Safe Return
"Huff... We finally took him down."
In front of Eigor's corpse, Bernard caught his breath and released the Tugap that had enveloped his body. Or rather, it was more accurate to say he had exhausted all his aura and could no longer maintain it.
While Bernard was steadying his breathing, Elsid approached him.
"That's quite a heavy sword you wield."
"As a lord, the more burdens I carry, the heavier my sword naturally becomes."
Bernard answered calmly. The territory he ruled as Lord of Ragna Castle was neither fertile farmland nor rich in mineral deposits. It wasn't as barren as some snowy domains, but orcs and other monsters frequently invaded. Thus, the only thing Bernard could offer his people was safety and peace. That was all he had to give. So the lord swung his sword. He wished, at the very least, that those under his protection could farm and trade in comfort, living their days in peace.
Though his domain held barely a hundred souls, Bernard strove to fulfill his duty as their ruler. One advantage of a small population was that he could remember every face. He kept each of his people in his heart. Perhaps that was what allowed him, half a year ago, to master his personal aura technique—the Weight Augmentation that increased the sword's mass.
The weight of the sword grew heavier with each swing, burdened by the lives he carried. Those burdens were immense, yet he never feared being crushed beneath them. Hans, Conrad, Brother... They had all been his father's comrades and knights of Ragna Castle, fighting monsters and protecting the people until their final breaths. And they were not alone. Countless soldiers had fought for ten years to defend Ragna Castle under Bernard's inexperienced leadership. Feeling the weight of his own powerlessness, he resolved to carry them as well. That was why Bernard's sword was heavier than any other.
"You have a keen eye."
Elsid didn't know the full story, but the swordsman had glimpsed the meaning behind Bernard's blade—its weight—and spoken of it earlier.
"Bringing you along was the right choice."
"You flatter me."
Elsid shrugged at the praise.
"But should we really be taking it easy like this?"
"Of course not."
Elsid recalled their situation and asked the question. Bernard shook his head.
"I thought as much."
If it had been some ragtag band of thieves, most would have fled the moment their leader fell. But these orcs had thrown themselves at their own kin's killers without hesitation. They wouldn't run just because their chieftain was dead. If anything, seeing their exhaustion, the orcs might see an opportunity to strike. With dozens still alive in the village, it was best to leave as quickly as possible.
"Then shall we make our escape?"
"Heh, that's a fine suggestion."
Bernard agreed and prepared to flee.
"..."
For a brief moment, Bernard's gaze lingered on Eigor's bisected corpse.
"Farewell, Eigor."
After one last look at the fallen orc chieftain, Bernard offered his parting words. Then the two men turned their backs completely and fled the village, running toward Ragna Castle at full speed to escape any pursuit.
***
By the time they emerged from the Thousand Water Forest and reached the castle walls, both men were utterly spent. A commotion erupted at their arrival.
"The lord has returned! Open the gates at once!"
When they arrived before the walls in the dead of night, Beth, who had been on watch, shouted in alarm and ordered the other soldiers to open the gates immediately. The moment the gates opened, Beth rushed to support Bernard. Unlike Elsid, who had only expended his stamina, Bernard had suffered a severe injury—his arm was mangled. It was only natural he needed assistance.
"What in the world did you do alone to come back in such a state, Lord Bernard?!"
"Heh, I wasn't alone..."
Bernard gestured toward Elsid beside him as if making an excuse.
"More importantly, can some of you help support him? As you can see, my body is in quite a mess."
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
The soldiers who had been kneeling nearby sprang into action and carried their lord toward the castle as if bearing a hero on their shoulders.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Elsid."
"Yes. Rest well, my lord."
With those brief farewells, the two parted ways. Their exchange was so curt it felt as though the fierce battle against the orcs had been a lie.
"Never mind the lord for now—how about you? Are you all right?"
Once Bernard had left, Beth turned to Elsid with concern.
"You can see for yourself. Unlike the lord, whose arm turned purple, I'm perfectly fine aside from a few scrapes."
"Honestly... I won't lecture you since I know your personality, but let me ask one thing."
This was why childhood friends were convenient. Knowing each other's nature meant no need for lectures.
"Why didn't you take me with you? Uncle Tom said you two went to hunt the orc chieftain alone."
"Good grief, hearing that from you is something else."
Beth's words caught Elsid off guard. The once-cowardly boy who had only cared about appearances was now complaining about being left behind. The world truly was full of surprises.
"If you're not here, who will protect Ragna Castle in an emergency? Even if it's not orcs, goblins or other monsters could attack while the lord is away. Someone needs to command the soldiers."
In that regard, Beth was someone he could trust. Whether by inheritance or otherwise, the boy had become village chief and understood the responsibilities of leadership.
"Honestly, you never fail to leave me speechless, then or now."
"Have you ever won an argument against me?"
Elsid grinned as Beth scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Haa... So how did things go with the lord?"
"Ah, we finished without a hitch, of course. Our lord cleaved that arrogant orc chieftain clean in two."
"Is that so... As expected, our lord is truly remarkable."
Beth smiled, looking somehow more proud than Elsid himself.
"More importantly, how long are you going to keep a tired man standing here? I'm not as bad off as the lord, but the fatigue is no joke."
"Ah, right. Sorry."
Elsid received an apology that carried not a shred of actual remorse. It was the very picture of insincere contrition.
"Then get some proper rest."
"Yeah, you go pull night watch duty."
With that characteristically friendly exchange, they waved goodbye, and Elsid turned toward his quarters to rest.
***
However, before returning to his hut, Elsid made one more stop. He quickened his pace and arrived at the blacksmith's forge atop the hill. As he approached the entrance, he noticed the forge's lights were still on despite the late hour. No sound of hammering or burning furnace reached his ears—only silence.
After a brief hesitation, Elsid carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
"You're still awake."
"Couldn't sleep tonight, for some reason."
Inside, Uncle Tom sat resting in a rocking chair.
"I just finished tomorrow's work and was about to rest."
Uncle Tom was still as awkward as ever. He had phrased his concern in such a roundabout way.
"So, did everything go well with the lord in the forest?"
See? He asked about it right away.
"Yes, we finished it properly."
"I see. That's good. The orcs should be quiet for a while."
"Yes, that's a relief. But..."
Elsid trailed off mid-sentence.
"What is it? You're acting strangely."
"Well, actually..."
At Tom's question, Elsid hesitated before finally revealing what he had been hiding behind his back. The object was wrapped in white cloth. Tom pulled the fabric aside to reveal its contents.
It was a sword, broken beyond recognition except for its hilt. The masterpiece Tom had forged over several sleepless nights. The blade that had endured Eigor's club-like strikes without aura reinforcement, fulfilling its purpose before shattering.
"This is... No matter how I look at it, it seems like the sword I made..."
As expected of a former royal blacksmith. Even with only a tiny fragment of the blade remaining above the hilt, he recognized it.
"It broke when we bisected the orc chieftain."
"I see. Well, it did its job, so that's enough."
Tom spoke while gazing at the broken sword.
"When he placed the order, he muttered that he wanted a sword that could withstand even one heavy strike, no matter how powerful."
Bernard had murmured the request to himself during the commission. Naturally, Elsid, standing right beside him, had heard it.
"Indeed... Looking at this broken shape and the warped hilt, it seems it couldn't withstand the user's swing and shattered."
Without being told, Tom had deduced exactly how it broke. He truly was an extraordinary blacksmith. The sword he had labored over for days had returned broken in far less time, yet Tom placed the hilt-only remnant on the table beside his chair without any visible regret.
"More importantly, tomorrow is that day."
"Yes. Once I finish that matter tomorrow, I plan to leave."
Setting aside the sword without a trace of attachment, Tom changed the subject. It was an abrupt shift, but one Elsid couldn't ignore. He listened quietly.
The day he had been waiting for. The task he had to complete before leaving this village. In a way, Elsid had returned to his hometown of Ragna Castle precisely for this.