HKWM | Chapter 27

Even with power received through a deal with an Archdemon, the level wasn’t significant. After all, a “deal” is not a charitable act by demons; they can only offer something corresponding to what they receive. Even though I could have generously given a bit more, two swords weren’t a high enough offering, so the power the blacksmith received was modest.

A proper knight might have detected the unfamiliar presence even while asleep, but the man was soundly sleeping even as the blacksmith approached his bed. It was then I roughly understood the situation.

‘This guy isn’t a real knight.’

He hadn’t been officially knighted yet, probably only sporting a trainee badge at most. Likely a knight in name, taking easy targets like commoners under his wing, and maybe his killing of the blacksmith’s son was part of a petty outburst.

A scoff escaped me involuntarily.

‘Pathetic…’

The blacksmith stared at the soundly sleeping knight for a while, then picked up a sword stored beside the bed.
And with that sword, likely one he made himself and which had slain his son, he pierced the knight’s heart. There was no hesitation in his movements.

Whether the sword missed the vital points or not, the knight did spit out blood a few times, but his struggle didn’t last long. Death followed naturally, not immediately, but inevitably soon after. The blacksmith’s long-held grudge ended all too easily and emptily.

I was about to leave after seeing the blacksmith escape but tilted my head when I noticed he wasn’t moving. He should have been rushing to escape, especially since there were no guards and no servants aware of the situation, making it easier than expected to flee the capital. It would have been wiser to move further away quickly.

Was he not feeling entirely relieved after achieving his vengeance, or was he hollowed out because it was easier than expected? Perhaps he was even rejoicing that his wish had been fulfilled, but regardless, he needed to escape quickly.

Just as I was getting impatient enough to think I should alert him to regain his composure, the blacksmith forcefully pushed a glass cabinet next to a bookshelf.

Bang! Crash!

The precariously wobbling cabinet fell to the ground, shattering the glass and the items inside, ripping through the silence with a deafening crash loud enough that anyone in the house couldn’t miss it.

“What happened, Master?”

A woman, drawn by the sudden loud noise, froze at the sight of her master bleeding out and the blacksmith standing motionless with a bloody sword.

“Uh, uh-uh-”

It took her a while to snap out of her shock and flee, but the blacksmith remained motionless until then. He just stood there as if waiting for something, gazing endlessly at the cooling corpse of the knight.

—

It wasn’t long before the city watch, possibly alerted by the fleeing servant, stormed in. The evidence at the crime scene was unmistakable, and notably, the blacksmith didn’t deny his actions, leading to his immediate arrest.

Without a proper trial, his execution was hastened through slapdash proceedings. It was decided to happen just two days later, coinciding with the time needed to construct a scaffold in the square.

I merely observed the whole process. Although the power I gave him wasn’t significant, he had several chances to escape, and it was enough for him to have managed it, so I couldn’t help but think he was aiming for something else.

‘Is there someone else he wants to avenge?’

Or maybe he was afraid of losing power during his escape or getting caught mid-way, which might lead to an even worse fate due to his ignorance of the deal.

After much contemplation, I appeared before the imprisoned blacksmith on the eve of his execution. He was surprised to see me, as there was no reason for me to visit after our deal had concluded.

Skipping pleasantries, which would have been absurd under the circumstances, I went straight to the point.

“Is there anyone else you wish to avenge?”

“No, my revenge is complete.”

“Then why didn’t you escape? The power I gave you was enough to at least do that.”

“I will not run.”

“Why not?”

Not that he couldn’t escape, but that he wouldn’t? In response to my question, the blacksmith explained calmly, almost somberly.

“I avenged myself because justice wasn’t served. But in doing so, I became a sinner myself. If I ran, how would I be any different from him?”

From the moment he accepted my offer, he had resolved everything, even his own death. Cleaning up his forge wasn’t preparation for flight.

Of course, I had asked him if he would seize the chance to escape even if a dismal end awaited, meaning living as a fugitive for life, but I hadn’t anticipated he would so willingly face execution.

“I want to die with dignity. But since I am deeply indebted to you, I am sincerely grateful.”

His face was serene in the face of death, a testament to his own definition of justice that I couldn’t possibly comment on.

“…So be it.”

Not wanting to add to his troubles with unnecessary words, I left him to his fate.

The next day, the scaffold was set up in the square, and the blacksmith was placed upon it. Many people gathered, their faces grim, none unaware of why the blacksmith had killed the knight.

The execution that should have proceeded immediately was briefly delayed due to the city watch whispering among themselves before following some orders and disappearing.

When they returned, they were accompanied by a paladin in shining armor.

‘What now?’

At first glance, I thought he was just a high-ranking knight due to his different armor, but the unsettling aura he exuded from afar told me he was a paladin. It was my first encounter with divine power, and my face involuntarily scrunched up.

“A paladin?”

“Why is a paladin here…?”

Paladins, who perform miracles with divine power instead of aura, are more sensitive to demonic energy, so I tightened my control over my magic to prevent any leakage. Although we were quite far apart and a mere paladin wouldn’t notice without focus, I didn’t want to stir up unnecessary trouble.

The paladin surveyed the blacksmith briefly then announced to the crowd.

“The person scheduled for execution here killed a knight while being merely a blacksmith, suggesting he might have employed some nefarious power.”

This implied that the blacksmith was suspected of being a demon worshipper or contractor. Suddenly a paladin appearing at a commoner’s execution seemed linked to a report they received about the blacksmith.

If demonic energy were detected, according to imperial law, he would be burned at the stake. The law mandated that those who consort with demons must be eradicated without leaving any trace. The problem was that demonic energy would inevitably be detected from the blacksmith due to our deal.

“And now, by the holy mercy of God, we shall examine his soul.”

The paladin took out a small bell, known as the ‘Bell of Exorcism’, used to detect close associations with demonic energy and to identify demon worshippers and contractors that are hard to distinguish visually. While paladins are sensitive to magic, there are ways to hide magic that I knew of, hence the use of such an ancient and effective relic.

‘They brought a relic for a mere commoner’s execution?’

The treatment of commoners was evident from how the blacksmith’s execution was being handled—no trial, no judges, everything decided by the city watch. Even the handling of life and death.

If they had suspected demonic involvement from the start, they would have called a paladin and used the relic even before considering burning him at the stake. Yet, going through such elaborate procedures suggested they were searching for something else. What that was, I couldn’t say.

Regardless of my thoughts, the paladin approached the blacksmith with the bell. As everyone tensely watched, he rang the bell loudly.

(—)

But no sound came from the bell. The paladin shook it again, but still, nothing. Sensing the anomaly, the blacksmith slowly opened his eyes.

“What is this…?”

“The relic is silent.”

“Doesn’t that mean he’s not a worshipper of demons?”

“Then why is the paladin—”

Amidst murmuring from the crowd, the executioner, following a quick order, seemed about to proceed with the execution, rushing the blacksmith toward the guillotine.

“Quiet—! Everyone, silence!”

The commotion didn’t subside quickly, and the paladin, after storing the relic, left his post. The disappointment on his face was evident.

“The execution will proceed!”

I knew all this was the blacksmith’s choice, and I had decided to respect that decision. Yet, I hoped to spare him unnecessary pain.

‘Justice? What do I care about that?’

I am an Archdemon of the Seven Deadly Sins. I am free to act as I please.

“…Thank you. I will never forget this kindness, even in death.”

The blacksmith muttered to himself as if he knew I could hear him, acknowledging that I had retracted the power I had given him. I turned away before the blade fell.

Although trading with a demon is a grave sin and I could have claimed the blacksmith’s soul, I left it to ascend to the heavens.

In his last moments, the soul of the blacksmith, who harbored no anger other than grief for his lost son, had nothing to offer me.

‘…Yes, that’s why.’

Though I had secured the sword for Noah, something prevented me from feeling completely happy about it.