Chapter 280

(280)

I returned to the carriage after proving my loyalty to Matheos.

As I leaned back and relaxed, Lady Trentia asked me with a hint of curiosity.

“Your Highness. Can you really afford to be so relaxed?”

“Hm?”

“Sure, it’s the East we’re talking about. It’s Ketusion, the city of Duke Cariousa and the home of the Sharks. It’s almost a month’s journey by wyvern. Isn’t that farther than the lands of Marcus’s instrumentarium?”

I chuckled lightly.

“But who would want to fly in this cold weather and catch a chill?”

Lady Trentia gave me a look as if I were some kind of bug.

“Then buy a heat-preserving magic tool. Or, wait, how does someone who burns and consumes all impurities ever feel the cold?”

“It does make sense.”

“Then, precisely—”

“Now attacking the pirates would be meaningless.”

With a grin filled with hidden meaning, Lady Trentia looked puzzled.

“Isn’t that something that needs to be done whenever possible?”

I shook my head slightly.

“Aren’t farmers most hungry during spring?”

Lady Trentia, being from a rural province, naturally nodded as if she fully understood.

“That’s correct.”

“Pirates are no different. They, too, are the hungriest in spring and thus engage in more aggressive pillaging.”

“I… didn’t know that.”

“Even if we reduce their numbers now, it won’t stop them from coming in spring. But if we reduce them now, they might return even stronger when spring comes because their numbers will be less.”

“Ah.”

“If they endure the shortage, it could lead to internal strife, and with a few defeats, we can fatally wound them.”

I didn’t mention that they were not just pirates but a kind of pioneering army corps.

Neither did I mention that the island was likely full of commoners from the Eastern Continent following their captains, dreaming of a new life.

“So, it’s enough if we just get there before barley harvest when the weather warms up a bit.”

As it was related to war, Lady Trentia’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“I see. That’s something I didn’t know.”

“So don’t complain too much if I’m a bit relaxed. Besides, I’ve been having these inexplicable headaches as of late—”

When I groaned, Lady Trentia cut me off as if telling me to stop exaggerating.

“So, where are we heading now?”

I smiled slyly and replied.

“Steel Street.”

“If my lord needs weapons, the knights’ standard equipment is available for use?”

“I have a good sword. For now, ‘Black Tear’ satisfies me.”

Lady Trentia raised her eyebrows.

“Then why are we going to the blacksmiths?”

I responded in a tone as if initiating a surprise birthday party.

“I’m going to get you another sword crafted, Lady!”

Lady Trentia fell silent, as still as a dead mouse.

“…”

So, isn’t this it?

I chuckled awkwardly.

“Do you not need blood? I was thinking of making you a one-handed sword using the dragon bone I received from Signain.”

Chhak!

Lady Trentia knelt within the carriage.

“My lord!”

Her blood-red eyes burned with joy and excitement.

“This Trentia, overwhelmed by your lordship’s grace, cannot imagine how to repay it!”

“Is it that good?”

In a voice brimming with all sorts of greed, she exclaimed.

“A dragon bone sword is of greater value than a province for a knight to receive!”

It sounded like a voice that would throw me out of the carriage if I were joking.

Fortunately, I had truly carried real dragon bones behind the carriage.

* * *

Above the Street of Learning lies Magic Street, and further north through the North Gate is Steel Street.

It’s the street of blacksmiths who craft weapons for adventurers, mercenaries, soldiers, royal troops, and knights.

Lady Trentia’s Platinum Armor was made here and later inscribed with magical circuits at the Royal Magic Guild to complete it.

The blacksmith guild here holds immense power. The dwarven hybrid artisans working here include many nobility and are talents who even local noble lords do not dare offend recklessly.

I went to a blacksmith who makes swords, handing over a dragon bone longer than my leg.

“This is Lady Trentia, the Platinum Knight. Please craft a one-handed sword for her.”

The middle-aged craftsman was shocked to see the sheen of the black bone, his hawkish nose rising as he leapt in surprise.

“…I didn’t expect to see a dragon bone of this size in my lifetime.”

“Isn’t it more commonly found in powdered form?”

“Yes. The Great Lords who discover the bones of dead dragons sell it bit by bit. This is truly astonishing. In the name of the dwarf god of blacksmiths, Dorr, I will do my very best!”

He led us inside his shop and served us clear tea.

“I am sorry to only offer such a simple thing to such noble guests.”

“Not at all. It’s fine and pleasant.”

He headed to the storage room at the back of the shop and returned with large and small chunks of metal before our tea even cooled.

“My heart races at the prospect of working with such precious material. I shall explain how it will be made.”

Lady Trentia’s eyes sparkled.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re simply carving the dragon bone to form a sword?”

If Dorr were not speaking to a knight, he might have slapped his cheeks for the question.

“—As I mentioned earlier, most dragon bones are circulated in powdered form. Even the standard swords of your knight order likely contain a touch of it.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Dragon bones have metallic components, they shine, are lightweight, and very strong. However, no matter how strong they are, they remain the bones of dead creatures. They cannot compare to magic swords made from silver iron with engraved enchantment strengthening spells.”

Lady Trentia looked curious.

“Then why are dragon bone swords considered so valuable?”

“Not always. They are only valuable for Sword Experts who can channel mana into their weapons, because dragon bones have a far superior mana receptivity than silver.”

Silver served as the material for every magical circuit.

“Are you saying it draws out sword energy well?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

The artisan smiled contentedly.

“Magic swords and otherwise, they all break before mana blades. When mana blades collide, the knight’s strength becomes more important than the sword’s performance. In that situation, the dragon bone truly proves its worth.”

Lady Trentia finally seemed to understand, her expression looking slightly bashful.

“If that’s the case, this sword probably isn’t suited for use in non-mana combat just involving swords smashing against each other?”

“Yes. It’s like using a magic staff to break open a head when you have a war hammer nearby. Sure, you might succeed, but if the staff cracks, it’s a significant loss.”

The artisan began to explain intricately.

“I’ll mix copper, iridium, titanium, chromium, and silver alloy. Copper and iridium, titanium for material stability, and chromium and silver alloy for mana blade stability—”

This was something I didn’t understand much about, neither could Lady Trentia make out half the materials mentioned.

But the excited craftsman went on endlessly.

* * *

“Improve the speed and stability of mana blade discharge by over 35%…”

“Minimize the burden on the internal mana reservoir even if the mana blade breaks…

“Design it like a dagger so it can be quickly drawn, with a groove at the center for better transmission efficiency…”

Lady Trentia whispered.

“Anyway, it’s reassuring that this will be done well.”

I nodded in agreement.

“That’s correct, Lady. The process must be entrusted to someone who’s truly passionate about the materials.”

By the time the pot of tea was completely drained, the craftsman finally stopped talking.

“I will take your measurements, and we can meet again in a month’s time.”

“A month?”

That was far too long.

“Give me a week.”

“Excuse me?”

Dorr’s expression showed he would have slapped me if I weren’t a duke.

“Such… an absurd timeline would only produce inferior results.”

He looked quite troubled.

But that wasn’t my concern.

“Nope. The greatest blacksmith in the empire like you can forge a legendary sword with so little time.”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! The sword I’m currently tasked to make is already this much—!”

Dorr flipped through his reservation list in protest.

I firmly cut him off.

“You will be remembered in history as the blacksmith who crafted a sword for Lady Trentia, the Crimson Knight. Please do your best.”

“Bu-bu-but…”

“If you’re concerned about delays, mention my name if anyone complains.”

Cries of lamentation resounded from Dorr’s workshop for the entire week.

“Here it is, Your Majesty.”

He greeted us, his once chubby cheeks now hollow.

Lady Trentia shone brightly as she drew the sword from its white leather scabbard.

“Beautiful.”

The unique dark luster of the dragon bone, blended with the metallic sheen, exuded a savage yet mysterious allure.

It was akin to the evening glow rippling through water.

It seemed slightly short, but it was the perfect length for quickly drawing and channeling a mana blade.

“What shall we name it?”

Lady Trentia looked up at the sky for a moment before responding.

“The longsword is ‘Fire Cold,’ and this one-handed sword shall be ‘Late Glow.'”

“The sword of the evening glow? Excellent.”

She carried both swords and smiled faintly.

“Even if twilight finds me, I shall serve you, Your Majesty.”

I faced her smile directly.

“I hope you will, Lady.”

Finally, I paid Dorr in full with gold coins and large gems.

“I didn’t expect you to finish it in a week.”

“Excuse me?”

The worn-down appearance amused me as I said,

“No, I assumed you couldn’t do it, hence I demanded a week. If it wasn’t ready today, I might have extended it by three to seven more days. Truly impressive. I acknowledge your skill. Perhaps you’ll craft my sword next time.”

Dorr’s face flushed and then paled repeatedly.

I chuckled and left the workshop, the artisan’s screams growing fainter behind the carriage.

* * *

It was late winter—or more precisely, early spring.

New sprouts emerging on the ground would freeze and die overnight. Meanwhile, riding wyverns that were handed down to each of us at the Wyvern Pit, Lady Trentia and I departed the capital.

“Little sister, may you return safely.”

“Valein Lord. Please protect yourself.”

Our destination was Ketusion, the homeland of the Sharks, the main estate of the Asenorta family in the Eastern Region.

“Let’s go!”

“My Lord! I’m going to win today!”

“Thinking of challenging me in flight?”

Though it was over a month’s journey to Ketusion by wyvern, both Lady Trentia and I were mad about flying.

Until now, we had not been able to freely fly as we wished due to other knights and Sererassie and Matheos, but today we were completely free.

“Ahahahaha!”

“Yeehahahaha!”

A body-dropping vertical dive into the air.

“Do you think you can follow?”

“Bring it on!”

A steep climb toward the sun.

“Let’s go!”

“Haa!”

A 180-degree spin on one foot, keeping our position steady.

“The key is to keep from moving too far behind.”

“Stay floating in place.”

Tucking our wings to accelerate into a rapid spin.

“This is why we ride wyverns!”

“Indeed!”

A spinning rapid spin added to the roll for even greater acceleration.

“Did you secure your baggage?”

“Yes! Did you secure your baggage, My Lord?”

“Of course! Now let’s go!”

Sloping our wyverns to the side for strafing as if shooting arrows or spells toward the ground.

“Let’s have buffalo meat for dinner tonight.”

“My Lord, those aren’t buffaloes—they’re cattle in the pasture.”

“… Perhaps I should ask.”

Strafing for a clear diagonal line of sight toward the target animal.

Racing ahead with a fierce wind at a breath-taking height.

“Truly, it’s making me breathless.”

“Don’t overexert yourself. This flight technique should only be used for evasive maneuvers or rapid assaults.”

Even hiding among clouds and looping above to flank the target from behind.

Lady Trentia and I honed and refined our skills repeatedly with the essence of wyvern combat techniques.

As the joyful day in the skies came to a close, the chaotic night on the ground arrived.

“Hands up! Hand over everything you have!”

“Do you know who our boss is?”

“Hahaha, both of you look pretty handsome. Let’s sell you to some old men who are crazy about young men.”