Bang!
“That’s outrageous!”
As soon as I dropped my bombshell, an old man who had openly expressed his discomfort after the Duke’s comments shouted out.
He looked to be in his sixties, but thanks to mana and various magical tools he was wearing, he seemed as lively as ever.
He was probably much older than he appeared.
“How dare you act without decorum in His Majesty’s audience room? What? Now you want another masterpiece?”
“I don’t think I’ve acted without decorum.”
“Ha! Your very presence screams lack of decorum, outsider!”
As he glared intensely, the king displayed his own discomfort.
“What is the meaning of this, Duke Anto?”
“Your Majesty! No matter how much we need the outsider’s help, we have already accepted what we were supposed to receive. Asking for more is ridiculous!”
“We are in a position where we need help.”
“Even if we need it, that doesn’t mean we just hand over everything!”
Some people reacted with disdain to his words, while others seemed to agree.
[Should we kill him, Master?]
[Let’s go crazy nicely, haha!]
[Hahahahahahaha!]
[Crossing the line!]
[Let’s kill him!]
[Behead him, go, go, go!]
[How old is he? Acting crazy at such an important diplomatic meeting!]
[Is that thing… a duke?]
[Who is he pointing at Lily?]
[Let’s kill him, kill him, kill him!]
[This place feels off, let’s wreak havoc!]
[Can’t we just kill them all and take the masterpiece?]
[I feel like “annihilation” is in order, haha!]
And the chat window was definitely uncomfortable.
Dria frowned.
“The empire is approaching. We will surely have to stain our hands with blood again, and peaceful lands will be engulfed in chaos. So why ruin this moment over trivial matters?”
“We are partners, not vassals we must give everything to. Why must we act as if we’ve lost when that’s not the case?”
“Duke Anto.”
“Everyone knows that this outsider named Lily is exceptional. I have no intention of denying that! However…”
He turned his head, looking much angrier than before.
How obnoxious.
“If we hand over the last remaining masterpiece, there won’t be any left in Talikal! They will all fall into the hands of the outsider!”
“What’s the big deal? You’d set the kingdom ablaze over a mere masterpiece?”
“…But!”
“I won’t allow any further comments. Duke Anto. This is a warning regarding you and your duchy.”
“……”
Duke Anto closed his mouth.
Yet his furious glare did not cease.
Dria looked regretful and turned back to me.
“I apologize for the rudeness shown to our guest.”
“Well, it looks like I’ve shown myself. I apologize.”
“That’s strange.”
All eyes turn to me.
“I clearly received the proposal from Bir, a diplomatic figure of Talikal, and came here to directly engage in discussion to assist Talikal.”
As I speak, many people are focused on me.
The nobles maintain a cautious expression at my words.
“Though there were a few somewhat rude individuals, I ignored them. I might be used to such disdain, but I came here to build a good relationship with Talikal.”
This much can be overlooked.
I’m not weak-minded enough to not endure some greed or discomfort; it’s really nothing.
However, if it’s ‘directly’ expressed, that’s a different story.
With each step I take, sharp mana flows around me.
It’s not lethal, but it’s sharp enough to be concerning.
Had I released this mana the moment I walked in, the guardian knights would have drawn their swords immediately.
But right now, there’s no justification or people to stop me.
Above all…
Gulp.
This mana had been directed at me since I showed my hard demeanor.
And I ignored it all.
“I came here to pay a fair price, yet the difficulty of the request compared to the price is high, so I’ve asked for additional compensation.”
“……”
“Did I act in any way that was problematic here?”
The Audience Room grows cold.
Everyone is unable to speak, their eyes darting around.
[Wow]
[Shudder…]
[Lily is scary]
[Gasp]
[Cold Lily]
[Lily is quietly getting angry, and it’s really scary lol]
[Scary]
[Shudder shudder shudder shudder shudder]
[Collective silence;;]
[I say we just kill them and take it]
[Why is everyone acting dumb when I say something right? lol]
[Hahahahahahahahaha]
People seem to misunderstand; I came here from an ‘equal’ standpoint to help Talikal.
While the nobles of the kingdom view me merely as a mercenary or something beyond that, thinking they must show utmost respect when dealing with the king.
“What nonsense.”
I am not a citizen of the kingdom.
Talikal and I are equals.
Thus, the king and I stand on equal ground.
Even so, the reason I quietly endure the previous rudeness and the king’s awkward respect is that I ‘understand’ the uniqueness of the ‘kingdom’ and the position of a king.
I know well what that position entails and how one must live within it.
So.
But if they don’t understand me.
“Well, I don’t really have to understand them either.”
Dria and I exchange glances.
Huff… Dria lets out a deep sigh.
He cautiously steps down from the high throne and meets my gaze.
His head bows slowly as he removes the crown.
“I’m sorry.”
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
“What is this…?”
[?]
[?]
[Whoa]
[???]
[Is the king…?]
A king descending from his throne, removing his crown, and bowing his head.
An absolutely impossible situation.
But Lily, having seen this spectacle countless times, merely looked at the king with indifference.
“Talikal is urgent. The empire is strong, and the masterpieces have been the driving force we can withstand. That driving force exists because of the great blacksmith, Drak.”
But.
“Drak doesn’t lift his hammer even at my command. He is like a guardian deity of Talikal. He only picks up the hammer when the kingdom is in danger.”
Thus, Drak created seven masterpieces.
Protecting Talikal from seven crises.
And surely, in this opportunity, the ‘eighth’ masterpiece will be created.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Once the work is done, I will definitely give you the green hermit.”
But.
“There’s a condition. No, to be precise, it’s something that I wish for.”
“?”
■
The great Drak’s masterpieces.
Seven mythical artifacts created over centuries boast overwhelming power and performance.
‘Mythical artifacts’ might simply be thought of as weapons, but some masterpieces take the form of ‘non-weapons’ like rings or gloves with mystical abilities.
Such great masterpieces are divided among suitable masters in different forms.
This raises a question.
“Why do all masterpieces take different forms?”
One might think it’s just that Drak wanted to create something new each time. But non-weapon masterpieces were not suitable for the users who had to handle and use them.
Such high-specialty weapons would only show their effects if the basic skills were remarkable.
And the masterpieces had to empower those who could protect the kingdom.
“Hmm…”
[The Red Guide reaches out his hand.]
The reason is simple.
[The Green Hermit wants to hide.]
All masterpieces are made ‘to fit’ the user.
When misfortune descends upon the kingdom, Drak ‘appears’ from somewhere and approaches a ‘suitable person’ to prevent the kingdom’s destruction.
That’s also the reason why the masterpieces were always different.
Because of that.
Each “suitable candidate” has different tendencies and abilities.
Just like how Black received the black greatsword ‘Black Destroyer’, resembling a crescent moon, to stop the World Boss, Black Eye.
The appearance, personality, and abilities of a masterpiece are all influenced by the suitable candidates.
I looked ahead, nodding my green-tinted dagger, the Green Hermit.
There stood the Minister of Finance, who looked quite young for his position, alongside Bir, who seemed to be bowing his head as if covered in fur.
They were the ones I met separately after the audience.
I could see my face reflected in the green blade.
“…So, you want me to meet Lord Drak and request the crafting of a masterpiece? Is that what I’m hearing?”
“That’s right. If the Empire truly goes to war, Lord Drak will surely reveal himself before the war begins.”
He will definitely show himself.
No one, other than Drak, who will create the masterpiece, knows who the “suitable candidate” is, but they will certainly appear.
The problem is, I hope the suitable candidate is the capable Lily who came to help the kingdom.
However, there’s also a possibility that it could be a hardworking farmer (48), James Nobody, who is currently farming on this rich land.
This is not just an extreme example but a real case.
The fourth masterpiece. A round sickle glowing with yellow light, the Yellow Raider.
From just the name and appearance, it sounds like a weapon that would harvest souls, but if the owner is a farmer, one would undoubtedly tilt their head.
A farmer harvesting the necks of people instead of rice.
If it weren’t for Drak, such a thing would have never been possible, but the great blacksmith made everything possible.
“If another appears as the suitable candidate, they will become the new axis of power. We cannot look down on the hero who prevented the kingdom’s destruction.”
If anyone should have it, Lily, who originally had the masterpiece, should receive it instead.
…That was the Emperor’s decree, but frankly, it was quite a headache for the Minister of Finance.
She already owned two masterpieces, and now they want to give her another one.
They’re even considering giving her something newly created.
Honestly, it feels blasphemous, but I cannot make sense of the Emperor’s intentions.
Having lost about 90% of the meaning of ‘finance’, the Minister wanted to throw a fit like Duke Anto, but it was the king’s order, so there was no choice.
“There’s nothing to do but comply.”
The green light was held in Lily’s pure white hands.
She smiled beautifully.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
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