This World Needs a Hero

HEL SCANS

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Whirring!

Clank!

Every second, the echoing mechanical noise filled the air.

I blankly stared at the approaching metal lump from the other side of the village.

It took the form of a cow, emitting a bright light from its two eyes, with its entire body made of iron except for the fact that it lacked the typical cow’s appearance.

Though it seemed vaguely threatening at first glance, the haphazard construction suggested that it wasn’t meant for combat.

Thunk-

A silhouette, completely concealed under a robe turned deeply, shuffled forward as if pushing the metal cow.

Hans added from the side, “Every day, around this time, he comes all the way here to buy beer.”

Upon closer inspection, a disproportionately large beer barrel was strapped to the back of the ‘mechanical cow,’ far more than what one would consider a day’s supply.

“….”

“….”

Our eyes met, and in the next moment:

▼

Found the Warehouse Keeper

▲

A comment appeared.

* * *

The path leading to the abandoned mine could hardly be described as pleasant.

A dark corridor with no illumination, littered with discarded odds and ends and fist-sized rocks on the floor.

However, as me and Nyhill were indifferent to such things, we silently followed behind Noubelmag.

In the silence, the sound of a full oak barrel of beer sloshing echoed.

‘It’s as if he expected me to come.’

Otherwise, there is no way he would just calmly say, ‘Follow me’ and lead the way.

I didn’t expect an extravagant welcome, but the reaction from my colleague, reunited after several years, was quite dry.

‘I thought he’d be a bit more welcoming.’

I observed his retreating figure silently.

Perhaps due to the mix of dwarf and fairy blood, he was significantly taller than the average dwarf.

At first glance, he seemed almost like a short human.

Suddenly, I recalled his appearance from the early days of our adventuring.

Like any blacksmith, he had sturdy muscles, but now, even through the thick robe, it was apparent that he had lost a considerable amount of weight.

In short, he didn’t look anything like a former Dawn Knight and a relentless blacksmith.

One of the reasons his whereabouts didn’t become evident during years of seclusion might be attributed to this drastic transformation.

‘We’re almost there.’

The proximity to Noubelmag’s residence was evident from the intricately arranged artifacts scattered throughout.

The placement was meticulous.

Various water-based weapons aimed at the corridors.

Stepping foot without permission seemed bone-chilling, to say the least.

In a village like this, it would have been difficult to procure materials, making it astonishing how they could afford such a high level of defense.

“Why bother paying attention to such crude things, Captain?”

“Just…It’s been a while since I’ve seen your skills.”

“…My skills.”

Noubelmag came to a sudden stop.

We were now in front of the entrance to the mine.

A small hut stood silently.

‘…It’s too narrow. Are operations carried out inside the mine?’

However, it was too dark there to see anything.

“Wait a moment. I’m not at all prepared to receive guests.”

Noubelmag said in a low, rugged voice.

With a beer keg on his back, he staggered into the cabin.

Thunk.

Following the sound of the door closing, the noise of a locking mechanism echoed.

The belated scent of stale alcohol wafted through the air.

It was the smell of the house.

“…”

“…”

We were left standing in front of the cabin.

As we were on a mountainside, the wind blew forcefully, kicking up dust.

Yet, the small gravestone next to the cabin was clean, like it was new.

[Noubelmag and Haley’s son, Daig. Resting here.]

The date of death below matched roughly with the time Noubelmag retired.

The grass near the gravestone seemed pressed down, as if someone had often sat there.

Squelch.

The door of the cabin opened.

“If you’ve seen enough, come inside.”

We followed his words.

—

The cabin was cramped, but with minimal furniture, it seemed surprisingly spacious.

It consisted of a bed, a table, and a wardrobe.

I found myself sitting across from Noubelmag, who was enjoying a beer.

Nyhill stood behind me.

Flutter.

Noubelmag, pushing back his robe as if feeling stifled, looked at me.

His appearance was a mix of fairy and dwarf features.

It was a face that blended stubborn determination, years of experience, and a calm sadness.

Noubelmag got straight to the point.

“If you came to retrieve the entrusted item, it’s here.”

With a flick, he took a small scroll from his pocket and placed it on the table.

I opened the scroll, revealing intricately carved compartments.

A sizable golden key emitted a brilliant light.

As if waiting, numerous comments filled my view.

▼

Recorded Artifact: Category 1st Era Heritage,

Recovered ‘Key of Valber’

Retrieve related information

In the augmented virtual space separated from reality,

You can store owned items

The condition of stored items will be maintained

Living beings cannot be stored

Reviewed records linked to previously seen artifacts

Coordinates of stored items have been restored

▲

…So this was it.

The hero used a spatial artifact to store the items acquired during his journey.

The Key of Valber, an artifact with tremendous intrinsic value, allowed the safekeeping of items.

Such space-related artifacts were rare across the continent.

“Among the 18 weapons inside the key, I’ve repaired 17. One was beyond repair,”

Noubelmag explained.

“You’ve worked hard. Thank you.”

To find out what weapons were stored inside by the ‘Original’, we could investigate a bit later.

I carefully placed the scroll back into the pouch.

Noubelmag silently took a sip of beer, foam clinging to his drooping beard.

After a while, he spoke.

“Seeing you still sitting, seems like there’s more business?”

I nodded.

“If you could take a look at these too.”

“This is…”

As I took out the wolf fang and the condensed stone, Noubelmag’s eyes, which had been lifeless for a moment, sparkled.

His calloused hands delicately handled the items.

“The condensed stone in powder form. I want to unlock the dual lock inside the wolf fang. Is it possible?”

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—————

“Hmm, it should take about three days. If you wait in the village, I’ll bring them to you.”

It was a shorter time than I had anticipated.

I accepted the items again and leaned back in the chair.

Everything was going smoothly, but the conversation shouldn’t end here.

I asked him, “Is there anything you’d like to ask of me?”

“What could I possibly ask of the Leader?”

The response was quick.

Noubelmag’s wrinkled eyes trembled slightly as he poured beer into the mug again.

“Could there be another matter?”

“Indeed.”

The most crucial matter remained— the proposal for his return.

The value of a great blacksmith sometimes surpasses that of hundreds of martial artists.

If Noubelmag returned to duty, it could lead to a significant boost in humanity’s power.

However…

“Sorry, I have no intention of returning.”

“Why?”

“…”

Noubelmag remained silent, a deliberate interruption to the flow of the conversation.

I probed further, “Is it because of your son?”

His lips slowly formed a grim line.

“Leader.”

He sighed heavily, as if stabbing his own chest.

“I still remember that day.”

“That day?”

“The day I received a message from my son, who had cut ties, and arrived in this miserable town.”

Noubelmag’s rough palm wiped across his face.

“It was already too late, far too late. Foolish lad. Why make such a reckless choice… Or did I make him that way?”

Perhaps influenced by the increasing intoxication, Noubelmag spoke more openly.

His gaze, tinged with remorse, scanned the surroundings of the mine.

Then, he looked at me again, and with a subdued voice, he continued,

“I still have unfinished business here.”

“What kind of business?”

“…”

Silence fell once more, but this time it was a more stubborn kind.

Noubelmag’s retirement was clearly linked to his son, but the exact details remained unknown.

Why did ‘Daig’ meet his end?

Why did it become the reason for retirement?

What was the remaining task?

No answers were forthcoming.

‘Unfinished business.’

What that meant remained a mystery.

Noubelmag hadn’t mentioned anything concrete, and the Iris of Laplace had no relevant information.

‘If only I could find out, maybe I could persuade Noubelmag to return.’

Clank!

Noubelmag set down the empty beer mug, but he didn’t refill it. It was a pregnant pause.

“Leader.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask. May I?”

“Go ahead.”

“Since you’ve come all this way, could you help me clear those stakes? We’re on the verge of completion, and I don’t want to be bothered by those nuisances.”

…Clearing the stakes.

A momentary image of Euphemia crossed my mind.

One thing was certain.

‘If I can’t handle it, Noubelmag’s return might be in jeopardy.’

Noubelmag’s request involved tackling the stakes.

Even if they were lower-grade stakes, there could be mid-level or higher-level demons inside.

It was undoubtedly a dangerous proposition.

But then again,’Is the risk worth taking?’

There was another certainty.

If the stakes weren’t removed, there would be no grounds to continue the conversation with Noubelmag.

Giving up on his return would be too disappointing.

Moreover, ‘As a so-called hero, leaving the stakes untouched and departing seems odd.’

The spread of magi was accelerating, and leaving without addressing the stakes could lead to considerable harm to nearby villages, especially when central support hadn’t been determined yet.

Noubelmag could also become more endangered.

I made the most rational judgment.

“I’ll get rid of that.”

“Well, even if I didn’t say it, as the leader, you would have thought that way.”

After finishing speaking, Noubelmag closed his eyes as if tired of the rare conversation.

I got up from my seat without bothering him anymore.

It was the moment I grabbed the doorknob of the cabin.

“Sorry.”

It was a faint voice.

“For what?”

“For not completing the task to the end. For giving up our goal because I couldn’t bear my personal pain.”

“…”

“And thank you.”

I turned around.

And asked, “For what?”

“…For safely coming back from that intense battle. Thank you.”

Noubelmag, who consistently had a businesslike face, finally relaxed his expression and looked at me with eyes filled with various emotions.

…For a moment, I felt a poignant feeling.

A courageous apology and gratitude from a long-time companion.

Now, I won’t reach my destination anymore.

Before leaving the cabin, I asked one last question.

“What do you plan to do when that task is over?”

He answered promptly again.

“I haven’t thought about it.”

…And so the door closed.

We returned to the village like that.

We still didn’t know what the great blacksmith remained in this town for.

One thing was certain.

To have more conversations with him, we needed to remove the stakes.

.

.

.

▼

Understanding Noubelmag more deeply.

Understanding Level: 1/100 -> 2/100

▲

HEL SCANS

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