Ch#86
* * *
Popullosa Weapon District.
“Gate 5 is opening!”
As the noon sun began to tilt, the Primordial Furnace bustled with activity.
“Hey, kid! How dare you release the molten iron already? Clear the accumulated slag first—!”
“Who used up all my Carmine alloy that I stocked? Get out here!”
The blacksmiths' voices were loud and gruff.
Yet unlike their rough tones, faint smiles played on everyone's faces.
“This raw ore's quality is top-notch. The gold vein's alive and breathing.”
“Did you hear what the factory chief said this morning?”
“Of course! No more fighting with mercenaries every day……”
The reason the blacksmiths were excited was simple.
This morning, Berugon had appeared at assembly with a bright face for once and declared,
‘I won't order you to chase customers out of the Weapon District anymore.’
The blacksmiths could hardly believe their ears.
Until now, no matter how much they begged, he wouldn't even pretend to listen.
They were baffled by what had changed Berugon's mind.
But hearing his follow-up words, they were all stunned.
‘Ahem! Well, I had no choice until now. It was all because of Krazar's core.’
Berugon confessed that he hadn't been in his right mind due to Krazar's core all this time.
And he didn't forget to mention that the Sovereign King had saved him.
Of course, even that assembly ended with Berugon's usual bellow.
‘What are you lot doing? The smelting yard will rust! Back to work! Scram!’
Yet even so,
“Was the sky always this high and beautiful?”
“Right? Even the kid's mistakes look cute today.”
The blacksmiths, having shaken off their long worries, were lighter-hearted than ever.
“Valkad! Your hammer's flying today!”
“Hahaha! You too, Garok.”
It was then that a warm atmosphere spread through the Smelting District.
“Agavert's leaving! Anyone who wants to see them off, come out!”
Ollek shouted loudly as he opened the iron gate of the Smelting District.
All the blacksmiths inside hurriedly set down their hammers and weapons.
“We have to see off the ones who brought our factory chief back to his senses.”
“Of course! It's the least we can do!”
Ollek watched as the blacksmiths poured out in a group, holding the door.
Then he joined at the very end of the farewell procession.
* * *
“Waaah—it's the blacksmith uncles!”
At the plaza where Agavert's carriage waited.
Tie's face lit up at the sight of the approaching blacksmiths.
“Not blacksmith uncles, it's blacksmiths, kid. Or properly call them weapon craftsmen.”
Veil tried to correct her subtly, but her excited ears didn't hear it.
“Ollek blacksmith uncle!”
Ollek smiled awkwardly at the Sovereign King who ran up to him.
Suddenly, he recalled wrestling with her over the barrier bag.
Guilt washed over him again as he thought of how the armory broke in the scuffle, trapping the Sovereign King in the subspace.
But the Sovereign King seemed to have forgotten it all, beaming innocently.
“Blacksmith uncle, why are you here?”
Ollek glanced at his colleagues and cleared his throat.
“Obviously to see off our leader.”
“See off?”
“Well, thanks to you, the factory chief is safe, and the Weapon District won't have to worry about closing……”
A bright smile spread across Tie's lips.
The child twisted her body bashfully, giggling ‘Hehe.’
At her reaction, Ollek, who had been smiling awkwardly, spoke again.
“Any other plans after heading to the Capital?”
As if she'd been waiting for that question, Tie's face flushed with excitement.
“Yeees! Tie’s gonna buy a house in the Capital!”
“A house?”
“Neeeng! A big one, from here to there! Three stories! With a basement too!”
As the blacksmiths looked puzzled, Basto approached.
“We're looking for a base in the Capital.”
“A Capital base?”
“Yes. Even wanderers need a place to settle.”
Ollek narrowed his brow thoughtfully.
‘A Capital base……’
Basto's words reminded him of something similar from another mercenary group.
They had mentioned buying a mansion in the Capital as their base.
‘Which group was it?’
But no matter how he thought, nothing came to mind.
In the end, Ollek shook his head as if it was nothing.
Turning his gaze, the Sovereign King was telling another blacksmith about the Capital base.
“We gathered this much magic stone in the carriage, and when we take it to the compensation office, we'll get tons of money, and buy a house with it, no loan, cash!”
“I... see. Congratulations.”
“Neeeng. When Tie buys the house, all you blacksmith uncles come over! Housewarming!”
“Housewarming?”
“Yees! Bring toilet paper and detergent as gifts?”
“Detergent……?”
“Don't you know for bubble play?”
“Bubble……??”
“Hey, hey! Leader! Time to go!”
Unable to watch anymore, Veil picked up Tie.
Tie drooped her eyebrows regretfully but soon smiled brightly.
“Blacksmith uncles, bye-bye!”
“Pick one—blacksmith or factory chief.”
Veil shook his head, but Tie just laughed gleefully.
Boarding the carriage, Tie sat in her spot where Basto had laid a fluffy cushion.
Looking out the window, she saw the blacksmiths gathered in the plaza waving.
And,
“Oh! It's the factory chief!”
Berugon overlooking the plaza from the Armory rooftop came into view.
“Factory chief! Stay well!”
But Berugon cleared his throat awkwardly and turned away.
“Then we're off!”
Soon, Enzo holding the reins started the carriage.
Tie watched the receding scenery outside with a pounding heart.
‘Weapon District was really fun.’
It had been scary trapped in the subspace, but looking back, there were more fun memories.
Tie hugged the kindergarten bag at her feet tightly.
Unlike when she first arrived, her bag was now bulging full.
“Hehe.”
Tie opened the zipper and touched the three Bear Doll Orbs inside.
Then she opened the front pocket to let Ppuppu out.
“Kyuu-!”
Ppuppu let out a relieved ‘Pffft’ and crawled into Tie's pocket.
But Tie, who had been smiling warmly at the sight, suddenly widened her eyes.
“Huh?”
Basto looked at her.
“Tie, you okay?”
But Tie didn't even glance at Basto, just quickly rummaged in the bag.
“Kid, what's wrong?”
Even as Veil asked, she finally lifted her head.
The child's face was filled with great shock.
“It... it's gone.”
“Gone? What is?”
“Kkamang-i's gone……”
At those words, Enzo stopped the carriage.
Nordics soothed her.
“No way, look carefully.”
But the black stone of Kkamang-i was nowhere in the bag.
Worry filled the child's eyes in an instant.
Tie jumped up in a flurry and grabbed the carriage door.
“Did I leave the stone at the lodging? Let's go back quick, okay?”
But at that moment.
“……I'm right here.”
A crawling voice came from the luggage compartment behind the seats.
At those words, everyone turned around.
Among the neatly packed luggage.
Something glinted from under the blanket folded for warmth.
“……Haa.”
With only its head poking out from under the blanket, it was Lucarion in human form.
“Astie.”
Lucarion's face was full of embarrassment and distress.
“I……”
“……”
“...can't go back into the stone.”
