Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Song of Iron (3)

#26

“···Following Numerite, Harmeno’s sap.”

Bilmoris only reacted after a long time.

Fiddling with the bottle containing the sap he let out a deflated laugh.

“Pha, you joke well. The last wild individual revealing itself on the surface was 30 years ago. Numerite is one thing but this is too much.”

“One came out two months ago. It was immediately seized by the imperial family though.”

“Lord Bran. Although I am a blind person living in solitary confinement my ears are not dead. If there was such an extra I would have heard the news no matter what.”

Click. Opening the lid Bilmoris brought his nose to the bottle mouth.

“It would be better not to smell it.”

“Even so my hometown is the Glenmoril Great Forest. If you’re playing this kind of prank thinking I’ve never handled the Three Dragon Trees thenkeuaaat?!”

Bilmoris was astonished.

A reasonable reaction. The smell of aged Harmeno sap is so intense that once smelled it can never be forgotten.

In reality it also contained toxicity.

“Do you believe a bit now?”

“Huff··· huk··· almost fainted··· it’s certain it’s Harmeno.”

Staggering as if about to collapse Bilmoris barely caught his balance and stood.

Harmeno’s toxicity is strong as expected.

To think a person living in an environment harsher than a cactus would become like this just from smelling once.

“Huu··· I won’t ask where you obtained it. Because it absolutely won’t be the genuine article.”

“If it was the genuine article the quality would have been much better. That’s a bit regrettable.”

Bran smacked his lips.

Unlike the young individual of the Bottom Farm, the Harmeno sap sold by the imperial family was all extracted only from mature trees. The efficacy was much superior but for Bran this was the best.

The price of the genuine article was literally astronomical.

“Just being Harmeno is sufficient. It’s been a long time since I became curious about a person’s face. What kind of person are you that··· no, no. Let’s not be curious.”

Bilmoris shook his head.

It seemed he felt the intuition that digging deeper would become dangerous.

“Anyway it seems it will become an excellent catalyst. By any chance do you have a desired type of weapon?”

“I’ll leave that entirely to you. Because I’m the type that believes in experts.”

“Haha, the best attitude a client can have. I understand well.”

Bilmoris smiled. He really looked glad.

Gently stroking the Numerite like a pervert he sharply turned to Kale.

“The companion who came together. You said Kale?”

“Eh. Yes. Why?”

“Will you draw a weapon once and attack me? With the resolve to kill as much as possible. If you have no confidence I’ll go.”

“Eek. Suddenly?!”

Kale was horrified.

At the unexpected harvest Bran whistled.

Bilmoris doing that test was only when making a weapon.

“I-I what should I say··· really I have no talent on this side. For now-”

“Kiyop!”

It was the moment Kale hesitantly drew the dagger.

Picking up the longsword again Bilmoris charged with a bizarre kiai.

“Kyaaak! Save me!”

Kale reflexively took a defensive posture.

Bilmoris’s slash struck the dagger.

Clang! A bright flash rose like a spark.

“My god.”

Bilmoris gasped.

Barely opening his eyes while catching his breath Kale was astonished.

Over the dagger that was creaking while interlocking with the longsword a bright light cluster was wavering.

“Th-this is···?”

Kale was flustered.

It was a phenomenon not experienced until now.

Whether thanks to this light or not the impact transmitted along the wrist was not as large as expected.

Lowering the longsword Bilmoris admired lowly.

“My, such pure Divine Power. There was still something left to be surprised about.”

“Huk. Is there some problem?”

“Not at all. I was just surprised because it’s too special a case. Although still young the amount of Divine Power you possess is not inferior to the holy knights of the Holy See. Martial talent is thin to the point of nonexistent, but I think I can make equipment that brings out Kale’s individuality.”

“M-martial talent nonexistent level··· ahaha···.”

A hollow laugh flowed from Kale’s mouth.

Although he spoke as if resigned it seemed he had been inwardly expecting.

Still don’t be too depressed Kale. Your position is not a dealer from the beginning.

‘It shows the sign of becoming close with Rawiena.’

However the effect of the strengthened blessing was worth noting.

The light of morning that always protects Kale was now automatically applied to weapons as well.

Curious what weapon will bring out the talent.

“Good. I’m gradually getting a sense of what weapon to make for the two of you. However it seems it will take some time.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“That I also don’t know well. Just melting the Numerite takes over four days. Still I’ll try to finish within fifteen days.”

Fifteen days. It overlapped with Uncle Leodorn’s escort period.

It was quite long but still a period that could be endured.

There might be strange variables so he would have to act carefully.

Bran paid the goods collected from Spera’s vault as the payment.

“Is this much okay for the production cost?”

“Ooh, more than sufficient! Thank you for bringing the ultimate material and supporting such a large sum··· I’ll start work right away!”

“Ah, before going may I ask just one thing?”

“Yes? What?”

“Actually I don’t have a weapon to use right away. By any chance among the remaining practice works a few···.”

Bran gestured inside the forge.

Hundreds of weapons and armor presumed to have been discarded because they were unsatisfactory were rolling around.

Bilmoris readily nodded.

“Haha, as much as you want. If you want shall I recommend?”

“This time I’ll just choose myself. And by any chance if money remains can you make one weapon like this? Numerite doesn’t have to go in.”

This time it was not receiving a recommendation but a clear request.

Bran explained in detail the weapon he wanted to Bilmoris.

“Hmm··· of course it’s possible, but it seems unsuitable for Lord Bran to use.”

“Actually not me but a friend will use it.”

“I see. The physique is one thing but the strength is extremely··· extremely strong it seems. For now I understand.”

Bilmoris nodded with a resolute face.

It’s an expression that gives reassurance.

Bran smiled satisfactorily and rummaged the practice works of the Song of Iron.

In fact although called practice works, picking any among these would easily surpass the quality of weapons most blacksmiths claim as masterpieces.

“Ah, this is okay.”

Bran said that and picked up one one-handed sword and one shield.

Although slandered by the pervert faction obsessed with large weapons, sword and shield was one of the historically excellent combinations.

“Bran. Do you know how to use a shield too?”

“What’s a shield. Just block well.”

“Well, if it’s Bran you do everything well. Unlike me who has no martial talent···.”

Kale muttered softly but he ignored it.

Like the longsword the shield would also get a sense if used.

There is nothing bad about knowing how to handle various weapons.

Spear, war hammer, mace swung with one hand.

Besides that Bran who collected equipment that looked okay without hesitation greeted Bilmoris.

“Then we’ll go. We’ll stay at the Golden Anvil Inn so contact when completed.”

“Hahaha, of course. I’ll contact in some way, so please wait with leisure. I’ll start the work of melting the Numerite right now!”

“Wait a minute. That means···”

Even before Bran who felt a chill could say something.

Bilmoris who put the Numerite into the brazier forcefully pulled the large lever that rose at his feet.

Kkirik. Kiriririk. Pushuk!

Along with the sound of the mechanical device moving fire surged from the brazier in the center of the forge.

The second hottest flame in this city, drawn directly from the Dragon Heart Furnace.

Puwaaaaak-!!!

The artificial dragon’s heat wave wrapped the forge.

A hot wind that would blow only in hell covered Bran and Kale.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Hieeeek!”

The sound of the hot wind convecting swallowed the screams.

Everything visible was distorting like a mirage.

Translucent messages rose one after another before the eyes.

『You are confronting high temperature close to the body’s limit! Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The growth speed of resistance to flame damage increases slightly.』

『Heart of Harmeno activates! Recovery ability greatly increases while standing on the ground!』

“This crazy pointed-ear bastard!”

He seemed to know why the eyes went blind.

In the light created by the blazing flame Bilmoris’s laughter was ringing out.

“Aha, uhahahat! Uhahaha!”

“Not sane. Let’s escape Kale.”

Bran who slung Kale over his shoulder rushed out while kicking the forge door.

Compared to that damn place the crater felt like a refrigerator.

Running for a long time and turning back the forge emitting red rays from the windows in time with the Dragon Heart Furnace’s beat came into view.

“···It’ll be okay right?”

Bran muttered.

One of the things realized after falling into this world was that the appearance of characters seen in the game was only an extremely small part of the whole.

****

Although the period of fifteen days floated he had no intention of spending it playing.

Sitting facing Kale on the inn bed Bran talked about future plans.

“Kale. We have to obtain the authority to enter the Steel Tower.”

“Steel Tower? The place the lord lives?”

“Yes. To prevent destruction we have to enter unconditionally. To do that we first have to establish merits for this city.”

As much as the Steel Tower plays the role of the main castle of other territories the security was thorough.

Unless finding a job inside the tower, or thinking of breaking through advanced defense facilities including the Steel Sentinel unit, becoming a person of merit of the city was the fastest choice.

“Merits··· uum, what should we do?”

“Don’t worry about that. I have one I chose. What you need is only courage.”

The somewhat fortunate point was that the lord of Valkeros was a decent person.

Since events of calling people who devoted themselves to the city to the Steel Tower and praising them occurred frequently, it seemed it would not be very difficult.

Since he can also train and earn money in the process of establishing merits it was killing three birds with one stone.

Bran lay down sprawled.

“For now let’s get up as soon as the sun rises and go to the adventurer guild. Ugh sleepy.”

“Th-this is my bed!”

“If you don’t like it you sleep here too.”

“Uuu··· really···.”

After pondering for a moment Kale eventually moved to the bed next to it.

When living the wagon life they had been clinging every day, but the bed felt somehow different.

Thus the 15 days of waiting began.

****

Day 1.

Subjugated the kobold tribe that was tormenting the miners of the Red Mountains.

Monsters like furry bulked-up goblins with dog-like faces that walk on two legs.

“Kigek?!”

Clang! The axe blocked by Bran’s shield fell from the kobold warrior’s hand.

The thing immediately began to reorganize, but Bran did not miss the gap due to the recoil.

Puhak!

The one-handed sword that dug in like a bee sting pierced the furry neck.

“Kweek···!”

“As expected because the head is a dog the thoughts are short.”

Slash! Confirming all the kobolds were dead Bran shook off the blood on the sword.

Kale who had been praying while hiding his body behind a rock sighed in relief.

“Waaa! Really took care of them!”

“Hehehe, I thought they were too young, but it was unnecessary worry.”

Seeing the two safely exit the tunnel the miners cheered.

The furry dwarf foreman handed Bran a pouch containing silver coins while smiling.

“Thank you. Thanks to you guys I can now devote myself to pickaxing.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Bran smiled along. It was a good time for him too.

Along with the growth of stats, he could realize that sword and shield is a combination that little girls use.

.

Day 7.

On the way back after finishing a request he witnessed Ilark from afar.

Boooom!

While taking a night walk with Kale suddenly a roar rang out.

Hurriedly turning his head, Ilark leaping over the city with the full moon at her back was visible.

“Khaha! You guys think you can catch this Ilark?!”

A hearty voice rang out thunderously.

She jumped so high it almost looked like flying in the sky.

In her right hand was the neck of a wolf beastman presumed an assassin, in her left hand was the screaming Leodorn caught.

“Kyaaaak! Save me!”

“It’s about time you get used to it uncle!”

They seemed to have become quite close in the meantime.

The two disappeared below the edge of the city while trailing screams and laughter like a tail.

The exact situation was hard to guess, but both looked healthy so his mind was at ease.

.

Day 11.

Drove out an evil god through the purification prayer.

Like the chapel of the village that served Igra, secret worship was being conducted in the basement of an abandoned building in the Wrought Iron District.

“Morning Goddess. Please drive out the wicked energy.”

Morning light burst out from under the palm of Kale who touched the altar.

Puung!

At the same time as the altar exploded the angry shout of the evil god that dominated the relevant area rang out.

Along with that he subjugated a few undead raised in the relevant facility.

“If dead just sleep as is, why are you causing a scene and acting crazy!”

“Gurup.”

Bran drove down the war hammer he had raised above his head.

Boooom-!

Golden radiance exploded. Limbs torn from the body flew in the sky.

Slowly removing the hammer, the zombie that had turned into ground meat revealed itself.

“I didn’t know it would be this much.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

No zombie or cultist endured twice.

The performance of the blessing strengthened in the cultist village far exceeded his expectations.

『The anger of Munkanto the Cook of Decay covers you!』

『Morning’s Blessing offsets the evil energy.』

『High Mental Power, resistance to dark attribute shakes off the evil god’s anger.』

The evil god expressed anger but this time there was no particular effect either.

Partly because it was a weak god, but also largely thanks to raising dark attribute resistance.

The Pantheon reacted this time too.

『Delpa the Golden Merchant shows slight interest in you.』

『The Morning Goddess Rawiena is satisfied with your service.』

The god Bran was looking for still had not appeared but he did not particularly become impatient.

Because he firmly believed that someday he would look at him.

Thus time flowed.

Bran and Kale solved requests without resting a single day.

It was not always the best choice, but he could be proud that he tried to make the best choice.

And, the evening of the 14th day.

****

Bran and Kale moved their steps to the adventurer guild located in the Steel District.

The place they visited without missing a single day for the past 14 days.

A facility where mercenaries or adventurers not working in the industrial complex come looking for work.

“Keuk··· five more beers here!”

“The city is unusually noisy. White Silver Pine is recruiting mercenaries on a large scale, did something happen?”

“I also want to enter the Steel Tower quickly···.”

Because it operated lodging and a restaurant together the interior was noisy all year round.

A few mercenaries recognized the two and greeted them.

“Bran, Kale. As expected you came today too. Want a drink?”

“I’ll skip today. It’s a day I shouldn’t be tainted by negativity.”

Bran shook his head.

It was hard to say he became famous, but still in the past few days he became acquainted with quite a lot of people.

The two sat facing each other with a small table in the middle and ordered beer.

“Good work for fifteen days. Cheers.”

“Ehehe, cheers.”

Bran and Kale clinked glasses. Both were in a good mood.

It was thanks to receiving a letter from Bilmoris saying the weapon seems to be completed tomorrow so please visit the forge.

A bit clichéd expression, but his chest was pounding like a child the day before a picnic.

“I want to receive it quickly. What will he make it with.”

“It seems it will be some cool weapon. Unlike me Bran has martial talent overflowing.”

“Are you still remembering that? If you keep doing that women will dislike you saying you’re dirty.”

“······That kind of thing is none of my business.”

Gulp. Kale sipped the beer while avoiding his gaze.

The two enjoyed the meal in a somewhat pleasant atmosphere.

It was days that seemed to compress almost three months so there were many topics of conversation.

“Is Grandfather Leodorn still safe?”

“Since Ilark is attached it should be fine. We saw a few days ago too. Running while holding under the arm.”

“It should be resolved well···.”

“Don’t worry. Lady Ilark is the best mercenary in Valkeros no matter what anyone says.”

Bran waved his hand. He was not sincerely worried.

Unless the side trying to assassinate does something quite crazy they cannot pass through Ilark.

The sun set, and it was around the time evening turned to night.

“Found them. Lord Bran and Lord Kale. Right?”

“······!!!”

Suddenly a soft woman’s voice rang out from behind.

Goosebumps swept Bran’s nape. He did not feel the approaching presence at all.

Slowly turning his head, a silver-haired woman standing with her hands behind her back came into view.

“I want to buy a drink, how about it?”

The woman smiled with her eyes.

She was a considerable beauty. Shining hair hung down to the waist.

Under the tight black robe the elegant curves of the body were standing out.

“Hiiik, wh-who?”

Kale froze while putting the beer glass to his lips.

Bran did not answer. Precisely no words came to mind.

Because he had no guess why a woman who should be in the Steel Tower was here.

The woman tilted her head.

“Hello~?”

“···Ah.”

Only then did Bran move his gaze and meet her eyes.

Beautiful eyes. The iris surrounding the black pupil was sparkling like a melted silver candlestick.

Pababap! Translucent messages rose one after another.

『Sharp senses see through the opponent’s identity.』

『The presence of the Otherworld presses the shoulders!』

『Warning! Current Mental Power value is low so you cannot shake off the presence.』

Limbs tingled. The same, but incomparably stronger sense of intimidation as when he faced the Serpent of Dementia in the Bottom Farm was wrapping the body.

Bran’s mouth slowly separated.

“Silien.”

“Waa, do you know me?”

The woman smiled while pressing both hands together as if clasping.

Knowing her name itself was not strange.

Because she was the mage assisting the lord of the Steel Tower, and the chief mage scholar dispatched from the empire.

However, the point that she was one of the black curtains involved in the destruction of Valkeros was something most would not know except Bran.

『The Otherworld presence extinguishes due to the opponent’s control.』

『The manifestation of status abnormalities including decrease in physical abilities is canceled.』

And that she is a member of the organization “Abyss” that worships Outer Gods, which becomes intertwined until the game ends.