"I guess I don't need to intervene."

Not far from Bask Workshop.

Ray let out a sigh of relief from a tree overlooking the chairman's office.

When Theo grabbed the Moonlight White Sword, it had looked dangerous, and she had been ready to step in.

Fortunately, it seemed he had handled things well on his own.

"I just want to help somehow..."

Just as Theo had helped her in their childhood, she wanted to be of assistance to him. That’s why she had followed him.

But no matter how closely she watched, it didn’t seem like she’d have a chance to step in.

"Just a little further, and then I’ll keep following him."

With that thought, Ray quietly moved again.

*Swish*

Like a shadow, she disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

*Clip-clop, clip-clop*

The carriage carrying Theo and Cecilia was headed back toward Dongbaek Palace.

"Still, I’m glad we could get a good sword. I was worried he’d be too busy to accept the task."

Cecilia let out a sigh of relief, and Theo gave a faint smile.

It was a very different look from the one she’d had when protesting to Kirson about defective goods.

Now Theo felt he was starting to understand his mother’s true nature.

Cecilia had a gentle side.

Only to protect her son did she show a stern, fierce exterior.

Her only son had misunderstood his mother all this time.

"I was able to get it easily because of you, Mother. Thank you."

"Why would you say that, son? It's only natural for a mother to help her child in every way when a major event approaches."

Despite her words, Cecilia smiled, pleased with Theo’s gratitude.

"Anyway, I look forward to seeing what kind of sword he makes, especially since he promised to put his best effort as a master."

Theo nodded, smiling to himself without realizing it.

"What’s so amusing?"

"Oh, I was just thinking about how you negotiated with Grandmother…."

"You can just call her grandmother," Cecilia replied.

"…I was remembering how you struck a deal with her."

Cecilia crossed her arms with a light scoff.

"It’s the law of reaping what you sow, isn’t it? I told her repeatedly to be careful and make it a gift worthy of her grandson's birthday, but she gave us that instead. If she wants to avoid further issues, she’d better give it her absolute best."

"Thanks to that, our money-loving grandmother is probably tightening her belt," Theo mused, recalling Cecilia’s determined haggling with Kirson.

"Your best work? So, you're saying these items from last year weren’t your best, Mother?"

"I’ll make the best sword possible for you," Kirson had promised, and Cecilia had immediately shot him a pointed glare.

Kirson had stumbled over his words.

"Ah, well, that…!"

"I knew it. I shouldn't have come here if it wasn’t going to be your best work in the first place."

"No, that’s not what I meant!"

"Then what did you mean? Come along, son. Let's go somewhere else."

Kirson had planned to boast about the splendid sword he’d make for Theo, but he had to start making excuses.

Cecilia’s hysteria over the lack of a proper sword forced Kirson to appease her desperately.

"Where will you go at this hour?"

"There’s the Turcan Trading Company and Georg Workshop nearby; we could go there."

"Why those mediocre places!"

Both Turcan and Georg were workshops often compared to Bask.

Naturally, Kirson couldn’t contain his outrage.

"At least they wouldn’t give my son defective products!"

"But it’s not defective, really…!"

"I'll see about that."

"The sword... Right! Didn’t you need a sword for the Awakening Ceremony? Going elsewhere will mean you won’t find anything worthy."

"Perhaps."

"All the workshops are backed up with orders and working around the clock. How would you find a treasure blade? It’d be easier if I just made one for you…."

"I think I could manage to find one."

"How? Isn’t it difficult?"

"Did you forget, Mother? My son defeated the Northern Four Pillars and was chosen by the legendary Moonlight White Sword. Don’t you think they’d all want to offer him a blade?"

"...!"

"He’d be a walking advertisement."

Kirson’s pupils shook violently as Cecilia fully exposed his intentions.

"You had your eye on that, didn't you, Mother?"

It was then that Kirson realized.

The adopted daughter he’d raised wasn’t just beautiful.

She resembled him almost exactly, like they shared blood!

Kirson eventually raised his hands in surrender.

"Fine. I’ll make a *real* sword for you."

"Good. Now we’re finally negotiating."

"Do you have… any specific requests?"

"Why would we need to say it?"

"...What?"

"The desperate side makes the first offer."

"..."

After being thoroughly strung along, Kirson finally managed to escape Cecilia’s negotiation labyrinth.

"People would beg to have a sword crafted by the Master’s own hand… My mother is impressive, I’ll give her that."

The specifications Cecilia had wrested from him were rather straightforward.

Sixty percent white crystal ore, thirty-four percent black ironwood.

And—

"Six percent adamantine."

He’d been speechless when he heard it.

"No matter how much of a master he is, I never expected him to have adamantine."

Adamantine was an ultra-metal excavated only in trace amounts from meteorites.

It was known for its unparalleled resistance to breaking or melting under normal methods.

That’s why people called a sword with even a trace of adamantine not just a "treasure" but a "divine blade."

And she’d demanded six percent, not 0.6%.

It was almost robbery.

"Are you refusing? Then never mind."

Even as Kirson pleaded, Cecilia stood there calmly, unmoved.

Kirson finally gave in and accepted total defeat.

"And that sword is going to be mine."

However, Kirson had said that a sword of that caliber would take at least a week, even if he worked overnight.

With the Awakening Ceremony only five days away, it was unfortunate.

"But it’s fine. For the first stage of the ceremony, we’ll be using a standard iron sword from the testing hall. I can use the real one starting in the second stage."

Theo was already feeling tingles in his fingers, imagining the Master’s sword in his hands.

*Vmmm!*

The Moonlight White Sword, hung at his waist, hummed as if displeased with his thoughts.

* * *

"Curse it. They’re going to drive me into the ground, aren’t they? People say children are useless, but this…"

Since Theo and Cecilia left, Kirson had been groaning.

Not only had he lost the Moonlight White Sword, but his roof was now gone, leaving him to work in the cold for the foreseeable future.

And his daughter had just snatched away the treasure he cherished even more than the Moonlight White Sword.

Refusal wasn’t an option.

If Theo achieved the top rank in the Awakening Ceremony with the support of Turcan or Georg…

The connection between him and Cecilia would inevitably become public, and he’d forever be labeled the fool who couldn’t recognize his grandson’s talent.

He’d tried to get a free advertisement but ended up shackled instead.

Still, he thought he could handle it.

The amount of material needed for a standard sword wasn’t unreasonable.

However—

Just as Theo and Cecilia were leaving, Theo had dropped a bombshell.

"I’d like it to be a *zweihander*, please."

"…What?"

"About 2.3 meters long. A blade as thick as a finger would be nice. And the energy flow…."

"You little thieves!"

Theo’s request had been much grander than Kirson anticipated.

It was practically a "solid slab" requiring vast amounts of white crystal ore, black ironwood, and adamantine.

It would mean opening his emergency vault.

"Why does he need such a giant thing…."

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Kirson knew it was too late to retract his decision.

*Sigh*

Frowning, Kirson leaned back into his chair, releasing a thick cloud of smoke.

"Still… it’s not too outrageous…."

His gaze shifted to some materials on the table.

They were the resources Theo had offered for use in the sword’s creation.

Lesser Drake teeth and claws.

They were pristine, of top quality, without a single flaw.

"They must be from his encounter with the relic."

What would happen if he added these to the sword?

It was bound to become a *masterpiece* that even she, with her centuries of experience, would count among her finest works.

The craftsman’s instinct, buried deep within him while serving the capitalist demands, began to stir.

"The design’s already forming in my mind… Damn it."

Kirson chuckled, recalling where he had left his hammer, when—

"…"

His face turned cold, and he looked out the window.

*Rustle*

A black feathered lark landed beneath the curtains, swaying in the night breeze.

*Caw! Caw!*

"Been a while, Master."

A voice echoed in Kirson’s ear.

A telepathic spell.

"Not interested."

"You’re as cold as ever."

"If you’re here to talk nonsense, leave. Today was going well, and I don’t want you ruining it."

"Looks like you had a visitor?"

The lark smirked, glancing at the blown-out roof.

Its gaze lingered on the scars left by Theo’s energy.

Explosions in the smithing district were a serious matter in Ragnar, as they

 could disrupt weapon supplies and pose risks.

"A senior craftsman had an accident during his research. I’ve ordered him to stand down. Satisfied? And."

Kirson raised an eyebrow.

"I told you to get lost if you came just to dig."

The lark turned its gaze back to him.

"Fine. One question, then I’ll go. Have you thought about it?"

"Thought about what?"

"The relic consultation request I mentioned."

"Oh, that? I’m still not interested. Don’t care anymore."

"…"

"What? What’s with that look?"

"The relic… No, never mind."

Kirson, waving him off with his pipe, dismissed the lark's hesitation.

Any further conversation would be wasted breath.

Forcing the matter wasn’t an option, nor would it go easily.

"I’ll visit again."

The lark glared at Kirson with a sharp gaze, then flapped its wings and disappeared.

Alone again, Kirson sighed, deeply inhaling from his pipe.

"Nothing in this cursed house appeals to me. If it weren’t for that fool of a daughter… Ugh!"

* * *

Five days passed in a flash.

The day of the Awakening Ceremony.

Theo was making his final preparations with Evelyn.

*Clang! Clang!*

*Clash! Clang!*

"Your swordsmanship has become much stronger and faster."

"Does that mean I’ve become more precise? I’m glad to have Evelyn’s praise."

"But you might be confined to conventional patterns. You should be careful."

"Got it. I’ll keep that in mind."

To onlookers, it seemed like they were in a fierce real battle.

But Theo and Evelyn conversed as if it were nothing.

"Incredible…"

"He’s not even human…."

Sibyl and the others watching shook their heads in disbelief.

Over the past six months, a massive gap had formed between Theo and them.

Though they worked hard day and night, Theo’s growth was on another level.

So much so that even among Ragnar, it seemed unbelievable.

*Clang!*

A sharp metallic sound echoed as Theo and Evelyn separated widely.

Looking at her trembling sword, Evelyn quietly sheathed it.

Theo had grown strong enough to push her back.

And if he unlocked his mana?

"A monster… would be born."

Evelyn’s body shook slightly, eager to see that monster sooner.

"Thank you for your hard work. May you have great success at the Awakening Ceremony."

"It’s all thanks to you, Evelyn. Thank you."

Evelyn felt a twinge of emotion at his words.

"…No. I should be the one thanking you."

Her gratitude was genuine.

After losing her right arm, she had let go of the sword in her heart, but Theo had helped her reclaim it.

Now, it felt strange to be without it.

"If I secure the top rank, I’ll mention your name in my victory speech."

"That…!"

Evelyn’s face flushed as she stammered, but Sibyl suddenly interjected.

"Young master, young master! Please mention my name after Evelyn’s!"

"Me too! Please include me!"

"How about me?"

With his followers clamoring for inclusion, Theo laughed.

"Alright, I will."

With the Moonlight White Sword and a training iron sword at his side and a temporary zweihander on his back, Theo left the training grounds.

He heard the encouragement of his followers urging him to claim the top rank.

It was exactly six months to the day since he had returned.