried about his younger brother, who took too many risks.
"It's not that I like danger—it's that danger keeps finding me... And the most recent danger was the one you brought me into, wasn't it?"
Arsil pretended not to hear and ended the hug.
"Where are you headed? The southern Empire? The island chain across the sea? Ah, you said you had a promise with people from that kingdom... I thought the Empire and that kingdom weren't on good terms... Oh, you became friends with royalty? At this rate, is there anyone you can't befriend except the headmaster?"
Arsil laughed at his brother's words.
Then he spoke seriously.
"Keep the Sheet Music of the Tomb safe, Lee Han. It will help your magic."
"!"
With those final words, Arsil gave a faint smile.
Then he stepped through the main gate and vanished in an instant.
The spirits that had been present until now all disappeared with Arsil, leaving the mansion suddenly quiet.
Yoner cleared his throat and spoke.
"He was... a truly unique person."
"Yeah. Kind of amazing too."
"I almost died, you know."
Gainando grumbled.
If Lee Han's second brother was like this, he couldn't even imagine how sinister and eccentric the eldest must be.
"Stop exaggerating."
"Exaggerator?"
"Yeah. Exaggerator. Good word."
"You saw the headmaster, didn't you?! Hey, and you, junior—what are you saying to your senior?!"
Gainando flared up at Eanthurde's remark.
But Eanthurde ignored him completely. In Eanthurde's mind, Gainando's place was already set in stone.
"Lee Han, let's go to our family mansion. Hm? There's plenty to do there."
"Later. I still have friends who haven't arrived yet, so I need to wait for them."
"Then we'll go once they're all here, right?"
"No. I want to clear any available requests in the area first. Gainando, take this. The area around here is deserted, so it's good for herb gathering."
"...I don't know alchemy..."
"You just have to look for herbs and pick them. Gather as much as you can. I'll split the reward with you."
Lee Han had already checked nearby requests at the Adventurers' Guild when he visited the town frugally.
Time-consuming ones were out of the question, but relatively easy gathering requests were the simplest way to earn pocket money.
"I prefer memories over money..."
Gainando muttered a phrase he'd read in a book. Lee Han and Yoner stared at him as if he were the biggest fool in the world.
"Earning money is also a memory, Gainando."
"How great can money-earning memories be, Gainando?"
'This guy is seriously annoying.'
"It's a shame there aren't any crafting requests. Those are pretty lucrative."
Even without making full-fledged artifacts, tasks like magical treatment for various reagents and materials paid quite well.
These were the most common jobs for lower-circle mages trying to gather research funds.
As the friends chattered, the main gate opened. Everyone's gaze turned toward it.
Surprisingly, Ratford arrived riding a golem.
"I'm back! Lord Wardanaz."
"Ratford!"
"Wow, I'm truly impressed. Golems patrolling the territory! The people living around here must be so happy!"
"Haha. I'm glad you think so."
Lee Han felt embarrassed by Ratford's praise.
His friends silently agreed not to mention who had been doing the patrolling until recently.