Book 1 Chapter 659

659.

Gerwin, the principal of Demian, was sipping his tea.

In front of him, a beastkin and a dwarf were sitting and talking.

*Knock knock-*

After a moment, the door opened with a small knock.

A professor from Demian opened the door and entered, greeting Gerwin.

"Principal. The people from Lumern have arrived."

"Come in."

At Gerwin's words, as he put down his teacup, the door opened and seven people entered.

A small woman at the front bowed.

"Hello, Lord Gerwin. I am Artian Nier, a professor in the Department of Summoning Arts at Lumern."

"Welcome, Professor Artian."

Gerwin, who stood up from his seat, greeted Artian with a hearty laugh.

After exchanging greetings, Gerwin's gaze naturally turned to the people behind Artian.

"Welcome, Leo Flov. And…"

Gerwin's gaze lingered on Kal.

"One who prepares for the beginning."

"Um, Lord Gerwin."

"Why do you call me that, one who prepares for the beginning?"

"Well… why do you call me by my epithet instead of my name?"

Artian smiled faintly, looking at Kal, who asked cautiously.

"Heroes are beings who deserve respect. The epithets recorded in the Hero Record are literally proof of their heroism. Therefore, it is customary to call them by the names recorded in the Hero Record in formal settings. As for student Leo, unfortunately, he has no epithet, so you called him by his name."

"You didn't even know that?"

Iliana said with a look of pity, and Kal clicked his tongue.

"What reason would I have to meet heroes in a formal setting?"

"Haha. Actually, everyone finds it awkward at first. But they'll get used to it gradually."

"Grandpa, Ar isn't awkward at all?"

As Dryana, who had been watching the situation, interjected, Ar crossed his arms and bristled his tail.

"Hoo hoo hoo! Students of Azonia are always prepared! And one who inherits the will of a hero! What a wonderful resonance!"

Ar, repeating his epithet to himself, marveled.

"Isn't it a really fitting epithet for me?!"

"I sometimes envy your endless confidence."

Usually, becoming the successor to someone who achieved great feats is a very burdensome thing.

Whatever you do, you are naturally compared to your predecessor.

Moreover, Ar is the successor to the great hero Arion, not anyone else.

Like Ar, Dryana had not yet been officially recognized as Deweno's successor, but she felt immense pressure.

Of course, she wasn't crushed by the pressure, but she often felt admiration when she saw Ar, who was so confident.

"Is his willpower that great?"

"Dryana, is your willpower weak? Learn a bit from this older sister."

Ahaha! Seeing Ar patting his head while laughing, Dryana muttered seriously.

"Hmm. Is it because he's an animal and has no thoughts?"

"What?!"

Ar glared, but Dryana didn't care.

"The black rabbit is also Kyle's successor, but she doesn't feel intimidated at all! That's why your willpower is weak!"

Ar said, pointing at Leo.

At those words, Kal and Chelsea muttered inwardly.

'That's because Leo oppa is…'

'Kyle himself.'

"It's lively and good."

Gerwin laughed heartily and offered seats to the Lumern students.

Leo and his group sat on the sofa where Ar and Dryana had been sitting.

And they stopped when they saw the object in the center of the table.

"Isn't this… Brave?"

Duran, who recognized the identity of the broken sword, exclaimed.

Gerwin nodded.

"Yes, it is the sword inherited from Arion by the one who inherits the will of a hero."

Gerwin said with a somewhat serious expression.

Leo, who examined the sword closely at Gerwin's reaction, said.

"It's breaking."

At that, Ar's ears drooped.

"That's right, Black Rabbit."

The current state of Brave was immediately after the battle with Erebus.

It was the state before Arion's death.

It was unavoidable, as Arion's return to the mortal world was just before his death.

After receiving the sword, Ar used Brave in several battles.

A sword that had already reached the end of its lifespan.

Therefore, no matter how much of a masterpiece Deweno had created, it was inevitable that it would break little by little.

"We were discussing whether this sword could be repaired."

Gerwin was the best craftsman among the existing armament makers.

Therefore, Ar had asked Gerwin to repair Brave.

To summarize the conclusion…

"It's impossible."

"That's right."

Gerwin sighed deeply.

"Weapon restoration requires the same materials used to make the weapon. Most weapons made by Deweno contain metal specially manufactured by Deweno. Repair is impossible unless that metal is made. Even if it is repaired, it will only look the same. It cannot be called Brave."

Eliza said, looking at Gerwin with a regretful expression.

"Kal, does Deweno's alchemy book that you inherited contain the alchemy method for the metal used in weapons?"

At those words, all eyes turned to Kal with hopeful anticipation.

"Come to think of it, I was going to inquire about that too, one who prepares for the beginning."

Gerwin's eyes sparkled.

"Student Kal, does Deweno's alchemy book also include metal manufacturing techniques?"

Artian asked in an expectant voice.

"Unfortunately, the metal recorded in Deweno's alchemy book was only the metal needed to create sculptures."

"Metal needed for sculptures…"

"Then it wouldn't be."

"That's right. The metal used for sculptures and the metal used for weapons would be different."

Gerwin and Artian showed disappointed expressions.

"…What metal?"

However, Dryana's eyes widened.

"Metal used as material for sculptures."

"It might be that!"

Dryana said in an excited voice.

"You! Don't you remember what kind of person Deweno was before he was a blacksmith?!"

"Unlike you, he was a great artist."

"Unlike me! I am also an undeniably great artist…"

"That's not true."

"Don't blaspheme art."

Kal and Ar interrupted Dryana at the same time.

At that, Dryana pouted her lips.

"It's definitely possible…"

Kal crossed his arms and glanced at Leo.

When their eyes met, Leo nodded slightly.

'Kek! Is this real?'

If so, it would be truly amazing.

'Why are you telling me this now?'

Kal, with a look of shock, soon remembered something and understood.

'If this fact becomes known to the world, it will be dangerous.'

It was as Kal thought.

Leo, looking at Deweno's alchemy book, realized that the metal was the same metal Deweno used to make weapons.

The reason he didn't tell Kal was that Kal could be in danger.

'It's the foundation of Deweno's weapon manufacturing method, not of anyone else.'

Deweno's weapons, called divine relics.

Of course, even if weapons were made with that metal, it was impossible to create weapons like Deweno's.

However, it would still be possible to create more powerful weapons than existing ones.

'Besides, it won't just be factions that want powerful weapons that will target Kal.'

If they simply try to kidnap Kal.

There are those who would try to kill Kal altogether.

'Tartarus.'

It is Deweno's weapon, not anyone else's.

From Tartarus's perspective, it is the technology to create weapons that killed gods.

They would undoubtedly try to kill Kal by any means necessary.

Gerwin also seemed to have thought that far, his expression becoming serious.

"Let's keep this conversation a secret for now."

At those words, the people in the principal's office nodded.

"So? If you have the manufacturing method, can you make it?"

At Gerwin's question, Kal scratched his cheek.

"Actually, it's not easy to make."

"Why?"

"What's needed to make the metal is Deweno's flame."

"Don't we have Leo for that?"

Dryana's eyes sparkled as she looked at Leo.

At that, Leo said.

"My body probably won't be able to withstand Deweno's flame."

It's possible to emit the heat that Deweno did when he swung his hammer, but he can't endure that heat.

"Crucially, I have no talent for hammering."

Saying so, Leo looked at Dryana.

"…? Why are you looking at me?"

"Would you like to try handling Deweno's flame?"

"What? Is that possible?!"

Dryana's eyes widened.

"I think I can act as a furnace. Of course, enduring and handling that flame is entirely your role."

"I will! It's a great honor as a dwarf!"

"You will do it?"

"Of course!"

"Good. Then we can start training from today."

"Yes! Okay!"

Dryana said with a bright smile.

So happy that she forgot to imitate Deweno's way of speaking and used her original speech.

"Alright, then we'll stop talking about Brave's restoration here. Shall we take a short break and then discuss the mission?"

"Ah, then Cal student and I will return to the students."

Artian and Kal, who had visited the principal's office to report their arrival at Demian, had no reason to stay there any longer.

"Haha. Before you go, have a cup of tea."

"Ah, in that case, I'll have a cup of tea before leaving."

At Gerwin's words, Artian nodded.

Thus, a tea time began for a while.

"Hey, Leo."

"Why."

"You're getting better at scamming, aren't you?"

At Kal's words, Leo chuckled.

"I still have a long way to go to catch up to that scammer lizard."

'How good is Lysina-nim at scamming that Leo is saying this?'

Kal thought inwardly and looked at Dryana with a sympathetic expression.

"By the way, why did the second-year students warp to somewhere else right after arriving at Demian? Where did they go?"

Chelsea asked with a puzzled expression.

Chelsea, who had a smith contract at Demian Academy last year, was curious about the whereabouts of the second-year students who had moved elsewhere immediately upon arrival.

"That?"

Kal took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.

"I sent them to the mine."

"Eh? The mine."

"Yes."

***

"No!"

*Thump-!*

"Why on earth!"

*Thump! Thump!*

"Why am I, a magician!"

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

"Having to swing a pickaxe in a mine!"

*Thump-!*

"Ooooh! Amazing!"

"Is that kid really a magician?"

"What kind of ignorance!"

"Who said that just now! The one who called me ignorant! I'll hit you on the head with a pickaxe!"

Juen glared and swung his pickaxe wildly at the Demian students.

Looking at Juen, Luke said.

"It can't be helped, Juen. For this smith exclusive contract, you have to get the materials for the weapons yourself."

"Even so!"

*Thump-! Thump-! Thump-!*

"Look at Aina!"

"She's using two pickaxes!"

"I can't lose."

"Gasp! Habiden too!"

"Knight Department… you guys are having a field day, huh?"

Juen said with an incredulous expression.

"Juen, stop playing and work."

"No! Why are you, the princess, so enthusiastic and working so hard!"

"I'm realizing the nobility of labor. I think it's very important study to experience the lives of the people I will rule!"

"No! Don't you wonder why we have to do this kind of manual labor?"

"…? Not really."

Seeing Shasha tilt her head, Juen made a serious expression.

'……Am I the strange one?'