Editor : Amethyst00



"Bring me the sword."

"…Here."

Aru cautiously handed the broken Brave to Dweno.

Dweno examined the blade closely, turning it this way and that before speaking.

"Where did you get this sword?"

"Uh? Well…"

"And who made it?"

Aru was at a loss for how to answer.

Brave was a sword made by Dweno.

But not this Dweno—one from the distant future, long after this moment.

She couldn't just say that outright.

"Her brother used to use this. She don't know who made it."

Leo stepped in, placing his hand on Aru's head.

Aru quickly nodded at his words.

"Y-Yes! That's right! My brother… Sir Aaron… Huff! My brother Aaron gave this to me—it's very precious! Huff! Huff!"

"Your breathing is strange. And why is your face so flushed?"

"Well… Nyaaah!"

"This one's a bit weird in the head."

"I told you not to grab my tail like that!"

Acting extremely suspiciously, Aru lashed out as Leo mercilessly yanked her tail.

Aru struggled to free her tail from Leo's grasp.

Drianna, having escaped the furnace, abruptly interjected.

"T-That's enough! I can't take it anymore! Leo! Aru! P-Please… help…!"

"We're in the middle of something important—go back inside for now."

"You damn cat!"

Using a pair of blacksmith tongs beside the furnace, Aru unhesitatingly shoved Drianna back into the flames.

"Hey now. You can't just stuff her in like that."

Leo flicked Aru's head with his knuckles.

"I believe in Drianna. She can take more."

Aru replied nonchalantly.

"I'm definitely not doing this to get revenge for that time she shoved me back into the water while saying she was helping with my training. This is for Drianna's own good too."

Dweno stroked his beard as he watched Aru, who emphasized how totally selfless her actions were.

"You're true friends, aren't you."

"Yes. That's right."

Dweno let out a hearty laugh as Aru spoke with a straight face—words that would've driven Drianna to drag her back into the furnace had she heard them.

"And besides, even if you hadn't done it, I would've tossed her in anyway."

"True."

'Well, Dweno would never have allowed this kind of rest otherwise, so I guess I didn't need to step in.'

Aru muttered "You're cruel," shaking her head as she looked at the good-naturedly smiling Leo.

"So? Can you fix it?"

Leo crossed his arms as he asked, and Dweno examined Brave more closely.

After thoroughly inspecting it with a monocular lens, he finally spoke.

"It's close to impossible. This sword is already dead."

"…"

At those words, Aru's ears drooped.

"But it's amazing. I never imagined someone could create something like this."

"Um… Did you feel anything while examining it?"

"I felt… despair."

Aru was slightly taken aback by how casually Dweno said that.

Though Brave was a future creation of Dweno's, Aru had assumed he'd sense that and be shaken. Instead, Dweno seemed composed, leaving Aru slightly confused.

Leo, however, wasn't surprised at all.

'That makes sense.'

The Dweno Leo first met and the Dweno who joined the final expedition were practically different people.

Whether as a warrior or a blacksmith.

Even at this time, Dweno was considered the greatest blacksmith and warrior in the world.

'The same went for the rest of us.'

Lysinas only chose the best for the sake of the world.

Just being selected by Lysinas marked one as a hero of the age.

'The only problem was that our journey wasn't something you could get through with just that level of strength.'

The Great Heroes were constantly forced to break their own limits.

Of course, even at the beginning, Dweno had traits that surpassed everyone else.

'Mental strength.'

Among the five Great Heroes, none had greater mental fortitude than Dweno.

'By the time we met, his mind was already fully forged.'

As the party's advisor, Dweno was always a pillar for Arhi whenever she wavered.

So Leo believed in him.

Even if present-day Dweno felt despair, he wouldn't falter.

In the far future, when he finally created Brave and saw it ablaze in its glory, he wouldn't be daunted—he'd burn with determination.

'That's the kind of man he is.'

No matter the situation, Dweno always fulfilled his duties to the end.

Leo watched him with a faint smile.

'Lysinas finds hope in despair. Luna never accepts despair. Aaron draws courage from despair. And Dweno…'

Always, he carried on silently with his tasks, even within the depths of despair.

So that nothing would be left behind to regret.

'If only he weren't such a pervert, he'd be perfect.'

Just as Leo clicked his tongue inwardly—

"Amazing. So this is how we were able to reclaim the night sky."

Dweno murmured as he continued examining Brave.

"But what's more astonishing than the blacksmith who forged this sword is its wielder—your brother, was it? Aaron?"

"Yes!"

"This sword still bears traces of having cut through the flames of calamity."

"Exactly! My brother Aaron is the greatest warrior in the world!"

"I see. That sounds about right. How could someone so powerful remain unknown until now? He must be… extremely…"

"Ahem!"

Aru puffed out her chest proudly, wearing a smug expression.

"Extremely…"

"…? Dweno?"

"Aaaagh! Help…!"

Drianna, erupting from the furnace with a scream, froze at the sight of Dweno.

Clang—

"…Extremely brave, it seems… yes…"

Dweno's trembling voice was drenched in tears as he covered his face with shaking hands.

Leo had seen countless deaths during the age of calamities.

Aaron, Lysinas, Luna—even himself had cried on many occasions.

But never Dweno.

When the party wavered, Dweno stood firm.

When everyone was exhausted and lost, Dweno endured until they could recover.

A will of iron.

Leo was the only one who ever saw Dweno cry.

And even that was just once.

After they lost Aaron.

When Dweno blamed himself, saying Brave would never have broken had he not obsessed over beauty and artistry.

Aside from that single moment of vulnerability, Dweno never shed tears.

So seeing him cry now left Leo stunned.

"Dweno…?"

"Forgive me. That was disgraceful."

Dweno took a deep breath.

"I just… I was so overwhelmed with relief that I couldn't help but cry. It's too much—knowing our long resistance wasn't in vain."

"Incredible."

"What is?"

"I never thought you were someone who'd cry for that reason."

"Leo, really…"

"Black Rabbit."

Drianna and Aru looked at Leo with reproachful eyes, but Dweno let out a small chuckle.

"Well, I can't blame you. I know how people view me."

Before joining Arhi's party, Dweno was known as the Iron-Blooded Guardian.

The man who protected Ivaldi without ever faltering.

'That nickname faded after he joined Godthrone and gained a more benevolent image.'

Leo silently looked at Dweno.

'Still… this old man, crying?'

"You alright?"

Having composed himself, Dweno gently patted Drianna's head as she looked at him with concern.

"I'm not so weak that I need you worrying about me. So."

With a kind smile, Dweno suddenly gripped Drianna's head.

"Back in you go. I didn't say you could come out."

"Aaaaaaagh!"

He shoved her back into the furnace.

"How do you expect to learn my smithing with a weak mind like that? Stay in there like your life depends on it!"

"Eeep!"

Startled by Dweno's intensity, Aru hid behind Leo.

"I don't think she can hear you anymore."

Leo clicked his tongue as Drianna writhed in agony inside the furnace.

"Ahem. Anyway. Back to the matter at hand."

Dweno picked up Brave and placed it on the worktable.

"This sword was made by a smith far more skilled than I. I can't guarantee I can repair it…"

He looked to Leo.

"It might end up being practically a whole new sword… but I'll try."

"No need to say you'll try," Leo cut in firmly.

"Just fix it."

"You're so demanding."

"Because I know you can do it."

"Heh. You overestimate me."

Shaking his head, Dweno pulled Drianna from the furnace.

Then he picked up a bucket filled with potion.

Hissssssss—!

Thick steam filled the workshop.

"Let's call that the end of the morning session."

"T-Thank you… That's all for today, right?"

"No. We continue after lunch."

At that, Drianna rolled her eyes and fainted.

Dweno placed his hand into the furnace again.

Whooosh—!

Golden flames roared within.

"Just as you said—I'll fix it."

As Dweno spoke, Leo smiled.

"That ring on your hand."

"Hm?"

"That's also something the creator of this sword made, isn't it?"

"Yep. You recognized it right away."

"Hmph. I know what I'm looking at. Can I see it?"

Leo handed the ring to Dweno.

After inspecting it closely, Dweno commented.

"Strange. It was alive when it was on your hand. Now it's dead. Why?"

"When it's off my hand, it just becomes a decoration."

"Hoh? So it only works when you wear it? That's not normal. Interesting. I'll try reviving this ring too."

"Think you can?"

"Heh. After all that provoking, now you doubt me? Got anything else like this?"

Leo pulled out Aaron's greatsword from his cloak.

Receiving the future-forged relics, Dweno said:

"If I bring these all back to life, you'll owe me one favour."

"What is it?"

"Drink with me. As much as I want."

"…That might kill me."

"If I take on hard work, I deserve proper compensation, no?"

Leo laughed dryly at the demand from the greatest drunk among the great heroes.

"Alright."

Dweno grinned.

Carrying the unconscious Drianna under one arm, Leo exited the workshop. On the way, he also scooped up the barely conscious Eliana.

Left alone, Dweno stared long at Brave, resting on the shelf.

bl

'What is this…?'

He knelt in prayer, eyes closed.

'Why is the sky like that?'

His trembling body was wrapped in fear as his prayers went unanswered.

'Oh god… why do you not answer me?'

The sudden situation had pushed him into deep terror.

Then—

"As I thought, it wasn't easy to find. No one but me could have done it."

Thud—

The ground shook like an earthquake.

The praying man's expression darkened, filled with killing intent.

"Who are you?"

The figure who emerged, gazing at him with burning hatred, spoke.

"Giath, King of Giants. Who am I? Can't you tell by looking?"

A grotesque, repulsive smile spread across his face.

"I am you."