CH 183.1

In the western part of the Ost continent, there lies the capital of the Empire, the Imperial Capital.

『A giant sand-colored starfish spreading itself out on the plain』

If a bird flying in the sky saw it, it might have thought so.

Incidentally, the color of the building is uniformly sand-colored because of the abundance of stone produced in the area.

A palace of the same sand-color rises in the center of the Imperial Capital.

In a luxurious golem carriage that stepped out of the palace, a middle-aged woman with a chiseled face was holding her head with her hands.

(This is bad, this is really bad. I have to do something)

She is the one who’s in charge of the Imperial Blacksmith Guild.

In order to compete with the Ghost Knight of the Kingdom, she is required to create knights that are equal or better than the Kingdom’s Ghost Knight.

However, unable to report desired results, the emperor’s gaze towards her is growing more severe.

「…We’re going to the black smith guild. Get ready」

Immediately after returning to the mansion from the round table conference, the middle-aged woman with a square jaw orders her aides.

She was prepared to go into the field and take direct command.

(I can’t leave it to that man anymore)

The figure of a fat, middle-aged man floated in her mind. He was the guild master of the Imperial Blacksmith Guild.

「The preparation is completed, we are ready to leave anytime」

Upon receiving the report, the middle-aged woman with a chiseled face left the room.

Along with two of her aides, a black golem carriage rumbled down the center of the main street. The townspeople pulled over their golem carriages to the roadside while wondering what’s up with the black golem carriage.

***

On the other hand, in the Imperial Blacksmith Guild.

It is located in the Imperial Capital, but it is some distance away from the Royal Palace.

「Clean and tidy up the place first! And get those faded signs back on!」

Since it was supposed to be an unannounced inspection, they began to prepare the route for the inspection tour for the time being.

The Kingdom’s flagship Knight, the 『Sheltered Girl』 which was captured during the Landbarn Battle, was in the middle of being analyzed. The analysis work on it was suspended and every manpower was put to work on that.

「Vice guild master, Your Excellency is calling」

The vice guild master was checking the condition of the handrails and floorboards. He turned around when a voice called out to him from behind.

「All right, I’ll be right there」

He wiped his face with a towel and followed the staff.

(Why am I even getting called in when the guild master is present?)

With that in his mind, he stepped through the door opened by the staff and into the guild master’s office.

In the center of the room, there was a luxurious desk for the guild master. The usual burly, middle-aged man was not there.

Instead, there was a middle-aged woman with a square jaw who was called Her Excellency.

「There’s a question I want to ask you」

As soon as he saw the vice guild master, Her Excellency asked him a question in a harsh tone.

「Why is the Blacksmith Guild unable to create a Knight that surpasses the Ghost Knight?」