Chapter 359: Greenhorn Blacksmith (2/2)
”Hm, if it's that easy, I would expect that you produced more weapons.” Arthur squinted his eyes. ”Gruen, are you creating accessories again?”
”Ah?” Gruen looked away, ”How can I think of such a thing?”
It was evident that he was lying. From the time he was in love with Aimee, he created all sorts of stuff for her. At that time, he wasn't even a Seika yet. Thus, Arthur wasn't surprised that Gruen would forge accessories for her now.
”Keep at it,” Arthur said before he bowed toward the dwarf. ”I'm truly sorry for what I did the other day. I don't regret that I did it, but I wish I had another way.”
”No, no, no!” Gruen panicked and hurried over to make Arthur stand. ”You did the right thing, Seika. Even if at that time, I hated you, I know you did it for me,”
”I did it for the city.” Arthur straightened himself and said without hesitation. ”I like you, Gruen. I consider you as a friend. I truly do. But I also need to make a city from scratch, and this...” He gestured toward Gruen's creations. ”...is necessary.”
”I understand.” Gruen nodded. ”Aimee resents you right now, Seika. But I know that without you, we wouldn't be together. Without you, I wouldn't have this power to protect her from harm.”
”No, Gruen.” Arthur smiled. ”You are the reason for all of that. I simply helped you get there. Not using merciful methods, I admit.”
”Even so, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life: to serve you.” Gruen knelt on the ground. ”Whatever you want me to create, I'll create.”
”Let's create the best city the world has ever seen.” Arthur grinned. ”I'll call you later to reinforce the walls, so make sure you're prepared.”
Gruen nodded with a determined expression, and Arthur left the smithy. The Knight of Courage waited for him outside and walked beside him.
”How is Manager Gruen?”
”He just created a True-Rank weapon.” Arthur grinned. ”The Duke of Contracts will pull his hair off if he hears about this.”
”A True-Rank....” The Knight of Courage muttered in a daze. ”Just what kind of potential does he have?”
”This is just the beginning. Where is your subordinate?” Arthur asked, and Courage was confused. ”The architect.” He elaborated.
”Oh, Rumi. He's been in his house ever since the giant tree appeared, mapping and outlining the city. It seems he refused to eat anything before he's done, as that would disturb, what he called, his creativity rush.”
”At least he's taking it seriously. But I need to know the outline of the city today.” Arthur said as he walked toward the house of the architect.
”Why?”
”Because I'm going to create the walls of the city.”
”Create the...” Courage blinked. ”Are you going to use the tree?” She linked the dots, and Arthur nodded with a grin.
They walked toward the house of the architect, and when they knocked, no one answered. These doors were installed by the workers, making the place look less of a refugee camp. Arthur knocked again, harder before the door opened.
”What?”
Rumi spat with his hair sticking to his face because of the sweat. His tower head looked like a lump now, falling to the side of his face. Even when the architect saw that it was Arthur, he was still upset. ”I told you not to disturb me.”
”I need to know the outline of the city,” Arthur said with a frown. ”Now.”
”Why?” The architect seemed to calm himself under Arthur's glare, and he softened his tone. ”The outline is done, but anything else is still...”
”I just need to know where we're placing our walls. You should have finished that. These will be the initial borders of the city, and everything comes afterward. I'm creating the walls today.”
”Today?” Rumi was confused and turned to Courage, seeking out an elaboration.
”He's using the giant tree.”