Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 203. The Blacksmith’s Chaotic Peaceful Life

The next morning was bright and clear, with the sun shining through the trees and painting the camp in gold. When Greg woke up, he saw that both Marina and Lylia had moved closer during the night, and their bedrolls were almost touching his.

Marina’s arm was around his chest. Lylia’s head was resting on his shoulder.

He was stuck.

Trapped in every way possible.

He also desperately needed to use the restroom.

Greg’s horror grew as he realized that this was a preview of his whole future.

He whispered "Help" to the whole universe.

Felix opened one eye from his bedroll, looked around, gave Greg a thumbs up, and then rolled over and went back to sleep.

There was no help coming.

Greg accepted his fate and tried to figure out how to get out without waking either woman.

He failed in a big way.

Marina mumbled, "Mmm, good morning," but didn’t move her arm. "Soft pillow."

"Greg?" Lylia blinked awake and then seemed to realize where her head was.

She turned bright red. "Oh gods, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—"

Greg quickly said, "It’s fine," even though his shoulder was completely numb and his bladder was getting frustrated.

"That’s fine... very at ease."

"J-Just need to... um... nature calls."

"Oh!" Both women hurried back, looking embarrassed.

Greg stood up, and his legs didn’t like it. He stumbled toward the trees, trying to get blood flow back to his arm.

He heard Marina’s voice behind him, warm and funny. "So this is how mornings are going to be now."

"Apparently," Lylia said, and she was laughing. "We should probably fix the sleeping arrangements."

"Definitely," Marina said. "However, we can address it when we return to Ferndale."

"And after we’ve had some coffee... because everyone knows that after a good ol’ cup of coffee, everything is going to be better."

Greg took care of his business and went back to camp, where the rest of the Brotherhood was waking up. Bork was already looking at the Eternal Engine and mumbling about how the fuel crystals were lined up.

Seraphine was doing some kind of meditation that involved ice crystals that floated. Elwen was drawing the sunrise in the morning.

Felix and Donetta were having what looked like a very serious talk about what to have for breakfast.

Mira had gotten strong enough to help Lylia start making a simple meal with what they had left.

It was messy, homey, and just right.

Bork yelled, "Okay, everyone," after they had eaten and packed up camp.

"We should get to Ferndale by late afternoon if we hurry... and of course, before something else attacks us or the universe sends us another disaster, let’s get going."

"Don’t jinx it," Marina said.

"I’m a dwarf," Bork said. "We don’t think jinxes are real."

"We believe in keeping our equipment in good shape and being overly paranoid."

Felix said, "That’s pretty much the same thing as jinxes."

"Shut the fuck up and get in the carriage."

"Language, bruh."

They loaded up and left, and the Eternal Engine hummed happily as it drove them home. Greg was once again sitting between Marina and Lylia, which, it seemed, would be his permanent spot for now.

He realized that he didn’t care as much as he probably should have.

"So," Marina said as Ferndale got closer. "How do we tell everyone about this when we get back?"

She waved her hand around the three of them.

"Should we say something?" Lylia asked with worry. "Just let people figure it out for themselves?"

"Act like nothing has changed? People are going to notice," Seraphine said from the other side of the carriage, not looking up from her book.

"The village isn’t very big."

"Word will get around in a few hours. And if people ask us questions, maybe we should just act normal and answer them honestly?" Greg said.

"Normal," Marina said again. "Yes... because our situation is so normal."

"That’s normal for us," Greg said.

"That’s a good point."

...

Greg’s heart lifted as he saw the familiar sights of Ferndale. The village had changed a lot since he first got there.

It had gone from a struggling farming community to a thriving town. This was partly because of the wealth his SSS-rank items had brought and partly because the Brotherhood’s presence had drawn in other craftspeople, merchants, and adventurers.

The Guardian Reborn stood in the village square, its huge body a comforting sight. People in the village went about their business.

Kids played in the streets, merchants sold their goods, and farmers took care of their fields.

Home.

At last, they’re finally home.

The Eternal Engine rolled into the village square, and people quickly came up to it, saying hello and asking questions. Greg saw people he knew, people he’d helped with tools and other things, and villagers who had become friends over the months he had lived here.

"Hey, Greg! You’re back!"

"Did you really beat the Calamity?!"

"We heard that Meridian was almost destroyed!"

"Are you okay? You look different!"

That last one was probably about his prosthetic arm, which was pretty clear even though it was covered by his sleeve.

Bork stopped the carriage, and the Brotherhood got out to a chorus of cheers and questions. Greg tried to answer them all at once, but the words came out in a jumbled mess that didn’t make any sense.

Then someone noticed that Marina and Lylia were standing very close to him, one on each side.

"Greg," old man Thomas the farmer said slowly, with a smile on his face. "Did you get a second girlfriend while you were saving the world?"

Everyone in the square stopped talking.

Greg’s brain went haywire.

Marina began to laugh while Lylia’s face turned red like a tomato.

"Yup," Marina told the whole village, because she didn’t seem to care at all. "He clearly did have a second one this time."

"We’re letting him go, and it’s not easy."

"We are working on it."

"Do you have any questions?"

The quiet lasted for about three seconds before the whole village square went crazy.

Greg wanted to kill himself.

Marina was still laughing.

Lylia looked like she wanted to disappear into the ground.

Felix was writing things down. "Welcome home, Sensei," Felix said with a smile.

"Your peaceful, quiet life goes on just as you thought it would."

Greg groaned and thought about running away and living alone in the mountains.

Most likely.

The Brotherhood was their home.

And somehow, even with everything that had happened, that was where they belonged.

Despite the fact that everyone in the village was now discussing Greg’s romantic life, they still felt a sense of belonging.

He thought that some things were bound to happen.

He looked at Marina, who was answering questions from curious villagers with way too much excitement. He then glanced at Lylia, who was attempting to conceal herself behind him while simultaneously holding his hand.

Yes.

This was his new life.

And to be honest?

He wouldn’t change anything.

Well, maybe he’d change the part where everyone in the village was talking about his love life in enormous detail.

Everything else was excellent, though.

Mostly.

At least it’s good enough.

The Peace Champion had come home.

And the chaos was just starting.

...

The first week back in Ferndale was supposed to be calm. Greg had thought that his mornings in the workshop would be quiet, that he would have simple meals with the Brotherhood, and that he would have a few days off before getting back to work.

As usual, reality had other plans.

On their third morning back, Marina said, "So," while leaning against the doorframe of the workshop with her arms crossed and a dangerous smile on her face.

She was leaning against the doorframe of the workshop with her arms crossed and a dangerous smile on her face. "When are you going to take me on a real date?"

Greg looked up from the breakfast that Lylia had just put in front of him. The eggs were cooked just right, the bread was perfectly toasted, and things were getting more and more complicated.

Lylia stopped pouring from the teapot for a moment, her face showing a mix of worry and amusement. "Marina... he just got back."

"How about letting him get used to things for a few days?"

Marina said, "We’ve been settling in for three days. And in those three days, Greg has reorganized his tools twice, helped Bork fix the fuel intake system on the Eternal Engine, built a new ventilation system for your restaurant kitchen, and spent almost no time actually going on a date with either of us."

Greg weakly said, "I’ve been busy."

"You’re always busy," Marina said. "That’s the issue."

"You are the Champion of Peace who saved Meridian from the Calamity, beat an apocalypse of living weapons, and still thinks the most important thing to do is sort your hammers by weight and handle length."

Greg said, "It’s important to be organized."

"If I can’t quickly find the right tool, it slows down my work."

Marina said firmly, "Your work can wait one evening."

"Tonight. We’re having dinner at Lylia’s restaurant tonight, a genuine date where we sit down, eat, and discuss topics other than magical items, divine displeasure, or saving the world."

Greg opened his mouth to argue, but when he saw Lylia’s face, which clearly said, "Don’t fight this," he closed it again.

"Okay... okay... Date for dinner."

"Good," Marina said, looking happy. "And dress nicely."

"Don’t wear your work clothes, which smell like smoke from the forge and have metal shavings on them."

Greg said, "All of my clothes smell like forge smoke."

Marina said, "Then we’re going shopping first."

"And I won’t take any ’no.’ At least one of your outfits won’t make you look like you just came out of a furnace."

Greg looked a little desperate when Lylia left.

"Please help."