Chapter 89 – Burning Craftsmanship
Agnes’s face, red like a ripe tomato from the kiss, is worth seeing.
I looked at her who couldn’t help but smile at her and said.
“What are you so shy about?
Since the three of us spent the night together, Alicia and Agnes have stopped sticking to me and embarrassing me with unnecessary jealousy.
Thanks to that, I no longer have to walk a tightrope using catch techniques such as ‘push’ or ‘pull’.
In a way, isn’t it a little ironic that she can finally enjoy a normal relationship after spending a hotter night than ever before?
“Gee, you’re naughty! That’s when we’re alone, and even though we’ve left work, aren’t we still inside the unit? The one who said let’s separate public and private affairs is the captain…”
The figure of Agnes, who was afraid that the other subordinates would see it, looked around her and bruised me with a stern expression.
There are almost no members of the unit who don’t know that we are dating. Still, is it a bit embarrassing to openly show affection?
I stiffened my face and replied in an exaggerated tone on purpose.
“Yes. You have been very rude, Vice-captain Agnes. I will be extra careful in my actions from now on.”
“Whew… Really, you’ve been getting a lot more playful lately.”
Then, Agnes pursed his lips once and hit my forearm once with her head.
I held her slender shoulders in her arms and laughed lightly. The figure of the little female knight leaning on me as if familiar, and the sweet smell of hair soap.
“Ahaha! I see. After hearing it, it seems like it’s really like that. So, don’t you like it?”
“I don’t like it! Words that don’t make sense. It’s just that I think you’ve changed a lot from when I first met you… Well, of course, in a good way.”
“That’s the same for you. Now that the tiredness has completely gone, you’ve become much prettier than before.”
“Haha! Really… Boo, why are you so embarrassing…!”
The subordinates who stay late for personal training or go out together on the way home from work watch us from a distance and show various reactions.
Some smiled as if they were happy, some looked like they would die of envy, and some even cried.
The atmosphere seems like it’s going to explode with friendly booing or clamor at any moment, but the Knights are a strict vertical class society.
‘If you twist it, you guys will also become knight commanders.’
Those who play hideous love games are, of course, the first and second ranks in the unit, so no one dared to say anything to us.
Dating with the opposite sex isn’t really against the rules. No one can stop us unless we openly engage in acts of disorderly conduct within the unit.
Having a relationship with a subordinate does not mean that he has neglected the management of the unit, so there is nothing particularly wrong with his conscience just because he has this level of leisure.
Rather, thanks to the large-scale unit combat power reinforcement plan that began in earnest recently, positive public opinion and loyalty toward me were at their peak more than ever.
“Captain. What is that you are holding in your hand?”
“Oh, it’s a gift from the Celestial Church. I think it can be used to strengthen weapons.”
To properly carry out assigned responsibilities in public and to spend peaceful and happy days with good people in private.
These days, I feel like I am one step closer to the ideal life I dreamed of before the war.
Every moment feels so precious.
I hope that this peace, which I have cultivated with my own hands, will last as long as possible.
‘Of course, it shouldn’t get too wet in peace and get rusty.’
As I thought so, I glanced at the wooden box containing the devil’s horns in my hand.
“Then, I’ll take you home now, Lady.”
“Puhuh. Yes, Mr. West.”
After that, I went to work with Agnes and had a light joke. It won’t be too late to visit her blacksmith’s next time you take her home.
“Yes. Where can I get Madame Noir’s book? I want to read it too. If it was that unconventional, it would have caused a stir in the empire’s nightlife.”
On the other hand, the topic of today’s conversation was unusually sensitive, if not more sensitive, so I had to sneak a look at Agnes to get the answer I wanted.
The first-class contributor that made the night especially hot was, of course, a faceless writer called ‘Madame Noir’. It’s because I also became interested in his work these days.
“Hmm, that’s… It’s just a light popular novel that women spin around. Isn’t the captain a man among men?
Agnes evading an answer with a troubled expression on her face.
It’s embarrassing because it’s a dirty book.
Certainly, even in a romantic relationship, sharing embarrassing hobbies might be a bit reluctant. Still, I can’t help but wonder.
“Hmm, do you have that prejudice too? I like books more than I thought. I don’t particularly care about genres. My favorite hobby is going for walks, then reading.”
“Really? I didn’t know that…”
It was true.
When you’ve done all the things you need to do and there’s still time. I usually go for a walk or read a book.
Being a knight, if you recklessly wield a sword, it’s easy for you to turn your whole head into muscles, so it’s essential to build up some level of education.
“How could it not be one book?”
“Eh… I can’t introduce you to where to buy it anyway. A more decent book would be suitable for you, Captain.”
However, seeing Agnes, who expresses her refusal to such an extent, makes me even more curious.
Originally, if people tell you not to do it, you want to do it more. How embarrassing is it that you do that?
“Well, if you say so…”
“If you come across that book by chance, you should never read it! You know? Never!”
To be honest, I didn’t think much of it, but Agnes’ reaction makes me more curious.
I can’t stand this. Must find out
If it is ‘Madame Noir’, it is highly likely that it is a female writer, but with this alone, there is an absurd lack of clues.
“Okay. Then go inside carefully.”
“In return, I’ll give you any hug or kiss. Of course, anything more you’d like…”
-Side!
“Haha… So, even if you have a desire, you shouldn’t think of solving it with a book. Oh, okay?”
Although Agnes, who somehow tried to divert my attention until the end, was kind of pitiful and cute.
“Okay, okay.”
I had no intention of giving up like this.
I’ll have to ask Alicia later.
So, after taking Agnes home, I headed to Old Man Eitri’s forge.
* * *
In the evening, the central business district was still crowded with many people without losing its vibrancy.
I knocked on the door of the smithy, being careful not to bump into people with the huge sword I slung on my back, wrapped in cloth.
[Working! Absolutely no visitors!]
—Thump!
“Are you there, sir? I’m here! I’m going in!”
“Where did you come in on your own! Didn’t you even see the word ‘no visitors’?!”
Still, is it because there have been quite large deals recently? Compared to last time, the response is definitely much more generous.
As always, instead of greeting visitors with a glance, they pass by artisans who are only focused on their work and enter the interior.
“It’s not like a guy who’s big and distracted, wears his eyes as a form. Eh…”
“Haha. Nice to meet you too.”
Perhaps he is still full of energy, his booming voice, which is not suitable for his short stature, is still the same.
— Jump!
The bald old man, a dwarf who had just jumped off the workbench in front of the huge central blast furnace, approached me with his hand on his pants.
“Damn monster kid. Why did you come to harass this old man again… Huh?! What is that ridiculous piece of metal on your back?”
“As expected, I thought that the elderly would be interested.”
—Kooung!
I put it down in front of old man Eitri, who showed great interest in the sword behind my back, and proudly untied the cloth.
The enormous weight made the ground shake, albeit weakly, but old man Eitri, who possessed supernatural strength not commensurate with his short stature, took the sword in his hand without difficulty and began to look around.
“Hoh… Who the hell made it? Looking at the work marks, it doesn’t look like it was made by comrades. Even so, this level of perfection. It’s definitely a skill worthy of being called a craftsman.”
“I never thought the elders would rate it so highly. It’s worth choosing this from the relic storage.”
“What is it? Did you just grab it from that crazy treasure trove? Eh, somehow…”
“I got a feeling as soon as I saw it. It’s a good thing.”
It’s the first time I’ve seen old man Eitri, who is extremely picky, praising someone’s skill.
After all, this guy is an unusual sword. I looked at him with a pleased look and carefully swept the sword blade down once.
“But, it seems like I don’t need to do anything special. Can you make me a sheath?
“Of course, you need a sheath, but actually, the main topic is different. Please look at this.”
I pulled out the devil’s horn in front of old man Eitri, who was looking at me suspiciously.
Then, his eyes changed instantly.
“You bastard, this… You’ve brought something that’s quite precious. Then, the purpose is worth knowing. I’ve come up with a good idea, so grab it and come upstairs for a moment.”
“Yes? You mean the old man?”
“Stop shouting and follow me! Hurry up before my thoughts fly!”
However, is the combination of the horn and the greatsword a work of inspiration unique to the artisan?
I never thought that stubborn old man Eitri would invite me to his workbench, which is no different from his sanctuary as a blacksmith.
With great interest, I went up to the inspiration’s workbench in front of the burning furnace.
