Chapter 62

Chapter 62

The Commanders’ office was quiet, so Nina could hear the rain pouring outside. The smell of rain and cold damp air hovered around the castle. Because it was made of rocks, the smell of moss flowing out became even stronger.

Jean murmured as he heard the sound of rain hitting the stone wall.

“I didn’t expect to study etiquette just because it was raining and we can’t practice outside.”

“But Jean finished early.”

“Vivian said she’d look at me separately and let the other guys go first.”

“Well, Jean’s the Vice Commander after all.”

Vivian was a person who considered courtesy as highly important. She would not have wanted to scold a person of high rank in front of low ranking people.

Because she considers the prestige of superiors important.

“You must be very good at this. How did you finish so quickly?”

Nina laughed when Jean lamented.

“Do you want me to take a look at you?”

“Really? I also think you’re much better than Vivian.”

Nina snapped her fingers and Jean raised his body with enthusiasm. He stood up from the seat and cleared his throat for no reason.

She looked at Jean with a strange face and said,

“Why is it so weird and forced? You can just stand naturally. It’s the same as the basic combative posture. Put your strength where you need it, and relax where you don’t need it.”

“It’s easy for you to say that.”

“Huh? It’s not easy at all. At least, we’re not practicing to the point of throwing up. But how did you end up like this?”

Nina corrected Jean’s posture, and Jean felt much more comfortable than before. He gets nervous in front of Vivian but feels comfortable in front of her, so his movements become more natural.

“Do I have to do this?”

While grumbling, Jean greeted Nina fairly well.

Although he is not yet close to the Duke or the Royal Family, this would work in the Imperial Palace.

“Now, it’s not like I’m the second son of a merchant, but the second son of the Viscount.”

“Where does a second son of a Viscount even compare to you?”

Jean, who lamented but did not hate the compliment, grinned. Nina laughed and added.

“Now, now, Jean. You need this to be in a relationship with a Lady. Don’t you want to marry a noblewoman?”

“Urgh.”

Nina raised her eyebrows, as it was a reaction that would only come from an adolescent boy.

“What? Why?”

“What, dating······. I’m not thinking about that kind of thing yet······.”

Jean stuttered in embarrassment. Nina laughed jokingly at him.

“What? Are aristocratic women uncomfortable? Are you ashamed? What’s wrong?”

“Just drop it, really!”

Jean shook his hand and frowned, so Nina said with a smile without further touching the topic.

“Should I try dating?”

“What?”

Jean looked back at Nina in surprise. She shrugged her shoulders.

“There might be a good man in the Palace.”

“You, but, by the way, you······.”

Jean stuttered.

“I feel sorry for the man who will go out with you.”

“What are you talking about? He will be dating the most lovely person in the world.”

“Oh, I really feel so sorry for the poor guy.”

Jean shook his head and was kicked in the shin by Nina. He usually wouldn’t blink an eye because he was always wearing braces, but Jean, who became defenseless after taking it off for the etiquette class, shed a few tears.

Nina’s delicate strength control was meant to hit the hardest without breaking or cracking.

“You deserve a good beating anyway. Hmpf.”

Nina, who was grumbling, went to the window. When she opened them, the sound of rain became even clearer.

Because there were no eaves, some raindrops hit the window sill and fell inside. Nina, who took a deep breath of the rain-filled air, looked back at Jean and asked.

“Should I show you something interesting?”

“I can’t see because of tears.”

“I’ll show you.”

Nina ignored Jean’s words and pulled out her sword. Jean’s face was now saying something like, ‘’Do as you please.’’

Nina’s sword passed quickly, winding like a snake through the rain. Jean opened his eyes, saying, “No, it’s a straight sword, why is it bent like that?” and then she quickly collected the sword.

“Ta-da.”

She showed him the sword.

The blade was fine. There wasn’t a drop of rain.

She swung the sword in the rain, avoiding all the raindrops. Jean let out a groan.

“You’re really······.”

“There are some good things about surviving a life and death situation.”

Nina spoke like a joke and turned the sword around playfully and put it in the scabbard. Jean said with a frown in his eyes.

“Don’t say that, even if you’re joking.”

Nina blinked her eyes and put her hands together as if she were politely reflecting on herself.

“I’ll be careful.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Then, let’s see your greetings again?”

Jean took a deep sigh as if to show her his mind, but held a steady posture.

The practice of the two continued until a candle was lit. The next day, Jean was delighted to be praised by Vivian, saying, “It’s not quite there, but it’s not bad.”

The rain that marked the beginning of early summer lasted a long time.

By the time the rain season stopped, etiquette practice was over and the heat of high summer began.

────── •❆• ──────

Pocco looked at the finished sword. She was holding back her tears, but a sobbing sound came from somewhere else.

When one of the other craftsmen who had struggled together to make the sword shed tears, the others followed suit, and one by one they shed tears. Still, she looked at the sword they had made and lifted it with a joyful face.

Sage Steel.

It had a completely different nature from iron, so she had a hard time making a sword, but it was finally completed.

It was like glass and silver. It was transparent as if the other side was visible at first glance, but it shone as bright as silver.

It was the legendary perfect sword that was said to be even compared to the stars.

Everything from the sword hilt to the handle was black. The handle was decorated in the shape of a black hawk, a symbol of the Dark Knights. Pocco wrapped the sword in soft leather, held it dearly in her arms, and went to show it to the Duke.

She was granted an audience. Pocco put the sword down in front of Adrian. She would never have been able to complete it without the help of the Duke and the Knight Commander Nina.

Special furnaces and fuel were needed to raise the fire to the highest heat possible. Fortunately, the design of the special kiln to filter out impurities after heating was designed by Pocco.

She was confident that it was a better sword than any of her ancestors had made.

Adrian slowly pulled out the sword. The bright blade looked sharp enough to give off a chill.

It was a beautiful figure that made anyone admire it naturally. When Adrian called the spirit, the blade quickly began to turn black.

Pocco swallowed her breath in surprise.

From the blade to the handle, everything turned black, and Adrian lightly swung the sword.

One strike was enough to see how good it was.

“Excellent.”

Adrian asked with a faint smile.

“How long does it take to make someone else’s sword now?”

“Once creating a single one has been successful, the next time will be easier.”

“Make the sword of the knights who are going up to the capital first.”

“Yes, sir.”

Pocco then carefully looked at the black blade and asked.

“Does calling the Spirit always change the original color of the sword?”

“No. It must be the characteristic of the Sage Steel. As you can see, the sword’s original color didn’t come back even though I already stopped calling the Spirit.”

Adrian replied while looking at the blade shining like obsidian. Pocco took the liberty of getting the sword back from him and looked over it thoroughly. However, there was no change other than the change in color.

It was only when they faced a bellac or fought that they could clearly see the effect.

Since there is another Spirit user near her, Pocco quickly completed another sword.

Rumors of Adrian’s sword have already spread, so by the time Pocco offered Nina’s sword, some craftsmen came to observe along with Pocco.

Among the observers were also Jean and the Dark Knight members.

“It’s a bit embarrassing.”

While muttering, Nina insisted.

“Winter, the season of silence, the ice wings that silence and put down everything to rest.”

A beautiful pattern was carved on the edge of the blade, just like a pattern of frost on the window. It became more transparent, making it look like a delicate glass artifact.

The artisans burst into admiration. Nina chanted cheerfully.

“Burning and swallowing, exploding infinite energy, brightest light the midday ruler, Sun.”

Flames quickly covered the sword and vanished. A pattern wasn’t particularly engraved, but a light golden color began to circulate on the blade. From golden to vermilion, the colors changed constantly, like a swaying sunset.

‘It’s so fancy.’

Nina clicked her tongue. Still, she remembered the Sun Spirit, so she was sure it matched the Sun’s taste. Fortunately, the light didn’t come out every time she pulled the sword out.

When she swung the sword, a beautiful gold trajectory was drawn.

“Beautiful······.”

Pocco muttered without even knowing. Her body shook as she witnessed the sword finally completed, in the hands of a swordsman.

Jean’s expression turned into a serious one, he folded his arms while looking at it. Nina put her sword back in the sheath.

Just like Adrian, the hilt and handle were completely black. The Dark Knights are united in black, including the sword hilt and the handle.

“Thank you, it’s a really good sword. It’s impossible to get sick of it.”

Nina smiled and thanked Pocco in the style of the Kingdom of Lency, holding her hands together.

Pocco also greeted her.

“No. I should be the one thanking you for letting me see such a wonderful thing today.”