Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 19. Goliath, the Arms Dealer (1)
Elliot and Lloyd rushed back to the royal castle, and after quickly finishing their report, they immediately headed off to see the arms dealer Father Powell had told them about.
Facing the west gate of the royal castle was a large, old-fashioned stone building. At first glance, it looked like an old, sturdy, nobleman’s townhouse, but it was the main building of a trading company run by the arms dealer.
Although he is called an arms dealer, he does not have a storefront. As a purveyor to the royal family, his customers are mainly the royal family, the nobles’ knight orders, and the private armies of the nobility, and because of this position, he is well versed in the history and circumstances of arms and armor both at home and abroad.
Although they arrived unannounced, but when they asked to see him, they were swiftly ushered into the reception room.
The man who appeared was an old gentleman, tall enough to look up at, with gray hair and a gray beard. He had a thick build and looked like he had once been a warrior.
Lloyd steps forward in place of Elliot, who had regained much of his composure but is still far from calm.
“Thank you, Mr. Goliath, for agreeing to meet with us.”
“Oh, there’s no need to be so polite. In fact, I’m of a lower social status than you. However, I don’t like it when the conversation doesn’t progress due to politeness, so I hope you’ll forgive me on this occasion.”
Goliath laughed faintly, his tone of voice so gentle that it was hard to imagine it coming from his intimidating appearance and his hoarse, liquor-burned voice.
“Then I think we should talk in the back, not here.”
With these words, the two were led to a room further inside the reception room.
There were only two doors, one at the front and the other at the back, and no windows or decorations of any kind in the bleak small room, furnished only with a high-quality sofa and a table.
“Important business meetings and consultations are always conducted in this room. Please rest assured, it is for the sole purpose of protecting the safety of both parties.”
He motioned for them to sit on the couch, then placed three sheets of parchment on the table.
“And this one too.”
“And this is ……?”
“This is an agreement that what we say in this room will not be divulged to anyone. If by some chance any information were to leak, we will be the first to be suspected. To be honest, this is also a means of self-preservation for me.”
Lloyd was surprised at the thoroughness of the pledge, but he was also impressed that this was how Goliath had protected his position and credibility as an arms dealer.
“…Besides, wouldn’t it be easier for you to talk that way?”
Goliath looked at Elliot’s sword as he added this.
Elliott looked shaken, but managed to calm himself down and sign the non-disclosure agreement. Then, as if making up his mind, he placed the sword he was holding on the table.
“Once again, Holy Knight Elliot and Senior Knight Lloyd. I am Goliath. I was told that you were introduced to me by Father Powell, so I have an idea of why you’re here. The holy sword has… lost its power, I believe?”
“You’re very ……, well, you know, to cut a long story short.”
Lloyd asked, trying to calm Elliot, whose shoulders were shaking and face had lost color, and Lloyd himself could not hide his slight agitation, Goliath gave him an emotionless smile that was typical of a merchant.
“I was just guessing. There must be a very good reason why the much talked about Holy Knight would come to visit me with such a look on his face. May I have a look……?”
Elliott nodded without a voice.
After examining the sheath, Goliath picked up the hilt and pulled out the sword in one swift motion.
Lloyd gulped at the sight of the drawn sword, while Elliot hung his head and covered his forehead with his hands.
Even the ivy relief engraved on the blade had completely disappeared, and all that remained was a white blade with a damaged edge.
Goliath looked at the sword in his hand from different angles as if appraising it, and let out a sigh of admiration.
“This is …… a magnificent sword. I am convinced that it was good enough as a vessel for the holy sword.”
Elliot looked up, surprised by what Goliath had said.
“What’s happened? This is the holy sword, but it is not that sword.”
“No. ……”
Although he wasn’t aware of it, he’d been right on the mark, and Elliot looked away uncomfortably.
Goliath takes one look at Elliot and begins to speak.
“Most of what we know about holy swords is merely a collection of legends and folk tales told throughout history. But there is one thing that has been told with certainty among those who work with weapons for a long time.”
As he spoke, Goliath cast a loving gaze at the sword in his hand.
“In order for the sword to be manifested, several conditions must be met. That is to say, a vessel, a blessing, and prayers. This in itself is not so unusual. I am sure you have heard of it before.”
The two of them almost nodded their heads, but after a short pause, Lloyd answered.
“I have never heard of the inclusion of a vessel as part of the conditions.”
“I see. …… The content of a tradition can easily get lost as it is passed down from person to person,”
After muttering somewhat forlornly, Goliath placed the unsheathed sword he was holding in front of Elliot.
“Do you recognize this sword itself?”
Elliot looked at the sword for the first time since today’s incident.
The sword was so damaged that he was unable to look directly at it.
“This sword …….”
–The day I got the holy sword. I lost it in the middle of the melee., or so I thought…
From the time he joined the Knights’ order until that day, it was something that had always been by his side, never letting go for even a moment. A distant memory that had been given to him to celebrate him becoming a knight.
It was the sword Flora had given me long ago