Grandpa Knights from the Afterlife
Fergus's forge in Luisillan wasn't much different from the one back in Ruana.
It was just a modest reception room with a back door leading to the workshop beyond.
"I've been eagerly awaiting my benefactor's visit. You've finally come."
"Yeah. I finally got the chance."
"Haha. I have so much to tell you. First, some tea..."
Carpe and Fergus spent a moment catching up on old times.
"...And that's how I was able to settle here. My family's name has all but been forgotten, but from now on, I'll revive it myself."
"You can absolutely do it. I saw a ton of people outside earlier."
"Ah, you mean them? I recently asked a favor from some outlanders... and in exchange, I enhanced their weapons a bit. Word must have spread."
Fergus scratched his head sheepishly.
"Truth is, I wasn't planning on doing enhancements yet, so I've just been training."
The reason Fergus had come to the capital was a special enhancement material only available nearby.
"I still can't handle it skillfully... My meager skills are nothing to be proud of."
A man who could crank out +12 enhancements in one go calling his skills meager.
It was overly humble, but he seemed to genuinely believe it.
After finishing his tea, Fergus brought up the topic Carpe wanted most.
"My training isn't complete, but I'll enhance your gear to the best of my ability. This way, please."
Fergus led Carpe deeper into the forge.
"In Ruana, we lacked the special solutions for enhancements, so I only did your gauntlet. But here in the capital, I've made plenty."
"...You mean?"
"Yes. I'll enhance all your gear. Of course, it's all free for my benefactor."
"Whoa!"
How does he say the cutest things?!
Carpe wanted to hug him right then but held back with superhuman restraint.
"Alright, let's begin."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Fergus started enhancing Carpe's gear—and all his retainers' gear.
From the Magic King's weapons, Enigma and Vasilas, to Gillian's custom blade!
Congratulations! You've successfully enhanced Gravity Blade – Gravi-T Blade to +9!
Dark Army Gillian's exclusive effect: +10% damage per enhancement level!
"Grr!"
Fergus was truly a master.
He'd pushed every piece of gear—regardless of grade—to +9 without a single failure.
The Ancient God of Blacksmithing snorts, "Not bad for a human."
The Ancient God of Blacksmithing brags, "If it were me, +15 would be a breeze."
Fergus's skill was so impressive it even startled the Ancient God of Blacksmithing.
"I'll stop at +9 for now. For +12, I need a more special solution, and I haven't gathered the materials yet."
"...I see."
"Ah, if it's not too much trouble, could you help gather the materials, benefactor? With enough volume, I could even try +13..."
"I'll get them for you, no matter what!"
Carpe grabbed Fergus's hands tightly and shouted with determination.
"This is Hymer Mine?"
Yeah. Luisillan's most famous instance dungeon. High-quality ores pop up inside a lot.
Cheonma explained it was the go-to spot for production classes with mining skills.
Sure enough, crowds were forming parties near the entrance.
"Need DPS and tank to guard while mining! No rogues!"
"Ah! Me!"
Carpe glanced around once, then plunged straight into the dungeon.
Perfect. There's a route here for red mythril too, so let's max it out.
"And time to test some new skills."
Especially the perfect chance to try Gillian's new 8-star skill.
"Command souls you've fought with as your limbs, huh."
Sounds like a summon skill for sure.
"No point overthinking—just use it."
Carpe looked at Gillian, who nodded vigorously.
He's curious too. Hmm. Comrades from life... Nice! Decided!
Gillian spread his arms wide and bellowed.
"Call from the Underworld!"
Call from the Underworld
Black energy poured from Gillian's hands.
It dripped to the floor, turning into black mist.
Creak... grind...
Death knights began rising from the mist, one by one—clad head to toe in black armor.
"Whoa, cool! Master! This is so cool!"
Dark hero fanatic Mirage went wild at the sight.
Carpe wholeheartedly agreed.
Deep underground, a death knight legion returned from the underworld!
That thrilling buzz deep in his chest? Definitely what they called romance.
...Yeah, it's pretty badass.
Twenty-two death knights emerged from the mist.
The lead one knelt before Gillian.
All the others followed suit.
Thud!
"7th Army Special Strike Force, led by Senior Knight Orca—22 souls total. We answer the Great General's call from beyond death! Our lives are yours to command!"
"Our lives are yours to command!"
Not even death could sever their bond.
The sight of 22 death knights swearing fealty in unison was so epic Carpe couldn't help but groan, "Niiiice!"
But the coolness shattered moments later.
"That blonde girl your new lord, Great General? Glad we came back!"
"I've always wanted to be that lady's guardian knight. Death lets me fulfill it—haha! Live long enough, see it all!"
"I'd prefer the little white one as master! Looks just like my great-granddaughter!"
The death knights showered Tina and Mirage with grandfatherly affection.
Like grandparents doting on grandkids.
"I'm no master. Like Sir Gillian, I'm but a knight serving our lord. He is our true sovereign."
Tina pointed to Carpe. All 22 heads swiveled.
"Ah..."
"Hmm... Well, yeah."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
"The new lord..."
"Granddaughters beat grandsons, though..."
"Disappointed?!"
Carpe yelped at the obvious temperature drop.
Damn looks-based discrimination!
"Pleased to meet you. As Great General Gillian's lord, you're ours too. Our blades are yours from now on."
"Wanted a girl lord, but... oh well."
"Shh. Lord might hear. Quiet down."
"..."
The death knights knelt briefly to Carpe, then turned back to Tina.
"So cute! I'd adopt her as a granddaughter-in-law."
"Your grandson's pushing 80! Gramps much?!"
"Doll-like girl!"
"She is a doll."
"What?! For real?!"
Wahaha!
Why did this feel like a nursing home?
Grandpas chatting among themselves, having a blast.
One death knight, introducing himself as Orca, approached the flustered Carpe.
"Sorry. The 7th Special Strike Force were veterans who peaked young but grew frail... a band of old warhorses."
They couldn't handle frontline duty due to age but excelled in special ops thanks to experience.
Leader Orca bowed sheepishly.
"...Average age 82. Great General Gillian was the eldest at 90."
"Heh-heh! That was 60 years ago? Battlefield feels like yesterday—time flies!"
"Ah..."
Incredibly, they were literally a grandpa squad!
"But frail bodies are history now. The 7th Special Strike Force returns with tireless undead bodies! Our battle experience intact."
Red light gleamed in Orca's eyes.
"Whatever blocks you and the Great General, we'll smash it. Lord—your orders!"
"Ah, pleased to work with you. We're clearing this mine now..."
"Heh, combat right away? New lord's a fighter."
"Prime age for bloodlust. Good times."
"Hoho. Before battle, a prayer to the war god..."
"What're you doing?! We're death knights now! Pray and we'll ascend for real!"
Wahaha!
"...Grandpas are tough."
Carpe was stumped on how to react to their self-contained comedy.
"Ah, no. Death knight legions in stories aren't like this. Cool, reliable... silently slicing foes in the dark..."
Mirage, nursing mild chuunibyou, paled at how far they strayed from her ideal.
"22 grandpa-joke Gillians..."
"Ahem. Lady Mirage, how dare you lump this old one's jokes with those low-tier ones! I'll prove it now!"
"No, my bad. You don't have to. Please..."
"Just watch!"
Gillian thought to himself:
Chance to unleash my room studies from 'Giggle Humor Collection'!
"You guys know this one?"
"Huh? What, General?"
"We were knights. Died, so we became 'death' knights."
"Yeah? So?"
"So what happens if an almond dies?"
"...Dead almond?"
"Wrong! It's..."
"Aaaah!"
That's not even dad-joke level—it's gramps-joke...
Mirage plugged her ears and collapsed. Cheonma stared into space, enlightened.
Carpe's face soured too.
"Kyuung?"
"Hm. I sense strong camaraderie. Fine knights."
Only Mukhyang, who didn't get jokes, and uninterested Tina kept straight faces.
"Diamond!"
"Wahaha! Never saw it coming!"
"Keh-heh! My belly—er, no bones, no bellybutton!"
"General! Age hones the comedy. Won't be bored now!"
"Obviously! Oh, another one..."
Carpe shuddered as Gillian and the knights yammered excitedly.
"Hoho. Look over there—iron giants."
"Big tin cans! Off to the afterlife!"
"We were just there?"
Wahaha!
"Oh man..."
Did he just unleash a forbidden weapon on the world?
"Die!"
Regardless, Gillian's 22 knights charged bravely at the mine golems.
Thus began the first battle in Hymer Mine.