Lucina Timmons
The day after the exam, an acceptance letter was delivered to my house.
Incidentally, the entrance ceremony is said to take place in two weeks.
In the limited time until then, I gathered as much information as I could about Lucina.
As a result, I am convinced that she is indeed a suitable candidate to join my trading company.
However, I also discovered that she is currently in a very complicated situation.
Resolving this will not be easy, but it is necessary for my ambitions.
To ensure success, I meticulously crafted a plan.
Two days before the entrance ceremony, at night, I rushed by carriage to a run-down town on the outskirts of the royal capital.
Its name is Bowden.
As its appearance suggests, the security here is abysmal.
Violent crimes, illegal drug use, human trafficking... it’s a cesspool of every vile deed imaginable.
In one corner of this town lies my destination.
A massive, circular building—commonly referred to as the Underground Arena.
It gathers fighters with shady pasts, who engage in deadly battles for the entertainment of spectators.
Of course, it’s illegal.
Yet, it operates openly. There’s a reason for this, but I’ll leave that aside for now.
As soon as I stepped inside, a roar of cheers echoed around me.
"Right there! Stab him!"
"Don’t you dare die on me yet!"
"Kill him!"
"I bet all my money on you!"
The vulgarity of the shouts was unbearable and made me cringe.
The spectators place bets on the fighters battling in the arena.
If their chosen fighter wins, they receive payouts according to the odds; if they lose, they don’t even get a single copper coin back.
It’s a simple system anyone can understand.
As a result, weak fighters often provoke the crowd’s anger, get beaten to a pulp, and end up floating in the nearby river the next day.
As I said before, this is an outright illegal activity.
However, the reason it goes unpunished lies in the crystal orbs installed throughout the arena.
These crystal orbs use magic to broadcast the matches to remote viewers.
Through them, certain nobles with a penchant for the grotesque can enjoy the spectacle from the comfort of a private room in their mansions.
Since interfering would deprive these nobles of their entertainment, one risks their wrath by meddling. However, the nobles who frequent this place are low-ranking scum.
The ones I want to befriend at the academy are not these people.
My targets are those closer to the royal family, such as the dukes.
As for these corrupt nobles who could harm even foreign interests, I’ll eventually gather evidence of their misdeeds and use it to blackmail them.
They, too, will serve as a source of income for me someday.
The thought brings a smile to my face, but I suppress it and head toward the manager.
The manager, a middle-aged man named Garbel, was watching a match from a special seat.
"Sorry to interrupt, but may I have a word?"
"Huh? I’m in the middle of—oh, oh, oh! My goodness! If it isn’t Young Master Lake! What brings you here today?"
The way Garbel fawns over me with such fervor, it’s almost as if sparks could ignite from the friction.
Apparently, my father had dealings with him in the past.
He once told me, “Garbel is polite and skilled at flattery, but he’s a petty crook always looking for an opportunity to betray you. If you intend to deal with him, remain vigilant.”
Even now, though he’s smiling obsequiously, his eyes are not.
He’s undoubtedly trying to figure out my motives for coming here.
—But I have no interest in the arena itself today.
"Where is the workshop?"
"The workshop… you mean?"
"Yes, I have business with the craftsman there."
"I-I see. This way, please."
Surprised by my unexpected words, Garbel widened his eyes but obliged and led me to the workshop.
The workshop was hidden in a small clearing within a forest behind the arena.
As we approached, I noticed someone standing in front of it.
The moonlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the figure.
According to my information, she is sixteen this year.
So, she’s slightly older than me.
"That is the person you’re looking for—Lucina, the only blacksmith working for this arena."
"I see…"
The moment I laid eyes on the girl I’d been searching for, memories of her past in the royal capital came flooding back.
Back then, Lucina Timmons was radiant.
Her family had run a blacksmithing business for five generations, renowned enough to supply the Knights Order and Magic Corps.
She was said to be as skilled and knowledgeable as her predecessors and was highly regarded for her promising future.
And yet, here she is now.
Operating a rundown workshop in this den of vice, crafting cheap weapons for fighters involved in illegal gambling.
Frankly, it’s hard to believe.
Two years ago, I had seen her by chance in the royal capital. Her sapphire-like blue eyes sparkled, and she was adored by the townspeople.
At the time, she was diligently learning the blacksmithing trade from her father, her sweat-drenched face lit with satisfaction.
What on earth could have happened to lead to this?
From Garbel’s reaction, it’s clear he hasn’t realized her true value.
Lucina is far too talented to waste away in a place like this.
But now, the light in her eyes has vanished, leaving her jaded and worn down.
—Even so, my determination remains unchanged.
Outside the workshop, several weapons awaited shipment. Despite being crafted from cheap materials, they were remarkably well-made.
An average blacksmith would’ve turned out subpar products, but her creations were impeccable.
Honestly, these weapons are far too good for the likes of the fighters here.
As I suspected, her skills as a blacksmith have not dulled, even in a place like this.
"… Garbel."
"Yes, sir?"
"I’d like to speak with her privately for a while."
"Y-Yes, of course. Please call for me when you’re finished."
It seems Garbel misunderstood and thought I came here seeking female companionship. But if it gets him to leave us alone, so be it.
He has his uses—but for now, Lucina takes priority.
For the sake of my ambitions, I will make her mine.
What do you think about this chapter?
