Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 197. The Truth Unveiled

The noise of the city coming back to life slowly broke the silence that followed. People coming out of shelters after the storm.

Healers walking among the hurt. Families crying tears of joy as they got back together. Even though Greg’s world felt like it had stopped, it kept going.

They put the hammer in the ground where Hammy had died. After what the slime did to protect it, it felt wrong to use such a powerful object for anything else.

Veldway wanted to say that the weapon should be kept, studied, and used to help rebuild, but when he saw Greg’s face, he kept quiet. So they made a small hole in the rubble, put the famous Breaker’s Resolve inside, and covered it with stones they found in the wreckage of the Calamity. A grave for a hero who deserved so much more than broken things.

...

Three days later, the ceremony took place.

Given the destruction, Meridian had gotten itself together surprisingly quickly. In the areas that weren’t as badly damaged, temporary shelters had been built.

There were now supply lines in place. People were identifying the dead and getting them ready for burial. And in the central square, which had somehow stayed mostly the same, a memorial was being built.

Greg stood in front of it wearing clean clothes that didn’t quite fit right. His prosthetic arm was fixed enough to work, but it would never shine as brightly again.

The First Hammer’s power was limited, and making the Breaker’s Resolve used up most of what was left. But it worked, which was the most important thing.

There was a stone wall with names carved into it that served as the memorial. There are so many names.

People who had died in the first attack. The list included guards who lost their lives while securing evacuation routes.

Civilians caught in the middle of a fight. And at the very top, in letters bigger than the rest, were two names that stood out above all the others.

Hilda Hearthmine.

Hammy.

"It’s not enough," Greg said quietly, looking at Hammy’s name.

They had talked about what to put. There was never a last name or title for the slime. Only Hammy. Simple, clean, and just right. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"No memorial is ever perfect," Marina said as she stood next to him.

She had been by his side for the last three days, leaving only when she had to. She made sure he ate on time, got enough sleep, and didn’t completely lose it.

"But it’s what we can do." It’s how we remember.

There were more and more people coming together. The ceremony was about to start. Greg saw the Brotherhood gathering near the front.

They all looked worn out but alive. Rosalina stood with other Royal Knights who had made it through the battle.

Tunner was taller than everyone else, and his presence was a wall of stability. Veldway stayed on the edges, clearly not at ease with the crowd but still there.

The King of Meridian himself had come to the front row. King Anthony, who had barely made it out of the palace during the first attack and had seen his city almost fall, now stood in front of his people with a crown that looked too heavy for his head.

"People of Meridian," the King said, and magic made his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "We’re here today to honor those who gave their lives to keep us safe from the Calamity."

"To honor those who died! To honor the heroes who kept us from being wiped out!"

At first, the applause was scattered, but as people realized what was going on, it grew into a roar. The Brotherhood was being asked to come up on stage.

They climbed the steps one at a time. Greg. Marina. Lylia. Tunner. Veldway. Seraphine was still weak but insisted on going. Bork. Elwen. Felix. Donetta. Look. Even Rosalina, who said she had failed in her duty,

Greg felt more exposed than he had at any other point in the battle as they stood in a line facing the crowd. This was not the same as fighting.

People were witnessing and acknowledging this moment. They called him a hero, despite his belief that he had failed in numerous ways.

The King continued, "These courageous individuals confronted overwhelming challenges and triumphed. They killed the Calamity."

"They let the souls that were stuck go. They saved our land. It is my honor to officially name them Heroes of Meridian, which gives them all the rights and privileges that come with that title."

More clapping and cheering came that made people cry because they were happy and thankful. Greg looked around the crowd and saw some familiar faces.

The merchant whose family they had saved during the evacuation. The child who had been stuck in the Calamity’s walls was freed and brought back to her parents.

The guard who lived even though he lost his arm, and so many lives were saved. Many people went home to their families because the Brotherhood had fought and stood up.

The king told Greg to come forward. "And you, Greg Greyson, the Blacksmith Who Forged Bonds, the Warhammer Saint Redeemed, are now the Champion of Peace."

"Your belief in creating instead of destroying, and in tools that help instead of hurt, has been tested in the worst possible way. The crown thanks you for your help by giving you land, a title, and the eternal gratitude of Meridian."

Greg walked up to the podium and stood there for a moment, not knowing what to say. How could he possibly sum up everything that had happened?

Everything they had lost? What had they learned? Then he saw Veldway in the line of heroes. The master craftsman’s face was twisted with guilt and secrets, and Greg knew what he had to say.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Greg said, his voice loud enough to be heard in the square. "And thank you to everyone here for your kind words and recognition."

"But... before we celebrate too much and call this a complete victory, I need to tell you all something. A truth that has been kept secret for too long."

He could tell that the mood was changing and that the crowd was getting nervous. The king’s face got tighter.

Rosalina shut her eyes like she knew this was going to happen. Veldway straightened up and got ready.

Greg went on, "The Calamity wasn’t just a random disaster."

"It was made by someone who had found out a horrible secret."

"A secret about the peace we’ve all been living in. We need to bring this secret to light if we want to really move forward."