Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons Chapter 118. An Invitation to a Festival

That night, the sll of Lylia’s cooking filled the workshop. She had made a big al that included roast chicken, fresh bread, and a stew that tasted like comfort food. People were excited to eat because they had been eating bad food for too long.

Felix said, "Ahhhhh~ It felt like I tasted heaven... this... IS... DELICIOUS," while chewing on so chicken. "I love you, Lylia. Will you marry ?"

"No," Lylia said, not looking up from her food.

"Nooooooo..." Felix said that while stuffing his mouth full of stew.

Hammy, who had been exploring the kitchen, jumped over to see what was cooking. The sli landed on Lylia’s shoulder and chirped with interest after it slled good.

Lylia blinked at Greg and then at the thing. "Did you bring so sli ho?"

"Yes."

"Of course you did." She reached up and pet Hammy softly, and right away he started to make happy chirping sounds. "What do you call it?"

Marina said, "That’s Hammy. Short for hamr, because it has a hamr in it."

"That’s so cute," Lylia said, and Hammy seed to like the praise.

After dinner, when everyone was relaxed and full, Lylia cleared her throat and took out a letter that looked like it ca from the kingdom.

"I need to tell you all sothing," she said, and her face got serious. "The reason they called back to Aethermoor."

Everyone leaned in and paid close attention to her. "What? What happened?!"

Lylia said, "The war is over. Peace has finally been reached after fifteen years of fighting between Aethermoor and the Northern Coalition. Two weeks ago, a treaty was signed."

"That’s great news!" Seraphine said.

Lylia said, "It is. But when there is peace, there is celebration, and when there is celebration, there is politics."

"The Royal Knight Order is putting together a festival to celebrate the peace treaty. A Festival of Creation, where craftsn and artists from both kingdoms will show off their work."

She showed the letter. "This is an invitation. They want to be a representative from the western territories because I’m one of the ex-Royal Knight Order, and they also want to bring guests."

"Guests?" Greg asked.

"Wait... I think I know where this is going."

"Yup, you know it. They said your na," Lylia said, looking at Greg. "People are talking about the famous blacksmith who won’t make weapons but will make SSS-ranked household items. The Knight Commander would like to see you."

Greg thought everyone was looking at him. "I fucking knew it..."

"Yes, you," Lylia said. "They’re calling it the Festival of Blacksmith Creation. Smiths from all over the continent will be competing to show off their best work, and of course, being invited is a huge honor."

"And there’s more," Lylia said. "The festival doesn’t only take place in Aethermoor. It’s taking place in a neutral area between the eastern and western kingdoms."

"There is a city called ridian that was built to show how peaceful things are now. It is exactly in the middle of Aethermoor in the east and Valdris territories in the west."

"How far is that from here?" Marina wanted to know.

Lylia said, "It will take about two weeks to get there with our carriage because of how fast it is."

"And also the festival lasts a week, so we’d be gone for at least a month."

"One month?" Elwen said in a soft voice. "That is a long ti."

"Yes, it is," Lylia said. "That’s why I’m not making anyone co. You have the choice. But I would like the company, and I think it would be good for Greg to see more of the world outside of Ferndale."

Greg looked around at the family he had found. Marina was looking at him with an expression of encouragent. Bork was excited about the idea of traveling and seeing new places.

Felix was so excited that he was almost vibrating. Seraphine looked like she was thinking about the pros and cons of going on such a trip.

Elwen seed nervous but interested. Mira and Donetta clasped hands, demonstrating their readiness to back any decision.

Hammy, who was sitting on Greg’s shoulder, chirped softly as if it had sothing to say about the situation. "Alright, alright... I guess having a trip together will be nice."

"When do we have to go?" Greg asked.

Lylia said, "Three weeks because the festival starts in six weeks. We would need ti to get ready and go."

Marina said, "That’s not a lot of ti."

"No, it’s not," Lylia said. "But chances like this don’t co up very often. Greg, the Knight Commander asked for you by na."

"They want to find out what kind of person makes legendary items but won’t make weapons. In so circles, you’ve beco a bit of a legend."

Greg said, "A legend of chaos."

Lylia gently corrected, "A legend of peace. Your philosophy has spread, whether you ant it to or not. People talk about the blacksmith who makes bonds instead of weapons. That ssage makes sense in a world that has finally found peace after years of war."

Greg looked down at his hands, the sa hands that had almost killed Elias and made both good and bad things happen. "I don’t know if I’m ready to be a symbol for soone."

Marina took his hand and said, "You don’t have to be a symbol. You only need to be yourself. That’s all."

"And you won’t be by yourself," Lylia said. "Anyone who decides to co will be there for you. This is about showing the world what peace can do if it is given a chance."

Greg thought about the blacksmith who had died in the cave. He had spent his whole life trying to make sothing perfect by himself.

He thought about the knowledge that had been passed down from generation to generation through teaching and sharing. He also thought about the family he had made in Ferndale and the people who had been there for him through everything.

"Can we take Hammy?" he asked.

Lylia blinked at the question and then smiled. "I don’t see why not. Having a sli friend might actually be helpful because many cultures think they bring good luck."

Hammy chirped with excitent and jumped on Greg’s shoulder, clearly pleased with the plan.

Greg said, "Then I’m in. But I want to be clear that I’m not trying to win anything."

"I’m just going to show what I believe in, and I also want to have fun."

"That’s all anyone can ask for," Lylia said, looking relieved and thankful.

"Who else wants to join?" Marina asked, looking around the table.

"I’m going for sure!" Felix said yes right away. "Let’s go on a road trip with lots of adventure! New places! I also want to see what other blacksmiths make. Maybe I’ll learn sothing!"

Bork said, "I’ll co. Soone has to keep Boss and Felix from getting into trouble. Furthermore, I want to find out if eastern dwarves make better beer than western dwarves."

"I should co for research," Seraphine said. "A festival of craftsn from different kingdoms is a great chance to compare and contrast."

Elwen said quietly, "I’ll go wherever Master Greg goes. If he’ll take ."

"Of course," Greg said with a smile.

"We’ll go too!" Mira and Donetta echoed the sa sentint, and Hammy agreed while perched on Greg’s shoulder.

Everyone turned to Marina, who was crying but smiling. "Like I’d let you go on a month-long trip without . Furthermore, soone needs to make sure you don’t accidentally cause diplomatic problems with your strange things."

"I don’t an to cause diplomatic problems," Greg said.

"No, you do it by accident, which is sohow worse."

Lylia looked at all of them with a warm smile on her face. "Then it’s set. The Brotherhood of Peace is going to the Blacksmith Creation Festival. In three weeks, we leave."

"To new adventures!" Bork lifted his mug.

"To new adventures," everyone said, clinking their cups together.

Hammy jumped up and down on the table, chirping in approval. Greg couldn’t help but smile, even though he was nervous about what was to co. No matter what happened at this festival, he would at least be with his family.

And maybe, he could figure out how to beco the legend that people thought he was without ruining everything in the process. But knowing his luck, he would probably make another banned item before they even got out of Ferndale.