Blacksmith vs. the System 291

The next stage of our plan had three simple steps, each requiring my involvement. Finish handling the void energy overflow, connect the second dungeon to the core, and lead the team to the shore. But, before I could finish the first step, I had faced an interruption.

Harold.

“I have failed you, sir,” he said, depression radiating off him strongly. “For that, I would like to resign from the Council.”

“Harold, please,” I said, glad that we were having the talk in private. “You haven’t failed anyone. It’s just a piece of Ichor. It’s not important.”

Unfortunately, he didn’t look particularly comforted by the opinion, looking determined to change his status. All because he had failed his Ascension.

He wasn’t the only one who failed. Unlike my students, the rest of the ascension hadn’t progressed smoothly, about thirty percent of our candidates failing, requiring a second attempt to succeed. Unfortunately, for Harold, even the second attempt failed.

Worse, he hadn’t been close to succeeding.

“It’s a critical resource I wasted, sir. Not only that, but it also shows that I’m inadequate for the tasks that lie ahead. The city has overgrown my meager capabilities.”

I sighed. “Take a seat,” I said, but instead of pointing at the chairs in front of the desk, I pointed toward the leather chairs at the corner, one that didn’t highlight the difference of position. He followed, while I stopped by the minibar to prepare two drinks.

“Sir, you don’t need to —” he started, but I shushed him as I put the drink in front of him.

“Harold, my friend,” I started. He gasped as if I had committed a great sacrilege. “We have gone through too much to get stuck in our roles,” I said. “Don’t think of me as your king, your boss, or your superior in any shape or form. At this moment, I’m your friend.”

“I …” he started. “It’s not proper.”

“Screw proper,” I said as I raised my glass. “Let’s just have a drink, and celebrate what we have achieved.”

“Sir —” he muttered, but under my gaze, he finally accepted. “Devon,” he said. “To everything you achieved –” he started.

“We achieved,” I corrected as we clanked our glasses. “Don’t undervalue your contribution just because they are not as shiny. Without you to hold the fort, our little guild would have shattered. Instead, it grew into a proper city, one that can actually stand against the other cities.”

His fingers tightened. “Anyone could have done what I did,” he countered. “It was your uniqueness that allowed us to survive. I just had the right class at the right place.”

“No,” I said. “We had hundreds of fighting classes back then. But, you were the only one that dared to fight against the System conditioning to change your perspective. It doesn’t matter if anyone could have done it. You were the only one to actually do it.”

He still looked hesitant. “Maybe back then,” he admitted. “But not anymore. We have many better candidates than me, a mere failure that can’t even absorb an external Epic skill stone, let alone actually succeed. Especially one that failed his ascension so spectacularly.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Ascension or no ascension, you’re still a vital part of our council.”

He shook his head. “Devon, please. We both know how important Ascension is to improve one’s fighting. Without it, I’ll fall behind more and more.”

I shrugged. “So what?” I replied. “I’m not going to lie and say that having you fight well enough to deal with other ascended would have been more convenient, but that’s not all you offer. You’re the man I trust the most to keep the city in order. A man who I can trust to ignore his benefit, and actually rule based on his principles rather than his benefits.”

“Still…” he muttered.

“Still, what?” I interrupted. “Would it be better to have a better fighter in your position?” He nodded. “Technically true, but does it matter? I don’t have anyone I trust enough who can also handle your task. More importantly, you’re underestimating your capabilities.”

“I don’t think I do —” he started.

“Really?” I asked. “Do you remember how easily things had broken down back when Eleanor was responsible for the management of the town? Or Maria? Do you think she can do a better job if I put her back?”

“Maybe one of your students?”

“You think so? Do you think Logan, who hates to talk to anyone unfamiliar? Or maybe Jessica, who would start insulting the moment something went wrong. Or maybe Rebecca or Spencer?”

He shook his head, though reluctantly. “No. Rebecca and Spencer are too soft with other people. But Terry could do it.”

I chuckled. “Oh, I have no doubt about it. He’s a special young man, the right mixture of soft and hard. Unfortunately, he’s also extremely busy with other things. I can’t simply tackle another mission on top of everything else he’s busy with.”

“What about the new arrivals?” he countered. “There are many strong candidates that can take my place.”

“Ones we can trust not to sell us if a Drakkan spy offered them a tempting price?” I asked. He paused, sighing. “Exactly that,” I continued. “They are not joining us because they believe in what we’re doing, but because we’re offering a palatable alternative. Only when facing despair will their true face be revealed.”

“Once we can trust them, then,” he declared.

“That might change then, but even then, only if you genuinely want to change your position rather than a necessity. Once you have a credible candidate we can trust to defend our capital, you can give up that command, and focus on your other job.”

He nodded, which paused halfway. “What other job? I don’t have another job.”

“Not yet,” I said. “But, it won’t be the case once we have our port up and running. We’ll need someone to oversee things.”

“A ship captain?” he said, pondering. “That, I might actually enjoy. I always wanted to become a captain, but a lack of a college education had held me back.”

I coughed. “Not exactly a captain,” I said.

“Something like a Master Chief. Even better,” he said.

I chuckled. “I’m afraid you’re thinking in the wrong direction. Think in terms of a promotion.”

His eyes widened. “Don’t tell me I’ll lead a ship group.”

“No,” I said, which made him relax before I chuckled. “Even higher. The most important part is that you’re the only one we can trust with considerable naval experience. It’ll be very important once we have our new port up and running. You’re the only one I can trust to oversee both the port, and the fleet.”

His eyes widened. “That’s practically an admiral position. It’s even more than what I’m doing right now.”

“Yes. You’ll even have your own flagship,” I admitted. “Ships that will be very formidable weapons of war once we can come up with newer generations of cannons. Naturally, as the ruler of our first town away from our capital, you’ll still have to be a part of the council.”

“It’s absurd. I came here to resign. You can’t saddle me with more responsibilities.”

I chuckled. “I understand. It would be unfair, right?” I asked. He nodded. “Like, for example, saddling a friend with an ugly crown just because it’s for the greater good,” I said.

He froze. “That … that’s completely different. You are the only one that can protect us.”

“And, you’re the only one I can trust as the admiral of our future navy,” I said. “Exactly the same. Isn’t it funny?”

“It’s not,” he said, his face stormy. But, it didn’t stay that way when I started chuckling. Soon, he joined it. “Fine. I admit. There’s a certain irony in the situation.“

I poured some more liquid to top up our glasses. “To your promotion then, Admiral Harold,” I said. “I know that you will give it everything you have.”

“I just hope I don’t disappoint you, sir,” he replied. I thought about arguing about the title, but decided against it. Since he was out of his funk, it was acceptable. We said nothing for a few minutes, enjoying our drinks in silence. “Do you think something is wrong with us, sir?” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“We practically had to beg you to take the crown, and here you are, forcing me to take over a a large town. Others gleefully kill for a sliver of it. It should be a happy event. A victory. Yet, all I feel is the crushing weight of responsibility.”

“That’s why it works,” I said. “Ultimately, none of us wants power for its own sake. We know that it’s a tool for the betterment of others. A duty. Otherwise, the first taste of victory would have shattered our unity.”

He nodded. We continued to drink in silence, enjoying the rare break. A break that ended merely ten minutes later when I received a missive. Drakka was on the move.

“Speaking of duty, it calls once again,” I said and finished my drink in one move. “You have the command. I need to deal with a few pests.”