CHAPTER 91: GIMLI STONEBREAKER [1]

"Hmm..." the voice said. "What are you humans doing here?"

’Why is he speaking as if he isn’t human?’ Kai cleared his throat and stepped forward, bowing his torso slightly. "I, Kaiser Vanguard, a humble mage of Noctis, greet the esteemed Gimli Stonebreaker."

The voice from the dead end lingered for a moment, then coughed. "At least you understand how to show respect."

He paused, as if assessing Kai. "But, you’re not a mage, are you?"

Kai raised his head slightly from his bowed position, his eyes narrowing. "Yes, I’m a psychic."

Kai didn’t need to see Gimli to know he was scowling. The crash of metal against stone confirmed it already. "What are you damn psychics doing here again?" he yelled. "Do you have a death wish? Don’t assume I’m any weaker than you."

’What did psychics ever do to him?’ Kai thought, but he knew the man wouldn’t answer even if asked.

Gimli was one of the unique characters in the novel; he wasn’t the most formidable in combat, but he could not only forge vestiges using mana cores, whether depleted or not, but also enhance the efficiency of any vestige he desired.

And the moment Kai heard his voice, his avarice surged. "I must have him." That was the only thought in his mind.

Gimli, on the other hand, could read Kai like an open book, because he wasn’t the first to attempt to claim him after meeting him, and they all had one thing in common: they were prana users.

Though the boy in front of him wasn’t yet a prana user, since Gimli could perceive the general mana used by most awakened still surrounding him, he could also sense that the boy was on the verge of awakening to prana.

’Damn prana bastards,’ he thought, slamming the control button in the dimly lit room illuminated only by several screens displaying the entire city. ’First that damn witch Roswell just had to come to this city, and on top of that...’

Gimli’s thoughts halted momentarily as he turned to Kai again. ’Now that I think about it, I can sense that witch’s prana on him. Not only that, he’s using her breathing technique.’

He swallowed hard, then spoke through the microphone. "Hey, kid."

Kai, still bent over, looked up again. "Yes, esteemed Gimli."

Gimli’s voice intensified, as if his anger was nearing a breaking point. He unclenched his fists and continued, "Are you perhaps the disciple of that witc... I mean the beauty: Elizabeth Rosewell?"

Kai’s gaze lingered on the wall, a faint smile tugging his lips. "Yes, I’m the only disciple of Elizabeth Rosewell."

From Gimli’s tone, Kai could easily tell that he wasn’t on good terms with Neko-sensei. He could’ve easily denied it, but something about disavowing his master didn’t sit right with him, no matter the situation. Plus, Neko-sensei would kill him if she found out.

Gimli’s voice rang out again, this time with significantly more irritation. "I knew that bitch would find me... Yeah, brat, did your master send you?"

Kai shook his head, eyes fixed on the ground. "No, esteemed one."

Gimli snapped. "I said cut the ’esteemed one’ nonsense already."

Still, Gimli couldn’t help but grin. ’Looks like she’s raising an even greater monster.’ He shook his head rapidly. ’What are you thinking? That’s your archnemesis.’

Regaining his composure, he spoke again. "So why did you come here?"

Kai answered without raising his head. "I have heard tales of your greatness, so I came to see if you could repair my vestige and assist with other matters."

Gimli’s eyes gleamed brightly as he examined Kai’s group through the screen. His gaze fixed first on Reozaki, whom he quickly identified as possessing one of the seven Titan-grade vestiges, most likely gifted to his clan by the king.

He nodded slightly, smiling, then nearly fell from his chair when he noticed what Matt carried in his soul sea. "A... a cosmic-grade vestige, and a sword, no less."

Gimli didn’t need to observe Matt long to deduce his identity and lineage. For the royal family of England, one of the Seven Powers, to entrust their illegitimate son with one of the world’s three cosmic vestiges... it was unprecedented.

Gimli narrowed his gaze, prompting Matt to raise his guard slightly. ’So he’s the cautious type.’

Even so, Gimli delved deeper before relaxing. "Seems it’s not one of the known three cosmic vestiges."

He sighed. "I must really be getting old, how could I get excited over mere..."

Before Gimli could finish, his thoughts collapsed entirely.

Beside Matt, at the center of the group, a radiant divine light blazed, causing him to squint.

Even he, renowned as the world’s finest blacksmith, had never seen such brilliance emanating from any weapon or artifact.

He covered his mouth with his small hand. "This is a Transcendent..." He halted his words abruptly. ’The walls have ears.’

He reactivated the microphone. "Hey, brats," he said, attempting to mask his excitement. "Was that the only reason you came?"

Kai grinned broadly but concealed it from the man.

Kai wasn’t foolish, nor was he someone who entered unfamiliar territory unprepared.

And since he dared to attempt recruiting Gimli, he naturally had a strategy. The fact that Gimli was traumatized by Neko-sensei, his master, though Kai didn’t know why, only worked in his favor.

But that alone wouldn’t convince the blacksmith to join him, which was why he’d allowed the man to glimpse his vestige.

Unlike Matt’s Bland Vales or Reozaki’s Yamamoto, Kai’s Star of Ruin was unique, something he could truly call divine.

It was also exactly what Gimli had been chasing all this time, the reason he kept relocating from one town to another.

According to the original plot, Matt was supposed to restrain Gimli using Bland Vales, but even a cosmic-grade vestige, only two ranks below the pinnacle, wasn’t enough to stop him, though he still chose to cooperate with Matt.

Then Kai had wondered: What would happen if, instead, Gimli laid eyes on a Transcendent-grade vestige, something he could only dream of?

The answer was obvious, he’d be unable to resist his artisan’s impulse. And unlike Matt, who had the royal family’s backing (which Gimli didn’t fear), Kai had the support of one of the few individuals the legendary blacksmith genuinely dreaded.

After a moment, he responded. "If you must know..." He stood upright, his gaze fixed on the small camera Gimli was sure he’d hidden well. "I want you, Gimli Stonebreaker..."

Kai took an unhurried step forward. "To become mine."

Gimli couldn’t suppress his grin. ’Damn brat knew exactly what he was doing.’