Chapter 32 – Austin (1)

“You will like it. It has been nearly two years since I put this much effort in.”

Rend of the Black Hand.

The blacksmith, counted among the best in the royal capital, handed the finished product to Henry with a face full of pride.

The silver-white blade scattered a cool light every time it moved, and the handle embossed with a luxurious lion pattern was something that would enter the ranks of masterpieces at first glance.

“Thank you. I will use it well.”

“It was an enjoyable work thanks to you. But it’s not as enjoyable as the moment of handing over a splendid item to a fitting customer. I will only accept 1 gold for the cost.”

“…Pardon?”

“Father, 1 gold?”

At the same time, a counter-question burst out.

One was Henry’s, and one was the voice of Rend’s son, Peal.

The reason was simple.

Because it was too cheap.

It was an absurd price for the work fee of Rend, who was referred to as the best blacksmith in the royal capital.

“Your son’s reaction is correct. I also have enough money to give you a reasonable compensation.”

“Exactly, Father. I’m telling you we’ll only end up with a deficit again? The fuel spent on melting that pure steel, the wages of other employees, and the money spent on engraving the handle is a whopping…”

“Peal. Quiet.”

Rend cut off his son’s words and spoke seriously.

“For you to succeed me in the future, you must cultivate an eye for looking at people first. What is the reason the most people visit our smithy?”

“That is, naturally, because Father’s skill is outstanding…”

“Then how do you cultivate your skills as a blacksmith?”

“Through doing many works…”

Peal’s voice sank. Seeing that he trailed off, he seemed to have felt something.

Rend did not bother to say more and looked at Henry again.

“If something like this happens again, visit anytime. I will work for you at the cheapest price, and swiftly. I will be waiting anytime.”

“Thank you. I will pass the word to Instructor Rousseau as well.”

“Thank you.”

Henry accepted Rend’s goodwill.

Since this was, in fact, no different from proposing a transaction.

An opportunity to handle outstanding materials.

To Rend, it was an opportunity more valuable than money to grow on his own.

‘It’s a relief that at least the scabbard is plain.’

Exiting the smithy, Henry examined the new sword.

At first glance, it was an item that anyone would look at involuntarily, but thanks to Henry’s request, the scabbard was nothing but ordinary.

For now, just carrying it on his waist wouldn’t draw attention.

Also, as much as it looked on the outside, this sword was a truly outstanding item.

[Swordsmanship]

* Proficiency: Level 9, 55%

* Grows to Level 10 upon reaching 100% proficiency.

* Additional bonus is granted upon reaching Level 10.

[The quality of the equipped weapon is extremely outstanding!]

* You cannot fully unleash the weapon’s capability.

* When training with this weapon, the rate of increase in weapon proficiency increases greatly.

* When training with this weapon, [Enlightenment] triggers with a very low probability. Upon triggering, weapon proficiency grows by a large margin.

An explanation was added that wasn’t even on Rousseau’s training sword.

As such, it must be proof of the completion of an overwhelming item that was worth the materials.

‘But there are many things more outstanding than this. Not just materials, but finished products too.’

The sponsorship shop.

Numerous items were waiting to be sold there.

Items that could indeed be called the archmage’s gifts.

There were some that could change Henry’s life itself the moment he held them in his hand, and to obtain them?

‘Although a bit embarrassing, I should employ the knowledge I’ve learned.’

[Live Streaming]

[(New Weapon Unboxing) How much is this on earth?]

He had to utilize every single one of these contents by bringing them to life.

***

It was about dusk when Henry returned to the academy.

Rend’s work had finished early, and thanks to that, he had an opportunity to show the viewers the world outside the academy.

‘They seemed subtly interested, didn’t they?’

The viewers showed quite an interest in this broadcast too.

The sight outside the academy seemed to feel unique to them.

Since they were always locked up in the magic tower, it was natural.

‘If this is also a gain, it must be.’

Just because they were mages did not mean they only wanted a knight’s life.

Swinging a sword, building up mana, and competing with someone.

Content like that was also good, but occasionally, showing something minor like today seemed capable of drawing positive responses.

Soon Henry headed to where Rousseau stayed.

However, the chief instructor’s schedule was tight, and he was still in the middle of conducting night classes for the upper classes.

‘I should return for now.’

At any rate, he could converse with Rousseau anytime.

Since if he moderately swung his sword in Rousseau’s training ground, he would come running in a hurry as soon as class ended.

And,

when conducting the broadcast today, Henry was able to hear quite an interesting opinion from the viewers.

[Austin, he definitely has something going on, you know??]

[It’s a cliché, a cliché lol. Once you open it up, he’ll have some background and his skills will be amazing too]

[If you think about it carefully, he has never talked about his own story. I mean, stories other than himself, like surrounding environment.]

[In the first place, meeting him at this stage means he is 100% a character with something lol]

That was definitely a conclusion originating from the mages’ insight.

Austin is hiding something.

No, rather than hiding, it would be more correct to see that those things were of no great meaning to Austin.

‘Regardless of the reason, it isn’t important. I should check it out once.’

***

Austin.

Henry’s roommate was sitting alone in the dormitory after finishing his classes for the day.

‘An outing all of a sudden!’

He was in a state of shock.

Henry Camilton.

Because he had heard news that his roommate, whom he had gotten close to after a very long time, had unexpectedly gone out on an outing.

It was not a period with a special event, and he hadn’t heard news of a visitor arriving either. Naturally, he hadn’t heard anything from Henry himself.

He had gone to find Rousseau, who was practically like a teacher, but what returned was only the answer that he couldn’t tell him.

‘Nothing bad has happened, right?’

Austin was also in a position where he knew Henry’s circumstances roughly.

If he was to empty his spot so suddenly like this, surely some problem had arisen in his family…

Click.

“Huh? Henry?”

“Why are you surprised?”

“No, I thought something had happened… Oh. It wasn’t that. My goodness! You got a sword! Can I take a look?”

Questions such as who permitted it, or how he obtained it were unnecessary.

Since Austin was only interested in the human being named Henry, his friend.

Because of that, he could make such a slightly rude request.

‘He is not a bad guy.’

Henry thought so.

Rather, Austin was close to a good friend, except for being noisy.

“By all means.”

“Thank you. Let’s see… my goodness. Why on earth did you choose this kind of scabbard? Because you didn’t want to stand out?”

“You are reacting that way too.”

“Come to think of it, you’re right. Wow, this is really… outstanding. Honestly, it can’t even compare with the swords issued to trainees. Maybe even the instructors should be included. It’s a truly amazing sword, isn’t it?”

As if looking at something marvelous, Austin was examining Henry’s sword carefully.

Cautiously bringing the blade close to his eyes to inspect it, and holding the handle to move it back and forth slightly.

In the end, holding it with only two fingers to estimate the weight, he nodded his head as if he finally understood.

“Osland Pure Steel. A splendid material. Since it was forged with such a thing, this kind of item had to come out. I guarantee it will be truly useful. You chose a decent blacksmith too? Unexpectedly, you have an eye for people.”

“Hmm.”

Henry only nodded without saying anything either way.

Austin was still examining the sword with serious eyes, and this was exactly the situation Henry had expected.

‘To think he recognized it at a glance.’

Indeed he did not even hide that fact.

There was something going on, and Austin likely thought that fact was of no great importance.

“Austin.”

“Huh?”

“I have a few things I want to ask.”

“Yeah, ask anything. Do we have to walk on eggshells just to ask a question between us?”

“You’re a noble, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Where?”

“The Roderick Ducal House.”

A calm question met with a calm answer.

Henry continued with a smirk.

“You probably aren’t the eldest son.”

“If by any chance you plan to flatter me for being a child of a Ducal House, save it. I have no intention of staying close to my family.”

“No way. I’m just asking out of curiosity. Has everyone been like that until now?”

Austin nodded obediently.

It had always been that way until now.

Someone would ask this kind of question, and after he answered?

Because the relationship between the two would completely change.

From some point, Austin did not mention his family when introducing himself.

He didn’t particularly avoid it if someone asked, but fortunately, thanks to his strange behavior, no one showed interest anyway.

“I just asked. Because you recognized the sword’s material all at once. I wondered if you were some big shot in the business world if you weren’t a noble.”

“Do you have an item you need to get?”

“Not really. I told you, I just asked. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. So my question right now is… just of that level. A curiosity on the level of asking what tonight’s dinner menu is. Got it?”

Austin’s face brightened up.

It was because Henry’s face when saying that was too calm.

A face as if he found it funny to have bought such a misunderstanding.

“That’s a relief.”

“What is?”

“It’s a phrase with a lot of meaning. If you’re curious, I can tell you from one to ten…”

“Uh, I think I’m good. So are you the eldest son?”

“I’m the second. I have one older brother above me, who will probably become the next patriarch. I have no interest in successions and such. I told you back then too, the reason I entered the academy was also because my father forced me…”

“Since you can live freely anyway, graduate from the academy first?”

Austin nodded.

A wandering knight.

Whether his affiliation was a Ducal House or a Marquisate, it was of no great importance to a wandering knight.

Since, in any case, only one person could inherit the family.

That was why Austin’s father, Duke Roderick, didn’t say much either.

“He is someone who worries that brothers might spill blood among themselves. Fortunately, my older brother also knows that I am sincere, and the youngest is still too young. Thanks to that, we found peace in the family.”

“It sounds like you were sacrificed for family peace.”

“No way. It has been my dream since childhood. Roaming the world, and facing new things. How romantic is it?”

“To dismiss it as mere romance…”

“Of course, I must have skill too. Since there will be as many threats as there is enjoyment. But what is certain is that it will be better than living while showing off my power just because I’m a duke. For me, at least.”

He roughly got the picture.

It was quite interesting content, and seeing that the knight of the Roderick family who visited for observation yesterday didn’t even come find him, it must be a hundred percent true.

‘It is content the viewers would like, but it’s a bit much to exploit a friend’s personal history, isn’t it?’

For now, Henry decided to hold back.

Since even if it wasn’t right now, a time would arise to mention it on the broadcast someday.

Since the main point wasn’t this anyway.

“I will move up to Class B in this exam.”

This was precisely the main point Henry had prepared.

The exam that wasn’t far off.

A declaration that he would prove sufficient skill there, and climb onto the proper track as a knight.

“Does it just work out as you wish like that? Or are you steeling your resolve? Like, ‘I must accomplish it’…”

“It works out as I wish.”

“As expected. How did you endure all this time? If I were you, Henry, I couldn’t have endured for such a long time. Even while receiving such treatment.”

“Rather than enduring… anyway, that’s not what’s important. What about you? The dormitory will likely change the moment we move up to Class B. Didn’t you say you met a good friend after a long time?”

Austin’s expression turned strange.

Because Henry’s question certainly had an unexpected feel to it.

That is, if he didn’t know the fact Austin had hidden.

“…Then, shall I move up too?”

Just as he thought Henry had waited with his body curled up for three years, the same went for Austin.

He had no desire to stand out.

Because excessive skill would definitely spawn rumors, and those rumors were bound to be content his older brother wouldn’t like.

“Finding a decent roommate is quite tricky. I have no intention of dealing with other guys acting troublesome.”

“Then what about me?”

“It’s the same as what you feel when looking at me. You have no interest in useless things, right? Simply being annoying and acting troublesome are different.”

BJ Swordmaster