Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: EP.111 Eve Festival - 2
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***
"Th-that... aren't you the Sage?"
A few from the hesitant group of nobles approached me.
One of them was a noble I'd run into during a quest.
Baron Oswald laughed heartily and greeted me first.
"It's been a while. I figured you'd come to our territory at least one more time."
"I've been busy with this and that. How's Asrien doing?"
"Haha. My boy? He's doing great. Thanks to the proper education you gave him, he hasn't gotten into any trouble lately."
The quest related to Baron Oswald was called 'A Scoundrel Drives a Nail into His Parents' Hearts.'
Just as the quest name suggested, Oswald's only son, Asrien, was the textbook definition of a spoiled brat.
Because of that, Baron Oswald and his wife's worries were beyond measure, and they had asked for my help while I was staying in their territory at the time.
They'd begged me to investigate who their son was hanging out with.
And through that quest, I learned that Asrien had befriended devil worshippers disguised as human traffickers, so I killed off all those devil worshippers and gave Asrien some education (physical).
Hmm... old memories are flooding back.
"You said it back then, didn't you, Sage? 'Are you gonna hang out with those kinds of guys again? Or not?'"
"Hahaha... so? How's he been lately?"
"He's such a vigorous kid... he tries to go off the rails sometimes. But the moment I say I'm calling you, he heads straight to his studies."
"That's worth celebrating."
"Sigh. With my only son being like that. Still, thanks to you, Sage, he hasn't strayed too far, so that's a relief."
"Truth be told, I felt a bit sorry toward you and your wife back then for hitting him too hard."
"Oh, no, no. Not at all. But... um."
He glanced furtively at Veronica beside me. And then.
"You two look so well-matched together. Uhahahahaha!"
"Oh my. I'm glad you think so."
"It's just the truth, so no need to thank me. Anyone would think you're a married couple."
"Married couple... really? Hehe. Thank you."
"Not at all. I just spoke the truth... But over there. Your Eminence the Cardinal. If it's not too much trouble..."
He hesitated, then pulled a small Divine Mark from his pocket. He bowed his head politely.
"Could you bless it once, for my son?"
"Trouble? This is nothing."
Veronica smiled gently and bestowed a blessing on the Divine Mark. Since it was none other than a cardinal's blessing, the devout believer Baron Oswald visibly brightened with joy.
A few nobles looked on enviously. And some other devout nobles who knew me tried to strike up a conversation in hopes of getting a blessing from Veronica too.
"Sage. Come here."
The queen called me, and they smacked their lips in regret.
As Veronica and I approached, the queen gave a wry smile.
"I didn't expect the cardinal to come. Doesn't the church usually send Bishop Tyrant or Archbishop Hastings for events like this?"
"That's true, but... well, various things came up."
Veronica smiled faintly and took my arm. The queen alternated her gaze between Veronica and me, her wry smile deepening.
"I've heard plenty about how close the Sage and the cardinal are. In any case, thank you for coming—as queen, and as a mother to one child."
"Not at all."
I had no idea why she'd called me over just to talk to Veronica.
"Then please enjoy the party. Ah, and Sage."
"Yes."
"I trust you'll keep your promise to Lucille."
The queen knew this party was a chance for Lucille to grow.
I'd heard she'd been diligently practicing her dances for it.
Which is why she seemed worried that Veronica's presence might steal Lucille's spot as my partner.
What a needless worry.
"At this party, I plan to do my utmost as the princess's partner."
"..."
"So please, Your Majesty, enjoy the party without any worries."
I raised one hand to show my confidence. That should be good enough, right?
But for some reason, the queen looked uneasy.
"I feel strangely anxious..."
This pose seemed to sow doubt instead.
In any case, after reassuring the queen, I headed to a corner of the venue. Plenty of people wanted to talk to me.
From nobles to the daughters or wives they'd brought along.
Maybe because of the effect of the clothes I was wearing, I was subtly popular.
But thanks to Veronica, no one dared approach carelessly.
"By the way, why'd you come dressed like that?"
"I'm just wearing clothes fit for the occasion? You can't show up to a party in armor, right?"
Of course, if I thought something might happen, I'd have worn armor. But nothing like that would go down at the eve festival.
"I suppose so."
"But seriously, why are you here? You smashed all the devil worshippers' heads already?"
"Yeah. Already cleared them all out."
"That was fast. You didn't push yourself too hard?"
"Nah, not at all. Hey, don't you have something to tell me?"
"Of course. Hey, about the Marquis Raysi and..."
"Hey! Sage! What're you doing over there?! Come have a drink!!"
A rough shout came from behind then. It was Marax.
Perfect timing.
"Whoa! Marax! Long time no see! Whoa~ been well?"
"I'm always the same. But why's that human cardinal over there just standing around smiling? We're not strangers—come on over. Let's have a drink."
Veronica let out a small sigh and approached. Perfect.
"Marax. I was thinking of making a mace for Veronica..."
"Hm? Using the forge then?"
"Yeah. Mind if I borrow some materials and get your help?"
"Hmm... let me see your hand."
Veronica tilted her head and extended her hand. It was white and pretty.
But her palm bore the clear traces of the harsh times she'd endured.
"Fine hands. Hands with talent, hands of someone who always puts in the effort. People with hands like this always get what they want."
He spoke calmly and nodded.
"Alright. For hands like these, I can't help but lend a hand for the weapon."
Marax, the finest blacksmith among the dwarves, utterly despises seeing his creations used by mediocre folk.
That's why few earn his approval, but it seemed Veronica had taken a real shine to him.
"Huh? No, I just..."
"Sounds good. With Marax's help, we'll get something even better."
Like me, Marax has a bad case of the 'might as well' disease.
If we teamed up, we could probably make near-unique grade gear.
If we're making it anyway, might as well make it worthwhile.
"How much saint's bone do we have left? Hey! Leo!"
"Hm? What?"
"Any saint's bones left in your tribe by chance?"
"We have some. Why?"
"Well, see..."
When Marax and I explained we were making a mace for Veronica, my friend, Leo set down his raw meat plate and shook his head.
"For gear belonging to the Sage's friend, that's not enough. How about this instead? We have the tiger bone of Rolas, once called the beastkin overlord. We could use that."
"But only beastkin can process tiger bone. And don't you need the Hornet Queen tribe's beeswax to process it? Got any?"
"Nope."
"Hey! Rastapa! Can we get some beeswax?"
The Hornet Queen tribe's first warrior and grand sorcerer who mastered ultimates.
Rastapa, who'd fought alongside me during the queen bee rescue quest back in the day, set down his honey snack and came over.
"What're you making?"
"A mace for my closest friend, Veronica."
"Then... Sage. You're the benefactor who protected our queen and a friend of the Hornets. If I speak to Her Majesty, we can get the highest-grade blood-red beeswax."
"Highest-grade blood-red beeswax? If we're using that, how about using world tree roots for the shaft?"
Lorellia chimed in as she approached too. Even giving up world tree roots from the elven forest.
If we play this right, this won't just be unique grade—it could be a holy relic for the church.
I looked at Veronica, and she let out a heavy sigh, realizing things were snowballing.
"...I'll gratefully accept. Really."
What, over this?
"If we're using world tree roots, then for the minerals, something more than plain ones..."
Huh?
Things are snowballing.
Something insane is coming.
The eve festival party had no dancing or anything—just people chatting briefly with those they clicked with.
But now was different.
"No, but to maximize top-grade magic power..."
"Magus Raquel. Power is good, but balance is crucial too."
"Lord Padde is right. But couldn't we use the royal treasure, the Royal Blood Diamond, as the balance weight? As queen, I can spare that much."
"How about drake hide for the grip? I still have the hide from the drake that showed up in my territory when I was with the Sage before. If we use that..."
"You fool. Save the drake hide for lining and use dragon hide instead—much better, right? And only our Toskato territory can process it..."
Not just the beastkin, but even the bored nobles got excited and started debating mace design directions.
Not everyone at the party, of course, but with me, the queen, and the beastkin dignitaries gathered like this, the atmosphere naturally gravitated here.
"Phew. Perfect."
He unfurled the blueprint completed by uniting everyone's efforts.
The blueprint drawn on a large tablecloth was art in itself.
Everyone present couldn't hold back gasps of admiration.
"This is incredible..."
"It wouldn't pale next to the Hero's Sword at all..."
The result of 'might as well' sufferers banding together.
"...But is this really a mace?"
"It's a mace.
Calculations show it with 7 top-grade magics, 6 highest-grade shaman arts, 7 top-grade holy spells. Just holding it heals most illnesses, being near it continuously restores mana and stamina with various buffs.
Plus, infusing a bit of holy power auto-activates a sanctuary.
We can add user-recognition security shaman arts to prevent unauthorized use, plus all sorts of other functions, and as artwork, it'll surpass any piece.
But this was unmistakably a mace blueprint.
"...So, how long till it's done?"
Veronica, the future owner who'd been silently watching, threw in a word, and we all fell silent.
"Hmm..."
I thought it over briefly with everyone involved in making the blueprint and gave an answer.
"About five years, roug— Gah!"
"Hyunwoo??"
Veronica pinched my cheek with a bright smile, and everyone present awkwardly averted their eyes.
"A-alright. I'll make yours separately by myself."
"Hm. Then we can have the Racial Federation make this one—a divine relic to smash the heads of those threatening peace."
The blueprint born of collective genius was truly a masterpiece.
As such, we couldn't scrap it, so the queen, current head of the Racial Federation, took custody, and no one objected much.
Completing this mace required all races to unite.
Who'd complain about it becoming the Federation's divine relic?
"...Why did 'make me a mace' turn into all this?"
"R-right?"
The 'might as well' disease.
Scary stuff.
"...Still, thank you."
"Hm?"
"For trying to make something like this for me."
Veronica turned her head, cheeks slightly flushed in embarrassment.
What, over this?
"For you, this is still not enough."
Considering all you've done for me so far.
"...Ugh. You really... Haa. Fine. I was gonna scold you, but I can't even get mad."
"Holding it in causes illness. Vent when you're upset, right then."
"..."
-Smack!
Veronica glared at me once, then whacked my back hard.
...
Stings like hell.
Author's Note
See you tomorrow~! Bye~!! Good night~!!