“Isn’t that armor you’re wearing still in need of repairs?”
As soon as they exited the Magic Tower, Eliya asked.
She had hastily pulled Judas out of Epona’s room and was now acting as if nothing had happened.
Judas was already used to her mood swings. It was easier to think of her as a cat who had just entered the room.
“Yeah. It’s in my room.”
He had been dragged to the Magic Tower as soon as he returned. There hadn’t been a moment to send it for repairs.
“Let’s go get it.”
“Now?”
“Yep.”
Eliya cut to the chase and grabbed Judas’s hand.
When she closed her eyes and opened them again, they were in Judas’s room. Frequent visits made it unnecessary to calculate the coordinates.
Across from Judas’s bed was a large shelf.
The place to set down the armor.
It was a somewhat rugged gray plate armor. A sun was embossed in the center of the chest.
Every time Judas saw that pattern, he felt oddly uneasy, even though it was his own armor.
“To take it, you need to put it on, are you okay with that?”
The rigid plate armor couldn’t be stuffed away anywhere. The only option was to wear it and move.
It took time, but it was designed so that putting it on and taking it off alone wasn’t a problem.
Eliya nodded.
While waiting, she quietly observed Judas.
The way he put on his armor over his pants and doublet. Thick tendons bulged on the back of his hands whenever he moved.
Eliya shifted her gaze.
The backrest left marks from bolts.
That’s the reason she intended to carry Judas’s armor.
‘… This is going to take a while.’
She reluctantly stepped up.
“I’ll help you.”
“…What?! No, it’s fine. I can put it on by myself.”
Usually, it’s the subordinate’s role to assist in donning armor. Sometimes, companions from the guard would help, but she couldn’t allow her master to do such menial work.
But Eliya’s will was resolute.
“Just stay still.”
“……”
Judas had almost finished putting it on. All she needed to do was buckle or connect the belt.
It wasn’t difficult, even if she had never done it before.
She fastened the belt from behind.
Judas’s broad back filled her view. Even fully covered, he still took up space.
His heavily armored figure was reminiscent of a chariot.
When unarmored, the size was still impressive…
“…It’s done.”
Judas shifted nervously and looked back at Eliya.
In contrast, she calmly gazed up at him. Just like any other day.
“I helped because I thought it would take a long time, so don’t worry about it.”
“…It’s not easy, but I will accept it. But why did you suddenly say to grab the armor?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
Eliya took his hand.
Naturally. Like a habit.
*
Back on the Magic Tower street.
People didn’t pay much attention even if a knight suddenly appeared. It was a place where all kinds of people come and go.
Eliya explained while leading him by the hand.
“I’m going to repair the armor and also enchant it. It seems too weak for now.”
In other words, she intended to transform Judas’s armor into an artifact.
“I could enchant it myself, but it’s not my specialty. I’m going to let an expert handle it.”
“Why all of a sudden…?”
“Since you’re my escort knight, it doesn’t seem right to just have you wear basic armor.”
It was an awkward but understandable explanation. It was also a welcome and appreciative offer.
“Thank you.”
The Magic Tower street wasn’t just filled with wizards. People who needed magical assistance were gathered as well. Merchants, mercenaries, nobles, knights, and so on.
Thus, there were numerous facilities specifically for pure customers.
They entered a quieter building with fewer people.
Judas knew where this place was. It was a shop run by a couple of craftsmen specializing in enchantments and artifact creation.
Moreover, it was one of the priciest places in the area.
As they opened the wooden door, a bell chimed.
An elderly woman with white hair came out. Her face, framed by small glasses, was kindly smiling.
“Welcome…”
She widened her eyes upon seeing Eliya.
“…Lady Eliya?!”
Someone shouted from inside the shop.
“The youngest lady of Bevel has arrived?!”
With a ruckus, someone rushed out.
It was similarly a relaxed-looking old man. He was equally surprised, staring wide-eyed at Eliya.
Judas was taken aback.
‘They’re not usually like this…?’
The first elderly woman welcoming them was Seodora. The old man who rushed out was Smith.
They were a leisurely and carefree elderly couple of craftsmen. This was the first time he’d seen such an intense reaction.
“Oh dear, have you finally taken an interest in our field?”
Eliya replied nonchalantly.
“No. I came to make a request.”
“Oh, come on. With your talent, you could surely make a big mark here…”
“I’ll decline.”
Though the proposal had been made for a few years, Eliya had stubbornly refused. Her enchantment skills were sufficient as they were.
Seodora discovered Judas’s necklace.
“Isn’t that the one you made last time…?”
Eliya quietly stepped in front of her.
“Shouldn’t you take the request first?”
“Oh, uh, right, right…. Come on inside.”
The elderly couple guided them inside.
Judas followed behind Eliya in a daze.
He knew Eliya was talented, but not to this extent.
The shop was spotless, almost a bit hollow. The only displays inside were a few potted plants and some warm-toned paintings.
There didn’t seem to be any magical tools at all.
It made sense, as the couple crafted their products only through commissioned work.
It wouldn’t make sense for them to have any mass-produced items lying around.
This was a place with a tremendously strong sense of craftsmanship and pride.
“What kind of request are you looking to make?”
“I want to enhance my escort knight’s armor.”
“Ah, okay. That’s Judas, right?”
“…Do you know me?”
“I know. You’re so famous these days.”
Judas rubbed his chin, pondering.
Was there a reason for him to be famous?
Was it simply because he was Eliya’s escort knight?
‘Is that enough for it to spread rumors this far…?’
Eliya was equally puzzled, tilting her head.
Why was Judas famous?
Who was interested enough to make him famous?
And why were people curious about him?
Should they just lock him up quickly?
He hadn’t even decided which mountain to dig yet….
“Hey, handsome young man, come here and stand.”
Judas stood in front of Smith.
He seemed familiar enough, measuring Judas’s body with a tape measure.
During that time, Eliya consulted with Seodora.
“What kind of function do you want?”
“I’d like to increase durability and strength.”
Eliya didn’t know much about enchantments.
Creating artifacts for magical purposes from the start was quite different from enchanting things that weren’t magical.
Thus, when she expressed her desired functions, Seodora explained the specific options available.
“The most common method is to create a layer inside the plate metal with the flow of magical power. Think of it like weaving a fabric with magic to insert a protective barrier.”
“What’s a sturdier method?”
“Another way is to infuse magical power directly into the plate to increase its hardness… but if done incorrectly, the magic might break the metal. In that case, repairs would be annoying if it gets damaged too.”
“I’ll go with the first option then. And how about automatically defending against projectiles coming from behind…?”
While they exchanged ideas, Eliya stole glances at Judas periodically.
Judas, while measuring in his armor, was currently in regular clothes above the armor.
Seeing his slightly dazed expression made her want to laugh.
Eliya carefully observed as she measured the neck.
Tape measure. Neck. Neck measurement. Hmmm…
Unbeknownst to Judas, who was trying to calculate the cost they’d be spending here.
Listing the enchantments and their scopes was giving him a rough estimate.
‘How much is she planning to spend…?’
As their discussion was nearing its end, Eliya quietly made a final suggestion.
“And I’d like to participate in the enchantment process.”
“Really?!”
Eliya nodded.
Seodora adjusted her glasses and chuckled heartily.
“It would be our honor if the young lady joined us.”
Though her involvement wouldn’t be active, she would be there to check in periodically.
Normally, that would be out of the question.
How could someone participate in a craftsman’s process for free?
It wouldn’t be allowed even for an immense sum of money.
But this was Eliya.
Anyone involved in magic would want to work alongside her at least once.
The reincarnation of a mythical era.
Conversely, it was an honor for the elderly couple.
“But aren’t you busy?”
“I’ll make time as much as I can.”
Eliya was willing.
She would personally look after her knight’s armor.
The owner couldn’t be absent.
Her true intention was different.
Once the enchantment was completed, she would inscribe a special word within the armor.
There was no special intent behind it.
It was just to leave a mark of ownership, like a slave’s brand. Just like that. Really.
*
“Hoh.”
The emperor, Johan, admired with satisfaction.
The creation before his eyes was exceedingly gratifying.
His history encapsulated.
The early work of a new era forged with black magic and divine power.
“Ku keh keh… hih…”
The ‘human’ before him wept as if laughing.
His teeth were fully exposed.
The corners of his mouth were gently raised.
Yet, from his hollowed eyes, blood tears flowed.
His limbs were bound by dozens of chains, and a gag was placed in his mouth.
Every movement emitted a creaking sound, resonating vacuously through the darkness.
The head of the wizard order, Geist, who had led the experiments alongside him, clapped.
“It’s finally complete, Your Majesty. With this and the other two holy relics, the grand unification plan will progress smoothly.”
“I think that too. But we can’t just reveal it to the public out of the blue.”
“Truly compassionate of you, to be a future god of the new era. Perhaps we could announce it during the founding ceremony?”
“The founding ceremony, you say…?”
“It’s to announce a new world is approaching. We must allow them time to prepare.”
“Then we can use this completion as well.”
“Is that at Judeca?”
“Indeed. As an overwhelming presence.”
“A wise thought indeed.”
In the darkness, the two men shared a cool laugh.
A satisfying laugh that seemed no longer of this world.
Over it echoed the creaking sound.
The grotesque laughter of the test subject, the first and the last.
“We shall begin after the founding ceremony.”
“Right. First…”
The emperor spoke like it was a distant dream, in a solemn voice.
The longing he had prepared for so long.
It was truly a dream.
“Let’s begin with Bevel’s assassination.”
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