The Immortal Genius Spearman

Torrel quenched the heated Amantatium in cold water, lowering its temperature as part of the tempering process.

It has been several days now.

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t even notice the people watching him from outside the open forge.

“…He’s really something.”

“How many days has it been now? Four?”

“And the shape of the Amantatium is gradually taking form. Could it be that he’s really smelting Amantatium?”

“I don’t see any special techniques, but what could be his secret?”

The onlookers peeking into the forge couldn’t hide their amazement.

There wasn’t anything particularly secretive about the process, yet this former apprentice, Torrel, was truly smelting the Amantatium.

“……”

Damian, too, visited the forge occasionally to check on Torrel’s progress.

The smile on his face.

The focused look in his eyes made Damian feel excited just watching him.

He glanced over at the guards stationed outside the forge.

They were the ones Diel had hired, in case someone with ill intentions tried to sabotage Torrel’s work.

‘I didn’t think this would actually happen.’

Although the work wasn’t complete yet, if everything continued smoothly, it seemed possible the project would be finished within the next four or five days.

Recalling Wiltron’s behavior when Torrel first started working, Damian couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

‘That reaction…’

When Torrel began the process of smelting the Amantatium, Wiltron hadn’t merely criticized him; he had tried to obstruct Torrel’s work.

He had claimed the Amantatium was fake and pressured people not to rent the forge to him.

As if he were trying to prevent Torrel from proving that he could smelt Amantatium at all.

But what was even more curious was that, since Torrel had started his work, Wiltron had occasionally come by to watch, his face showing signs of unease.

‘Could it really be…’

Could it be, as Torrel had claimed, that Wiltron had stolen his work?

If that were true…

‘Wiltron’s reputation in Miltobern would be utterly ruined.’

Wouldn’t it have been better for Wiltron to have announced that it was a collaborative piece?

Damian turned and watched as Wiltron made his way back to his forge.

And then.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“It’s what Torrel said that’s bothering me.”

“What did he say?”

At Diel’s question, Damian recounted his conversation with Torrel.

Diel furrowed her brow as she listened to Damian.

“That’s a foolish move. Assuming, of course, that what Torrel said is true.”

“I think the same. But the question is, does Wiltron even have the ability to smelt Amantatium?”

If Wiltron could smelt Amantatium, there wouldn’t be a huge issue.

It would simply be a case of stealing credit from his apprentice, something that could be managed in the aftermath.

But if Wiltron didn’t have the skill to smelt Amantatium and had taken credit for Torrel’s work…

“He’s essentially swallowed a fruit too large to handle.”

The question was, how to confirm that?

“But is that really important?”

“No, it’s not. Whether or not he can smelt Amantatium doesn’t matter to me.”

Damian had only one focus.

To clear Torrel’s name and secure a contract with him.

And, of course, to obtain the spear forged from Amantatium as a bonus.

‘If I can bring someone as skilled as him, who can smelt Amantatium at such a young age, onto our side…’

It would be like acquiring a powerful weapon for the upcoming war with the Empire.

Damian prioritized practical results over unnecessary justifications. But Diel’s thoughts were a little different.

“If you’re already helping Torrel, you should aim to raise his reputation as well. It will be a big help for your future endeavors.”

“What makes you think I have plans for the future?”

“I don’t know exactly, but you’re trying hard to recruit this Torrel, aren’t you?”

Like you did with me.

Diel didn’t say the last part out loud, but she smiled faintly.

Damian scratched his head awkwardly at Diel’s smile.

“I feel like I’m becoming less and less able to handle you.”

“That’s because you’ve been putting me through so many challenging experiences.”

At Diel’s words, Damian just chuckled. Diel smiled as well.

“For now, I’m thinking of visiting that blacksmith Wiltron.”

“It’s not that important, is it?”

“I agree with you on that. But it’s still worth confirming if he really stole Torrel’s credit.”

Simply proving one’s skill isn’t always enough to clear one’s name.

Even if Torrel successfully smelted Amantatium, some people would still accuse him of stealing the Amantatium from Wiltron and call him a thief.

Damian nodded.

“If we’re going to do this, we should do it right. I’ll need your help then. Will you assist me?”

“That’s why I’m here. We’re on the same team, aren’t we?”

Damian chuckled at Diel’s words.

“Then I’ll stir things up a bit, and you can step in afterward.”

“…Stir things up?”

Diel tilted her head. Damian nodded.

“Usually, it’s best to tackle things head-on… but it’s also important to set the mood first.”

Damian then started walking toward somewhere. The next day, strange rumors began circulating in Miltobern.

* * *

“Have you heard the news?”

“Shh, keep your voice down. You don’t want this getting back to Wiltron.”

No one knew where it had started.

But the rumors spreading through Miltobern were too juicy to ignore.

They claimed that the sword made from Amantatium in Wiltron’s forge was actually crafted by Torrel.

It might have been dismissed as mere gossip, but with Torrel currently smelting Amantatium in real-time for all to see, it was gaining traction.

People were beginning to believe that Torrel might actually succeed in smelting Amantatium and completing a weapon.

But the real highlight of the rumor wasn’t that.

What truly piqued everyone’s interest was the follow-up claim:

—Wiltron does not have the skill to smelt Amantatium.

That was the core of the rumor.

If this were true…

“Could it be… that Meister Wiltron actually stole credit from his apprentice blacksmith?”

“No way, that doesn’t make any sense. So, you’re saying that Torrel really smelted the Amantatium?”

People didn’t believe it.

At least, not outwardly.

Yet, as the rumors spread, people began gathering one by one at Wiltron’s forge.

The rumors were spreading through all of Miltobern at an astonishing speed.

Almost as if someone were deliberately spreading them.

“…Was this your doing, Damian?”

“Do you think it was inappropriate?”

At Damian’s question, Diel shook her head.

“I’m not sure. But I think the method is… remarkably effective.”

Diel couldn’t hide her surprise at Damian’s approach.

Watching him, she thought,

‘…He’s acting with a very strategic mindset.’

Is it because he’s a soldier?

Damian’s methods were incredibly efficient.

In this way, people’s attention was drawn to Wiltron, and the mix of falsehoods and truth created a situation where many people now wanted to uncover the real story.

In a way…

“You’ve created a demand for the truth.”

“Yes, disrupting information can sometimes be a very effective strategy in a fight.”

“That’s true… but where did you learn something like this?”

“I’m a soldier. This is basic stuff.”

“…Right.”

Diel hadn’t expected a real answer, but it still felt a bit anticlimactic.

She sighed softly and said,

“So, is it my turn now?”

“Yes, now you just need to add fuel to the fire in this chaotic situation.”

“How?”

Diel asked. Damian smiled faintly and replied.

“It’s simple. Just go to Wiltron and make a request.”

A request from the vice-chair of a trading company as influential as Hamel Trading.

It would be hard to refuse without a good reason.

‘Even if he refuses, it’s fine.’

After all, it wouldn’t be the real reason, and that alone would be enough.

‘Even the smallest seed of doubt can quickly grow into something massive.’

Damian’s goal wasn’t to bring down Wiltron no matter what.

The real objective was to elevate Torrel by using Wiltron.

Diel asked,

“Will that be enough?”

“Yes. Just doing that will set everything in motion. And as for me…”

Damian turned his gaze toward the forge where Torrel was working.

“I need to focus on achieving the real goal.”

Giving Torrel the momentum he needed was also part of the plan.

A long smile spread across Damian’s lips.

* * *

White steam rose as the glowing red Amantatium was quenched in cold water.

In the mist, the Amantatium, once a lumpy mass, had now taken on a sleek, elongated shape.

“…Phew.”

Holding the Amantatium with tongs, Torrel exhaled deeply and closed his eyes for a moment.

But then.

“You’ve been working hard.”

“…Damian?”

At the voice from behind, Torrel turned his head and saw Damian.

Damian handed Torrel a bottle filled with liquid.

“Drink this while you work. You’ll collapse at this rate.”

“…Thank you.”

Torrel took the bottle from Damian and drank the liquid.

It was a faintly reddish liquid.

Gulp, gulp.

As he drank it, he felt an odd coolness spread through his body, filling him with renewed energy.

Damian grinned and said,

“It’s a fatigue recovery potion. Diel got it, so it should work well.”

“Ah… I see.”

Torrel spoke, fiddling with the empty bottle.

Watching him, Damian asked casually,

“How’s the work going?”

“It’s going well. In about three or four days, the shape should be completely finished.”

“That’s impressive.”

Damian nodded.

Not wanting to take up too much of Torrel’s time, Damian quickly got to the point.

“You need to give it your all. Even if you successfully smelt the Amantatium, it might not completely clear your name.”

“……”

“Some people will still say that, while you have skill, you’re a thief who stole your master’s Amantatium to smelt.”

“I… I really didn’t mean for it to turn out like this. In fact, when I said I could smelt the Amantatium, Master… no, Wiltron, offered to let me try.”

“Yes, I believe you. But I’m talking about those who won’t believe your story.”

Damian downed the rest of his recovery potion.

“Ah, it tastes pretty good.”

He then squeezed the empty bottle and spoke to Torrel.

“But don’t worry. I’m working to clear your name completely.”

“…What?”

Torrel looked at Damian in surprise.

Has anyone ever believed in and helped him like this before?

Torrel asked Damian something he had been curious about.

“Um… Damian.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you helping me so much? And I don’t mean for the spear, but the real reason.”

Torrel looked at Damian with serious eyes.

Damian stayed silent for a moment, pondering Torrel’s question, before finally speaking.

“The reason should be obvious, don’t you think?”

Then, Damian candidly revealed his true intentions to Torrel.