"This much magical power?! The recovery item will go haywire!"

"Sofia-sama, please stop! It's dangerous! Don't do anything reckless!"

The unprecedented use of recovery magic caused a stir among those present.

However, it was Yuan who showed a look of astonishment in that state.

"That is―...can it be... controlled...?"

"Yeah. My recovery tool... the greatest thing in the world."

Sofia momentarily thought of Darius's face and softened her expression. She rarely shows any change in her usual expression, but when it comes to Darius, her face becomes more relaxed.

Sofia squeezed Lilith's hand tightly and chanted a healing spell.

The recovery magic immediately flowed into Lilith's body, healing her wounds with perfect precision.

The light emanating from the bracelet enveloped Lilith's entire body, healing her wounds and replenishing her lost vitality.

All the healers in the hospital room stared wide-eyed, as if witnessing something unbelievable, and were astonished by the scene.

"The wound... is healing!"

"T-that's impossible...!"

"I have never seen such powerful recovery magic before...!"

"Besides, there's no recovery item that can withstand that healing magic..."

"W-who in the world forged this...?!"

Life quickly returned to Lilith's pale face, and a healthy flush spread across her cheeks.

Beneath the unsightly bandage on her chest, it rapidly regenerates, and the deep, gouged scar disappears as if it had never been there in the first place.

The shallow breaths deepened into a calm, gentle snore. And the expression that had been contorted in pain began to transform into a peaceful smile.

The healers muttered words of surprise, and some rubbed their eyes, checking again and again.

At the sight, the Duke's son, who had been watching intently from the side, swallowed hard and spoke to Sofia with an incredulous expression.

"Did she... heal...?"

His voice trembled, and he seemed unsure. Sofia nodded quietly while calming the light emanating from the bracelet.

"With this, the wound is healed. I think Lilith will wake up once she recovers her strength."

At those words, the Marquis's son's eyes widened,

"Th-this is the power of the Saint, is it...?"

He muttered in a dazed voice.

It was then. Lilith slowly opened her eyes. A gentle light shone in her eyes.

"...Where is this?"

"This is Ernest General Hospital in the royal capital... Are you feeling better now?"

When Sofia gently asked, Lilith slowly blinked a few times and shifted as if checking her own body.

"No... problem... at all. My body feels incredibly... light..."

Lilith said that, and Sofia nodded.

"That's good. However, you should still rest. It will take some time for all the damage to heal completely. And everyone, please move to the patient room. I will take it from here."

"W-we understand!"

At Sofia's command, the healers present immediately sprang into action as if awakened from their surprise. As preparations for the transfer steadily progressed, Yuan spoke in a trembling voice.

"Sofia-sama... m-may I ask you a question...?"

"What is it?"

"...The way you controlled your magic earlier... Sofia-sama, your skill was truly impressive… However, that recovery tool is so resilient that even your power couldn't break it... Where did you acquire it?"

His gaze was once again fixed on "Deneb," which was shining on Sofia's right arm. The bracelet was quietly radiating its light as if nothing had happened, even after the miraculous recovery magic just now.

At that moment, Lilith, who was scheduled to be transferred to a new hospital room, followed Yuan's words with a weak but clear voice.

"I... was also curious. I understood that my own injuries were quite severe… I also use recovery magic, so I have a little understanding of how amazing that bracelet is. Sofia-sama, could you tell me about it?"

Lilith's question was filled with curiosity and pure surprise.

(...Maybe everyone will get to know about Darius.)

In Sofia's mind, the shared dream of the three sisters flashed: to allow Darius to freely practice blacksmithing in the royal capital.

This was the perfect opportunity to let everyone here and now know how amazing Darius is. Sofia replied with a gentle smile, but clearly and firmly.

"This recovery tool was made by my father, Darius."

"Oh, your father... is it? ...However, I have never heard of a magic blacksmith with that name..."

"Yeah. Darius is outside the barrier, doing some blacksmithing."

"""Outside the barrier?!"""

The word "outside the barrier" that came from Sofia's mouth caused Yuan, as well as Lilith and the others present, to exclaim in surprise.

It was probably because it was an extraordinary story that a magic blacksmith who created the miraculous recovery tool that saved Lilith's life was in a dangerous area where monsters ran rampant and no decent person would ever approach.

"Wh-what? A magical blacksmith like that outside the barrier... What an extraordinary story..."

As Yuan muttered in surprise, Sofia nodded with a hint of satisfaction.

Because she felt it was because Darius's power was praised.

At that time.

Unaware of the hustle and bustle around him, deep within the remote forest, Darius was alone in a dimly lit workshop, sweating as he worked with iron.

"―Alright. It's looking good, it's looking good...!"

The red light of the blazing furnace illuminates his serious profile. Each time he swung the hammer in his hand, it went kang! Kee-ing! A powerful, rhythmic metallic clang echoed through the workshop, and sparks flew out vigorously.

The heat, the smell of iron, and Darius's own sweat mingled, filling the workshop with the passion and concentration of the craftsmen.

"...More, show me more of your true power!"

Muttering to himself, as if speaking to a trusted partner, he occasionally adjusted the furnace's heat and skillfully operated the bellows. Every movement was efficient, showcasing years of honed skill and natural intuition. His eyes were filled with a pure sense of curiosity and a deep affection for the material before him.

(Ah, this iron heartbeat. The echo of this hammer blow is irresistible. It's like the iron is shouting back at me... Yes, let's get to know each other more and more.)

He was so focused he forgot to breathe, swinging his hammer with unwavering dedication. For him, blacksmithing was a job, a hobby, and the very reason for his existence. To bring out the full potential of unknown materials and create the best tools that would be useful to someone. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that was the entire reason Darius continued blacksmithing alone in this remote land.

He didn't know much about it.

What kind of remarkable achievements are his daughters making in the royal capital, and how much attention is the equipment attracting that is just like the amulets he made?

And the fact that his name was just beginning to become known throughout the kingdom was something he was completely unaware of at that moment.

"I can see it now... what you want to become… If you're serious, I will go all out too...!"

The workshop is filled with the powerful sound of hammering and the occasional joyful laughter.

In a quiet corner of the world, a blacksmith who loves forging, day in and day out, earnestly confronts iron and his heart leaps with the joy of new creation.

However, he had no way of knowing yet that his daily life, along with his three daughters, was about to start rolling in a completely unexpected direction.

Chapter 10