The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Prince Rednil of the Hephaic Workshop

Lily gazed at me, a bright smile upon her face.

Looking at her, a sigh escaped me without permission.

To think she could be this hopeless.

This was truly troubling.

Following us without a word, acting entirely on her own whim.

Lilly, for one, showed no signs of turning back.

Even if told to stay away, she’d follow to the bitter end, it seemed.

Reluctantly, I had no choice but to accept Lilly’s joining us.

However-.

“Haa…. Well, then we need to get permission from the Lady Asia.”

“Okay, got it! Big Brother!”

I led Lilly towards the carriage Lady Asia was riding in.

And rapped on the carriage door.

“Lady Asia, something’s come up that needs to be discussed.”

No response came back.

I could sense her presence, so she couldn’t be asleep.

Suddenly, I recalled yesterday’s events.

Asia had asked me to speak informally.

“Asia… I need to talk.”

It was just a guess, a long shot.

But my hunch seemed to be right.

Only then did the carriage door open.

It seemed Asia hadn’t responded because I’d been using honorifics.

“Hmph! Come in and let’s talk, Arthurs-ssi!”

Asia said to come in.

But why was it,

though she was speaking to me,

her gaze was fixed on Lilly.

*

Inside the carriage.

As it was a four-seater, Lilly and Arthurs ended up sitting facing Asia and Melia.

Asia glared at Lilly and spoke.

“Do you even realize how rude what you’ve done is?”

“Hm? Is my behavior really that impolite?”

“Yes.”

Lilly maintained her relaxed demeanor.

At this sight of Lilly, a vein popped out slightly on Asia’s forehead.

Asia was annoyed.

She began to point out Lilly’s wrongdoing.

“Do you even know who I am?”

“Hey, I’m not a goldfish, am I? I wouldn’t forget so soon.”

“That’s right. You’re not a goldfish, so you should think carefully. I am the heir to the Messiah family. To follow that heir without a word? It can only be seen as having impure intentions.”

Lilly gave a derisive snort and replied.

“Hey, what do I have to gain from following *you* around? I’m following Big Brother Asia.”

To Lilly’s constant relaxed remarks…

Asia, in the end, had truly exploded.

“Listen here! You seem to be mistaken, because Arthas is *my* fiancé!”

“Weren’t you just proposing we settle this fairly…?”

“Th-that’s…”

Asia was speechless.

She still couldn’t quite understand why she’d blurted those words out back then.

A phrase spoken without a single thought.

That’s what it was.

“Alright. But… don’t even *think* about following me to the Messiah family.”

“Don’t worry.”

Lily, beaming, turned to Arthas.

“By then, Arthas *oppa* will surely stay by my side instead of returning to the Messiah family.”

Arthas was somewhat dumbfounded by Lily’s sheer confidence.

*’Lily sure has a lot of self-assurance.’*

Arthas could state with certainty that Lily’s words would not come to fruition.

Until the day Asia was free from the First Prince.

Or until the day the Sword Saint returned to his family.

Until that day came, Arthas intended to remain Asia’s fiancé.

Therefore, Arthas guaranteed it wouldn’t turn out as Lily said.

*

Before they knew it, they passed the border of the Hoorn Kingdom and arrived at their destination.

Hoorn, the capital of the Hoorn Kingdom.

A long queue stretched out at the entrance.

The races were diverse.

From beastkin, to elves, and dwarves, naturally.

It seemed most of these people were here to purchase weaponry.

We stood at the end of the line, waiting our turn.

It was during that wait that…

The window of the carriage opened, and

Asia’s voice drifted out.

“It seems rather…disordered.”

“Indeed, Young Mistress.”

Asia was right.

It looked like just entering this place would take up a great deal of time.

I asked Teddy,

“Does it usually take this long?”

Were they conducting background checks too thoroughly?

“Ah, I haven’t been here before myself, so I’m afraid I wouldn’t know.”

Teddy also confirmed he didn’t know the reason.

Just as I was wondering if we’d have to wait here without knowing why…

The answer to the question I desired came from Commander Retid.

“You know of Rare Mithril, yes?”

“Rare Mithril… I’ve heard of it.”

Rare Mithril.

I knew it was a mineral even more scarce than ordinary mithril.

“The only mountain range containing Rare Mithril is located within the Kingdom of Hoorn. And access to that place is forbidden to outsiders, even approaching it.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“That’s why we thoroughly verify identities here at the entrance. To prepare for any eventuality, you understand.”

I see.

But then again, if someone harbored ill intentions, couldn’t they just forge an identity?

This stringent process felt inefficient.

However, my thoughts wouldn’t change anything, would they?

“Arthas, dear brother, when can we enter?”

The voice came from inside the carriage.

It was Lily.

Currently, Asia, Melia, and Lily were inside the carriage.

Lily being in the carriage was thanks to Asia’s consideration.

‘Well, more like jealousy than consideration, perhaps.’

It had happened before Lily entered the carriage.

Lily hadn’t stopped talking to me for a moment.

And kept clinging to me as well.

Seeing this, Asia had rescued me.

By getting Lily into the carriage, that is.

I answered Lily’s question.

“Probably, we’ll pass through soon.”

Even with a meticulous identity check, our turn would come eventually.

.

.

.

It took exactly two hours.

That was the time it took to enter Hoorn.

Longer than I had anticipated.

Now that we were inside, we secured lodging first.

And after entrusting the carriage to the inn,

we headed straight for our destination.

The destination was Hephaike Workshop.

After walking for a while, a particularly large building came into view.

And the sign on that building.

It read ‘Hephaike Workshop.’

We had finally arrived at our destination.

Facing the Hephaike Workshop, we each found ourselves struck with awe.

“It’s… huge!”

“I’d want to invite the architect who built this to the Messiah family.”

“Indeed, my Lady.”

It was the first time we’d ever seen such a magnificent structure.

‘So, Dwarves aren’t just good at making weapons, are they?’

They seem to be skilled at architecture too.

To embellish a bit, the Hephaike Workshop was like a miniature royal palace.

Everyone was astonished, each and every one.

Except-.

Just one person.

Lilliman wasn’t.

“Let’s hurry inside, Oppa!”

She didn’t seem to have any interest in the building’s exterior.

And so, we entered, and there we witnessed a truly dreadful spectacle.

Or rather, less dreadful and more terribly embarrassing.

Bertnia, who should have been at the Messiah estate.

She was trying to seduce a man who looked like a guest.

And a staff member was trying to restrain her.

Without realizing it, my gaze went to Asia.

Asia, upon seeing Bertnia-.

“That, idiot…!”

Was profoundly ashamed.

I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge Bertnia.

Why was she even here in the first place?

It seemed I wasn’t the only one with this thought.

Everyone, with one mind, averted their gaze from Bertnia.

Just as we were about to ignore Bertnia and pass by,

“Huh? Miss Asia!!!”

Bertnia discovered us first and came running.

*

There haven’t been any decent men lately.

And so, Bertnia was famished.

Then,

Bertnia discovered a worthwhile man.

A human fellow who was a guest.

“Hey there, sweetie. Wouldn’t you want to get into something good with me?”

Bertnia made her advances toward the man.

She was in a hurry, so it was a direct approach without mincing words.

But-.

The man refused Bertnia’s offer.

“Ah… I’m alright.”

But Bertnia wasn’t about to give up that easily.

“Darling, I don’t think you quite grasp what’s on offer? And it’s not a clingy affair, just something light. How about it?”

“I apologize, but I’m already engaged…”

“Is there nothing we can do about that…?”

“My apologies.”

As this exchange unfolded,

an employee of the Hephaike Workshop intervened, trying to dissuade Bertnia.

“We cannot allow a disturbance here.”

“Disturbance? Ah…?”

Before she knew it, all eyes within the workshop were fixed on Bertnia.

Bertnia glanced around.

“Oh…!”

A familiar face.

Even just the hair color was a dead giveaway.

The Asia girl she’d been so eagerly awaiting had arrived.

A charming curve graced Bertnia’s lips.

Simultaneously, calling out to Asia, she rushed towards her.

Asia, who had been trying to pass by unnoticed, sighed deeply.

“Honestly… Commander Bertnia… why are you here?”

“Oh? Weren’t you informed?”

“Informed about what?”

“Count Messiah added me as your escort, Asia.”

“Father did?”

“Indeed.”

Asia had been completely unaware of this.

She wondered about the choice her father had made.

‘Why send Commander Bertnia separately?’

Asia pondered the reason.

Then, Bertnia spoke to her.

“Do you know how hard it was waiting for you? Still I have great news.”

“Great news?”

“That’s right. It seems a remarkable person has returned to this Hephaike Workshop.”

“A remarkable person?”

“Well, they say the First Prince has returned.”

Asia understood what Bertnia was implying.

“That *is* wonderful news.”

Asia gave a small smile.

Arthas, however, didn’t understand the conversation.

“Why would a Hoorun Kingdom prince returning home be good news for Asia?”

For Arthus, unaware the Hephaike Workshop’s owner was royalty,

the previous statement was utterly incomprehensible.