EP15. Epilogue – Goodbye, old friend
“Now, take it.”
After accepting the sword Taeho gave him, Sean carefully observed the difference in the sword.
“On the outside, it doesn’t look much different from before.”
“I told you. It’s not a new sword, it’s a fix.”
“Are all the blades made of meteorites?”
Taeho shook his head at Sean’s question.
“That can’t be. The meteorite is just a medium to strengthen the memory of the sword. If you replace all the blades with new ones in the first place, wouldn’t it be the same as replacing them instead of fixing them?”
The only noticeable change in the sword, which is almost identical to the previous one, was the guard part above the hilt.
“This is a reflective gem.”
“Even I don’t know exactly what kind of ore it is. The important thing is that the ability he has is enormous. Absorbing mana.”
“Is it absorption, not reflection?”
The golden jewel embedded in the center of the guard looked like nothing more than a simple decoration.
“Yes. It absorbs mana, stores power, and releases it. It won’t be able to return magic with a sword like the golem you said, but it’s not enough to deal with wizards, so it’s overflowing.”
It depends on the original situation, but wizards were never easy opponents. Isn’t it a fact that no one else can tell just by looking at Levi next to him?
Being able to gain an edge against such a wizard is a huge advantage.
“Is there anything else? Like the memory of splitting a meteorite…”
“That’s not for me to explain. It’s something you have to realize yourself as you wield your sword.”
“I understand.”
Taeho threw something at Sean, who couldn’t take his eyes off the sword.
Shawn, who accepted it without hesitation, muttered in puzzlement.
“Is this…?”
“It is a collection of swords. It doesn’t have any special abilities, it’s just strong.”
Shaun put the sword into the sheath he gave him and immediately bowed down to thank him.
“Thank you.”
“Huh. Stop useless greetings. Rather than that, you probably haven’t forgotten what we talked about, right?”
“Yes. I decided to listen to the old man’s request.”
“Yes. I even managed to remember it.”
Taeho immediately pulled out another weapon from behind. It was a well-forged spear.
The sharp and splendid spear was a weapon that could only be found in myths.
“What is it? This window…?”
“It was going to be my last project in my life. If it wasn’t for you.”
You must have said that you would never take equipment requests again when you first met.
The spear he created was so beautiful and seemed to contain powerful energy.
Shaun involuntarily complained a little.
“Does it look much better than the one you made for us?”
“What the f*ck. You may not know about the shield, but at least you should shut up and say thank you.”
Is that so? From the outside, the window looks much better.
Sean didn’t argue further and decided to keep his mouth shut as he said. Anyway, just fixing the sword was like a benefactor to him.
“My request is simple. Just bring this spear to the owner.”
“Who is the owner?”
“Cadeus.”
Sean and Levy were new names, but Elsa expressed surprise when she heard his name.
Levi asked her, impatient with her curiosity about him.
“Do you know who Cadeus is?”
“Simply put, he is one of the most famous adventurers on the continent in recent years.”
“Really? But why don’t we know?”
“Maybe it’s because I’m not from the kingdom.”
Not a kingdom person? Sean, who was quietly listening to Elsa’s words, asked Taeho.
“You are not in another country, are you?”
“He is now in the kingdom. I headed there because the subjugation war was in full swing near Vitalua.”
“Vitalua Ramen…”
Familiar place names. It was a place I remember hearing about recently.
From noble mtl dot com.
Isn’t this the place where the knight came from Elioden and told Levi?
“Why didn’t that Cadeus wait here?”
“At the time, I refused.”
“Did you say no?”
“Yes. I did, but at the end I changed my mind because I thought it would be okay to have a weapon.”
As expected, he was an old man with an eccentric side.
Anyway, I wondered why he would stop making weapons. Are there any problems?
“I felt confident in myself. That he will surely become an outstanding hero.”
Taeho talking like that seemed to be recalling the moment he saw him.
Sean was curious. Indeed, how great of a person Theseus was to the extent that he broke Tae-ho’s stubbornness, not anyone else.
And more curious than that.
How did he see himself in Taeho’s eyes?
Sean wanted to know.
“Then what about us?”
“… You?”
“Yes. Is it because you were convinced that you made weapons for us as well?”
The old man laughed. It was difficult to guess what that smile meant.
After some time passed, Taeho answered the question.
“I have seen many heroes and adventurers. Of course, I can’t foresee the future, but I’m fine with people’s eyes. Are you curious?”
“Yes. Please tell us.”
Taeho laughed at the boy’s bold request and turned his head to look at Elsa.
“You’ll be having fun anyway, so let’s move on.”
“·······.”
Taeho pointed at Levi and said.
“A hero who will save the world, or a witch who will destroy the world.”
“Witch, aren’t you exaggerating?!”
As Sean got angry next to him, Taeho said with a frown.
“Just let it flow. What I wanted to say was that I would become a monster enough to rule the world.”
I didn’t like the word monster either, but Shawn decided not to argue further.
Because he hasn’t heard his story yet.
“And you… I don’t think I’ll leave a name as a hero.”
Immediately, Levy looked at Shawn with a worried expression. Then, glaring at the old man, he retorted boldly.
“Isn’t it?! How strong is our Shawn!”
“Huh. It’s just that the two of them die and can’t live. I’m not trying to say that he lacks talent or anything like that.”
A boy who has always longed for a hero. Levy knew that better than anyone, so she was worried that Sean might not be hurt.
But Shawn just calmly asked the old man a question.
“What do I lack? Please tell us.”
“What is missing? It’s simple. Because you don’t live for yourself.”
“·······.”
Taeho laughed at Sean with a cynical laugh.
“I live for the lover I love. Impressive. It’s a story with romance. But if you live with that mindset, you can never become a hero. Do you think I’m wrong? Then try to answer directly. If your girlfriend and dozens of people you don’t know. If you could only get one or the other, which would you choose?”
Sean was silent. It was so obvious what he would choose if he were to face such a situation.
However, Levy did not quietly comply. She cried.
“····That’s far-fetched! Because if I had to choose between the two, I would have chosen Sean!”
“A cheerful lady. It shouldn’t be counted that way. Because you are capable of saving both.”
“·······.”
Taeho erased the cynical smile from her mouth and gave advice with a serious expression.
“Shaun. If you want to live as a hero, you have enough talent to be a hero. But you can’t be a hero by living for your lover. There may come a day when you have to choose between the two.”
After hearing the old man’s words, Sean said without hesitation.
“If that day comes, I will live for Levy until the end as I am now.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be too bad. There will be heroes in the world even if it is not for you, but there will be only one hero for your girlfriend.”
Elsa, who was quietly watching the conversation beside her, thought to herself.
Why did Taeho ruin the mood at the end of her life by revealing such a sensitive subject?
I’m not sure, but the answer she guessed was this.
It was because it was regrettable. Seeing Sean return after succeeding in her test, Tae-ho was so happy that he burst into laughter.
Perhaps it was because he was a blacksmith who had seen more heroes than anyone else and was delighted with the existence of heroes.
He said that he might have confirmed the boy’s heart as long as he could become a hero.
Elsa carefully guessed.
“Finally, I will give this to you.”
The conversation was about to end, but Taeho handed something to Levi one last time.
The girl accepted the object he gave him with a puzzled expression and asked in a puzzled way.
“What is this?”
“You don’t know when you see it. It is a pendant.”
“····Pretty. Thank you!”
“Because it is very expensive, know not to leave it alone if you lose it.”
“Are you afraid I’m not Sean and I’m going to lose it? hehehe.”
Suddenly, Sean sighed when he heard the rumors, not even behind the scenes.
“Your business is over now, so get out of here! I’m sick of it, so don’t come back!”
“I owe you a lot. I will deliver the spear you asked for to the owner.”
“I hope you have a good rest. Old man.”
“Long live!”
After saying goodbye, Shawn and his party left the forge and started down Calderon.
A new journey towards Vitalua has begun.
***
Finally, the noisy uninvited guests disappeared, and only quiet silence hung over the smithy.
Taeho, who had been staring at the now extinguished bonfire for a long time, opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you going to follow me? Looking at it, it seemed that he liked it quite a bit.”
“Queup.”
“Huh. Never mind an old man like me. You know it anyway.”
The brazier that protected Calderon from the harsh cold was turned off.
That means only one thing. The smithy, which had always been filled with warmth, was approaching cold like a tidal wave.
“Still, I’m glad I did something quite rewarding at the end.”
“Queup.”
“By the way, Bill. I never imagined that I would raise a disciple after I lost contact and started buying something.”
Remembering his old friend, Taeho smiled and said curtly while looking at the fox.
“What is it? Haven’t you gone yet? If you don’t follow quickly, you might miss it.”
“···································.
“Still, are you saying you want to see my end? Tsk. To worry about useless things.”
A chill that seems to freeze everything breaks through the forge.
Through the wide open window, she listens to the sound of snow falling from the sky.
“Yennefera…”
Taeho muttered the name he had heard the other day and smiled as if he was genuinely happy.
“Really. I have no idea what you’re thinking. Not a clue.”
He went through many things over the years. She had a good life.
Therefore, I had no lingering feelings or regrets left.
Just one thing, if there’s something I’m a little disappointed about.
Now the full-scale story will begin, but it’s probably just that he can’t appreciate the interesting story.
“Fable. Watch until you do mine.”
“Queup.”
“It would be a good place next to those children.”
“···································.
“Because I’m leaving. Be well.”
“·······.”
“Goodbye. Old friend.”
Even after the old man left with his last words, the white fox did not leave for a long time and quietly stood by her friend’s side.