Chapter 63
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 063
Chapter Title: Grimoire and the Wind Mage (3)
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One noble tested the waters with me.
Then, as if that had been the signal, recruitment offers started pouring in from all sides.
"I hear you're quite interested in grimoires. Collecting books is my hobby, so I can get you as many as you like. Just say the word if you're interested."
There were those who tried to tempt me with grimoires.
"Most of my retainers died in the eastern rebellion, leaving a lot of land vacant. How about becoming a lord? I think you'd manage an estate well."
Others even offered me land.
And then.
"Heros! Could you lend me the tallest of those three big bruisers? I need someone reliable for protection. Ah, of course, I'd pay handsomely."
Some even targeted the three big guys instead of me.
It was an incredibly awkward situation.
So I turned down all the offers for now.
Fortunately, I had a good excuse.
"An evil black mage is targeting Chester Castle. Once we've safely overcome this crisis, I'll give all your generous offers some serious thought."
In truth, every single one of the nobles' proposals was underwhelming.
How could I trust people who couldn't even defend their own lands and had fled here?
Besides, I had no intention of settling down anywhere yet.
I felt like my growth would stagnate.
Anyway, amid all that empty small talk, something finally came up that piqued my interest.
"Ah, do you know Nina by any chance?"
"No, I don't."
"Really? That's surprising. I figured you'd know each other, being mages and all."
One noble asked me about a mage named Nina.
My curiosity was sparked by the fact that there was another mage besides me, so I kept the conversation going.
"What kind of person is this Nina mage?"
"I don't know much. Just that she operated up north. She claimed to have made quite a name for herself there, and it doesn't seem like a lie. When I talked to the other nobles, a lot of them knew her name."
"Oh ho..."
"I hear they called her Nina of the Razor Winds."
"Razor Winds? So she's a Wind Mage, then."
"Yeah. Her specialty is manipulating the wind."
A Wind Mage named Nina in Chester Castle?
This was valuable information.
'If Nina's as skilled a Wind Mage as the rumors say, she might be able to lift me up with her magic.'
If things went according to my hopes, I could fulfill the flying squirrel grimoire's demand.
So I absolutely had to meet Nina.
The banquet that started in the morning didn't end until dusk.
As I left Chester Castle, I fought back the urge to vomit.
I'd eaten so much meat that it felt like it was rising up to my chin.
"You two had a rough time of it."
I consoled Bear and Connell as we descended the hill.
While I was schmoozing with the nobles, stuffing myself with food, and gathering info on Nina, they had to sit idly in the guest room.
I brought it up out of guilt, but Bear and Connell shook their heads almost in unison, as if they'd rehearsed it.
"Lord Heros, no one calls sitting quietly in a room 'suffering.'"
"Exactly. Don't apologize for something so trivial. We're your swords, Lord Heros. It's only natural for a sword to stay sheathed when there's no work for it."
Bear and Connell shared their honest thoughts.
I thanked them after confirming their sincerity.
Nothing else came to mind.
After that, the conversation lapsed.
The comfortable silence that followed gave me time to review my plans as we walked.
'I'll visit Nina tomorrow. For today, I'll read the Forge Grimoire and the Green Thumb Grimoire.'
I gripped the pouch in my hand.
A few peas were inside.
I'd asked a servant at Chester Castle to get them for me.
Now, if I planted these, I could fulfill the Green Thumb Grimoire's demand.
That would take care of one.
All that remained was the Forge Grimoire.
"Before we head home, let's check on the able-bodied men."
I said to Bear and Connell.
They were managing the spoils I'd taken from the battlefield.
I planned to grab a few damaged weapons from there and fulfill the Forge Grimoire's request.
But it wasn't just about grabbing weapons.
"They'll be thrilled, right?"
"Of course they will."
"No way they won't. Even with food aid from the Earl of Chester, it's not enough to fill their bellies."
Bear and Connell answered immediately when I asked.
They each carried a basket.
Covered with cloth to hide the contents, but the savory aroma wafting out couldn't be concealed.
That's right—the baskets were full of meat.
After the banquet ended, I'd gotten permission from the Earl of Chester to take the leftovers the nobles hadn't finished.
I felt bad eating it all myself.
'There was plenty left, so this much should be fine.'
Leftovers normally went to the castle servants.
But even after taking what I did, there was still plenty on the tables, so they wouldn't go hungry.
'People are staring daggers.'
On the way to the inn where the able-bodied men were staying, I felt eyes on us from everywhere.
Maybe because of the meaty smell, but no one blocked our path—probably thanks to the intimidating presence of the three big guys.
They just stared intently.
Meeting their hollow gazes made me uneasy.
But what could I do?
That's just how the world was.
'It's impossible to save everyone. The best I can do is look after my own people.'
I steeled myself with that thought.
After handing out the food to the kids and the able-bodied men,
I grabbed a few damaged weapons and returned to my temporary lodging.
Then I immediately tried using Ignition magic.
I wanted to test the effects of the wooden staff the Earl of Chester had given me.
'Oh, so that's how it works.'
A flame the size of my palm appeared before my eyes.
As I watched it, I slowly reviewed what I'd just experienced.
When I cast magic while holding the staff, my mana flowed through it and was released outward.
And as the mana passed through the wooden body, the staff absorbed surrounding mana, expelling it along with mine—more than the usual amount needed for the spell.
That amplified the magic's power.
'Amazing.'
To properly compare the power increase, I cast Ignition again without holding the staff.
The flame was noticeably smaller.
Hmm, in that case...
'This staff boosts spell power by about 20%?'
20%.
No small number.
What an incredible magic tool!
I wanted to shout my joy, but I barely restrained myself.
'Calm down and focus on what I need to do.'
I leaned the staff against the wall.
Part of me wanted to test it with other spells too, but I put that off.
I couldn't use Lightning Bolt or Stone Spike indoors.
Besides, I still had work to do.
'Time to read the grimoire.'
I used a small clay pot as a planter, filled it with soil, and planted the peas from my pouch.
Then the Green Thumb Grimoire's voice rang out.
"Well done! That's how you get friendly with the green."
Right after the Green Thumb Grimoire finished speaking,
the grimoire I'd set out beforehand opened on its own and began flipping through pages rapidly.
And the name of the spell it taught me was.
'Green Thumb.'
The same as the grimoire's name.
It provided 10 mana.
A passive skill that boosted the power of Plant Magic spells.
The same type as Burning Hands.
'Not bad.'
Learning just one Green Thumb skill might have felt lacking.
But the pages had stopped at the halfway point.
Meaning I could learn one more Plant Magic spell.
"Now just wait for the sprouts to come up. Easy, right?"
The grimoire's demand was simple too.
Just wait.
Sprouts would appear in no more than five days, so I could fulfill it just by taking it easy.
'Great. Now all that's left is the Forge Grimoire.'
I looked ahead.
The weapons I'd gotten from the able-bodied men were there.
Swords, scythes, clubs, and more.
A variety.
'Which one's the most fragile?'
After inspecting them carefully, I picked the one in the worst shape.
A sword.
Thin blade, chipped all over—looked like it'd snap with a tap.
'Let's do this.'
I gripped the hilt with my left hand and stabbed the tip into the floor.
Then tilted it.
The blade stood at an angle.
Staring down at it, I grabbed a club with my free right hand.
Then swung hard at the middle of the blade.
Clang!
The metallic ring echoed through the room.
But all noise, no damage—the sword held.
I'd thought it'd break right away.
"Lord Heros, let me help."
Bear, who'd been watching intently, stepped forward.
"I have to break the weapon myself, though?"
"I'll weaken the sword right to the breaking point and hand it to you."
"Good idea."
I handed Bear the sword and club.
He took a similar stance to mine.
Then swung at the blade.
A light motion.
But the result was anything but.
Krak!
Bear's casual swing shattered the blade into fragments that rained onto the floor.
"Hey, what if you break it?"
Bear scratched the back of his head sheepishly and apologized.
"It must've been worse off than I thought. I hit it lightly, but... Sorry, Lord Heros."
As Bear stood there embarrassed,
Connell stepped up confidently.
"What kind of knight can't control his strength? Lord Heros, let me try."
Connell teased Bear gleefully.
He grabbed another sword and took the club from Bear, who looked sullen.
"Just hit it gently like this..."
Connell flicked his wrist simply.
And.
Crack.
The sword snapped in two.
"Wait, why..."
Connell panicked.
Bear, who'd been watching, smirked and threw it back at him.
"Sir Connell! What kind of knight can't control his strength? Hmm? I'd like an answer."
Bear parroting Connell's exact words.
Unable to dodge the karma, Connell squeezed his eyes shut and endured the teasing without retort.
"Let me try again!"
Once Bear had his fun, he declared boldly.
But I refused.
At this rate, I'd run out of weapons.
"I'll just ask Gilbert. You two rest."
I ordered Gilbert to hold the sword.
And positioned him like before—tip in the floor, tilted.
Once he was ready, I gripped the club with both hands and swung hard.
Clang!
First strike failed.
Clang!
Second too.
Now I was getting competitive.
'Break already!'
I gritted my teeth for the third swing.
Crunch!
Finally, the sword Gilbert held shattered.
The moment I confirmed it, I pulled the Forge Grimoire from the cloth bundle over my shoulder.
Then its voice spoke.
"Now you understand, don't you? There are no unbreakable weapons in this world. But don't be too disappointed. You can delay the breaking."
Right after the Forge Grimoire's voice faded,
the grimoire in my hand opened on its own.