Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
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“This is…?”
Adelson looked puzzled at the blacksmith shop he had come to with Rian.
He had said there was someone he wanted to introduce...
“Could it be?”
“Wow... old man, looks like you’ve made some good money in the meantime.”
Rian muttered as he looked up at the blacksmith shop.
Unlike before, the weathered signboard had been replaced with a new one, and the cracked walls had been repaired.
But the biggest change was
Clang-! Clang-!
the sound of hammering coming from inside.
Drawn by the pleasant rhythm, Rian stepped into the blacksmith shop.
“Are you in?”
“Come in... Oh? Master Walter! He’s here!”
“...?”
It was surprising enough that a woman had emerged from inside the forge, but she had called out to him by name the moment she saw him.
‘Does she know me?’
The woman soon returned from the back, bringing with her Walter, who was drenched in sweat.
Walter burst into laughter upon seeing Rian.
“Hahaha, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting.”
“You look good.”
“Of course! Do you know how much I’ve been enjoying life lately? Thanks to you, the shop’s expanded, and I get to do the work I love. But who’s this with you?”
“This is Adelson, manager of the Hamel Merchant Company. And this is Walter, the owner of this forge.”
“I’m Adelson. Pleased to meet you.”
“Walter.”
Walter glanced at Adelson’s outstretched hand, wiped his sweat-soaked palm roughly on his pants, and gave a light handshake.
“More importantly, mind if we talk for a bit?”
“Sure. Claire, could you ask that guy Stolph if the item I requested is ready?”
“Yes! I’ll go right now.”
Sensing from the mood that she should excuse herself, Claire promptly left the forge.
Once Claire was gone, Rian closed the door to the shop and looked at Adelson and Walter.
The suddenly serious atmosphere made Adelson’s expression stiffen slightly.
Walter gave an awkward smile and gestured for the two to sit.
“This doesn’t seem like something to discuss standing up. Have a seat here first.”
Following Walter’s words, Rian sat down and spoke to Adelson and Walter.
“First off... old man. Do you remember the weapons and armor I bought from you last time?”
“Of course.”
“They sold for a total of 2,100 gold.”
“...?”
Walter’s eyes widened in an instant.
But Adelson was even more shocked.
“Then... does that mean this man made those weapons and armor?”
Adelson shot to his feet, unable to hide his excitement.
To think that such absurd masterpieces had come from what he’d assumed was just an ordinary forge.
But Rian shook his head.
“He’s the one who made the base for the attribute armaments.”
“Attribute armaments?”
Walter asked at Rian’s words, and Rian nodded.
“That’s exactly what I’m about to explain to you both.”
This might be the first ‘gamble’ he’d taken since starting his new life.
A gamble where the odds of failure outweighed success.
‘But it’s not just a simple gamble.’
It was about choosing people to walk with into the distant future.
Even if much was at stake, if they wavered at this level, it was better to part ways now.
‘I’ve thought it over enough.’
He had been mulling it since preparing this plan.
What should he do?
Rian’s standard for ‘trust’ was a bit unique.
Blind trust in a situation with no room for doubt wasn’t true ‘trust.’
Trusting despite some uncertainty.
That was complete ‘trust.’
This was one of the convictions Rian had developed over twenty years in the military.
Even if it led to bad outcomes.
‘If they’re the type to have issues with this, better it shows early.’
If trust faltered at a truly critical moment later, nothing could be more fatal.
“Attribute armaments are...”
Rian began explaining what he knew about them to the two men.
* * *
Adelson and Walter listened carefully to Rian’s words.
Though much younger than them, Rian’s actions from their first meeting had earned their utmost respect.
Even without that, Rian’s proposal was revolutionary in every sense.
“You can make attribute armaments that way?”
“But not everyone can do it. Exceptional artisans might figure it out later, but it wouldn’t be easy without someone of your caliber, Walter.”
This was only half the truth.
Even in the future, only a tiny handful of artisans could produce attribute weapons.
‘That’s why Walter is... so crucial.’
After finishing, Rian glanced at Walter.
He looked stunned, his mind clearly swirling with thoughts.
How could it not be?
A weapon he made, when entrusted to a mage, turned from worth less than one gold into 1,000 gold.
Selling just a couple would mean financial security for life.
“...Hoo.”
Walter let out a deep breath.
It felt more suffocating than the heat-filled workshop.
The heavy silence pressed down like a weight on their shoulders. But Rian simply waited.
Right now, all he could do was await Walter’s decision.
“Listen, Rian.”
The tone was different from usual.
Rian tried to mask his tension.
No matter Walter’s choice, he would respect it.
“If not for you, I wouldn’t even be able to pick up a hammer by now. Hell, I might’ve ended up a cripple.”
He calmly laid bare his feelings, then turned his gaze to the neatly organized forge.
“I’ve already received more than my share in gifts and a new life.”
Walter looked at Rian.
“Thanks to you.”
“...”
“So whatever it is, I’ll trust you and follow from here on out.”
“Don’t you feel tempted?”
“Heh heh heh! It’d be a lie to say I’m not, but honestly, this old man’s more thrilled at the chance to be useful.”
Rian let out a chuckle at Walter’s words. Seeing that, Walter added,
“Of course, no more expecting my work for peanuts from now on! A man’s labor deserves fair pay, right?”
“Of course. That’s why I brought Adelson here.”
Rian looked at Adelson.
Adelson, feeling the weight of their gazes, gave an embarrassed smile.
“Heh heh, what’s for me to decide? If anything, please let me in on this from now on—I’m begging you.”
“Looking forward to working with you.”
“Same here.”
“Me too!”
Rian felt his chest swell at their words.
It was like he’d gained something monumental for the road ahead.
Soon, Walter looked at Rian and said,
“Kekeke, I knew from the start you weren’t some ordinary punk, but your scale is something else.”
“I’m starting to think this kid’s no ordinary boy either.”
“Hey, punk. What’s your plan?”
Pulling off something this outrageous and yielding results required no small ambition.
Even the best ideas usually ended as pipe dreams without one.
To Walter’s question, Rian replied without hesitation.
“I’ll become the continent’s greatest weapon master.”
“...Weapon master?”
“Kekeke, the continent’s greatest weapon master, huh? Fine ambition. But it’s no easy path.”
Rian grinned at Walter’s words.
“I just got promoted.”
“Oh? Private first class? Corporal?”
Adelson, who knew a bit about military ranks, asked.
Rian shook his head.
“I became a 100-Man Commander. Got authority to operate an independent unit too.”
“...A 100-Man Commander?”
Adelson’s face stiffened rigidly.
His expression suggested he’d misheard, making Walter furrow his brow slightly.
“What’s a 100-Man Commander? High rank?”
“It’s the authority to command a hundred subordinates. Only those with exceptional skill and achievements get it, regardless of formal rank.”
Adelson let out a disbelieving laugh.
He couldn’t shake the thought that he’d truly found a future titan.
Walter still seemed confused by the reaction, but
“Well, if you’re gonna be a weapon master, that’s the least! Let’s make you 1,000-Man Commander, then 10,000-Man Commander next!”
“There’s no 10,000-Man Commander in the kingdom right now, old man.”
“Bah! Then you be the first!”
“Heh heh heh, I’ll do my best.”
As Rian chuckled softly, Walter shot to his feet.
“You did something amazing, so I’ll give you a gift too.”
He went inside and returned with a long rectangular case.
It was obvious at a glance what it contained.
Rian’s eyes widened.
“No way...?”
“Ahem! Wasn’t made specifically for you, but what the hell—take it!”
“...”
What a terrible liar this old man was.
Rian carefully opened the case to reveal a single black bow etched with silver patterns.
It looked ornate yet subdued in matte finish, giving it a hefty presence.
One look told it was no ordinary bow.
“Is this my bow?”
“Just whipped it up from spare materials.”
“Oh... it feels extraordinary.”
Adelson, watching from the side, exclaimed in admiration too.
From the engraved patterns to the curve and sturdy string bed, it screamed top-tier.
The unstrung bowstring also felt different from normal ones.
As Rian stared at it, Walter explained,
“Processed ogre tendons, thinned out and twisted for extra toughness.”
“Mind if I string it?”
“Of course— it’s yours now.”
Rian picked up the bow.
It fit his hand perfectly, like custom-made.
Even with full arm strength, he couldn’t string it alone—he had to brace it with his whole body.
“Urgh...!”
Drawing the string, Rian furrowed his brow.
The elasticity was insane.
‘With this bow...’
Without question, it was the finest he’d ever seen, past life included.
Metal construction yet weight comparable to wood, and a taut yet resilient string that promised peak performance.
Only drawback: handling it strained his current strength a bit.
‘If this became an attribute armament...’
Chills already.
Rian bowed his head to Walter.
“I’ll put it to good use.”
“Kekeke, glad you like it.”
Walter chuckled and headed to a cloth-covered display rack. He pulled back the cloth and said,
“Here’s what you asked for. Took a lot of effort, so not many, but I met the count.”
“Perfect.”
Rian examined the weapons on the rack.
About twenty of them, leagues beyond the ones hanging on the walls.
No need to touch them—Rian nodded.
“Planning to turn these into those attribute armaments?”
“Yes. But they sold for way more than expected... so sales strategy going forward, I’ll have to discuss with Manager Adelson.”
“Headaches like that are beyond me—handle it. Just let me know if you need anything from me.”
Rian nodded and looked at Adelson.
Then, Rian and Adelson carefully transported Walter’s weapons together.
Better not bring company folk—keep Walter’s identity under wraps as much as possible.
Now, leave the rest to Adelson.
But there was one more thing to handle alongside this.
Returning to the Hamel Company building with Adelson, Rian said,
“Adelson, mind one more favor?”
“Say the word—if I can do it, anything.”
“Does the company deal in information too?”
“Information? Well... all sorts comes in, but we’re no specialist guild, so limits.”
“Want you to find someone for me.”
“Someone?”
Rian nodded at Adelson’s question.
A guy essential for his unit.
Diel Pankrai.
Rian recalled the first time he’d seen him.