Chapter 102

The reputation of the Dark Knights had now been completely renewed.

As more and more people admired black uniforms, aristocrats in the capital city ordered and wore black long coats.

In winter, there was even a sarcastic mix of people wearing black long coats. Among those flocks of crows, the uniform of the Dark Knights was a completely different deep black.

Since details and designs could not be made exactly the same, the more fakes there are, the more the value of the real one went up.

The Dark Knights who do not wear long coats were also often surrounded by people and were urged to tell stories about their feats.

“You got a call from the forge, right?”

Nina’s words became lighter and Lorocomo took off his mask as the Head of a Top Merchant guild.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to what Pocco will show me. I’m getting so many requests to sell sage steel.”

“Don’t you think it’s okay to sell them outside if they’re a little less pure? Aren’t we too much for us keeping it to ourselves? Well, I’m sure the Young Master is going to decide for it.”

Pocco also made repeated efforts to improve the processing of sage steel, creating products that were incomparably higher in purity than when Nina first proposed it.

Luverne Duchy entered its unprecedented prime.

Lorocomo was often horrified just thinking that the person who managed this achievement was still a young duke in his twenties.

‘And.’

He glanced back at Nina.

Nina La Dell.

Now, no one on the continent would not know her name. From Badun Island in the North to Arakil in the south.

In these three years, her appearance has become more mature and beautiful. Looking at her would make one think that she is like a lily carved out of pure white jade.

‘Of course, those illusions collapse when she starts moving and talking.’

Nina’s personality hasn’t changed a bit in these three years. It was rather strange that Nina was the same even though she gained the power to rule others, when more than half of the time, people would change.

She still has her pigtails. It was now tantamount to a trademark, so much so that when she was not in them, people would start to think if something was wrong.

Like her, more people tied their hair in pigtails and imitated her hairstyle.

The number of women becoming knights also increased significantly, and the proportion of women in the Dark Knights went up as a result.

Considering that Nina was the only lady-knight in the world in the beginning, it was a great improvement.

Silver Hawk, Continent’s Strongest Sword, Winter Queen, Spirit Queen, Swordmaster, Enemy Slayer, Bellac Butcher.

Infinite titles referred to her, and that shows how famous Nina was.

Her territory, the Dell Viscounty, was mostly made of lakes, and the materials for the new Dark Knights’ uniform were found inside its swampy area.

When the Duke bought all the raw material, she earned gold coins equivalent to the treasury of any other Count.

The best Viscountess in the continent. That was another nickname for Nina.

As Adrian said three years ago, now, the Duchy of Luverne was rated as the best in any place in the land. It was said that merchants with high-end goods were running first to the Silver Lake, not to the Imperial Palace.

Watching the water fall from the beautiful crystal fountain, Lorocomo thought that the rumor was no exaggeration.

The Duke of Luverne’s Silver Lake Manor was famous for opening a new horizon in the landscaping of the nobility manors, all of which were the result of Mimina’s efforts.

Nina turned her eyes to the garden.

“How’s Mimina doing?”

The question raised concerns over Lorocomo’s face.

“Her due date is getting closer. I’m trying to relax as much as possible, but she can’t help but worry since it’s her first time giving birth.”

“With Kirill, it’ll work out somehow.”

“Yes, there’s the apothecary.”

Kirill completely turned to drug research and had one or two disciples underneath. Randell continued to study botany and recruited more people close to helpers, rather than disciples. Both work separately but kept close coordination, which led to an endless stream of amazing results.

A warning envoy from the Blue Island came several times saying, ‘The Sage’s wisdom shouldn’t be used recklessly, return the Tarok or there’ll be a consequence.’

Duke Luverne didn’t even snort at such threats.

The same was true for the temple.

‘We will send a priest to the purple forest to investigate it, you can’t keep on blocking us.’

There was even a rumor that all of this wealth was due to a contract with a fallen spirit. But much faster than the enemy’s expectations, Luverne grew stronger, taller, and mightier.

It was so fast that all the rumors and scandals would always be two to three steps behind.

“Well, the baby will definitely be cute.”

Lorocomo smiled at Nina’s words.

“Do you like children?”

“No.”

Nina laughed as he paused at her stern answer.

“But it’s a child from Lorocomo and Mimina. Of course, it’ll be cute.”

No matter what my taste is, the two would certainly make a child that would naturally be cute.

“That’s pleasing.”

Lorocomo laughed.

The two headed to the conference room of the mansion, passing through an elegant corridor built of Mount Akara marble.

They went in and Pocco was already there first.

“Commander.”

“Trade Manager.”

“Workshop Owner.”

They took turns greeting each other.

“I heard you made an even purer sage steel. How did you do it?”

I think it was already good enough.

Pocco’s face was burning with excitement.

“There will be no other masterpiece like this. I don’t know if I can extract such material with this purity ever again.”

She pulled a square ingot out of her arms. Lorocomo and Nina’s eyes went round.

“It’s transparent.”

“I think it’s made of ice.”

Every time Pocco moved the ingot around, it sparkled like a diamond in five colors.

“Oh, my God. Is this metal?”

At Nina’s words, Pocco took a hammer out of her pocket and beat it lightly.

Ting, Ting. 

There was a clear and transparent sound. It sounded like a well-done ceramic.

“It’s so beautiful.”

Lorocomo admired it. The pure sage steel, which was seen by the eyes of the merchant, was a product that could not be valued at all.

Then the door of the conference room opened and Adrian and Louis came in.

Adrian had also changed in three years. What exactly had changed could not be pointed out, but his body had become stronger and his face more manly.

His face, soaked in glory, was so spectacular that no one could take their eyes off him. Because of that, there were several marriage letters that come in a day and hundreds in a year. Among them, rumors spread that there were more than one or two women collapsing every day with lovesickness.

Adrian had slightly lengthened bangs lightly brushed to the side, showing it was time to get a haircut.

“Are you all here?”

“Kirill and Seiur Randell are still······.”

Lorocomo said with a hazy expression, and Louis sighed.

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Once they start researching, they won’t let go of it.

Adrian said.

“Workshop Owner, please report.”

Pocco stepped forward and put the ingot down on the table explaining the sage steel’s purity. Then Pocco added in a shameful tone.

“However, I don’t know how I got this high purity. We’re currently re-investigating all course procedures we’ve done······.”

“It’s highly likely that this will be the only finished product.”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked at the ingot and said.

“Give it to the commander.”

“What? To me?”

Nina opened her eyes round, and Pocco smiled brightly.

“This pure sage steel would certainly be happy to be the weapon of our Swordsmaster Nina.”

“Ugh-.”

Then Nina giggled after a moment of grunting.

“If you give me something good, I’ll be happy to receive it.”

Nina thanked Adrian, crossing her arms with an X.

Louis, whose long sleeves fit wonderfully, grinned down at the papers he was holding.

“Then let’s just say we’re going to attend this year’s Imperial Ball.”

Lorocomo’s face brightened up.

“You’re finally attending.”

“Yes, because the Saint is coming.”

“Saint?”

“Saint?”

“Huh? Why is the Saint coming out already?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to her since the last sentence came from Nina.

Nina mumbled in embarrassment.

“No, I mean I thought she would supposedly come out on the Holy Week······?”

“Of course, it would be nice if she came out on the temple holidays, but it’s the Grand Ball that attracts the most gathering of people.”

Louis spoke, explaining, and she nonchalantly stretched her shoulders.

“That’s true.”

Conversely, Nina’s mind was spinning busily.

‘I’m sure she was supposed to come out next year.’