Chapter 107 : The Warrior Returns Home (2)
Chapter 107: The Warrior Returns Home (2)
The moment Phil made his decision, he immediately headed to where Leon lived.
He intended to see with his own eyes just what kind of incredible weapon Leon had obtained that made him reject his offer.
And so, when Phil arrived at Leon's home, he saw it.
A sword with a blue blade that seemed to contain the very sky itself.
He knew from just a single glance.
The sword in Leon's hand had been forged with craftsmanship that surpassed his own.
“You brat! Where did you get that sword?!”
Phil shouted in a cry that was almost a cheer.
Hearing the voice behind him, Leon turned around.
“That person is...?”
He wasn't someone Leon remembered. Who was he?
Just as Leon narrowed his eyes at the man—
“Hah! I never thought it'd turn out like this.”
Adam let out an incredulous laugh.
“Leon, that's Master Phil, the man I told you about.”
“That man?”
Leon widened his eyes.
Although he had only learned about him today, Leon already knew that Phil occupied an extremely high position.
Yet someone like that had personally come looking for him.
‘Surely it isn't because I rejected his offer?’
The odds were extremely low, but it wasn't impossible.
Phil had even sent one of his disciples for his sake.
No matter how dull Leon was, he knew that wasn't ordinary treatment.
Phil had probably extended that kindness because he expected something from him.
‘And I refused that kindness.’
Leon looked at Phil with a cautious gaze.
However, Phil paid no attention to it whatsoever.
He strode directly toward Leon and demanded,
“You! You little brat! Where did you get this sword?!”
“…Do I really have to tell you?”
“Do you really have to tell me?”
Phil snorted as though the very question was absurd.
“Hah! What a bold little punk. Forget it. Just hand me the sword.”
“……”
Leon looked toward Adam with a bewildered expression.
‘Brother... this man is normal, right? He suddenly wants to take my sword.’
‘Hmm... He normally isn't like this. I'm sure he has a reason. Just stay still for now.’
At Adam's words, Leon obediently handed over the sword.
Although he wasn't pleased by such sudden rudeness, it was Adam's advice.
There was no harm in listening.
“Oooooh...!!”
The moment Phil received the sword, he gasped in ecstasy.
After examining it from every angle, he spoke in a trembling voice, as though witnessing a miracle.
“I've never seen craftsmanship like this in my life. Even the Dwarves couldn't produce such meticulous work. Son of Zeke, where in the world did you obtain this sword?”
Phil's face was completely flushed with excitement.
As expected of Elphrel's greatest craftsman.
He had immediately recognized the true value of the sword Kirke had forged.
‘Even so, that's quite the reaction. I don't think even Adam reacted this strongly.’
Perhaps it was because he was a craftsman.
He seemed to understand the true worth of the Cosmos Sword more clearly than anyone else.
“Why aren't you answering? I asked who forged this sword.”
“My apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment. The one who forged that sword is named Kirke.”
“Kirke? I've never heard that name before. What race are they? A Dwarf?”
“She said she was a Witch.”
“What?”
Phil frowned as though he had just heard something he never should have.
“A Witch? That Witch?”
“Do you know something about them?”
“Not in detail. I only know the stories passed down among the Dwarves.”
“And what stories would those be?”
“……”
Rather than answering, Phil simply stared at Leon.
Leon asked curiously,
“Why aren't you saying anything?”
“Because what you said is too ridiculous. Witches are beings that only exist in legends. Yet you're telling me you've actually met one. From my perspective, how could I not question that?”
“So... you're doubting my words?”
“If you were me, would you believe them so easily?”
“……”
Leon slowly shook his head.
If Phil truly knew about Witches, then he also knew just how unbelievable Leon's story sounded.
After all, the Witch race had disappeared from the world long ago.
They were beings who survived only in Dwarven legends.
Even if Leon claimed to have met one, it wasn't the sort of story anyone could simply accept.
However, Leon paid little attention to Phil's skepticism.
“If you don't believe me, then please return my sword. It was a gift from someone important to me.”
“……”
Phil's expression immediately became awkward.
He knew it himself.
His current behavior was extremely rude.
‘I made a mistake. I should've at least pretended to believe him.’
Right now, Phil had encountered the greatest opportunity of his entire life.
Simply looking at Leon's sword continuously flooded him with inspiration.
‘If I could, I'd take it with me right now, but...’
Phil glanced at Leon.
At first glance, Leon appeared expressionless.
But Phil had seen it.
The blazing fire burning within Leon's eyes.
‘If I don't return it... it feels like he'll cut my head off on the spot.’
Reluctantly, Phil suppressed his lingering regret and handed the sword back.
“My apologies. Seeing such an extraordinary sword caused me to lose my composure for a moment. As compensation, I'll make you anything you want.”
“Really?”
Adam was the one who reacted in shock.
His response was even more intense than Leon's, the person actually receiving the offer.
Unable to understand Adam's reaction, Leon asked,
“Why are you making such a fuss over him making one item?”
“You should be thankful you're my little brother. If anyone else had said that, I'd have punched them in the face.”
Adam shook his head.
“Leon, something made by Master Phil isn't something you can receive easily. Even I only managed to get one because of Father's recommendation.”
However, that wasn't enough to interest Leon.
After all, Leon already possessed everything he needed.
What more did a warrior require?
A weapon he could wield in battle.
That alone was enough.
And Leon already possessed a sword so magnificent that even calling it a Divine Weapon couldn't fully describe it.
Because of that, Leon politely declined Phil's offer.
He appreciated the sentiment, but there was no helping it.
Tools existed to be used.
Accepting something he would never use was nothing more than greed.
“……”
Phil's reaction was less than pleasant.
“S-Son of Zeke... Leon. I'm the finest blacksmith in Elphrel.”
“I know.”
“Then you also understand how difficult it is to commission a weapon from someone like me.”
“I know that as well.”
Then why are you throwing away this opportunity?
Phil barely swallowed those words before they escaped his mouth.
‘What is wrong with this kid?’
Phil had seen countless warriors throughout his life.
Many of them cared little for weapons.
Yet no matter how indifferent they were, none had ever refused a weapon forged by Phil.
Naturally.
By the standards of the Martial World, Phil was a craftsman who ranked among the very best.
Moreover, Elphrel was a nation where professions other than warriors could hardly flourish.
Yet Phil was the craftsman who made even those warriors bow their heads.
A man respected despite not being a warrior in the Land of Warriors.
That was Phil.
‘So why are you...?!’
For a brief moment, Phil nearly lost his temper.
Perhaps it was because he'd seen such an extraordinary sword.
Normally, he would've brushed this off without issue.
Yet once again, he nearly lost control.
‘Calm down. I still have countless things I need to ask him.’
Most importantly...
He needed to find the craftsman who had forged this sword.
‘When he mentioned someone who existed only in legends, I honestly couldn't believe it. But the more I look at this sword... the more my thoughts change.’
The sword, seemingly forged from Atilans' Tear, possessed an irresistible charm.
And the more accomplished the craftsman...
The more overwhelming that charm became.
‘Beautiful. Beautiful enough that I can truly believe it was forged by someone straight out of legend.’
“Please return it now.”
At that moment, Leon took the sword back.
Startled by the sudden movement, Phil exclaimed,
“What are you doing?”
“Taking back what's mine. Is there a problem?”
“No... well... not exactly.”
Looking at it objectively, Phil was the one at fault.
He had suddenly come to Leon's home and taken his sword without permission.
No matter how great a blacksmith he was, that was undeniably rude.
In fact, if another warrior had witnessed this scene, they would've asked Leon why he hadn't challenged Phil to a duel to the death.
That was how serious it was to take away a warrior's weapon.
“Then at least tell me where the one who forged this sword lives.”
Phil had already decided he would seek out the craftsman personally.
It was regrettable that he couldn't continue admiring the treasure before him.
But if he met the one who had created such a treasure...
Perhaps he'd witness something even more extraordinary.
Just as Phil spoke while suppressing his disappointment—
“And why should I do that?”
Leon answered with an unconvinced expression.
“Why should I tell you that?”
“It's not a difficult request. Surely you can at least tell me that much?”
“Did they entrust you with it? No. How do I know what you might do to the person who forged my sword?”
“You little...!”
Now you've really done it!
Phil spoke with an irritated face.
“Listen here, brat. I'm Phil. The greatest blacksmith in Elphrel. Why do you think someone like me wants to meet the craftsman who forged that sword?”
“To steal their unique forging techniques? You may be a blacksmith now, but you used to be a warrior. If you threaten them with force, it'd probably be easy.”
“…What?”
Phil stared at him in disbelief.
“Does that even make sense?”
“Why wouldn't it? Like I said, I know absolutely nothing about you.”
“……”
Phil slowly turned toward Adam.
His gaze clearly seemed to ask,
Is this really your younger brother?
Adam could only nod awkwardly.
Regardless of how Leon was acting toward Phil right now...
He was still undeniably his younger brother.
“Hah!”
Phil let out a laugh.
“So you're not someone moved by personal feelings like Adam and Elsa.”
“I can be moved by personal feelings. I just don't recall there being any meaningful relationship between you and me.”
“Then I suppose we'll have to make a deal. In exchange for telling me where the craftsman who forged that sword lives, I'll grant you one request within my ability. Is that acceptable?”
“Hmm...”
Leon slowly looked Phil up and down.
At first glance, he looked like nothing more than an ordinary middle-aged man.
So this was the man respected by all the warriors of Elphrel...
‘Because of his rude behavior just now, it's hard to see him that way.’
Still...
His reputation spoke for itself.
And it wasn't as though he was asking for anything unreasonable.
‘It'd probably be better to agree.’