Chapter 71: Iron Crossroads

“It’s finally here.”

Claudia laughed and fluttered the parchment to show it off.

This was the response from the count to the question of whether he could teach the blacksmiths in his domain how to make katanas.

“So what’s the content?”

Lutz said in a contrastingly firm voice.

“To summarize the long winded phrases characteristic of aristocrats, I would like to say that I admire the spirit of the craftsmen who are willing to give up their skills, which are their life and property, to serve the count’s family.”

“Hmm…”

“Let me put it more simply. Count, you’re welcome to join in on the fun.”

“Finally, we have no choice but to do it.”

Lutz has a wry smile on his face, but there is no anxiety in his expression. He was determined to show off his skills in front of the masters.

Claudia was really enjoying looking at Lutz’s face.

“Then, I’ll talk to Oliver-san. The event will be held in about five days, okay?”

“I don’t mind if it’s tomorrow.”

“We need to give the masters time to make their own schedules. Even though You’re in a position to teach them techniques, if I tell them to come here right now, it might cause unnecessary resentment.”

“……There is nothing more scary than shopping that you do not remember,”

“The rate of interest for a grudge is a wild one, you know. I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen. Lutz-kun, please wait with peace of mind.”

Claudia stood up and kissed Lutz on the cheek while brushing her hair around her ears.

In her ear, I saw a jewel that glowed mysteriously. It was a gift from Patrick, a decorator, as a return gift for the inauguration of his new boss.

Ever since Lutz gave the earrings to Claudia, she was in a good mood. Whenever she is with Lutz, she always smiles, but recently her tension has risen to the next level.

A kiss of “I’m off” is not a strange thing for a newlywed family, but in her case,

“What do you think, Lutz-kun, I’m pretty with these earrings on, aren’t I?”

It seemed to me that she was showing off.

…… Well, I’m glad that you are happy.

Lutz watched Claudia leave the living room with a humming song, or more accurately, followed her ass with his eyes.

The next day, an emergency summons was made to the master blacksmiths in the territory.

If the caller was an elder, it would be fine, but the fact that it was Oliver, who should have been on the same level, made everyone feel dissatisfied and suspicious.

They could have ignored it, but Oliver’s apprentice’s words, ‘It’s a profitable business,’ bound them and dragged them to this place.

Fifteen people, including Oliver, who was officially recognized as a master blacksmith by the Count’s family, participated without missing a single person.

Everyone loves a profit-making story. And who wouldn’t associate katanas with a profitable story that is brought up all the way at this time of the year? Boycotting the event simply because you don’t like Oliver would only bring shame on you.

Oliver looked around the round table, checked everyone’s faces, and then stood up with a satisfied smile.

“First of all, everybody say thank you to me.”

“Don’t be silly, Oliver, we’re busy here. Or were you just trying to pull off the trick of talking in your sleep with your eyes open?”

The hot-blooded master lashed out at me.

“You’re an impatient man, even on the bed, right? That’s why his wife is cuckolded by his apprentices.”

“… I understand the meaning of the profit talk well. I’ll kill you and take your workshop.”

The master stood up and glared at Oliver.

No one around them will try to stop them. On the contrary, they were shouting, ‘Oh, go ahead and do it!’

His predecessor had collapsed from a heart attack, and only the man who had just taken over his master’s position was looking around in dismay. Unfortunately, salvation was nowhere to be found. The world he had wished to live in was unfeasibly vile and rough.

No need to feel sorry for him, he will be one of them in two years anyway.

A loud thud drew everyone’s attention. It was the elder striking the round table with his fist. It was a strange thing to see such power in a body made up of nothing but skin and bones.

“You’ve called people in and now you’re just going on and on and on and on. Oliver, if you have something to say, say it quickly. Or do you want a joint letter delivered to the castle stating that you are not cooperating with the guild of trade unions?”

A sharp glint flashed from the old man’s sunken eyes. It’s powerful enough to kill a small animal just by staring at it.

Oliver straightened his back in a panic. He couldn’t afford to lose the position of master that he had worked so hard to obtain over such a trivial argument.

“Ah, yes! As a matter of fact, I went to greet the newly appointed blacksmith of the Count’s family. ……”

Some of the masters looked disgusted. The “okashite” is a person hired directly by the count, and is not necessarily higher in rank than the master blacksmiths. Although they are aware of each other, they are of different lineages.

Going out to greet them from our side could also mean taking a subordinate position. Oliver’s action could be said to be a preemptive move that upset the delicate balance of power.

As the eyes of the masters grew more and more severe, Oliver bounced back and forth, his chest heaving with pride.

“In four days, the master will invite you all to his forge and show you how to make katanas!”

“Huh!?”

Fourteen question marks float in the hall.

Of course, skill is something to be kept secret; it is the property and life of a craftsman. There have even been cases where craftsmen have been acquitted of killing those who came to steal their skills.

Lutz was hired by the count for his swordsmithing skills, but it makes no sense for him to reveal his skills to the public.

“I’m talking about putting together that story. Hey guys, what happened to the words of gratitude, huh?”

Oliver spoke with great enthusiasm, but the hall was silent. Eventually, one of the masters opened his mouth with a quizzical look on his face.

“…He’s not going to get us all together like that and sneer at us and say, ‘I’m not going to teach you, you idiot.'”

“You’re a skeptic, you didn’t even know your wife was cheating on you.”

At the point where it looks like they’re going to grab each other again, the elder glares and bends two of his fingers. Two out. I don’t know how many times the deadline has been set, but the third one seems to be the worst.

Oliver hurriedly changed the subject.

“Anyway, he’s not the kind of guy who enjoys mocking people. I can assure you of that.”

“Your guarantee is the most unreliable…”

When the conversation was interrupted, my gaze once again fell on the elder. I don’t follow the elder in everything, but I was still curious to see how he would act.

“I think I’ll go”

“… are you sure?”

“If this story is horseshit, the damage will be done. Then we can just beat Oliver up and relieve the stress.”

“Eh?”

Ignoring Oliver’s protests, the Elder continued.

“On the other hand, if it’s true, the benefits are too great. You get a whole new technique for free, and it’s such a good deal.”

“But why would he do that?”

“Perhaps it is to keep the light of the katana culture alive. If the period of wanting a katana but not being able to obtain it continues for a long time, it will eventually become a hobby for a small number of aristocrats. He probably didn’t think it was a good idea.”

“Is he trying to teach us how to make katanas and mass-produce them?”

“Who drew the picture, it couldn’t have been that sweet Count. The man is incompetent, and he knows it. He has the wherewithal to listen to the competent ones by his side. Now, was Gerhard’s old man his favorite?”

Everyone was quietly listening to the elder’s murmuring.

Only Oliver has a frustrated look on his face. He still seems to fall far short of the elders in terms of influence. He seems to have forgotten that he was the one who brought the delicious story.

“Was it Lutz or Gerhard? No, or was it the idea of that woman Claudia? She was a good woman, and if I were fifty years younger, I would have pushed myself over her. Hmmm…..”

“Three mistresses and still not enough?”

Oliver said dismissively.

“Not enough, not enough at all! Money, honor, women, and skill! When you are born a man and raised a blacksmith in this world, you must devour everything!”

He was an elder who cried out in excitement and stood up.

“I’ll be there in four days. Do whatever you want, young men.”

With a powerful laugh, the elder left the hall. In the silent room, there were only remnants of loud laughter.

“…… how old is that old man?”

The man who had been quarreling until just a moment ago asked Oliver.

“I don’t know, just…”

Oliver let out a big sigh. But his mouth hung open in amusement..

“We’re not ready to wither away yet, either.”

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter