Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 198. The Truth Beneath The Peace

He looked at Veldway, and the master craftsman nodded once. This was an acknowledgment that some truths couldn’t stay hidden, no matter how much it hurt to tell them.

Greg said, "Veldway."

"Tell them now. Let them know what Agatha knew."

"Tell them what her father died trying to show. Tell them the truth about the Royal Knights and the fake peace they’ve been keeping."

The square stopped talking. Everyone looked at Veldway, who took a shaky breath and stepped up to stand next to Greg. His voice was steady even though his hands shook when he spoke.

Veldway said, "The peace you’ve known for the past thirty years is a lie," and someone in the crowd gasped. "Not completely false, but based on hidden violence."

"For decades, the Royal Knights, myself included, have carried out covert missions. We’ve been involved in assassinations and sabotage, eliminating potential threats before they could escalate into a full-blown war."

"We’ve been killing in the dark while preaching peace in the light."

The response was quick and violent. Some people yelled in rage. Others yelled their support and said it was needed.

A lot of people just stood there in shock, trying to make sense of what they’d heard. The king seemed to want to stop Veldway from talking, but he didn’t know how to do it without making things worse.

Veldway’s voice rose above the noise as he continued, "Agatha Crowbane’s father found out this truth."

"He tried to show it, but he was killed for it, and his death was made to look like an accident."

"His daughter spent thirty years planning her revenge. The Calamity was her way of bringing the truth to light and making the hidden violence too big to ignore."

Greg added, "And she was right to do that," raising his prosthetic arm to quiet the crowd. "It’s not appropriate to kill innocent people."

"It’s not right to make a monster, but it’s right that we should know the truth. It’s true that peace that comes from secret murder isn’t real peace! It’s just a hidden war!"

The people in the crowd were all reacting in different ways. There were people crying.

Some people were yelling at their neighbors. Some had begun to leave because they didn’t want to hear any more, but most of them stayed, mesmerized by what they had just heard and trying to figure out what it meant for their lives in the future.

"Hey, what do we do?" someone in the crowd yelled. "What now if the peace was fake?"

Greg looked at his family and the Brotherhood, which was still strong despite everything. At Rosalina, who had given her life to a system that had lied to her.

He then stares at Tunner and Veldway, who had been part of that system and now had to deal with the guilt. And then there was Marina, who had lost her whole party because of wars fought in the dark. Hilda’s name carved into stone is a reminder of how much secrets cost.

"We improve something," Greg said simply. "We know what we did wrong."

"We promise to do better. We make peace without hidden violence by dealing with the problems that cause conflict before they turn into war."

"It won’t be perfect, nor will it be simple. Some of you might not like us for telling the truth, but at least it will be honest."

The quiet that came after was not the same as what had come before. It was thoughtful of them to think about what had just happened. Some people in the crowd shook their heads slowly.

Some people still looked angry or hurt, while others looked relieved, as if they had been worried about something all along and had finally gotten proof. There was still no clear picture of the future, it was a fine line between hope and chaos.

Finally, the King said, "Heroes of Meridian." His voice was worn out but not angry. "Today you gave us a wonderful gift."

"Not just winning against the Calamity, but also the truth we needed to hear. The kind of kingdom we become will depend on how we react to that truth."

"The court is over. Please let everyone go home and think about what has been said here."

People didn’t celebrate at the end of the ceremony, but they thought about it. People slowly left, talking in small groups and arguing about what they had heard.

As the Brotherhood left the stage, a group of fans who were thankful and people who were upset gathered. Some people wanted to shake their hands, while others wanted to spit on their feet. Most people just wanted answers.

Greg walked back to the memorial, where Hammy’s name was carved in stone. He put one hand on the wall and felt the rough texture of the carved letters. Then he whispered words that only he could hear.

"We did it, Hammy! But it seems so hard right now."

"I hope you understand why I had to tell the truth, regardless of where you are. I hope you would be proud. I hope this was worth it."

Marina took his other hand and joined him. "It was worth it. Not today, maybe not tomorrow, though."

"People will eventually realize that honest peace, even if it’s not perfect, is better than comfortable lies."

Greg said, "I hope you’re right."

The sun set behind Meridian’s skyline, casting a warm glow of gold and orange over the ruins. The city would rise again in the end.

The people would get better over time. Some people would let the Royal Knights keep their secrets, but others would not.

The Brotherhood came to stand for both salvation and chaos. They were heroes who saved the kingdom, but they also had to face challenging truths.

They could change the future, which was ahead of them and not very clear, simple, or easy. They had to do it.

Greg felt something he hadn’t felt in days as he stood there with his family around him and his fake arm flickered weakly in the fading light. Not the simple hope of winning or the easy hope of peace, but the complicated, grown-up hope that comes from knowing how broken the world is and still wanting to fix it.

The hope that Agatha’s dad had. The hope that Hilda had died to keep safe. The hope that Hammy showed in every happy chirp and loyal bounce.

The hope that they could make something better than what had come before. Even if it took a long time. Even if it meant making some people mad. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Even though they didn’t know what was going to happen next and knew it would be hard. They would try. Together.

Like family. Like the Peace Brotherhood.

In the ruins of a disaster, a small grave with only stones marks the spot where a legendary hammer was buried with the memory of a hero who was no bigger than a hand but had a heart big enough to save the world.

That’s all there is as the end.

And the beginning.