Chapter 53 – Success

Prince Clark’s eyes trembled slightly. His acting skills are quite good.

“He must be someone you admire.”

“He’s someone I want to resemble.”

Clark was in his late thirties but looked like he was still in his twenties. His good skin didn’t fit your age. He was no longer the same person he was when he was in his twenties. He was a person who has gained the power of the demon.

If Ed had met him in a crowded place, he would have killed Clark. People from the church would often come to the royal palace, but he never got caught by them.

“It’s fate to meet like this, so I’ll give you a present. Volkov. Is the item I ordered ready?”

“Here it is”.

Volkov. He lived the longest among dwarfs. All those who have played during the demon’s Era 1 are grinding their teeth. He has been criticized by all players until now.

He looked younger than his age, but his unique gaze remained the same over the years.

The item Volkov took out and handed over was a circular ring. An object with a blade outside the ring.

Clark picked it up, put it on his index finger, spun it around, and asked.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Isn’t it a Chakram?”

“Ha! You have excellent knowledge. This is one of the weapons handled by the wandering families of Qurenai, an eastern desert country. My brother-in-law tells me not to rely on these kinds of items, but to train with a sword. Isn’t that possible only for knights like my brother-in-law?”

Clark glistened and looked at Ed. Ed didn’t avoid his eyes. If Ed had met him in a deserted place, he would have already put an arrow in Clark’s head. When Ed didn’t avoid his gaze, Clark put the Chakram back into the box while smiling. The box had three Chakrams inside.

“Would you like one? It might be useful for hunting demons.”

“Probably.”

It was ordered by the prince and made by Volkov. It’s more than a luxury item, so there’s no reason to decline his offer.

Upon hearing Ed’s answer, Clark smiled and said.

“That’s good. This is sharper and moves farther away than the existing chakram. I hope it’ll come in handy.”

Ed accepted Clark’s chakram. The improved version was made of black blades, iron, and the size was only about 10cm in diameter.

Ed thought it would be an unexpected weapon if he handled it well. Above all, it had the advantage of taking up a smaller space than daggers.

Ed didn’t have to refuse something that could be useful for killing demons. He can always stab it in the opponent’s head.

“If you have a chance, let’s have a meal together.”

Clark walked away, waving with his guardians. Ed looked at his distant back and turned his head when he heard Grant and Volkov’s conversation.

Not today. However, they will meet again sometime, and at that time, he will reveal his bare face.

“Did you bring it?”

“Here you are.”

The box Grant brought was made of blue jewels. Volkov admired seeing it.

“Ha. You understood how to take care of it. You even put it inside this precious Shanto box.”

“I got one when I was dealing with Kurenai. I didn’t know there would be a monster’s heart inside of it.”

Volkov stroked the box and turned his head to look at Ed.

“Is it you? The one who wanted to strengthen the ice bow?”

“Yes.”

As Ed approached, Volkov looked up and down at him. He has a habit of emotionally checking things and people. Ed was also curious about how Volkov thought of him.

Volkov, who was looking closely at Ed, nodded in admiration.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone as big as Pendragon. But you’re not completed yet. You should try harder.”

“I’m making up for my shortcomings. And I hope you can help me in my journey.”

Volkov burst into laughter.

“Yes, but if you rely on equipment, your growth will stop, so don’t rely too much on it.”

“I’ll do my best”.

Volkov believes that humans are completed by effort. However, the end of the completion was someone who had an outstanding weapon.

Therefore, he hated humans who neglect their efforts, and he hated humans who ignore weapons. He liked humble people, so Ed adjusted the atmosphere.

“Give me the ice bow.”

When Ed handed over the bow, Volkov, who received it, looked at the condition of the bow. Even though it was a bow with considerable tension, Volkov, who pulled the bow, opened his mouth.

“It has enough tension, but we need to replace some parts. I’ll upgrade it for you.”

“Thank you.”

When Volkov beckoned, his student jumped inside. Volkov went further inside after passing through the forge. Ed followed Volkov into the blacksmith’s quarters.

Volkov opened the door with an anvil pattern on it and entered.

“This is not a place I can let people in, but you guys are an exception.”

It was the upgrading room and a place called the room of despair. It was a room that could only be entered when reinforced materials were entrusted.

“Thank you.”

Ed and Grant followed inside, and a student ran and handed over the bow to Volkov. After replacing some parts, he lifted the hammer.

That hammer is actually a relic.

The holy relic was given by Heito, the God of blacksmiths.

This is a holy relic, so he can strengthen the equipment, but if he fails, he will have to sacrifice the equipment. Sometimes Ed wondered if he failed on purpose, but this time, he still had high expectations.

If it’s a holy relic, the probability of reinforcement success is less than 20%, but the relic-level has a 40% chance of success.

It’s only in the game that it’s shining and the end. There was only failure or success.

Ed looked at the bow with a hopeful look.

Volkov opened Shanto’s box that Grant was holding. When the lid opened, white cold air erupted from it.

Volkov took out a heart the size of an adult’s head. As Volkov placed the heart next to the ice bow, runes popped out of the air and began to shine in the form of a sphere surrounding the heart.

Volkov is famous for being a blacksmith, but he is actually an apostle of Heito, the God of a blacksmith. He’s chanting a sacred spell.

So, this dwarf is the only one who can strengthen items or equipment on this continent.

Volkov focused on the heart that was floating in the air. The heart compressed and turned into particles that were emitting white light.

In the mysterious sight, Grant was watching with his mouth open. Even if he is one of the most powerful people in the kingdom, this scene would not have been common.

The reinforcement of equipment is famous for providing only at least a relic level.

And not many people knew that, so it was a rare scene except for those commissioned by the royal palace.

Since Ed obtained a piece of relic-class equipment called an ice bow and equipment to strengthen it, it would be good if it works, and even if it doesn’t, it could be offered as a sacrifice, so Ed thought it was good and agreed.

When the heart’s essence shone white, Volkov lifted the hammer. Then he hit it with his hammer.

Particles of light falling off the hammer fell on the ice bow.

And at that moment, there was a huge explosion. The white light wrapped around the black bow and the letters running over it appeared with a lot of light, and it was hard to open his because of the intense glow.

Ed cheered at the appearance. This is not just an upgrade success, but a great success.

Ed did not believe in luck. Since the moment he fell here, he has been trying to finish his task and return. And if he could go back alive, he was going to give punch to the person who sent him here.

When Ed fell into another thought for a while, Volkov lifted the ice bow and admired it. Volkov pulled the bow and smiled. He looked very satisfied.

“What’s going on right now? I’ve been offering a lot of things lately. This is a blessing.”

Hearing Volkov muttering made Ed get goosebumps. Was this dwarf actually planning to sacrifice the ice bow?

Volkov threw the ice bow to Ed. The moment he caught the frozen bow that flew in, he could tell.

This is a huge success. With less mana, it is now possible to spray stronger cold air. At this level, he didn’t envy any other relics.

The bow has been strengthened, and the performance had improved. At this level, it was worth calling Heito a blessing.

“Did you donate a lot to Heito?”

“No. If I find Heito’s temple next time, I’ll donate a lot.”

“You should. It’s my first time seeing such a blessing in my life.”

It was natural that item upgrades and reinforcements fail easily. It was almost impossible that this much success came out at once.

It was the first time Volkov had seen this happen.

“Thank you.”

Ed had no reason to upgrade other equipment. Since this was a huge success, other equipment will end up as offerings.

Ed was about to leave, but Volkov opened his mouth.

“Wait a minute.”

“Yes?”

“You have more relics-class equipment. I’ll go easy on you. Heito has never given me such a blessing. At this time, I think I can strengthen some of them for you.”

“Hahaha. It’s okay, never mind.”

Ed smiled awkwardly and stepped back. Volkov was approaching with a hammer in his left hand with his eyes shiny with madness.

This was dangerous.

Ed ran out of the room to avoid Volkov. As Ed disappeared, Volkov smacked his lips and turned his head to look at Grant.

“Hey. That Shanto box. I can bless it for you.”

Grant was not as fast as Ed. He couldn’t avoid Volkov because he was holding a hammer while blocking the door…

Grant cried and held out the Shanto box.

“Here you go then……”

The Shanto box is an item that cannot be obtained easily.

“Trust me. Grant.”

Inside the carriage going back home. Grant was looking out the window with a gloomy look, not suitable for his big personality.

Ed had already heard that the Shanto box he had brought ended up becoming an offering to Heito.

Grant couldn’t help but feel depressed. He was very quiet.

It was after lunchtime when the carriage returned to the mansion. The party lined up snacks Diego bought with Sophia.

When Ed returned to Grant, Thane asked.

“What happened?”

Thane knew Volkov. Volkov can strengthen equipment, but a lot can end up as offerings.

Ed took out the ice bow and showed it to Thane. Thane’s eyes twinkled when he saw it.

“He must have succeeded.”

“It’s a huge success.”

Thane burst into laughter at Ed’s words.

“Hahahaha. You’re so lucky.”

Arin was envious because she carried three holy relics.

Grant sat down to eat the snacks. It looked like he forgot about his Shanto box already.

Arin looked at Ed Thane, who had gone a reasonable distance from the party.

“Did you meet the Prince?”

Thane smiled at the question.

“Honestly, there are not many situations where I can meet the Prince. It’s been more than a decade since we saw each other. Why? Did you meet the prince?”

Considering Thane’s perspective, if he had met him recently, he would have seen what Ed had seen.

“Yes. The prince is somehow related to the demon.”

The eyes of Thane and Arin were astonished.

“Is he a subordinate?”

“No. It wasn’t that clear. But he was definitely related to the demon.”

Ed continued to talk while looking at Thane.

“We need a way to prove that he is a demon.”

Thane laughed in vain at the words.

“Are you trying to kill the prince?”

“Yes, if he’s possessed by the demon.”