062. Ancient Weapon Blueprint
A few days later, near the tail of the ancient turtle island Zaratann, the golden Goldforce ship floated on the sea. Surrounding it stood Bin, Ront, Ria, and Mia facing each other. Behind Ront crowded numerous women and children.
…….
An awkward silence stretched on. Bin had to depart for Plentel Castle soon.
Ria, whose facial scar had vanished thanks to Noni's artifact, elbowed Ront. Thud.
It was a signal to say something to Bin. Only then did Ront speak, his eyes resolute.
"I'll send these children and women back to their families myself. So don't worry—just head home. You know I'm no pushover, right? Haha."
Bin nodded, gazing at the confident dwarf.
"Yes, I can trust you with that, Ront."
The children and women bowed shyly toward Bin. They seemed embarrassed.
Codic took issue with their demeanor.
"Clack! Clack!"
Attached to Bin's belt, Codic scowled in indignation. He thought their behavior was utterly improper.
Unable to hold back any longer, Codic bellowed.
"You ungrateful wretches! Do you have any idea what our lord did for you...?"
But Bin's hand swiftly muffled him. As Bin's palm approached, Codic glanced up nervously and muttered.
"M-my lord...!"
Before boarding the Goldforce ship, Bin turned to look at them one last time. The hunched, bruised children were gone, replaced by healthy, adorable kids. The women looked much better too—their facial wounds had healed cleanly. All thanks to Noni's top-grade artifacts.
Noni himself, however, had dark circles under his eyes from overusing mana for days to help everyone.
Bin smiled faintly at the recovered group.
They all look good.
Their thanks meant little to him. Seeing their transformation and knowing they'd live free of suffering was satisfaction enough.
As Bin turned toward the ship, Ront grabbed his sleeve.
"Hold on a moment!"
"......"
Bin turned to face him. Ront rummaged through his clothes and pulled a parchment from an inner pocket. It was none other than the ancient weapon blueprint.
"It's just one sheet, but I'd like you to take it."
"......!"
Bin's eyes widened. The ancient weapon blueprints scattered across the continent—four in total, with rumors placing the others somewhere in the Gana Empire.
Noni's pupils dilated as Ront handed it over.
"M-Master!"
He'd never imagined his teacher would give away an ancient weapon blueprint. His voice pitched high in shock.
"Even so, an ancient weapon blueprint..."
"Enough, Noni."
Like Noni, Bin looked puzzled.
"Why this...?"
Ront paused before responding gravely.
"Ancient weapons were originally made to slaughter 1st-grade monsters too powerful to handle. But at some point, they were misused for family feuds, honor, and power. That led to their eventual banishment."
Everyone leaned in, captivated by the tale they'd never heard before.
Ront scanned the group, then fixed Bin with a meaningful gaze.
"As an ancient prophecy foretold, the day will come when 1st-grade monsters rampage across Gana Continent... So keep it for then. I trust you with it."
His eyes burned with conviction. Bin saw the dwarf's unyielding resolve.
Ront had pondered this deeply while holding the blueprint. If it fell to the dwarves, it spelled trouble. He feared its power might one day target the Gana Empire. Handing it to a Ganan was even worse.
Bin felt dazed as he accepted it.
An ancient weapon...
He hadn't expected this either. Then a thought struck him.
"But ancient weapons can only be forged by dwarves, right?"
Ront smiled and held out both hands.
"You can do it. I stake my hands on it."
Noni's jaw dropped at his master's certainty.
What reason could inspire such faith...?
He couldn't comprehend it. Forging an ancient weapon was grueling even for dwarves. Countless had failed and died. Even the Gana had sought Ront after repeated flops. Noni, chasing his master's skill, couldn't claim the same confidence. No human had ever succeeded in history. Ront wagering his hands—the dwarf's everything—seemed absurd.
A human forging an ancient weapon? Ridiculous...
Noni had never seen Bin craft, so his skepticism made sense.
As Bin stared at the blueprint, Ront urged.
"Take it."
"......"
Bin hesitated for good reason. Handing over the blueprint carried profound weight. This power could shake the continent. In essence, Ront was entrusting him with Gana's future.
Drawn from vast experience, Ront saw Bin's potential—one of the few who could reshape the continent. He wanted to aid such a man.
Under Ront's steady gaze, Bin gripped the parchment.
"Then I won't disappoint you."
"Good. That's the you I know."
Ront nodded at Bin's firm eyes. Bin glanced back at the blueprint—linked to runes scattered across the land. From his past life's memories, he knew a few facts: one was with Helden Grander, and his past self had sought it too.
Bin smiled, thinking of him.
It won't go your way.
With the ancient weapon blueprint in hand, Bin headed for the Goldforce ship.
Thud. Thud.
All eyes followed him. Ront's expression turned bittersweet.
So he's off.
Memories flooded him: Bin saving him and the children in Shobe Cave, shielding them from Gangble, even battling Super Nova Hobas days ago—a feat few on Gana could claim. Yet he'd fought for the oppressed kids and women.
A rare human in these times.
Too proud to say thanks, Ront held his tongue.
Bin felt a mix of relief and reluctance watching Ront, the children, and women. He'd thought rescue was enough. But emotions were frightening—shared memories tugged at his heart.
Codic, meanwhile, sulked.
They won't even properly honor my lord to the end.
Grind. Grind.
He glared at the children, women, and Ront, committing each face to memory.
Fresh bones. Thin bones. Old bones...
He wouldn't forget a single one.
I'll fix your manners someday...
Grind. Grind.
As Codic gnashed irritably from the ship, the children and women bustled.
Dadadadak!
The cute Mia shouted among them.
"Hurry and get ready before the scary big brother leaves!"
"Quick, quick!"
"Run! Run!"
"I was here, and you were on my left."
The kids checked each other and dashed to positions, each holding a square cloth scrap.
Ront and Noni directed from the front.
"Here, this side! This way!"
"Straighten the line!"
Soon, they formed a massive square formation. Ront nodded approval, raised his Y-shaped staff, and fired at the Goldforce ship.
A massive boom erupted.
Boom!!
Startled, Bin whipped around. Codic, already fuming, exploded.
"Clack! Clack! You ungrateful lot! I'll shatter their bones right—"
"......Heh."
But Bin chuckled. Codic blinked in stunned silence.
"......What?!"
In their view from the ship, a picture emerged: a black-haired man in bandages—upper body only, but unmistakably Bin. Beside him, a scowling skull, perfectly capturing Codic's usual pout.
The crude drawing brimmed with heart.
Codic's eyes welled—impossible for him, yet he looked the most moved.
"A picture... with my lord..."
Ront bellowed.
"Thanks! Safe travels!"
Tears glistened in his eyes. Bin shouted back.
"Stay well!"
The women teared up too. As tears fell, hands dropped—Noni yelled.
"Hey, you're messing up the picture!"
They raised them again. But some kids ignored him, wrapping cloth around one arm like Bin. They proudly waved.
Bin grinned brightly.
These kids... cheeky as ever.
His tone mocked, but his heart warmed.
A few days later. In the mansion of Moden's first wife, Elle, to celebrate her birthday. The six siblings attended—formally, of course.
Bin's expression soured. From his past life's memories, he knew Elle's scheme: mock him as Silva's rival, then target Danel.
But he wouldn't take it lying down. Bin eyed Elle coldly.
Better brace yourself. You struck first.