[Mek-pendragon] Here it is! Please let me know of any grammar errors and the like!

I apologize for any delay, I was a suffering under heavy loads of paperwork from my job q.q

Chapter 30: Carefree is Life

The moment I opened my eyes to respond to the sunlight bathing my skin, what awaited my view was a scene of carnage.

“Hmm?”

For a moment, I doubted my working eye. But since the girls’ expressions would seem like it could kill, I wholeheartedly accepted that it was the truth.

If I think about what happened last night… or no, earlier this morning, it’s only plausible that they’ll behave this way.

“I think I drank too much alcohol last night…”

““………””

Not even flinching to response after that humorous statement, eh? Meles’ eyes were so focused onto this girl whom I entangled inside my arms. Dammit, how can I explain this situation?

It made me panicked inside my head. And as soon as I displayed my restlessness, someone bursted into laughter like a small imp.

“Mufufufu!! My-mas-ter-is-in-a-pinch!”

The mischievous Meimei jumped around my bed. Her impish grin annoyed the hell out of me, so I flicked her away—so hard that she flew outside this room’s open window.

“………………Aiiiiyeeee!!”

Way to greet her master in the morning.

Since there’s no particular way to explain this other than being honest, I decided to woke the cause of all of this mistrust.

“Mhhmm? Kansouke? I must be dreaming.”

“…………Shi—Oi!”

But right after he opened his eyelids, he reached out to me and started licking my cheek! After that, not even I was spared from Meles’ wrath.

I sighed and went straight to the table. There was a small basin of water there, probably used to wash my sweaty body off when I was unconscious. I stretched out and took this shirt—that I have no recollection of owning—off and dipped it inside that cold water.

“W...Why are you suddenly undressing?”

It seems like my plan worked. I knew Remi would be flustered to see me naked first thing in the morning.

“Ah……It’s refreshing.”

While I ignored her question, I wring out the water and proceeded to wipe my body with that damp cloth.

Aside from us two, I asked everybody else to leave us alone, and surprisingly—after some negotiations—I got Meles to agree. I know she and Roxis had a particular issue with each other, and perhaps it wasn’t the best solution to leave them alone by themselves, that’s why I have that little doll of mine come along with them.

“Remi, I wanted to ask you, have you noticed something different with Meles?”

Remi, who’s leaning her back against the wall, gave me a perplexed stare.

“Something different? Like what?”

“Anything you would deem abnormal. Meles’ had always been unsociable, but she’s beginning to change lately, don’t you think? I guess I have Remi to thank for that?”

“N, no need! I just did what I can…”

Is that so?

“I just love it when Remi stutter~ So cute~”

“D…Don’t be ridiculous! Hmph, you tell every woman you loved them, how am I supposed to believe you?”

Her cheeks turned even redder. As much as she tries to deny it, I knew my words—simple as they are—was able to make her heart skip a beat.

She’s so fun to tease.

When I finished wiping my body, I walked near the window and inhaled the fresh morning breeze. I chuckled and while I did, Remi sat on the window stool beside me, the golden strands of her hair flying away.

“W, what?”

“Nothing…”

Golden hair and emerald eyes—isn’t that a mark of nobility?

“Remi, I have another question… Were you perhaps…part of some noble house?”

It was a ridiculous question to ask, but nevertheless, I did it. I wonder why it never dawned on me until now. Perhaps it was due to the small conversation I had with Gordon last night that I’ve started thinking about nobles.

For a moment, she closed her eyes, and then, in the next instant, I think Remi smiled.

“Surely you jest, Kansouke.”

While pushing her hair that could be easily mistaken as golden threads at the back of her ear, Remi spoke in a soft tone. Something that fixated this single eye on hers.

“Hahaha, I guess I am.”

“……Weirdo.”

I went and laugh it off but, in reality, I knew she was lying. Maybe it was due to my abundant experience, but judging a woman’s expression had always been my specialty. Well, we all have secrets we do want others to know—I am no different in this regard.

At the same time, it made me realize how little I know about her.

Without me realizing, a week had quickly gone by.

Due to some whatnot investigations they have to do, I am prohibited from leaving the town—according to Roxis, who is our current official that supervises Meles’.

So, while we wait for that shady investigation to finish, I have Meles work at a nearby pub.

It was because of the special service I suggested to Ms. Bar Owner. It seems like she’s taken a liking to my sword and has drowned herself in delusions that I am her missing husband…or something like that. Because of that reason, I am acting as if that place is my own—which fortunately hasn’t spark any sort of trouble with Remi or Meles.

So here I am, hammering away, fighting the cold hard steel in front of the burning furnace.

For the past seven days, I worked in silence while I meticulously followed Gordon's guidance. Letting the image rise in my mind and then stopping to wait for inspiration to come. I was so wrapped up in the movements of the fire as if I was watching a dancing dragon wreak havoc using it’s flame breath.

There were times when as if the blade moved through my own flesh, hallucinating, as the hot crimson fire of the forge provides my brain with mirages. My hands are moving without any conscious of choice, only flattening this steel to what I think is real.

For seven continuous days, Gordon and I worked non stop, resting a little, eating only a few bites and resuming our work with perseverance in mind.

By the sunset of the fifth day, the blade was nearing it’s completion.

“Pound it kid!”

“Oh!”

While alternating between my rough strike and his more precise hits, we proceeded to mow down this piece of steel.

The materials that Gordon suggested me to use is “Klirch Iron”, a very basic mineral mined near the mining settlement in this town. There’s no special trait behind them, just your cold hard trustee metal. It’s considered to be durable enough and is generally used by other blacksmith out there.

With the blade’s thickness, you increased the durability, but with it is the cost of sharpness.

For a beginner, what is the perfect blade?

If the blade ended up being too heavy, I’ll be sacrificing efficiency. But if I disregard that, there’s a chance of this sword being brittle. In the end, I went for a combination of both.

But the smithing addiction did not stop there.

Gordon and I hopped onto the next step to create a scabbard and handle for the blade. I carefully measured my sword and made a scabbard out of the oak like tree that Gordon shaved beforehand. The materials used for the chape and locket is called “Scopple”. Although inferior in terms of hardness compare to “Klirch Iron”, it provided us with the flexibility we needed to match the curve end of the sheath.

Continuing on as if we were mad men, I forged a simple cross guard from the leftover materials that we’ve used. The grip was assembled by Gordon. His movements were so gentle you wouldn’t be able to tell that it came from an old man such as himself. It’s as if he was a housewife sewing a piece of cloth using magic.

Yet another two days passed in ignorance, and all the necessary parts had been completed.

I excitedly attached the blade to the handle. Once connected, I lifted the completed sword and weighed it into my hands!

“It is finally done.”

I said so out loud as if finishing a ritual. The sword that I would call my own is finished. Now that the long tension has been broken, I’ve only gone aware that I’m exhausted, shaken, and sick.

“Congratulations!!”

Gordon vigorously shrugged my shoulders as he congratulated me. There was barely any strength left in my knees and I feel like exhaustion would claim me any moment now.

“I did… what I could.”

“This calls for a celebration! You have done remarkably well for such a short amount of time!”

This master of mine could not contain his cry of astonishment while gazing upon my first accomplishment as his blacksmith apprentice.

From his words, I would also be surprised.

Something that would require years of training was done in by a single week. I’m no genius, that I can be sure of.

“I’ll pass on the celebration, but thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Though mine is clearly inferior to the swords displayed on the shop, I still enjoyed his words of praise.

“Go on and rest for the day, you deserve it.”

“Ahh, thank you…”

After leaving me a gentle smile, Gordon resumed his work in the smithy. He has lost a remarkable amount of time for guiding me every step of the way. His works to speak for his skill judging from the many piled up requests on his table.

Adjusting to the vision only eye could bring was really hard. But since Gordon is watching, I was extra careful not to reveal this suffering. Thankfully, he didn’t seem like he was able to notice such differences when we completed my sword.

Tired as I am, I dragged myself out of the smithy. I figured I’d visit the girls who were working in the pub.

I glanced skyward.

There was still no sign of the crescent moon, yet orange sky had already invaded our borders.

Ever since I sealed that contract with Tersa, these balls of light accompanied me wherever I go. From Tersa’s explanation, these balls of lights are spiritual energies—also known as “Mana”. It takes some getting used to, but I can use these energies at will, whenever I desired.

At the expense of extinguishing the mana running in my blood veins, I am able to use “Shade Shift”. A skill that manipulates darkness at will. Because I do not have mana, using Shade Shift actually forces me to use my life force instead. Simply put, one can use magic freely as long as they have mana. But once your mana runs out, it’ll start draining your life force at a certain cost.

You can replenish mana by sleeping or eating, and some other various shenanigans.

Depending on the intensity and power of darkness pulled, Shade Shift could wither a few weeks to a month off my precious lifetime. But now that I obtained the ability to manipulate the mana flowing in the air, it would seem that I’m saved from succumbing eternally if I’m able to properly use the mana around me.

While musing about all that, I had already reached my destination without me knowing.

I made my way inside the pub.

Big boobs, an elf, a mommy elf, a cute demon, a trap, and a… doll?

Yep, that’s the type of waitresses this pub has. And thanks to that, this pub is now packed with customers who heard about the rumors!

I sat on the bar and ordered a drink.

“Some milk please—”

*Ba-Gam!*

The door was suddenly flung open………

“KANSOUKE!! I HEARD YOU’RE USING MY DAUGHTER AS A—”

“Welcome home, Master~”

“Buaaaahh!”

Gordon vomited blood on his nose, sprayed blood out of his ears, and quivered on the floor. I guess the destructive force of his daughter in a maid outfit was too much for him to handle.

Watching this, I sighed like there’s no end.