Chapter 20 : Setting Up Life (2)

"Where am I?" The dwarf rose up from bed and found his body all bandaged up.

"Argh" Suddenly a sharp pain went through his head and he began to remember what had happened before he fainted. Suddenly his workshop was attacked by some ogres out of nowhere. The guards went to stop their rampage but were easily defeated by a mage and knight.

They killed everyone in his workshop. All he remembers is that he got captured by that mage and became unconscious. The next moment he opened his eyes, he was here.

"Awake, sir blacksmith? Or should I call you Sir Nadal?"

The dwarf immediately looked at his side. There sat a young man in black coat with his legs crossed looking at him with eyes that could devour him any moment.

"Wh- Who are you? Why did you bring me here?"

"It seems there has been a misunderstanding. I saved you from those people. Also from being discovered. It wouldn't be exactly great if people find who you are right?"

"How do you know me?"

"Oh you annoying drunkard, don't you remember me?"

The dwarf's eyes narrowed in response.

"Come on, we went on many adventures together. The orichalcum ore that took us weeks to find, did you also forget about the time you used to run after Mertha?"

"What the- Impossible. Only one person knows about that dark past. No no no no. It can't be."

"On the 2nd month of the 503rd year on Imperial calendar we-"

"SHUT UP. No way. How are you still alive? I- I thought you were dead?"

"Well… logically speaking, I did die" Ethan then began to explain the key points of what had happened with him. He decided to avoid the topic about demonic energy.

The dwarf that Ethan was talking with was none other than the Imperial blacksmith that went missing.

"It all somehow makes sense now. After the current Emperor made contact with the church, the previous emperor suddenly died and he became the Emperor killing all his kin. The entire Imperial court has changed. Even- Even Sir Gallahad was executed in the name of treason."

"What???" Ethan stood up in shock as the chair fell on the ground. Gallahad was one kind of teacher to him. He was the one that taught Ethan the way of a knight. While Gallahad became the personal knight of the Emperor, Ethan became the commander of the army.

Hearing that someone who was this close to him was killed like that Ethan started to radiate killing intent that filled the entire room. 

"Cough Cough Stop it already"

Ethan came back to reality with Nadal, the dwarf's words. 

"I am sorry. I just couldn't handle it." Ethan picked up the chair from the ground and sat on it. "So Nadal, back to the main topic. Who were the attackers?"

"Seeing as how they killed and destroyed everyone beside me, they probably knew who I was. I don't have much clue except that. Didn't you interrogate them?"

"Haha- about that, they committed suicided" Ethan couldn't just tell him how horrendously he killed them.

"Makes sense, they were top-notch assassins. Anyways, the reason that you came to look for me must be because you need a new weapon right?" The dwarf tried to get up from the bed. However a terrible shock came from his back making him fall to the bed again.

"Just lay down. Your body needs to heal."

"Oh hell, anyways where are we?"

Seeing as how outside was so dark, it was probably night. Judging from the sounds it was raining as well.

"I brought you to an inn nearby"

"Alright, back to business, what kind of stuff you need"

Ethan handed over a paper to Nadal that he took out from his coat. Nadal carefully inspected the paper. He was quiet for a while before he spoke up again in a serious tone.

"This- it's marvelous, I need time for this. I will send this to you when I am done."

"Then, Nadal, it was nice meeting you again, friend. I will excuse myself."

Ethan then got up from his seat and went outside the doors. The door opened again a few seconds later and Ethan poked his head out. "By the way, I didn't make any advance payments to the inn" 

"GET LOST!"

After the fruitful interaction with Nadal, Ethan was back in Honden. Today was the day for his second class. Ethan decided to hold this class outdoors. Ethan went to his office first today. He heard that his orders had arrived and were placed at his office while he was away.

After he entered his office, he found all the furniture he ordered shoved on the side and the drinks were packed in large boxes.

[ Time to get to work ]

Ethan spent the next hour fully immersed in fixing his office. He placed a shelf behind the office table that covered the entire wall except leaving the window exposed. He placed another bookshelf that he ordered directly opposite to his first one. He then placed another long table with shelves underneath it on one side behind the couch.

He then opened the box packed with drinks. There was a magic circle inside the box that kept the temperature low. There was also a note inside the box.

"I have chosen the best I could. However they must be kept under low temperature. I also gave you a glass set since I was feeling good. 

-Charles"

[ sigh ]

Ethan didn't unpack the bottles further but got up and went to his shelf. He then drew a magic circle on every compartment on the shelf with ice magic and created a circuit that connected them to a bin under the office table. He then filled the bin with magic stones that he kept in the magic pouch that he got from Nadal.

After that he started to place the bottles one by one carefully. After setting up all the bottles, he kept the glass set on the new table's shelf. He bought this table to be used as some sort of kitchen place in the first place.

Satisfied with the room's new look, Ethan then exited his office.

"Ah professor Ethan! How are you?"

Ethan looked at the hallway and saw that professor Norn was greeting her. "Oh hello there, I am fine, what about you? Going to class?"

"Oh yes. I have an outdoor class today. If I am not mistaken you have one as well right?"

"Yes, but how do you know about that?"

"Ohoho professor, there are many rumors about you that are currently circulating in the Academy. Oh no look at the time, I am gonna go first, I am getting late. See you later~"

[ Now that I think about it, Seraphina's office should be in this hallway as well ]

Ethan went deeper into the hallway and finally found her office. He knocked twice on the door and a voice came from inside. "Come in"

As Ethan opened the door Seraphina, seeing his face, remembered that night's kiss and blushed a bit. 

"So, how was yesterday?"

Ethan sat on the couch and started to explain yesterday's happenings with her.

"Ogre with red marks and red eyes you say?" Seraphina got up from his seat and picked a book from her bookshelf and started to turn pages. After a while she sat across Ethan and handed him the book.

"Did those marks look like these?"

Ethan took the book. There were illustrations of some patterns with black ink. The yellow page was enough to tell how old the book was. 

"Not exactly same, but yes, there are similarities"

"Seems the rumors are not wrong. Recently I heard that a group of humans emerged that worshiped the demon. They practiced all sorts of demonic sorcery. Those people you met yesterday were probably part of that cult as well."

"Even so, to think they were able to bring that many ogres to the center of a town like that. They must have some strong backing." 

"Only that could make sense. Anyways, what about Nadal? Will he be alright?" 

"He said he wanted to travel alone so I didn't say anything else."

"Oh I forgot" Seraphina got up from his seat taking the book away from Ethan. She then placed the book back on the shelf and went to her table. She searched for something in her drawer. Then she took out a bracelet from the drawer. It was pure black with something inscribed on it with a golden color.

Seraphina took Ethan's hand and put it on his hand.

"It's my first time even trying to make something like this. This should be able to suppress your demonic energy a bit."

Ring Ring

As the bell indicating the start of class rang, Ethan realized that he had classes. "Then I will take my leave now"

"Take care"