Chapter 78: Even Honor is Dedicated

Lutz was surrounded by axes in the workshop.

It is a mountain of axes, a sea of axes, a flood of axes. The number of axes is actually thirty.

The woodcutters under contract for sharpening

“I’m sorry to ask you to come to me.”

I hesitated and brought them from the other side, but there were too many. Lutz was deep in thought about the meaning of the word “refrain.

Lutz also has a debt to pay for not being able to visit the woodcutter’s village for so long. When he asks why there is such an accumulation of axes with ruined blades, it comes back to Lutz himself.

Although there were too many of them, I did not dislike the sharpening work itself. Recently, I had been doing a lot of odd jobs, such as presenting a gift to the king of an enemy country, or showing my skills to the masters, which made me feel strangely stiff..

…..I feel like I’ve leaned too far on the authority side.

Doing a good job at a distance where you can see the customer’s face and make them happy. That should be my starting point and essence.

He wants money, he wants fame, but he wants to do this kind of work once in a while, so Lutz willingly accepted the sharpening job.

Surprisingly, the woodcutters brought their iron axes on their shoulders without using a carriage. A bearded man who seems to be the leader of the lumberjacks laughs at Lutz, who has wide-eyed eyes.

“We’re always dealing with logs. Five or ten axes are like feathers.”

“… I don’t think I can become a lumberjack.”

“I don’t want you to. You have to keep sharpening.”

Gahaha, the woodcutters left with a hearty laugh. Lutz was thus lost in a sea of axes.

Sharpen, sharpen the ax earnestly. It’s a lot of work, but it’s still much easier than traveling to sharpen.

You can decide when to rest. You are free to eat and drink water. I don’t feel like I’m resting when I take a break under the watchful eyes of customers.

Every time I see something that is out of control, such as a chipped blade or rust all around,

“It can’t be helped…”

While muttering something like that, he politely fixed it.

“What is this handle? The leather wrapped around it smells of sweat and is slimy. It’s a little moldy, too. I’ll replace it, I tell you. ……”

Claudia, who had just come down from the second floor, heard such a soliloquy.

“It’s a problem that makes you look very happy.”

Claudia grinned.

“Somehow, it’s good to have a job that makes people happy.”

“I agree. I guess it’s like saying that the best way to do business is to have a three-way relationship.”

“… what’s that?”

“If the transaction makes the store profitable, the customers are happy, and it benefits the world, then I’m all for it.”

For example, Claudia said after thinking for a moment.

“I don’t know about smuggling or dealing in illegal drugs, but it’s not good for the store and the customers, but it’s not good for the public.”

Certainly, Lutz nodded.

“This job will be a training and a change of pace for Lutz-kun, the lumberjacks will be happy to have a good axe, and there will be good quality wood on the market. It’s a kinder, gentler world.”

“I see, so that’s what a good job is like.”

“Yeah, so the lumberjack husband wants to add 30 more…”

“Please excuse that.”

While chatting, Claudia sat next to me, their shoulders touching, their hair touching. Their faces come close to each other until they are in a breathtaking position.

“Would you like to do something nice for me and you?”

Claudia whispers with a fascinatingly frightening smile. A slender fingertip traces Lutz’s chest.

“What shall I say to the world?”

“If the relationship between husband and wife gets better and the atmosphere in the workshop becomes brighter, we can make good swords, right?”

“Okay, that’s it. That’s the only way. Let’s go with that.”

Lutz stood up and quickly put away the sharpening tools.

And just as I was about to go up to the bedroom on the third floor, hand in hand, there was a violent knock on the entrance door.

“Hey blacksmith, are you not here!?”

Lutz and Claudia glared at the door while holding hands.

It’s a voice I don’t know, not a familiar craftsman like Gerhard or Patrick. Then there would be no need to force it open.

Although he has told the merchants in town that they must go through the Count when making business requests, there is no end to the number of people who come to him directly for advice. For this reason, I usually bolt the door on a sturdy door and use the “stay-away” method when dealing with strangers.

…… ignore it, ignore it. Leave them alone and they’ll go home eventually.

However, today’s guest was particularly persistent.

“I’m an Allied messenger. I heard voices, so I’m guessing you’re inside. If you don’t open it, it will become an international problem!”

They would get into trouble with a country that until recently had been at war with them. This was something that Lutz and his family, now in the custody of the Count’s family, definitely did not want to discuss.

“…Apparently, prayers to God were not answered.”

Lutz let out a sigh and reluctantly stroked Claudia’s buttocks.

“Because they believe in a different god. It seems to be out of their jurisdiction.”

I was just getting into the mood for some fun, and now it’s ruined. Claudia shook her head grimly and unbolted the door.

“Yo, long time no see!”

The tanned, middle-sized man smiled cheerfully.

I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere, but I wonder if he had any acquaintances in the Allied country.

Before long, Claudia let out a low voice.

“Were you the inspector?”

“I’m glad you remembered me. I’m not a royal guard or an elite guard, but I am a Knight of the King’s Guard, and my name is Nguyen. Nice to meet you.”

“This is very polite. So, what do you want?”

I have no interest in you at all, it was such a salt correspondence.

“Do I look like I’m here to buy vegetables?”

“Sometimes I get mistaken for a greengrocer…”

“Don’t tell a lie that will be revealed in five seconds. Anyway, let me in, this country is cold.”

I had no choice but to take him upstairs to the living room to talk to him.

Lutz bowed his head after receiving a brief explanation of the customer from Claudia.

“It’s been a long time. How is it, then? Did King Cassandros like Amaterasu?”

“About that. …… Oh, where to begin.”

Nguyen groaned with a terribly dark face. He doesn’t want to say much, but he has to start. He spoke piece by piece about the assassination of Cassandros and the change of throne.

When he finished speaking, the air of frivolity was gone from Nguyen and there he was, a knight struggling with the nature of loyalty.

“I see, King Cassandros is ……”

“Blacksmith, let me tell you one thing, don’t think it’s your fault. That’s an insult to the dead and an arrogant way of thinking.”

He said as if to slam it down.

“Even though we recognize the value of swords, there is no one who is foolish enough to be manipulated by swords. This is the result of everyone acting on their own ideas.”

“…Yes. But it’s a little sad to lose someone who told me they loved the swords I struck.”

“Oh, that’s right…”

There wasn’t even time to feel lonely. Nguyen felt as if he could share a little of the burden on his shoulders.

“Now then, let’s get down to business. Of course, I came here to request the creation of a sword.”

“What is the purpose of your visit?

“Do I have to tell you?”

“I have no obligation to accept bribes.”

Lutz and Claudia looked at the rare guest from afar with suspicion. We are not particularly close, and there is no reason to trust him.

However, I was happy that he counted on my skill and came to rely on me from afar.

“… I have to execute a certain noble person.”

“Is it the aftermath of the usurpation of the throne?”

“Yes. There is no such thing as a crime. I’m not so good a person that I can point to incompetence as a crime.”

Nguyen continued to speak, as if ashamed that he could not help or assist in any way.

“Decapitation. I’m sure they do it in this country, but it doesn’t go well.”

Certainly, Lutz and Claudia nodded.

Executions are a common spectacle and entertainment. I don’t enjoy it, but I have seen it.

It is a cruel punishment that involves slamming the sword down over and over again and cutting the head into a thousand pieces. This is often the result.

“That person accepted death as a member of the royal family. To be honest, I didn’t like him very much, but I just want to reward him for his determination. I promised him a painless and splendid execution.”

“… Do you know the height of the executioner?”

“I will do it”

When Nguyen said so clearly, Lutz looked surprised and froze.

Eventually, he answered with a light laugh.

“Okay, I’ll strike the sword.”

“Yes, can you do it!”

“Come back in a month. Let’s finish making the sword, decorating it, and giving it magic.”

Lutz took a small jewel from a drawer and glanced at Nguyen with a mischievous smile.

“Oh, hey, wait, that’s it!?”

“I promise you the best katana that can sever a neck with one blow without pain.”

Nguyen looked for a curse word but couldn’t find it. He looked for words of thanks, but he could not find them. He felt so funny about himself that he burst out laughing.

Lutz was also lured into laughing, and the two men laughed at each other for a while.

“…Then, please.”

When he finished laughing, Nguyen tightened his expression and bowed deeply. Lutz also nodded with a serious face.

After seeing Nguyen off, Claudia let out a big breath. At the same time that she felt that she had gotten tangled up with a troublesome guy, she also felt a faint sense of respect.

“I’m surprised he agreed to be an executioner.”

Executioner was a profession, but an unclean profession. For a knight to do that would be as good as throwing away his honour.

Lutz answered while playing with the jewels in his hand.

“I don’t know anything about him, but I want to respond to him with a man’s resolution.”

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