Chapter 768: Rolling Blessings (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 768: Rolling Blessings (2)
At Jin’s signal, the knights who had been restraining the boy loosened their grip and stepped back.
“Whoa! You’re really letting me meet Sir Jin! It’s an honor, Sir Jin! My name is Luce Fivrizo! I’m sixteen, from Col Village in the southern Bakle Autonomous District. I’m also a Distinguished Member of the Integrated Official and Unofficial Jin Runcandel Fan Clubs, and…”
Luce paused to pull out the official membership badges from the fan clubs run by Enya and Sandra.
Despite his entire body being covered in grime, the badges were polished so meticulously that they practically gleamed.
‘…Enya and Sandra told me those aren’t easy to get.’
Luce held out the two badges with a broad grin, waiting until Jin gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Telot pressed a hand to his forehead as if nursing a headache. It was bad enough that Luce had been so flippant with him, but he hadn't expected the boy to be this brazen in front of the Runcandel’s 12th Flagbearer.
“Among the fan clubs, I’m known as ‘Tenacious Luce,’ the ultimate Jin-stan.”
“Um… right. Let’s start with a handshake. I’m grateful you like me that much.”
“Ha! What an honor! A handshake with Sir Jin? This is insane, absolutely insane! Uh, Sir Telot, could I borrow your handkerchief for a second?”
“Good grief… I’m at a loss for words. Did this brat leave his sense of fear at home?”
Telot shook his head but handed over his handkerchief anyway. Luce scrubbed his hands vigorously, instantly blackening the pristine cloth before firmly grasping Jin’s offered hand. To make matters worse, he then handed the filthy handkerchief back to Telot, leaving the knight dumbfounded once again.
Jin felt a bit awkward as Luce refused to let go, but the boy just laughed gleefully, a bright kya-kya-kya sound echoing in the air.
“You said you’re the contractor for the God of Architecture?”
“Yes! Sir Jin, I only found out recently. Suddenly, a voice started speaking inside my head. It said, ‘I am Barvobo, the God of Architecture. Will you enter into a contract with me?’”
Barvobo was indeed the name of the God of Architecture. It was a name one wouldn't know without some study of divinity.
“So, you came to find me because you wanted to use your power as Barvobo’s contractor?”
“Of course! It’s been my dream to join the Barmul Alliance for ages. I’ve always wanted to do something great alongside you, Sir Jin. To think that dream might actually come true! Heaven must have recognized my sincere wish. I have absolutely no talent for magic or swordsmanship, so I figured it would be impossible to meet you by succeeding in those fields.”
“Let’s calm down a bit and talk more quietly, Luce.”
“Understood!”
“First of all, anyone can join the Barmul Alliance, even without special abilities. In a broad sense, the residents living on the Alliance’s lands are already members. From that perspective, you’ve been a member since the moment you arrived here as a refugee.”
“Then that’s even better! Because now, I can be a member who works directly with you, Sir Jin, not just a regular one!”
Of course, even if Luce were truly a prospective contractor for Barvobo, he couldn't possibly know about the shipyard in the Land of the Sword Emperor. He had simply sought out Jin, thinking that once he completed the contract and gained his authority, he would be a great asset to the Barmul Alliance.
“I would like that as well, if it’s possible. But what do you mean by ‘prospective contractor’? I heard you need to pass a trial to finalize the contract with Barvobo.”
“Ah, that’s…”
At Jin’s question, Luce hesitated for the first time. Jin didn't press him, merely watching him with a calm gaze.
“Actually, now that I think about it, I should first ask how someone from the southern Bakle Autonomous District ended up all the way here. If you’re from Bakle, your family must have been quite well-off within the Lutero Magic Federation.”
As a city close to the Federation’s capital, most of Bakle’s residents belonged to the wealthy class, even as commoners. The reason Luce wasn't intimidated by Telot was partly due to his bold personality, but it was also likely because he had grown up in an environment where he rarely had to bow his head to anyone.
But it was more than that.
Jin had a hunch about why Luce had come here.
“My family went bankrupt.”
“…Did that happen when my family’s 4th Flagbearer attacked the Bakle Autonomous District, before the Evil God died?”
—While we were requesting support from Tikan, there was another attack.
—Did they move a large force again in that short time?
—No. Dipus Runcandel struck the Bakle Autonomous District accompanied by two Black Knights. Since we were prepared, civilian casualties weren't massive… but the Ghost Captain was seriously injured. Lord Kadun also suffered internal injuries after engaging them before he had fully recovered.
That was the conversation Jin had with Ronil when Dipus attacked the Lutero Magic Federation.
“Yes. When Dipus attacked, we lost our house and all our property.”
Luce’s family had been among the victims. Looking at the boy who spoke of his family being ruined by Jin’s own brother, Jin felt a heavy weight settle in his chest.
As Jin’s expression darkened, Luce waved his hands frantically.
“But it’s not something you need to worry about, Sir Jin! It’s not like you gave the order. In fact, you came to the Lutero Magic Federation to help us back then! Besides, even though we lost our home and wealth, no one in my family died. We all happened to be out at the time, so it was a stroke of luck.”
“I’m glad to hear that, at least. I will do my best to restore your lost property.”
“That’s not your job either, is it? We were supposed to get insurance money, but those damn Zipples wouldn't pay up. There were about fifteen affected households, including mine, and none of us got a cent. They claimed it was difficult to pay out during a war. I almost got myself killed trying to argue with the Fire Dragon Kadun about it!”
Telot clicked his tongue again. If Kadun had actually met him, Luce wouldn't be standing here today.
“Anyway, my whole family lost all affection for the Zipples after that. And since there were strange rumors going around, we decided as a family to immigrate to Huphester.”
“Strange rumors?”
“Rumors that the Zipples are experimenting with bio-golems on residents again. Even after you exposed them and humiliated them when you were a reserve flagbearer, they still haven't learned their lesson. We don't have proof, but they’re exactly the kind of people who would do something like that!”
Jin had also been considering the possibility that the Zipples were conducting bio-golem experiments again. The magic swordsman bio-golems he had seen in the Holy Land couldn't have been created from thin air.
“Anyway, losing the house and money hurts, but my family is generally positive like me. We’re determined to start over and live well in Huphester. I’ll just have to become a key member of the Alliance and support them myself…”
Jin smiled and patted Luce on the shoulder.
“Still, I should apologize. For not being able to stop the 4th Flagbearer in advance.”
“It’s fine. Is there anyone in this world who isn't indebted to you, Sir Jin? We all would’ve died at the hands of the Evil God if it weren't for you. Let’s just call it even.”
“First, I need to verify something. I need official confirmation that you are indeed Barvobo’s contractor.”
“How do I do that? I’m just a prospective contractor, so I can’t show you any powers yet…”
“You just have to stay still. It’ll only take a moment. Head Butler.”
[Yes, Young Master.]
“Check Luce’s records.”
Ruet placed a hand on Luce’s forehead and activated his authority.
[Luce, you said you heard Barvobo’s voice recently. When exactly was that?]
“It was at dawn, fifteen days ago. Around four in the morning?”
[I will look at your records from fifteen days ago. Do not be alarmed.]
As soon as Ruet finished speaking, an image began to play on the record window.
It was the day Luce had heard Barvobo’s voice. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, Luce was engrossed in reading an erotic picture book he had stumbled upon while on the run.
Luce scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, while Jin let out a chuckle, reminded of Murakan.
“Oh… where did I even find this? This might be a rare erotic picture book. Rumor has it Sir Jin’s guardian dragon, Murakan, has a hobby of collecting these. Maybe I should bring it to him later? Wait, who’s that?! Who just spoke to me? What? Barvobo?”
Since Barvobo’s voice was only transmitted to Luce’s inner self, it did not appear in the recording. However, the possibility of this being a fabrication was extremely slim. There was no reason for someone to pretend to hear a god's voice while secretly reading an erotic picture book in a corner of a refugee shelter at four in the morning.
“I’m finally getting a contract offer from a god! Fine, what do I have to do? What…? How am I supposed to do that right now? Wait, Barvobo! Lord God of Architecture! At least give me some advice before you disappear!”
The record Ruet had verified ended there.
“Ha, haha! I didn't expect my private life to be exposed like this. How embarrassing. By the way, do you think Lord Murakan would like this book?”
“Well, if it’s an erotic picture book, he’ll read pretty much anything. The verification seems complete. Now, will you tell me what trial Barvobo requires?”
Judging by Luce’s earlier hesitation and his recorded protest about how he was supposed to accomplish such a task, the trial was likely something impossible for him to achieve alone.
“Well, that trial is…”
“Don't worry about how it sounds. Just speak freely.”
“If I tell you, you’ll help me, right?”
“If it’s something I can help with.”
“Okay, then I’ll trust you and tell you, Sir Jin. The trial Barvobo demanded was this: ‘Find a construction site that would make even me, Barvobo, feel the desire to take on the challenge, and become its person in charge.’”
A construction site that even the God of Architecture would covet…
The moment he heard those words, Jin thought of the Sword Emperor Castle. Ruet and Telot were thinking the exact same thing.
‘If this is true, we won't even need to risk using the compass to mess with the Bakle Autonomous District.’
Jin gave a wide smile and replied to Luce.
“Luce, come with me.”