Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons

Tunner was quiet for a long time, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Finally, he walked over to a bench and sat down.

The wood creaked under his weight. He looked at Lylia with what could have been pity.

"I get why you came to me," he said, sounding calmer now. "You're afraid."

"You saw something horrible happen, and now you're running away here for some help, but Lylia, think about what you're saying."

"You want me to leave Ironhaven, abandon my family without protection, and go to Meridian immediately just because someone told me to?"

"I didn't run away," Lylia said, her voice shaking a little. "Lady Rosalina told me to go! She told me to do something!"

"Then finish it somewhere else," Tunner said. "Meridian has many Royal Knights."

"It has the king's personal guard, magical weapons, and defensive walls that have been there for hundreds of years."

"If they really needed the Elite Knights, they would have sent an official request through the right channels instead of sending a couple of refugees with a crazy story."

"We don't have time to go through the right channels!" Elwen said, her usual calm demeanor breaking. "That monster will have destroyed everything by the time the official summons gets there and is approved and processed!"

"Then maybe Meridian's defenses aren't as strong as everyone thought," Tunner said with a shrug. "But that's not Ironhaven's issue."

"I am responsible for this city and its people. I can't just leave because some strangers came by and made a threat that I can't prove."

Greg felt rage growing in his chest. This wasn't going anywhere.

Before they even finished explaining what was going on, Tunner had already made up his mind. He was going to stay in his training hall, sure that nothing could ruin his perfect view of the Royal Knights.

"All of those words coming out from your lousy mouth... I know damn well you're scared," Greg said all of a sudden, and he couldn't stop himself from saying it.

Tunner's head turned quickly toward him, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "What the fuck did you say?"

Greg said again, "You're scared," and now he was ready for the fight. "You talk about Lady Rosalina like she's unbeatable and the Royal Knights can handle anything."

"But you know that's not true deep down. You know that whatever could take Rosalina down could also take you down."

"So you're hiding out here, in your cozy station, telling yourself that the threat isn't real because admitting it would mean admitting you're not as strong as you think you are."

"You should be careful what you say," Tunner said as he stood up slowly. His full height was scary; it easily dwarfed Greg. "I've hurt men twice your size for less rude things."

"Then break me," Greg said, standing his ground. "Show me I'm wrong. Instead of hiding behind excuses, show me that you're really the warrior you say you are."

Lylia took hold of Greg's arm. "What are you doing, Greg?" she hissed. "You're making this worse!"

"I don't believe him," Greg said, not taking his eyes off Tunner. "That's all this is. Someone who is too scared to face a real challenge is just bluffing and showing off."

Greg could hear Tunner's teeth grinding because his jaw was so tight. There was a brief moment when it seemed like the Elite Knight might really attack. His hands turned into fists, and his muscles got tight.

Then he took a deep breath and opened his fists, but the anger didn't leave his eyes. "You think you can use cheap psychology to get what you want?"

"It makes me so mad that I agree to help just to show you you're wrong."

Greg said, "I think you need a reason to do something that doesn't require you to say you were mistaken."

"Here's one, then. You are an Elite Knight. That means something, doesn't it?"

"It means you should be better than the other knights. More powerful, faster, and better. But what's the point of all that strength if you never use it when it counts?"

Tunner said, "I use my strength to protect Ironhaven."

"From what?" Greg asked. "When was the last time Ironhaven had to deal with a real threat?"

"This city is surrounded by mountains that protect it, and the people who live there can fight underground if they need to."

"You're not keeping anyone safe here other than just living comfortably and telling yourself you're important."

Tunner growled, "You don't know anything about my duties."

Greg shot back, "I know you're wasting your potential."

"Lady Rosalina died fighting something that was going to kill thousands of people."

"She gave up her life because she knew it was important and that her death would mean something."

"What will your death mean, Tunner? That you were exceptional at hitting practice dummies?"

"That's enough!" Tunner's voice echoed through the hall. "How dare you come into my city and my station and tell me how to be responsible?! And about giving up?!"

"You, who wouldn't use your gifts to their fullest potential?! You, who turned your back on what you were supposed to do!?"

"Yes," Greg said without hesitation. "Because I learned something you don't seem to know."

"Being strong doesn't mean you're right. You can be good at something and still make mistakes."

"And if you don't help people in need just because it's hard or scary, you're a coward, no matter how many titles you have."

The silence that followed was so loud. Elwen had moved back toward the door, and Hammy was shaking on her shoulder. Lylia stood still, clearly torn between stopping the fight and letting it happen.

Tunner looked at Greg for a long time, and his face was hard to read. Then, little by little, a smile came to his face. Not a friendly smile, but the kind a predator gives before it attacks.

"You want me to come to Meridian?" Tunner asked.

"Yes," Greg said.

"Okay. I'm going. But only if one thing happens." Tunner walked over to his warhammer and picked it up with one hand, even though it was heavy. "You'll have to fight me."

"Right here, right now. I'll believe your story and go with you if you can hit me once. You leave Ironhaven and never come back if you can't."

Lylia said, "That's not fair, Tunner! Greg is not a fighter; he is a blacksmith!"

Tunner said, "He's the Warhammer Saint who came back to life like the Elf said."

"Someone with that much experience should know how to fight... Or was that all talk, too?"

Greg looked at the huge warhammer and then at Tunner, who was standing with confidence. This was actually a bad idea, he thought.

Tunner was an elite knight who had been training for years to fight. Greg had some experience from his past life, but he was in a new body now that worked differently. There was almost no chance that he would hit.

But they had no choice. It would be almost impossible to stop the Calamity without Tunner's help. Greg would have to try if this was what it took to get him to believe.

Greg said, "One hit. Is that all I need?"

"That's all you need," Tunner said. "If you really are as good as you think you are."

Greg turned on his Guardian's Oath shield, and the familiar weight settled on his arm. The shield's surface shone with energy from all the hits it had taken in the last few days. It wasn't a weapon, but it was something.

Greg said quietly, "Lylia, Elwen, move back."