After everyone else had left, through the transportation runes in the transit room, Hogvir pulled me aside before I could also leave.

An hour later, I exited the labyrinth.

I was angry.

Very, very angry.

Angry at Hogvir, angry at his business associates, angry at the city and it’s damn nobles, but mostly angry at myself.

I can’t believe I didn’t see it before now. I shouldn’t have given swords to the nobles. Sure, they gave me good ores and metals in return, but that wasn’t the point. I only wanted to make swords, and didn’t care who bought them. Of course they would be abused like that.

So, sure. Hogvir’s little rebellion group could be justified in their attempts to look up my past. However, if they’ve figured anything out, then there’s no saving them. I keep my damn past hidden for very good reasons, and there are things that could cost them their lives if they found out about them.

I make my way to my house, and arrived in front of it quickly. Before anything else, I checked my wards.

They have not been taken down. I know this by the lack of unconscious bodies near the house, inside the wards designed for that purpose. There is a little bit of evidence that they have been tampered with, though. And by a very subtle touch, as well. If 

I hadn’t been told about the whole thing by Hagvir, then I likely wouldn’t have noticed at all.

I tear down the old, compromised wards, and throw up new ones, draining about half my mana in the process. I enter my home, and immediately notice things out of place, some of the swords not quite put back where they had been when I left. My sleeping quarters had been completely searched. I could faintly see the mana signature in the air, where a fire spell had illuminated the room, and everything was slightly out of place—just a few centimeters or so. Normal people wouldn’t notice, or even remember details like this, but a memory like mine practically forces you to recall everything you’ve ever known. It’s a pain when you don’t want to remember some things.

The first thing I opened was the old chest near the bed. I was revealed that everything was still in there, but then furious at the fact that someone had obviously been through it. There are private things in there, you know!

The most important thing I own, the little dagger, still lay on top of the pile in the chest, and I don’t think they took anything. That didn’t stop me from being pissed, though. I will need to ‘talk’ to them at some point. I wonder if they’ll survive the talk with their mentality intact?

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(POV Hogvir)

Well, Kai looked angry.

I hope he doesn't do anything rash now. I know part of his anger is, justifiably, because of me.

I’m still glad I told him, though. Maybe now, instead of losing Kai’s trust before we even gain it, he can decide whether we deserve it in the first place. Speaking of trust, I also need to make some tough calls.

I track down Jourmont and Ash, who are predictably searching for more leads into Kai’s past. One thing he told me, before leaving, is that people knowing where he came from tend to not live long. It wasn’t a threat, but a warning. I need to stop those two from going too deep, before I can’t drag them back up.

Jourmont saw me enter our base first. He immediately came to greet me.

(Jourmont) “Ah, Hogvir. Good timing—What can you tell us about Kai?”

(Hogvir) “Not now. Let’s get Ash first. I have something that I need to tell you two.”

(Jourmont) “Hm. Alright, Ash is in one of the interrogation rooms right now, pursuing a lead.”

I look at the cold and calculating man square in the eyes, hoping that he can see my sincerity.

(Hogvir) “Get her out of there, right now. This is much more important.”

A few minutes later, we were sitting in a private lounge, around a small table.

(Ash) “You said you have something to tell us? Did you learn something about Kai while in the labyrinth.”

I chuckled a little at that.

(Hogvir) “Yeah. I learned some things about Kai.”

(Jourmont) “Well? Out with it. Don’t keep us in suspense, Hogvir.”

(Hogvir) “Right. First, he’s far stronger than we thought. He is also able to kill without remorse, and is likely going to be here soon, to ask you guys to stop looking into his past.”

(Ash) “Pfft. Why would he come here? Even if he finds out that someone's investigation him, he doesn’t know who we are.”

(Hogvir) “Well, that’s simple. It would be because I told him about it.”

(Ash) “What!? Why the hell would you do that, you idiot!”

(Hogvir) “I, for one, am glad that I did. Now, even if he won’t be our ally, at least he won’t be our enemy.”

(Jourmont) “She was asking why, Hogvir, not whether or not you think you did the right thing.”

(Hogvir) “You’ll find out soon enough. I think Kai should be here soon, after all.”

True enough, he arrived only a few minutes later, a terrifying aura around him. Looking into the slits in his mask for eyeholes, and seeing a cold golden gleam from within let me know that he was still feeling angry, but there was no murderous intent. 

Maybe he’s going to be reasonable?

Kai’s deep voice contained a presence denying the fact that he was so short, one that completely overwhelmed us.

(Kai) “So I hear that you guys are the ones who broke into my home, looked through my stuff, and decided to check out my past. I am very glad to meet you.”

Ash, while somewhat intimidated by Kai, decided to try talking with him.

(Ash) “Well, you know, when we have someone selling powerful swords to people misusing them, we normally keep an eye on them.”

Kai grunts at that. I take it he knows that he had made a mistake selling swords to nobles, and allowing them to hurt others—And from what I’ve seen, Kai dislikes seeing people in pain.

(Kai) “You didn’t just keep an eye on me. You violated my privacy, and are actively trying to dig up my past.”

(Jourmont) “It’s a logical thing to do. After all, your past could give you a reason to act against us.”

Kai laughed deeply, almost doubling over.

(Kai) “Ha! If you keep digging into my past, nothing will end well for you people!”

(Jourmont) “Is that a threat? When we could...help you with certain things?”

(Kai) “It is not a threat, but a statement of truth. And you cannot help me with anything.”

(Jourmont) “Even if we say that we can help you find that black-haired woman with the burn on the side of her face? You could use our…”

(Kai) “Stop.”

Kai’s tone suddenly turned ice cold, and he spoke in a way that screamed authority. Nobody I’ve ever heard had that much regality in their voice, not even the city lord.

(Kai) “If you continue searching for my past, you will die. I will not be the one to ultimately kill you, but I can assure you that it 

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

would be slow and painful.”

I could hear pain in his next few words.

(Kai) “Besides, that woman has already died.”

He paused, thinking over what to say.

(Kai) “Even though you people have grossly overstepped your bounds, I do know that I was wrong in giving swords to the nobles. Therefore, I propose a deal of sorts. You guys leave my past alone, and I will supply you with swords every now and then.”

Ash spoke up, scared of the presence Kai had had early, but still wanting to get something answered.

(Ash) “Um, could you also promise to stop supplying the nobles? It would be better to have your word on that.”

(Kai) “Fine. I swear on my bloodlines that I will not supply swords to nobles in this city anymore, whether directly or indirectly. I will also give your resistance one free blade a month. Do not bother me otherwise, or I will make you stop.”

At Kai’s words, an odd glow suffused the room, proof that the World System had heard the oath, and would hold him to it.

He left after that, and the oppressive air went with him. Ash sighed in relief, and slumped down in her chair.

(Ash) “That was intense.”

Jourmont nodded, and he also showed a tiny bit of relief through his icy exterior.

(Ash) “It makes sense, though.”

(Jourmont) “What does?”

(Ash) “Oh! Sorry, I didn’t think I was speaking out loud. No, it just that Kai had said that he wouldn’t kill us, and I think he was telling the truth there.”

(Jourmont) “Huh? What do you mean?”

(Ash) “Well, I was talking with the survivor from that slaver camp, and he tells a very different story from what the bandit camps had said. Apparently, while Kai had entered the camp, and asked about a woman that they had sold, he only left after burning their food stores, and releasing all the slaves. He didn’t kill anyone.”

(Jourmont) “What!? But then, how was it that most of the camp was wiped out?”

(Hogvir) “Wait! Do you guys care to fill me in, up to this point?”

(Ash) “Well, Kai had apparently been looking for a black-haired woman with a burn scar on her face, and had visited most of the bandit camps looking for her, or a nearby slave camp. After getting his information, he would leave, and burn their food stores. Then, we thought that he had rampaged at a slave camp, and killed everyone in retaliation for some unknown thing.”

(Hogvir) “Ah, so that’s what happened. Then, I have the same question as Jourmont earlier. How did they die, if Kai didn’t end up killin’ them?

(Ash) “That’s what the survivor told me, right before you guys pulled me away, and Kai came. Two days after Kai had left the camp, a group of elves entered the camp, and asked the same questions as Kai, except they——did——kill everyone in the camp, save for a lone scout hiding in a tree.”

(Hogvir & Jourmont) "Huh?"

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I left the building serving as the hideout of their little rebellion, and made my way back to my house. I wanted to go ahead and get started on swords to mitigate the damage caused by selling to nobles. Well, and I felt the rather explainable need to bash some metal with a hammer, instead of certain people’s heads. I didn’t expect them to find out about her, specifically. 

I wasn’t expecting someone to be waiting out front, though.

It was a man with a refined look, wearing a gentleman's suit and white gloves. He also had one of the most ridiculous handlebar mustaches I’ve ever seen.

(???) “Hello, Bladesmith Kai. I have come with a business propositions for you.”

Great. He also spoke in a haughty, holier than thou tone. I don’t like him already.

(Kai) “What is it?”

(???) “My master, Lord Hovington Durstat would like to commission ten long swords from you, for the price of…”

(Kai) “Excuse me for a moment, is your master a noble by any chance?”

(???) “Why yes! He is the esteemed lord of…”

(Kai) “No. Go find another smith. Tell him that the only reason he’ll get a blade from me, is if it’s shoved up his ass.”

The noble’s retainer looked shocked, before his face reddened.

(???) “Sir, I urge you to think through this more carefully, the House of Durstat isn’t an enemy you can afford to…”

(Kai) “I’ve already thought about it. The answer’s still no. In fact, you can go ahead and spread the news that I won’t be selling to any more nobles. Tell them I’m busy making farm implements or something.”

(???) “This won’t be the end of it! My house will…”

(Kai) “Yeah, just get off my property before you actually see me angry.”

I let loose some killing intent, and the man paled, and fell on his butt, his legs unable to support him with how much they were quivering. He pushed himself away from me, and I paid him no more mind, though I did note with some humor that there was a rapidly spreading wet spot between his legs.

Leaving him there, I went into my forge, ready to beat the hell out of some metal.

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The poor retainer, who Kai had left alone, got up, and quickly walked back to the estate of which he belonged to. He tried his best to cover the dark parts on his now wet pants, while avoiding all the main streets. After making it back to the large noble’s manor, he entered the servants quarters, and changed into a new shirt and pair of pants.

Having made himself somewhat presentable, he made his way to the study occupied by his master, the Lord Hovington Durstat, to tell him of Kai’s answer.

He knocked on the door respectfully, before hearing an aged voice behind the door speak the words “You may enter.”

The servant pushed open the door, and stood in front of the desk behind which sat the lord. Lord Hovington Durstat was still a fit man, even into his sixties, proof of his warrior upbringing and heritage. He had a perpetual scowl, and a disdain for all things ‘common’.

(Servant) “Lord Hovington, I approached the Bladesmith Kai with your request.”

Said the servant nervously.

(Lord Hovington) “And? Did he say when it’ll be done?”

(Servant) “Sir, Bladesmith Kai said that he is too busy to take your order at the moment.”

Lord Hovington leveled a look at the servant for a moment.

(Lord Hovington) “Bullshit. Nobody would be too busy to take a noble’s order. What did he really say?”

(Servant) “Sir… He said that he will not take your order. Bladesmith Kai said to take your order to another smith.”

(Lord Hovington) “What! He said that! Bring this...bladesmith to me, and I’ll tell him exactly why he shouldn’t ignore my order!”

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