kscans

Chapter 38 - Final Episode : The Legendary Master Blacksmith [END]

"Dareth-san! Thank you so much for protecting the country! Thanks to you, peace has been preserved!"

"You’re truly the shining hope for us middle-aged folks! I’m going to aim to be an old guy just like you!"

"You are a legendary master blacksmith! The name Dareth will be passed down for generations to come!"

Right now, I’m on the balcony of the Royal Palace. The restoration of the buildings had progressed since then, and it was back to a state where only a few cracks remained on the walls. Below me were countless soldiers and citizens. They were all praising me for repairing the Calamity. And next to me stood Militar, Iz, and Bayonet.

"Sensei’s proper reputation has finally spread throughout the country. I am truly delighted."

"It seems you will be even busier from now on, Dareth-sama."

"Papa is just as amazing as I thought. I’m going to brag to everyone that you’re my papa."

They too praised me with happy smiles. I thought I would live out my life as a provincial blacksmith. But thanks to them, I had become the number one blacksmith in the kingdom.

"Thank you, all three of you. The reason I’m standing here is all thanks to you."

And so, my honest feelings naturally came out as words.

"W, what are you saying, Sensei, that it’s thanks to us?"

"That’s right. If anything, we are the ones who should be thanking you."

"Papa has always been like this, you know."

I wonder why they're all so bashful. Even after living for forty years, I still don't understand the hearts of women. As I was watching them, Her Majesty the Queen quietly approached. I straightened my posture and turned to face her with a sense of respect.

"Dareth. I hereby award you the Hammer of Grossa, the proof of being the number one blacksmith in the Grossa Kingdom. Continue to devote yourself to your training."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

What I received was a decorative hammer made of gold. It glinted and shone in the sunlight. Her Majesty the Queen had it prepared in a hurry after the evil spirits were sealed. It's wonderfully beautiful.

"Now, show it to those below."

"Yes, ma’am."

When I raised the golden hammer, the crowd grew even more excited. The entire palace was enveloped in great cheers.

"Dareth, allow me to thank you once again. Thanks to you, the country was saved. I cannot thank you enough."

"You honor me, Your Majesty. I only did what I could..."

"And I am saying that what you did was incredible."

I exchanged a firm handshake with Her Majesty the Queen. Hearing the cheers of the citizens and soldiers, and seeing their smiles, I truly felt that all my hard work had been worth it.

"Dareth, we have prepared a banquet after this. I insist that you attend."

"Thank you. I would be honored to attend."

After the ceremony, a grand banquet was held in the great hall of the Royal Palace. Expensive-looking meat, expensive-looking fish, expensive-looking fruit, and expensive-looking liquor... it was a parade of all things expensive. Maybe I should finally stop my habit of converting everything into how many of my meals it's worth.

"Now then, everyone, raise your cups. In praise of Dareth’s achievements... Cheers!"

""Cheers!""

At Her Majesty’s call, cups clinked together, and a pleasant karan karan sound echoed through the hall. With the meal barely started, numerous soldiers, blacksmiths, and citizens gathered around me.

"Dareth-san! Thank you so much for coming to the Royal Capital!"

"I’ll do my best to catch up to you as soon as possible!"

"Please make a pot for me sometime! It’s my dream to use a tool made by you, Dareth-san!"

Everyone seemed very excited. I suppose it can't be helped with a banquet this lavish. Still, it seems I’m really not good at being the center of attention.

"Ah, no, I’m really just a regular old guy."

""That humility is also wonderful!""

When I tried to be humble, they were only more impressed. And then they would begin to passionately discuss amongst themselves just how amazing I was.

"There seems to be no end to Sensei’s popularity. It is the pride of my life to have had such a wonderful person forge my weapon."

"I too will continue to train diligently, so as not to bring shame upon the staff Dareth-sama has made for me."

"I’ll treasure Papa’s gun for the rest of my life."

"Thank you, everyone. I’m happy too."

To have the things I’ve made be used forever, that is the greatest joy a blacksmith can ask for. I have to keep working hard too. As I thought that and downed my cup, the night quietly deepened.


The next day, as we were repairing the walls, we heard the excited voices of soldiers.

"Hey! Something big is happening!"

When I looked toward the voices, a large crowd had already formed. It didn't seem to be an emergency, though.

"I wonder what happened?"

"Let’s go and see, Sensei."

The four of us headed toward the crowd. When they saw Militar, the soldiers parted to make way. And in the center was...

""E, elves...?""

It was a group of women who had an aura like glass that might break if you touched it. Everyone had pointed ears and exuded the unique aura of elves. As expected of the Grossa Kingdom. To have visitors like these. As I was admiring them in my mind, the elf at the front stepped forward.

"I’ve finally found you, Dere-kun."

"...Huh?"

The elf at the very front was staring at me. W, who is she? I shouldn't have any elf acquaintances...

"Don’t you remember, Dere-kun? I’m Emeral. You made a toy jewel for me a long time ago."

The moment I heard the woman’s name in a voice like a silver bell, the memories of fifteen years ago came rushing back. Right, this girl is Emeral. For a time, a group of elves had visited the area near Rieten. Back then, she used to play with Militar and the others.

"You’ve grown so much, Emeral. I almost didn't recognize you."

"So you remembered me..."

Hearing our conversation, the soldiers grew even more excited.

"Amazing... Dareth-san is acquainted with elves too. He’s so well-connected."

"As expected of the peerless blacksmith. His depths are unknowable."

"There will never be another person like him."

She was just another neighborhood kid, but... how many of them were there again? Vague silhouettes of people floated up in my mind. I think there were at least ten of them...

"The jewel you made for me, Dere-kun, created a barrier that protects my country. But just in case, I would like you to perform some maintenance on it soon. Come, Dere-kun. Let us go to the land of the elves at once."

"Ah, no, wait a sec."

As I was vaguely thinking, Emeral grabbed my arm. She began to pull me along with great force. She was quite strong for her appearance. Of course, there was no way Militar and the others would let that slide.

"Wait. We cannot allow you to take Sensei... ahem, Dareth-dono, away without an explanation. He is a very important blacksmith."

"That’s right, Emeral-san. Please explain first."

"No hogging Papa all to yourself."

Militar and the others held me back. Seeing this, there was no way the palace soldiers wouldn’t get excited.

"Dareth-san is so popular with the ladies. Man, I’m so jealous."

"It’s true that men who are good at their jobs are popular."

"I’m going to aim to be a cool, rugged old guy like Dareth-san too."

Well, no, that’s not really what this is about... As I was being pulled by my arms from both sides, a certain thought came to me. I’m already forty years old. To be frank, I’m past the prime of my life. But.

...It seems retirement is still a long way off.