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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Aenin (2)
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"Who… who in the world are you!"
"You came for me, so why do you keep asking my name?"
Aenin's eyes, once wild with madness, now shrank like a frightened goldfish's.
"How do you know my age! And Sephiroth isn't a name some Lox family delinquent should know!"
"That's what you think. From now on, I'll be the one asking the questions, so shut your mouth."
"Ugh…"
I kept staring into Aenin's eyes, and unable to meet my gaze, he averted his head.
"Decided to drop the child act? Your tone, your face… you've aged into an old man in an instant."
As if in reaction to his usual child-like appearance, Aenin's face and neck were now covered in wrinkles.
"Grrr…"
"How many members does Sephiroth currently have?"
"Fourteen. Huh?"
Aenin answered involuntarily, then clamped a hand over his own mouth in surprise.
"Wha-what! Why did I answer!"
It was the effect of one of the poisons I'd fed Aenin—a truth serum.
With Aenin's mental state crumbling, the truth serum was working perfectly.
"Fourteen…"
Since the truth serum was in effect, his words had to be true. But I had set the number of Sephiroth members at twelve. There were two new ones I didn't know about.
"Are you sure it's fourteen?"
"Y-Yes."
"Besides you and Beil, who else is there? No, let me rephrase. Who are the two newest members?"
"How do you know that…"
Hearing my words, Aenin's eyes trembled like plucked guitar strings.
"When and how did they join?"
"A f-few years ago, the Three Dukes brought in two new guys. Ah, the Three Dukes are…"
"I know the Three Dukes are your leaders. Just tell me who they brought."
"Gasp!"
The Three Dukes have been around since Sephiroth was founded. They are treated as elders within the organization and hold the most influence.
"Th-They're called the Sword Fiend and the Fist Sovereign. One carries a sword, and the other wears black knuckles. Other than being quite skilled, I don't know much about them."
The information that one used a sword and the other fists was too broad to be of any use.
"Why don't you know who they are? Knowing Beil's personality, he must have investigated them."
"Unlike us, they have no external duties. They're just like puppies, always trailing after the Three Dukes."
"Completely useless. Let's move on to the next question. What was your and Beil's purpose for seeking the tooth?"
"..."
Whether he didn't want to speak or couldn't, Aenin clamped his hands over his mouth.
"It would've been better for you to just talk… I'm not a patient man."
"What?"
*Snap!*
I flicked my fingers, making a crisp sound as if giving a signal.
"Wha-what are you doing…"
Aenin had no idea why I had left him unrestrained.
"Huh? Kugh!"
Not even ten seconds passed before Aenin, his face beet red, began writhing on the ground, clawing at his own ribs.
"Kraaaaaaah!"
Aenin's scream, saturated with agony, echoed through the empty night sky.
"Kuaargh! S-Stop... please! I'll, I'll tell you everything!"
Less than ten seconds after the poison took effect, Aenin began to beg, grabbing my shoes with trembling hands.
"Hah!"
A derisive snort escaped me at the sight of a murderer, who had toyed with and killed hundreds of people, unable to withstand a poison for even ten seconds.
"Ugh…"
I neutralized the poison, and Aenin groaned as he got to his feet.
"Was your and Beil's goal in acquiring the tooth to eliminate the Three Dukes?"
"H-How did you know…"
"I suppose Black Sword is involved too. Was it a plan hatched by the three of you—you, Beil, and Black Sword?"
"J-Just who are you…"
I had considered two possibilities for Beil's objective.
One was to use the God-Slaying weapon to hunt a spirit beast and take the item it guarded. The second was to use the God-Slaying weapon to target the Three Dukes.
It seemed Beil's objective was the latter.
"Well, to hunt monsters that aren't human, you'd need a tooth like that."
"What do you…"
Aenin was so stunned that I knew everything, he couldn't even speak properly.
"You're targeting the Three Dukes out of a lust for power and because you think they run Sephiroth as they please. And probably because they brought in new members on their own whim."
I didn't know who the Sword Fiend and Fist Sovereign were, but I now had a complete grasp of how Sephiroth was operating.
"..."
Aenin didn't answer, but his expression was the most shocked I had ever seen.
Judging by his state, he was utterly terrified of me, who seemed to know everything.
"How did you get the information that the tooth was in the Kracis Kingdom's vault?"
"I-I don't know. I swear. Beil obtained that information on his own."
Aenin, terrified by my very existence, began speaking more formally.
"Just learning the current state of Sephiroth is a decent haul."
"Th-Then, me…"
As if seeing a sliver of hope in my words, Aenin's face, which looked like it had been hit by twice its years, brightened slightly.
"I'll make it painless."
***
"There shouldn't be any smell."
By the time I finished cleaning up with Bone Melting Powder, it was quite late. The moon had already tipped past the center of the sky.
"I should head back quietly."
I returned to the village, thinking everyone would be asleep, but the village center was as bright as day.
About ten paladins were resting in a small barracks pitched in a corner, and inside, I could see Bairek openly dozing off.
Another ten paladins stood guard on the village outskirts, while the remaining ten were guarding a building with ironclad security.
"Grand Prince."
Arin, who had been lingering at the village entrance, approached me as soon as she saw me.
Arin said nothing, simply scanning my entire body. Her gaze stopped on the bloodstain on my shirt. It was from when I'd blown off Aenin's jaw.
"Are you injured anywhere?"
I was grateful for Arin's consideration in not asking what had happened.
"This isn't my blood, so don't worry. It's late, go get some rest."
"Understood."
Arin acknowledged my words but then fell in step behind me. It seemed she had no intention of resting until I did.
Together with Arin, I headed for Testein's smithy. In front of it, a few dwarves stood with their arms crossed, watching the work inside.
*Fwoosh.*
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
"I apologize for the noise when you should be sleeping. They're forging my weapon…"
I apologized with a sorry look to a brown-bearded dwarf near the entrance.
"No need to apologize. It's not the first time that old coot has done this. Dwarves are known to wake up in the middle of the night to hammer away. Don't worry about it. Ho ho."
Calling him an old coot suggested this dwarf was close to Testein.
"Besides, working through the night like that is normal for me and the other dwarves. You have to craft a masterpiece when the inspiration strikes. In a dwarf village, the sound of a hammer is no different from a lullaby."
"Thank you."
"Not at all. It's just the truth."
I gave the brown-bearded dwarf a slight nod and walked to the left, where I could see inside the smithy.
*Clang!*
*CLANG!*
"Hold it tighter!"
"Yes, sir!"
Thankfully, it seemed Testein hadn't kicked Giranox out. He was assisting at Testein's side, sweating profusely.
"But why does he seem to be… sparkling?"
I could understand him looking bright from the fire and sweat, but there was something else, a white shimmer, radiating from Giranox.
[Activating Creator's Eye.]
[Name: Giranox]
[Traits: Demonic Weapon Creation (魔兵創造), Fire Affinity Lv. 3, Concentration Lv. 3, Precision Lv. 2, Judgment Lv. 1, Appraisal Lv. 1, Artisan's Soul Lv. 1]
[Favorability: 77 (Deep Trust)]
[Current Mood: Wants to create the ultimate masterpiece.]
"Huh?"
I was even more surprised than when Aenin had appeared here.
I didn't know how, but while I was out, Giranox had copied the 'Artisan's Soul' trait that Testein possessed.
Giranox, unaware that he had gained a new trait, was focusing all his attention on the fang before him.
"Incredible. Bringing that kid with me might be one of the best strokes of luck I've had."
Giranox's growth was on another level compared to anyone I'd ever seen. Recruiting him was truly a masterstroke.
Marveling at Giranox's rapid growth, I headed toward where the Saintess was.
*Ching!*
Inside the smithy that had been repaired for a second time, guarded by ten paladins like a fortress wall, was Irea.
*Ching!*
As soon as the smithy's preparations were complete, the refinement of the Holy Stone began. Irea was performing minute control over the divine power, ensuring the energy within the stone didn't erupt or overflow.
"She is quite remarkable."
The brown-bearded dwarf who had called Testein an old coot earlier appeared stealthily, though I don't know when he started following me.
"The last time I refined a Holy Stone, five priests came, but for her to control that immense divine power all by herself… it's an incredible ability."
"I see."
Refining a Holy Stone isn't something that finishes in an hour or two.
It would take until at least tomorrow morning, or even noon, yet Irea maintained her smile, even encouraging the dwarves in a soft, calm tone.
"I'll be on my way."
"Benefactor. Please rest well."
After watching Irea a little longer, I took Arin and headed to the quarters assigned to us.
"Rest well."
After watching Arin leave the room, I sat on the floor in a meditative posture.
"Hmm."
The faces of Irea, Giranox, and Testein lingered in my mind, and I felt I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
I closed my eyes and began circulating the Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi. Focusing on the flow of my internal energy, the distracting thoughts that filled my head soon drained away, and I quickly entered a state of selflessness.
*Clatter.*
*Thud.*
I was deep in my cultivation for a long while before the sound of many people moving outside brought me back.
When I went outside, the sun was already high in the sky, and I saw all the paladins surrounding the smithy where Irea was.
When I got there, I found her still maintaining the same uncomfortable-looking posture and serene smile from last night.
"Isn't she amazing?"
Bairek appeared beside me and muttered.
"In refining a Holy Stone, the artisan is important, but so is the priest. A stone of that size would require at least four priests, yet the Saintess is handling it all by herself."
Bairek, who had just woken up from a full night's sleep, wore an arrogant expression as if he'd done the hard work himself.
I could even see sleep crust in his left eye. I really didn't know what to make of this guy.
*Ching!*
"It's almost done."
*CHAAANG!*
As the dwarf struck the final blow with his chisel, the Holy Stone, which had been shaped like an ordinary, angular rock, transformed into a beautifully proportioned heptagon.
"It is done!"
"Hah, thank you for your hard work."
Irea thanked the dwarf before collapsing in the smithy.
"S-Saintess!"
"Saintess!"
The knights rushed over in a panic, surrounding Irea, unsure of what to do.
"I-I'm fine. Just a little tired…"
"Bring water!"
"And food!"
"Hah…"
A gasp of admiration escaped me at Irea's mental fortitude, concentration, and endurance. She was the complete opposite of the idiotic vice-captain dawdling next to me.
*CLANG!*
*Clang!*
Hearing the hammering, I went to Testein's smithy and found that both he and Giranox were still working with unbroken concentration, pouring their entire beings into the task.
"They're still far from finished here."
"Indeed."
As I watched them work, a voice came from behind me. The brown-bearded dwarf who had followed me yesterday had appeared again.
This dwarf appears like a ghost.
"Is Giranox doing well?"
Since he was here, I was curious about Giranox's performance and decided to ask him.
"He's doing splendidly. That old coot—I mean, Testein—can be a bit particular, which makes him tiring to work with. But Giranox, I don't know what he's been eating, but their rhythm is perfectly in sync."
"That's a relief."
"Sir Yuren."
As I was watching Giranox with a pleased expression, Irea, who seemed to have recovered some of her strength, approached me.
"Saintess, you should be resting…"
"I have to descend the mountain right away."
"What?"
"The priests and paladins are still holding back the Demonization. I need to go quickly and install the Holy Stone to purify the land."
"But you should at least rest a little…"
"I'm fine."
Irea replied with a smile as bright as the sun above my head. She truly was an amazing woman.
"Understood. I will also head south as soon as my weapon is complete."
"Yes. We have to get this damn Demonization under control first, so it'll be a little while before we can start the investigation."
"I'll see you then."
"I'll make preparations as well."
Despite her exhaustion, Irea left with a curse and descended the mountain with her paladins.
*Clang!*
*CLANG!*
After watching Giranox and Testein's hammering for a bit longer, I returned to my quarters and circulated my internal energy.
I decided that I, too, would not sleep but would focus on my cultivation until the sound of those hammers ceased.
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
A day, and then another full day passed before the hammering that had echoed through the village finally stopped completely.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Yeeeeeeah!"
The moment the hammering ceased, the joyous shouts of Testein and Giranox rang out.
"It's finally complete."