Chapter 163
aubV‘But one thing is one thing, and another is another.’uJvc61F
WDDdLHJoshua was no longer the naive fourth young master of the past, but the head of a family bearing the full weight of responsibility.h7G2duS
aYovQNo matter how much pity he felt, he could not tear out the pillars of his own house just to help a brother.xZC
pMmS3kOEven less so if that brother could become a threat to his family.m2K
sla“I sincerely regret the misfortune you’ve suffered, brother. If I could help you, I would gladly do so. But the truth is that I have no leeway at all.”8zBxe
BjEJrt“I don’t know whether you’re saying that from the heart or just making excuses. From my point of view, this is a prosperous and peaceful territory.”7KNrwPc
DAzxM7“And why don’t you mention that the military power of that peaceful territory is pitiful?”liCzwGw
xd7VrUAt Joshua’s remark, Tristan fell silent.AN97
A1NOz8As he said, the military strength of the territory Joshua governed was extremely weak.88ZDJV
7BvntdNo matter how elite his troops were, the five hundred soldiers Tristan had brought were enough to apply pressure.sq5opj
0HCmtUx“The reason this land looks rich is that, until now, almost nothing has been invested in armaments. While the Empire was at peace, that was acceptable. But that abundance is over.”Jup6F1U
f4XrW“Are you planning to expand the army?”h2hh
9IYWX“Not out of ambition. To survive. Don’t we live in a world where, if you show weakness, you’re devoured in an instant?”uTQ
MNobIwWith the arrival of chaos, Joshua no longer had any alternatives.89EceaR
khSnwvIn fact, hastily trying to organize a standing army now was already too late.4B3gKp
tCw7LThe neighboring territories had been reinforcing their forces for quite some time and had become far more powerful than before.Qi2v6
ktAZbs“I thought this would all be nothing more than a temporary confusion, that peace would soon return, and I avoided reality until it reached this point. Now I can’t put it off any longer.”9wG
WTZFtatThe price of reacting late had been far too high.s6om
xjzGNVWhile he hesitated, the costs required to create an army had skyrocketed.c9Li4
d3ocVyjAn army had always been a bottomless pit for money, but current expenses were beyond comparison with the past.utni
kZCCpf“Just to gather a minimal force capable of defending the territory, I’d have to sell off the luxuries in my own house. With a situation like that, how do you expect me to help you?”DJ6h
oT8ke“If you want, I can protect your territory in your place.”q91s
2gxUo“Ha.”xeawYG8
fze9NJoshua let out a hollow laugh at Tristan’s proposal.gwudiAv
ksfHe didn’t know whether Tristan was speaking seriously or shamelessly scheming.DEqvG
XaH0“Brother, I’m not an idiot. Where have you ever seen someone so stupid as to bring foreign troops into the heart of their own home?”h488
arXGGYEntrusting defense against external enemies to others was equivalent to offering up one’s own throat.F3p4r
knT6Even if it were genuine goodwill, it was already suspicious.RMQ
XqcAnd to leave the defense in the hands of Tristan, who urgently needed a base of his own?LRFpb5
rkBNkIt would practically be serving the territory to him on a platter.ahQm6B
9MWM2W“If you truly want this territory, then kill me right here and take it. As long as I’m alive, I will never hand my land over to others.”K3br
PhFn“…It was just a proposal. Don’t react so extremely.”VWyF1
LXtrFaced with Joshua’s gaze, prepared to die if necessary, Tristan averted his eyes.3zUK08p
DegSThe truth was that, if he followed his desires, he could overthrow Joshua and seize the territory without much difficulty.wZBP5Ho
nZ2Q0His soldiers were already inside the fortress.6zWncS
QrN8AXhBut doing so as a guest would completely destroy his reputation and make him an object of universal contempt.28qxGDz
n3oHOOIt would give the other barons a pretext for war and, moreover, he would lose his legitimacy as an heir of Valdeck.6Rjpn
p3A5Seeing Tristan remain motionless for a long time, trapped between impossible choices, Joshua frowned.pgfv
NDRgvqw“To be honest, I don’t understand why you came to ask me for help in the first place. Don’t you have a brother in the north with far greater resources than mine?”8IQ
mJLrg“Lucian.”gx1
rui6Tristan’s eyebrows trembled.9hXVlVL
98IziNUA useless man who, after losing his mother, had spent an entire year locked in his room begging for his father’s attention.dxM
RuZwSaHowever, during that seclusion he had completely changed and emerged as a strong candidate for heir.MiX3
567wPThat the third son, whom he had never paid attention to, had become a dangerous rival didn’t bother him that much.4z7
vdKBTEven Tristan had to admit that Lucian’s achievements back then had been extraordinary.8JRYWTQ
rLJBut now, when support was more necessary than ever, those memories only made him hesitate.52yi9
yLQTcU‘The third’s true talent isn’t just recognizing valuable people or making bold decisions. It’s his ability to design the board he wants and draw up a grand plan that always ends up benefiting him.’8NaqFX
e3ILooking back, Lucian had always obtained favorable results for himself.ci5KUE
d2TKBEven actions that seemed foolish in the short term ended up being judged as wise decisions over time.NTka
YG6And every time, Tristan could do nothing but be surprised and admire him.XWca
BM7MMTxThinking about it now, that wasn’t a good sign.f4rOht3
E9vLIt meant that he had never managed to surpass Lucian, not even once.OQ8rA4
lnMduky‘If only I had managed to decipher even one of his plans, I wouldn’t be so uneasy. But until the very end, I was never able to catch up to him.’IAVLc
bgJEven if they met now, it would probably be no different.6vvM
rcFvWhatever Lucian’s plan might be, Tristan wouldn’t be able to grasp his true intentions.RVh
jVVbctUWorse still, he could end up asking for help only to be dragged into Lucian’s schemes.YjkdhS
ce1ubGSThat was why he had tried to avoid it at all costs.aH0uUl
bAIDg6‘But there’s no alternative anymore.’24XBqI
Lf5EIf things continued like this, he wouldn’t even be able to maintain the army he had left.IG6nAe
Q1SoBefore losing everything, he had no choice but to go ask Lucian for help.wgHNA
0yNWGoing directly might look like a plea, but just now a suitable pretext to visit the north had arisen.uq0pUo
He4Un“Now that I think about it, Sir Eisen was recently received into the bosom of the Eight Gods. As his disciple in the sword, I must go pay my respects. And while I’m at it, seeing the third’s face wouldn’t be bad either.”G4a
EnJik0“That’s exactly what I was saying. I’m far too busy to go, so please convey my greetings to Brother Lucian.”sVlXd
J1V5lAPNoticing that Tristan seemed ready to leave, Joshua spoke with evident relief.7YeL
wXJQVQFor him, his older brother leaving as soon as possible was the best outcome he could hope for.KvA
hxXk4VAfter thinking for a moment, Tristan nodded and headed for the exit.y6xXbyd
ODw5“Thank you for the hospitality. I’ll be leaving.”fAPA3U9
kVpq56p“I won’t see you off. Have a safe journey.”YzE
vuH9With the dry sound of the door closing, Joshua let out a deep sigh.u6Q
hnNyFyeHe was exhausted after facing an older brother who, at any moment, could lose his reason and try to seize his territory.JtG
9TdThe visit had been like a bolt from the blue, but thanks to it Joshua had learned a crucial lesson.2pBwNVa
Jd5Kot0“…I must not skimp on money when creating a standing army.”y9f
rVJ2vAyIn chaotic times, lacking power was a sin in itself.q0dhrl
P0IwAnd no one could stop the strong from doing whatever they wanted to the weak.eiztlW
LCEReIe***sLGUy
jJWrj1e“Are you the blacksmith called Malcolm? The one who claims to be able to work fairy metal?”a8tYATd
48Y“Y-yes, Your Excellency!”HA6
H3j1Malcolm immediately prostrated himself, his face completely pale.qsAn
EuLsxHe had never imagined that in less than a day he would end up having an audience with the duke.Gipqr
6cLhThe mere fact of standing before a noble of such high rank—someone he never thought he would exchange words with in his entire life—made his body tremble.bw4GbxE
BLf4OBefore him stood an absolute ruler, someone capable of razing a city with a single gesture.OZU
AZ3Even Malcolm, who had endured all kinds of trials throughout his life, could not help but tense up in front of the king of the north.MuAMwMr
pm0gu2“How curious. I thought all forging techniques for ancient metals had been lost. How did you learn that method?”htDD
7S7“Because my ancestors left the forging method written down in books, I was at least able to review it.”VnT
J5Wg“Books? Then you’ve never forged it with your own hands?”8iQdjp
apJuBkD“That’s correct.”Ahtdg98
0Hum“Hm.”4Khb
TXXn07Hearing Lucian’s thoughtful tone, Malcolm swallowed.XrKAQ
SgtpHe had been honest out of fear of the consequences of lying, but if the duke was disappointed here, everything would be over.8f5tS
XXtkIf he was not an experienced blacksmith in ancient metals, they could simply take the method from him and cast him aside.uGBTfi5
yvjjUU“I’ve prepared a forge inside the inner castle. How about trying to refine the fairy metal there? I’ll warn you now—it doesn’t matter if you fail.”tky
izf“Eh…? Y-yes!”oTD
JM7eKQThe duke’s tone was surprisingly light.kQLT
GKo3PyeFor a moment, Malcolm was stunned by that calmness, but he quickly came to his senses and replied.Yv8RIo
ICNq6ISatisfied with the answer, the young duke smiled and stood up.1t9ixXZ
6cj“Good. Then let’s begin right away. I’ll guide you myself.”PDaQ7o3
O8ppRm7Malcolm stared blankly at the duke’s retreating back, then followed him as if bewitched.VX2lC
LruhSSeveral knights, lined up on both sides, escorted them closely.OEsd6r5
xCfwnmBefore long, upon reaching a corner of the inner castle, an absolutely perfect forge appeared before Malcolm’s eyes.yJZSAVV
iFqFHammers, an anvil, tongs, a furnace—everything was of the highest quality imaginable.LSY2
H68SEven a clumsy apprentice could forge something decent by striking iron in a place like this.U4K
RZstW3“What do you think? I did the best I could. I don’t know if it’s really suitable, since I know nothing about blacksmithing.”EhqQzOh
SZ2“…It’s a forge far too good for someone like me.”HmPl
bMP0JMalcolm replied with complete sincerity and slowly stepped inside.bhPPskJ
1yjNGo5The furnace was already lit, as if prepared in advance, at an ideal temperature.d0y
vMsTGHe took a deep breath and picked up the violet-colored ingot before him.gcWn
AW3SQB‘Fairy metal.’lBu9qC0
JPkOne of those metals that, in the past, had tormented him so much with hope and despair at the same time.NSdjsO3
DGnbXkkHolding in his hands that hope which had once been shattered, he felt a knot tighten in his chest.yykOZ
XqJ9YFForcefully suppressing his emotions, Malcolm firmly closed his eyes and placed the fairy metal into the furnace.bvpMl9
Huj4WWhoosh!YmoH1O
hQD6dThe metal heated instantly, turning red.HWYHIw
9EkAt a glance it looked no different from an ordinary iron ingot when heated, but Malcolm did not take his eyes off it for even a second.SOC
ue0a5When the color of the metal began to turn white, he pulled it out with the tongs and plunged it into water.VG9mb
t8CG1Hiss!T49JW
h0ggg“W-what the hell is he doing!?”wwRvN
7N1c“He hasn’t even forged it and he’s already quenching it!”GCR0mG
TYIeSeeing Malcolm’s action, several knights behind the duke shouted in horror.9yW
NWvk2eQuenching in water was only done after the forging process, after hammering the metal.NpcBzO
0zLLBut Malcolm had heated the ingot and, without striking it even once, cooled it directly in water.KzGsix
c9zJPIt was a process that completely defied all known common sense.QUy
XGh6Ignoring the exclamations around him, Malcolm pulled the metal out of the water.qYU
CFF22As soon as he confirmed that its color had changed slightly, he swung the hammer without hesitation.mFroaCj
qfsytClang!2h8GSw7
5V4j“How absurd. If you’re going to forge it, you should heat it again.”rELbc
nFFMNw“What does he intend to achieve by striking metal that’s already cold?”665LMRT
KUDf0GSNot only would he fail to obtain the desired shape, he would only end up breaking it.pM5p
nTF6fAnd just as they said, after only a few blows, cracks began to appear all over the fairy metal.SOzUgA
zbElO5a“Tsk, tsk… I knew it would end up like this.”jXgLLe
ml6vzgX“He’s going to waste such a valuable metal.”udmqhU
y7FDespite the metal looking as if it were about to fall apart, Malcolm showed not the slightest trace of panic.D9me62
XBsJOn the contrary, he kept hammering relentlessly, as if he wanted it to break apart completely.WDUsWdf
0MFAfter about ten minutes of hammering, the knights finally noticed something strange.N3Gul4
xpalm5“…Why isn’t it breaking?”VrxjC
FXCPwBNo matter how much he struck it, the metal only cracked, but did not crumble.8DhQyst
SmZIt was as if something were holding it together, preventing the cracks from fully separating.AA3TMt9
ZXpAfter hammering for a while longer, Malcolm once again placed the now crack-covered metal into the furnace.2KC
ei82OFwooom!yb6
NmvVthh“Hup!”pbg
NMxzThe instant the furnace swallowed the cracked metal, a burst of flames shot skyward.DfWj
Z0jDmhIt didn’t look like mineral was burning, but rather as if someone had thrown an entire bucket of oil into the fire.TNymZcB
PISTOWEThe flames, burning fiercely, began to change from red to a deep blue.8P9PuAg
e3I1H“Ah…”o6HZkZq
HASjlSeeing that color, like the sky just before dawn, a tear rolled down Malcolm’s cheek.3JM6
44Zc8Everything before him matched exactly what was written in the books inherited from his ancestors.u7vSTX
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