Otherworld Metal Factory (Patreon)

Chapter 75

The Lord's Mansion was a massive residence located on a high hill in the center of the city.

Built on the site of the old castle that marked the beginning of the city, the Lord's Mansion was itself an antique building that held the passage of time.

The main gate, usually firmly closed, was open, and the elaborately dressed guards, unlike usual, were smiling and welcoming people.

Tehez, entering the Lord's Mansion, admired the armor and ornaments inside.

"Amazing! Richel! This wall-mounted shield! It's inlaid with precision-cut jewels. How did they cut and inlay them like this?"

"It's certainly very flashy."

"Honestly, it's a bit much because it's so flashy, but it feels like the craftsman's soul is embedded in it."

Tehez took out a notebook and pen from the handbag she was carrying and wrote something down.

Richel smiled brightly.

"You really like that kind of thing, don't you?"

"Huh? Ah. Yes. Because I was an alchemist. Now I'm just a factory worker, though. Thanks to Master, I know that alchemists can't create gold, but I still get curious when I see things like this."

Tehez carefully examined the pattern on the shield.

"Looking at it, they seem to have carved out the decorations and then inlaid them with silver. And the inscription is in ancient script. Hmm. Is it an old piece? What does the back of the shield look like?"

"You like that sort of thing?"

"Hmm?"

Tehez, who was carefully examining the shield, nodded.

"It's interesting, seeing things like this. I've come to realize that the world of metal is amazing. And because of that, these things have become so interesting to me. Mixing metals with different properties, joining them, shaping them..."

"You're right, Tehez was always very interested when the Factory Manager made something."

While they were talking, Tehez shifted her attention to another object.

"Looking at this, it seems to be plated. Did they apply gold leaf with mercury?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm a specialist in cooking. I don't know anything about metal like you and Channing."

Richel smiled brightly and casually said,

"Tehez."

"Yes?"

"Do you like Channing?"

Tehez dropped her pen in surprise.

Flustered, Tehez picked up her pen again and looked at Richel.

"Uh... no... that..."

"I can tell. Do you like Channing?"

Tehez didn't know how to answer. She felt a sense of resistance to answering affirmatively.

Richel, who was waiting for an answer, smiled brightly and approached a painting on the wall, opening her mouth.

"I like Channing too."

Tehez was a little surprised. She had vaguely known about it.

A woman's intuition.

She didn't believe in that kind of intuition, but she somehow thought it might be true.

However, hearing it directly was a different story.

Richel looked again at Tehez, who was standing there, stunned and a little surprised.

"I said it. Your turn."

"I... I..."

Looking at Richel, who was staring directly at her, Tehez lowered her eyes.

The hem of her dress and her shoes came into view.

She held the hem of her dress with her hand.

She thought she had to answer Richel's question.

Actually putting that thought into action was difficult.

Tehez took a breath. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth as if in prayer.

"I... I like Channing too."

Tehez managed to utter those words with difficulty.

She closed her eyes. She didn't know how Richel would react.

Now, she thought, all she could do was wait for a response.

Richel hugged Tehez tightly.

"Huh?!"

"Why are you so scared! Did you think I was going to hit you?"

Richel held Tehez's hand.

"I like Tehez too. You're a close friend. But that doesn't mean I'm going to give up Channing."

"Me... me too! Richel is a good friend. I hope we can stay friends."

Richel smiled brightly, and Tehez smiled too.

"That Channing guy is lucky. Two beautiful women like him. I'll have to give him a good smack later."

Richel started walking forward first. Tehez, whose hand was held, followed behind her.

"Good. Then let's continue looking around. I heard they're displaying jewelry necklaces and such up ahead."

"Ah. Slow down, Richel."

Drawn by Richel, Tehez also moved her feet.

***

The swordsmanship competition, where many knights and mercenaries competed against each other, continued.

The winner remained in the ring and defeated new challengers. As such, the person who first entered the ring was at a disadvantage.

William had won all six matches and remained in the ring.

"Good job, William!"

"He's amazing!"

"Yay! Handsome oppa! Keep going!"

Excited by the cheers of the crowd, Oran also cheered and supported William. Shellen also clapped and cheered.

"Then, the next challenger!!! He has no name! He only speaks with his sword! The small knight with lightning-fast skills! 'The Thunder'!"

At the announcer's call, a knight with his face hidden behind a helmet entered the ring with a shield.

The short, small knight bowed slightly to the crowd and drew his sword.

As the blade caught the light and sparkled, the crowd was astonished.

"Th-there's a pattern on the blade?!"

"I know! That! I heard that legendary swords from the past had patterns like that on their blades!"

"Woah! Amazing!"

As the crowd expressed their admiration, Shellen carefully observed the knight's sword. She could see a geometric pattern drawn on the blade.

"That's a fascinating sword. Come to think of it, they said that Ballock's Acromer, from the legend of Ballock, had a pattern like that. Could it really be a legendary sword?"

Shellen looked at Oran in admiration.

Oran frowned slightly and looked at 'The Thunder'.

"Miss Oran?"

"That sword, that. I made that recently."

"What?!"

Shellen asked in surprise, and Oran scratched her head.

"Oh dear. I made it for a young lady, and this is what happens."

Oran fixed her gaze on the ring.

******

There was also an uproar where the Lord was seated.

Lord Kyleoch, who recognized the knight's identity as his daughter Grace as soon as he saw the sword, covered his face with his hand and sighed.

Meldof burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Kyleoch! Your daughter is truly amazing!"

"It's because you gave her a sword as a gift, Father! Honestly! A Lady wearing armor and participating in a swordsmanship competition!"

Kyleoch's wife grumbled at Meldof.

Meldof laughed even louder and slapped Kyleoch on the shoulder.

"Come to think of it, Kyleoch also participated in a swordsmanship competition with his face hidden when he was 18. He was knocked out in the first match, though."

"That was a long time ago, Father. And I won when I was 23,. That's not the point. Let's stop the match immediately."

As Kyleoch tried to raise his hand, Meldof stopped it.

"It will be a good experience. Let her be."

"Father! I know Grace is skilled, but her opponent is William!"

"I know, Kyleoch. His grandfather and father were both excellent knights. And do you think I don't know that William is a strong warrior who inherited their talent and skill?"

"Father. Then please stop them quickly. Even if she's wearing armor, if she gets hurt..."

His daughter-in-law also pleaded, but Meldof shook his head.

"And Grace also inherited my and Kyleoch's swordsmanship skills. She's better than her brother Carlos when it comes to the sword. This is a good opportunity to see the skills of these two promising youngsters."

"William and Grace sometimes spar."

"Ha! You mean that light tapping with practice swords? William doesn't even use his full strength because he's going easy on Grace, and Grace is just going through the motions. You can't tell their true skills from that. Just watch. She's your daughter. She won't get hurt that easily!"

When Meldof spoke firmly, Kyleoch and his wife couldn't say anything.

Meanwhile, the announcer shouted.

"Begin the match!"

Grace was the first to charge forward powerfully. She deflected William's sword with the small shield, the buckler, in her left hand and thrust her own sword forward.

William quickly moved the hilt of his sword and deflected Grace's attack. Then, his attack continued as smoothly as flowing water.

Grace skillfully moved the buckler and the sword in her right hand, blocking William's attacks.

When William's sword, following Grace's sword downward, was blocked by Grace's guard, Grace quickly extended her left hand to attack William's face.

William quickly moved his feet back to avoid the attack to his face.

William and Grace, who had momentarily retreated, each took their stances and caught their breath.

William took an upper stance, while Grace held the buckler in her left hand and the sword in her right, extending them forward in a middle stance.

"A buckler. Come to think of it, I never taught Grace armored combat."

"It was you, Father, who said there was no need to teach a girl fighting techniques for battle. You taught her sword and buckler as self-defense."

At Kyleoch's slightly sharp words, Meldof needlessly picked up the glass next to him and drank his wine.

"Still, isn't she doing quite well? Since ancient times, one-handed sword and shield have been the basic skills of a knight."

"Oh my!"

Just as he said that, Kyleoch's wife screamed loudly. Grace, attempting to attack, was hit by William's kick and fell backward.

William ran towards Grace, who was rolling on the floor, to attack again.

Grace quickly rolled to avoid William's attack and, using the momentum, got up and took a defensive stance.

The spectators cheered wildly, supporting both of them, but the cheers didn't reach them.

Grace caught her breath to calm her pounding heart. She had expected it to be difficult.

However, it was harder than she had anticipated. The armor was heavy and cumbersome. Since she had borrowed it from an armorer, it didn't fit properly.

"Haaaap!"

William shouted loudly and charged, swinging the sword he had raised above his head down powerfully.

Grace reflexively raised her sword. She blocked the overhead strike with her right hand holding the sword, supported by her left hand holding the buckler.

However, Grace couldn't completely block the attack, which carried the heavy weight of the longsword and the full force of both hands.

Or rather, because the side of her blade received the longsword's attack, some of the force was dispersed. Nevertheless, the remaining force overwhelmed Grace's body.

In the end, Grace fell to the floor.

William's sword was pointed at Grace's neck as she tried to quickly get up. It was over.

"The winner is Wiiiiilliaaam!"

As the announcer finished speaking, the audience stood up and cheered wildly.

William raised both hands in the air in response to the cheers. Grace, lying on the floor, looked at him.

She couldn't win. Even when they had practice matches with practice swords, she had never beaten William. Even though she was wearing armor and wielding a sword that fit perfectly in her hand, she had lost.

But strangely, she felt relieved. She had given everything she had, and she had been defeated. She didn't feel bad about it.

Seeing that Grace was still lying down, William approached and extended his hand.

"Please get up, Lady Grace."

"You knew it was me."

"I could tell just by the way you hold your sword. You've improved a lot. Some of your attacks sent chills down my spine."

Grace smiled brightly and got up, taking off her helmet. She also removed the hood that covered her head.

As Grace's long hair cascaded down, the audience was momentarily stunned into silence. The silence was soon followed by cheers.

It was the loudest cheer of the day.