Chapter 53: The Demon-Slaying Sword

“Do you have something you want appraised?” Old York asked.

Wade nodded.

“Then follow York to the inner study,” Old York said. “The study is quiet and undisturbed.”

Wade nodded again. Old York then picked up an oil lamp, pulled out a string of brass keys from his waist, and walked toward a door at the back.

“Old York, if you’re charging for this, put it on my tab,” Lucas said.

“Porter, before saying that, you should first pay York for that healing potion!” Old York shouted.

“I’ll pay you once I’ve earned enough money in a few days,” Lucas joked.

“Then it won’t be fifty silver anymore!” Old York said. “York will charge interest—you’ll owe a hundred silver!”

“I will,” Lucas said. “I’ll pay you two hundred silver.”

“You’d better be able to pay two hundred silver,” Old York said, rolling his eyes at Lucas.

The gnome and Lucas seemed to get along well. Though they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, there was no sense of distance between them as they bantered.

In contrast, the gnome’s attitude toward Wade was much more formal.

“You saved York from the Icelanders, so York is willing to appraise your item for free today. You don’t need to pay.”

Perhaps afraid Wade wouldn’t understand the joking between him and Lucas, the gnome specifically explained.

Maybe he saw Wade as a rigid warrior, but in any case, the gnome was quite friendly toward him, with none of his usual eccentric temper showing.

After walking about fifty steps, the two stopped before a wooden door that only reached Wade’s chest.

The gnome carefully examined the keyring, selected one, and inserted the brass key into the padlock. A slightly grating metallic sound followed.

With a click, York removed the small lock, pushed the door open, and entered the room.

“Come in.”

Wade bent down and followed closely behind.

The gnome placed the oil lamp on a stone table. Standing on a small stool by the door, he lowered the door bolt from the inside.

The room didn’t feel cramped upon entering, but the stools and tables were all custom-made to gnome standards, appearing miniature and low.

The gnome wiped dust off a small wooden stool with his sleeve. “Sit.”

Wade sat on the tiny stool, looking somewhat comical, like an adult who had stolen a child’s toy chair.

But he didn’t mind, simply glancing around the gnome’s study.

The gentle light illuminated the bookshelf opposite him—three rows of pine shelves nailed to the stone wall, holding dozens of books.

These books alone revealed the gnome’s wealth.

They were expensive parchment tomes. A single hand-copied parchment book typically sold for three to five gold coins, far beyond what ordinary people could afford.

Books were more expensive than gems. A two-hundred-page parchment book required the hides of over fifty sheep. If it included professional illustrations and gold-leaf gem decorations, its price would skyrocket to an incomprehensible level—thirty to fifty gold coins for a single volume.

Most books Wade had read before were borrowed from old clients. Aside from the cheap paper books scavenged from markets, he had never owned a single parchment tome worthy of being called a collectible.

The gnome had amassed so many books that his collection surpassed those of many nobles.

Not surprising, given he was the owner of an alchemy workshop. The potions and items consumed by adventurers, along with appraisal fees, certainly provided enough income to support such a book-buying habit.

Knowledge truly was wealth.

While adventurers fought daily in the wilds to earn seven or eight silver coins, Old York only needed to purchase materials and use his accumulated knowledge and experience to brew potions, which he could then sell for dozens of silver coins.

Had the Icelanders not started the war and invaded Alvado, Old York would likely be living more comfortably and freely than minor nobles.

Wade felt slightly wistful. As he observed the small study, the gnome had already taken a seat opposite him.

“Can you write?” the gnome asked.

Wade nodded.

The gnome took out ink, paper, and a quill from a drawer.

Not tanned parchment, but the lowest-quality straw paper—probably used by the gnome for drafts and expendable notes.

“Then communicate with York through writing,” York said. “Whatever you want to show Old York, you can take it out now.”

“No matter what it is, York will keep it confidential and won’t tell anyone.”

Old York seemed quite professional. Wade decided to start with something simple—he drew the sword from his waist.

The rune-engraved longsword was placed on the stone table, its blade still sharp and gleaming coldly.

“Please appraise this sword first,” Wade wrote on the paper.

Old York took the sword, his expression focused. First, he carefully wiped the blade with a clean cloth, then traced the engravings, appearing fully immersed in his work.

“Twilight Church-style divine runes with demon-dispelling and evil-breaking properties,” Old York murmured.

He took out a small hammer and tapped various parts of the sword, seemingly listening to the metal’s resonance as he pressed his ear against the blade.

“A pleasing sound. It must have been forged with mithril, but the color is somewhat dull. Were obsidian fragments added too?”

Old York frowned. Looking at the name and anvil mark engraved on the hilt, he suddenly seemed to remember something. He left the stool and searched his bookshelf, pulling out a volume.

When he opened the cover, Wade realized it wasn’t a book—just a collection of yellowed old papers inside.

Old York took out one sheet. Wade saw writing on it—a wanted poster. Apparently, the cover held a collection of old wanted notices or lord’s decrees.

The wanted poster targeted none other than the Viking pirate Sven Freud.

“The Demon-Slaying Sword, Radiance. A top-tier radiant-class longsword jointly crafted over two years by Master Borsol Forge and the Bishop of Lindisfarne Abbey. Originally stored in the church treasury, it was meant as a gift for the incoming Sixteenth Holy Maiden.”

“But three years ago, Radiance was stolen by a Viking pirate named Sven. Its whereabouts have been unknown since.”

“To think this sword ended up in your hands?” Old York exclaimed. “How did you obtain it? Did you defeat that wanted pirate?”

The gnome suddenly looked up but seemed to realize his slip of the tongue. He quickly waved his hand. “Apologies, York didn’t mean to pry into the sword’s origins.”

The gnome stopped asking about the sword’s history or Wade’s secrets, simply stating facts.

“This sword is most effective against evil creatures like demons and undead. It has holy water-like demon-breaking properties,” the gnome said. “The permanent divine runes on it can detect demonic presence, emitting light and vibrations to alert the wielder.”

“The Church has been eager to recover this sword. Returning Radiance to the Church would yield a substantial reward. The wanted notice states that returning Radiance counts as fulfilling the bounty.”

The gnome pointed to the bottom of the poster, where black ink stated: “Return Radiance to complete the bounty.”