Chapter 82

At the sound of Nerfai’s voice, Ming Hu glanced toward the entrance, where an old man in robes reserved for imperial mages stood.
“Are you ready for a makeover?
At his age, he would not be a regular member. Of course, it didn’t matter to Ming Hu whether the old man was the leader or a regular member. Ming Hu turned his attention back to the crafting window.
“It’s been a while, Nerfai. Two months?”
“Heh, heh, it’s already that time of day, but what are you building…?”
“Oh, no. I don’t intend to violate the order. I came here to find a man.”
“People or here?”
Ming Hu was looking at the crafting window, wondering what to make, when he heard a noise. Why would an imperial palace mage suddenly be looking for people here?
“Yeah, I only know the face. I’ll go around and look for him.”
But at Crime’s next words, Ming Hu breathed a sigh of relief.
“Oh, no…
It was here that Ming Hu first saw Crime. Convinced that he was not the one Crime was looking for, Ming Hu pulled down the crafting window again and began searching for items.
‘The best sword is a greatsword of iron…’
The best sword that could be crafted from the materials currently in your inventory was the Iron Greatsword. Ming Hu selected the Iron Greatsword and pressed Craft.
Siaak
Hit Build and the material appeared on the workbench.
[Hold the hammer].
Seeing the message, Ming Hu grabbed the hammer and brought it down as a section of iron glinted.
Bam!
[You have successfully crafted the Iron Greatsword].
“…Hmm. Is it that easy for you to deal with mooks?”
At Thompson’s words, Ming Hu smiled wordlessly, picked up his heavy iron greatsword, and began walking toward the warehouse.
Jumbled
“How much will you give me.
I was looking forward to seeing how much credit he would give me. Ming Hu soon reached the front of the warehouse and approached the warehouse keeper who was guarding it.
“Hello.”
“Hello!”
“I’m here to put in a mu-gu.”
“Ah, a sword!”
Ming Hu gave the warehouse keeper the iron greatsword. The warehouse keeper examined the iron greatsword and spoke to Ming Hu.
“Thank you.”
[Helioca’s notoriety increased by 300].
As soon as the Warehouse Keeper finished speaking, a Merit Badge message appeared.
‘300?
Ming Hu stared blankly at the merit increase message. It was definitely 300. He’d earned 100 Merit Points for crafting the basic set of 10 Iron Sword, Iron Armor, and Steel Shield. But 300?
“Huh. That would have been a huge loss if I’d just made a basic set.”
Ming Hu muttered something to himself and started walking back to his workbench.
“What more can you give than a greatsword of iron?”
It may or may not exist. If there is, you can build it, and if there isn’t, you can continue to build the Iron Greatsword.
“100,000 merit badges… Did I mention it’s a noble title?”
The article I read before joining said that you can receive a knighthood after reaching 100,000 merit points. Of course, given that the author is a user of the Duchy of Deriman, which is located on the opposite side of Helioca, and that Helioca is an empire, not a duchy, more merit is required, but the point is clear: you can be knighted for merit.
“I’ll stop by the exchange later and check it out. Hmph.”
Ming Hu decided to stop by the official sword exchange to see what he could exchange for official swords.
Jab!
As Ming Hu smiled and walked to his workbench, he was forced to stop in his tracks. The imperial mage, who had come looking for someone, was staring at him.
“…?”
“…”
There was silence between Ming Hu and the imperial mage Ani, Crime.
“You…”
It was Crime who broke the seemingly endless silence. Crime looked up at Ming Hu, shook his head slightly, and then opened his mouth to speak.
“Is it him who was there?”
“The spot?”
Ming Hu asked with a puzzled look on his face, but soon realized what kind of seat Crime was referring to and frowned slightly. He had a strong feeling that something troublesome was about to happen.
“Say you don’t know?
He didn’t seem to know for sure, and he might not be the one he was looking for. Sure, Crime had said he recognized the face, but he’d never met Crime before, and the spot he thought he knew might not be where Crime said it was. It was then.
“Alas, you’re right.”
“…”
Ming Hu was speechless at Crime’s words. Crime’s face was already filled with conviction.
“Let’s talk for a minute.”
Tung
Crime said, and stamped the floor with the staff he was holding.
“Now I don’t have to worry about it getting out. I’m going to ask you straight up. Who are you?”
“…?”
Ming Hu shook his head at Crime’s words, then opened his mouth to speak, as if it were obvious.
“I’m a blacksmith.”
“…”
Crime frowned slightly at Ming Hu’s words. Then he opened his mouth again and spoke.
“I’ll ask you again, who are you?”
“…?”
Ming Hu could only shake his head at Crime’s words. He wasn’t sure what answer he wanted, but he was a blacksmith.
“I’m a blacksmith.”
Crime frowned greatly at Ming Hu’s words. Then he continued.
“A mere blacksmith can break the shield of a high-ranking mage with a single punch that three imperial mages couldn’t, and you expect me to believe that?”
“…”
Ming Hu couldn’t say anything. It seemed that no matter what he said, Crime would not believe that he was a blacksmith. After a moment’s hesitation, Ming Hu opened his mouth again and spoke.
“I’m a real blacksmith.”
This was all that could be said, but Crime smiled at Ming Hu’s words, unlike his previous reaction.
“…what is it?
Ming Hu was a little embarrassed to see Crime looking at him with a smile on his face. Just then, Crime opened his mouth to speak.
“I see.”
“…?”
What’s wrong with that?
“What’s with the tone of voice…
On top of that, Crime was speaking in a completely different tone of voice than he had been used to.
“I see.”
Crime continued to blurt out unintelligible words. Ming Hu stared at Crime with a strange look in his eyes, but Crime smiled broadly at the look in Ming Hu’s eyes, and then reached out his hand to shake hers.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
Ming Hu frowned slightly and looked at Crime’s hand. Somehow, he felt like he shouldn’t hold that hand. That feeling was strong.
“Ha ha, my mistake.”
Crime said coolly, withdrawing his hand for a handshake when Ming Hu refused. He then raised his cane and said, “I’m sorry.
“It was an honor.”
Tung
Crime stamped the floor with his cane.
“Goodbye then.”
With those last unintelligible words, Crime strode out of the forge. Ming Hu stared after him for a moment, then regained his composure and walked back to his workbench.
“Let’s see.”
Arriving at his workbench, Ming Hu immediately opened the crafting window and began to see what he could make of each type.
“Hmm. It’s best if you can make it out of cast iron.”
In Ming Hu’s current recipes, the best equipment of each type that could be crafted with the materials in the ingredient warehouse were all made of iron.
“Let’s make one for each type.”
Ming Hu selected the Iron Armor and pressed Craft.
Siaak
[Hold the hammer].
As the material appeared, a message sounded. Ming Hu grinned as he gripped the hammer and muttered to himself.
“How much do you want to give me? Hmm.”
I couldn’t wait to see how much credit they would give me.
* * * * *
A breakout room in the Imperial Palace Mage Center building.
“When is Crime coming?”
“You called the meeting, you should come!”
“Yeah, I’ve been putting my research aside too!”
There, the remaining members of the Imperial Palace Mage Corps, with the exception of Crime, now the first in command, were seated and waiting for him.
“But what’s the purpose of this meeting?”
“I don’t know.”
“I heard that the First Order had some members killed… could this have something to do with it?”
“What? The guys?”
“Yes. Surprisingly, they died inside the palace, three of them.”
That was the moment.
Profit
“Sorry I’m late!”
Crime, who called this meeting, walked in.
“What is the purpose of this meeting?”
“Did they really die inside the palace?”
As Crime entered, the waiting captains opened their mouths to speak. Crime nodded and answered their questions.
“Yes, that’s exactly why we called this meeting.”
“Why is he dead?”
“Why inside the palace, not outside…”
As the captains continued to question him, Crime smiled bittersweetly.
“Do you remember Karot?”
“…You mean the one who stole the golden book?”
“Yes, that’s right, the one who stole the scroll, the one who stole the scroll, he’s back. And he’s mastered the book.”
“…!”
“…!”
The captains all looked at him in disbelief. Seeing their expressions, Crime continued.
“And you’re awake.”
“…where is he now?”
“If you’ve awakened, do it now, before it gets stronger!”
The leaders looked surprised at Crime’s words and opened their mouths to speak. But Crime just shook his head and said, “You’re right.
“It’s gone. No trace, just like he was. But I don’t think you need to worry.”
“…What does that mean?”
“I saw one of the legends.”
Crime grinned broadly.