Chapter 75: Do You Think It's Possible?

The scale of the forge was rather ordinary.

The interior was cramped, but it seemed to have everything it needed.

Located on the outskirts of the Third Layer, which served as the village’s residential area, this place exuded an atmosphere distinctly different from the First Layer—the village entrance where shops, stalls, convenience facilities, and various trading posts were situated.

“A customer?”

“Yes.”

Kariel asked as he handed over his sword, still in its sheath.

“Can you fix this?”

“Hmm.”

The middle-aged man took the sword and skillfully drew the bent blade from the sheath.

His skin was scorched by fire and crisscrossed with burn scars.

With short-cropped hair and a lean frame that nonetheless possessed firm, well-defined muscles, one could feel a rigid will that permitted not a shred of laziness.

“Do you want it reforged, or do you just want the bend straightened?”

“…Which would be better?”

“That’s up to you.”

Occasionally, there were those who stubbornly insisted on fixing things that were beyond repair.

“If you intend to actually use it, reforging is the way to go. If you’re just keeping it for sentimental reasons… straightening it isn’t difficult. It might be usable for training, though not for actual combat, but that’s the limit.”

“…….”

He was surprisingly meticulous.

Despite his stubborn gaze, his explanation was detailed.

“Then it can’t be helped. If it can’t be used in actual combat, there’s no reason to carry it around.”

“Is that so.”

The middle-aged man set the sword aside with a look of understanding.

“Come back in two days. Pay the fee in advance.”

While paying, Kariel glanced around the interior, but although the tools looked dirty, he didn’t see any weapons that looked immediately useful.

“Do you only make things after receiving orders or requests?”

“Yes.”

In the building next to the forge, near the entrance, a boy caught his eye, carefully tinkering with leather, cutting it into small pieces with iron scissors.

The yard was narrow, but seeing that there was a separate small building serving as a warehouse, their circumstances didn’t seem too bad.

“The grip seems fine to use as is. However, the thickness looks the same from top to bottom; is that alright? Usually, grips are made thicker toward the top. Looking at the guard and the pommel, it’s a perfect Imperial Sword. I heard they are obsessed with the cross shape and balance the thickness of the grip accordingly?”

“Yes. You have a keen eye.”

It didn’t particularly matter to him.

Depending on whether the area near the sword sheath’s grip is made oval, flat, or rectangular, the grip and usage change.

The same goes for wrapping it in leather or the way wire is wound; the usage differs accordingly.

One could simply force themselves to use it, but depending on the structure, there is a distinct difference between thrusting and slashing.

“I’ll assume you didn’t mention it because you didn’t know the circumstances.”

If the state of the grip had been strange, the smith would have likely repaired, replaced, or reinforced it for free.

Wrapping it in cloth or bandages, or tying it with string, is a method, but it is merely a temporary measure.

To the ignorant, it might not seem like something to worry about, but once you delve into these details, there is no end to it.

It’s not for nothing that people go through the trouble of skinning certain magic beasts or sea creatures and applying special processing to create unique leather materials for sheaths and grips, hiding those methods as Arcane Secrets.

It means that even those minute differences affect the utility of the tool and the rise or fall of an individual’s skill.

Of course, the fact that one’s senses have become refined enough to be affected by such extreme details is also highly significant.

However, if one is accustomed to using high-quality gear from the start, the dissonance of using cheap equipment is so severe that they naturally seek out luxury.

“…….”

In that regard, I am not a picky eater.

If something is placed in my hand, I simply use it as best as I can.

“I look forward to your work.”

With those words, he left the place.

Since he had told Luirin to buy as many ingredients as she could eat, a commotion for the sake of a glutton’s meal was likely unfolding in the chapel by now.

“…….”

And.

Since he had stirred up unnecessary trouble by rescuing a brat, he felt uneasy despite the presence of Leo and Luciri, which was why he had made an effort to keep Luirin by his side.

If you’re going to do something, do it properly; it is simply irrational that clumsy goodwill can lead to more terrible retaliation and venting of rage.

…Those who claim to be predators, the strong, and perpetrators rather than victims.

They never overlook what was done to them.

To simply accept it and endure.

They never allow that.

That is the basic way of life and attitude of those who exercise violence and oppression.

Because they have lived that way their whole lives, the moment they lay down that life—the moment they let go of the facade of fear—all that remains for them is to be bitten by the fangs of another predator, or the horrific retaliation of those who had been waiting for an opportunity while harboring a grudge.

In common terms, it is reaping what one sows.

“…….”

And.

While pretending to look around, he checked if anyone was following him.

He also looked around here and there to gauge the rumors.

For now, no eyes monitoring or tailing him were detected.

As the sun began to set, he headed toward the chapel.

“Did you go to make a sword instead of fixing one?”

Luirin poured out her complaints.

“…….”

What was she complaining about?

With more than six children and Luiness caring for them, and then Leo, Luciri, Luirin, and himself joining, the area serving as both a kitchen and dining room inside the chapel was bustling and crowded.

The chapel building was designed to include living and residential spaces; usually, even small churches separate these areas, so this part was a bit unexpected.

The meal was large in quantity but simple in content.

Hard bread and a soup containing various vegetables that was almost like a broth.

Milk and jam made from preserved wild berries and grapes appropriately soothed their bland palates.

Kariel waited for the bread to soften as he dipped it into the soup.

Since he had joined the meal, the conversation naturally flowed into his ears.

“Is there no one specifically in charge?”

“There was one nun… but she left on a missionary journey.”

Luiness answered Leo’s question in a general manner… but a missionary journey?

It was a reason for travel rarely heard within the Empire, so he was momentarily confused.

“The believers and shepherds of the Church of Irenis are quite diligent in that regard.”

Leo agreed with Luciri’s words.

“Different Irenis believers used to visit our village every season as well.”

“Your village? Come to think of it, Leo, you said you were from another kingdom, right?”

At Luiness’s question, Leo hesitated for a moment and replied with a weak smile.

“Yes. Although it’s called a kingdom, in some ways, it’s not much larger than the lordship ruled by Lutengard Jarl here. I heard directly from the King that it was a country that could exist because Metran was a neighboring state.”

“Is… that so?”

Luciri gave a brief explanation.

“There’s a small state called the Kingdom of Serph where humans, beastmen, elves, and dwarves all live together. Because the terrain is rugged with many mountains and highlands, other countries left it alone, thinking there was nothing to gain from taking it. I heard it was a nation born from various people gathering and harmonizing. After the kingdom was established, iron ore was discovered, and the dwarves joined in. Eventually, the dwarves became royalty by unanimous consent of the members, under the pretext of managing the kingdom’s finances and protection.”

“I’ve heard of it too.”

Luirin chimed in, acting as if she knew.

“…….”

Kariel had only heard of it, but he didn’t really know how it all worked.

“But ‘the King’? If Leo met the Konungr of Serph, does that mean Leo has a high status?”

“No. It’s just that our King is benevolent. And… we don’t call the King ‘Konungr’ like they do in Metran. Among ourselves, we just call him the King. Though I believe they call him a King abroad.”

Since the king of the Ice Sea Sand People, commonly known as the Wikingru, is called Konungr, he could discern their roots from that alone.

Influenced by that, some small states or specific lords might claim the title of Konungr… but usually, it is settled at the level of being called a Jarl.

However, that is only in name; most of their culture and old traditions had scattered, and they had long since been absorbed into those of the continent.

“And I was summoned as a witness to report a tragedy that occurred in the village.”

“Tragedy? What tragedy?”

Luciri gave her a warning look, but Luirin asked with a tilted head.

“Children, eat without spilling.”

Luiness was busy tending to the children.

“It’s okay, Luciri. It’s not a story that needs to be hidden.”

Leo looked somewhat troubled, and seeing Luirin looking awkward as if she had touched upon something wrong, he forced a smile.

“The Tedeo Village where I lived… everyone except me is now asleep.”

“Huh? Asleep? Why?”

Clatter!

A wooden bowl overturned on the floor, and a child burst into tears, not knowing what to do.

“I-It’s okay! T-That can happen!”

Luiness began to soothe the child, flustered.

“Oh, what a waste.”

“Luirin….”

Luciri heard Luirin’s mutter as she licked her lips.

When Luciri glared at her, Luirin immediately shrank back.

“…….”

Kariel watched the scene quietly and finished emptying his bowl.

And so, the conversation fizzled out.

====

Luirin’s appetite, which was truly immense, was enough to surprise everyone.

Luiness and Luciri, unable to believe it, had initially tried to persuade her, wondering if they were cooking too much.

“It really all goes in.”

Her eating manner was neat, so that was fine, but there is such a thing as a limit.

It took a considerable amount of time to carry the bowls to the well and finish the washing.

As the day grew dark, the process of everyone heading out with lanterns became noisier than expected.

Since Luiness, whose legs were inconvenient, had to stay behind despite her regrets, he considered leaving Leo with her.

“…Why don’t you, the teacher with nothing to do, stay there?”

“??”

Why?

Claiming it was in the name of contributing to the cost of ingredients, she told him to just rest.

As a result, he ended up sitting across from Luiness, relying on a single candle.

“Today… thank you.”

“…….”

He did it because he could.

Since it was only natural for the other party to express gratitude… Kariel gave a formal nod.

If accepting it simply made the other person feel more comfortable, there was no need to refuse.

“It hasn’t been this lively in a while… the children are very happy.”

“Is that so.”

Kariel listened quietly to what she said.

He didn’t have anything particular to say himself.

“…….”

However, it bothered him that her face didn’t brighten, as if she had some worry or something on her mind.

“Is something troubling you?”

“It’s… nothing. It’s just my own personal matter….”

Then, looking at Kariel, she suddenly asked.

“Riel, you are also interested in the Sword of Grandeus, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean by ‘interested’?”

“You want to draw it.”

“…….”

“I’ve seen many people. Those who come simply to pray or seek a blessing, and those who visit with the purpose of claiming it—their eyes and expressions are different.”

“…….”

Kariel neither nodded nor gave any particular response.

This wasn’t a question asked to seek an answer.

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“…I don’t know.”

I do not know.

I am not in a position to approach something with certainty.

I do it because I must.

…I pursue it because I need it.

That is all.

“I’m sorry. I said something unnecessary… Um, would you like some water?”

“I’m fine.”

Perhaps it was because facing each other was so awkward.

She had tried to push herself up using her cane.

“Oh?!”

Whether she missed her grip or not, her upper body tilted forward immediately.

At that moment, Kariel reacted instantly.

If he had been living absent-mindedly, he would have missed even this, but even in moments of relaxation, his mind was always sharp.

Every moment he opened and closed his eyes, every moment he inhaled and exhaled, was reality and actual combat for him.

If the ceiling suddenly collapsed here and he died under it, whose fault would that be?

The fault of a natural disaster?

The malice of someone who launched a surprise attack?

Or simply bad luck, the fault of a building that collapsed due to age?

No.

It is my fault for not being prepared.

It is my fault for accepting that absurdity as it is.

“…….”

The moment he caught her as she was about to fall.

Something was seen.

Not just one or two.

Countless.

First.

He saw a young girl sprawled on the floor, sobbing.

And then.

He saw a girl sitting there in a mess, pouring out tears even while being hit by streaks of rain.

As her hair, which had been close to blonde, faded as if worn by time and began to resemble the sky.

As her two blue eyes turned stark white.

Her tearful expression also gradually grew dull.

That was perhaps another form of resignation.

Then one day, the girl was reunited with her family.

However, she could not call her father ‘father’.

Because he had commanded it.

[Keep this in mind. You must never reveal to anyone that you are my daughter. If that fact is discovered, I will cast you out of this place. No, casting you out will not be enough; I will deal with you even more severely. So, keep this in mind.]

The girl was tasked with serving a boy younger than herself.

He was her half-brother.

At first, she felt hatred and resentment.

What on earth is the difference between you and me?

Why do you have everything from the start?

In reality, the child was very cruel, arrogant, and lacked respect for others.

He whined whenever he was bored, made unreasonable demands as a matter of course, and was incredibly stubborn.

…The only difference from other children was.

That child limped on one leg.

There was no misfortune, no accident, no tragic mishap.

A congenital disability.

If one had to put a name to it, he was not born healthy.

That in itself must have been an irreplaceable tragedy for that child.