Lord of Rot

In the fireplace, charcoal burned, crackling and popping.

Leech sat in a reclining chair, a fur blanket draped over his knees, feeling warm and cozy.

He was absentmindedly eating ice cream, a book in his hand.

He rarely came across books with female protagonists, so seeing this one was a refreshing change. The woman claimed to be from a distant land. She didn’t know which direction her home was, as she had lost all sense of direction on the great sea.

While crossing the ocean to reach the Lu Leiyi Continent, the ship she was on was attacked.

After the ship broke apart, the woman drifted, clinging to a wooden plank. She then washed ashore on an island shrouded in mist.

And then she arrived on the Lu Leiyi Continent.

”Hmm?”

Leech flipped through the pages, thinking he had accidentally skipped one.

No pages were stuck together, and none had been torn out. This meant that part of her experience was simply never written down in the first place.

Or perhaps it was intentionally omitted when the book was copied.

The rest of the story reverted to a cliché. Because she was exceptionally beautiful, a Prince from the Lu Leiyi Continent took a liking to her. He ignored the objections of the King and Queen and married her, making her his princess consort.

The old King soon passed away, and the woman became the new Queen.

But unexpectedly, the King of a rival nation also fell for her upon seeing her and declared war on her kingdom.

Leech practically skimmed the rest of the story.

An incomparably stunning woman, desired by one King and grand duke after another. They wanted nothing else but her.

At the drop of a hat... armies of several thousand.

In the end, this stunning Queen married fifteen different Kings over the course of her life.

Leech closed the book. ”It’s so absurd, but why do I feel like there’s a hint of truth to it?”

’A single person’s beauty starting years of war between nations... even a novelist probably wouldn’t dare write that. No one would believe it if they did.’

’Which is why it’s highly likely to be a true story.’

”Meow~”

Qingtian ran over and curled up on Leech’s lap.

This was the most comfortable place in winter. The warm fireplace could let a cat sleep soundly.

Just as Leech was petting the cat and dozing off, a piece of news arrived.

Someone had been injured—a broken bone, and burns as well.

The incident started in the smithy. A blacksmith who spent all day with Chuina got the idea to slap her butt and take advantage. Not one to be bullied, Chuina didn’t stand for it and kicked him, sending him flying. The man not only broke a bone but was also burned.

The Alchemist had already administered first aid, but the burn was too large. It would definitely leave an ugly scar, though it could be hidden by clothing.

After Leech heard about the incident, he gave a single order.

”He must be punished. From now on, he is forbidden from working in the smithy!”

’Despite my repeated warnings, someone still dared to harass a member of the opposite sex.’

’Or do they think that just because they’ve mastered the skill of smithing, even their Lord has to give them face?’

At the same time, another question formed in Leech’s mind. ’Why were there burns?’

He summoned the other blacksmith who had been present, along with Chuina.

”My Lord, I didn’t mean to kill him,” Chuina said, her eyes red. She had been in many fights, but she had never killed anyone.

”Don’t worry,” Leech comforted her. ”I already know what happened. He won’t die. However, you did injure him, so you will have to pay for part of his treatment. Of course, he will also be punished and will no longer be allowed to work in the smithy.”

Chuina nodded repeatedly. ”Yes, my Lord!”

She accepted this punishment; it would make her feel a little better.

Leech looked at the blacksmith and asked, ”What exactly happened?”

”Yes, my Lord!” The blacksmith honestly recounted the situation.

He gestured as he spoke. ”After Chuina got slapped, she was furious. She lifted her foot and kicked. I saw a flash of fire from the sole of her foot.”

”A flash of fire?” Leech was astonished.

”A flash of fire!” the blacksmith nodded. ”Just like the sparks that fly when a hammer strikes a red-hot piece of iron... and then, that’s what happened.”

Leech looked at Chuina. ”Chuina, come here.”

”Yes, my Lord.” Chuina obediently walked to Leech’s side.

Leech took her hand.

From a distance, he couldn’t sense it, but up close, he could detect that special feeling unique to a Transcendent.

Their very existence is on a higher level than that of an ordinary person.

Chuina’s current state was similar to that of the four Transcendent Knights who had followed Philip. They must have all just become Transcendents, as the change in their aura wasn’t particularly obvious.

’For Chuina to become a Transcendent just from smithing... that’s the most amazing part.’

’So talent really is a thing, huh? And I’m the one with none of it. But that’s fine, I can just use potions.’

”Go back and get Chuina’s hammer, and an iron ingot,” Leech said.

”Yes, my Lord!” The blacksmith nodded quickly and ran off.

「A while later, in the castle courtyard.」

In a cleared area, Leech said to Chuina, who was holding her hammer, ”Try to channel that same feeling from before—that anger, that urge to kick someone—and swing the hammer down!”

”Yes, my Lord!” Chuina swung the hammer, bringing it down hard on the iron ingot.

DONG!

The ground trembled slightly.

The manservants standing nearby, ordered to hold buckets of water at the ready to extinguish any fire, were startled.

’This female blacksmith is so strong!’

Leech, however, frowned slightly. In terms of strength, Chuina was decent; she could barely be considered a Transcendent.

’But where’s the flash of fire?’

He believed the fire was Chuina’s Extraordinary power.

He was different. His own Extraordinary power had no special characteristics; it was just immense strength and a tough body. Leech was quite satisfied with this ability. If he wanted any strange or exotic techniques, he could achieve them through Magic.

But a strong body and a powerful waist... Magic couldn’t help with that.

Chuina’s strength was far inferior to his own.

”Not angry enough,” Leech mused, then said, ”Adjust your emotions. Think about... how Fanong Gold abandoned you!”

Chuina’s eyes shot open, flames seeming to burn within her pupils.

Leech’s mouth twitched. After silently apologizing to Fanong Gold in his mind, he said, ”Yes, just like that! Strike!”

”Hah!” Chuina gripped the hammer with both hands and smashed it toward the iron ingot.

The head of the hammer suddenly glowed red-hot.

The surrounding temperature rose sharply.

WHOOSH!

The hammer in Chuina’s hands burst into flames. She now held a hammer wreathed in fire.

DONG! The hammer struck the iron ingot.

The unheated iron ingot was deformed by a single strike. The point of impact glowed red-hot, the intense heat visible to the naked eye.

A collective gasp came from behind Leech.

The terrified manservants all retreated in unison.

”Pour the water,” Leech said.

With their Lord’s command, they fearfully walked over and poured the water.

SSSSSSS—!

A cloud of white steam rose from the iron ingot and the hammer.

”My Lord, I...” Chuina was at a loss for words.

”You did very well!” Leech said. ”From today on, you will no longer work in the smithy.”

”Huh?”

”I have a new job for you,” Leech said after a moment’s thought. He turned to a manservant. ”Go to the warehouse and bring me a bone.”

”Yes, my Lord!”

A dragon bone was brought over. Leech said to Chuina, ”Try hitting this with the same feeling as before.”

”Yes, my Lord!” Chuina nodded.

After taking a deep breath, she swung the hammer and struck.

The dragon bone was not as fragile as the iron ingot.

But a clear crack was visible.

’After another try, it was certain. Chuina’s ability must be high-temperature forging. To be more precise... an Extraordinary Blacksmith!’