Episode 280
Chapter 89: Temar’s First Tomb (Part 1)
After the transformation ended, Vin learned the whole story. The memories from the brief time when Picon had possessed him remained intact.
“Wow… this is incredible. Picon Minche, the legendary blacksmith! I never imagined I’d be descended from someone so remarkable. I thought you were some kind of demon, but it turns out you were the voice of a god. Haha.”
Vin rubbed his swollen jaw—just a bruise from Jin’s punch while Picon was in control—and smiled warmly.
Surprisingly, he accepted everything that had happened to him without much resistance. Even the fact that none of his ancestors after Picon had enjoyed the benefits of being contractors.
“Vin Branshu.”
“Yes, Lord Jin! I didn’t get a proper chance to greet you earlier—I was caught off guard, and my body went out of control all of a sudden…”
“Don’t you feel wronged?”
“Wronged? In what way?”
“You and your ancestors suffered unwanted sacrifices because of me.”
Vin’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he waved his hands dismissively.
“Oh no, no sacrifices here. We never knew we were contractors, so we didn’t get any special perks, but we didn’t suffer any losses either. At least, not me. Besides, if being the blacksmith’s contractor meant I was likely to become a slave to the Ziphl, it was only natural to keep it a secret. So, I don’t see it as a sacrifice.”
No special benefits, but no special harm either.
Vin truly believed that.
“Of course, if I had known I was a contractor earlier, my life might have been different. Probably better. I might have become the blacksmith of Runkandel or joined the Minche Blacksmiths’ Guild, and lived more comfortably.”
“That’s true.”
“But is there any guarantee that would have made me happier than I am now?”
Jin’s eyes widened this time.
“No one knows. If you’d become Runkandel’s blacksmith, you might have earned a lot but suffered under the watchful eyes of the nobles. Runkandel is a harsh place, after all. Or in the Minche Guild, you might have faced jealousy and rivalry.”
Vin shrugged and continued.
“On the other hand, I love my life as it is. Even if I lived under a terribly poor lord and was even kidnapped, I got to experience Lord Jin coming to rescue me personally… Our lord is a good man, just unlucky.”
“Go on.”
“That’s all there is to say.”
“From now on, Picon will strengthen Bradamante through your body because of me. I know it’s unfair to you. If you have any complaints, tell me. I’ll do my best to accept them. Even if you refuse, I won’t punish or harm you.”
“Lord Jin, what are you saying? Today, Picon and I just happened to meet you by chance. Even without considering that I’m the blacksmith’s contractor, you saved my life.”
Vin waved his hands again.
“So, I have no complaints. In fact, I’m glad I can repay the debt I owe you.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“I can guess why you came to see me. Since Volta’s family didn’t send a congratulatory gift, you probably wanted to check on the estate through me. But Lord Jin, please understand—our lord has never embezzled taxes.”
Vin was harboring a big misunderstanding.
From his perspective, meeting Picon was pure chance, but Jin’s visit was no accident.
In truth, Vin had been worried that he hadn’t sent a gift to congratulate Jin’s appointment as a knight.
He didn’t think Jin was petty enough to care about gifts.
Vin had read about Jin’s exploits during his time as a knight candidate in the Holy Empire.
So Vin thought Jin might suspect the Volta family of embezzlement.
After all, even a fallen noble family should be able to send a gift. It didn’t make sense otherwise.
Among the many noble houses in Hupester, everyone except the Voltas had sent gifts.
From Vin’s point of view, it was understandable that Jin might be suspicious.
“Our lord sold everything he had to help the poor. The land was already barren, and with famine and bandits running rampant, it was hard to even get good stationery, let alone send gifts.”
Jin was taken aback by Vin’s sudden defense but felt no need to correct the misunderstanding.
“I never thought the Volta lord embezzled taxes. I was just curious about the estate’s condition. If things were bad, I wanted to help.”
Vin brightened and nodded eagerly.
“So it was just my worry! Thank you for understanding, Lord Jin! You care about even unimportant lands like ours, and you saved me from bandits… I will never forget this honor, even after I die.”
Jin thought to himself:
‘Hmm… this guy’s misunderstanding seems to be growing. Or maybe it’s not a misunderstanding? I did plan to support the Voltas once I secured the blacksmith god. And now, not only have I secured him, but I’ve learned the god has changed, that it was Solderet’s arrangement, and I’ve even promised to strengthen Bradamante. This couldn’t be better.’
“Then, please take good care of my sword.”
Vin carefully lifted Bradamante.
“I don’t know blacksmithing, so my ancestor will handle it. I just need to secure a place in the estate where he can quietly sharpen the sword…”
“That’s my job. While the blacksmith god works, I’ll take measures so you won’t be inconvenienced. I’ll also arrange for repairs to the manor, support funds, and relief supplies.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you so much!”
Vin bowed deeply, almost as if ready to prostrate himself, and Jin gave an awkward smile.
“Anything else you want from me?”
“No, I have more than enough already, Lord Jin.”
“If you want, I can provide personal support to you as well. You remember what I said to Picon earlier—I told him not to stop me from helping you.”
“Haha, I’m honored just by your words. But as I said, I like my life. This estate, the Volta manor, is my home. If it recovers from these hard times, it means I’m getting back on my feet too.”
Though their meeting was brief, Jin felt a strong fondness for Vin.
He could have demanded more, screamed for compensation for his ancestors’ sacrifices.
But Vin didn’t.
“Thank you. Now, let’s go back—to your home.”
Back at the Sword Garden, Jin immediately sought out Petro.
“Tomorrow morning, visit the Volta estate yourself. Provide support, but keep it reasonable. Focus on gold and food—no troops. Be discreet so the other brothers don’t notice anything special.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And contact Tikan. Ask him to station about five trustworthy plainclothes guards at the Volta estate.”
“Yes, young master.”
After Petro left, Gilly and Murakan, who had been drinking, approached.
“Where have you been, young master?”
“I went to see why only the Voltas didn’t send a congratulatory gift.”
“Wow, now that you’re a knight, you’re already wielding power? I didn’t expect that. I thought fallen nobles would be struggling. Are you taking their money?”
“Murakan, I’m sure the young master went with good reason, not out of spite.”
“The estate’s in bad shape. I decided to help, and there I happened to meet the blacksmith god’s contractor.”
“What?”
“What did you say?”
Jin told them everything about Picon.
They listened with interest and quickly understood.
“So, kid, you’re saying you don’t know why Groller died, and that Picon becoming the new blacksmith god was Solderet’s plan for you? And Temar’s first tomb? Ha!”
“Master, you seem to get involved with incredible beings wherever you go.”
“Now you even meet gods in some backwater village?”
“Neither of you seem very surprised.”
“Is this the first time you’ve had weird encounters? You met some strange god named Klam in Colon and got a mirror, which was also Solderet’s doing. When you got the light fan on Biment’s deserted island, there was the demon stone and all. The blacksmith god is pretty tame compared to that. Seems like all part of Solderet’s plan.”
Gilly nodded quietly.
“So Picon Minche used the same abilities as Captain Kinzello?”
“Yeah. Kinzello’s powers seemed stronger, but Picon also manipulated iron, just like him. Maybe that’s the blacksmith god’s innate ability.”
“I don’t know. The previous god, Groller, was very secretive.”
“If that ability is unique to the blacksmith god, then Groller’s death might be connected to Captain Kinzello. You still don’t have any guesses about Kinzello, do you?”
—[When Temar went berserk and tried to kill you, I was the one who stopped him. Murakan. Don’t you remember me?]
—Who does this bastard think he is, throwing around names like that? He looks like some old demon, but there’s no way Temar would associate with someone like you. And berserk? Sounds like you’ve heard some rumors. The one who went berserk that day was…
—[Are you trying to say it was Temar, not you?]
A conversation between Captain Kinzello and Murakan in old Oterium.
Since that day, Murakan had been racking his brain, trying to recall.
But no matter how hard he searched his memories, he couldn’t find any trace of having had a relationship with Captain Kinzello.
“Nothing. Damn it, I’m going crazy wondering who that bastard really is.”
“Now that Kinzello’s come to the surface, his identity will be revealed eventually. There are plenty of people curious about him besides us.”
Seeing Murakan’s frustration, Gilly changed the subject.
“I’m excited that Pikon is going to upgrade Bradamante, but I’m already worried about you, young master, going to the place where the first head of the family was buried. Somehow, it feels dangerous. That will, I mean…”
“Don’t worry, Gilly. I’ll be going with Murakan.”
“The forge god knows what even your mother doesn’t. Since the grave exists, you won’t be able to pay respects to Temar, though. Hmph, Temar’s first tomb, huh…”
Murakan gave a bitter smile.
From the moment Jin first brought up the story about Temar’s grave, he had been forcing himself to suppress the pain.
“So, where exactly is it? The place where that guy was buried.”
“On the Anzu Plains. It used to be the land of Chukon Toldrer.”
Jin showed the ‘key’ he had received from Pikon as he spoke.