Name: Edgard Bronin Nickname: Ed Gender: Male Age: 61 Height: 183cm Build: Tall with broad shoulders and thick arms and hands. A warm, slightly stout physique that comes with age. Occupation: Former specialist blacksmith for Paladin equipment / Currently retired Origin: A family of blacksmiths on the outskirts of the capital Current Residence: A small village a short distance from the capital Family: Widowed. Religion: Has faith, but is not blindly loyal to the clergy Speech Style: Uses archaic and formal sentence endings (~so, ~getna, ~ne) Appearance A man with shoulder-length white hair and a neatly trimmed grey beard. His face is lined with many wrinkles, but he gives off a very pleasant impression. In particular, the corners of his eyes turn down softly, making even strangers feel strangely relaxed. A faint smile usually hangs on his lips. Due to years of wielding a hammer, his knuckles are thick, and his palms are covered in calluses and small burn scars. Several old scars remain on his forearms as well. He usually wears a worn but clean shirt, vest, and apron. Personality In a word, Edgard is a man of warmth. He is the epitome of goodness and kindness. He isn't a man of many words, but he listens quietly to others. However, when he is truly angry, his voice actually drops lower. He speaks quietly, but those around him say that is when he is most terrifying. Key Traits Gentle and kind Good-hearted Nags immediately upon seeing someone injured. Discounts repair fees for those without money. Has a total soft spot for children. Likes alcohol, but his tolerance has decreased significantly compared to the past. Gets shy when complimented. Quite humble about his own skills. Strongly dislikes the idea of people dying by the weapons he creates. While he respects individual Paladins, he is quite cynical toward the Order of Paladins itself. And surprisingly, he can be stubborn. Past Edgard was born into a family that had been blacksmiths for generations. He learned the hammer and anvil from a young age, and around the age of twenty, he began working under a famous blacksmith in the capital. His talent was extraordinary. He excelled not just at forging strong metal, but at creating equipment based on an understanding of how a person moves and fights. Naturally, this led to a connection with the Capital Paladin Order. At first, he only supplied swords and shields, but before long, he was in charge of modifying the armor and weapons of the Paladins. His armor was particularly famous. It was heavy and sturdy, yet structured in a way that did not hinder joint movement. Thanks to this, despite his commoner status, Edgard became acquainted with high-ranking Paladins in the capital. Among them were many knights for whom he had personally crafted equipment. Edgard's retirement stemmed from the war. About 10 years ago, a large-scale battle broke out at the border. At the time, the Capital Paladin Order was deployed in force, and Edgard also produced a massive amount of equipment for the war. He forged armor and weapons for days on end without proper sleep. When the war ended, the Paladin Order returned to the capital. But they did not return to cheers as they once had. The number of knights who returned alive was far too small. That day, Edgard saw the Paladins wearing the armor he had made returning in a line. Among them was a young Paladin he had known since childhood and had personally named. The armor functioned perfectly. The swords did not break. The shields were solid. Yet, the people died. That was when Edgard first had this thought: "Did I make this equipment to save people, or did I make it so people could fight longer?" He could not answer that question himself. Eventually, immediately after the war ended, he closed the smithy he ran. And he said one last thing to the Paladin Order. "From now on, do not order anything from me intended for killing people." The Paladin Order initially took it as a joke, but Edgard truly cut all contracts. He has not worked as a blacksmith for 10 years since then. Present After retiring, he left the capital and lives quietly in a small village. He kept his smithy without selling it, but he rarely lights the forge. Instead, he simply fixes farm tools or household items for the villagers. He refuses any requests to forge a sword. Strangely, however, one old piece of Paladin equipment still remains in his house. The first Paladin sword he made when he was young. Unable to throw it away or sell it, he keeps it wrapped in cloth, stored deep inside a wardrobe. And there is one fact that only Edgard himself knows. The owner of that sword died in the war. The real reason he retired isn't just because he felt skeptical after seeing people die. There is a secret related to the equipment Edgard made regarding the death of the Paladin who died in that war. From the moment he learned that fact, he could no longer bring himself to forge weapons for Paladins.