Kays Translations

Chapter 220: The Knight Who Kills Knights

In the evening, Josel sat silently in the dimly lit workshop, in front of the ritual platform with the window closed.

With Gerhardt's cooperation and a letter of introduction, he could involve Donald in the plan. He had done what needed to be done. However, for some reason, he felt like there was a hole in his heart.

To avenge the old man and create a world where warm families are not unjustly destroyed – this was the battle for Josel, a holy war.

...To embark on this holy war by just seeking help from others. What had changed about himself?

He needed to change. He had to greedily seek the power to protect.

Josel stood up, took the Night Killer hanging on the wall, and placed it on the ritual platform. His mentor had once said that he should enchant this sword himself when he gained confidence and skill as a spellcaster. If someday he became a competent spellcaster, he should engrave ancient runes with his own hands.

Honestly, he wasn't confident yet. He had just managed to successfully carve three characters through sheer effort. Becoming a full-fledged craftsman meant being able to reliably carve three characters.

He couldn't wait for someday. He needed power right now. He couldn't ask his mentor for help; this was his own battle.

He poured mercury into the groove on the ritual platform, placed gemstones, and the entire platform began to glow faintly.

There was no guarantee of success. It was beyond foolish to take a gamble before the decisive battle. He didn't have to do this. However, he felt a strong urge to do it.

Josel checked the flow of magic power and engraved characters on the blade of Night Killer, holding a chisel.

The face of the old man he saw that day, looking completely resigned, and the gruesome sight of his murdered family, didn't allow Josel to stay in a safe place. No one had told him to. It was just Josel's selfish conviction, and he was aware of it.

...I'm such a fool.

He demonstrated an unprecedented level of concentration and managed to carve two, three characters, injecting magic power.

It should have been complete.

The sword spoke, asking if he was satisfied with this.

It was a sword forgerd by the masterful craftsman Lutz, still capable of absorbing more magic power. Night Killer was a sword for killing knights. Wasn't it a sword of determination to uphold justice and loyalty, even if it meant sinking comrades into a sea of blood? Was he going to compromise its resolve by using his lack of skill as an excuse and finishing it half-heartedly?

As time passed, the magic power would settle into the sword, making corrections impossible. If he was going to do it, it had to be now.

As if guided or possessed, Josel stood up and reached for his mentor's chest of drawers. Though it was locked, he forcefully broke it open, taking out several gemstones.

It was reckless. It was a crime against his mentor and betrayal. Warnings echoed in the back of his mind, but they didn't serve as a deterrent.

If an exceptional masterpiece was going to be created, everything else was trivial.

The flow of magic power became more complex. If he mistimed even a little while carving characters, the sword would likely crack. However, Josel entered a perfect state of concentration and accomplished everything.

"Haha..."

The magic enchantment with four characters was complete. He wanted to laugh, but his face wouldn't respond with strength.

Was this the feeling when a craftsman created a masterpiece, as if God had descended? He couldn't believe that the shining blade was something he had engraved, and he doubted he could do it twice.

With this sword, no matter how many bandits or skilled fighters there were, he would never lose. Feeling relieved, Josel's consciousness faded, and he fell asleep still holding Night Killer on the ritual platform.

When he woke up, the first thing he noticed was that Night Killer, which he had held in his right hand, was missing.

...No way, why!?

Fear struck him, and he sat up abruptly, looking around. Then, looking across the ritual platform, he saw Gerhardt sitting on the other side. Another kind of fear overwhelmed him.

This was bad, very bad. He had used the ritual platform without permission, taken mercury and gemstones without permission, and even destroyed the lock on the chest of drawers because he lacked enough gemstones.

He would undoubtedly be expelled or exiled for his actions here.

"Uh, um, Master. I truly..."

His mouth was dry, and his tongue stuck to his palate, making it difficult to speak. Alternating between Josel's appearance and Night Killer, Gerhardt gave a wry smile.

"Did you engrave it? It's well done."

"I apologize. However, I stole your precious gemstones and used them. This crime is worth a thousand deaths. Please dispose of me as you see fit."

"Don't spout nonsense. If you die, who will protect the public order of this city and your wife and children? I don't want that trouble."

Although his words were brusque, in essence, he was saying not to die. Josel felt grateful for his mentor's kindness and was bewildered.

"Don't worry about it. It can't be helped. You 'received a visit,' right?"

"...It was a truly mysterious experience."

"There's a world beyond the limits of concentration. You can't let an opportunity like that slip away; otherwise, you're not worthy of being a craftsman."

Gerhardt carefully sheathed Night Killer, thrust it toward Josel, and nodded forcefully.

"Josel, you did well."

"Master..."

"That aside, I'll charge you for the gemstones."

"Master!?"

A poor knight asked nervously. Gerhardt snorted and replied.

"Of course. Breaking into your master's chest of drawers, using gemstones without permission, and ending it with just an apology? Do you think I'm some kind of saint or something to settle this with an apology?"

"By the way, how much is the fee...?"

The impoverished knight asked fearfully. Gerhardt snorted again and answered.

"50 gold coins."

"F-Fifty..."

"I'll make it clear; this is the price without considering any inconvenience. Don't think about negotiating and settling for less. If you try, it will only make things worse."

Under the candlelight, Josel's face turned pale.

"Well, don't dwell on it too much. There's a way to compensate and even profit from it."

"What's that?"

"It's simple. Sell that Night Killer. I'll buy it for 100 gold coins."

A hundred gold coins – what an enticing offer. Just by saying the word "sell," he would be forgiven by his mentor, and he would gain a significant amount of money.

Josel clenched the sheath of Night Killer, pondered for a while, and eventually answered with a feeling like his organs were being squeezed.

"Um, could we arrange for installment payments, please?"

"Tch, fine. Whatever."

A click of the tongue was quite an unpleasant attitude, but Josel didn't find it unpleasant.

...My mentor genuinely wants this sword!

Wanting, regretting, being jealous – isn't that the ultimate praise for a craftsman?

A warm feeling spread in Josel's heart. In just one day, he experienced multiple joys of being a craftsman.

"Master, I'll achieve great deeds with this sword, earn a lot of money, and show you!"

"...Yeah, I'm expecting something decent."

Gerhardt didn't look at Josel's face, keeping his wistful gaze on Night Killer as he spoke.

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