Published at 23rd of December 2024 9:50 pm

Chapter 644

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Looking closely, it wasn't even an ordinary artifact.

To instantly grant such strength to the wearer without any particular side effects. Moreover, the innkeeper didn't seem to be a mage or an experienced adventurer.

Even artifacts that slightly increase strength and have side effects are difficult to make and precious, but such an artifact...

'Who on earth made this?'

Ratford stared intently at the artifact.

The more he looked, the more extraordinary the artifact seemed.

Although Ratford couldn't distinguish the patterns and residual traces just by sensing mana from afar like Wardanaz, he could feel how intricate this artifact was.

Even when seen from afar, a masterpiece exudes its aura.

'...No, but why on earth does an innkeeper have that?!'

"Ugh... ugh. This... this..."

"Did you do wrong or not!"

"This bastard is trying to kill me! Help!"

"!"

Ratford tensed up at the choking dwarf traveler's cry for his companions.

'He has companions!'

Sure enough, with a thumping sound from the second floor, another dwarf came running down with a pickaxe.

That wasn't all. A dwarf companion who had been walking outside threw away the beer he was drinking and rushed in wielding a club.

"I swear on my beard, put down my companion! You monster!"

"Do you think you can cause trouble like this and leave safely?!"

"Shut up, we're miners from the Twilight Iron Mine! You can't stop us!"

The innkeeper faced off against the two companions while holding the dwarf traveler.

Thinking three would be too much, the innkeeper shouted to the clerk again.

"Ladle, bring me the ladle!"

"??"

At this point, Ratford became more curious about what else the innkeeper would bring out rather than stopping the dwarf travelers.

"Will a ladle do it?! Shouldn't you bring out the pot lid too?!"

"Bring that out too!"

The subdued dwarf traveler choked out,

"St-stop it!"

"Wh-what?"

"Stop the ladle and pot lid...!"

"???"

The companions thought it was nonsense.

Why stop them from bringing out a ladle and pot lid?

"You can't stop it if you move now!"

"B-but we have to stop..."

At that moment, a skinny clerk jumped out. The clerk was holding a ladle in one hand and a pot lid in the other.

Seeing him glaring at the dwarves while trembling, the dwarves burst into laughter.

"Little human! You think that'll work?!"

"Go hide in the kitchen until this is over!"

"W-W-Wardanaz family's ladle!"

The clerk shouted with his eyes tightly shut.

To think he would end up using the artifact bestowed by the Wardanaz family!

He had hoped the innkeeper would use this terrifying thing if possible...

Bang!

The three dwarves were flung outside the inn. It was as if an invisible giant hand had struck and sent them flying.

"!!!!"

Ratford was shocked.

'This is no ordinary artifact!'

Not just attacking enemies, but detecting enemies with hostility inside the inn on its own and then expelling them!

The dwarves rolled on the ground, staggering from the impact. Though they were sturdy and well-equipped dwarves, the impact was strong enough to make breathing difficult. Ŗἁ

"This... this crazy innkeeper, what kind of... artifact... cough."

"Hey, you damn dwarves!"

The owner of the neighboring general store, who had belatedly heard the commotion, came running in anger.

The three dwarves were dumbfounded even in their lying position when the general store owner, who looked like he had never fought in his life, came running.

What guts did he have to run at them now?

"Take this broom!"

The general store owner pointed the broom he was holding at them as if it were a staff.

At that sight, the three dwarves suddenly felt ominous.

Could it be...

Could it be that the general store owner too??

"Wardanaz family's broom!"

Bang!!!

The three dwarves were hit with a binding spell and immediately lost consciousness.

The townspeople dragged them to the guard's prison while hurling curses.

The commotion was over.

The innkeeper apologized to the guests and handed out a mug of beer to each.

"Sir."

"!"

Ratford was flustered when the innkeeper suddenly called him.

"Yes?"

'Did he find out I'm a mage?'

"I understand you're surprised. But please don't spread rumors. If strange rumors circulate about the town, travelers will stop coming."

"..."

"Please..."

The innkeeper's expression was desperation itself. Overwhelmed by it, Ratford found himself nodding without realizing.

"B-but where on earth did you get that artifact just now...?"

"...Sigh. It's natural for you to be curious. This is a treasure bestowed by the Wardanaz family."

"The Wardanaz family!...Wait, but why a hat, ladle, pot lid...?"

"There's a story behind that too."

The innkeeper sighed.

So, it was back in the time of the innkeeper's grandfather's grandfather.

At that time, this inn wasn't even called.

-...You have excellently managed the inn, so I wish to bestow a reward in the name of the Wardanaz family.-

-Th-thank you. Demon... supervisor... manager... director... sir.-

"Demon?"

"...Did I say that? Not demon, but supervisor, I mean director. Like a demon, that's what I meant."

The innkeeper quickly covered up and continued speaking.

-I'm going to give you an artifact, what do you think?-

-It's, it's, it's fine!-

The innkeeper's grandfather's grandfather didn't want to receive an artifact.

In fact, other townspeople felt the same way.

Ignorant people might chatter, "Wow, if you receive an artifact, can't you sell it for a fortune?", but the situation was different for this town.

First of all, they didn't know what punishment they would receive if they arbitrarily sold something bestowed by the Wardanaz family.

There's nothing more foolish than going against a great mage's wishes.

And honestly, for ordinary townspeople living normal lives, the Wardanaz family's artifacts were more frightening than convenient.

What if they accidentally summoned a demon while using it?

-Why are you refusing?-

-A-a-artifacts are difficult for me, an innkeeper, to use. How could I, an innkeeper, use a crown or scepter?-

-I see! I'll report back.-

The demon disappeared and returned a while later.

-They said to put it on items you use at the inn. That should be fine, right?-

-...-

He should have refused, but unfortunately it was a day when a demon was in charge, not a golem, so the innkeeper had no choice but to nod.

Since then, the Wardanaz family periodically gifted artifacts as rewards to people in their territory.

Of course, they didn't forget the thoughtful consideration of putting them on items frequently used in daily life.

"...That's how it happened."

"Wow. The Wardanaz family is really amazing. To periodically gift such artifacts to their subjects!"

Ratford marveled.

As expected of Yi-Han's family, the Wardanaz family was among the most excellent of the empire's great noble families.

Moreover, they even had the consideration for their subjects to not care about the outward appearance of the artifacts.

Seeing the traveler speak like that without knowing the truth, the innkeeper felt a lump in his throat.

If only you saw the demon coming down occasionally, you wouldn't say such things!

"...We're always just grateful for their grace. Haha... Please don't spread rumors about the townspeople having artifacts, as travelers might get scared if they knew."

"Don't worry. I'll definitely keep it secret. But is it okay to tell me such things? Artifacts are treasures..."

"If someone wants to die, they'll try to steal them."

The innkeeper said indifferently.

Then, belatedly realizing he had spoken too indifferently, he tried to smooth it over.

"It's a joke. A joke. Haha."

"Ah. Yes."

"By the way, what brings you here, sir...?"

"A distant relative sent a letter asking me to come and help with some work. I'm a craftsman from the Locksmith Guild. I'll be going now."

"Ah! The Locksmith Guild! Could I ask you for one job?"

"What is it...?"

"Some crazy guest left an eight-horse carriage in the stable and just left! We can't sell it, and we need to store it, so I want to put a lock on it just in case."

"First the dwarf guests earlier, and now this. You really get a lot of strange guests with so many travelers! Don't worry. I'll stop by after I finish my work if I have time."

Ratford left the inn, thinking there really were strange people in the world.

***

"Brother. Take care of yourself."

Arsil hugged Yi-Han and patted his back.

He was always worried about his younger brother who took too many risks.

"It's not that I like danger, but danger keeps finding me... And the most recent danger was the one you took me to, wasn't it?"

Arsil pretended not to hear and ended the hug.

"Where are you going? The southern empire? The archipelago across the sea? Ah. You say you have an appointment with people from that kingdom... I know that kingdom isn't on good terms with the empire... Oh, you say you've become friends with the royalty? Really, can't you become friends with everyone except the principal?"

Arsil laughed at his younger brother's words.

Then he spoke seriously.

"Keep the tomb's score safe, Yi-Han. It will help your magic."

"!"

After finishing his words, Arsil smiled brightly.

Then he passed through the main gate and left abruptly.

When all the spirits that had been there until just now disappeared following Arsil, the mansion suddenly became quiet.

Yonaire cleared her throat and spoke.

"He was really a unique person."

"Right. He was fascinating too."

"I almost died."

Gainando grumbled.

If Yi-Han's second older brother was like this, he couldn't even imagine how evil and eccentric the first older brother might be.

"You're exaggerating."

"Drama queen?"

"Yeah. Drama queen. Well said," Eandurde quipped.

"I'm telling you I saw the principal?! Hey. And you junior, how dare you talk to your senior like that!"

Gainando bristled at Eandurde's words.

Eandurde ignored him regardless. Gainando's position in Eandurde's mind was already set.

"Yi-Han. Let's go to our family mansion. Hm? There's a lot to do there."

"Later. There are still friends who haven't arrived, so I need to see them before going."

"Then we'll go when everyone's here, right?"

"No. I want to clear any missions we can do around here before going. Gainando. Take this. It's good for gathering herbs around here because there aren't many people."

"...But I can't do alchemy..."

"Just look at the herbs and gather them. Gather them all. I'll share the reward."

Yi-Han had even checked the nearby Adventurers' Guild for missions when he went to town, being frugal.

While time-consuming ones would be difficult, relatively easy gathering-related missions were the easiest way to earn pocket money.

"I prefer memories over money..."

Gainando muttered a phrase he had seen in a book. Yi-Han and Yonaire looked at Gainando as if looking at the world's biggest idiot.

"Earning money is a memory too, Gainando."

"How good would memories of earning money be, Gainando."

'This is really annoying.'

"It's a shame there are no crafting missions. Those are quite profitable."

Even without going as far as artifact creation, various tasks like magically processing reagents or materials were quite profitable.

Those were the most frequent jobs low-circle mages did to gather research funds.

While the friends were chattering and talking, the main gate opened. Everyone's gaze turned that way.

Surprisingly, Ratford appeared riding a golem.

"I'm here! Mr. Wardanaz."

"Ratford!"

"Wow, I'm really impressed. To think golems patrol the territory! I can't imagine how happy the people living around here must be!"

"Haha. I'm glad you say that."

Yi-Han became shy at Ratford's praise.

Seeing this, his friends decided not to mention who had been patrolling until recently.

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