Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 490: Please! Allow Me!

“... Tell me, what’s your cultivation, Master Willis?” asked Oli. “And is it possible for smiths to make weapons stronger than themselves?”

Understanding what Oli was getting at, Rykard answered, “I’m a low-king, but I can make mid-king weapons. Only skilled smiths can create weapons above their own power, and it’s my goal to one day make peak-king weapons.”

“Only peak-king? ...” A look of disappointment draped over Oli’s face, startling the weaponsmith. “Oh... Then I may have mistaken you for a different sort of person. I thought you’d wish to make god grade weapons-”

“OF COURSE!” shouted Rykard, rushing to his feet out of impulse. “But what can you, a lowly elder say about godly weapons?!”

“Well... I guess I’m no authority on the subject... But I do have stuff like this.”

Suddenly, an extravagant war golok appeared in Oli’s hand. Rykard instinctively lunged forward to hold it but Oli stored it and held out his empty hand to stop the smith. “Get too close and you’ll regret it. I may only be an elder for now, but do you really think I would be talking about all this if I wasn’t working with someone else?”

Rykard had been completely thrown off his rhythm. Even his breathing was getting a little heavy. He eyed Oli and thought over the young man’s words. “... Very well. Go on.”

.....

“How about we return to our seats before continuing?”

When Rykard sat back down and heaved a long sigh, Oli smiled and continued, “I’ve already told you plenty of secrets and shown you some as well. If I say anything more, you’ll either be forced to agree with our offer or die. Is that clear?”

“... Our offer? Who else would that include?” asked Rykard.

“Someone who can guarantee your limitless budget and resources. Someone who could get any smith he wants, but I chose you cause you seem... interesting. And Iron Territory needs a private smith. You’ll even be allowed to make weapons without a request, so long as we’re allowed to either keep them or sell them when you’re done with them,” Oli added more and more to the deal. “Is that an offer you’d be interested in?”

“If that’s really how it would go... I might be.”

“And I might want to just leave before saying anything,” sighed Oli. “I told you, if we continued it would get serious. Since you’ve agreed to accept or die, I’ll tell you this. You’ll eventually make a weapon using three essence types, including an essence type you’ve never heard of before.”

Rykard was about to object to Oli’s statement but that last comment left him stunned silent.

“... And that’s not including all the dual essence weapons we need. Practically every perennial we have needs them. We would also ask you to make custom weapons suited for beasts, again with a limitless budget to let your creativity go wild... Then again, maybe I’ve overestimated you and your creativity-”

“Prove to me that all this is possible and I’ll agree.”

Taken aback by the instant flip Rykard had made, Oli asked, “What’s with that crazy smile? You were hesitating and doubting me seconds ago. What changed that?”

“Prove it. If you can prove your words, then you’ll leave this mansion with a dedicated king grade smith. Otherwise, you’re not leaving this mansion at all,” stated Rykard, keeping his enthused grin. “So, prove it since you’re so adamant.”

“Then allow me.”

Rykard rubbed his eyes as he finally noticed a man sitting beside him on the sofa. “... Um... You’re... that someone he mentioned? I take it?”

Eeole chuckled from under his hood. “That’s right. I’m glad you’re sharp. So, do you fully believe him or shall we prove anything else specifically?”

“... Prove that special essence, please,” Rykard humbly requested with a bow.

“Fine. But only because you’ve lined every room with silent formations.” Glancing at Oli, Eeole nodded. “Go ahead, Oli. Since he agreed, I’m sure he already knows what will happen should he reveal anything.”

Shrugging, Oli stood up and grabbed his empty tea cup. He walked over to Rykard as a strange silver essence covered his hand and the cup. “Here you go. I believe this is yours.”

Rykard accepted the cup without question, completely enraptured by the unusual essence. But the moment the cup was passed to him, Rykard nearly dropped the extra heavy cup out of surprise. He readjusted in time to keep it from falling but Rykard knew for a fact that Oli’s strange essence was the cause of that unexplained phenomenon.

“Need I say more?” Oli asked, already returning to his seat.

Rykard shook his head slowly but couldn’t hide his fanatic expression. “That... What was that? Was that-”

“Gravity. The same essence as the Demon Ape of old,” Eeole stated, causing Rykard to tremble with excitement. “Now, I take it you agree to our offer-”

“Completely! I’ll do it! I’ll make whatever weapon you want!” Rykard fell to his knees and kowtowed to both the shadowy man and Oli. “Please, allow me to craft your every weapon!”

Eeole laughed but didn’t stop the smith from begging. “You’ll be relocated to Iron Town in secret. There, you’ll still be allowed to leave your home and see the growing town, but your true name and profession will be kept hidden. Also, you’ll only take requests coming through me, Oli, and Iron Town, so you’ll practically disappear from the world. Do you accept-”

“YES! Please, let me make all of your weapons!” Rykard begged again. “If I don’t need to gather resources myself, even better! I rarely leave home anyway and hate attracting much attention. So, please, let me start working as soon as possible!”

Smiling, Eeole nodded. “Very well. But you’re not allowed to make Oli’s trinal essence weapon until he’s a perennial. Until then, there are plenty of other weapons to make. Also, we’ll help you increase your cultivation. Otherwise, how will you make Oli’s god grade weapons?”

“YES, MASTER!” Rykard kowtowed again and again, ecstatic to gain the opportunity of his dreams.

All the while, Oli and Eeole laughed to themselves. They hadn’t planned to make such an offer. But after seeing Rykard’s personality and having Eeole read his mind, how could they turn away such a willing subordinate?