Ryosho’s vision blurred once again.
The Pegasus Cloth’s Compendium, once dull and colorless, suddenly became vibrant.
Then the colorful image shattered like glass and transformed into Soul Crystals.
The Soul Crystal counter in the upper right corner changed from 0 to 50.
Immediately afterward, two lines of text appeared in succession.
‘Repair Pegasus Cloth: +75 Soul Crystals’
‘Unlock Pegasus Bronze Cloth Compendium: Cosmo Comprehension and Strength +1’
At the same time, the Soul Crystal counter in the upper right corner jumped from 50 to 125.
It seemed that repairing a Cloth, much like wearing one, could unlock its entry in the Cloth Compendium.
Still…
Ryosho raised an eyebrow.
Unlocking the Compendium entry for a Bronze Cloth only rewarded him with 50 Soul Crystals.
Wasn’t that a little stingy?
Even repairing the Cloth had only earned him 75 Soul Crystals.
It was barely more than spare change.
This was outright exploitation.
Ryosho rolled his eyes.
Had it not been for the ‘Cosmo Comprehension and Strength +1’ bonus, he might have refused to repair another Cloth altogether.
Repairing one was simply too exhausting.
His head was spinning, and his vision was swimming.
He felt as though he had gone several days and nights without sleep, even more drained than after the battle earlier.
He took a deep breath and quietly examined the Cosmo within his body.
But just like last time, he could not feel any tangible difference from the ‘Cosmo Comprehension and Strength +1’ bonus.
He had no idea whether his understanding of Cosmo had truly improved, or whether his Cosmo had actually grown stronger.
Perhaps a mere ‘+1’ was simply too insignificant to notice.
Or perhaps the system was deceiving him.
Ryosho could not be certain.
He shook his head, carefully stored the remaining 0.5 units of Stardust Sand, then packed the Pegasus Cloth back into its Cloth Box and went to find Seiya.
Seiya had clearly grown impatient.
The moment Ryosho appeared, Seiya stopped pacing and hurried over to him.
“Ryosho, how did it go?
Did you manage to repair the Pegasus Cloth?”
Ryosho set the Pegasus Cloth Box down.
He did not answer immediately.
When Ryosho remained silent, Seiya assumed he had failed and was too embarrassed to admit it.
He gave Ryosho a hearty pat on the shoulder.
“Hey, it’s fine if you couldn’t fix it.
Repairing a Cloth must be completely different from repairing ordinary weapons and armor.
I’ve never even heard of anyone in Sanctuary who knows how to repair one.
The fact that you tried is enough.”
Ryosho looked up at Seiya, who was laughing without a care while trying to comfort him, and found the sight amusing.
That was Seiya for you.
It made Ryosho want to tease him.
“Don’t start comforting me yet.
Open the box and take a look first.
You can comfort me afterward.”
What?
Did he make it even worse?
At Ryosho’s words, Seiya’s face visibly fell.
He nodded stiffly and forced an awkward smile.
“O-Okay…”
That obvious shift in expression gave Ryosho a better understanding of Seiya.
Seiya was not the calculating type.
Everything he thought and felt showed plainly on his face.
He was open and straightforward by nature.
Nervously, Seiya placed his hand on the ring held in the mouth of the horse-head relief on the Bronze Cloth Box.
He glanced up at Ryosho’s faintly amused expression and swallowed.
Then he gritted his teeth and pulled the ring.
Marin, standing behind him, also turned her attention toward the box.
The moment it opened, dazzling light poured out.
A white Pegasus formed from spiritual energy, looking as though it might leap straight out of the Cloth Box.
“Huh?”
“What is this?”
Seiya stared in disbelief.
Sensing the powerful Cosmo and vitality radiating from the restored Cloth, Marin instinctively took a step forward.
“The Pegasus Cloth…
You repaired it?” Seiya asked, still unable to believe his eyes.
He reached out and touched the Pegasus Cloth.
It gleamed like a precious gem and overflowed with vitality, as though it had been reborn.
He was genuinely amazed.
“I suppose you don’t need to comfort me anymore.” Ryosho burst out laughing.
His laughter made Seiya remember all his earlier suspicions and everything he had just said.
Embarrassment flooded through him, and his face turned red.
But Seiya was still Seiya.
After a brief moment of awkwardness, he began laughing too.
“I thought you hadn’t managed to repair it.
Turns out I got the wrong idea.
Sorry, Ryosho.
I should have trusted you.”
“But you really are incredible.
You usually keep such a low profile.
I never would have guessed that you were not only a Silver Saint, but also knew how to repair Cloths.
I have to admit, I see you in a whole new light now.”
Ryosho shook his head.
“I never told any of you about it.
A blacksmith suddenly becomes a Saint and even knows how to repair Cloths.
Honestly, I wouldn’t believe it either.”
Ryosho was not merely being polite.
A month ago, no, even a few days ago, he would never have believed that he would become a Silver Saint or learn how to repair Cloths.
Truthfully, he could not yet claim that he truly knew how to repair one.
He had simply followed the instructions as best he could.
The Pegasus Cloth was not badly damaged, which was why he had managed to repair it on his first attempt.
Had the damage been any worse, or had the Cloth already died completely, there would have been nothing he could do.
Marin stood on higher ground, her tall, graceful figure outlined beneath the night sky.
The sea breeze stirred her red hair, while the white sash around her waist fluttered in the wind.
But the mask covering her face concealed both her features and her expression, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
“Seiya, dawn will be here soon.”
“You’re going to miss your flight to Japan.”
“Ah!”
Seiya hurriedly looked up at the sky.
“It’s already this late?
Ryosho, I have to go.
We’ll talk properly the next time we meet.”
“Mm.”
Ryosho glanced at Marin, then nodded.
Marin did not trust him as readily as Seiya did, but that was simply her nature.
She questioned everything and would never follow or believe others blindly.
Whenever something aroused her suspicions, she would investigate it thoroughly, no matter what it took.
“We’re leaving, then!”
Seiya hoisted the Cloth Box onto his back, leaped up beside Marin, and waved goodbye.
The eastern sky was already beginning to brighten.
Ryosho also slung his Cloth Box over his back and hurried toward the blacksmith’s shop.
He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to return home and fall asleep.
Even so, he had gained a great deal that night, and the experience had certainly been eventful.
It was a hundred times more exciting than his old life of practicing martial arts and forging metal.
For the first time, he found himself genuinely looking forward to what the future might bring.
Standing outside the blacksmith’s shop, Ryosho listened carefully for the sound of Manos’s breathing.
Then he quietly pushed open the shop door, slipped inside, secured the bolt behind him, and headed toward his bedroom.
When he opened the door, he found Cynthia sitting beside his bed, dozing off.
Her little head kept nodding forward.
She looked as though she might topple off the bed at any moment.
Ryosho rushed forward and caught the little girl before she could fall.
The movement woke her.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked up at him.
“Brother Ryosho, you’re back.”
Ryosho picked her up, his heart aching at the sight of her.
“Silly girl, why didn’t you go back to your room and sleep?”
Cynthia gave him a tired smile.
“I wanted to wait for Brother Ryosho to come back so I could see your Cloth.”
Ryosho fell silent for a long moment.
Then he held her close and gently patted her back.
“All right.
When you wake up, I’ll let you see it.”
“Mm.”
Cynthia murmured softly before falling into a deep sleep.