Chapter 1202

Chapter 1202

After Gricale's demise, the World of Nothingness shattered into pieces, and the storm dissipated.

The storm was just one hundred fifty kilometers away from the borders of the Proatine Empire before it dissipated. In other words, the storm had only devastated the western regions of the Marchioni Empire before disappearing.

This meant that the Marchioni Empire’s scheme to redirect the storm and wipe the Proatine Empire off the face of the continent had ended in complete failure.

To make things worse, the Proatine Empire suffered no damage at all while the Marchioni Empire sustained massive losses.

Had they redirected the storm elsewhere, then they could have minimized the damage they suffered. However, they deliberately steered it westward, and it resulted in them suffering greater devastation.

Several major cities in the west were the financial centers of the Marchioni Empire, and they were reduced to mere ruins by the storm.

“Is this some kind of surprise? Something prepared to relieve me of my boredom?” Emperor Stuttgart couldn’t bring himself to accept the reality after receiving the sudden report.

As befitting the sovereign of the world’s most powerful empire, Emperor Stuttgart did not lash out in a fit of rage. Instead, he merely expressed his dismay at the absurd report.

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty...!”

In contrast, Grand Duke Neighdelberg was on the verge of fainting, and he trembled like a tree being shaken by a fierce storm. The second most powerful person in the empire? Such a grand title was meaningless before Emperor Stuttgart.

Grand Duke Neighdelberg was truly terrified. He knew better than anyone else just how ruthless the emperor was. After all, Stuttgart von Posteriore slew all of his own blood relatives without a hint of hesitation, all in order to ascend to the throne.

Now that such an emperor was enraged, Grand Duke Neighdelberg's terror was justified. Moreover, Emperor Stuttgart had never once been humiliated since ascending the throne. He had never tasted failure, nor had any of his plans ever gone awry.

For more than twenty years, Emperor Stuttgart had always been flawless, and he had accomplished everything he sought to do with ease.

In other words, the failure of the Great Marchioni Empire Operation was an unfamiliar feeling to him. Never had the Marchioni Empire suffered such humiliation before.

“Is it true that the storm that was advancing suddenly dissipated a hundred fifty kilometers before reaching the borders of the Proatine Empire?” Emperor Stuttgart asked.

“Y-Yes, Your Exalted Majesty,” Grand Duke Neighdelberg replied, stammering while pressing his head to the floor.

“

Hmm...

What do you think about it?”

“T-That was most likely the work of Siegfried von Proa, sire.”

“Are you saying he suppressed that storm?”

“T-There would be no other explanation why it vanished so suddenly. The storm was born from the rampaging Ancient Dungeon, so there is no other reason for it to suddenly disappear.”

“So it was him again.”

“Yes, sire...”

“And because of him, I have been made to suffer such humiliation?”

“S-Sire...!”

“

Hahaha!”

Emperor Stuttgart laughed at the sheer absurdity of suffering a blow. Having never experienced anything even resembling failure since ascending the throne, Emperor Stuttgart felt more dumbfounded than angry.

The failure of the Great Marchioni Empire Operation had brought great losses. The Marchioni Empire had withdrawn the 8th Corps stationed in the Proatine Empire, thinking that the storm would sweep everything away.

Those troops were meant to carry out a crucial role in the eventual invasion of the Proatine Empire, so recalling them was a loss beyond measure.

And now, it was no longer possible to redeploy the 8th Corps and force the Proatine Empire to accept them.

In other words, the situation had become downright humiliating.

“Neighdelberg.”

“Y-Yes, Your Exalted Majesty!”

“I will forgive you just this once for your failure.”

“Your grace is immeasurable, sire! Infinitely boundless!”

Grand Duke Neighdelberg repeatedly slammed his head hard into the floor, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for the emperor’s mercy.

This was the towering authority and power that Emperor Stuttgart wielded. Not even Grand Duke Neighdelberg, the second most powerful person in the empire, could do anything but cower before him.

“I will show you grace, as the operation was conducted on a whim. But don’t expect me to be so gracious next time.”

“Yes, sire!”

“Prepare a new strategy.”

“I shall devote myself to not disappoint my lord!”

With that, Emperor Stuttgart ended the meeting after issuing Grand Duke Neighdelberg the order to devise another scheme to put pressure on the Proatine Empire and eventually topple it.

***

Meanwhile, Lee Geon was training in seclusion to prepare for his rematch with Siegfried.

News of the storm dissipating reached him, and he couldn't help but smile.

“I guess even dog shit has its use sometimes.”

He was glad that Siegfried had survived.

Was it because he liked Siegfried or wanted a fair, honorable fight with him?

Not at all!

No one wanted to see Siegfried’s downfall more than Lee Geon, but this wasn't the right time.

Lee Geon wanted to see Siegfried clash against the Marchioni Empire and for the two of them to bring each other down.

Even though he was confident that he could beat Siegfried with ease if they fought, he deliberately kept his distance for that reason.

“Good. Keep fighting against the Marchioni Empire like that. In the end, the final laugh will belong to me.

Kekeke!”

Muttering to himself, Lee Geon rejoiced at the news that the Proatine Empire was safe from the colossal storm.

***

After subduing the storm, Siegfried immediately returned to the Proatine Empire and headed straight for Quandt’s workshop.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Clang! Clang!

As always, the sound of hammering echoed ceaselessly throughout the workshop.

‘

Hehehe...’

Siegfried gestured to the other blacksmiths to hush as he quietly approached Quandt, who was fully absorbed in his work.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Clang! Clang!

Tang! Tang! Tang!

Quandt was so absorbed and focused on striking the piece of metal with his hammer that he didn't even notice Siegfried creep up to him.

Then, from behind, Siegfried covered Quandt’s eyes.

“...?”

“Guess who!” Siegfried asked in a playful and mischievous tone.

“Your Imperial Majesty,” Quandt replied, immediately recognizing his voice.

“Huh? How did you know?”

“...”

“

E-Eh?”

Siegfried felt a bit flustered when Quandt looked at him with a straight face as if he was asking about what nonsense the former was trying to do here.

“Was... it not funny...?”

“...”

“S-Sorry...”

“What brings Your Imperial Majesty here?” Quandt asked.

‘

Huh? Did something happen? What’s wrong with him today?’

Siegfried wondered, finding it odd that Quandt was in an unusually unpleasant mood.

Quandt was normally quite cheerful and energetic; he would always laugh heartily, even when Siegfried told him the silliest of jokes.

“What’s wrong? You seem out of it today,” Siegfried asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“

Hm?

”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Quandt said, shaking his head, but his expression clearly looked darker than usual.

“Come on, don’t be like that. What’s the matter? You can tell me.”

“It really is nothing.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“It’s just that... I feel like I’ve hit a wall as a blacksmith.”

“

Hm?

”

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“It’s been about one hundred fifty years since I first held a hammer, but I’ve lately been feeling that I’ve reached my limits. I’m starting to wonder if I can grow any further as a blacksmith...”

Quandt’s worries were the kind anyone who had reached a certain level of mastery would experience.

Just like how a martial artist who had polished their skills for many years would suddenly face a wall that left them in anguish and despair, Quandt was in exactly that same state right now.

“Inspiration just doesn’t seem to come to me recently. It feels like I’m just spending my days doing the same things.”

On the continent, blacksmiths were not mere craftsmen, as they were closer to artists.

Crafting items required not only skill in working with metal, but also processing materials, engraving, carving, and other artistic skills.

Thus, it was entirely reasonable for him to say that he was lacking in inspiration.

“

Ah,

I see. If that’s the case, then you don’t have to worry so much,” Siegfried said with a grin.

“

Huh?

What do you mean by that?” Quandt asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Because I’m about to give you far more inspiration than you can handle!”

“

Hoho...

Inspiration is not something you can just hand over to someone at will. It is something profound, something that can only be—”

It was then.

“What do you think this is?” Siegfried cut him off, holding out the Eye of the Storm.

“

Hm?

”

“Do you know what this is?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Why not take a look then?”

“

Hmm...

”

Following Siegfried’s suggestion, Quandt pulled out glasses imbued with a function similar to the Rune of Insight and examined the Eye of the Storm.

He appraised the item Siegfried presented, and about three seconds later—

“W-What...?!”

Quandt’s eyes widened as he gasped, and at the same time, he lost his grip on the Eye of the Storm and dropped it to the floor.

“

Eeek!”

With lightning-quick reflex, Siegfried snatched the Eye of the Storm before it could hit the ground.

If the Eye of the Storm had fallen and shattered, imagining the consequences alone would be horrifying. A massive storm could have erupted right in the middle of the Proatine Empire's capital, Preussen.

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty! T-The Eye of the—The Eye of the Storm!” Quandt stammered, still trembling in shock.

He was so overwhelmed that he could hardly form words.

The fact that the Eye of the Storm was found and brought back by Siegfried was so shocking for Quandt.

After all, this was the final material needed to craft the final masterpiece of Herbert, something the Bavarian Workshop had been yearning to craft for centuries.

“H-Herbert’s unfinished masterpiece will be—”

Thud!

Quandt fainted upon being overcome with emotions.

The realization that he could finally forge Herbert’s unfinished masterpiece left him so overjoyed and shocked that he lost consciousness.

***

Two hours later...

“Oh my god... Herbert’s masterpiece will finally be...”

Even after waking up, Quandt still hadn't returned to his senses. He still looked dazed.

“Are you feeling a little more inspired now? Surely this much is enough, right?” Siegfried asked with a grin.

“T-There’s no way I wouldn’t be! This is more than enough!”

Just before fainting, Quandt looked like a lost man who was standing in front of an insurmountable wall, but now he was a completely different person.

He was brimming with vitality and looked incredibly excited for what was ahead.

Well, it would be strange if he weren't as lively as he was at the moment.

“You can craft it properly, right? It took me nearly four years to gather all of this, so I’d like the results to be worth the effort,” Siegfried said mischievously.

“Of course! Just entrust it to me! I will absolutely craft the Universal-rated weapon and present it to you as a gift!

Bwahahaha!”

“I will be counting on you.”

Siegfried felt his anticipation soar after seeing Quandt so full of excitement.

Just the thought of possessing a Universal-rated weapon already made him feel invincible. In truth, he was confident that no one could defeat him once he obtained the weapon.

If he managed to somehow lose even with a weapon of such caliber, then that would mean that he had always been nothing but a hopeless, incompetent fool.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“I will report on the progress from time to time, sire.”

“Don’t overexert yourself, though, okay? I would really be upset if you work too much and hurt yourself.”

“Impossible! This is the fulfillment of our workshop’s long-cherished wish! How could I even get tired?

Bwahaha!”

“It’s good to see you energetic again. Anyway, I’ll really be going now.”

“Yes, sire!”

Leaving the completion of Herbert’s masterpiece in Quandt’s capable hands, Siegfried left the Bavarian Workshop.