Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C94

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 94: The Maiden’s Thread, Part 1

Brandon stepped down from the carriage in a daze, much to everyone's surprise. But the young man quickly shook his head, dispelling the fleeting distraction. For compared to the troubles currently weighing on him, this matter could at least wait.

He suddenly felt that his journey had been nothing short of tumultuous—far too many obstacles for one road.

This was why he had rushed back to Cold Fir Castle through the night. Just yesterday, Chael had communicated with him via telepathic magic: Cinnabar’s condition had worsened again, and she might not survive the day.

The news cast a shadow over Brandon’s recently improved mood. Few understood Cinnabar’s situation as well as Chael and himself. Yet, to handle affairs in Shafrend swiftly, he had forced himself not to dwell on the worst-case scenario.

But some things could not be willed away. No matter how thoroughly Brandon prepared, Cinnabar had only held on until today.

In truth, the moment control of Shafrend Mine was secured, Brandon had dispatched a squad of mercenaries to escort Cinnabar back to his domain alongside Metissa. There, Chael could attempt to slow the spread of the blood of gods within her.

Though Chael often seemed unreliable, he was a gold-rank wizard—a mentor-level practitioner—and far more adept in these arcane matters than Brandon, who was merely a gold-rank swordsman and an amateur Elementalist.

Still, Brandon knew that even Chael’s considerable skill couldn’t undo what had already transpired.

Cinnabar’s body had once died completely, revived only by the overwhelming power of the blood of gods. Her soul had been pulled back from the underworld—but not without cost. The blood of gods wasn’t a benevolent savior or charitable healer; it didn’t aid mortals out of kindness. Its purpose was singular: to preserve Cinnabar’s soul so it could merge seamlessly with her body, avoiding rejection.

Yet once that goal was achieved, Cinnabar’s soul became its adversary. Devoid of consciousness, the divine force acted purely on instinct. After gaining full control of her body, it would crush her soul mercilessly.

Though Chael had managed to delay the inevitable, no external intervention could overturn the imbalance within Cinnabar. Sooner or later, this day would come—and now it had.

Thinking of this burdened Brandon deeply. The earlier enthusiasm he’d shared while conversing with Odum inside the carriage had all but vanished. Still, duty compelled him to finish what he’d started. He wasn’t just the lord chosen by the red-haired girl with the ponytail; he was the master of everyone here—at least for now.

He turned back toward the carriage, glancing at the weary old dwarf inside. Odum clearly disliked carriages. The silk curtains irritated his skin, and the constant jostling made him uncomfortable. Had Brandon’s words not piqued his interest, the dwarf likely would’ve abandoned the ride altogether.

“From now on, you’ll serve as the Chief Architect of my lands,” Brandon said. “If you need anything, speak to Antietta.”

He glanced behind him, though Antietta wasn’t present. She was probably with Roma and Cinnabar. Antietta got along well with everyone, especially Cinnabar.

Roma had returned three days ago alongside Tiger Finch, ostensibly escorting a shipment of silver. In reality, Brandon suspected the young girl had simply grown bored in Shafrend and sought some excitement.

“Never mind, I’ll introduce her to you later,” Brandon continued. “For now, the territory lacks both manpower and funds. However, you may oversee repairs to the walls. I’ll have Clenxia and Master Beru hand over relevant matters to you. If you encounter problems, feel free to consult them.”

He paused, considering that Odum, being a miner by trade, might lack experience in architecture and engineering. Yet the innate talents of runic dwarves gave Brandon confidence.

“There’s a private library in Cold Fir City containing books on architectural engineering,” he explained. “This castle was built incrementally by previous lords, many of whom were master builders. Nobles enjoy recording their insights, and if such texts exist, they should be there.”

Odum blinked, snapping out of a reverie about grand fortifications. Only then did he remember that the youth before him was merely the leader of a group of rebel mercenaries—a fact Odum had known beforehand but hadn’t cared about. After all, he was a runic dwarf, not some feather-brained human. Human lords and kings meant little to him.

If push came to shove, Odum could always pack up and return to the gold dwarves’ domain. He was, after all, a dwarf—and a self-proclaimed "respected elder." Besides, it wasn’t unusual for dwarves to find life among humans disagreeable.

Moreover, if Eruin’s ruler sent him packing, his fellow dwarves might even regard him as a hero.

Relations between gold dwarves and humans hadn’t been good since the Second Holy War.

But Brandon’s words brought the stout figure of Odum crashing back to reality. He realized that his title of Chief Architect came with neither resources nor support—and worse still, he doubted his own competence.

He recalled the monumental task he’d agreed to undertake. Building fortifications? By Marsha’s grace, he couldn’t even guarantee constructing a decent pigsty!

If the young lord asked whether he could build a fortress worthy of legend, how should he respond?

“Ah, yes, esteemed lord,” Odum imagined himself saying, “I can indeed construct a fortress destined for history. And I swear, no one will ever breach its gates—for it shall have none!”

Odum shuddered at the thought. If he dared utter such nonsense, the young man might very well run him through with a sword. A cold sweat broke out across his brow, soaking through his leather armor and making him tremble.

Fortunately, Brandon didn’t notice Odum’s unease, attributing it instead to exhaustion. Truth be told, Brandon was equally fatigued. He’d traveled nonstop through the night and spent hours conversing with Odum in the carriage, yet hadn’t slept.

His days in Shafrend allowed barely four hours of rest each night. Being a lord seemed to bring endless responsibilities. Brandon reflected bitterly that his former self—a shut-in gamer—would never have imagined working so diligently in this world.

But here he was, doing exactly that.

It almost made him laugh. He felt like he’d come full circle, returning to where he began. Perhaps if he’d applied himself similarly in his old world, he might have achieved greatness there too. Alas, this world offered no room for hypotheticals.

Thoughts of Cinnabar weighed heavily on him, intertwining with his fatigue and draining the color from his face. Even Fleur, standing nearby, frowned upon seeing his pallor.

Meanwhile, Odum hesitated. Watching this unsteady young man lean against the carriage door and continue discussing serious matters with trust in his tone, the old dwarf felt his ears grow warm despite his thick skin.

Lowering his gaze, Odum wrestled with whether to confess the truth. Ultimately, he decided against it. Such revelations hurt both parties. What if Brandon, upon hearing the truth, collapsed in shock, spitting blood onto the carriage floor?

Worse yet, what if the young lord’s subordinates outside tore him limb from limb? Runic dwarves, for all their valor, nobility, and rare bloodlines, bled just as easily as anyone else when pierced by a blade.

After some deliberation, Odum resolved to take things as they came. Perhaps runic dwarves truly possessed latent architectural talents? Steeling himself, he gave vague affirmations to Brandon’s instructions.

When Brandon, recalling his experiences from gaming, mentioned the importance of drainage systems and waste management in constructing large cities, something clicked for Odum.

His small eyes gleamed faintly.

Gold dwarves were renowned for their underground mines and tunnel networks. They excelled as miners and engineers, living lives largely free of sewage issues since they rarely bathed and subsisted on food dug from the earth. Any minimal wastewater stemmed from drinking supplies. Yet Odum understood that their intricate tunnel systems granted unique expertise in handling waste.

Cities of tens of thousands produced vast amounts of garbage and wastewater daily. Without proper disposal, diseases and plagues spread quickly—a key reason why large settlements failed to thrive in less civilized regions.

Now, however, Odum saw a path forward. Drainage and waste management often overlapped. Drawing inspiration from gold dwarf techniques, he believed he might achieve remarkable results.

As for fortresses, walls, and gates—he admitted to knowing some high mountain dwarven construction methods. Pressuring himself to tap into his potential, certain challenges suddenly appeared less daunting.

With clarity restored, Odum finally nodded to the young lord.

Seeing this, Brandon relaxed slightly. Turning his attention to Clenxia and Frein in the distance, he noted their stoic expressions. Both leaders knew the young noble’s mood was sour and chose wisely not to provoke him.

Pulling his gaze away, Brandon addressed Fleur beside him.

“That’s settled. Take me there.”

“Don’t you wish to rest first?” Though the wild elf maiden’s tone sounded indifferent, her concern betrayed her thoughts. “My lord?”

“No.”

Brandon drew a deep breath. Fleur might not know, but he understood that Cinnabar’s life hung by a thread. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have abandoned everything to rush back overnight. Deep beneath Shafrend, he’d promised the fiery-haired maiden that she would be safe.

At the very least, he owed it to her to keep that vow.

He was Brandon, the man destined to change the fate of this ancient kingdom. To do so, he believed he must first alter the fates of those closest to him.

Please rate or leave a review for this novel at

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-amber-sword/

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.