The Younger Brother's Dream

Early the next morning, Merkel came to the Blacksmith Shop alone.

"Victor didn't sleep at all last night. He's been drawing the whole time... Donald, your question really stumped him."

Donald looked utterly innocent, while Richard could not help laughing.

Merkel had already begun to feel that the blacksmith's eldest son before him was far from ordinary. He had dealt with weapons for decades, yet he could not make sense of the mystery behind that strange sword. Victor might not act his age, but he did possess genuine skill, and even he had been stumped by Donald's seemingly casual riddle. If Merkel still considered all this a coincidence, he would be far too slow-witted. Ordinarily, given his nature, if someone had a secret they did not wish to reveal, he would be too embarrassed to pry. But this time was different.

Merkel's family had operated weapon shops throughout Tris Province for generations. It should have been a good business, but eighteen years ago, after the Feymont Empire, the Thorn Empire, and the Silver Sparrow Federation signed the Three-Nation Armistice Agreement, Hells Continent unexpectedly entered a rare era of peace. In the years since, demand for weapons, whether from the military or civilians, had fallen far below what it once was, and the family business had steadily declined. Even though Merkel had no choice but to secure a logistics position at the Knight School, it had done little to help. So, if he could obtain the method used to forge this sword, it might ease their current decline. Merkel's father was a merchant, and of his three sons, only Merkel, the eldest, possessed the talent to become a Knight. He had once been full of youthful passion, but after repeated setbacks, he had long since accepted the reality of his humble birth and mediocre talent. Now, his greatest wish was to use his status as a Knight to help his family and share some of the burden weighing on his aging father.

"Donald... oh, and Mr. Tom. I may not have mentioned this before, but my father, Kelly's grandfather, runs a weapons business. To be honest, with peace lasting so long, the weapons trade has become extremely sluggish, and my family is under considerable pressure."

Before leaving home that day, Merkel had decided that he might as well be frank about his intentions with Donald and his father.

"So, when I saw the sword Donald forged, I thought this might be an opportunity. As I said before, it is a remarkable sword. If the price is right, I would like to place an order for swords like this. And, forgive my boldness, but if I could acquire the method for forging it, I would be willing to pay a lump sum in compensation." After saying this, Merkel felt much more at ease.

Old Tom looked at Merkel, then at Donald, unsure how to respond.

Donald had not expected Merkel to be so direct, and now it was his turn to be troubled. If they accepted the order, his father would undoubtedly become even busier, and Donald himself might have to devote all his time to it. He did not want that. If they sold the forging method, however, an unexpected windfall might not necessarily be a good thing for the three of them. Then he caught sight of the sword hanging at Richard's waist, and a bold idea suddenly came to him.

Donald pulled Richard in front of Merkel, solemnly pointed at Richard, and made a sword-swinging gesture. Merkel looked completely baffled, while Richard and Old Tom were equally confused by Donald's actions.

Donald repeated the gesture. When the three of them still did not understand, he hesitated for a moment, then said slowly, one word at a time, "Send Richard... to the Knight School, and I'll tell you... the method."

The voice coming from his own mouth sounded as though it belonged to a stranger.

His silence all this time had not been an act of deliberate mystery. After remaining silent for a period following his arrival in this world, everyone had simply assumed he was mute. If he suddenly spoke now, he would surely frighten them, and explaining it afterward would be troublesome.

His father's and younger brother's reactions confirmed Donald's concerns. They stared at him in shock. Both the fact that Donald had suddenly spoken and the meaning of what he had said seemed unbelievable to them.

Merkel was far less shocked. "You mean you'll trade the sword-forging method for me sending Richard to the Knight School?"

Donald nodded and gave Richard an encouraging look. Richard had yet to recover from his shock.

"But the Knight School has entrance exams... and tuition fees..." Old Tom was at least calmer than his younger son.

"Mr. Tom, don't worry. This deal will naturally include all of Richard's expenses while studying at the Knight School. As for the exam, you need not worry about that either. I am certain that with Richard's talent, passing it will be no problem at all." In truth, Merkel had never tested Richard's talent as a Knight. But with his position at the Knight School, arranging for someone to make an allowance during the entrance exam would be no great difficulty. Besides, the tuition was far less than the compensation he had originally intended to offer. By that calculation, if the deal went through, he would actually be getting the better end of it.

"Then there is only one question left. Richard, are you willing to attend the Knight School?"

First, Richard had been stunned by the fact that his brother was not mute. Then he had suspected that he had misheard. Now that Merkel had repeated it, everything still felt unreal. Though he had confidently told his friends that he would become a Knight, if someone had told him that he truly would become one and would soon attend the Knight School, he would have assumed that person was a fraud. Yet now, this opportunity was really right before him.

His brother looked at him encouragingly. Mr. Merkel was waiting for an answer. His father... would his father agree?

Seeing the pleading look in his younger son's eyes, the old blacksmith knew how heartbroken he would be if he refused. Besides, what reason was there to refuse?

"I'm willing." With his father's approval, Richard finally spoke those words.

Donald looked at his younger brother—this child who had lost his mother at the age of four—and countless memories rose to the surface. He had fought desperately with children his own age simply because they called his brother a mute. He had taken the blame for mistakes his brother made, willing to let their father misunderstand him. Once he was old enough to understand, he no longer wanted to eat the bread his brother saved for him, claiming that he was full even when the growling of his stomach gave him away. Now, his answer had been so soft, yet so pure, sincere, filled with determination and gratitude.

Donald smiled happily. It was the happiest smile he had worn since arriving in this world. He even reached out and hugged his younger brother. Richard's nose suddenly stung, and he began to cry.

Mr. Merkel was happy for the scene before him as well, though he had not forgotten the important matter. "Then, we have a deal?"

Donald nodded firmly.

For some reason, seeing the child nod made Merkel feel completely at ease.

After Merkel left, the old blacksmith and Richard asked Donald countless questions. At last, they confirmed that he was not mute, and they wept with joy.