“If you wanna know, then shut up and watch, stupid Dad!” Lyu Leon LEVEL 6 Strength: I0->5 Endurance: I0 Dexterity: I0->7 Agility: I0->15 Magic: I0->14 Hunter: G Resistance: G Magic Defense: I Magic: I Successive Attacks: I Seeing the minor increases on the update sheet, Lyu felt a bit of relief, as if she had finally gone back to being a proper, normal follower. “Lyu, how is your body feeling?” “I am fine, Lady Astrea. There is no disconnect.” Lyu opened and closed her hands a few times and nodded with confidence. Since the early morning when she had first come to the spirit den with Cecille, night had fallen and morning had come again. Having fought for an entire day, Lyu had fully adjusted to her new status and had new hope. The price for that hope was paid by the lesser spirits that had fallen limply to the ground all over the clearing, flickering in exhaustion. The spirit mare Yufie had it worst, and in the end, she simply threw herself to the ground and refused to so much as move. Even after Astrea gave her an elixir, it did not look like she would be summoning more wind anytime soon. “My adjustment is complete…All that is left is Cecille…!” “You go to the Blackliza workshop first, Lyu,” Astrea said seriously. “I’ll go by the familia home and prepare for our journey.” While Lyu had finally finished her preparation, she was still waiting for one more thing. With a quick “Thank you!” she hurried to Zolingam first. “As soon as Lady Astrea is ready, we’ll have to leave or we will be too late for the War Game…! Cecille…!” If Cecille’s work was finished, that would be ideal. But if she still was not done, Lyu would be forced to make the difficult choice of leaving before the weapon could be completed. Trusting in her junior, she raced with a prayer in her heart. It wasn’t long before she stood in front of Blackliza. “Lyu!” “Iselina! Is Cecille…?!” “Not yet! But…” Following her gaze, Lyu saw the upside-down funnel structure. The spirit forge glowed with an emerald light. “…? Where is Cecille? No one is in front—” “She’s inside.” It was Cecille’s father who answered her question as he walked over. Ignoring Lyu’s dubious look, he continued watching the spirit forge with crossed arms. “The spirit forge ain’t like the standard sort of forge you’re thinking of. A blacksmith with a tear goes inside and gets cooked by the spirit magic alongside the weapon they’re smithing.” “What…?!” The spirit forge was itself sort of like a workshop. The smith’s tools and the materials were bathed in spirit magic—boosting the potential of their tools, their materials, and their own Smithing ability. He explained that the spirit magic was equivalent to the extreme heat of a raging fire, so any smith not skilled enough to be granted a spirit’s tear wouldn’t have the strength to bear it. Lyu took a step forward, when Cecille’s father’s voice rang out. “Don’t try to stop her. Cecille’s takin’ on a serious fight here.” She didn’t take another step. Lyu stared at the emerald light coming out of the dangerous forge that was letting off magic steam before stepping back. “And…she’s about done.” The sound of a hammer echoing from inside the forge seemed to be reaching a frenzied peak. Waiting outside, Lyu had no clue whether she was swinging a hammer to make a wooden sword like she would with a metal one. What she could say, though, was that it sounded like the hammer was carefully checking the weapon’s condition, as if performing a final adjustment. It tapped out a delicate, tranquil rhythm. Just like Lyu, she had surely been working without rest since yesterday. The Level 1s Schau and Uranda were in the crowd watching the spirit forge, looking sleepy but still waiting, trusting that Cecille would come out. Iselina was standing stock-still with Cecille’s brothers, sweating and watching with bated breath. “…May I ask a question?” Lyu asked, looking at the gathering of men, all far taller than her, all staring straight ahead. “You clearly have some affection for Cecille. So why did you treat her so harshly?” Cecille’s father was silent for a moment and then suddenly smiled. “We didn’t want her ending up like us,” he answered simply, as if he knew full well that they had been troublesome. “Since you’re the one, let me ask you: Which place’s weapons are the most famous in the mortal realm?” “Orario?” “Guh…! H-hah, well, I can’t deny that. But their weapons never leave the city walls. Their gear is pretty much only for people going into the Dungeon. Nothing more, nothing less.” He groaned a little at that, but as if to counter, he got a bit more loose-lipped. Lyu had no interest in a fight for the top, so she listened without emotion as he declared, “The best-selling weapons are the ones made here in Zolingam.” “…” “The empire, Dizara, even the Kaios Desert…basically, bulk orders are the norm. This city became what it is because every workshop was short on hands when the orders came flowing in, and everyone in the family had to pitch in.” At first he was speaking with pride, but then a self-deprecating smile crept in. “And somewhere along the way…we all began to forget why we made weapons.” Looking closely, Lyu could see there were deep, deep wrinkles carved into his face. “We make weapons for wealth and fame. That’s fine. It’s a perfectly good reason to work. But with mass production becoming the standard, we just can’t picture the face of the person actually using ’em. Who is going to use it? How? Who or what are they hurting, killing…We were raised never bein’ able to imagine that…and we’ll never be able to complete what the smithing gods call a masterpiece.” Lyu felt like she could vaguely understand what he was getting at. Making a standardized weapon. That was the underlying premise of their work orders, and raising the quality of that standardized product was their ultimate challenge. Simply improving the quality of a single sword would not satisfy their customers would not be satisfied, creating a twisted relationship. Making a large number of weapons that were all solid 80s or 90s was the strength of Zolingam, but they could not produce a singular great weapon that surpassed 100 points. “That’s fine for a Zolingam maker. But as a blacksmith…isn’t that a miserable fate?” He felt the discord underlying Zolingam, a city known throughout the world as a sword-smithing city. “We’re Zolingam smiths to the bone. Optimized to raise the baseline weapon quality. That’s what this city does. There’s no breakin’ free from that for me in this life. But it is a certain type of skill. I’ve come to terms with that and made my peace with it. My boys, too.” “…But Cecille is different?” “Yeah. She’s the real deal.” His eyes softened in pride, and also a little envy. “She’s got the most talent. She’s got a good head on those shoulders, and she has a quick wit. When I heard she ground magic stones into a powder and sank that into the branch of a sacred elven tree and then soaked it in holy spring water, there wasn’t nothin’ I could say except that I’ve still got a lot to learn. She’s a monster inventor, even studying with a nasty mage to learn about staffs. And she’s a hard worker who ain’t content to just rely on her natural talent, either. I’m proud of her… I don’t wanna see her married off to anyone either, damn it all…” Lyu felt a little awkward as he slipped into the stereotypically foolish concerns of a doting father, but he quickly pulled himself together and started speaking seriously again. “If she joined our shop and signed on with our patron god, who doesn’t care about anything other than fun, she’d get pulled to our side. We didn’t want that talent wasting away. That’s why we pushed her away from us. Lady Hephaistos woulda been fine, too, but…I wanted her to go to Lady Astrea, someone who had nothing to do with smithing.” “Why didn’t not tell her that?” “Wouldn’t have mattered.” His grimace conveyed bitter experiences. “I was like that when I was a brat, and so were my sons. No matter how many times Dad or Gramps tried to tell me something, I’d shout back that I could do it. They were the same. We all had the determination to change this place from the ground up, but somewhere along the way we got sucked in. There’s no fighting your blood. Cecille would have been no different.” “How can you be so sure?” “Even if she’s got talent, it doesn’t change the fact she’s still mighty green. At the moment, we’re far more skilled than she is. You could feel her immaturity, too, couldn’t you?” “…” The Cecille up to yesterday was undoubtedly immature. She could not deny that. “Her pride would be broken, and she’d end up getting influenced by us. And when a greenhorn gets twisted around, it’s damn hard to straighten that kink out…I didn’t wanna rob her of that talent…was scared to rob her of it.” That was the truth. While he loved her as a father, he had to push her away as a blacksmith. Cecille’s father was an awkward craftsman. “Before you met her, Cecille was naive. She didn’t lose her way, thanks to Lady Astrea, but she was never really pushed to the edge in any real sense. If you don’t experience any failure, you can’t turn it into growth…Ain’t no heft to something made by a smith that’s never tasted blood or tears.” “…And now?” “As you can see, she’s figured out how to put her heart into it.” The hammer sounds stopped, and the spirit forge gate opened. A wave of magic-imbued heat poured out, and everyone covered their faces…a shadow staggered step by step out of the forge. She was sweaty, and her body was covered in light burns. But even so, she smiled as she walked out with a single wooden sword. “This is your doing…Thanks.” Watching his beloved daughter hugged by her friends who rushed over to her, Cecille’s father turned away. His sons did the same to hide the tears in their eyes. “Though it isn’t my place…you really should come clean with her, just once. Repairing blades that have clashed is a test of a smith’s skill too, isn’t it?” After watching the men turn and leave, Lyu returned her gaze to the girls. “—You ain’t wrong.” Lyu thought she might have heard a murmur as she went over to Cecille. “Check it out! It’s finished!” A masterpiece! Holding the weapon in both hands, Cecille presented it to Lyu. It was a dark green wooden sword, longer than Alvs Lumina. The sacred tree branch that made up the blade had taken on a deep green color, perhaps from the effects of the spirit forge, creating a stunningly beautiful effect as if it were studded with emeralds. “The sword and grip were originally two different parts, but I connected them with this star spirit stone that I made by combining the wood you gave me with Yufie’s tear! It is usable as a sword or as a staff! Here, try holding it!” As Cecille said, the large jade crystal in the center of the guard was worthy of special mention. Perhaps because of the fusion of a piece of a sacred tree with crystal that had come from a spirit, the star spirit stone had a color that evoked images of high elf royalty and looked like an extraordinarily large jewel. Following Cecille’s encouragement, she picked up the dark green sword. “It rests perfectly in my palm…” “Of course! I memorized the shape of your grip, after all!” “…But more than anything…even with just this one weapon, I have tremendous magic power.” Holding it up to the sky and examining the blade, Lyu was impressed. Iselina and the others were awestruck by the gleam of the sword that seemed like it could cut the rays of the sun. “Satisfied?” “Yes, this is a magnificent sword.” “Think you can win now?” “I will. Thank you, Cecille.” “My pleasure!” Meeting Lyu’s eyes, Cecille flashed a smile. Five years of dogged perseverance. Having experienced flight and failure, she had finished her journey. With this, she would surely succeed. Like her father, Lyu was also sure of that. “Hey, hey, what’s its name?!” Schau’s eyes were gleaming as if she wanted one for herself. “I’ve already decided the name!” Cecille puffed her chest out in pride. “The stardust sword is Alvs Iustitia!” The girls oohed and aahed. Iustitia was the justice over which Astrea presided, and also a title. Taking a page from the goddess, Cecille had given the blessing of the stars to the fairy’s sword. Lyu liked it, too. “Looks like everything made it in time.” Suddenly, there was tremendous wind that sounded almost like hooves. Looking in the direction of the sound, Lyu saw Astrea racing through the town atop a mare. “Lady Astrea!” “Wait, Yufie?! Why are you out of the forest!” “Nghhh…” “I asked her for her help, Cecille. I am going with Lyu to Orario.” Astrea’s words brought an even larger shock than seeing Yufie in town. Iselina and the others stared in disbelief, too. “Wh-what do you mean, Lady Astrea?!” “It’s a long story, but in order for Lyu to take part in the War Game, I also have to be there, it seems.” Lyu alone remained calm while the younger girls stared in slack-jawed surprise. She had already heard the explanation when she received the letter from Hermes earlier. The War Game would be decided with a grand match of hide-and-seek where patron deities and their followers both participated. There would absolutely be arguments if Lyu tried to participate without her patron goddess present. After Lyu spoke with Astrea about it, their decision was a forced march. Considering Lady Astrea only had the physical abilities of an average person and Lyu had to preserve her strength in order to face Freya Familia in peak condition, they would set out for Orario riding the spirit mare. The luggage that Astrea had packed was already hanging on either side of the saddle. After Lyu expressed her gratitude to Yufie, the spirit neighed, as if to say that Lyu owed her for this. “I-I’m going with you!” “Me too! At least let me carry your luggage!” “I want to go, too! I might hold you back as just Level One, but if I can’t keep up, you can go on without me! I swear I’ll still make it to Orario!” “Disrespectful elf, riding alongside Lady Astrea, I’ll follow you to the ends of the world, to the depths of hell…!” Cecille and Iselina both volunteered, and even Schau and Uranda were saying crazy things, too. Lyu grimaced as she glanced at Astrea. Not wanting to waste any time arguing even, they met with the followers still watching the home, and then immediately set out from Zolingam. “I got Dad and them to watch the house, so don’t worry about the rest!” “Schau, Uranda, you ride with Lady Astrea first. I’ll go on foot for the first half. I can rest my body during the second half of the trip.” “Eh, are you sure?! Yay!” “To be saved by an enemy…but I am happy…” As boisterous as ever, Astrea Familia set out under the eyes of the craftsmen. Carrying the luggage and serving as the goddess’s guards, they ran in formation around the spirit mare, desperately doing their best to keep up with the spirit’s swift legs. Lyu followed at the tail end of the group. “Hah, hah…! Hey, Lyu!” “Don’t talk more than necessary, Cecille!” Cecille smiled as she made a point of running alongside her. “Make a contract with me!” “!” “I don’t know if you’ll come back with Lady Astrea or stay in Orario…but…let me be the one to make your weapons!” The uniform she’d changed back into was already stained with sweat as Lyu looked at her in surprise. “Even if you go far away! I’ll forgive you even if you fool around with your secondary weapons!” “Please don’t put it like that.” Ignoring Lyu’s words, Cecille broke into a grin, and her eyes gleamed beneath her blue hair. “So let me take care of your first choice! Your favorites! Making weapons for the person I like is my justice!” Cecille’s stubborn, cheerful, and forthright smile… I really am weak to that. “Very well,” Lyu smiled. “I’ll entrust my main weapon to you.” “Really? Yay!” Bursting with joy, Cecille picked up her speed. Lyu smiled, watching her move up ahead. I’ve been blessed with good juniors. This trip that had at first felt like a detour had not been a waste. It was another locus. One that had helped Lyu remember many things, and it gave birth to a returning justice. All that remained was the coming battle. “Wait for me, Syr… I’m coming to give you a good slap!” Lyu let out a determined shout aimed at the end of the continent, far to the west, and raced like the wind. Together with the star maidens past and present.
Chapter 28
15 min read