Chapter 68

Covered in ash, I finished forging a sword. Recently, my skills have been in good form, and I’m in high spirits. At times like this, most of the time... something gets in the way.

“Sorry for the late visit, I’m coming in,”

There it is.

He’s already used to it, and the prince strides into the room as if it were his own.

“What’s with that sour face? You can go home if you want. If that’s what you want, I’ll send you home. Is that okay?”

This is so troublesome, abnormally troublesome.

I wish Iris would hate me.

Of course, I can’t say that out loud, so I just shout it in my head.

“Well, if you put it that way, I can’t turn you away. So, what do you need?”

“Today, I brought something good.”

Something good?

“You look so happy. I’d like to compare that with the sour face you had a moment ago.”

“What is it?”

“People who excessively desire things usually have some fear deep down. You must be hiding something bad, right?”

S, sharp. He’s a dud when it comes to romance, though.

“No way. Prince, you’re so handsome! The handsomest in the Kingdom of Kudan!!”

“What’s with that obvious flattery? If you’ve done something bad, you should say it now. It gets harder to deal with later. Well, let’s get back to the topic of the gift.”

“Right. Is it the black box in your right hand?”

The square box, covered in leather, held in one of the prince’s hands.

It must contain something good. I can smell it. My nose is telling me.

“Right. Since you’ve been complaining about the reward, I specially procured this. Only a select few among the nobility and royalty can enjoy this—

What? Why that obvious sour face?”

The prince seems to have gotten better at reading my expressions recently.

In fact, I was disappointed.

Food.

The reward from the royal family is food.

I’m not a kid!

It’s over once you eat it!

There must have been more options in the royal castle. Pots! Pots would be ideal. Paintings would be even better.

Sigh, it seems the young prince doesn’t understand these things.

“You don’t get it. You yourself said before that a reward should have value in the long run.”

“Huh? You remember that? Then why food?”

“Not just any food. This is amazing. Just wait, I’ll show you.”

The prince carefully opened the black box with both hands.

Inside, ugh, it stinks!!

It smells, it’s incredibly smelly.

“What do you think? Isn’t it amazing?”

“It’s incredibly smelly!”

Inside the box was a brown, round ball.

It was crusty, full of wrinkles, and gave off a strong smell like rotten fish.

Actually, this...

“Prince, since it’s just the two of us, I’ll be blunt...”

“Hm?”

“Isn’t this... poop?”

“It’s not poop!”

“No, it is! From the smell to the shape, what are you trying to hide by putting it in a fancy box?! Poop is poop.”

“Hey, that’s rude. Want to take it home? You can, you know.”

That’s not fair. That’s not fair at all!

I have no choice but to ask for a detailed explanation.

“Then what is it?”

“A mummy.”

“A mummy?”

“Right. And not just any mummy, it’s the mummy of an ancient dragon’s eyeball. If you boil it and drink it, you’ll get really high.”

“Really high? That sounds really dangerous!?”

Like a white powder? I really don’t want to deal with this.

“To be honest, I don’t fully understand it myself. But it’s definitely valuable. It was hard to get, and its value won’t decrease. It’s a mummy, so it won’t rot any further. It’s already rotten.”

“Hmm, I’ll take it to give to my father.”

“Hey, that’s a really valuable thing. Well, what you do with it is up to you.”

I don’t want to keep such a dirty thing.

I’ll get my father high. This kind of thing is best given to him.

If I tell him it’s from the prince, he’ll surely appreciate it and eat it right away.

If he doesn’t get sick, it’ll be a good deal.

“Actually, I have other business today.”

“What is it? Debt? It’s fine.”

“No! It’s something else. Ah, what was it? I forgot. It’s your fault.”

“It’s debt. No need to be embarrassed. What is it? Are you gambling? You’re a troubled person.”

“No! Ah, I remember. You have a lot of swords stored, right? The ones you made.”

“Yes, in that room.”

“I know. I want to see them.”

I thought he had some other business, but he wants to see my swords, which he’s seen many times before.

What’s the sudden whim? Is he going to buy them? I’d really like that.

There was a rustling sound from the next room for a while. What is the prince doing? Normally, he’s probably just looking through the pile of swords.

But it’s the prince. I should also consider the possibility that he’s up to no good.

The sound of the door opening, and the prince returned.

He was holding three swords in both hands.

“I’ve been thinking for a while now, your swords, despite the twisted nature of their maker, are... well, it’s hard to put into words... beautiful.”

“Huh?”

What did he just say? Beautiful?

“And they’re also functional. Light, sturdy, and well-balanced. Yes, you really have good skills.”

What? Suddenly. Even if you praise me so much, I’m not going to like you or anything!

Bad, I’m acting like a girl.

I shouldn’t be flustered just because the prince praised me!

This makes me look like an easy girl! Definitely bad, my heart is completely in girl mode.

“Don’t just say things you don’t understand.”

I said it in a gruff voice, adding a meaningless ending.

Can’t I at least act more composed when I’m flustered?

“Sorry, I should be more careful with the sensitivities of craftsmen.”

What’s with today’s prince?!

He brings a gift, gives compliments, and is unusually honest.

Is this a death flag? Am I going to die? After this? Please be careful!

“I’m taking these three.”

He’s taking them. Shouldn’t he just name a price or something?

Well, it’s fine. They’re just in storage anyway.

“It’s fine, but where are you taking three swords?”

“To give to someone. Someone who has helped me a lot.”

“To someone who has helped you.”

“That person doesn’t like expensive things. But I don’t want to give something common or strange that would damage their dignity. I thought about it and remembered your swords. They were beautiful. I came today and found that they were all good. I hadn’t really paid attention before, but your skills seem to be genuine. This way, I won’t be embarrassed giving them, and they’re not common.”

The prince is probably going to die after this. The death flag is up. He’s too good.

And after he dies, I’ll regret it and cry. Definitely, it’s a sure thing.

“Is the person you’re giving them to important to you?”

“Yes, we met when I was young and sneaked out of the castle. They freed me when I was sick and taught me many things after that. I owe a lot to them. They’re a truly wonderful person.”

“That sounds like a very important person.”

“Of course. To me, they’re like family.”

I didn’t know the prince had such a pure side. No, this person is originally pure.

I wonder what kind of person they are. Probably someone who kept the young, bratty prince in line. A muscular guy? Or a saint-like person? Either way, it’s fine.

“Why three swords?”

“Well, one for self-defense, one for display, and one for preservation.”

What kind of otaku is this?

“Sigh, I can’t help it. Take two back with you. I’ll put my heart into making a self-defense sword today, so come back tomorrow to pick it up.”

“Huh? Why? It’s not like it matters to you.”

“If someone gets hurt because of my sword, it would be terrible. At least take a self-defense sword you’re confident in. Besides, it’s a matter of fate. Since you chose my swords, I can’t do anything half-hearted. It’s fine. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow night, so come back to pick it up.”

The prince whispered, “I see,” and said something else, but I couldn’t hear it.

He put one sword away and called out to me as he was leaving.

“Today, I feel like I could be lifelong friends with you. You... aren’t going to die after this, are you?”

You are!!