Chapter 98 : The Blacksmith (2)
Chapter 98: The Blacksmith (2)
After leaving the Holy Kingdom, Leon headed for Elphrel.
A year ago, after seeing the condition of Leon's sword, Zeke had said this:
He would inform one of his friends, so Leon should go to Elphrel and obtain a new weapon.
Leon nodded and agreed.
However, there was one thing that puzzled him.
Normally, weapon crafting was entrusted to the Dwarves.
Though short in stature, they possessed craftsmanship in forging weapons and armor that no one else could rival.
As a result, nearly everyone commissioned Dwarves to make their equipment.
Yet Zeke had deliberately set the Dwarves aside and recommended his own friend instead.
Since it was his father's recommendation, Leon believed there had to be a reason behind it.
Even so, he couldn't help but wonder.
'Could it be that Father's friend is a blacksmith whose skill rivals that of the Dwarves?'
If that were the case, then Zeke's recommendation would make sense.
Still, it didn't erase all of Leon's doubts.
Usually, friends were people around the same age.
Most blacksmiths couldn't even reach half the Dwarves' skill after dedicating their entire lives to the craft.
Could there really exist a blacksmith around Zeke's age whose ability matched that of the Dwarves?
'Of course... Father is the type of person who might call even an eighty-year-old elder his friend.'
'But still...'
'At that age, they probably wouldn't even have the strength to lift a hammer anymore.'
He couldn't imagine his father recommending someone so frail.
'Well.'
'I'll know once I see them myself.'
As the saying went—
Seeing once was better than hearing a hundred times.
Until then, he needed to clear away the unnecessary thoughts filling his mind.
BOOM—!!
With that thought, Leon forcefully kicked off the ground.
Ever since his Essence, Energy, and Spirit had become one, controlling his Internal Energy had become incomparably smoother.
It genuinely felt as though his Internal Energy had become an extension of his own limbs.
Naturally, his movement technique had become much faster as well.
The Internal Energy flowing from his Dantian surged through the Yongcheon Acupoint at a speed incomparable to before.
BOOM—!!
The moment he kicked off the ground once more, the surrounding scenery blurred past him.
His hair fluttered wildly in the wind.
Enjoying the refreshing breeze, Leon shot forward with astonishing speed.
“AAAAAH!!”
Just then—
A scream reached his ears.
'That sound...'
Opening his senses, Leon immediately pinpointed its source.
'One person is surrounded by Demonic Beasts.'
'Judging by their size, they're probably Goblins.'
Leon let out a faint chuckle.
It was only natural.
He had once fought a Monster created from the fusion of a thousand Demonic Beasts.
Compared to that, these creatures were so weak that even ordinary people with no Mana training could kill them.
It was impossible not to laugh.
'Still...'
'It sounds more urgent than I thought.'
'I should hurry.'
The next instant—
A streak seemed to cut across the landscape before Leon completely vanished.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
When he reappeared—
He was already standing beside the Goblins.
The Goblins froze in surprise at the sudden appearance of a human.
—Kiik?
—Kikik?
Slash—!!
Leon's sword flashed like a ray of light, exploiting that brief opening.
His blade traced a flowing trajectory like rippling water before instantly cleaving through the Goblins.
Even someone ignorant of swordsmanship would have considered the strike beautiful.
It was so exquisite that—
Despite being the victims—
The Goblins stared blankly as though they had witnessed a magnificent work of art.
Only after their bodies split apart did those expressions disappear.
Crack—!!
A crimson line appeared across each Goblin's body before they split cleanly in half.
Only then did they realize they had died.
Expressions of horror spread across their faces.
Their despairing gazes turned toward Leon.
Ignoring them, Leon spoke.
“Are you alri—?”
He suddenly stopped.
Then blinked.
“A woman?”
The person Leon had saved—
Was a woman.
She stood there with her mouth hanging open as though she had witnessed a miracle.
A young woman whose most striking feature was her pink hair, as delicate as peach blossoms.
Suspicion appeared in Leon's eyes.
This was a remote mountain valley with almost no human traffic.
Even Leon would never have come here if it hadn't been the shortest route to Elphrel.
It was such treacherous terrain that even experienced hunters became lost.
So why—
Was a lone woman wandering through a place like this?
As Leon continued staring at her suspiciously—
She suddenly jumped to her feet.
“Ah!”
“Thank you so much for saving me!”
“You're my benefactor!”
“May I ask your name?”
“My name is Leon.”
“And yours?”
“I'm Bestie.”
“I see.”
“By the way, Bestie.”
“What were you doing out here?”
“I was gathering medicinal herbs.”
“My grandmother isn't in good health.”
“In a place like this?”
“I may not look it, but I actually live nearby.”
“Running into Demonic Beasts was...”
“I was just unlucky.”
Bestie scratched her cheek awkwardly and laughed.
Watching her, Leon thought,
'She doesn't appear to be lying.'
'Still... something bothers me.'
She possessed the innocent atmosphere unique to someone who had spent her entire life in a rural village.
Yet his instincts insisted that she was anything but ordinary.
Leon pondered.
By now, it had already been proven that his senses were exceptionally sharp.
Hadn't he discovered the presence of the Demon Race in Bulgarutu through instinct alone?
There had to be a reason those same instincts were warning him now.
The only strange part was—
He couldn't understand why this harmless-looking woman triggered that feeling.
'If she nearly died to Goblins, then her combat ability should be insignificant...'
'Could there be something else?'
Leon narrowed his eyes as he observed Bestie.
Feeling his gaze, she flinched.
“D-Did I do something wrong?”
“I simply find it strange.”
“Even healthy men rarely live in a mountain valley like this.”
“So it's odd that such a delicate woman as yourself lives here.”
“Ah.”
“That's because my grandmother has a special power.”
“A special power?”
“Um...”
“Do you know what a Witch is?”
“A Witch?”
Confusion filled Leon's eyes.
A Witch?
What exactly did she mean?
Seeing his reaction, Bestie sighed in relief.
“That's good.”
“Grandmother said our kind used to be persecuted.”
“But it looks like nobody remembers us anymore.”
“I've certainly never heard of you before.”
“To be honest, I don't know much about my own race either.”
“But Grandmother does.”
“Would you like to come with me?”
“You saved my life.”
“I'd feel terrible sending my benefactor away empty-handed.”
“……”
Leon quietly looked at Bestie.
Her face looked genuinely innocent.
She didn't appear to harbor any ulterior motives.
'At least my instincts aren't warning me that she's dangerous.'
'Following her seems like the better choice.'
In the past, he would have politely declined.
Leon wasn't someone who expected grand expressions of gratitude simply because he had helped someone in passing.
But this time was different.
'The Great Blood of Night.'
'Werewolves.'
'Merfolk.'
'Harpies.'
'New races have been hiding across the continent.'
'Learning about this race called Witches probably won't be a bad thing.'
Hearing his agreement, Bestie's face brightened.
“Thank you!”
“I thought you'd refuse because you always look so serious.”
“I'm really relieved.”
“Grandmother always says that failing to treat our benefactors to at least one meal would bring shame upon our race!”
“Come on!”
“I'll show you where we live!”
With that, Bestie began walking ahead.
Her steps never hesitated, proving she truly lived nearby.
Before long—
A small cabin appeared before Leon.
“We're here.”
Bestie spoke in a noticeably more relaxed tone.
It seemed the shock of nearly dying to Goblins had finally worn off.
Understandably so.
She had almost lost her life only moments earlier.
Anyone would still be shaken.
Even so, her naturally cheerful personality quickly returned.
“Oh, right.”
“When we go inside...”
“Please don't be surprised.”
“My grandmother is a little sensitive.”
“She gets upset whenever someone reacts to seeing our home.”
“She sounds rather unusual.”
“As long as you don't look surprised at first, it'll be fine.”
“If anything happens, I'll stop her.”
Bestie spoke with complete seriousness.
Leon nodded.
Everyone had their own shortcomings.
There was no reason to deliberately do something another person disliked.
Besides—
Even if he accidentally reacted in surprise, what could happen?
She was an elderly woman who had to ask her granddaughter to gather medicinal herbs because of her poor health.
At worst, he'd receive a scolding.
With that—
Bestie opened the cabin door.
BOOM—!!
The instant it opened—
Leon's eyes widened.
'This...?!'
An overwhelming pressure descended upon his entire body.
It felt as though gravity itself had increased dozens of times, crushing him beneath an invisible force.
Without realizing it—
Leon drew his sword.
It was pure instinct.
His body sensed mortal danger merely from the aura alone.
Grasping the weapon that protected him was only natural.
It wasn't until a moment later that he realized—
It had been the wrong move.
BOOOOM—!!
The pressure pressing down upon him intensified even further.
Unable to withstand the invisible aura—
Leon's feet sank deep into the ground.
Even so—
His gaze remained fixed inside the cabin.
He had to identify what was causing this.
Splurt—!!
Blood welled within his eyes.
He had strained them so intensely that the tiny blood vessels burst.
“Grandmother!”
Bestie suddenly shouted.
The innocent girl from moments ago had completely disappeared.
Her face twisted fiercely.
“Stop it!”
“He's the guest who saved me!”
The moment she finished speaking—
The invisible pressure vanished.
It had been terrifying enough to make his lungs shrink and his muscles freeze.
Yet one sentence from Bestie had erased it entirely.
Leon stared at her in utter disbelief.
“…What exactly is going on?”
“I'm sorry.”
“I should've explained everything more clearly.”
Bestie looked genuinely apologetic.
Lowering her head guiltily, she entered the cabin.
“Please wait just a little.”
“I'll talk with Grandmother and come back.”
“……”
Leon silently watched her disappear inside.
About half a gak later—
Bestie emerged from the cabin alongside a hunched old woman.
Her face was covered in deep wrinkles.
Leaning on a cane, the elderly woman looked toward Leon.
“Hmmm.”
“My apologies.”
“I smelled blood on my granddaughter and became agitated without thinking.”
“I hear you're the one who saved Bestie.”
“Please, come inside.”
“At the very least, allow this old woman to offer you a meal.”
“…Thank you for your kindness.”
Leon answered with visible caution.
The old woman smiled warmly.
“Hohoho.”
“There's no need to be so frightened.”
“I know I behaved rudely.”
“I'll prepare a special restorative meal for you.”
After saying that, she turned around, gesturing for him to follow.
Watching the elderly woman slowly walk back into the cabin—
Bestie laughed awkwardly.
“Haha...”
“I'm really sorry.”
“Grandmother treasures me very much.”
“Please come inside.”
“The restorative meals she makes are truly incredible.”
“Very well.”
Only after confirming there was no hostility did Leon finally move.
Entering the cabin, he quietly surveyed the surroundings.
'It's... an ordinary cabin.'
The home of those who called themselves Witches looked completely normal.
Aside from a few strange talismans hanging around—
It was no different from any ordinary house.
As Leon continued observing the interior—
“I've brought it.”
The elderly woman returned carrying two bowls of porridge.
“You're a big lad.”
“I figured you'd have a hearty appetite.”
“It's been a long time since I last showed off my cooking.”
“So eat as much as you'd like.”
“Then I shall gratefully accept.”
Leon picked up the spoon and took a bite.
It tasted like ordinary vegetable porridge.
Aside from becoming richer the more he chewed—
It truly was ordinary.
After finishing the entire bowl, Leon spoke.
“Thank you.”
“It was delicious.”
“Hohoho.”
“I'm glad to hear that.”
“By the way…”
“Would this old woman be allowed to ask you a question?”
“If you'll answer one of mine afterward.”
“An exchange of questions, then.”
“Very well.”
“I'll ask first.”
At that moment—
The old woman's eyes turned crimson.
Letting out an eerie glow, she chuckled.
“So tell me.”
“What brings the descendant of the Grand Warrior all the way out here?