Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 205. This is The New Peaceful Family

They held each other for a while, and then Lylia came out of the kitchen and softly cleared her throat. "I apologize for interrupting your romantic date, but it’s getting late, and some of us need to wake up early tomorrow."

"O-Oh! R-Right," Marina said, pulling back but still holding Greg’s hand. "Thanks again, Lylia... for everything."

Lylia smiled a little and said, "It’s my turn next."

"And it seems like I’m thinking of something more casual."

"How about a walk in the woods and having a picnic by the stream?"

Marina agreed, "That sounds perfect for you."

"Greg, you’re going out with Lylia next week, and there are no excuses to not go!"

Greg looked at Lylia and said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah... no excuses. I promise."

...

The next few days followed a strange but comfortable pattern. Greg spent his mornings in the workshop, where he wanted to make things again.

The Calamity battle had brought out new skills and abilities in him that he was still learning how to use.

His first try at forging post-Meridian was pretty easy. A villager had asked for a new cooking pot, nothing fancy, just a pot that would work well for making stews.

Greg walked up to the forge with his usual care, picking out materials and making plans for the building, but things felt different when he started working. The metal reacted to his thoughts in ways it hadn’t before.

His prosthetic arm, though still at reduced capacity, seemed to enhance his connection to the materials.

The pot took shape faster than he thought it would. The metal bent and flowed almost like it wanted to become what he had in mind.

When he finally let it cool down and looked at the finished product, the system notification showed up.

[ITEM CREATED: POT OF PERPETUAL SEASONING]

[RANK: SSS]

[PROPERTIES: Automatically seasons any food cooked in it to the perfect flavor for whoever will eat it. Changes salt, spices, and herbs in real time. Can’t add too much or too little seasoning. Remembers what you like and gets better each time you use it.]

Greg looked at the pot. "I just wanted to make a normal pot for cooking."

Bork said from across the workshop, "And instead you made something that turns anyone into a master chef."

"Oh yeah, it’s fucking back! Greg Greyson in the old days."

Greg said under his breath, "This is getting crazy."

"How am I supposed to make normal things when everything becomes legendary?"

"Try to avoid blessings from multiple gods and mythic enhancements," Felix suggested helpfully. "Oh wait, too late for that."

"Thanks for nothing."

The villager who had asked for the pot was thrilled, but they were also a little confused about why their stew suddenly tasted like it had been made by a professional chef. They paid Greg a small amount and left, telling everyone they met about the "magic cooking pot."

Greg had accidentally made the following by the end of the week:

The Broom of Infinite Collection (SSS-rank) swept dirt into a different dimension, so you never had to empty a dustpan.

The "Curtains of Climate Comfort" changed their transparency based on the temperature in the room. When it was hot, they let in cool breezes, and when it was cold, they kept the heat in.

A doormat that cleaned shoes perfectly and could tell if someone was coming up with malicious intentions by giving off a subtle warning vibration (Doormat of Discernment, SSS-rank).

Greg told Marina during their evening together, "I can’t keep doing this."

"Everything I make turns into something that can’t be done. The villagers are going to think I’m crazy.

Marina said, "The villagers already think you’re blessed by the gods."

"Which, to be fair, you are... not just one time, but many times, so just accept it already."

...

They were sitting by the stream outside of Ferndale, which is where Lylia had chosen to go on her date. The only sounds were running water and birds at night.

It was quiet here, away from the noise of the village.

"What did you think of your date with Marina?" Lylia asked as she took the picnic basket out of the carriage.

Greg said honestly, "It was great."

"Scary at first, but still great."

"She’s easier to talk to than I thought."

"She doesn’t let you spiral into overthinking," Lylia said as she put out food. "She means what she says and expects you to do the same."

"It’s nice," Greg said. "Is that why you and she get along so well?"

"Because you two are different enough to make each other better?"

"Partly," Lylia said. "But also because we both care about you and know that you have enough love to share."

"It would be selfish to ask for everything when there is enough for everyone."

She gave him a sandwich, and their fingers brushed against each other. "Marina also makes things interesting."

"It might be too calm for us to be alone."

Greg said, "I’d love some peace."

"Just a few months of normal, boring, peaceful life."

Lylia said with confidence, "You’d be bored in a week."

"You’re not built for normal. You were made to make things that seem impossible and change the world by accident."

They ate in peace for a while, watching the sun set over the stream. The light made the water look gold, orange, and pink.

"Can I ask you something?" Lylia said in the end.

"Sure."

"Do you ever wish you hadn’t? Not making weapons?"

"The gods are mad at you. You have made enemies. If you had just done what they wanted, life would be easier."

Greg thought about it and really thought about the question.

"No," he finally said. "I don’t feel bad about it."

"Well... Yes, things would be easier for me. Instead of divine displeasure, I would probably have divine favor."

"But I would also be helping to cause war and death instead of peace and life. I killed someone with every weapon I made in my past life and I still can’t go back to that."

"Even if it costs you everything?" Lylia pushed.

"Yeah," Greg said. "Some things are worth the money."

"My values... My family... You, Marina, and the Brotherhood."

"All of it is more important than having an easier life."

Lylia rested her head on his shoulder and leaned against him. "That’s why I love you."

"Not because you’re famous, powerful, or the Champion of Peace... but you choose what’s right over what’s easy when it counts."

"I’m still trying to be one right now," Greg said. "I don’t always win."

Lylia said, "No one always succeeds, but you keep going! And that’s what matters."

They talked about everything and nothing while they waited by the stream for the stars to come out. Lylia told him about her plans for the restaurant, including how she wanted to grow it and maybe train other cooks. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Greg told everyone he was worried that the gods were silent and that something big was coming.

"Whatever happens," Lylia said, "we’ll face it together."

"That’s how families work."

Greg felt something settle in his chest when they finally got back to Ferndale and walked hand in hand through the quiet streets. He felt a kind of happiness he hadn’t realized he was missing.

When they got to the workshop, it was dark, and everyone else was already asleep. At the top of the stairs, Lylia kissed him goodnight.

It was a soft kiss that was different from Marina’s passionate certainty but just as meaningful.

She said, "Thanks for tonight."

"Thanks for taking the time for this and for choosing to try."

Greg said, "Thank you for being patient with me and also... for understanding that I’m learning as I go."

Lylia said, "We all are."

"That’s what makes it beautiful because we don’t know what we’re doing, but we’re all doing it together."

...

The next week, more accidental legendary creations happened. Greg tried to make a simple hammer for a carpenter, but he ended up making a Hammer of Perfect Joints (SSS-rank) that lined up pieces of wood so they fit together perfectly.

The Lantern of Revealing Truth (SSS-rank) was made as a basic lantern. It could show hidden messages and invisible ink and tell when someone was lying when held near them.

"Your skill is getting better," Seraphine said, as she always did.

"The Mythic class advancement seems to have improved your natural ability to put your thoughts into your creations."

"Along with your belief in peaceful uses, everything you make becomes a way to make life better instead of taking it."

Greg said, "That’s a very academic way of saying I can’t make normal things anymore."

"Exactly," Seraphine said. "But think about this... maybe being normal was never your goal."

"Perhaps your role is to create unconventional elements and have faith in their positive application."

Greg said, "That’s a lot of trust to put in people."

Seraphine said, "You have the right to believe in people."

"You’ve seen the worst of it and still chose to believe in the best."

"And that’s not being naive... that’s bravery."

By the second week, Marina and Lylia had both moved into the workshop completely. Greg solved the problem of where to sleep by building an expandable room addition.

This addition, of course, became an SSS-rank Chamber of Restful Dreams that kept everyone comfortable and quiet while they slept.

They all got into a rhythm. Everyone ate breakfast together.

Lylia cooked, Marina set the table, and Greg tried to stay out of the way. Evenings were split between dinners with the whole Brotherhood and date nights.

Marina said one night, lying in bed between Greg and Lylia, "This is going better than I thought it would."

They had pushed the cots together to make a cozy but small sleeping area for everyone.

"Did you think it would fail?" Lylia asked.

Marina said honestly, "I thought there would be more jealousy."

"More fighting over who gets his attention.

"More problems."

Lylia said, "There are problems, but we’re dealing with them and also talking helps."

Marina said, "And the fact that Greg loves both of us equally."

"It’s hard to be jealous when he seems to be trying to be fair."

Greg said, "I’m right here."

"You know I can hear you talking about me."

They all said, "We know," and then they laughed.

Greg lay there with a woman on each side and felt the same peace that he had felt in the woods. This was his family.

Difficult, unusual, and absolutely perfect.

The silence from God went on.

No comments on the system like the usual.

And also no interference from God.

Just the quiet knowledge that they were watching and not happy with them.

Greg let himself be happy for now, though. He was in his workshop in Ferndale, surrounded by the people he loved and the peaceful life he had built.

The gods might be angry so he needs to leave them alone.

He had something they could never take away... a family that was based on choice instead of duty, love that was given freely instead of being demanded, and the unshakeable belief that peace was always worth fighting for.

Even if it meant making God angry.

Even if the future was not clear.

Even if legendary cooking pots and lanterns that showed the truth kept showing up, whether he wanted them to or not.

This was his life now.

He wouldn’t give it up for anything.

Not even what the gods themselves say.