Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: 12. Survival Competition (12)
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I slept incredibly well. I usually maintain a fairly healthy lifestyle anyway, and since I don't have any major physical or mental issues, I rarely struggle with sleep. But with a warm living heater right beside me, I managed to sleep more deeply than ever.
It doesn't even have a name yet, but the way it immediately reacted when I woke up and got up with me was somehow endearing.
I'd felt this before on the trip south, but lately, I've been thinking animals might be better than people.
When I got up and sat in the chair, I spent some time petting the little one that quietly settled beside me.
Seeing how it especially reacted to my arm—which had been covered in cracks before but was now perfectly fine—made me certain it was connected to the goddess's power.
Honestly, just thinking about the status window and the other legacies the goddess left behind gave me a headache, but this pup? I actually liked it.
The little guy's so sweet.
Obedient and smart, too.
As I fiddled with its chin while it rested it on my thigh and whipped its head around, sending fur flying, there was a knock at the door from outside.
"Looks like it's pretty much completely healed."
"Are you okay too, Mr. Dras?"
"Turns out whatever got on me wasn't all that harmful. Well, the sludge was fine, but that gem dragon's discharge was pure poison."
"Glad to hear it."
"Dwarves are tough. We'd pull through somehow."
I figured it was time to ask what brought the chuckling dwarf here.
I'd expected the emperor, or maybe Big Sis Mina. Leimi might've been free too. Didn't think Mr. Dras would be first.
"By the way, His Majesty the Emperor stopped by to check on you while you were sleeping."
"I'll have to go pay my respects later."
"You should."
"So, what brings you here? Doesn't seem like you're just here to chat."
"It's a long story... Nah, better keep it short. Those two swords of yours, Shopkeeper. Family heirlooms, right?"
"Yes."
"Their maker—I think I know him. Wanted to introduce you. Can't just hand back that mangled pair, can we?"
"Ah. Thank you."
He had a point. If I'm cutting ties with the family, I should return their property. But I couldn't exactly give back these swords that had become holy blades tailored for me.
Best option: commission new ones from the same maker, same style.
The pup was panting as it circled around me. What should I name it?
Anyway, it looked like it wanted to go out too, so we'd head out together.
Since I'd just woken up, I took a shower and got ready.
The pup didn't need a bath, so just a good brushing. Wondered if it needed a collar, but I decided to trust it and go without.
"Truth is, I wanted to introduce you sooner, but things went haywire right after we got here."
"Yeah, they did."
"Eh, he's a drunkard at heart, but not the type to cause real trouble."
If I could trust Mr. Dras's gentlemanly word, this meeting shouldn't end in disaster.
Mr. Dras had even brought the liqueur I'd gifted him, sniffing the bottle opening now and then as we descended the mountain.
"There he is."
Midway up the mountainside, wrecked from the previous battle. Right next to the ruined plot of land, no less.
"...This the right place?"
"No grudges there. He'd have died on the spot if things had gone south."
"People don't always think rationally."
"He's the incarnation of reason. Probably pounding drinks right now, admiring the view."
I wasn't convinced, but true to Mr. Dras's word, there was a dwarf guzzling booze while staring at the still-being-cleaned-up lab underground.
"Well, well. Drinking in broad daylight. Nice life."
"Gotta have something to do to stay sober."
"Rambi. This is the young fellow I told you about."
"Hm. Not bad on the eyes. Looks like a decent lad."
"If you ignore the women troubles, yeah, decent."
As the two chuckled facing each other, I stepped up and greeted them.
"Hello. I'm Yulius."
"Yeah, yeah. Name's Rambi."
"...Mr. Dras?"
Mr. Dras, who'd been grinning at my reaction, finally spoke.
"Shopkeeper's got a shy side with people."
"Everyone's got some social anxiety."
"Rare for a former human noble."
"Oh? Noble, huh? Which house?"
"Lebedev."
Mr. Rambi's eyes sharpened. Not sure if good or bad, but it meant he had history with the Lebedevs.
I waited quietly for what came next.
"Ancient history. Lebedevs—weren't they the house that lives off demon-slaying and sword commissions?"
"Pretty much."
"Yeah, they ordered a pair of fine blades once. They break or something?"
"No, it's just..."
I drew both swords from my waist and laid them out, explaining in detail everything that had happened.
He inspected the blades and sheaths thoroughly as he listened, then spoke.
"Definitely changed. Even I, who made them, can barely see my handiwork anymore."
"Really? I thought they looked the same outwardly."
"Outwardly, sure. But the know-how in refining the metal for mana flow—that artisan touch is gone."
"So the mana circuits...?"
"Completely different. Could swap 'em with identical-looking fakes, no one'd know."
Got it. Returning them for real was impossible, then.
"You cut ties and wanna return the swords, but they're like this now. Only option's making a new pair."
"See? Most reasonable drunkard out there."
"Sail off with His Majesty? Bit tight on time. And my forge is trashed."
"Use the gear at my place."
"...What? For real?"
"Yeah."
Mr. Rambi scratched the back of his head, then said firmly.
"Fine. Let's do it. Former king's setup—who else could use it?"
"Needs maintenance, of course."
"Pfft, no issue. All mana-powered—no rust."
"Still, I'd like to use it well and keep it tidy."
"Naturally. Trust me."
Seemed he wasn't too hung up on his wrecked home, and his Lebedev memories weren't bad.
He said we'd talk more over drinks later, and took a swig.
No option for sober chat, apparently. We drank with the ruined lab as backdrop.
Got an earful from Big Sis Mina for day drinking, though.
**
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Ermina's recent dilemma was whether it was right for her to even be at this academy.
If she was going to use her power, it should be where it was truly needed. If searching for someone, she should leave the academy and go find Yulius.
She was wasting time. That's how it started to feel.
"You got something bothering you lately?"
And the one who noticed was Rias, of all people—not someone she welcomed it from.
"...No."
"Liar. That face is like when I was really laying into you."
"That's what tipped you off?"
The reason was absurd, so when she ran into Rias in the garden, Ermina tried to ignore her and walk away.
And Rias was the one who grabbed her.
"Hey. I'm your etiquette sponsor, remember? What's the issue? Spill."
"No thanks."
"I can help for real."
"You can't with this."
"C'mon. I'm trying to live nicely these days."
"Ugh, fine. Whatever. Listen."
Ermina explained her current worries in full.
It wasn't that time at the academy had no value, but what she wanted—and needed—to do was worlds away from here.
"Makes sense. We're nobles—we can't just wander off."
"Involves family prestige too."
"Commoners might get away with it... but royalty and church reps? Face issues."
"Ah."
Remembering the two who'd made special exceptions for her enrollment, Ermina sighed.
Ditching it would cause a uproar for both.
"Just keep attending. Won't set you back much."
"How would you know?"
"Took over ten years for them to abandon me."
Ermina fell silent at that.
Rias continued, smirking sarcastically even at herself.
"Plenty of chances to turn it around. I just didn't. And Yulius is an idiot. Worst case, I strip naked and grovel now—he'd forgive half."
"Then why not?"
"That'd be blackmail. 'Forgive me or I make a scene.' No pride in that. Has to be him forgiving me willingly, after he's cooled off a bit. Otherwise, pointless."
Ermina stared straight at Rias, who wore a faintly hollow expression.
Compared to her frustrating, weird past self, she felt much more honest and down-to-earth now.
"Rias."
"Hm?"
"If Yulius forgives you—what then?"
"...I'd stick by his side like a clingy lump. Can't ask for more than that."