Chapter 71: Milayna Akasha (5)

The great Swordmaster Maximus had personally come to her house, carrying a direct order from the king. For someone like him to move on a matter involving Ketal meant that whatever Ketal had done was no small feat. To Milayna, the connection between routine mercenary work and royal interest was utterly baffling.

When she asked about it, Ketal answered casually, “I just did the usual mercenary jobs—clearing Dungeons, patrolling villages, escorting people.

“I see,” Milayna said, though her confusion lingered. His description sounded far too ordinary to warrant the involvement of a Swordmaster.

The more she thought about it, the more questions arose, but this was a matter tied directly to the king. It was not something she could—or should—dig into further. Shaking off her curiosity, she forced herself to move on.

“I was just curious. Now that we have finished here, let me show you around. Is there anything specific you’d like to see?” Milayna asked.

“Something specific...” Ketal repeated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. After a moment, he nodded. “Your family’s involved in a lot of different work, right?”

“Of course. We’re a merchant family.”

“I’d like to see how those operations work. You mentioned running a bank—let’s visit that too.”

“The bank...?” Milayna blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Are you sure that’s what you’d like to see?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Ketal asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No reason. If that’s what you want, I will take you there,” she said, regaining her composure.

Milayna led Ketal to a large, bustling building in the heart of the main street. Inside, workers were busy processing documents, while customers sat at counters discussing transactions with staff.

“Oh, wow,” Ketal murmured, his eyes lighting up with interest as he took the scene.

“So, this is the bank,” Milayna explained. “Even non-nobles can borrow or deposit money here, though it’s not open to just anyone. Customers have to meet specific requirements, like proper identification or sufficient credentials, to use our services.”

Despite the restrictions, the bank attracted a steady flow of customers, drawn by its appeal and reputation for reliability. Ketal’s gaze swept across the room, observing the orderly flow of activity.

The setup feels surprisingly modern,

Ketal thought, noting the structured counters and systematic approach. Yet the medieval attire of the customers gave the place an odd, fantastical charm—like a strange blend of modernity and fantasy.

Milayna, meanwhile, observed Ketal with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Throughout the day, she took him to various locations. Most were functional workplaces—offices, trade hubs, and warehouses where her employees handled the family’s diverse operations.

“Are you actually enjoying this?” Milayna asked, her tone skeptical.

“It’s interesting enough,” Ketal replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.

His sincerity left Milayna baffled. The places she showed him were utterly mundane, the kind of quiet, slow-paced environments that might bore even ordinary people. Yet here was Ketal, a barbarian, seemingly fascinated by it all.

Why does he find this entertaining?

she wondered, unable to hide her confusion.

After some time spent touring the different operations, Ketal finally remarked, “Your family really does a lot.”

“Well, even though we’ve branched into banking, we’re still a merchant family at heart. We haven’t given up on our original trades like selling and trading goods,” Milayna explained.

Banking had been her way of diversifying their income with less risk, but the Akasha family still maintained their traditional business operations.

Eventually, Milayna led Ketal away from the main streets to a quieter part of the capital. They stopped in front of a steel-reinforced building tucked into a secluded corner.

“Ah, Lady Milayna!” The guards stationed at the building straightened in surprise upon seeing her and Ketal. They quickly stepped aside as Milayna approached with a key in hand.

The heavy locks clicked open, one after another, revealing a door far more secure than the others they had encountered that day.

“This place seems well-protected. Do you store something valuable here?” Ketal asked, intrigued.

“Yes,” Milayna replied. “This place holds items that are particularly significant to me.”

With a creak, the door swung open, and Milayna led Ketal inside. She flicked a switch, illuminating the space with soft light from overhead lamps.

“It’s an armory,” Ketal remarked, his tone tinged with admiration.

The room was filled with rows of meticulously maintained weapons, their polished blades and intricate designs gleaming under the light. The dark walls gave the space an austere, almost reverent atmosphere.

Milayna gestured to the collection. “These weapons saved our family. After I crossed the White Snowfield, I sold arms to kingdoms at war with the Empire. The profits from those deals allowed me to rebuild our crumbling home.”

Since then, the Akasha family had continued to pour resources into weapon production and trade. This particular room housed some of their finest and most unique creations.

“Huh,” Ketal said as his eyes landed on a sword with an intricately designed hilt. The blade shimmered like silver ice. “Mind if I take a closer look at this one?”

“Go ahead,” she replied.

Ketal picked up the sword, testing its balance in his hand. The sharp edge caught the light as he tilted it, and the weight felt just right in his grip.

“The craftsmanship on this sword is excellent,” he remarked, a note of admiration in his voice.

The weapons stored in the armory were leagues above anything Ketal had seen elsewhere. Even the gear used by the knights of the Lutein Kingdom paled in comparison. The only weapon he had encountered that rivaled these was the sword wielded by Swordmaster Kain.

As Ketal scanned the room, he noticed that most of the other weapons were on par with the blade he held.

“We contracted some of the most skilled craftsmen in Denian Kingdom to forge these,” Milayna explained. “These weapons are the result of their combined expertise and effort. Each one is truly unique.”

Every weapon in the room was worth enough to shake the foundations of a lesser noble family. The Akasha family, however, had the wealth and influence to maintain an entire armory filled with these extraordinary creations.

“If you’d like, you may have one as a gift,” Milayna said casually, as if handing out a simple trinket.

“It’s a tempting offer,” Ketal replied, patting the axe hanging at his waist. “But I already have this. I doubt I’d use anything else. Still, I appreciate the thought.”

“That’s the axe I saw back in the White Snowfield, isn’t it? It must be a remarkable weapon.”

“It is,” Ketal said with a grin.” It’s never failed me once.”

Milayna’s interest piqued. She knew Ketal came from the White Snowfield, a place filled with monstrous creatures like the White Serpent. If his axe remained unscathed after such battles, it had to be something extraordinary.

“Would you mind if I take a closer look at it?” Milayna asked.

“Go ahead,” Ketal said, handing over the weapon.

Milayna took the axe but nearly dropped it in surprise. It was far heavier than it looked—easily twice as heavy as she had expected. Struggling slightly, she managed to get a firm grip and began examining it.

“This...,” Milayna muttered.

At the base of the axe’s handle, a jet-black gemstone was embedded. The stone’s peculiar color and luster immediately caught her attention. It didn’t look fake, nor did the craftsmanship. The handle and blade were equally black, their surfaces etched with intricate carvings that spoke of a master artisan’s touch.

She ran her finger over the blade’s edge.

It’s incredibly hard.

This wasn’t just a sharp weapon; its durability was exceptional. She had no doubt it could withstand even the heaviest blows without so much as a scratch.

What kind of ore was used to make this?

she wondered. As she examined the connection between the blade and the handle, she noticed a distinctive symbol engraved there.

What is this emblem?

Milayna prided herself on her extensive knowledge. As a merchant, she had dealt with goods from countless nations and eras. She was familiar with historical and obscure markings, yet this symbol was entirely foreign to her.

“This axe wouldn’t be out of place as a national treasure or ancient artifact. Where did you find it?” Milayna asked, her curiosity evident.

“I dug it out of the snow. I picked it up thinking it’d do for a temporary weapon, but it turned out to be far better than I expected. I’ve been using it ever since. Do you recognize the symbol?”

“I’m afraid I don’t,” Milayna admitted.

“That’s disappointing,” Ketal said with a slight frown. He had long suspected that the axe was no ordinary weapon, given the gemstone and the unusual engravings. He had hoped Milayna might shed some light on its origins, but even she seemed clueless.

“If you’d like, I can look into it. I’m curious myself,” Milayna offered.

“That would be great, thank you,” Ketal said, taking back his axe.

After that, the two continued exploring the armory. Ketal examined an array of weapons—spears, halberds, axes, shields, and more. Each piece was crafted with the same extraordinary care and skill. As they were nearing the end of their tour, something caught Ketal’s eye.

“Huh?” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His steps halted, and his eyes widened. At the far end of the room stood a sword engulfed in a constant blade of flame.

***

It wasn’t a metaphor or symbolic embellishment—the sword was literally covered in flames. Fire danced across its blade, radiating intense heat into the room.

“Oh, wow,” Ketal remarked. His body trembled with excitement. A flaming sword was the epitome of a fantasy world, the kind of thing that stirred the imagination of every adventurer.

Noticing his captivated gaze, Milayna offered an explanation. “It’s an enchanted sword.”

“Enchanted!” Ketal’s eyes sparkled. The mere mention of the word sent a rush of exhilaration through him. Enchantment was a word filled with endless possibilities.

As she watched him marvel at the weapon, Milayna tilted her head slightly. “Would you like it?”

“Are you serious?” Ketal asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“Of course, it’s the least I can do after all you have done for me,” she replied nonchalantly.

“Well then...” Ketal couldn’t bring himself to refuse. The sword was far too enticing to pass up.

With hands that trembled ever so slightly, he reached out and gripped the flaming sword. The fiery glow flared up, and the heat seemed to intensify around him. Flames licked at the steel as though they were consuming it as fuel, yet the weapon remained whole. “Oh...!” Ketal was completely enthralled.

He was reminded of his childhood days learning kendo. The feeling of holding his first wooden training sword paled in comparison to the sheer awe he felt now. This was a weapon straight out of legend.

Milayna, however, watched him with a puzzled expression.

“Doesn’t it feel hot...?” she asked cautiously.

The sword wasn’t just for show—it was

actually

burning. Flames engulfed not just the blade but the hilt as well, radiating heat that even Milayna could feel from where she stood.

Yet Ketal held the weapon barehanded, as if the flames didn’t exist. Any normal person’s hand would have been scorched to ash by now.

“I’m fine,” Ketal said, waving off her concern. Then, glancing at the weapon he asked, “Are you sure I can keep this? It seems like it’s worth a fortune.”

“It’s fine,” Milayna replied with a small shrug. “Honestly, It’s not very practical.”

She explained that the flaming sword had been one of her early experiments with enchantment. Back then, she had commissioned an alchemist to create a sword wreathed in fire.

The result was the very weapon in Ketal’s hands, and Milayna had been delighted with its appearance—at first. But she soon discovered a glaring flaw.

The sword was quite literally impossible to hold. The flames enveloped the hilt as well as the blade, making it unusable without some kind of magical protection. Even then, anyone capable of using magic to wield it wouldn’t need a sword like this. They could simply channel their power directly.

When she had confronted the alchemist about it, demanding to know why she hadn’t accounted for this issue, her response had been blunt.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“You didn’t ask for safety features.”

That was the day Milayna learned that when dealing with an alchemist, every detail had to be specified. In the end, the flaming sword had been relegated to a corner of the armory, forgotten and unused.

“Fascinating,” Ketal said, his expression bright with curiosity as he listened to her story. “You even have an alchemist?”

“Yes, though I paid a small fortune to secure his services,” Milayna grumbled. “Honestly, I regret it a little. She is talented, but she is not exactly the most cooperative person to work with.”

Ketal turned his attention back to the sword. The flames continued to burn fiercely, yet the weapon showed no signs of weakening.

It doesn’t even need fuel,

he mused. Even after years of neglect, the flames burned as fiercely as the day the sword was forged, showing no signs of fading.

The sword seemed to defy the very laws of thermodynamics. Upon closer inspection, Ketal noticed that the blade was inscribed with strange symbols. The words were unfamiliar, their meaning beyond understanding.

Could these inscriptions be the catalyst for the enchantment?

Ketal thought.

The very concept of alchemy was thrilling for Ketal. His mind raced with questions, his curiosity growing stronger.

“What kind of person is this alchemist?” Ketal asked.

“She is eccentric, but brilliant,” Milayna replied. “She is probably the best alchemist in the Denian Kingdom.

With a small smile, she added, “This is the man who has turned ordinary individuals into Transcendent warriors. She’s no ordinary talent.”