The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Neighborhood’s Strongest (25)
“How in the world did the late Dipiran’s sword end up in such a state of ruin?”
Eggman, the patriarch, trembled as he touched the blade.
“Father, this is actually the sword of Dimitrion here. It became like this after fighting with Jang Gain.”
“What? Then you’re saying Jang Gain is the one who damaged the sword like this?”
“Yes.”
“Jang Gain went to rescue our people’s children, yet you fought him—that means you sided with the Baron.”
“Yes.”
In that moment, Eggman’s gaze upon Dimitrion turned glacial.
“And what of Jang Gain’s sword?”
“Ah, mine is undamaged.”
“Even so, I should have a look, just to be certain.”
“Of course.”
Jang Gain drew his blade and offered it. Eggman examined it closely, his expression shifting to one of disbelief.
“How can it be so flawless? Even my own work contains a small amount of Runesteel, but it cannot compare to the late Dipiran’s legacy.”
“When power flows through a blade, even steel can cut with ease.”
“Ah, now that I think on it—someone of Jang Gain’s caliber, who killed an Ogre in a single stroke—it makes sense that the Dipiran’s legacy ended up like this.”
Eggman returned the sword to Jang Gain and turned to his son.
“Then why did you bring this blade to me?”
“Because the late Dipiran’s legacy has been damaged, I thought it should be repaired.”
At once, Eggman’s brow darkened.
“However precious the late Dipiran’s legacy may be, that blade was pointed at our Dwarf Tribe. You’re asking me to repair it and return it so it can be used again against us?”
At his father’s anger, Ingram’s face flushed with confusion.
“Ah, well… it wasn’t pointed at our tribe directly—it was pointed at Jang Gain.”
“A blade pointed at Jang Gain is a blade pointed at our people. Do you think he risked his life and fought at the Baron’s Domain for no reason?”
“He went to rescue the children who were taken from the village. I apologize, Jang Gain. I was short-sighted.”
“The late Dipiran led warriors from many villages to fight the demons—to protect the Dwarf Tribe from them. His noble spirit doesn’t reside in this scrap of metal, but in following the example he set.”
Clang.
Eggman hurled Dimitrion’s sword to the ground, and Ingram bowed his head deeply once more.
The patriarch then turned and bowed to Jang Gain.
“Jang Gain, I beg your pardon. My son lacked judgment and committed a grave error. Please forgive him.”
Jang Gain looked at the sword lying on the ground, then turned to the patriarch.
“I don’t think Ingram made such a grave mistake. Though the blade was damaged fighting me, it holds meaning for the Dwarf Tribe—wasn’t he simply hoping to have it repaired?”
“Regardless, the end result is that this blade was used to harm our village’s children. How could I possibly repair such a thing?”
“Ah, I’m not asking for repairs. I’m only saying Ingram has no need to apologize so deeply.”
“I’m only sorry for my incompetent son.”
“A weapon’s purpose changes depending on whose hands wield it. If we’re to assign blame, we should blame the one who swung the blade, not the blade itself. What good is it to condemn the steel?”
“But… even so…”
“Then if you must hold someone accountable, hold the one who wielded it. Though I should mention, that person has already paid their debt.”
At that, Dimitrion picked up the sword from the ground and spoke.
“Patriarch.”
“What is it?”
The patriarch’s tone was curt.
“I received this blade as a gift from Baron Daparon, but I didn’t know its history.”
“And?”
“Now that I do know, I wish to return it to the Dwarf Tribe.”
“If you think returning this will earn you one of our tribe’s blades, I’m here to tell you that’s a fool’s hope.”
“I’m not so shameless. And though I fought Jang Gain at the Baron’s request, it was my own desire to test myself against a strong opponent that drove me more than any wish to keep your children from returning home.”
…
“Had I won, I would have caused you and your people great hardship. Fortunately, my skill proved lacking, and I was spared inflicting that harm, but my regret remains.”
“Then what are you trying to say?”
“Honestly, I once thought nothing of mercenaries and hunters enslaving the forest peoples. Coming here, I’ve come to understand how gravely mistaken I was. While I remain in this place, I intend to see that mercenaries and hunters cannot prey upon the forest tribes.”
Hearing Dimitrion’s words, Eggman’s expression became unreadable.
“I never gave you permission to stay here. Did someone from our tribe tell you it was acceptable?”
“Ah, no. If I cannot remain in this village, I’ll find somewhere nearby to stay.”
“I don’t understand why someone who pointed a blade at our people is suddenly speaking this way. What’s your true purpose?”
“Though my fight with Jang Gain did harm your village, I truly had no such intention. And my resolve to prevent mercenaries and hunters from preying on the forest peoples—while it is atonement for my ignorance—comes also from the conviction that it is the right thing to do.”
“If you did such a thing, we would benefit, but I imagine the kingdom’s nobility and your superiors would disapprove. Are you prepared for that?”
“That’s something I must bear. Besides, there aren’t many people back home who can speak against me, so you needn’t worry on my account.”
“Hmm, I’m not entirely convinced, but if you’re truly atoning, I suppose throwing you out would be harsh. Still, you took such a beating from Jang Gain—can you really stop the mercenaries and hunters?”
“Ah! I don’t mean to boast, but I’m ranked among the top ten masters in my homeland.”
For a moment, Eggman’s eyes—which had been half-closed and unimpressed until now—widened in surprise.
“Among the top ten? You don’t look it at all.”
At his father’s astonishment, Ingram ventured to speak.
“Father, though Dimitrion lost to Jang Gain, he’s one of the Ten Swords representing the Smed Kingdom.”
“Oh, oh! Ahem—I thought he was unremarkable since he lost to Lord Gain, but it seems I was mistaken.”
Eggman paused to collect his thoughts.
This particular trouble had been resolved thanks to Jang Gain’s intervention, but the problem of mercenaries and hunters remained unsolved.
Once Jang Gain returned to Louta, danger would still linger.
“Ahem, what was your name again?”
“Dimitrion Marshal.”
“Once you give us this sword, do you have another one to use?”
“Yes, sir. I carry several weapons as spares.”
“Might I see them?”
“Yes, of course. Egoedania, bring my weapons.”
“Very good, master.”
When the servant returned with the weapons moments later, Eggman examined them briefly, then his expression shifted with mild surprise.
“These all look like weapons forged by our Dwarf Tribe…”
“Yes, sir. They were all crafted by Dwarf Tribe artisans.”
“Dwarf-made weapons are difficult to acquire. How did you obtain them?”
“There are Dwarf artisans in my homeland, and I procured them from those masters.”
“Ah, yes. It makes sense—we have kinfolk who’ve established themselves in the human world. Ingram.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Go to my armory and bring back a single sword worth using.”
“A sword worth using. Understood.”
When Ingram returned with a sword moments later, Eggman handed it to Dimitrion.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“You said you’d take up a blade for our tribe, so this is a token of that. It will likely surpass any sword you currently possess.”
“Ah!”
“And Ingram.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Guide Lord Dimitrion to Lotoro’s house at the eastern edge of town, and ensure he can stay there for a while.”
Lotoro’s house was one of several vacant dwellings in the village.
“Yes, I understand.”
* * *
“Hello, Uncle Gain.”
When Smiths approached with his mother Rahena to greet him, Jang Gain’s eyes widened slightly.
“Hello, Smiths. Your complexion has improved remarkably in just a few days!”
“Yes, thanks to you, I’ve been able to receive treatment and learn Spirit Magic. I’m grateful.”
“Don’t thank me—thank your mother. You should spend your whole life grateful to her.”
“Yes, I’ll live my life grateful to Mother.”
“Your color is good, your breathing’s even, and all that’s left is to eat well and gain weight. By the way, is Spirit Magic worth learning?”
“Yes. My master said my affinity with Earth Spirits is better than most Dwarves.”
“Really? It’s rare for a human to have better affinity than the Dwarf Tribe. That’s remarkable. Is learning Spirit Magic difficult?”
“At first, sensing the Breath of Earth was hard, but once I managed it yesterday, it became easier.”
“The Breath of Earth? Does earth breathe?”
“Yes. Earth breathes, and so do trees and stones. My master taught me that all living things in this world breathe.”
“I see… So not just earth, but trees and stones breathe too. Well, if that’s what you’re learning in Earth Spirit Magic, I suppose it must be so.”
“Sairan said you’re also studying Spirit Magic—don’t you know about this?”
“Wait, hold on. Why is Sairan a senior to you, but I’m an uncle to you?”
“Aren’t you an uncle?”
“If you call Sairan a senior, then I should be called a brother.”
“How could I call you brother? You look older than my mother.”
At Smiths’ words, Jang Gain, who had been making a somewhat forced argument, glanced at Rahena and let out a small, awkward cough.
She appeared to have married young, looking no more than her early twenties.
At that moment, Rahena poked her son sharply in the ribs and spoke.
“Smiths, Lord Gain prefers being called brother rather than uncle. From now on, call him brother.”
“Oh? I see. Then I’ll call you Brother Gain from now on.”
“That’s right. It wouldn’t be proper to call me uncle when I’m not even married yet.”
As Jang Gain watched Smiths’ reluctant expression, he offered a wry smile.
A sudden rustling.
At that moment, earth abruptly surged up beside Smiths’ feet and began to writhe.
“What? A mole?”
“No! It’s not a mole. It’s an Earth Spirit that my master commands… Just a moment, please.”
Smiths crouched down and pressed his fingers against the squirming mass of earth.
Jang Gain felt Earth Qi gathering within the soil, and part of it flowing through Smiths’ fingertips as they made contact.
‘Ah! So when Earth Qi concentrates like that, it can move the ground itself! I thought there was only the simple technique of the Heavenly Weight Technique, like the Heavenly Demon Army Formation, that ignites Earth Qi to cause explosions.’
It appeared that he was communicating intention through the Earth Qi, but he couldn’t grasp the principle of how such a thing was possible.
“Yes, I understand, Master. I’ll do as you say.”
Shortly after Smiths finished speaking, the mass of earth trickled away and returned to level ground.
Jang Gain felt the Earth Qi dispersing, scattered and then gathered, and marveled quietly at what he had witnessed.
“Jang Gain, or… should I say, brother?”
“Yes?”
“My master says he wishes to see you and asks that I bring you to him.”
“Me? If someone wants to see me, they should come to me themselves.”
“Ah! My master’s legs are infirm, so he must move about in a wheel-chair that he controls with spirits. After spending so much Spirit Power healing me, he cannot travel far for some time.”
“I see. Then I should go. Lead the way.”
“Yes.”
Smiths went ahead, and Jang Gain followed until he stopped before a house with stacks of burlap sacks filled with charcoal piled beneath the eaves.

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