章節 201: Chapter 360
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"Then you should have said so from the beginning, it's unnecessarily startling."
Murakan let go of the grip on Picon's collar. Picon cleared his throat, looking embarrassed.
[Now that I no longer have the old forge, I can't create the flames necessary to forge Bradamante myself. So, I need the power of the Magic Sword Secret Technique.]
"Quit yapping and get it done quickly. Anyway, it's a lie as long as you just open your mouth. Do you know how strong Ozdock was?"
[I can roughly guess from the core, but...]
Picon looked at the core with greedy eyes.
While the glint in his eyes stemmed from the thought of completing Bradamante, an outsider might think Picon had some corrupt desire.
"Again, I didn't know what would have happened if I had trusted you and sent the kids alone. Ugh, thinking about it makes me annoyed all over again."
[Hahaha. Everyone, follow me. Let's finish the task right away!]
Picon sang a little tune as he descended in the basement.
Murakan watched his back and shook his head in exasperation, while Jin shrugged.
"In his human days, he lacked self-respect to the point that he'd just yap away if anyone visited. He's that type of guy. Frankly, I almost preferred that time; he's more peculiar as a god."
"Well, thanks to Mr. Picon, we started looking for Temar's tomb. He's mischievous, but ultimately a good person."
"Heh, it's not thanks to that baldie we started looking for that tomb. It's thanks to Solderet."
Both of them followed Picon to the basement. There was a secret forge that Jin had built in the basement, much larger in scale than the aboveground house.
Their gazes were drawn to the massive anvil in the center. Bradamante was emitting flashes of light on top of it.
After obtaining it during his cadet days, Bradamante had become nothing less than Jin's alter ego.
'I haven't been able to swing it for months. I'm looking forward to it…'
Picon placed the core on top of Bradamante.
Then, as he had mentioned earlier, as if indicating that he didn't need to use it all, he skillfully carved out about 30% of it with a scalpel. The relatively solid core was cut as smoothly as dough.
"Hey, hey, don't even think about keeping that piece."
[Do you think I'm a thief? I don't have that intention. Also, I still don't have the Dragon. Jin, where are you going to use the remaining piece? Are you planning to use it to restore his heart?]
A demonic creature's inner core acts as a potent elixir for dragons. Especially the inner core of demonic creatures like Ozdock, it wasn't entirely impossible to reverse the damage to a dragon's heart.
However, Murakan chuckled.
"You really don't know much to say something like that. Baldie, a mere inner core like that can't do anything for my heart. If it were that simple to fix a heart, I and the kid would have found demonic creatures with inner cores long ago."
[Then?]
"There's a dragon who needs this besides me. I'm going to feed it to him."
Thunder Dragon Caltor, the Dragon Guardian of Yulian.
Jin intended to use the remaining inner core for him.
Tsk.
Picon clicked his tongue as if disappointed. He had a slight hope that if Jin gave him the remaining core, he could create other weapons.
Of course, Picon's desire was limited to the act of "crafting" as a blacksmith, and he had little interest in personal gain from it.
"In the future, as news of demonic creatures with inner cores reaches me, I'll continue to procure inner cores. Whenever you need it urgently, I'll support you, so don't be too disappointed."
When Jin read his mind and spoke, Picon smiled broadly.
[Really?]
"Yes. Now that I know the inner core is used in the blacksmithing, there's a need to create weapons for my companions and my knights."
[Good, good. I guess becoming a god was a good choice. Well then, let's start working.]
Picon said, hiding behind Jin's back.
[Unleash the blue flames on Bradamante!]
"...Here?"
[What's the problem?]
"There won't be any basement left if I unleash my technique here."
[I'll help with that, so don't worry. Just unleash it as soon as possible. Try to converge it into the blade of Bradamante as much as possible. However, if you feel my power interfering, don't push it away.]
"Understood."
Whoosh-!
As he drew in his power, flames surged. Simultaneously, flames colored Jin's pupils and mana and aura flowed through the runic markings engraved on his body.
The energy of a colossal flame, to the point that even Murakan flinched, instantly filled the basement.
No matter how skilled Jin was, he couldn't entirely concentrate such an immense flame onto the small object that was Bradamante.
'With a slight misstep, not only this basement but the surrounding area could also catch fire.'
In a moment of unease, Jin thought so.
Phewww-!
Amidst the blue flames, Picon conjured another "fire."
In the blacksmithing, not only iron and steel were necessary components. Fire was also an essential element, inseparable from the blacksmithing. Thus, the God of Blacksmiths possessed the ability to manipulate flames.
Picon's fire blended into the blue flames, helping Jin guide the flames towards Bradamante more smoothly.
[Hmm, it's still not enough!]
As Picon spoke, a blue flame emerged among the red flames. As Tess materialized, adding her breath, Picon burst into satisfied laughter.
[Yeah, this is it!]
For a considerable time, Jin poured flames until both mana and aura were nearly exhausted.
Jin had already put down his sword and was catching his breath, but the spiraling flames were still directed towards Bradamante. Thanks to the molten inner core, Bradamante was glowing golden.
[Good work. Rest a little, and I'll finish it soon.]
Zing! Suddenly, a dimensional portal opened in front of Picon.
What emerged from it was a hammer much larger than the average weapon.
Picon lifted the massive hammer and began hammering it vigorously.
Clang, crash! The sound of the colossal hammer striking Bradamante resounded and echoed.
Suddenly, Jin felt his strength drain from his body, and fell asleep.
***
September 4th, 1799.
A whole day had passed since the forging began.
"Are you done? It took you the whole day. You said it would take a bit more, and it's another lie, but well... You've done a good job."
Murakan spoke in his usual gruff manner, yet he added the words "well done" almost too softly to hear. Picon's face, who had completed the work, twitched.
Given that he had swung the massive hammer tirelessly without a single moment's rest, it was only natural.
However, despite his worn appearance, Picon's eyes were glistening with a sense of accomplishment.
"Kid, seems like you're quite tired, huh? Falling asleep so suddenly. Was the fight with Ozdock tougher than I thought?"
Jin shook his head.
"I don't think that's it, not sure. Even when I unleashed the flames, I wasn't this tired."
"Maybe you should take some medicine."
Though Jin had suddenly fallen asleep, for now, he wanted to touch the completed Bradamante.
Picon's hand, which offered Bradamante to Jin, trembled noticeably.
[Hoho, it's the finest sword after Barisada....]
As Jin grasped the sword, he could still feel a residual warmth.
And even before he swung it, he could sense the difference. It had become something far beyond what he had used before.
[What do you think?]
"I don't know that swords can change like this."
[The activation phrase is "Open Armor." I've matched the activation phrase with the Multa Rune you possess.]
Open Armor.
Just like with the Multa Rune, as soon as he voiced the activation phrase inwardly, armor immediately formed. The shadow force emitted from Bradamante enveloped his entire body.
Hooong...!
In less than a second, armor formed over his body. It had a sleek design overall, but instead of shining like steel armor, it shimmered with the unique nature of shadow force.
In the armor Bradamante formed, there weren't any seams or gaps.
Despite this, there was no hindrance in moving joints.
Jin couldn't even feel its weight; the armor was a completely flawless, lustrous black. It exuded a presence that could undoubtedly be called the masterpiece made by God of Blacksmiths.
And the cape fluttering grandly was quite impressive.
[I added the cape in consideration of your dignity in the future. Of course, it's not without function... It specializes in repelling magic. Above all, the cape can be detached, making it very useful in situations where you need to protect others. Do you like it?]
"Yes, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Picon."
[Haha, seeing you make such an expression is quite rare. If you also check the offensive capabilities, your mouth might just tear apart.]
As he said, as soon as he infused it with shadow force, Jin raised the corners of his mouth.
'Different...!'
When he infused shadow force into Bradamante compared to before, Jin felt a vastly different sensation. Merely infusing shadow force, it felt like a surge of energy as intense as when he used a sword technique.
[Originally, I couldn't have made the offensive side any better, but your Phoenix. Thanks to Tess's flames, it unknowingly gained a new power. They call it 'Heavy Pressure,' probably, right?]
Amidst the darkened blade, a faint blue aura was circulating.
It was the aura of blue flames. This power contained the essence of the heavy pressure, a result of Tess infusing a portion of the power of Ruler of Flame World permanently into the sword while forging it.
'Ah, so that's why I fell asleep.'
Following the battle with Ozdock and unleashing the flames, it was somewhat strenuous for Jin, of course.
His sudden sleepiness was due to Tess using Jin's mana to interfere with this world to its limits.
It was for the purpose of infusing the Heavy pressure into the sword that his contractor would wield.
Tess hoped that Jin could use this ability, regardless of the situation. Even when his mana was depleted, or perhaps, he couldn't summon Tess for some reason, he still could use the Heavy pressure.
Even though Tess had tremendous authority as a ruler of Flame World. A common blacksmith couldn't do so when creating ordinary weapons.
It was only possible because a God of blacksmiths like Picon was forging the sword, Bradamante.
However, it wasn't without limitations.
'A dimensional portal leading to the Flame World won't open...?'
He had attempted to summon Tess to convey his gratitude, but even after completing the summoning spell, a dimensional portal wouldn't open. Only the blue flames, used to open dimensional portals in the air, flickered.
Instead, could it be due to the power of the blue flames imbued in the sword?
Through Bradamante, Jin could sense Tess's 'will.'
To manifest again in the human world, Tess needed time to recover.
章節 202: Chapter 361
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It has been ten days since obtaining the new Bradamante.
He hasn't had a chance to properly use the Bradamante yet. As a knight, he wanted to test the enhanced features of his sword as soon as possible, but there was another issue that was bothering him.
'The Great Plain of Anz, where the first tomb of Temar was located. And the Schutzeron Kingdom where Clamshell and Mr. Olmango have been to…'
[T/L: Clamshell contractor of Olmango.]
Ever since Kinzelo came and informed him that "other factions are also searching for Temar's tomb,"
Jin had been thinking about it all along, and before going to capture Ozdock, he asked Tikan's comrades to revisit the tombs they had been to before.
And today, Kashmir brought the news.
(People suspected to be associated with Zipfel and Vermont have been seen near the Great Plain of Anz and the beaches near the Schutzeron Kingdom.)
Jin learned about the existence of Temar's tombs in those regions through the instructions left by Solderet as his contractor.
In other words, unless you're a contractor, it's practically impossible to track the tombs.
'They must have gone to the Great Plain of Anz and Schutzeron Beach because of my actions.'
Even after becoming a flagbearer, Jin has always moved in disguise when dealing with matters related to Temar or other personal matters.
When he went to the Great Plain of Anz, he deliberately went through the Hola Mountains to create confusion in case anyone was tracking (at that time, only Joshua was conscious of it), and when he went to Schutzeron Beach, he pretended to be on vacation for a few days.
The third was located in the hiding place of the Felinoids tribe, and it was impossible to enter without their guidance due to its unique characteristic. Nonetheless, the Spectre Corps had tracked Jin and found him.
'My routes are being exposed.'
Jin wasn't directly followed by a pursuer.
If he had, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed. Unless it was someone like Yona or Nameless King.
'Margiella did mention that my movements were exposed to the Vermont Imperial Family. They probably tracked and deduced several important areas from the aliases I used and the revealed movements. That's why they sent people to the Great Plain of Anz and Schutzeron Beach.'
Of course, just because Zipfel and Vermont sent people to the Great Plain of Anz and Schutzeron Beach didn't mean they immediately uncovered meaningful information.
The investigations in those places were already completed, and Jin had taken the recording devices.
However, the fact that "he is being followed" was important in itself.
He had thought that someday it would come to this. Major factions aren't fools.
It was just a bit disappointing that it started to be exposed more quickly than expected.
Being the "12th Flagbearer of Runcandel" was a position where he couldn't carry out covert actions. Not only the Garden of the Sword, but also enemies were naturally eager to scrutinize every move of Jin.
Moreover, the enemies are also searching for Temar's tombs like Jin.
Discovering three tombs alone without any fatal issues so far was nothing short of a miracle.
'It's partly because I did well, but eventually, there will be a limit. And I was lucky while encountering the Spectre corps in the third tomb; it could have been a significant setback.'
Without the sudden intervention of Kinzelo and the help of Diphus and Mary, Jin could have incurred considerable losses.
'I need more allies.'
Not just Jin alone, even Jin and Tikan's companions together couldn't stand against Vermont and Zipfel.
Even Runcandel was filled with his enemies, and Kinzelo would eventually participate in the "tomb search competition."
While pondering, someone tapped Jin's shoulder.
"Hey, youngest!"
It was Mary.
"Elder sister."
"What are you thinking so deeply about? Ah, are you thinking about when you'll have a rematch with me?"
Mary sat down beside Jin.
Jin looked at her, slightly flustered.
'If elder sister Mary is a true ally, she could really be dependable.'
Mary already considered Jin as one of her people.
Jin also felt a sense of human fondness and a sentiment akin to sibling affection towards her.
However, Jin had not informed her about the existence of Vin Branche and Picon Minche.
It was because Jin judged that as the 7th Flagbearer, she would most likely use them as the blacksmith of the clan.
But there was a separate reason why Jin couldn't fully trust her.
'As long as my second eldest brother exists, elder sister Mary cannot be entirely on my side.'
Diphus Runcandel, the 4th Flagbearer of the clan.
To make Mary an ally, Diphus had to be brought on board.
But of course, not just Diphus, even Mary had not given up the patriarchy.
'Me, Second Eldest Brother Diphus, elder sister Mary, Joshua. There are four of us who haven't definitively given up on the patriarch's seat.'
And then there was one person whose intentions were entirely uncertain, Luntia Runcandel.
If she too had aimed for the patriarchy, there would be a total of five people competing.
Therefore, trying to approach Diphus to resolve the immediate problem was a reckless gamble.
Trying to win Mary by recruiting Diphus could easily end up with just providing information and being stabbed in the back.
'Trying to recruit Diphus and Mary right away might be a stretch. But it is possible to use them.'
Diphus and Mary always prioritize choices for the clan as flagbearers, no matter the issue.
Jin smiled inwardly, suddenly reminded of that proposition.
"A rematch, you say? It might be better to conclude this match with your victory, elder sister."
"Huh? Why would that be? Since uncle Tuben barged in, it's only fair to declare it invalid and have a rematch!"
"The match had already been decided even before Sir Tuben came. Your big move caused Ozdock to transform."
"No, do you really think so?"
"Yes."
Of course, Mary knew this.
So she had been thinking about fighting again, but when Jin admitted defeat so easily, it was an entirely unexpected turn of events.
'But this can't be, right? I would have to wait another three months for a rematch with the youngest!'
Thinking like that, Mary let out a groaning sound.
She knew that the youngest was just as fiercely competitive as she was, so she had anticipated him gladly accepting a rematch.
"I don't think that way. Let's fight again."
"Don't be so stubborn with someone who's admitted defeat."
"Then I will use the command of the winner. My command is a rematch. No problem with that, right?"
"...Did you not bother reading the contract I sent you when we first agreed to the match?"
-In each fight, victory or defeat is based on knocking someone out. The first one to fall is the loser, and the loser must carry out one command from the winner. Of course, we'll make sure there are no unfortunate events, and we'll write the contract accordingly.
-That's appealing. The contract is a bit burdensome, though.
A conversation they had during their first battle. At that time, Jin had actually created a contract and obtained Mary's signature.
Recalling that fact, Mary tilted her head.
"Um... I think I did read it."
"The contract includes clauses about the limits of the winner's command. It states that you cannot demand suicide, expulsion from the clan, property confiscation, etc., from the loser. And it also mentions that you cannot command a rematch."
"Fine with suicide and expulsion from the family, I guess. But why the rematch!?"
"...Do you really think I need to explain that?"
"Then let's say I accept my victory. Let's nullify the whole battle that used that demonic creature and talk about a rematch from the beginning."
"I think the winner had been decided from the moment you mentioned the right of command, elder sister."
Mary had nothing more to say.
"You sly little fox!"
"A flattering compliment."
"Ugh, fine. Okay. You're good. I'll accept that I won. So, I'll really use my command. Hand over that cat."
"If you're talking about Butterfly Runcandel, you can take him as much as you want."
"Butterfly, no. Not Lord Murakan. I mean Shuri, your ruby cat."
"If you read the contract, there's a clause that says the winner cannot give a command that the opponent cannot fulfill. Shuri is already contracted with me, and I can't release it."
"This, this is just unfair."
"Elder sister, please give a more realistic command. It's not that difficult, is it?"
Mary almost grabbed Jin's head in frustration.
But it wasn't Jin's fault. She was the fool for not properly reading the contract... and she had been trying to take advantage of the youngest once again. So, she really didn't have a right to feel aggrieved. She couldn't help the anger welling up, though.
Jin glanced at Mary, who was sulking.
"For example... you could command me to get you some delicious liquor."
"I don't need that kind of thing!"
"Or maybe ask for a few limited edition magazines that Murakan has?"
"The last time I checked, I had an even more amazing collection... ugh, no. Wait, let me see that. Who's the fool here?"
"If you don't like that, you could ask about the information Kinzelo brought me this time. How many practical commands like these do you have?"
Mary's pupils suddenly widened.
Ah, why did I forget about that? Her expression seemed to say. When Kinzelo visited the clan, it was herself who had prevented Gilly from making a mistake.
'It's a bit frustrating to be played by the youngest... Well, it's not bad to know. Diphus Oraboni would also be curious about what was discussed between Mother, Jin, and Kinzelo at that time.'
Since Kinzelo's visit, Rosa had yet to reveal any information about it to the flagbearers.
"Fine, then. What information did Kinzelo give you back then?"
"They told me that various factions, including Zipfel and Vermont, are tracking the legacy of the First Patriarch."
"What? The legacy of the First Patriarch?"
"It is about Temar Runcandel's tomb."
"...The First Patriarch's tomb, what about it?"
"In the tomb, there are the powers and long-held secrets of ancient Runcandel. I was searching for the tomb independently of the clan, and Kinzelo noticed that."
Mary's eyes widened.
"You were searching for the First Patriarch's tomb independently of the clan? Are you saying that Mother knew about this and stayed silent?"
Mary's sudden anger wasn't directed at Jin.
Rosa Runcandel.
Her anger stemmed from the fact that her own mother hadn't disclosed such a crucial matter to the flagbearers until now.
'Surely you didn't expect me to reveal the truth about Temar's tomb to the other flagbearers, Mother.'
Jin nodded, hiding his smile.
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