Subscriber of the Gods Episode 108
Episode 108. Contrast
The Marquisate of Ronde.
There was an apprentice moving busily in the workshop where hot air was emanating.
“Jeralt!”
“Yes! I’m going!”
“Jeralt, help me here!”
“yes!”
This workshop was a huge workshop created by combining three blacksmith shops.
It was the largest blacksmith workshop in the Marquisate of Ronde, and had many skilled blacksmiths among the many workshops in the area.
Because there were many apprentices, there was one apprentice that the blacksmiths sought out the most.
Geralt Lore.
Despite being an apprentice, he was already a great talent, big and muscular like any other blacksmith.
Many blacksmiths wanted to take him as their apprentice, but Geralt always refused, saying he was not good enough.
Today, too, Geralt was busy attending to the calls of the blacksmiths and handling the work in the workshop.
“Jeralt!”
“Yes! What should I do?”
“You have a guest coming to see you.”
“Yes? Me?”
You came to the workshop looking for an apprentice, not a blacksmith?
I couldn’t help but wonder.
“Do you have any gambling debts?”
“No, how could I have any gambling debts? After work at the workshop, I go home to sleep, and when I wake up, I come straight to the workshop.”
“A rather handsome man came to see you. You should go ahead and see.”
“yes.”
Geralt was very curious as to who on earth had come to find him.
Could this be someone you know?
“hello.”
“Hello? I heard you were looking for me. By the way… …who are you?”
I thought it was someone I knew, but it turned out to be someone I didn’t know at all.
He was a person I couldn’t even guess where I had seen him before.
He was a handsome man, just as the craftsman had said, so it was even more likely that I would not remember him.
“It’s my first time… meeting you. Who are you?”
“My name is Ethan Wickes.”
Ethan said politely.
“yes!?”
For a moment, Geralt’s eyes widened.
Ethan Wickers is arguably the best new teacher at Ibeca Academy these days.
Originally, news from the Academy didn’t spread outside unless it was really something great.
That was how great Ethan’s reputation was.
“Why did the teacher at Ibeka Academy… … me?”
Geralt looked at Ethan and asked, looking even more confused.
Why would an academy teacher come looking for him?
“I have come to make a request.”
“Yes? A request? To me?”
“Yes, to Master Geralt Lore.”
“… … .”
The word blacksmith from Ethan’s mouth resonated in Geralt’s heart. The position that all blacksmith apprentices aim for and the word they most want to hear is blacksmith.
“I am an apprentice in this workshop, not a blacksmith.”
But Geralt cut it down with one stroke of his sword.
Basically, he is an assistant in this workshop. It is the blacksmith’s job to make items upon request.
“The most outstanding apprentice among the apprentices. They say he should have become a blacksmith a long time ago. Is that correct?”
“Well… … Those kinds of evaluations are common among apprentices.”
“I heard that the blacksmith here sells items you make, Geralt.”
“Uh-huh, that’s because the blacksmiths highly regarded my skills and showed consideration for me. They explain everything when selling, so it’s not like they’re cheating.”
He answered hesitantly.
It wasn’t a typical humble appearance, but rather an appearance that seemed like he genuinely thought his skills weren’t that good.
‘Jerolt Lorre is not confident in his own abilities.’
The reason was that his origins were humble.
‘Because I was raised by parents who were runaway slaves and wandered around without even a proper home.’
So it was understandable that he didn’t trust himself.
Geralt’s dead parents had drilled nails into his ears, telling him never to come forward first.
How can I be confident in my abilities when they tell me to live as if I’m dead and not there?
“You don’t seem to have confidence in your own abilities.”
“I am just an apprentice. I appreciate that the teachers at the Academy think highly of me, but I really… … .”
Ethan opened his subspace pocket as he watched Geralt step back slightly.
The most intuitive and best when it comes to evaluating value.
The more there is, the more no one can refuse it.
The only thing that could hold Geralt back from backing down, unable to be certain at the moment, was money.
“Please make me three swords.”
Ethan planned to give swords to three students.
So that I can hold that sword and defeat the Department of Magic during the department exchange.
In addition, I was thinking of making armor.
I’ve collected quite a bit of material so far.
Besides, there was plenty of money to get the job done.
If you start a new business this time, you will naturally make more money.
‘Money is not spared.’
Isn’t that the best way to get the best stuff?
Geralt’s eyes widened at the sight of a pouch full of gold.
But he waved his hand as if he couldn’t accept it right away.
But his eyes continued to glance at the yellow light in his pocket.
“This, this money is too much for you.”
“In my opinion, this is the value of the sword and armor you make.”
“I’m not that great of a person… … .”
Ethan approached Geralt, who waved his hand in denial.
“Jeralt, I am a teacher at the Academy. I am confident in my ability to judge people. In my opinion, you are more skilled than any blacksmith here.”
Ethan said as he grabbed Geralt’s shoulder.
It is said that Goldhand Geralt was able to abandon his past doubts and become one of the most renowned blacksmiths on the continent because of just one word.
These were the words spoken by the first person who entrusted him with the task, and they were famous for changing Geralt’s life.
“It’s okay if you fail.”
The doubts that weighed on him were immense.
He was afraid that if he showed his skills, it would ruin everything he had achieved so far.
I hesitated because I was afraid I would never get up again. I was so afraid of failure that I couldn’t even think about trying.
“I don’t care if I waste that money. I don’t care if I fail. It’s entirely my choice.”
“Really… … can I fail?”
A careful question.
For a moment, my hands almost gave out.
But Ethan held back and smiled kindly.
“Of course. I see potential in you. I’m not just going to buy a sword or armor today.”
Of course, it can’t fail.
But fortunately, my thoughts and words came out very naturally.
‘Even if you want to ruin it, you won’t be able to.’
Even at this point, Geralt’s skills are clear.
All he needs is faith in himself.
‘If Geralt, free of his burden, makes the sword and armor I asked him to make, he will regain his confidence.’
And then, deciding that he no longer needs to be an apprentice, he will try to set up his own blacksmith shop.
‘I can apply then.’
With that, Ethan will be able to maintain a good relationship with Geralt, who will become the youngest Gold Hand.
“Do you really trust me?”
Geralt asked once more.
There was no need to say any more.
Ethan readily gave Geralt the materials and a large sum of money.
“This is Ethan Wickers. When you’re done, come to the Academy and see me.”
* * *
“Ethan, your story has been spreading like wildfire. What exactly are your accomplishments at the Academy that have earned you the title of best teacher of the year?”
A fancy restaurant.
Ethan came inside and was greeted by Ethan.
“I just did what I usually do. Please be a little more generous.”
“It wasn’t just a little bit better.”
Although he speaks casually, Etning has been in a state of shock ever since he arrived in the Marquisate of Ronde.
After receiving an offer from Ethan not long ago, Etting immediately began preparing for a new business.
And before starting the business, I came to the Marquisate of Rond to have a full talk with Ethan.
As soon as I entered, I learned a lot of information.
I didn’t necessarily look for it. It was like information about Ethan was pouring in even without me paying attention.
“I keep hearing Ethan’s story. I checked to see if this kind of story was going around about the teachers at the Academy, and it seems like there hasn’t been anything like it since the teacher named Claude Hyde.”
Ettinger also knew something about Cloudy Hyde.
It was common knowledge that he was from the Hyde family, one of the twelve houses.
There is no one who does not know that Ibekah’s teacher is showing off her outstanding talents to the fullest.
But he is a member of the Hyde family, one of the twelve houses. It was natural that a noble, and a member of the twelve houses, would become an issue.
Ethan, on the other hand, was from the Wickes family in the province.
No matter how great your performance is, it doesn’t become an issue.
And yet, the fact that Ethan’s story has spread this far means that Ethan is truly building up shocking achievements within the Academy.
“I just work hard.”
When you have achieved this much, it’s natural for people to want to brag about it a little.
Etning’s lightweight workshop also continues to grow day after day with explosive sales, so there have been more than a few times when my mouth has been tickled.
In fact, we even had several drinking parties to celebrate.
“… … They say that if you have too much humility, it can become poisonous.”
“This amount is not excessive, so it is not toxic.”
“is it so…….”
Is this just a minor achievement for Ethan?
Since the achievements are so small, do you think it is enough to show an ordinary, humble attitude?
Suddenly, Etning felt a little afraid of how great the prototype Ethan had brought would be.
It was the first time in my life that I was afraid of someone else’s business proposal.
“Don’t be too nervous, Etning. With Etning’s abilities, you should be able to do it. And if you’re lacking something, I’ll introduce you to the top to connect with.”
“What is the top to link to?”
“Now that we have a connection with Garnet Top, we can increase the scale even further with the help of Garnet Top.”
“Ah, you made a connection with Garnet’s upper class? Weren’t you concentrating on the Academy?”
The basics of being a merchant is managing your facial expressions.
Although Etning is now the top executive at the top, there was a time when she was also a peddler.
When you steal items and sell them, there are times when you have to hit them even though they are not worth the price, and on the contrary, there are times when you have to raise the price significantly because you can’t get it anywhere else.
The most important thing at that time was facial expression.
In order to gain the upper hand at the negotiating table, you had to maintain a calm expression at all times in order to take the initiative.
This is because this is the only way to get the maximum benefit.
In short, it would not be an exaggeration to say that facial expression management is a virtue and foundation of a merchant.
But now, it was quite difficult to control my facial expressions.
What is the top of the garnet?
The David top is so large that it can be called a target group, but isn’t the Garnet top even larger?
You made connections in a place like that.
“how…….”
“We have a good connection. More than that.”
Ethan naturally changed the subject.
“I brought a prototype.”
Since I already talked about special golems before, there was no need to explain further.
“Oh, this is the prototype.”
When Ethan took out the special golem, Etning’s eyes returned to their original merchant eyes.
Etting examined the special golem here and there to see if he could sell it to the nobles for a high price, as Ethan had said.
“hmm.”
Etting examined the golem for quite some time, then sat back down and looked at Ethan.
He looked calm, but his fingertips were shaking slightly.
“It smells like money. Very strongly.”
fantasy,
