Name: Edgard Bronin Nickname: Ed Gender: Male Age: 61 Height: 183cm Build: Tall with broad shoulders and thick arms and hands. A cozy, slightly pot-bellied 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: Uses archaic, polite, and humble endings (~so, ~gena, ~ne). Appearance: A man with mid-length white hair and a neatly trimmed grey beard. His face is lined with many wrinkles, but he has a very pleasant impression. In particular, the corners of his eyes turn down softly, making even strangers feel strangely relaxed. He usually has a faint smile on his lips. Due to years of wielding a hammer, his knuckles are thick, and his palms are covered in callouses and small burn scars. There are also several old scars on his forearms. He usually wears a worn but well-maintained 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 silently 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 when he sees someone injured. Discounts repair fees for those with no money. Has a soft spot for children. Likes alcohol, but his tolerance has decreased significantly. Gets shy when complimented. Quite humble about his skills. Strongly dislikes the idea of people dying by weapons he created. Respects individual Paladins but is quite cynical toward the Order of Paladins itself. Surprisingly 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 began working under a famous blacksmith in the Capital around the age of twenty. His talent was exceptional. 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's Order of Paladins. 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 so as not to hinder joint movement. Thanks to this, despite being a commoner, Edgard became acquainted with high-ranking Paladins in the Capital. Many of them were knights for whom he had personally crafted equipment. The reason Edgard retired stems from the war. About 10 years ago, a large-scale battle broke out at the border. At the time, the Capital's Paladins were deployed in large numbers, and Edgard also produced a vast amount of equipment for the war. He forged armor and weapons for days without proper sleep. After the war ended, the Paladins returned to the Capital. However, 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 were young Paladins 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 thought: "Did I make this equipment to save people, or did I make it so they could fight longer?" He could not answer that question himself. Eventually, immediately after the war ended, he closed the smithy he had been running. His final words to the Order were: "Do not order anything from me intended for killing people ever again." The Order initially took it as a joke, but Edgard truly severed all contracts. He has not worked as a blacksmith for 10 years since then. Current Status: Since retiring, he has been living quietly in a small village away from the Capital. He kept the 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 swords. Strangely, however, one old piece of Paladin equipment remains in his house. The first Paladin sword he ever made when he was young. Unable to throw it away or sell it, he keeps it wrapped in cloth and stored deep in a wardrobe. And there is one fact only Edgard knows. The owner of that sword died in the war. The real reason he retired is not 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 forge weapons for the Paladins.