Chapter 4: The Perfect (?) First Date (2)

After promising to make a sword for Elaine, Bill finally regained his composure.

What a sight.

It wasn’t the customer begging for a weapon, but the owner pleading to make one.

Is this what the reversed world is like?

“Here, the item you requested.”

Bill placed the object, wrapped in cloth, on the shelf.

“By the way, Bill, why don’t you do it for me for free? I brought you rare materials and everything.”

“Can you do that kind of thing?”

“Can’t.”

“Exactly.”

“Aha.”

Helping to create a good weapon and properly handling the weapon after it’s made—those were completely different things.

He really is a man with strong convictions.

No wonder he became the craftsman featured in the story.

“Still, it’s because it’s you that I’m willing to take on such a peculiar request. Like you said, you really did bring me some rare materials.”

Oh, so I’m not being completely overlooked.

After all, Bill is a stubborn craftsman who only makes the weapons he wants to make.

I expressed my gratitude to Bill and started unwrapping the cloth.

Elaine, who had been curious about what Bill was holding, approached and peered over.

As I unwrapped it, the object was revealed.

“Hey Bill.”

“What?”

“Did you know that excessive packaging causes waste and harms the environment?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I had expected it to be that size, since a large blacksmith was holding it with both hands.

But what appeared before my eyes was…

“Oh, this is quite a nice dagger. The blade is sharp, and the proportions of the length and size are great. The unique color of the blade—did you use obsidian?”

Elaine muttered in admiration, and Bill immediately responded to her words.

“Just as expected of the Captain of the Guard! You noticed right away! The base is made of steel, but it’s coated with obsidian on the outside. It’s strong, and also great for storing magical energy. It’s a test piece, but it’s no exaggeration to say this is my masterpiece.”

“Steel, you say? And you coated it with obsidian? That’s a unique idea. It could even function as a magic sword.”

“Exactly! Exactly!”

Bill, who was eagerly talking, and Elaine, who nodded in agreement while listening to him.

I, on the other hand, grabbed the “dagger” just like Elaine had said.

‘It looks like a well-made sword at first glance, but…’

I had clearly ordered a longsword, though.

Does the blade only appear to people with good intentions?

Could there be a switch somewhere that makes the blade extend?

Could it be a magical laser sword, where the dagger part is actually the hilt?

That can’t be it.

I swung the surprisingly light dagger around with one hand and stared at Bill.

Only then did Bill give an awkward smile and start explaining.

“Ahem! Well, you see… it turned out to be harder than I thought. Coating steel with another mineral to enhance the weapon’s performance… that was something I had never tried before. So, as I got more excited, I kept wondering what the right proportions should be, what the right balance was, and kept going through all kinds of trial and error.”

“Trial and error?”

“The materials you gave me ran out, heh heh!”

Despite his loud laugh, I stared at him quietly, and Bill quickly stopped and raised his voice.

“What! There’s nothing wrong with that! I told you, I couldn’t guarantee the result because it was a new method, but you said it was fine to experiment with different approaches as long as I got it done!”

“…”

“But as I told Captain of the Guard, it’s really the real deal. I don’t think there’s a stronger dagger than this in the world. I’ve tested its strength at least twenty times.”

“How did it go?”

“One hundred percent. Every sword that clashed with this one turned into cookies. Tough cookies you can’t even eat.”

“Hmm.”

If Bill, who’s so stubborn, has tested it twenty times and got such a result, the quality must be unquestionable.

‘The fact that this thing is finished means the intended goal has been achieved.’

The weapon I had requested was indeed a longsword coated with obsidian over steel.

But the purpose wasn’t just for the sword I would use.

There was a more important reason.

This world is a fantasy world.

It’s filled with all kinds of mysterious minerals that don’t exist in reality, and some minerals, like obsidian, might share the same name as Earth’s, but their properties are entirely different.

The legendary sword Bill made in the novel was an artifact of sorts, made by mixing a special steel called “Hancheol” with a mysterious mineral called “Bingjeong,” which contained a powerful magic.

I had planned to help Bill gain experience for when he would eventually create Grace’s legendary sword.

Though I knew where Bingjeong could be found, I was still too weak to reach it and acquire it.

On an external mission, I managed to obtain a shard of Hancheol.

In reality, obsidian is just known for its sharpness.

But in this fantasy world, obsidian (黑曜石) is a unique mineral with the ability to store magical power, so I suggested combining it with Hancheol.

Even if it wasn’t forging, I thought mixing in the rare mineral obsidian would give me some similar experience.

“One of the rarest materials, called Han-cheol (Iron of the North), is difficult to obtain. The amount I gave to Bill was never much.”

In fact, considering that the amount of Han-cheol I obtained was just enough to fill a single bundle, Bill’s skill in crafting this dagger after going through trial and error was impressive.

After all, I knew where to find Han-cheol, but right now, the important thing wasn’t the weapon I was going to use, but Bill’s growth in skills. I decided to be satisfied with that for now.

“Thank you, Bill. I’ll make good use of this awesome item.”

“The money’s fine. The advance payment was enough.”

“Really? Didn’t you say you would charge me the full price?”

“Thanks to you, a blacksmith like me has gained valuable experience handling Han-cheol. That’s worth it on its own. Plus, the coating idea you mentioned could come in handy in the future.”

As expected, Bill had firm beliefs.

It was probably because of this attitude that he had never grown into a larger business despite his skill, staying a humble weaponsmith that only a few people knew.

“Then I’ll pay you with the coating idea as compensation.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I won’t tell anyone else about it.”

“Heh. It doesn’t matter if you tell them. If I can make it better than they can, it’s fine by me.”

Bill, showing some enthusiasm with a snort, was still polishing his skills as I gathered the dagger, and then I suddenly remembered to ask.

“Bill, about earlier… you said you were going to make the Captain of the Guard’s sword, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Could you make it out of Han-cheol as well?”

At this unexpected suggestion, Elaine blinked her eyes in surprise.

“Of course, I can. In fact, I’d like to ask you for something. Could you bring me some Han-cheol? Having worked with it now, I’ll be able to handle it much better next time.”

“Sounds good. If I find any while I’m out, I’ll bring it to you.”

Bill, with a bow toward Elaine next to me, finally made my first experience of receiving a bow from him as we left the shop.

“Luke.”

“Yes?”

“May I hug you? Actually, I will.”

As soon as we left Bill’s shop, Elaine hugged me with both arms.

Realizing no one was around with a surprised look, I finally returned the embrace.

“Ha, now that’s a bit better.”

“Is this your way of showing gratitude? It’s nice.”

Elaine, releasing the hug, smiled and replied honestly.

“I was planning to express it with just words, but that wouldn’t be enough. A sword made of Han-cheol, that’s a dream weapon for knights, isn’t it?”

Han-cheol was such a rare mineral that only a limited number of people could use it.

In Brave Road, only about five people, including the protagonist Grace, wielded weapons made from Han-cheol.

Even though Elaine was the Captain of the Northern Duke’s Guard, the probability of her wielding a Han-cheol weapon was extremely low.

In fact, it was unusual for someone like me, a mere guard, to have a Han-cheol weapon.

If Bill hadn’t been so generous and reported it, this would have been seized immediately.

It wasn’t a crime, but due to its rarity, it would have been confiscated.

Of course, I knew the location of Han-cheol thanks to a special bonus, and I trusted Bill, which was why I asked him.

“But how did you manage to get Han-cheol, then? You even promised to get more from the blacksmith.”

“Oh.”

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.

But there was no need to panic.

Those who are reincarnated or possess others always have an answer prepared for these types of questions.

“I happened to get it on the last mission. If I happen to go back there, I’ll try to find more.”

“Oh? What mission was that? You’ve always been with me.”

“Do you remember the Ice Troll hunt at Big Mountain? I found it in a cave there.”

“Ah, I remember. That place also functioned as a mine.”

“Yeah, it’s such a treacherous mountain that no one dared to mine there.”

Since the place would be discovered later in the novel, I figured there was no harm in revealing it now.

Who knows? They might start mining sooner than expected and get more Han-cheol than in the novel.

“About that weapon.”

“??”

“The fact that you coated it with obsidian was a good choice. But make sure to keep the Han-cheol part hidden. There’s no benefit to letting others know about it.”

Elaine gave me a sharp look as she advised me about the dagger.

I understood her concerns.

If it were known that the weapon was made of Han-cheol, it would cause all kinds of trouble.

Of course, I was already planning to keep the weapon’s identity a secret.

“So, you’re allowing me to keep this weapon, Captain?”

Elaine, with her strict sense of hierarchy and loyalty, might have confiscated the dagger and reported it to Grace.

Such a precious item should be used by someone higher in rank than a lowly guard like me.

But…

“You’re asking such a foolish question.”

“Yes?”

“As I told the craftsman, I’m off-duty right now. I’m not the commander of the guard here, just a woman in love with a man.”

“…”

“And since I’ve entrusted you with the weapon, I know very well what kind of man you are. I trust that you will use it for good. However…”

Elaine poked my chest with her index finger.

“If you were to use that weapon to harm the North, and betray my trust, you will pay the price with your body for playing with a woman’s heart.”

Chill.

Even though there was no ill intent, I felt a shiver down my spine.

Instinctively, I was afraid of the pure threat Elaine had sent with just a finger.

Even though we were lovers, Elaine was a strong woman who could sever personal emotions without hesitation in case of any danger.

That was Elaine, the commander of the Northern Duke’s guard.

As I met her cold gaze, I felt my heart racing in a way that was different from fear, where her finger had touched my chest.

“I’ve heard the old saying: ‘If a woman harbors resentment, even in the warmest months, frost will fall.'”

“Hmm? Frost falls in the warm months anyway.”

Ah, that’s right. This is the North.

“It’s a saying from the southern regions. It means that you should never do anything to upset a woman’s heart.”

“Ha ha, that’s an interesting saying. So you’re warning that if a woman gets angry, even in warm regions, a cold disaster like the North will strike.”

“Exactly.”

Elaine seemed pleased with my answer. She withdrew her finger and, with it, her tension.

Although I felt at ease, my heart was still racing.

“Then let’s continue the date.”

“Sounds good.”

Elaine, perhaps embarrassed by the word ‘date,’ cleared her throat with a bright red face and spoke again.

“I’m hungry. You gave me a good gift, so now let me introduce you to a nice place. I think you’ll like it.”

“Oh, are you leading the way?”

She smiled at my playful reply and took my hand, leading me forward.

The warmth from our clasped hands spread through me.

‘Don’t worry. I will never betray your trust.’

Although the North might be a place where frost falls even in summer, I knew that the cold wouldn’t reach Elaine’s heart.

Elaine believed that my high body temperature was only because I wanted to embrace her.

We arrived at a shop with an unusual name: “Milky Way.”

“Milky Way? That’s an interesting name.”

“Heh, you’ll like it.”

Milky Way. The name sounded sentimental, but from the outside, it looked like just another brunch café.

‘Since Elaine chose this place, the food must be guaranteed to be good.’

It wasn’t just because I was in love that I thought that.

I truly trusted Elaine’s taste in food.

My bones and flesh belonged to the North, but my soul was that of a Korean.

What’s a Korean, you ask?

We are the people who would be shocked if we missed a single meal, even if we stayed awake for a whole day.

When greeting someone, the first question is “Have you eaten?” and when making plans, it’s always “Let’s grab a meal next time.” The greatest daily dilemma is “What should I eat today?”

For Koreans, food is serious business, and in this strange world, what to eat and how to survive was a crucial issue.

That’s why I always made sure to have a proper meal.

Elaine, too, valued her meals greatly.

She believed that to train well and fight well, one must eat well.

That’s why she always carried various types of jam.

Even while camping, she would carefully consider ways to make the field rations tasty. One of the reasons I became close with her was through our shared passion for good food.

“Let’s go in.”

Elaine confidently opened the door of the shop.

The warm air inside immediately melted away the cold from my body, and I felt relieved.

She seemed to be a regular here, smoothly greeting the staff as she walked in, and I followed her while looking around.

Suddenly, Elaine stopped in her tracks.

“Elaine?”

It felt unnatural for her to stop at the usual spot, and I asked while glancing at her. She remained still, staring at one spot without moving.

Curious, I followed her gaze.

“!!!”

I almost screamed in surprise.

The shop was quiet, as it was still early, and there were no other customers except for one person seated at a table.

The guest was…

White as snow, her hair as pure and clean as the frost.

A beautiful face that looked like a fairy.

A luxurious yet not ostentatious outfit.

Elegant and graceful handling of her utensils.

Her very presence made the place feel like a banquet hall.

The woman was none other than…

The Queen of Steel and Ice.

Grace Northrain, the head of the Northrain family. The master of the Winter Cannon.

The strongest knight in humanity.

The Northern Duke.