Episode 644

On closer inspection, it wasn’t an ordinary artifact.

To instantly grant such strength to the wearer without any noticeable side effects… And the innkeeper didn’t look like a mage or an experienced adventurer.

Even an artifact that raised strength only a little, with side effects, was hard to make and precious. But something like that…

‘Who in the world made it?’

Ratford stared intently at the artifact.

The more he looked, the more extraordinary an artifact it was.

Ratford wasn’t like the Wardanaz family, able to tell its patterns and afterimages just by sensing mana from a distance, but he could feel how intricate the artifact was.

A masterpiece broadcast its aura no matter how far away you were.

‘…But why is the innkeeper the one who has it!?’

“Cough… cough. Y-you…”

“Are you sorry or not!?”

“This bastard is trying to kill me! Help!”

“!”

At the dwarven traveler’s panicked call to his companions, Ratford tensed up.

‘He has companions!’

Sure enough, from upstairs came a thundering noise as another dwarf came running with a pickaxe.

That wasn’t all. Another dwarf companion outside threw down his beer and came running in wielding a club.

“By my beard, put my comrade down! You monster!”

“You think you can make a scene and get away with it?!”

“Shut up, we’re miners from the Sunset Iron Mine! You can’t stop us!”

The innkeeper faced off against the two newly arrived dwarves, still holding one in a headlock.

Deciding three was too much, the innkeeper shouted to his staff again.

“The ladle, get the ladle!”

“??”

At this point, Ratford was less interested in stopping the dwarves and more curious about what the innkeeper would bring out next.

“Will a ladle be enough?! Shall I bring the cauldron lid, too?!”

“Get that too!”

The subdued dwarven traveler rasped out:

“Stop… stop them!”

“Wh-what?”

“Stop the ladle and cauldron lid…!”

“???”

His companions thought he was spouting nonsense.

Why stop someone from bringing out a ladle and a cauldron lid?

“If you move now, you can’t stop it!”

“S-still, we have to try…”

At that moment, the scrawny staff member barreled out. In one hand was a ladle, in the other a cauldron lid.

Trembling, glaring at the dwarves, the dwarves burst out laughing.

“You little human! That’s supposed to stop us?!”

“Go hide in the kitchen until this is over!”

“O, oh, oh—by the power of the Wardanaz family’s ladle!”

The staff member squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.

Never did he think he’d have to use the artifact gifted by the Wardanaz family himself!

He’d have preferred terrifying things like this to be used by the innkeeper…

Bang!

The three dwarves were flung out of the inn. As if an invisible giant hand slapped them and sent them flying.

“!!!!!”

Ratford was stunned.

‘That’s no ordinary artifact!’

It didn’t just attack enemies; it sensed and expelled hostile threats inside the inn all by itself!

The dwarves rolled on the ground in shock. Hardy, well-equipped as they were, the blow left them struggling to breathe.

“This… what the hell… what artifact does this crazy innkeeper… cough.”

“Hey, you blasted dwarves!”

Infuriated by the commotion, the shopkeeper from next door came rushing over.

He looked like someone who’d never been in a fight in his life—the three dwarves, still lying there, were dumbfounded.

What on earth gave him the confidence to barge in?

“Take this, broom!”

The shopkeeper brandished his broom like a wand.

At this, the three dwarves suddenly felt uneasy.

Surely not…

Was the shopkeeper too…?

“By the Wardanaz family’s broom!”

Bang!!!

The three dwarves were hit by binding magic and fainted on the spot.

The villagers cursed and dragged the lot of them to the guardhouse jail.

The uproar was over.

The innkeeper apologized to the guests and poured everyone a beer on the house.

“Sir.”

“!”

Ratford was startled as the innkeeper suddenly called out to him.

“Yes?”

‘Did he notice I’m a mage?’

“I understand you were surprised. But please, don’t spread rumors. If strange tales go around, travelers avoid the village.”

“……”

“Please…”

The innkeeper’s face was pure earnestness. Ratford was so overwhelmed that he nodded before he knew it.

“Um, well, just now… where did you even get that artifact…?”

“…Sigh. Of course you’d be curious. It’s a treasure bestowed by the Wardanaz family.”

“The Wardanaz family! …Wait, but why a hat, a ladle, a cauldron lid…?”

“There’s a story to that.”

The innkeeper sighed.

It happened during his grandfather’s grandfather’s time.

Back then, the inn wasn’t even called “Rowboat Above the Clouds.”

-…You have run the -Pony of the Lava Volcano- Inn excellently, so the Wardanaz family would like to present you with a reward.

-T-thank you. Demon… supervisor… administrator… steward…

“A demon?”

“…Did I say demon? Not demon; supervisor, I mean steward. He just looked like a demon, that’s all.”

The innkeeper hurriedly patched his story.

-I plan to bestow an artifact, is that alright?

-N-no, that’s alright!

The innkeeper’s ancestor hadn’t wanted to receive any artifact.

Actually, most other villagers felt the same.

Those who knew nothing said, ‘Wow, you could sell an artifact for a fortune,’ but for this village, things were different.

First, if you sold a Wardanaz family artifact behind their back, there’s no knowing what punishment awaited.

There was nothing as foolish as incurring the displeasure of a great mage.

And for ordinary people, a Wardanaz artifact was more scary than convenient.

What if you used it wrong and accidentally summoned a demon?

-Why do you refuse?

-Well, um, it’s just… running the inn, it’d be hard for me to use a crown or a staff myself…

-I see! I will report this.

The “demon” left and returned a bit later.

-They said to have it applied to something you use at the inn. That would be alright?

-……

He should have refused, but as luck would have it, the “demon” was assigned instead of a golem that day, so he could only nod.

Since then, the Wardanaz family periodically presented artifact rewards to the people of their domain.

And of course, they always made sure to enchant things the recipients used often.

“…That’s how it happened.”

“Wow. The Wardanaz family is amazing. To give out artifacts like these to their subjects so regularly!”

Ratford was impressed.

As expected of Lee Han’s family, the Wardanaz family was truly one of the most outstanding great noble houses in the Empire.

And to care about the people, not just the appearance of artifacts.

Seeing the clueless traveler, the innkeeper felt emotional inside.

Until a demon comes down now and then, he’ll keep on saying things like that!

“…We are always grateful for their grace. Haha… If it got out that villagers had artifacts, travelers might get frightened, so please don’t spread word of it.”

“Don’t worry. I promise. But is it alright to tell me all this? Artifacts are treasures…”

“A fool who wants to die can try to steal one.”

The innkeeper replied dryly.

Then, realizing he’d been too blunt, he tried to recover.

“Just a joke. Haha.”

“Ah, yes.”

“So, what brings you here…?”

“A distant relative sent me a letter asking if I could help with some work. I’m a craftsman of the locksmith guild. I’ll be going now.”

“Ah! From the locksmith guild! Could I ask a favor then?”

“What is it…?”

“Some crazy guest just dumped a carriage with eight horses at the stables and left! I can’t just sell it, so I was thinking of putting a lock on it just in case.”

“Like those dwarven guests earlier, there sure are strange travelers! Don’t worry. When I’m done with my business, if I have time I’ll come by.”

Thinking there were truly some odd people, Ratford left the inn.

• * *

“Brother. Take care of yourself.”

Arsil hugged Lee Han and patted his back.

He always worried for his little brother who took too many risks.

“It’s not that I like danger. Danger just keeps coming to me… Besides, the most recent danger was the one you brought me to, brother.”

Arsil pretended not to hear and finished the hug.

“Where are you going next? Imperial south? Across the sea to the archipelago? Oh, you have a promise with the kingdom’s people there… But isn’t that kingdom at odds with the Empire… Oh, you made friends with the royal family? At this rate, isn’t the only one you aren’t friends with the Headmaster?”

Arsil laughed at his little brother’s words.

Then he said seriously.

“Take good care of the tomb’s score. Lee Han. It will help your magic.”

“!”

With those words, Arsil flashed a smile.

Then, passing through the front gate, he vanished outside in an instant.

As all the spirits that had been there followed Arsil, the mansion suddenly grew silent.

Yoner cleared his throat and spoke.

“He really was a unique person.”

“Yeah, and amazing too.”

“I almost died, you know.”

Gainando grumbled.

If Lee Han’s second brother was like this, he could only imagine how wicked and eccentric the eldest brother would be.

“Such a drama queen.”

“Drama king?”

“Yeah. Drama king. Well put.”

“I saw the Headmaster?! Hey. And you, junior, how can you talk like that to your upperclassman!”

At Eandurde’s remark, Gainando flared up.

Eandurde didn’t care. To Eandurde, Gainando already had his place.

“Lee Han. Let’s go to my family’s mansion. Huh? There’s lots to do there.”

“Maybe later. There are friends who haven’t arrived yet, so I should wait for them.”

“Then when they all come, you’ll come, right?”

“No. I want to finish up the requests I can do nearby before I go. Gainando. Take this. There aren’t many people around here so it’s good for gathering herbs.”

“…I’m no good at alchemy…”

“You just have to pick them. Bring everything back. I’ll split the reward.”

Ever frugal, Lee Han had even checked the local adventurers’ guild requests when visiting the town.

Though anything time-consuming would be too much, the simpler gathering requests were the easiest way to earn pocket money.

“I like memories more than money…”

Gainando murmured a phrase he’d read in a book. Lee Han and Yoner looked at him as if he were the world’s biggest fool.

“Earning money is a memory, too, Gainando.”

“Think of the memory of earning money, Gainando.”

‘You guys are really pissing me off.’

“Too bad there weren’t any crafting requests. Those pay nicely.”

Even if you didn’t get as far as artifact-making, there was a decent market for things like magically treating potions and materials.

That was the kind of thing low-circle wizards most often did to earn research funds.

While the friends were chatting, the main gate opened. Everyone turned to look.

Amazingly, Ratford showed up riding a golem.

“I’m here! Lord Wardanaz!”

“Ratford!”

“Wow, I was so impressed. Patrols around the estate carried out by golems! The people who live in this area must be so happy!”

“Haha. Thanks for saying so.”

Lee Han felt shy at Ratford’s praise.

His friends decided among themselves not to mention just who had been doing patrols until only recently.