Chapter 280: Temar's First Grave (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 280: Temar's First Grave (1)
Once the manifestation ended, Vinn learned the whole story. The memories from the brief time Picon had possessed his body remained vivid in his mind.
“Wow… that’s incredible. The legendary blacksmith, Picon Minche! I never dreamed I was the descendant of someone so amazing. I thought it was a demon, but to think it was the voice of a god… Haha.”
Vinn let out a good-natured laugh, stroking his heavily swollen jaw. The only reason he’d survived Jin’s punch with so little damage was that Picon had been manifesting in his body at the time.
Surprisingly, he seemed to accept what had happened without much trouble—including the fact that neither he nor any of his ancestors since Picon had ever enjoyed the benefits of being a contractor.
“Vinn Branche.”
“Yes! Sir Jin. I couldn't greet you properly earlier because I was so flustered. My body suddenly moved on its own and…”
“Do you not feel resentful?”
“About what?”
“You and your ancestors have made unwanted sacrifices because of me.”
Vinn’s eyes widened, and he waved his hands dismissively.
“Oh, heavens, what sacrifice? I didn't even know I was a contractor. So, while I didn't get any special benefits, it’s not like I lost anything, either. At least, I didn't. Besides, if being the contractor for the God of Blacksmiths meant I’d likely end up as a slave to the Zipple, then of course I should have lived in hiding. I don't think you can call that a sacrifice at all.”
I didn't get any special benefits, but I didn't exactly lose anything either.
Vinn truly believed that.
“Of course, if I had known I was a contractor from the start, my life might have been different. It most likely would have been. If I had become a blacksmith for the Runcandels or joined the Minche Blacksmith Association, I would have lived a much more affluent life than I do now.”
“That’s true.”
“But is there any guarantee that such a life would have been happier than the one I have now?”
This time, it was Jin’s eyes that widened.
“No one knows that. If I had become a Runcandel blacksmith, I might have made a lot of money, but I also might have died from the stress of walking on eggshells around high-ranking people. The Runcandels are a terrifying bunch, aren't they? And at the Minche Blacksmith Association, I might have been subjected to all sorts of envy and jealousy.”
Vinn paused for a moment, shrugged, and continued.
“On the other hand, I love my life as it is now. Even though I lived under a maddeningly poor lord and even got kidnapped, I got to experience Sir Jin himself coming to rescue me… and my lord is a good man, just a bit unlucky.”
“Keep talking.”
“That’s all there is to it.”
“From now on, Lord Picon will use your body to strengthen Bradamante because of me. From your perspective, this must seem unfair. If there’s anything you want from me regarding that, please tell me. I will accommodate you as much as possible. Even if you refuse, I have no intention of punishing or harming you.”
“Sir Jin, what are you saying? Today, Lord Picon just happened to meet both of us by chance. Even setting aside the fact that I’m the blacksmith’s contractor, didn't you save my life?”
Vinn waved his hands once more.
“So, I have no complaints. In fact, it feels good knowing I can repay the life I owe you.”
“I’m grateful to hear you say that.”
“I can guess why you came to find me. Since the Volta family was the only one that didn't send a congratulatory gift, you probably came to ask me, the person in charge, about the state of the fief. But Sir Jin, please know this. Our lord has never embezzled taxes.”
Vinn was laboring under one major misunderstanding.
From his perspective, meeting Picon was purely a coincidence, but Jin’s visit had been inevitable from the start.
In truth, Vinn had been constantly worried about the fact that they hadn't been able to send a gift for Jin’s appointment as a Flagbearer.
He didn't think Jin was the kind of petty man who would care about a gift. Vinn had read the newspaper reports about Jin’s exploits in the Holy Kingdom back when he was a reserve Flagbearer.
That was why Vinn thought Jin might suspect the Lord of Volta of embezzling taxes. No matter how far they’d fallen, they were still a noble family; it made no sense that they couldn't afford to send a single gift.
Out of the countless families in Huphester, only the Volta family, where he served as butler, had failed to send Jin a gift. To Vinn, it seemed like a situation that would naturally arouse suspicion.
“The lord even sold his own belongings to provide relief for the poor. Famine has persisted in this already barren land, and with bandits running rampant, it was difficult to find even a single sheet of decent stationery, let alone a gift.”
Jin found Vinn’s sudden defense a bit absurd, but he felt no need to correct the misunderstanding.
“I never thought the Lord of Volta would embezzle taxes. However, as you said, I was curious about the state of the fief. I wanted to provide support if things were truly that bad.”
Vinn’s face brightened, and he nodded vigorously.
“As I thought! I was worried for nothing! Sir Jin, thank you for your consideration! To look after an insignificant land like ours and even rescue me from bandits… I will not forget this kindness even in death.”
Jin thought to himself, Somehow… his misunderstanding seems to be growing. Then again, is it even a misunderstanding? I was planning to provide sufficient support to the Volta family all along, as long as I could secure the God of Blacksmiths first.
Not only had he secured him, but he had also learned that the God of Blacksmiths had changed, that it was all Solderet’s arrangement, and he had even received a promise to strengthen Bradamante.
For Jin, the situation couldn't be better.
“Then, I leave my sword in your care.”
Vinn carefully lifted Bradamante.
“Since I don't know the first thing about smithing, my ancestor will be doing everything. I just need to secure a space within the fief where he can forge the sword without anyone knowing…”
“I’ll take care of that. I’ll take various measures so that you won't be put in a difficult position while the God of Blacksmiths is working. I’ll also arrange for support funds, relief food, and repairs for the manor.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank you so much!”
Jin gave an awkward smile as he watched Vinn bow repeatedly, looking as if he were about to prostrate himself.
“Is there anything else you want from me?”
“There is nothing. This is already more than enough, Sir Jin.”
“If you wish, I can provide a lot of support for you personally as well. You remember the conversation Lord Picon and I had earlier, right? I told Lord Picon not to stop me from supporting you.”
“Haha, I am overwhelmed by your words alone. But Sir Jin, as I said before, I like my life. This fief, the Volta manor, is my home. For this place to overcome these hard times and rise again is the same as me rising again.”
Though their meeting was brief, Jin felt a great deal of goodwill toward the man named Vinn.
Vinn could have asked for so much more. He could have screamed for compensation for his and his ancestors’ sacrifices.
But Vinn did not do that.
“Thank you. Let’s head back now, to your home.”
*
As soon as he returned to the Garden of Swords, Jin sought out Petro.
“Visit the Volta fief personally tomorrow morning and provide support to the family, but don't overdo it. Focus on gold coins and food, and do not send troops. Be careful not to make it look special in the eyes of my siblings.”
“Understood.”
“Also, contact Tikan and request that they station about five reliable plainclothes guards in the Volta fief.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
As Petro left, Gilly and Murakan, who had been sharing a drink, approached him.
“Young Master, where have you been?”
“The Volta family was the only one that didn't send a congratulatory gift, so I went to see if something was wrong.”
“Whoa, now that you’re a Flagbearer, you’re already throwing your weight around? I didn't take you for that kind of guy, kid. Life must be pretty tough for fallen nobles. Are you really going around shaking them down for money, huh?”
“Lord Murakan, I’m sure the Young Master went because he thought there must be a reason, not because he felt slighted.”
“The state of the fief was very bad. I decided to provide support, and while I was there, I happened to meet the contractor for the God of Blacksmiths.”
“What?”
“Say what?”
When Jin told them everything that had happened with Picon, the two looked interested for a moment before quickly accepting it.
“So, kid, what you’re saying is… the reason Groller died is unknown, and Picon, the new God of Blacksmiths, was Solderet’s arrangement for you. Plus, Temar’s first grave? Ha!”
“Young Master, it seems you get involved with incredible beings everywhere you go.”
“Now you’re even meeting gods in some backwater countryside?”
“You two don't seem very surprised.”
“How many times has this happened to you? In Colon, you met that weird god Klam or whatever and got a mirror, and that was Solderet’s arrangement too. When you were rescuing your fan on that deserted island in Viment, there was the Demon God Stone and all that. A God of Blacksmiths is pretty tame by comparison. It seems like it’s all part of Solderet’s plan anyway.”
Gilly also nodded quietly.
“By the way, you said Picon Minche used the same ability as the one the Kinzelo Leader used?”
“Yeah. Strangely, the Leader’s ability seemed superior, but Lord Picon also manipulated iron, just like that man did. Is that an inherent ability of the God of Blacksmiths?”
“I’m not sure about that either. The predecessor, Groller, was an incredibly reclusive god.”
“If that ability is unique to the God of Blacksmiths, then there’s a high possibility that Groller’s death is related to the Kinzelo Leader. You still don't have any idea who the Kinzelo Leader is, do you?”
—[When Temar tried to kill you while you were on a rampage, I was the one who stopped him. Murakan. Do you not remember me?]
—Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? You look like a demon who’s lived a fair bit, but there’s no way Temar would have associated with the likes of you. And a rampage? You seem to have picked up some rumors somewhere. The one who rampaged that day was…
—[Are you trying to say it was Temar, not you?]
The conversation between the Kinzelo Leader and Murakan in Old Oterium.
Since that day, Murakan had been constantly searching his memories. However, no matter how much he scoured his mind, he couldn't find any memory of having a relationship with the Kinzelo Leader.
“No, I don't. Damn it, I’m going crazy wanting to know who that bastard is, too.”
“Since Kinzelo has surfaced anyway, his identity will eventually be revealed. There are plenty of people besides us who are curious about him.”
As Murakan grew frustrated, Gilly changed the subject.
“I’m looking forward to Lord Picon improving Bradamante, but I’m already worried about the Young Master going to the place where the First Patriarch was first buried. It feels like it will be dangerous. That 'will' he mentioned…”
“Don't worry, Gilly. I’ll be going there with Murakan.”
“The God of Blacksmiths knows something even your mother doesn't. Since the body was moved, I won't be able to greet Temar even if we go there. Phew, Temar’s first grave…”
Murakan gave a bittersweet smile.
From the moment Jin first brought up the story of Temar’s grave, he had been trying hard to suppress his painful emotions.
“Right, so where did he say the location was? The place where that fellow was buried.”
“The Anz Great Plains. The place that used to be Chukon Tolderer’s land.”
Jin said, showing him the ‘key’ he had received from Picon.