Chapter 44: Toward the Match

“Now. I don’t mind forging the Magic Sword, but there’s one problem.”

Right after it was decided that Bianca would have a Magic Sword forged, Balay-san put a stop to it again. Geez, what is it this time? You’re not going to ask for more liquor, are you?

“No. It’s about what to make the Magic Sword out of.” “What? You mean the material for the sword?” “That’s right. If you don’t care about the material, I can make it with iron or steel, but it’s a Magic Sword after all. You want it made of Adamantite, Orichalcum, or Mithril, right?”

No, even if you ask me if I want it… I don’t really know what those are. The game didn’t explain what Jean‘s Magic Sword was made of. It might have been written in a lore book or something, but I don’t remember.

“What is Gloria‘s Magic Sword made of?” “Adamantite. Adamantite is just hard. Makes a durable sword. Orichalcum conducts magic power easily, making for a Magic Sword rich in variety. Mithril tops them all by accumulating and amplifying magic power. If you want the highest grade, Mithril is the only choice.”

Hmm… I’d be anxious if it wasn’t at least Adamantite or better.

“Do you have the materials themselves?” “Asking a Magic Sword smith that is a foolish question. But if you want me to forge with Mithril, I’d like a little bonus…”

Glance. Balay-san looked at the whiskey bottle that was already half empty. See, it IS about giving you more liquor.

“…I will add two more bottles of a different brand of liquor per month. Make the best sword for this girl with Mithril.” “You understand well, young lady! Leave it to me, I’ll forge the best Magic Sword!”

Balay-san gulped down the whiskey and slammed the glass onto the table with a Dan! Hearing that, Jean, who was next to me, also spoke to Balay-san. Jean also cleared the ‘Magic Sword of Trials’ and was supposed to have a Magic Sword forged by Balay-san.

“Then make mine with Mithril too…” “I don’t mind, but are you sure, kid? In your case, your debt will increase by that much, you know? Well, I’ll discount it to an amount you can earn in about ten years if you join the Knight Order.” “Mugugu…!”

In the end, it seems Jean will have to pay out of his own pocket. Isn’t tens of millions in debt tough for a six-year-old? If push comes to shove, he might be able to pay back the debt by selling that Magic Sword, though. Of course, Jean cannot have a sword forged without his parents’ consent. Since it’s not a cash payment (liquor, in my case) like mine, he needs at least a co-signer. There is a possibility Jean could take the Magic Sword and run without paying, after all. If that happens, his father, the Grand Master, would have to pay. Or, make him enter a [Contract] with a [Gift] holder of the God of Contracts, Contract. A [Contract] by [Gift] is absolute. For example, if you make a [Contract] saying ‘If payment is delayed by a year, you lose your right arm’, by the power of God, that becomes reality. Of course, a [Contract] cannot be established unless both parties agree.

“How long will it take? The match is in one month.” “Piece of cake. I’ll start today and make it in two weeks. …By the way, if there’s even more different liquor, one week,”

I silently placed the Junmai Daiginjo sake I took out from my pochette onto the table with a Don!. You drunkard!

“Make it properly, okay? I’ll be troubled if you’re just drinking liquor and not making it!” “Don’t worry. I’ll do the job properly. I’ll abstain from drinking for a week and make it. I’ll drink this as a celebratory toast when the sword is completed.”

Is that true? Well, I have no choice but to believe him. For the time being, since he agreed to forge the sword, we decided to take our leave. Promising to come again in a week, we left Balay-san’s place. On the way back, Grandfather also asked Balay-san to forge a Magic Sword for him. It seems he’s paying out of his own pocket. Unlike Jean, Grandfather can pay properly, though.

◇ ◇ ◇

“It must be nice, only everyone else having fun. You should have invited me too…” “No, Elliott, you had a party hosted by the Imperial Family, right? Even Jean just forcibly tagged along.”

Hearing that we went to get a Magic Sword made, Elliott, who came to our house for some reason, is sulking. Information travels fast from yesterday to today. Did he hear it from Jean? That Jean isn’t accompanying Elliott today. Is he begging his father for permission regarding the Magic Sword? Having a Magic Sword forged by the best Magic Sword smith. That itself might be something to rejoice about, but the price is the price… Normally one would hesitate to pay such money for a child’s weapon.

“Ah, umm, it’s late to ask now, but was it really okay for me to have a Magic Sword…”

Yesterday, after returning home, Bianca asked such a thing. It really is too late now.

“I’m having the Magic Sword made for my personal attendant, so there’s no problem. Of course, even if you break it, rest assured I won’t tell you to pay for it.”

Simply put, this is a necessary expense. If I don’t spend money on the existence of a personal attendant who protects me, I think it can’t be helped if people think I treat life lightly. Besides, from the Ducal House’s side, there is also the intention to add some prestige to the daughter’s personal attendant. My guard Tanya Celesta had a complicated expression, though. I know, once this matter is settled, I’ll have Balay-san make one for Tanya too…

“Since Lord Jean is His Highness the Crown Prince’s personal attendant, why doesn’t Your Highness pay for the Magic Sword just like Lady Sakuraile?” “Eh? No, that is…”

With a smiling face, Estelle makes a harsh proposal to Elliott. Jean is Elliott‘s personal attendant, but he is still in the position of an apprentice. Elliott has other official guard knights properly assigned. If giving Magic Swords to them, His Majesty the King would probably pay from the national treasury. However, paying for Jean is difficult. If he insists, Elliott has to pay out of his own pocket. As expected, even the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to have deep enough pockets to easily pay for a top-class Magic Sword. Well, we are paying with whiskey, so we are obtaining it at an incredibly low price. Fraud? No, it’s matching supply and demand. Balay-san wants rare liquor. We want a Magic Sword made by Balay-san. It’s a win-win transaction for both. …Probably.

“Use your legs more, shake left and right! Don’t let your movements be read!” “Yes!”

Julia‘s voice flies. In the Ducal residence’s training ground, Bianca was swinging her sword while being blown away repeatedly. Bianca, now that she’s getting a Magic Sword made, is receiving even stricter instruction from Julia than before. Even from my perspective, I think it might be overwork, but seeing her working so hard, I can’t easily tell her to stop. Estelle is supporting her by healing with her [Gift], but I don’t want her to push herself too hard… I hear that Gloria is also becoming stronger. Probably the ability of the Magic Sword ‘Discord’. Stealing power from opponents she fights and making it her own. Gloria might think she herself became stronger, but that’s merely the boost effect of the Magic Sword. The mental erosion might be starting soon. According to Balay-san, at first, one gradually becomes restless and easily irritated or angry. Once past that, they apparently become calm instead. However, in states of excitement like combat, all emotions supposedly explode. The Magic Swordsman in the game was like that. A calm knight until drawing the sword, but turning into an uncontrollable Berserker once entering combat. I don’t think Gloria will go that far, though… According to Balay-san, there is something called compatibility with Magic Swords, and there are users who are compatible and incompatible with each sword. Let’s pray Gloria isn’t compatible. In the worst case, if it comes to that situation, I might have to snap ‘Discord’ with the [Holy Sword]. In the state of [Holy Sword Mode], I should be able to cut through ‘Discord’s’ binding curse. To prevent the creation of a slasher murderer ten years later, that Magic Sword must definitely be disposed of. As I secretly solidified such a resolve, Jean arrived with a complicated expression.

“Jean? What is it, that face?” “Elliott was here too? No… just a bit about the Magic Sword with my old man…”

According to Jean‘s story, since then, he told his father, the Knight Order Grand Master, that he would have a Magic Sword forged, that the smith is the legendary Balkblay, and that he wanted him to be a co-signer to pay the price. At first, he apparently suspected it might be an impostor. Well, normally one would think so. But since Grandfather, called the ‘Lion of the Empire’, was also with us, he believed there was no mistake. The problem is the price of the Magic Sword. Even if it’s a Count House, although expensive, it’s not like they don’t have enough money to buy a single Magic Sword. The issue seems to be whether it’s appropriate to give it to the child Jean. But one cannot obtain a sword of the legendary smith Balkblay even if they try. The Grand Master, thinking it a waste to miss this opportunity, reached a conclusion…

“My old man will pay the money. But he says he’ll keep the sword made…” “I see, so that’s how it is…” “Eh, what does that mean?”

Estelle, not understanding well, is blinking her eyes.

“It means the Grand Master will buy the Magic Sword Balay-san forged for the time being. The Grand Master is shouldering Jean‘s debt. Since the Grand Master paid the money, whether to give it to Jean or not is up to the Grand Master.”

If he said ‘I’ll shoulder the debt myself so give it to me now’, the Grand Master wouldn’t become a co-signer. If that happens, he won’t even get the Magic Sword forged. Jean has no choice.

“Isn’t it good enough just to get it forged? Surely Lord Staccato intends to give it as a gift when you enroll in the ‘Academy’ or join the Knight Order?” “How many years away is that… I want it now…”

Jean complains to Elliott. Well, even in the game, you obtained it around that time, so don’t be so depressed. In the game, you shouldered debt, you know? Repaying it for ten years after joining the Knight Order is tough, you know? Since your father is shouldering it for you, you should be happy.