4. No Matter What Happens…
I was kicked out of the royal castle.
Although I had a little bit of money with me, I was all alone.
I also had nowhere to go.
The mansion I used to live in with family had been demolished long ago. There was nothing but a vacant lot there.
I had no relatives or friends I could rely on.
To survive, I did my damnedest as a blacksmith.
I never left the castle. I devoted my entire being to work while being covered with soot.
…However, what I got in return…
“W, what is this bullshit…!?”
I thought I had no tears left to cry.
Despite that, I still cried.
No matter how many times I wiped them, my tears just wouldn’t stop.
The castle could be seen from the royal capital.
Therefore, I decided to leave the royal capital. Even the mere sight of the castle was unbearable for me.
Because I didn’t have much money, I couldn’t rent a vehicle.
The only city that was within walking distance was Raceton.
If I wasn’t mistaken, it was a city build by adventurers. It should be one of the few cities within the territory that the kingdom didn’t directly govern.
The security wasn’t as tight as the royal capital. There were rumors that it was a scary city, but I didn’t give a damn.
Anywhere is fine.
I’m fine with anything.
While still feeling raw, I walked towards Raceton.
After a day, or perhaps two or three, I finally arrived at Raceton.
The cityscape was completely different than that of the royal capital’s.
There were many wooden buildings with only a few being tall.
It also appeared to be more crowded than the royal capital.
Guu…—
“—I’m hungry…”
By the way, I hadn’t eaten anything for three days.
After taking a short nap, I single-mindedly walked towards Raceton.
As soon as I arrived, my exhaustion assaulted me.
The sun was setting.
…if only I could rest at the inn.
Nevertheless, that’d require money.
I went through a busy shopping street and entered a dark alley while holding my rumbling stomach.
I powerlessly slumped down next to a garbage dump.
The clouds were heavy. Not too long after, it started to rain.
I kept walking.
The rain was getting stronger, and before long, there was a scream.
I heard some footsteps approaching.
When I raised my head, three well-built men surrounded me.
“Hey, lady, what are you doing in a place like this?”
“Nothing…”
“It’s dangerous for a woman to be alone~ there are many bad men around~”
“Please leave me alone.”
“Don’t say such a mean thing~ We don’t have bad intentions or anything, we just want to keep a lone woman safe~”
One of the guys tried to touch me.
The thought of him touching me was unpleasant. Reflexively, I slapped his hand.
“I said leave me be—!”
“Ouch…”
“Don’t bother with me! It’s not like you guys are actually worried about me, anyway!”
“That’s right. How smart of you.”
The other two men grabbed my arms.
Even if I tried to resist, they were stronger than me and I couldn’t free myself.
Moreover, I was already exhausted from the journey, and also famished.
As my arms got pulled behind me, the biggest man roughly grabbed my cheeks.
“L, let me go!”
“For you to be in a place like this… what happened? Got abandoned by your man? Have no place to return to?”
“Uh…”
“Stop glaring at me like that. All you have to do is behave.”
“N, no—!”
“Stop struggling!”
Pachin—!
The man slapped me.
As pain coursed through my face, my cheek became numb.
“What a troublesome woman.”
“Hey, let’s get it over with.”
“That’s right~ that’s right~”
The men tore off my clothes.
The clothes which were given to me by the royal castle.
The regal embroidery was torn to shreds before being discarded.
What would happen was obvious.
I hated it, but was powerless to resist.
I felt like absolutely everything was against me. As if I had given up everything, I looked up at the rainy sky.
…Enough, already—
“—Oi.”
“Ha? Leave us alone, it’s getting good—goho!”
In the next moment, the man who was reaching for my chest was crouching while holding his belly.
I was looking up at the rainy sky—as such, I didn’t know what had happened.
As I lowered my gaze—
“—Release my girlfriend!”
A young man with silver hair stood before me.
“B-bastard!”
“O-oi—ugh!”
In the blink of an eye, the silver haired man hadn’t only freed me from their clutches, but also pulled me towards him.
While hugging me with one arm, the man distanced himself from the three.
It was as if he was truly embracing his lover.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, I…”
“I’m sorry, I should’ve arrived sooner.”
He draped his cloak over me, and gently sat me by the wall.
“Give me a moment.”
He smiled gently and turned around.
The beaten men were standing up.
“Forcing yourself on a girl is the worst thing a man can do, uncles.”
“The hell? You dare go against us? Don’t think you can get away scot-free!”
“That’s my line, here. Do you think you can do as you please in this city?”
“What? Who do you think you are—…”
The silver haired man had a sword on his waist.
The decorative tip of its handle was made of silver.
I noticed it when the silver haired man unsheathed his sword.
One of the men noticed as well and his eyes widened in surprise.
“O, oi… no way, could it be, you are—”
“I’m Grave.”
“G, Grave!? The ‘Sword of Blue Sky’ Grave—!?”
“W, wait, really!? This guy is—!?”
The three men grew frightened.
Even though I didn’t miss their conversation, I couldn’t comprehend anything.
Regardless, I could still conclude that the silver haired man was supposed to be amazing.
“R, run!”
“Hey, wait!”
The three immediately rushed down the other side of the alley.
The silver haired man let out a sigh and sheathed his sword.
“They don’t even have the courage to stand their ground, and yet they dared lay their fingers on a woman… what a hopeless bunch.”
While muttering such, he turned around as if he had recalled something.
After our gazes collided, he hurried towards me and spoke while kneeling down.
“Are you alright? You aren’t injured, right?”
“…”
I silently nodded.
Various things happened in a short time, and my head was muddled.
I still couldn’t swallow what had just happened—
—however,
“Can you stand?”
The man gently extended his hand. Somehow, without even touching it, I could tell that his hand was warm. I could feel the pain in my heart easing a little.
***T/N: Holy shit, an exiled heroine that doesn’t immediately go all sass and be like, ‘Harrumph! Shame on you, I’m actually the best blacksmith this world has ever known! Now that you’ve exiled me, this kingdom will come crashing down!!!!!!’ and actually has a relatable, believable, response for once! My heart broke for her…
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Top quality blacksmith capable of forging armor and maintaining a hero’s holy sword actually has the muscle strength of a wet noodle?
I think there’s also the fact that she’s been walking non-stop for three days without sustenance.
So, she’s a Blacksmith, in a time before automation was developed? But weak enough that two fuckboy nobodies can grapple her? Blacksmith, as in one of the MOST demanding jobs, strength-wise?
I mean, I know that the heroine needs to be saved but fuck that shit
I thik is the fact that she has been walking for 3 day while starving
Thanks for the chapter. I think Liliana is an idiot of the first order. She has no money, she is dressed up in good quality clothes, and she decides to leave the kingdom and “walk” to the nearest city not ruled by the king, which seem unreal, what kingdom allows a city to set up shop that close to it and allows it to be independent? Why not sell the court clothes, get less noticeable clothes, and maybe some money before leaving the capital.
Also Liliana, starts the chapter with a little money why doesn’t she plan her trip buy getting some travel provisions? She has been taking care of herself for years, left home got an apprenticeship, got a job and not at this late date turns a fool? Let’s just walk God knows how long to the next city with nothing? Surprised she was not raped and killed on the road.
Based on the last 2 chapters, I am confused why the Hero had to sweet talk her to do his sword and amour? She works for the palace so she has to work on his stuff and as the hero of the kingdom who is fighting the demon king who would refuse him? What was he suppose to pay her separate from the kingdom for the work she does for him?
Why can’t she stay at an inn, she never even inquired about the price of inns once she got there. What happened to her money? What woman in any world or time period goes to a town she knows is scary, but doesn’t care, then proceeds to walk down a dark alley. There are easier ways to kill yourself. And the rescuer spent more time announcing himself then beating crap out of them and turning them over to the guard. Story is starting to become a tad jokeish.
It can’t be helped that some people can’t stay calculative or basically rational after such a harrowing experience, me think. Imo, it’s pretty humane of her to just want to GTFO from the castle right then and there with no flairs. Shows you that she isn’t some kind of perfect, actually born to be a calculative leader, heroine that some other LNs have, but just a person who desires a simple, peaceful, life and think that good intention will always yield good results.
Also, ‘she decides to leave the kingdom’ is not true. She got exiled.
She loves her job, and has no intention to leave. Therefore, there is no way for her to plan ahead.
Since Liliana was a top quality blacksmith, it is very reasonable to assume a number of her tools are also top quality in order to create quality gears. So the King probably has a good set of “pedigreed tools” known to be able to make fine quality products. In medieval times before the rise of guilds that protected the workers, normally, with high risk artisans such as a top quality blacksmith, they may be prevented from emigration or put to death for fear they will go work for an enemy.
Even modern society is like this when Dr. Shane Todd (phd electrical engineer) was hired by Huawei to develop technology for Huawei (of military usage) at the office in Singapore. When he was done, before he could return to the USA, he was murdered. https://web.archive.org/web/20210302112641/http://ig-legacy.ft.com/content/afbddb44-7640-11e2-8eb6-00144feabdc0#axzz2KzVJrFJo
Thank you for the update ❤️ I still can’t get over the fact that she couldn’t keep HER TOOLS!! They were bought and probably a number of them were forged by her. It’s the worst thing you can do to a tradesperson work wise. Glad Grave came in time now hopefully he feeds her
The story seems to be off to a good start! Thank god nothing too serious happened to our blacksmith, I was really worried for her!
Was proper scared for her right there! Thankfully she was saved! And agree with you dear translator, this was sad all the more because her reactions were realistic instead of instantly OP (though not that I have anything against some OP face slapping). Thanks for the chapter!
This is just so sad. I thought this is gonna turn to a dark story if Grave did not appear. T^T