Chapter 65: The Baron of Romero's Dilemma (2)

Morkan.

It was a familiar name.

He had worked in the iron mine for a long time and was also said to have been selected as the safety officer this time.

A person who could be trusted. Moreover, since Jacob had deliberately brought him along, he was suitable as a spokesperson for the iron mine.

The Baron of Romero said,

“So, you were with Roman on the site?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me in detail what happened at the time. How did Roman act when the accident occurred, what reasons he had for showing interest in the safety issues of the iron mine, and whether he indeed found the solution himself. I hope you will tell me the truth, without any lies or exaggerations.”

“I understand.”

Morkan bowed.

Just as he had experienced it.

Like Hans, he spoke his thoughts.

“The accident occurred a week after Master Roman started working. A collapse caused by the ground giving way resulted in an injury to a worker. I, who was on the site at the time, issued orders to rescue the worker safely according to the accident manual. However, Master Roman had a different idea. He believed that with his abilities, he could rescue the worker without taking risks, and despite being advised against it by myself and others, he went to the accident site himself. That is the truth. No one forced him, no one asked him to, but he made his own judgment.”

It was the same as what Hans had said.

Because he carried the name of Demetri.

Roman had taken the risk.

Thinking of his son descending into the dark underground alone, the Baron of Romero unconsciously tightened his grip on the armrest of his chair.

“I didn’t know why Master Roman sought out the iron mine. But after treating the injured worker myself, I realized how pitiful and foolish I was when I saw Master Roman promise to solve the safety issues of the iron mine. Master Roman had no special intentions. As the eldest son of the Demetri family, he wanted to experience firsthand the difficulties people faced, and he said that the responsibility to solve the safety issues lay with him.”

He was moved.

As a worker.

Morkan was genuinely captivated by Roman.

Therefore, even though Roman had a purpose in making the proposal, Morkan believed that his sincerity was for the people of Demetri.

“From beginning to end, the methods to solve the safety issues were all Master Roman’s ideas. If this meeting is to ask what kind of person Master Roman is, I want to say that he is a successor of the Demetri family whom I sincerely trust and wish to follow.”

He poured out his heart.

Even while bowing.

His unwavering voice proved that there was no falsehood or exaggeration, as the Baron of Romero had demanded.

“...Is that so.”

He had heard everything he wanted to hear.

The Baron of Romero dismissed the people.

‘Not a single person said that Roman is not suitable as the successor of Demetri.’

The sentiment of the iron mine.

Once again, it was on Roman’s side.

Feeling that Roman might be at a disadvantage, he noticed Morkan’s careful choice of words.

Already.

To them, Roman was the successor of Demetri.

He fell into deep thought.

The tide had turned.

Everyone looked to Roman, but he still couldn’t make a decision.

The Master Blacksmith.

The opinion of the forge, the most important one, was still pending.

A few days ago.

The forge, as usual, was working in front of the hot furnace.

“Master.”

“Speak.”

“Items have arrived in the name of Roman Demetri. Should we accept them?”

Roman.

A taboo word in the forge.

After the incident last time, they tried not to mention Roman’s name, but since a request had come in, it had to be reported to the master, Hendrick.

The blacksmith, tense, but Hendrick’s reaction was unexpected.

“Accept them.”

“...Pardon?”

“Are your ears blocked? I said accept them.”

“Oh, I understand!”

The blacksmith hurriedly ran off.

Soon.

He brought in a large amount of iron.

Since he couldn’t handle it all alone, several blacksmiths helped, and the forge was soon filled with iron weapons and armor.

It wasn’t something that could be finished in a day or two.

Considering his personal feelings towards Roman, he should have refused, but Hendrick examined the iron items without any sign of reluctance.

“What a mess. How much training did they do to get into this state?”

They seemed to belong to the soldiers who followed Roman.

Actually.

He wanted to refuse.

But his feelings towards Roman had changed recently.

He heard about the incident at the iron mine from Jacob and learned that Roman had risked his life to save a worker, which made him see Roman differently.

Thinking about it, the incident that caused a big argument in the forge couldn’t be blamed on Roman.

He had shown a complacent attitude as a master, and it was natural for Roman to be angry.

This time.

It was more about making amends.

Since he had wronged Roman, he wanted to properly handle the request and make amends.

Therefore.

He carefully examined the condition of the items.

What problems were there.

How to make Roman satisfied.

However.

While checking the piled-up iron items, Hendrick’s eyes widened when he noticed a sword that was separate from the rest.

“...What is this?!”

He was certain.

This sword.

Was a famous sword, something rarely seen on the continent.

Hendrick was a master.

Having worked in the forge for decades, he could immediately recognize the brilliance of a famous sword.

“Where did you get such an item?”

He held the sword up to the light.

The light shone smoothly along the blade, and the grip, which was gently curled, was a work of art.

The strength of the blade, tested by tapping, was also very appropriate.

While it couldn’t be called the best famous sword on the continent, it was hard to find such a sword even in Demetri, the stronghold of blacksmiths.

Most importantly.

There was a point that truly amazed Hendrick.

‘The mana responsiveness is extraordinary.’

When the light hit the sword.

It glowed brilliantly, indicating its ability to accept mana, the energy of nature, was on a different level from other iron items.

In the distant past.

The standard for a famous sword was simply to be sharp and durable, but after Emperor Alexander opened the possibility of becoming an Aura Knight, the standard completely changed.

The basic performance of a sword was taken for granted, and the sword’s ability to accept mana determined whether it was recognized as a famous sword.

Hendrick brought the sword to the flame.

Occasionally.

Weapons with excellent mana responsiveness would cause dramatic phenomena just by being brought near the flame.

Just like now.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

“...?!”

The flame enveloped the sword.

More precisely, the flame, which should have spread in all directions, showed a tendency to burn around the sword as if drawn by a force.

It wasn’t as dramatic as being completely enveloped, but without any mana input, this effect was definitely something that would make Aura Knights go crazy.

‘What a treasure.’

His heart raced.

Hendrick prided himself on being the best in the continent in handling iron.

But.

Improving mana responsiveness was a different matter.

How could such an item be made?

Driven by his curiosity as a master, he approached the blacksmith who had brought the weapons.

“This sword. Whose is it?”

He knew.

If it was a request from Roman.

Who the owner of the famous sword was.

But he had to confirm the truth, and as expected, the blacksmith mentioned the name Hendrick had in mind.

“...It belongs to Master Roman. After collecting all the weapons and armor of the soldiers, he entrusted this sword to me separately. Is there any problem? If you order me now, I will return all these items to Master Roman.”

“No, there’s no need.”

Roman.

The name was firmly etched in his mind.

Where did he get such a sword?

With Demetri’s wealth, he must have paid a huge sum.

Then, who made the sword?

Many questions arose, and Hendrick ultimately reached one conclusion.

‘I’ll ask him directly about the origin of the sword.’

He was frustrated.

He usually didn’t want to talk to Roman, but now he was so eager that he had to bow first.

To meet Roman.

He had to quickly handle the request.

He couldn’t just ask about the sword without any results.

Hendrick shouted.

“Gather all the available blacksmiths immediately. We must finish this work in a few days!”

Here.

Hendrick’s word was law.

From that day on, the forge’s furnace burned until the sun set.

Clang.

Clang.

The blacksmith dumped the iron items on the ground.

Seeing the iron items, which shone like new, Chris showed a genuinely surprised look.

“Already finished? I thought it would take at least two weeks for 30 armed men.”

“...I thought the same. I expected to divide the work over two weeks and work slowly, but Master Hendrick’s eyes seemed to be on fire, and all the available blacksmiths were assigned to this work.”

The blacksmith shivered.

The past few days.

It was a hellish schedule.

While night work was dangerous and not forced, they had to hammer iron non-stop from morning to night in the forge.

They couldn’t even enjoy their usual break times.

When the master of the forge ate a piece of bread in a minute and rushed back to the forge, how could the blacksmiths under him take a break?

After working tirelessly for three days, they finally produced the current results.

“Please ask Master Roman later why Master Hendrick was so eager.”

“I will.”

Chris nodded.

Glancing to the side, he saw Roman and Hendrick talking.

Hendrick’s face was haggard.

Although he was quite tired from the intense work, his eyes burned with strong enthusiasm.

“Roman. Where did you get this sword? Who made it?”

He fired off the questions.

As if urging a quick response.

He couldn’t hide his eagerness even in front of Roman.

Seeing this.

Roman smiled.

‘As expected.’

From the beginning of the request.

Roman had anticipated that Hendrick would react this way.

Masters are consistent.

When they see an attractive item, they can’t help but react like Hendrick, regardless of their relationship with the owner.

Therefore.

Roman gave the answer he had prepared.

“I didn’t get it from anywhere. I made this sword myself.”

“...What?!”

Hendrick’s face was filled with shock.

It was.

A statement so shocking that he couldn’t have imagined it in the past few days.