Chapter 170: The Knot (10)

This must be about Isaac, right?

I hesitated momentarily about revealing it all, but then I remembered that Rena had vouched for Chandler as someone trustworthy. Her endorsement was probably reliable because of how harshly she usually judged humans, especially men.

She even entrusted her sister to him.

"That's because the one you were dealing with back then wasn't me," I explained.

Chandler's eyes widened upon hearing the truth. "What do you mean, someone else?"

I got straight to the point. "It was someone you knew."

***

After hearing the story, Chandler's eyes grew wider, and he kept letting out gasps of surprise. "No way... How could that be? Incredible!"

I recounted the events with Isaac, lightly editing the story. I mostly stuck to the truth but left out anything related to my true name.

"You went through all that hardship to help us... I never would have imagined. I did think something felt odd at the time, but you left so quickly that I forgot about it. This is just incredible. That sorcerer—"

I cut him off. "So you can forget about that contract now. It wasn't something I asked for anyway."

I didn't want to carry on the nuisance Isaac had caused. Maybe Rena would scold me later for canceling it, but I could live with that.

However, Chandler shook his head firmly. "That's not acceptable. A contract is a contract. We gained something—it can't just be ignored. Especially after you endured such hardship!"

"I didn't even sign it," I said matter-of-factly.

"Still, it doesn't matter. The former Lord of Grassmere signed it of his own will."

"If your father knew you were doing this, he'd probably hate it."

"I don't care. He abandoned everything and left for a hot springs trip anyway."

"

Hmph...

"

"Please, feel free to call on the contract terms whenever you wish," Chandler finally said with unwavering resolve.

Ding!

A notification appeared above Chandler's head saying his Affection had increased.

This is a bit much...

I could feel even more trust and affection radiating from his gaze.

Feeling awkward, I decided to change the subject. "By the way, where's Christina?"

I hadn't seen his bodyguard, Christina, anywhere.

"

Ah

, this way," Chandler replied and led me along. "She's improving at an amazing pace. It felt like a waste to keep her just as my guard."

I recalled Christina's appearance when she inhaled the strengthening gas and awakened.

"So now she's helping with training," Chandler said.

"Training?" I echoed.

"Yes."

Chandler guided me to the lord's office, the castle's highest point. From there, we could overlook the entire training ground.

He pointed below. "There."

A familiar girl was training about thirty soldiers.

Clang!

Christina was crossing swords with each soldier, correcting their formations and postures. I could clearly sense the soldiers' respect for her.

I noticed four heavy iron weights hanging from Christina's arms and legs like cuffs. "What's that? Did she commit a crime or something?"

Chandler chuckled. "They're weights. She insists on wearing them while training others to continue her own training."

"

Hmmm...

"

"She even wears them when practicing archery or eating meals."

"Diligent."

"Would you like to meet her? If she knows you're here, she'll probably throw off the weights and challenge you to a duel."

"No, thanks. That sounds terrifying."

"

Hahaha...

"

The soldiers were all training with the urgency of those who knew war was near. They were nothing like the conscripted, disposable soldiers I had seen on the front lines against the Demon Kings' army.

That human woman... she's doing well here.

The brutal memories of her in Erast no longer overlapped with the woman standing there.

I quietly watched the training from above.

Then, Chandler asked, "Is there anything else you need?"

"Not sure," I answered.

"It's been a while... I'd like to do something for you."

I was about to refuse when something Lime had said came to mind.

I pulled out my greatsword. "Is there any way to have this sword reforged?"

"You wish to have it reforged?" Chandler said.

"I heard from an appraiser that it contains a rare metal inside."

"What's the name of the metal?"

"Primo... something. Primophite, I think."

"Primophite... I've heard of it! But I'm no smith myself. I'll call the master blacksmith for you."

"The master blacksmith?"

"Yes. There was a man named Tuls whom the Dwarves personally trained. He has passed away, but his younger brother now oversees weapon crafting inside the castle."

***

An old blacksmith, face reddened from work, appeared and didn't even properly look at me.

'"

Hrmm

... You know how hard it is to reforge Primophite," the old blacksmith muttered. "My lord, are you sure about this appraisal? Anyone can claim a sword has rare metals."

So this is the master blacksmith?

The old blacksmith spoke bluntly, even in front of Chandler. Perhaps because Grassmere was a city of weapons, blacksmiths seemed to have a higher status here.

I cut into their conversation. "The appraisal is accurate."

The old blacksmith snorted. His face was full of wrinkles, but the muscles on his forearms bulged more than those of elite imperial soldiers.

"Well, if you say so. I'll give it a try. But still... Primophite is supposed to be way heavier than regular iron. Is that the sword?" the old blacksmith asked and scratched his head.

Without a word, I leaned the sword against the wall.

Thud.

"I never thought it was particularly heavy," I admitted.

Then, I stepped back.

The old blacksmith grabbed the hilt with a frown, and a vein bulged on his forehead.

"

Ugh!

" the old blacksmith grunted.

Even with his heavily muscled arms, he staggered. Gripping the sword with both hands, he barely managed to balance it.

Slam!

He dropped the sword back to the floor. "To think you wield this one-handed!"

His attitude shifted. Although the old blacksmith had been dismissive, he now looked at me with a gaze mixed with admiration and a hint of rivalry.

Finally, he turned toward Chandler and said, "Well... I'll do what I can. Don't expect too much, though. If it were my late brother Tuls, maybe, but I've never worked with this metal."

"We'll wait as long as needed," Chandler replied.

"I'll at least try handling it."

The old man handed me a temporary replacement sword. Then, with the help of two assistants, he heaved up the greatsword and disappeared.

"Think he can manage it?" I asked.

"Hard to say. The third Lord of Grassmere, who made that sword, was a legendary figure. At least I'm happy I can keep you here longer, benefactor."

Chandler's eyes sparkled.

He never acted like this when Rena was around.

Maybe his Affection for me had risen too much.

Feeling slightly awkward, I stepped back and changed the subject. "About that sorcerer's tomb... Could we go there again?"

There was something I wanted to check.

Chandler exclaimed, "Of course! Right this way."

Tap, tap.

We walked through a semi-circular stone corridor. Maybe because Isaac was gone, the eerie aura that once soaked the walls had noticeably faded, even though the passage was still narrow and dark.

Maybe the barrier also disappeared when the sorcerer was sealed.

I didn't know anything about sorcery, so that was just a guess.

We walked for a long time.

Creak...

Chandler moved a black iron torch stand, revealing a staircase and a huge iron door.

The crows...

The crows pecking at the angel's eyes were associated with Demon King Malphas. When Isaac possessed me and escaped this place, he must have felt quite triumphant, completely unaware of what awaited outside.

Isaac's desperate cries echoed in my memory.

"Joshua! My Joshua! How could this happen? My followers, even their final breaths, were sacrificed to Purson."

If I could gather more information on the conflicts between the Demon Kings, I might be able to exploit those disputes to my advantage.

Even if I repeat things... I can't just recklessly confront Isaac again. I'll need thorough preparation.

He was absolutely not an opponent to be underestimated. If I tried to use him, there was a far higher chance I would end up being the one who got used.

"What are you... thinking about?" Chandler asked.

"Nothing. Let's go," I said.

The door remained open, so I stepped inside. The iron golem I had destroyed still lay there, untouched. The enormous circular chamber was wide enough to hold several hundred people easily, yet it was completely empty.

"You're not going to use the space?" I asked.

"It's written in the contract, isn't it? The entire underground of the inner castle, and everything buried within it, has been transferred to you. How would you like to use it?" Chandler asked back.

"

Hmm...

"

Chandler was right. In truth, I hadn't come here for the sake of nostalgia.

I have the right to all the goods buried here.

It was a part of the contract Isaac had written. There was a high probability that he had hidden something valuable here, like treasure, perhaps. Even if that wasn't the case, it didn't matter. If I could find some artifact to utilize against Isaac, I had to seize it in order to prepare for the second encounter.

Detection

.

[Skill: Detection Lv. 6 activated.]

[Mind's Eye (C+) activated.]

I swept the entire area using my upgraded Detection skill. The skill's advancement allowed me to perceive the terrain, traps, and more.

However, nothing suspicious registered within the sorcerer's tomb.

Nothing?

"What's troubling you?" Chandler questioned.

"Nothing. Let's head out," I replied.

I found nothing. Perhaps that was natural.

If there had been anything he could carry out... he would've taken it back then.

Isaac had successfully possessed me and escaped with empty hands. Even after writing the contract, he hadn't returned to the tomb.

Maybe he planned to come back once he regained his strength.

Or, there was a more likely scenario.

Maybe there's something here he can't retrieve without recovering his power.

I put away the unanswered questions for now and left the tomb.

***

"I'm really sorry, but there's one last thing I'd like to ask of you, if you don't mind," Chandler said apologetically.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Would you... mind taking a look at the weapons we've been working on?"

"If you're willing to show them..."

Why ask permission for something like that?

Despite my doubts, I followed him. Chandler led me to a massive warehouse, guarded by stern-faced soldiers. Of course, Chandler passed through easily.

The massive doors swung open with a creak.

This must be the armory...

A vast, roughly hundred-meter open space stretched out before me.

About four-meter-long throwing spears were lined up in neat rows. Several craftsmen were working on ladders, hammering and tightening fittings here and there. Not all the weapons were complete. The moment I laid eyes on them, I realized why Chandler had brought me here.

[Skill: Engineering Lv. 3 activated.]

[Mechanical Analysis has been automatically activated.]

In an instant, I could see where adjustments could be made for greater penetration or durability.

"Well... what do you think?" Chandler inquired eagerly.

As he seemed to be hoping, I pointed out a few flaws in the weapons.

Once I finished giving functional feedback, I asked about something that had caught my attention.

"These throwing spears are about two meters long. They're too big for anti-personnel use, and they're too small and sharp to use as siege weapons. Why not just use trebuchets instead?"

Chandler quietly muttered, "Well... They're weapons designed to counter the Confederation's pilots."

"Pilots?"

I had definitely heard that word before. The memory was surfacing slowly in my mind, but Chandler explained first.

"The soldiers of the Free Confederation, especially those stationed along the Empire's borders, move using giant iron armors rather than horses. Whether you call it riding or wearing them is a bit ambiguous, size-wise. These weapons are designed to pierce them."

"That makes sense."

"Typical iron golems are just over four meters tall. We designed the spears for maximum penetration."

Once again, it suddenly struck me that this man was also preparing for war on the Empire's side.

"How long will it take before I can check on my weapon?" I asked.

"Ah, apologies. Thank you so much for your advice today. As for whether reforging is possible, it should only take a day to find out," Chandler answered.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

After parting with Chandler, I quietly slipped outside. Something was bothering me.

Are those guys going to really let it go?

I thought about the imperial soldiers who had tried to force me to remove my helmet.

Baron Reinberg, was it?

Although I had driven them off with the Fear skill, I could tell they were still suspicious of me.

I needed to find out what they were up to.