Girl Hero: Revenge on Goblins!-Chapter 340: D123. Moon Child

"...So that’s the situation."

The old factory manager stood before the Count, his expression a mix of embarrassment and shame. Despite the thoroughness and the objectivity in his detailed report, he couldn’t fully conceal his inner guilt.

After listening to the completion of the equipment forging, the Count, who had rushed over specifically, remained silent, his expression also complicated.

"This wasn’t your fault, but there’s no way to fix it now..."

The Count didn’t utter too much criticism, after all, his own expertise in Forging Science was not insubstantial, having studied and worked with the old factory manager on multiple occasions in his youth.

He was well aware of the complexity and unpredictability of high-level forging, so he didn’t make unreasonable demands like an outsider would.

Even so, his typically gentle tone carried a hint of displeasure,

"Even if the effect hasn’t degraded, but with this kind of appearance..."

Before finishing his sentence, a flicker of anger had already appeared in those wine-colored red eyes.

As the Count’s expression changed, an aura of pressure befitting a high-ranking individual spread out, making the air suddenly cold and heavy. The surrounding forging masters felt an intangible oppression and remained silent, not daring to make a sound.

The Count’s gaze fell on the already open Arcane Furnace Heart.

The equipment, crafted mainly from Corrupted Phoenix Feather, supplemented with Moon Ice Stone, combining Breeze Gem and other rare materials after neutralization and reaction into a fusion, lay quietly on the inner tray.

More accurately, it was floating several centimeters above the tray.

It was a collar.

A thick neckband showed a deep, pure black with a soft sheen, but its touch was actually cold and hard.

Embedded in the center of the collar was a crescent-moon-like pure white gemstone, surrounded by several smaller gemstones, emerald green crystal lines outlining patterns like flowing clouds, as if dancing under a black night sky.

The entire collar’s design was extremely exquisite, appearing like an artwork of stars surrounding the moon in a sea of emerald clouds.

Sensing the powerful magic contained within, it needed no introduction for even an illiterate mercenary to realize that this piece of equipment was extraordinary, its value inestimable.

However, the appearance of this collar was far from what the Hero and the Count had expected.

No matter how intricate the patterns on the collar or how powerful the magic, one couldn’t ignore its core design.

The black ring hanging in the front center and the overall style of the collar unmistakably revealed its intended original purpose.

—It was a Slave Collar.

[The Kingdom’s Slavery (30-history, 50-Black Gate, 75-recently abolished, 90-partial remnants, 90+serfdom, 95+currently ongoing)]

D100=d100(51)=51

[Wind Moon Night Rank7+]

Legendary Inherited Accessories, Slave Collar, Otherworldly Item.

Meticulously woven from the leftover feathers of a Corrupted Phoenix, adorned with gems of breeze, inlaid with ice stones from the moon.

The depraved sun and the fallen moon were cleverly connected by the power of the breeze, granting the wearer an extraordinary blessing.

Yet, because of absorbing human desires, the feathers shaped themselves to symbolize depravity, attempting to deny the wearer’s human dignity.

Despite its formidable power, the form symbolizing subjugation and shackles carried a deep mockery and irony.

Perhaps, this was the last small revenge of the Corrupted Phoenix.

Basic: Blessing of Steel Wind: Armor +40 (double effect for Negative Energy, Spiritual Magic), Agility +30.

Enchantment:

Depraved Wind: Pay 1000 Magic Power, while moving, accompany with D Agility damage reduction, obtain status: Aerial Dance Technique (200 per turn).

Moon Ice: Gains bonus during the casting of Ice, Moon, Space attribute magic, D30 extra damage on close combat.

Twin Eternal: Resurrection at night +1, upon death Moon Stone will shatter and start self-repair, meanwhile the moon attribute magic power will fill the damaged body, possibly temporarily transformed into Moon Demon (Vampire, Werewolf, etc.).

Special:

Emotional Affiliation: Charm +15, cannot be removed independently once worn, requires addressing someone as "master" to remove with another’s help. Forced removal requires LV75+.

→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←

Slavery.

For the kingdom, this was not a particularly unfamiliar term.

In fact, finding an older person on the border and asking about it would reveal that slaves legally existed in this nation until not too long ago.

If not afraid of offending others and getting hit, one might even find out they were once a slave.

It was a period of dramatic times when the kingdom underwent countless internal struggles and turmoil, ultimately successfully abolishing slavery, granting more people the freedom and opportunity to attain extraordinary powers.

However, for the Hero, slavery was nearly non-existent by her birth; all the servants at home were free citizens with identities, and the style of slave collars was even stranger to her.

Though remnants of slavery still lingered in adults’ memories, to the new generation, it might just be something out of a textbook.

Still, this nature of collar was considered taboo; even if it didn’t have enslaving spell chants, no one would wear it as a trendy accessory.

No matter how splendid its appearance, how powerful its function, the imagery representing enslavement and submission was firmly attached to its appearance, impossible to shake off.

Even if the collar itself was an invaluable treasure, its symbolic meaning complicated everything.

The factory manager’s shame and the Count’s anger were justified.

"This piece of equipment... with such a design, having Miss Hero wear it is truly disgraceful." The Count’s face grew more somber, his gaze filled with disappointment and anger.

"And using it in the upcoming ceremony might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings."

"It was my lack of consideration." The old factory manager lowered his head with a sigh, his heart filled with regret.

"No matter what, it cannot be used in the upcoming ceremony." After a long while, the Count’s expression calmed, and he sighed.

Since what was done was done, there was no use insisting.

The Count also understood that with this level of special material, accidents were hard to avoid, and excessively punishing the affected craftsmen was meaningless.

Although there would still be the necessary punishment.

"Hero, you’d better put it away for now; I’ll think of a way to compensate you." The Count said to the Hero, who was staring absentmindedly at the collar.

[Hero’s Concern]

D100=d100(87)=87

Looking at the amazingly exquisite collar before her, the Hero’s cheeks were slightly red, filled with hesitation.

If it meant gaining powerful strength to destroy more Goblins, she wouldn’t care about any shame—though she never really thought that way.

With multiple experiences of running through the wild in her birthday suit, she thought herself quite shameless for a girl, so much so that when expelled from her home, she couldn’t utter a single retort.

But now, looking at the collar meant for connecting chains, thinking of the unthought-out dressing beneath the masochist’s robe during earlier battles, the Hero realized she was still too naive, too unknowing.

Were adults really this Yin... open?

"Hero... Miss Hero?"

Immersed in her uncontrollably scattered thoughts, the Hero snapped back only after the Count called her twice.

"Ah, yes!"

"For now, you’d better put this accessory away; this failure also has elements of our oversight, so I’ll think of a solution." The Count nodded towards the Hero, his expression quite helpless, offering additional care to the daughter’s dear friend, the hero of the border.

Even if it was merely a similar style, he just couldn’t accept the image of the Hero wearing a Slave Collar.

But Moon Ice Stone, a material already deemed strategic, wasn’t plentiful even in the Count’s collection.

A treasure of such caliber was hard to measure in conventional monetary terms, let alone the Phoenix Feather of even greater worth.

Forging a collar with materials of such immeasurable value wouldn’t be found anywhere in the kingdom’s history of slavery.

Considering only the design changed, while the quality of the enchantment remained unparalleled, crafting a piece of equivalent Legendary Inherited Equipment would be a massive undertaking for the Count Mansion.

The Hero gazed at the Arcane Furnace, showing minor cracks under magical impact, recalling the stream of rare auxiliary materials poured into it,

"No, it’s alright... although the design is rather strange, wearing it only during battles would mean not many people would see it..."

From the Hero’s knowledge, Goblins also practiced enslaving humankind, but it was far from proper slavery, more like animal husbandry.

Generally, Goblins wouldn’t view their captives as labor and tools like a Slave Master would, but rather, food and toys.

This seemed evil, but it truthfully reflected this magic creature’s nature of primitive ignorance as they didn’t understand utilizing livestock for farming or breeding for stable food production.

This meant the likelihood of Goblins forming civilization or society was slim, so even though they maintained a humanoid form, they were still magic creatures, not Demons.

Even with a collar, Goblins wouldn’t have human-like thoughts when seeing it on the hero.

Nonetheless...

The Hero hesitantly picked up the silently floating collar.

[Would you like to try it on? (8=+yes)]

D10=d10(3)=3

Whatever her experience of disrobing, it was merely passive adaptation, entirely different from actively choosing to wear the collar.

In the end, she didn’t try on this invaluable Legendary Inherited Necklace but stored it safely and left the forging factory with the Count amidst others’ looks of regret and pity.

Some of those gazes were aimed at the collar, and some at the Hero’s snow-white neck.

After the Hero walked far away, the old factory manager’s angry roar finally erupted.

"How can you forge a collar, a Slave Collar, for a border hero! It’s utterly ridiculous! Do you all want me to retire and hit the dirt now, and be cursed for old indecency in my grave!?

"Are you all oblivious to your own willpower? Can’t you cast a Mind Defense Spell before handling such materials? Does that have to be taught!?

"Those feathers and ice stones, exchanged for gold coins, could fill half the factory! To replace them during slavery, selling you all wouldn’t be enough!

"Starting next week, have the church’s priest come here! This conduct is disgraceful! I need to hammer out those impurities in your brains!"

Though normally inaudible at such a distance, the faint sound reached the Hero’s sharp perception and hastened her steps.

She knew she truly lost nothing; the Phoenix Feathers were collected with the soldiers’ help, the other materials and costs wholly borne by the Count; all she needed to do was spend a few days exerting magic power.

Nevertheless, she felt forging her a collar did seem quite ludicrous...

After all, she’d been assisting in the process, naturally having high hopes.

Collar... powerful equipment... kill Goblins... but collar...

Even as she sat in the Chocobo Cart, the Hero’s face remained conflicted, prompting words of comfort from the Count seated opposite.

"Let’s set this matter aside for now; dwelling on it does no good, also—"

1. Grandpa has arrived ♛

2. The potion concoction succeeded ♛

3. Nightmare traced signs were discovered

4. Snow Woman and White Snake arrived

5.1

6.2

7.3

8.4

9. Ritual for Summoning Curse Demon is ready

10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure

2d10=d10(1)+d10(5)

[Same option +1 continuation, and extra judgment, did the village chief grandma come?]

1. Yes ♛

2. No

D2=d2(1)=1

"Moreover, with the award ceremony imminent, you are soon to become a very busy person, and there’s much to prepare." The Count reclined into the soft backrest, smiling.

As the Chocobo Cart gradually slowed, the Hero, realizing they were no longer near the Count Mansion, blinked in surprise.

But soon, noticing a familiar presence, her face bloomed with a joyful smile.

"Grandpa!"

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