The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 149

Marquis Valentino was frustrated.

At first, Marquis Valentino thought Hendrik, the best blacksmith in Dimitri, made Blaze.

No one else in the northeast could make a sword that good.

So, after winning the auction, he sent a messenger to Dimitri. But the answer was disappointing and ruined his hopes.

After that, he became obsessed. Marquis Valentino used all his contacts and money to find every blacksmith in the Cairo Kingdom and ask if they made Blaze.

“It wasn’t me.”

“No one in Cairo could create a sword like that.”

“A sword that perfectly accepts mana? I dare say, you couldn’t find that level of skill even if you searched the entire continent.”

He knew the sword was made in Cairo, but he still couldn’t find out who made it.

This was enough reason.

Marquis Valentino was a famous collector. He didn’t just collect things for their price; he loved the stories behind them, the skill of the makers, and the beauty of rare objects. That’s why he was so frustrated. For a month, he had been trying to find the maker of the sword Blaze, and he was no closer to the answer.

Then, a few days ago, Marquis Valentino received welcome news from his subordinate.

“I heard from someone who met Dimitri’s master blacksmith a few days ago that they witnessed a sword similar in form to Blaze in Hendrik’s collection. I can’t be certain that it was made by the same person, but the sword Hendrik showed off seemed to demonstrate the shocking ability to perfectly accept mana, just like Blaze. What should we do, Marquis?”

The same ability as Blaze.

That was enough for him.

Marquis Valentino jumped up from his seat, immediately changed into his outdoor attire, and got into his carriage.

“Go to Dimitri at once!”

Several days later, Marquis Valentino arrived in Dimitri.

Hendrik had to come, even if it was a bother.

“Marquis Valentino, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Hendrik led Marquis Valentino into a small office. Dust motes danced in the faint sunlight that came through a high window. The room was simple, with a wooden desk and a few chairs, but even here, away from the heat of the forge, the smell of metal and smoke lingered in the air.

Across from Hendrik, Marquis Valentino spoke with a slightly flushed face.

“I’ll get straight to the point. A month ago, I won an auction for a sword named Blaze at the Adelian Auction House. As you know, I am a collector by hobby. I may not be a blacksmith like you, Master Hendrik, but I know a good sword when I see one. Blaze is truly a treasure. Seeing the sword perfectly accept mana, I was convinced that the blacksmith who created it was the best in Cairo.”

He gave a signal.

Then, a knight who had been waiting behind him placed something carefully wrapped in cloth on the table.

Whirr.

“This is Blaze.”

He removed the cloth.

A single sword.

Its sleek form was revealed.

Blaze was placed on the table. It wasn’t just shiny; it seemed to glow with an inner light. The metal was cool to the touch, but it felt alive, humming with hidden power.

Hendrik showed a surprised expression at the sword that shone brilliantly under the light.

‘Indeed.’

Hendrik’s reaction.

It wasn’t admiration for the sword’s appearance.

He already knew of the sword’s existence and seemed surprised that it was in Marquis Valentino’s possession.

It was as expected. As a collector who had met numerous blacksmiths, Marquis Valentino believed that no blacksmith other than Hendrik in the Cairo Kingdom could create a sword of this caliber.

Frankly, he even had doubts about Hendrik’s skills, but with no other options, he couldn’t rule out Hendrik’s potential.

And now.

Hendrik couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

Whether he made it or knew the person who did, Hendrik was the key to the mystery.

“Indeed, you recognize the sword’s value. A few days ago, I received a report from my subordinate that there is a sword similar in form to this one in Master Hendrik’s collection. That is the purpose of my visit. I heard you have a sword like Blaze. Could I take a look?”

His voice was filled with anticipation.

If his subordinate’s report was correct, Marquis Valentino would demand a definite answer from his counterpart.

Whether he was the sword’s master.

Or, whether he knew the sword’s master.

Hendrik’s sword was proof to gain certainty.

“Ahem.”

Hendrik seemed to be contemplating.

Marquis Valentino.

He had heard of him.

He had never met him in person, but as such a passionate collector, he often purchased items from the Dimitri smithy.

He was a figure worthy of being called a VVIP based on those transaction records alone.

Some people called him the greedy collector, but blacksmiths never thought of Marquis Valentino in a bad light.

‘Marquis Valentino is famous for ensuring that valuable items receive treatment befitting their worth.’

Collection rivals.

He might be a villain among them.

He would use any means to obtain the items that blacksmiths put out, but he showed the utmost respect, at least to the blacksmiths themselves.

One could tell just from his attitude towards Hendrik.

If Hendrik were to sell his prized possession, Marquis Valentino would be a very suitable candidate.

Which meant.

‘This man will recognize the sword’s value.’

In fact, Hendrik had been waiting for this situation.

Ever since Hendrik saw Roman make the sword, he wanted to tell everyone how talented Roman, the eldest son of Dimitri, was as a blacksmith.

He had always wanted to show off the gift he had received, and finally, someone who would perfectly recognize its value had come to him.

It was an opportunity. He already felt a sense of anticipation, but he didn’t show it on his face and spoke in a calm voice.

“Please wait a moment. I will show you the sword.”

At those words, Marquis Valentino’s face brightened as if he had gained the world.

Thud.

Hendrik placed another sword beside Blaze. Salamander was similar in shape, but the metal was a darker, richer color, like firelight captured in steel. It looked heavier, more solid than Blaze.

Marquis Valentino couldn’t hide his excitement as soon as he saw the sword, captivated by its eye-catching, sleek form.

‘I’m certain. It’s the work of the blacksmith who created Blaze.’

He hadn’t confirmed its ability.

But the works of blacksmiths have a certain aura.

Hendrik’s sword showed a similar aura to Blaze, and the blade, with the light running down it, sent a chill down his spine just by looking at it.

He was certain. Even without injecting mana into the sword, Marquis Valentino was convinced that the person who created this sword was the same person as the master of Blaze.

Hendrik said.

“The sword’s name is Salamander. Like you guessed, Salamander and Blaze are from the same maker. Actually, Salamander was first, and then Blaze.”

In that instant, Marquis Valentino abruptly raised his head.

The statement that Salamander was the first captivated his mind more than the fact that they were the works of the same blacksmith.

‘The first work?’

His mouth went dry.

First and second.

It was a huge difference.

Blaze might be superior in terms of sword abilities, but collectors placed considerable significance on the first.

The reason was simple. The second could lose its value of order at any time by the third or fourth, but the first could only receive high value from collectors by the very fact that it was the first.

His heart was pounding.

The desire was strongly boiling.

‘I really want to have it.’

Marquis Valentino had an iron rule.

If an item had found its owner by a blacksmith, he would never go against that fact.

He would only try to obtain the items that the blacksmith put out, and he would not make the foolish mistake of coveting the blacksmith’s items.

Hendrik.

He might be the master who created the sword.

Or, he might have received it as a gift from the master.

Even knowing that what he was about to say would be rude, Marquis Valentino couldn’t help but utter the words.

“This is a very cautious question, but would you be willing to sell this sword to me? If you are willing to sell it, I will pay you a sufficient price.”

“I’m sorry, but this is not an item for sale. It was a gift, and I believe Marquis Valentino, as a collector like myself, will fully understand my feelings that I cannot sell this item.”

“…Did you just say it was a gift?”

He looked sad when Hendrik refused, but the word ‘gift’ made him suddenly alert.

‘Hendrik didn’t create the sword. If he received it as a gift, he might know the blacksmith’s identity.’

He was certain.

If he couldn’t buy the sword, he wanted to at least find out the blacksmith’s identity.

“Then, would it be alright if I asked who created the sword?”

Marquis Valentino’s question.

It was what Hendrik had been waiting for.

Marquis Valentino was the perfect target to reveal the truth.

“Marquis Valentino. Who do you think made this sword in Dimitri?”

“…Could it be. Baron Romero?”

“No.”

He grinned.

The smile of one who knows the truth.

Hendrik plunged Marquis Valentino, who was yearning for the truth, into shock.

“It was Roman Dimitri.”

He couldn’t speak.

Was this shock?

Marquis Valentino couldn’t believe what he heard. It was unbelievable.

‘Roman Dimitri. He made Salamander and Blaze?’

It was shocking.

Two swords.

They were artistic works.

He could understand if they were the works of people who had spent their lives in the smithy like Baron Romero and Hendrik, but the fact that they were the works of Roman, who was only in his mid-20s, was hard to accept.

The works of blacksmiths do not lie.

There are many kinds of geniuses, but usually, blacksmiths need years of practice to make great swords like these.

It didn’t make sense.

How could he have created such perfect works at the age of 20?

Moreover.

‘Roman Dimitri is a genius swordsman. Rumor has it that he defeated Butler, a ranker from the Hector Kingdom. The best genius in the Cairo Kingdom created the best sword in the Cairo Kingdom. If this is true…….’

Clench.

His fist clenched.

Think about it.

The youngest continental ranker.

He should be highly praised simply for the ‘result,’ but the blacksmith’s identity added an incredible modifier to the work.

This was.

It was truly a jackpot.

From the result of the work to the story contained within it.

His heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it would stop beating at any moment.

‘The story contained in every work is important. If the person who created the sword is simply an unknown blacksmith, it will be evaluated only by the result, but if it is a blacksmith like Hendrik, a premium will be attached. But what if the blacksmith’s identity is the best swordsman in the kingdom, which no one expected? There’s no need to say more. People will give the sword a special meaning and express their intention to buy it, and its value cannot be measured by its scarcity alone.’

Blaze.

It was a greater treasure than he thought.

People said he paid too much at the auction, but now he knew it was actually a bargain.

His eyes became dazed.

He had fallen in love.

Roman Dimitri.

He wanted to meet him.

He was curious how the best swordsman in the kingdom had created the best sword on the continent.

He jumped up.

“I think I should meet Roman Dimitri in person.”

After a month of searching, he would finally see the result.