After finishing our hunt by the Veil Lake, we headed to Rika’s mansion, after selling the monsters at the Hunter’s Guild and picking up Ed and the others from Albert Workshop.
We also received the engagement daggers that I asked Ed to make for Prim, Meena, Flam, and Rika. But for some reason, I was also handed daggers for Lidia, Ludia, and even Princess Yuriana.
“I knew this would happen, and you’ll probably have more women joining you, so I made a few extra,” Ed said, handing me a large number of daggers. I was still feeling unsettled.
However, I didn’t know how long we’d be staying in the Royal Capital, and only the crafters at Albert Workshop could work with Lapis Lazuli Silver. So, with lingering unease, I accepted the daggers.
When I gave them the daggers, everyone was delighted, so I suppose it’s fine.
Furthermore, the swords made of Lapis Lazuli Silver that I ordered for Prince Reinhardt, the Grand Hunter’s Master, and the Associate Order’s Master were also ready, so I received those as well.
The sword made for Prince Reinhardt was adorned with such luxurious decorations that it could be called the Sword of Kings. Its color was golden, which, while flashy, I thought would suit Prince Reinhardt, who is also the next king.
The sword for the Grand Hunter’s Master had a red blade that extended to about the middle of the hilt. It wasn’t a knuckle guard, but it was similar, so I thought it would be easy to use.
And for the Associate Order’s Master, Dianos, Meena’s father, the sword had a thick blade with decorations. It wasn’t flashy, as it was made with Orders in mind, but it was still a sword that was both sincere and ornate.
Incidentally, all three swords are single-handed straight swords, but only the Grand Hunter’s Master’s sword is single-edged. I had asked them what kind of swords they used, so it wasn’t intentional.
I am supposed to hand these three swords over to each of them. For Prince Reinhardt and Dianos, it makes sense given Princess Yuriana and Meena, but I thought Ed should hand the sword to the Grand Hunter’s Master.
“You’re the leader of this Union, aren’t you?” Ed said, leaving me speechless.
Richard and Talos asked me to look after Ed and the others, and as we were seeing them off, we headed towards Rika’s mansion.
“I’ve been waiting for you. The Grand Hunter’s Master is also here,” Rika said, greeting me with surprise at the mansion.
“Hello, Rika,” Prim replied.
“Hello, Prim. I understand that preparations for Lady Apricot are also complete,” Rika said.
“I understand.”
Lady Apricot will also be accompanying us on this trip to the Royal Capital. While it is partly for her to officially seek asylum in Amister, it is more importantly to inform them of our survival and to prevent her from being used by Valentia or the Anti-Beast King Organization. To seek protection from the Amister Royal Family, it is necessary for not only Prim but also Lady Apricot to accompany us. Since Prim and I are married, Lady Apricot has become my stepmother. If anyone tries to use us, I certainly won’t stand idly by.
“Also, I haven’t told the Grand Hunter’s Master yet, but are you sure this is okay?” Rika asked.
“Yes. This isn’t a guard reward; it’s our way of showing our feelings. It wouldn’t feel right to tell them beforehand, would it?”
The fact that the Grand Hunter’s Master readily agreed to Ed and the others going to the Royal Capital pleased Ed and the others, as well as Richard. After all, with Traveling, any monsters or thieves who might attack them on the way to the Royal Capital would be rendered irrelevant. There was no safer way to travel. While the ability to produce Jade Silver and Blue-Gray Iron would benefit the Grand Hunter’s Master, the Grand Hunter’s Master’s accompanying us was still a great comfort, even considering that. That is why Richard, using Lapis Lazuli Silver, put his heart into finishing the sword.
“That’s true. And speaking of Lapis Lazuli Silver, crafted by Master Richard, I wonder how valuable it is?” Rika mused.
I could understand Rika’s feelings. After all, Richard was one of the few A-rank crafters in Amister, and when it came to blacksmithing, he was said to be the best in Amister.
“My grandpa never cared about things like that,” Ludia said.
“Right? Besides, if he really cared, he would have been taken in by the Royal Family or become a Grand Crafter’s Master,” Ludia added.
The grandchild couple spoke without reservation, but that was indeed likely the case.
“Perhaps. Well then, please come inside. Prim, I’ll show you to Lady Apricot’s room,” Rika said.
“Please do.”
After seeing Prim off to Lady Apricot’s room, we were led to the reception room.
“I’ve been waiting. You’ve gone and done something outrageous again,” the Grand Hunter’s Master said, opening his mouth with an exasperated sigh.
“So you’ve already heard?”
“Given who you were up against, and the fact that the Hunter’s Guild cannot remain uninvolved, it’s only natural.”
Lidia also looked at me with dismay, but please stop looking at me like that.
“Ah, well, the fact that we could defeat them is good, right? That’s all there is to it.”
“This is more than just a matter of that. Not only could you defeat them, but to do so without a scratch and with energy to spare is on a level that questions common sense. And if that’s an undeniable fact, then if Solemn or Retisencia knew, they would take you in by any means necessary?”
This is precisely what the Provincial Governor and Guild Master have repeatedly warned me about. Furthermore, they added that they would likely enslave us and exploit us until we died. I agree with that completely, so I am all for keeping it secret.
“Even if they made you an illegal slave, the effect would wear off quickly, wouldn’t it?”
Is that so? Everyone else is surprised too, but what does that mean?
“You didn’t know, I suppose. But you do know that clerical magic’s enslavement spells are less effective on High Classes, don’t you?” the Grand Hunter’s Master asked.
“Yes. Therefore, there are higher-level enslavement spells for High Classes.”
“That’s right. However, even those spells don’t have the coercive force you might expect. The effect is permanent, though.”
I know that. In fact, Princess Marianne, Saches, and Barbatos are under them, and I’ve heard that they have to issue commands daily to maintain their coercive force.
“But when it comes to Ancient Classes, those enslavement spells have no effect. In fact, my master was once subjected to an enslavement artifact by Solemn and it didn’t take.”
“Seriously?”
I believe his master was Shinichi Mibu? I heard he was a guest and an Ancient Hunter, and Solemn was planning to enslave him illegally and exploit him?
“Calm down. Your anger is justified, but my master foresaw that and deliberately let them use the enslavement artifact. Solemn also seemed to believe the artifact wouldn’t work, and was apparently quite confused.”
That would be natural. After all, to think they had acquired an Ancient Hunter as a slave, only to discover it was ineffective. Even for Solemn, wouldn’t it cause considerable damage if an Ancient Hunter infiltrated them?
“Indeed, that was the case. Since then, Solemn has not dared to interfere with Ancient Classes. They only began attacking Torencia after Kazushi-sama’s death, and they hesitate to attack Alegria because I am here.”
I had heard rumors that Solemn was struggling to attack Alegria because the Grand Hunter’s Master was there, but was that true? I’ve heard they are an expansionist military nation, but if they fear Ancient Classes, aren’t Solemn actually not that formidable?
“Of course they fear it. Especially Yamato, who can defeat a Demise Species alone? Fighting someone like that would surely lead to the destruction of their country.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Ludia’s point.
“That’s right. Moreover, facing two such incredible beings would make it questionable whether only the nation would be destroyed.”
Isn’t that a bit harsh? Besides, if the country is destroyed, that’s the end of it.
“You mean to say that you two could destroy the Imperial Capital and change the topography at the same time?”
Ah, so that’s what you mean. No! Even I can’t change the topography!
“No, you can,” Marina said.
“That’s right,” Fiana added.
I can’t!
“Because after Prim defeated the Empress, I heard the ground was severely gouged,” Ludia said.
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“So I’ve heard. I wonder how one can do such a thing,” the Grand Hunter’s Master mused.
“Can’t you do it, Grand Hunter’s Master?” Prim asked.
“Impossible. I can’t even defeat an Aberration alone. But these two defeated even Demise Species individually, and overwhelmingly at that. While we are both Ancient Classes, I can’t compare myself to them.”
Though it pains my ears, with this Lapis Lazuli Silver sword, wouldn’t the Grand Hunter’s Master be able to defeat not only S-I ranked monsters but perhaps also G-I or S-C ranked monsters?
“Weaponry is also an issue. Ah, and Ed and the others asked me to give this to you as a token of their gratitude to the Grand Hunter’s Master.”
Attempting to change the subject, I took the sword made for the Grand Hunter’s Master out of storage and handed it to him.
“What is this?”
“It’s a Lapis Lazuli Silver sword crafted by my grandpa. I had it made into a single-edged, single-handed straight sword, which you seem to favor, so the usability shouldn’t change much,” Ed explained.
“W-What did you say?” The Grand Hunter’s Master’s eyes widened in surprise.
“That’s right, Lapis Lazuli Silver is an alloy comparable to Divine Metal, isn’t it? And you made that for me?”
“It’s the least we can do as thanks for escorting us to the Royal Capital with Traveling. We need to report the manufacturing method as soon as possible and spread it.”
“No, from my perspective, if the manufacturing method spreads, I can also request weapons, and the survival rate of High Hunters will increase, so it is only natural that I assist in spreading it. But I never imagined you would use Lapis Lazuli Silver… I am truly grateful. Thank you.”
He’s overjoyed. Knowing about the Demise Species, he probably also knows that Holy Grave and Orders used weapons made of Jade Silver and Blue-Gray Iron, so it’s not strange that he would want one for himself. Moreover, for an Ancient Wolfie like the Grand Hunter’s Master, the problem of weaponry is more serious than for High Classes. Furthermore, if this alloy spreads, the combat power and survival rate of High Hunters and High Orders will undoubtedly increase, and monsters that were previously difficult to defeat may become easier to defeat. This will also lead to increased safety for the people, so it’s not a bad thing for Hunters who hunt monsters and Orders who protect cities to become stronger.
There are some tyrannical Hunters, and I’ve heard that knights of other countries look down on commoners, but that’s another issue.
He drew the sword from its scabbard and gazed at the beautiful crimson blade with a look of adoration. I felt that perhaps I had managed a small act of retaliation. It was good that he was happy, though.
