Chapter 175 Change of Plans (1/2)
CHAPTER 175
CHANGE OF PLANS
While Lino remained slouched in the back over a chair, panting and heaving as though he were a boar of a man who'd just ran a cross-country marathon, the audience quickly converged onto his creation, inspecting it with a rather prevalent delight in their eyes. Edward's eyes danced between the lance and Lino, while Jack's also included Edward in a strange, triangular relationship his eyes had developed.
”This is truly magnificent!” a voice exclaimed among many others. ”A perfect General Weapon! If we market it properly... it could go for as high as five hundred mid-quality Qi Stones.”
”Might go up to a whole thousand if we auction it after marketing.” another voice chimed in.
”Screw that, I want it for myself!” another voice chimed in.
”You? You can barely wield a freaking spoon without getting the soup all over yourself!”
”M-marie!! It-it happened just once guys, I swear!!”
”Indeed. Once a day...”
”Ha ha ha...”
”... what do you think Jack?” Edward asked the man standing next to him.
”A nice find--nay, a magnificent find,” Jack said, smiling faintly. ”He's so young yet so well-versed in the crafts.”
”What about the lance?”
”We'll put it up for the Annual Display of Arts and Crafts in the Capital.” Jack's words seemed to startle Edward whose eyes quickly widened into eggs.
”A-are you serious?! Weren't we going to skip this year?” he asked in a hushed tone.
”Alright, alright, calm down. Let's go talk with your protege.” Jack said as he quickly hobbled over to Lino who was still recovering.
Is there really no way to lessen the drain during array inscription? He contemplated with a frown. This sure is one hell of a masochistic profession... sounds of approaching footsteps startled him from his short dream. He somehow managed to strain his neck and look forward but couldn't find anything, slowly lowering his gaze until it met two pairs of eyes. One he recognized -- Edward's -- but the other man was unfamiliar, though Lino quickly guessed that it must be Edward's brother.
”... you know,” realizing that the two were not saying anything, Lino decided to break the silence. ”I don't mind if women ogle me till the sun burns out, but I do have some pensiveness over men looking like they wanna chain me in the dungeon and have their way with me.”
”... ah! Sorry!” Edward quickly recovered from his stupor, apologizing. ”It's quite rude of us. This here is my older brother, Jack, the best blacksmith of our smithy.”
”Hoh? Really?” Lino mumbled with a faint smile as he saw Jack extend his arm for a shake, replying. ”It's an honor.”
”Honor's old man's youngster,” Jack said with a smile. ”To think someone of your quality would walk into our humble smithy and apply for a job. Forgive Edward for his rudeness -- as well as mine. We have failed to recognize your true aptitude.”
”Yeah, would be kind of hard without me crafting anything.” Lino said.
”How about we move to my office and talk?” Jack asked as he realized the rest of the audience was growing slightly restless. ”Edward, secure the lance and join us after.”
”Yes, brother!”
Lino merely nodded and forced himself onto his feet, following Jack. Much like his brother, Jack also barely reached Lino's thighs, but was similarly stout and wide in his build, with slightly grayed hair and beard and far more wrinkles to account for.
”Are you a Dwarf or just a really short human?” Lino asked innocently.
”Hoh? You really don't pull your punches, do you?” Jack asked back, glancing at Lino and smiling. ”I'm afraid I'm just a really short human. To my knowledge, the Dwarfs had long since withdrawn from the contemporary world into mines and mountains.”
”... I can't imagine it's been easy to start this whole thing up, then.” Lino commented lowly.
”It wasn't,” Jack nodded as he led Lino back to the second floor. ”Both Ed and I grew up on the streets for the most part. Ah, right, he's not my real brother. But, I've known him since he was six. For all intents and purposes, he was the only family I've ever had.”
”... sorry to hear that.”
”Hah, don't worry about it,” Jack spoke out dismissively. ”Harsh reality taught us early on that we won't get anywhere in life if we wait for an opportunity. So, one day, I came across a smith who was looking for some laborers. While working for him -- mostly carrying stones, weapons, materials and such -- I observed him to the best of my ability and practiced whenever I had free time. Eventually, he realized it and apprenticed me... and Ed after I asked him.”
”... sounds like a decent man.” Lino commented as Jack stopped in front of a rather ordinary-looking doors, taking out the key and opening them.
”He was,” Jack nodded. ”He was tough and firm... but fair. He taught us earnestly until he passed away... leaving Ed and me his name and pride.”
”... Hellenguard Smithy?” Lino asked with a soft exclamation.
”Aye. It was named after his wife,” Jack said. ”After his passing, most of the staff left as they didn't believe Ed and I could run it. It's been forty years since then.”
”You sure showed them wrong.” Lino entered a rather sparsely-populated room; save for a desk and a couple of chairs, there were only a pair of bookshelves on each end of the wall with the window on the other end being the only source of light.
”Ha ha, you could say that. Please, sit.” Jack pointed to the chair while he himself sat on the other one. ”I just hope I did him proud.”
”... I'm sure you did.” Lino smiled faintly.