Chapter 46: Soaring Phoenixes

A week later, Lutz and Claudia visited Patrick’s workshop again. This was to pick up the dagger, the love letter, which had been left with them for decoration.

“Now, please, please take a look. This is a love letter that has become even more beautiful!”

Patrick said so and placed the black-painted dagger with gold details on the table.

He has dark circles under his eyes and his body is wobbly. Apparently, he had been up all night. Lutz had often experienced this and felt as if he were looking in a mirror.

However, in Patrick’s case, the decorations were finished in five days, and after that he just stayed up all night looking at and swinging the dagger, so neither gratitude nor sympathy was necessary.

“This is amazing…”

Claudia held the dagger in her hand and let out an exclamation of admiration.

Two phoenixes dance dynamically in a black sheath. I fully understand why Lutz and Gerhard both respected him even though he was a pervert.

I accidentally put a price on it because of the merchant’s habit, but I quickly drove it out of my head. This is my sword for the rest of my life.

There is one curious thing. When using a phoenix as a motif, whether in painting or sculpture, the theory is to depict only one bird.

The phoenix is flashy, just flashy. In other words, it’s a turkey flying in the sky, on fire, without a care in the world. The basic idea is to place the phoenix in the centre and use more flame effects.

For some reason, there are two phoenixes on the love letter. One on the scabbard and one on the handle side. In the first place, in terms of legend, do two phoenixes exist?

Claudia conveyed her hope that a phoenix would be nice, and that was it. The effects are modest, and even with two birds it’s never too cumbersome or loud, and it’s all nicely contained, so she have no complaints.

When I asked why there were two birds, Patrick simply said that it was a simple matter.

“You’ll be lonely if you’re alone”

The theme of this dagger is love. At least, Patrick was convinced of that. Then even two phoenixes can get along with each other. To hell with the correctness of the lore.

To this, Claudia nodded in agreement. Such interpretations are also Claudia’s preference.

“When you pull it out of its sheath, it separates, but when you put it back in, the two birds still snuggle up together. You see, they’re all chu-chu-chu.”

He is probably a kind man. It’s just that the way he says things is incredibly unpleasant.

“Thank you very much for the very nice decorations. Also, please keep my husband in your thoughts.”

Claudia bowed deeply and paid the price of three gold coins. It was a small price to pay for the decoration, but I didn’t think it was too much. This dagger is worth it.

Patrick also liked Claudia, a brilliant and beautiful woman. She’s also the best in terms of understanding the arts.

However, it’s not that he’s in love with her or anything. His budding desire is simply to watch from afar as Lutz and Claudia get along.

Today’s recommendation is also respected, the rice is delicious.

On the way back from the workshop. Claudia was walking along, looking at the dagger neck from different angles and smirking.

“You know, Lutz, maybe you should have a sword of your own.”

“Why do you think so?”

It’s a story that ended before. The fact that she is doing it once more suggests that she has had a change of heart. And if it has changed, the cause is definitely the new dagger.

“Because if you have a great sword, you have confidence and room in your heart. Even if you are going through something difficult or painful, you can quickly regain your confidence by saying, ‘But I have a great sword….’.”

“Is that’s how it is?”

“That’s just the way it is.”

I didn’t feel like scoffing at what was trivial.

Lutz’s life has changed a lot compared to the old days. From now on, it will change even more, as if it is being swallowed by an even bigger wave. We have to face it whether we want to or not. It might be good to have something to hold on to.

“… Right. I’ll think about my own sword when I’m done with the Count’s troublesome entanglements.”

“Hahaha, that’s right. I’m a senior with a famous sword, so feel free to ask me anything.”

Claudia laughed and slapped Lutz on the back.

… Ah, yes. What I want to protect is this kind of everyday life.

A sword that can protect the people you love, no matter what. The ideal sword he wished for was gradually taking shape in Lutz’s mind.

“The servant he was chasing committed suicide.”

Count Maximilian Zander muttered bitterly in the conference room in the Count’s castle.

Surrounding the round table were the master, his adviser Gerhard, the high-ranking knight Jocel. And Ricardo, a hero who has nothing to do with the political mess and is, in a sense, an ordinary man.

Ricardo himself does not know why he has to be here. He couldn’t even refuse because the Count had called him by name.

I had one of my servants, who had suddenly become very well paid, on the inside, and he was found hanged in his home this morning.”

“Self-harm is a strange thing..”

Gerhard said, groaning.

Suicide is forbidden by church teachings. In those days, people were very interested in whether or not they could go to heaven after death. People don’t commit suicide unless they are cornered. As much as there is hope after death, it is better to be killed.

“The weight of his sins was too much for him to bear and he apologised by closing his own path to heaven…….I doubt that’s the reason.”

Jocel said it as if he himself did not believe it.

“Nine times out of ten, he was dealt with.”

“Anyway, with this…”

With a creak, Maximilian rested his back on the chair.

“It’s settled.”

“Eh?”

A stupid voice came out of Ricardo’s mouth. The clue to the mastermind has been destroyed. Far from being settled, it’s a labyrinth.

Gerhard added that he could understand Ricardo’s doubts.

“Ricardo, what would you do if the person pulling the strings behind the scenes was a great aristocrat like the Duke?”

“Whatever, they initiated it, so we’re going to be hostile to them….”

“The family of the Count of Zander simply lacks the strength to fight the great nobles on their own.”

Maximilian gave a wry smile to Gerhard who said it clearly.

He doesn’t intend to condemn it, it’s true. It is precisely because he has to say things that put down the count’s family that Maximilian cannot explain, and Gerhard is taking the lead in saying it.

“It is better not to know. If you know, you will inevitably become aware of it, you will have an attitude. It could turn into a full-blown hostile relationship. Furthermore, if the Marquis of Eldenberger asks who attacked you and you mention his name, you will inevitably get involved in political disputes. The best thing to do is to say you don’t know.”

He also thought that the Marquis of Eldenberger might be the mastermind behind this, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Now that he is about to negotiate with the barbarian nation, the Marquis is the one who wants to protect the Count’s family the most, who can make the famous sword that will be presented to him.

It is also not realistic to kill the Count and forcibly recruit the artisans because we don’t know how loyal the artisans are to the Count. Even if they were thinking of doing something so nefarious, if they were going to do it, it would be after the peace talks.

In fact, Gerhard is not likely to be dominated by the Count because he feels indebted to him and his friendship.

Lutz tends to value things like loyalty and humanity. It seems difficult to get him with money alone.

Natural-born suspicious, Patrick wants to be where the best swordsmen gather. Unless Gerhard and Lutz make a move, he will not accept a transfer either.

After all, the Marquis’s correct answer is to keep the three craftsmen in the Count’s territory and ask the Count for anything they want.

There is no theory that the Marquis is behind the scenes. Maximilian believed so.

“However, if they attack again, we will have to deal with it.”

Ricardo still had concerns.

“That won’t happen either. The level of difficulty is completely different between attacking on the road and sneaking into enemy territory to attack. If anyone forced you to do it, he would have to be a man of leisure or a lunatic.”

Gerhard said in a bored tone. Completely, his tone was as if he was talking about something that had already been done.

“If he had really wanted to kill the Count and take the Wailing Sword or the Marquis’s treasured sword, he would have sent his trusted handlers instead of trying to incite the thieves to do so.”

It is not known whether the enemy knew that the Count and the Marquis had exchanged swords.

If you use the knights under your command, you will inevitably have evidence and it will cost money. In the unlikely event that they are repelled or the Count escapes, the incident will come to light.

If it became known that he had sent an army into someone else’s territory and attacked a count for his treasured sword, no matter how great a nobleman he was, he would not be able to cover it up.

He was not prepared to kill absolutely everyone, that’s why he moved the field thieves. He would feel lucky if it had succeeded.

“It’s no use thinking about it any more. Forget about it.”

Futility. Many people died, many killed by Ricardo himself. One of his servants betrayed him, and when he was no longer needed, he was dealt with. It was all done away with in one word: waste.

What is the value of life? Was there no meaning in being attacked or taking the bandit’s life?

Before he knew it, the meeting was over and Ricardo was left alone in the conference room with the setting sun.

Camellia is a sword that forces the enemy to commit suicide. That would mean denying them even salvation after death. It was a terrible mistake to think that he would be merciful because he would give them pleasure in their final moments.

After all, the camellia is a terrifying demon sword. Even knowing that, I still have no desire to let go of it, am I the devil’s swordsman?

……I do not know, what will happen to me from now on

Ironically, Ricardo had more time to think about the value of life because he had a lethal weapon in his hand.

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