The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 39

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (39)

 

The Old Man’s eyes were fixed on Arteon’s wrist.

 

It was the bracelet he had obtained from the Imperial Treasure Vault.

 

“Where did you get this? It looks quite valuable.”

 

“It was an item from the Imperial Treasury. I received it as a reward for my achievements.”

 

“…Imperial Palace?”

 

The Old Man’s expression hardened for a moment.

 

He had thought this was just some foolish noble’s son, but was he someone connected to the Imperial Family?

 

And if he was someone who had achieved merit and received a reward from the Imperial Family…

 

“I, I apologize for not recognizing you. This old man was just captivated by that precious item…”

 

“Ah…”

 

Arteon scratched his cheek at the Old Man’s words.

 

He now realized that his thoughtlessly spoken words could feel quite threatening to him.

 

‘That was stupid.’

 

No matter how much they lived in the Capital, if they were people from these Back Alleys, most of them would be commoners.

 

Naturally, they would have to be cautious.

 

Arteon shook his head.

 

“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all, so could you perhaps show me the items you’re selling here?”

 

“W-would you come this way? I’ll escort you inside.”

 

Following the Old Man into the inner Warehouse, he could see items neatly displayed.

 

Of course, compared to the Imperial Treasure Vault, both the scale and quality were much lower.

 

‘…There are quite a variety of things here.’

 

Arteon examined the items inside.

 

“What function does this have?”

 

“You have very good eyes. That’s an Artifact that enhances strength. It activates immediately upon wearing without needing to inject Mana separately.”

 

“Without injecting Mana? Can it be used permanently?”

 

“In terms of time, it lasts roughly about two hours… After that, you can charge it with a Mana Stone and use it again.”

 

“Hmm… May I test its abilities?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The Old Man carefully took down a Sword hanging on the wall.

 

“Try lifting this first, then put on the Ring and lift it again.”

 

“That sounds good.”

 

It was perfect for testing strength.

 

Arteon gripped the Sword the Old Man was holding and swung it lightly.

 

It was a Longsword with a well-balanced center of gravity. And…

 

Swoosh.

 

When he put on the Ring and swung it again.

 

“…”

 

There was a slightly lighter feeling, but in reality, it wasn’t much of a noticeable difference.

 

‘I don’t think I really need to buy this.’

 

Moreover, the duration was short, and Mana Stones weren’t exactly cheap to maintain.

 

He looked at several other items after that, but their quality was mediocre.

 

However, he understood to some extent.

 

If everyone could become stronger and gain incredible abilities through Magical Equipment.

 

‘The richest guy would be the strongest.’

 

Arteon left the Warehouse.

 

“W-was there nothing to your liking?”

 

“No, there were some decent things. It’s just that there was nothing I needed. Please don’t worry about it.”

 

Arteon spoke as politely as possible.

 

Then he casually looked around the Shop.

 

Somehow, leaving like this felt a bit… disappointing?

 

But then.

 

“…What are those things?”

 

Arteon asked, looking at items piled up in a corner box.

 

The Old Man waved his hands dismissively.

 

“Those are all things to be thrown away. Most of them were items that looked decent when I brought them in, but turned out to be useless.”

 

“May I take a look?”

 

“Yes, but they’re all completely useless things…”

 

Arteon rummaged through the items piled in the box.

 

Indeed, as the Old Man had said, they were all broken or useless things.

 

Just trash taking up space.

 

But then.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Arteon suddenly flinched.

 

It was a reaction similar to when the Old Man had looked at the bracelet on Arteon’s hand.

 

The Old Man looked at Arteon with a worried expression.

 

“Why, what’s wrong…?”

 

Was there something wrong perhaps?

 

But the Old Man’s voice didn’t reach Arteon’s ears.

 

“Why is this…”

 

here?

 

Arteon picked it up as if entranced.

 

* * *

 

Hazy fog slowly drifted along the ridge.

 

A sight easily seen on the Northern Region’s Battlefield.

 

The frozen earth was quiet, and beneath it, the still-warm scent of blood was soaked in.

 

And someone approached from the side toward Arteon, who was gazing at such a Battlefield.

 

“Captain, what if, I mean.”

 

“…What nonsense are you going to spout now?”

 

“Nonsense, you say.”

 

Red-haired Comrade with sharp eyes and a cold impression.

 

Because of that, he was always misunderstood as being difficult to approach, but in reality, he was a chatterbox who talked more than anyone.

 

One of the few comrades in this hellish place that Arteon could trust and turn his back to.

 

Red-haired Comrade chuckled and asked Arteon.

 

“What if this war ends… what would you want to do?”

 

“…I don’t know, never thought about it.”

 

Would the day this war ends ever come?

 

He had already killed thousands of Kar Tribe members, but the end of the war was nowhere in sight.

 

But nevertheless…

 

“If this war ends…”

 

The words were so captivating that Arteon mulled them over.

 

Chuckle.

 

“I can’t think of what to do. Should I just open a Tavern with you guys in Almers over there? If we open one, no one would dare mess with us.”

 

“Puhehehehe! That sounds good too. Then would I be the assistant manager?”

 

“Well… If we go by seniority, you’d probably just be washing dishes, wouldn’t you?”

 

“Ah, why would you say such a thing!”

 

He was a comrade who had thought together about a future after the war ended.

 

“You must keep that promise. Running a tavern in Almers later!”

 

Even as he went into battle, perhaps because such fantasies were enjoyable, Red-haired Comrade didn’t forget to say those words to Arteon.

 

But…

 

“Why… why… whyyyyyyyyyy!”

 

Red-haired Comrade who lost his life to Moldrek’s betrayal in the final battle against the Kar Tribe.

 

The Death God of the battlefield, who cared more for his comrades than his own life, had left his side so futilely.

 

And one of the reasons Red-haired Comrade could be active as the Death God of the battlefield.

 

“…Why is this here.”

 

Arteon picked up a ring that had been buried at the very bottom of the box.

 

He could tell at a glance.

 

How could he not recognize it?

 

It was the ring Red-haired Comrade had boasted about countless times.

 

‘…Bloodsane.’

 

Though for a short time, it was an artifact that amplified the caster’s mana.

 

Depending on the user, it could amplify from as little as 30% to as much as over 200%.

 

Of course, there was the side effect of tremendous pain from the burden on the body afterward, but its ability was absolutely extraordinary.

 

‘However…’

 

The conditions to manifest this ability were quite demanding.

 

Specifically, it had to be fed the blood of the one who wished to cast.

 

Bloodsane was equipment that properly awakened its abilities only after fulfilling such a grotesque condition.

 

Arteon looked at the Old Man.

 

“I’ll buy this ring.”

 

“Huh? That’s just something completely useless…”

 

“I just like the design. How much would it be?”

 

“That was something I was going to throw away. You can just take it…”

 

The Old Man hesitated slightly.

 

Since he thought Arteon was related to the Imperial Family, he couldn’t help but be cautious.

 

Arteon took out 3 silver coins from his pouch.

 

“This should be enough.”

 

“Oh my! You could just take it… Thank you so much.”

 

But contrary to his words, he had already pocketed the money.

 

Arteon left the shop as he was.

 

He had just come to browse the magical equipment shop in the capital, but it felt like he had encountered an old comrade.

 

“…Damn.”

 

But that feeling wasn’t particularly good.

 

Because the memories of that day, which he had been faintly forgetting, came back too vividly.

 

And what I need to do now…

 

‘What I must do.’

 

Those damn bastards.

 

Anger surged up again, and his mind felt like it was growing cold.

 

But Arteon restrained his emotions as much as possible and began acquiring the things he needed.

 

Indeed, perhaps because it was the capital, it wasn’t difficult to obtain the items he wanted.

 

The only problem was money.

 

“With this… I can accelerate my training a bit more.”

 

What was most important to Arteon right now was mana above all else.

 

He had been doing real combat to a tiresome degree, but the ‘fuel’ to support that real combat was severely lacking.

 

Physical strength and mana.

 

Improving those was the top priority.

 

And…

 

“…”

 

Arteon, who was heading toward his lodging, looked again at the blacksmith the merchant had mentioned earlier.

 

―People don’t really know, but that’s the best blacksmith in the capital. Their skill is no ordinary thing.

 

‘The capital’s best blacksmith…’

 

Since his weapons needed attention anyway.

 

Arteon entered the blacksmith without hesitation.

 

“Is anyone here?”

 

“I don’t have anything to sell to a rookie, so get lost.”

 

“…”

 

A cold response that came flying as soon as he entered.

 

Arteon asked in response to the words of the man who had a finger-sized cigarette in his mouth.

 

“Do you also repair weapons?”

 

“Weapons?”

 

The man’s expression changed.

 

He had dismissed him as a young brat, but weapons?

 

Arteon drew Iglis that was hanging at his waist. And…

 

Clang!

 

When he injected mana, Iglis showed its original form.

 

Arteon held out the spear and spoke. But before he could say anything.

 

“…Gasp!”

 

The man jumped up from his seat and grabbed the spear in Arteon’s hand.

 

“This, this… where the hell did this come from?”

 

The man stared at the spear as if entranced.

 

Arteon said.

 

“…It’s my father’s keepsake. Would repair be possible?”

 

“Can I take a look for a moment?”

 

He was already close enough for his nose to touch it.

 

Arteon nodded and let go of the hand holding Iglis.

 

Then the man carefully examined the spear and gulped.

 

This level of completion.

 

Even he had never made such a perfect spear.

 

“…Beautiful.”

 

He wondered if this was truly made by human hands.

 

“If you just entrust it to me, I’ll repair it perfectly.”

 

Strong passion blazed in the man’s eyes like flames.

 

Arteon said.

 

“I have to leave at noon the day after tomorrow, so it needs to be repaired by tomorrow night. Is that possible?”

 

“Tomorrow night? Hmm…”

 

The man seemed to ponder for a moment, but soon nodded.

 

“I’ll definitely do it, staking my honor on it.”

 

“Understood. And I’d like to look at some other weapons.”

 

“They’re hanging on the wall over there, so take whatever you need. I’m going to be pressed for time.”

 

The man hurriedly turned around and entered the workshop inside.

 

Just how amazing was Iglis to provoke such a reaction?

 

Arteon turned his gaze in the now-empty shop to look at the weapons hanging on the wall.

 

“…?”

 

Suddenly, Arteon’s pupils shook.

 

Having rolled around battlefields for a long time, Arteon was confident in his eye for weapons.

 

But the weapons here.

 

Arteon reached out and picked up a sword.

 

Although the handle and decoration were shabby, the center of gravity and balance were… so perfect they defied description.

 

Arteon unconsciously turned his gaze toward the workshop where the man had entered.

 

“What the hell… is that guy?”

 

A craftsman like that exists in such a shabby blacksmith shop?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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