RLPE Chapter 24

“Is there a color you like?”

“Not particularly.”

He nodded, but his reaction was lukewarm. He seemed puzzled as to why I was getting excited over something so trivial. However, I didn’t let that deter me.

‘That’s right. When showing sincerity, handmade is the best.’

Looking around the weapon shop, most of the swords had plain leather cords attached to them. I picked out several colors.

“Let’s get this brown cord, the purple one, and the gray one. Three of each, please.”

“Miss, you only need one cord for the sword. Why are you buying three?”

“I have a use for them. How much will all of this be?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll just give it to you.”

Perhaps because he had secured such a large contract with the Grey family, the shopkeeper was feeling generous. But that wouldn’t do. I needed to show my sincerity.

“I hate freeloading the most.”

In my past life, I was known as a mooch, but that’s beside the point. This is different.

“So please, take the proper payment. Otherwise, you’re looking down on the Roha family.”

The shopkeeper jumped at the mention of the Roha family name. It seemed that even commoners knew of our not-so-illustrious family.

“Oh, well, if you insist…”

The price the shopkeeper quoted was less than one silver. I paid with a smile.

“Keep the change.”

Contrary to my plan to show off my wealth, the shopkeeper gave me more leather cords than I had paid for, in the colors I had chosen. I ended up getting more than I had calculated. I couldn’t refuse the shopkeeper’s sincerity.

With a heartfelt thank you, we left the weapon shop.

“Now, on to the next course!”

I put the leather cords in my bag and smiled brightly.

* * *

“Take it out! Take it out!”

“Even if you say that all of a sudden…”

“Oh, why is it so hard? What should I do?”

“Wait. Slow down.”

“Don’t slow down! Don’t slow down and take it out! I told you to take it out!”

If anyone heard this conversation, they would misunderstand 100%, 1000%. If only one of us knew what we were talking about, we wouldn’t be having this embarrassing conversation in a crowded café!

People passing by looked at us with puzzled expressions, but Armin Grey and I were focused on making the knot.

“No, you have to take this string out and put it over there.”

God is fair. Although he was handsome, from a great family, skilled in swordsmanship, and capable, he couldn’t have it all.

He was truly clumsy. No matter how much I explained, he couldn’t make the knot.

“Never mind, just hold the string. I’ll tie it.”

Everyone has their strengths. I was good at making knots, but my diligence and sincerity stats were at 0. This was true in my past life as well. Taking a leather crafting class online was something only a person with no hobbies, like me, would do.

After making a few flat braids, I hadn’t done it since. But seeing the leather cord brought back those memories.

To make a knot, you need to pull the string tightly. I thought he would be good at it because he was strong, but no matter how many times I showed him, Armin Grey couldn’t follow along. I laughed at his helplessness.

“Is this really that hard?”

“…One more time. No, two more times.”

“We’ve done this at least ten times already.”

“So, two more times.”

“Okay. Just hold the string. I’ll tie it.”

I was glad I didn’t use all the strings the shopkeeper gave us. I took out a new string and put it in his hand.

“Here. You can hold it tightly, right?”

Armin Grey was a quick judge of situations. He put down the tangled leather string and held the new cord tightly with his hand.

Pride seemed to be at stake, so I reassured him.

“The most important thing when making a knot is that the starting point doesn’t move. It’s really important, so please do it well.”

It wasn’t a lie. Unlike making a bracelet with soft silk, the leather cord was tough and required more strength.

Armin Grey nodded. Seeing his serious expression, I secretly smiled.

“Now! Hold it and when I make the knot, turn it around tightly. And then hold the starting point again, and I’ll make the knot. Got it?”

“If I can’t make this, my head will spin.”

“I understand. This line goes up, that one goes down,  now put that string into this loop.”

Division of labor was indeed a wise choice. After an hour of no progress, the knot finally started to take shape.

The knot I loosely tied became firmly secured in Armin’s hands, as if it had been pulled by a machine in a factory.

Simple labor has a calming effect. Memories of my past life came flooding back. Dot-to-dot, sticker pasting, calligraphy. The hobbies that I enjoyed.

“Done!”

It was worthwhile to learn the advanced knot craft class. After neatly finishing the knot and attaching the cord to the sword on the table, I asked, “How is it?”

My voice sounded quite proud, even to my own ears. Armin Grey picked up the sword, examined it, and nodded.

“I like it.”

“Right? You can’t find this anywhere else. It’s handmade.”

My tone became boastful. These people wouldn’t know about traditional Korean knots.

“I chose the gray to represent the Grey family and the purple to match your eye color. It has meaning.”

“What about the brown?”

“That’s obviously me.”

Of course, it was obvious.

“I made it, didn’t I? So, I chose the colors I liked. What’s wrong with that?”

I found myself speaking sharply without realizing it. The simple labor had somehow eased my mind.

Whether as a celebrity or an ordinary person, everyone has two eyes, one nose, one mouth, and two ears. He was just a good-looking guy, not someone terrifying or boring.

“Now that we’ve finished, should we get up and go?”

I dusted off my skirt with a satisfied feeling. Glancing at the clock in the café, I realized it was well past lunchtime. I had been so focused on making the knot that I hadn’t noticed I was hungry. Simple labor has a strange power to make you oblivious.

I felt that my sincere efforts to make up for my mistakes were sufficient. He had obtained a sword comparable to the world’s finest, secured an exclusive contract, and made a unique traditional knot.

The thing I hate most in the world is feeling indebted. I don’t like being harmed, but I also don’t like harming others.

Although it had been bothering me, now it wasn’t. Unlike me, who felt relieved and stood up, Armin Grey had a somewhat sullen expression and didn’t get up from his seat.

“Why are you like that?”

“Where are you going?”

I was taken aback, thinking he was asking something obvious, but I kindly replied.

“Obviously, I’m going home. Why?”

“Are we only making one knot?”

What is wrong with this person?

“Then how many do you want me to make? One is enough, right?”

“I have one at home too.”

“What do you have?”

“A sword.”

“Is that sword made by that famous blacksmith, Baltazar? Does that one need a new cord too?”

Armin Grey nodded. I had no choice but to sit back down. It felt a bit strange, but I nodded and sat back down. I took out another string from my bag. The shopkeeper had given us so many that even after discarding the failed ones, there were still plenty left.

Swish, swish. The new string smoothly went in and out of the loop. Having done it once, we quickly got the hang of it, and the process became familiar. Every time our fingers brushed, I felt a strange sensation, but I tried to ignore it.

“Hey, do I have something on my hands?”

Ugh, I washed my hands and everything. But every time I thought that, he would still flinch away when our hands touched.

“Done! Now you can attach this to Baltakar’s sword too, right?”

“Baltazar.”

“Whatever. Now let’s really go. I’m hungry.”

Looking at the clock again, it was already past 3 PM. The café, which had been empty during lunchtime, was now crowded with people. I hated crowds and wanted to go home quickly. But Armin Grey remained motionless.

“Shall we go home?”

“There’s still more.”

“More? More strings?”

Armin Grey nodded.

“Do you need it? I’ll give you all of it if you need it.”

“My father.”

“Your father? Duke Grey?”

Why is he suddenly bringing up his father? What was he talking about? But Armin Grey’s expression didn’t change as he said something unexpected.