Chapter 250: Probation

“Is it time?”

“Sorry for the wait.”

Josel prompted, and Lutz apologized sincerely.

Nobles from all over the country had gathered for this day, and the number of people who could stay in the castle was limited.

In the case of the Count Zander’s party, only the Count and Gerhardt could stay in the castle. The others had no choice but to stay in inns or be accommodated in houses in the town. If they insisted on staying in the castle, they would end up sleeping in the corridors. In fact, many were doing just that.

Lutz and the others had arranged with Claudia to rent rooms from a major merchant. A mysterious master craftsman who traveled all over the country. There were plenty of people who wanted to hear his story.

“How long will we be staying?”

When Claudia asked, Josel thought for a moment before answering.

“I don’t know. For nobles, the real deal starts now.”

There were no televisions, no radios, and only horse-drawn carriages. In such an era, the opportunity for nobles to meet face-to-face was precious. Otherwise, who would willingly attend a ceremony where strangers were commended?

If someone were to suggest, “Let’s tour the capital and then leave,” at such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they would be considered incompetent and refused any future dealings.

Especially this time, the count was the center of attention as the lord who had presented thirty famous swords. It was doubtful whether there would even be time to eat amidst all the greetings and questions. Josel had just talked about the hardships of craftsmen, but he also sympathized with the count and his mentor who had to deal with it.

“It could be as short as three days, or as long as two weeks.”

“That long?”

Claudia was rearranging her plans in her head. Since they had come together with the Zander family’s carriage, she couldn’t just leave with Lutz alone. And they couldn’t even go buy souvenirs and visit the princess’s village. They would probably spend most of their time greeting the merchants.

“In that case, I’ll go visit the blacksmiths in the town.”

When Lutz casually mentioned it, Claudia and Josel almost simultaneously exclaimed, “No way!”

“You can’t.”

“You absolutely can’t!”

“There’s no need to oppose it so strongly…”

“Listen carefully, Lutz. What are you going to do if you casually drop by a blacksmith’s shop, greet them, and then ask to see their workshop? What do you plan to give them in return?”

“The only thing I could offer is knowledge of sword making.”

“And that’s precisely why you can’t do it! You once said that there was no point in monopolizing techniques if sharing them could improve the country’s overall skills. That’s why you made them public.”

Lutz looked up at the ceiling as if trying to remember if he had said such a thing. He couldn’t recall, but he understood, so he probably did say it.

“And you also said that if you had about a hundred disciples, you wouldn’t have made the techniques public. That means you should understand the importance of craftsmen trying to keep their techniques secret, to protect their livelihoods. Right?”

“Well, yeah…”

“You’re not in a position to protect just a hundred disciples. The lives of tens of thousands of artisans, merchants, and villagers depend on you!”

“That’s… too much…”

“Don’t underestimate it.”

Josel said seriously, unlike his usual self. Lutz turned to Claudia for help, and she nodded in agreement. What Josel said was true.

“Wait a minute. I understand about the Zander family’s interests, but what about my own skills? If I don’t exchange techniques and keep learning, won’t I hit a plateau or even decline? It’s possible that my skills could deteriorate if I don’t keep exchanging knowledge.”

“Well, that’s…”

Josel grimaced. If it were him until a little while ago, he might have shouted, “Don’t be ridiculous!” But now, as a craftsman himself, he could understand Lutz’s point of view. Which was more important, the Zander family or blacksmithing? He shouldn’t ask that. Dropping a plate when he knew it would break was like that. The answer was already clear. Claudia and blacksmithing, and everything else. That was Lutz’s value system.

“If you’re just going to take information and give nothing in return, that’s ideal…”

“No, that’s dishonest. It’s a bad move that would break trust with other blacksmiths.”

Lutz’s expression tightened only when he said the word “dishonest.” Whether it was goodwill, malice, or affection, he had to return what he received. That was his sense of ethics. Deceiving or robbing people was the most despicable act. Especially among craftsmen.

Lutz and Josel understood each other’s arguments. As they silently searched for a solution, Claudia intervened.

“How about a time limit?”

“A time limit?”

“Yes. For example, the Zander family refrains from disclosing the technique until they establish absolute superiority in weapon production and weapon policy. Let’s say, roughly three years.”

“Mmmu..Mmmu…”

Josel groaned again. Was Claudia’s suggestion a lifeline? No, it was more appropriate to call it probation. But there was no material to flatly refuse here.

“Lutz, it’s not like there’s nothing you can do in the Zander territory, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll just keep quiet for a while.”

“Is that okay with you, Josel?”

Claudia’s charming smile seemed oddly unsettling to Josel at that moment. He was grateful for the help, but there was a lingering feeling of something foreign wrapped around his arm.

“Well, let’s consider it.”

Dodging words was Josel’s best resistance at the moment.

“…Ah, despite saying we’ll leave, we’ve ended up talking for a long time. Shall we really go this time?”

As Claudia spoke, just as the two were about to stand up, there was a rough knock on the door, too abrupt to call it a knock.

Without waiting for a response, a sturdy knight clad in well-worn armor barged in. He was not a fake knight; he exuded the aura of a warrior trained for real combat. The number “13” was engraved on his shoulder.

“Master blacksmith Lutz, I am Leonard, the commander of the Thirteenth Knights. I request your company.”

Claudia and Josel showed expressions of surprise. Only Lutz nodded calmly, as if he had expected this to happen.

“Understood, I will go immediately.”

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