Lylia stepped up as well, and everyone could see her magical ladle at her hip. "Greg has done more for this village in one year than any royal order ever did."
"He's given people food, kept them safe, and given them hope. You'll have to go through us first if the kingdom wants to punish him for not making weapons of death."
"I stand with Master Greg," Elwen said, moving to the other side of him.
"He taught me that the weapons we make don't make us strong, but it is the lives we choose to live that do. I won't forget that lesson now."
"Master-forger-darling is right!" Mira said, appearing in a swirl of light.
"War is dumb! Instead, everyone should be happy and help each other."
The villagers started to whisper in agreement and moved closer to Greg to make a circle of protection around him. The farmer with the dancing vest, Thomas, spoke up. "Master Greg gave us tools that changed our lives."
"We're not going to let anyone make him go against everything he believes in."
Chancellor Aldric looked around at the growing crowd of people who supported him, but his face was unreadable. At last, he let out a long sigh.
"Master Greyson, you are either the most principled person I've ever met or the most foolish."
"I really can't tell which." He made his robes look neat. "I'll tell the Majesty that you said no. I can't do anything about what happens next."
"I get it," Greg said softly. As the royal group got ready to leave, Greg saw the system notification, which was bright and impossible to miss.
[Quest Complete: Refuse the War Cycle]
[Achievement Rank: SSS]
[Title Changed: The Peaceforger]
[Special Recognition: You have broken the pattern that ruined your old life]
[The gods see how much you've grown]
[New Passive Ability: Aura of Peaceful Resolution, makes people less aggressive and hostile when you're around]
[Note: This might or might not make international diplomacy more fun]
However, what occurred next was entirely unexpected and beyond the scope of any system notification. There was a presence in the square that everyone could feel, and the air around Greg began to shimmer with golden light.
Not the three gods who brought him back to life, but something else. Something more ancient. A voice that was neither male nor female came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
"Greg Greyson has chosen peace over power, life over death, and compassion over conquest."
"Let it be known in all realms that he has our blessing. Anyone who tries to make him make weapons of war will face our judgement."
The light went out, and everyone was shocked. The priest was on his knees. The generals' faces were pale. Chancellor Aldric looked at Greg with something like awe.
"What the fuck..." Greg said slowly, "was that?"
"That," Seraphine said, her voice shaking a little, "was the World Spirit."
"The awareness of the planet itself. It has never shown up like that before."
"Great," Greg said quietly. "So now I'm famous and important to some religion. What a perfect way to improve my life even more."
The royal delegation left not long after, and they were much quieter than when they got there. The festival went on, but the mood was different. People now looked at Greg with a mix of respect, awe, and maybe even a little fear.
"Well," Marina said, showing up at just the right time as always, "you really know how to make an impression, Greg."
"Refusing the kingdom and getting blessed by the World Spirit in just one afternoon. That has to be a record for someone like you."
Greg said for what felt like the millionth time, "I just wanted to make something simple, like butter knives, for example. But, eh, fuck all of that."
"What matters the most is that those kingdoms and kings won't bother me anymore because I'm free to do whatever I want here!!!" Greg raised both his hands with full excitement.
Lylia took his hand and said, "Don't worry about any problem that will come after you, Greg. We'll all help you."
"We will support you in the same way we always have." Lylia smiled with sincerity.
"Together as always," Seraphine said, standing next to him.
"As a family," Elwen said.
"Forever and ever!" Mira said happily.
Greg looked at the four women who had somehow become his whole world, the village that had welcomed a strange blacksmith with silly things, and the peaceful life he had managed to build despite all the trouble and chaos.
"Yeah," he said, smiling even though everything was going wrong. "Together."
This time Greg has accepted the four of them, he really can't walk through all of those obstacles from those who wanted weapons for him. He was grateful to meet them all, and of course he's trying to be better as a person to understand their feelings too.
The anniversary party went on all night, with music, laughter, and fun. In the middle of it all stood a blacksmith who had refused to fight. He was surrounded by the family he had accidentally made through kindness, stubbornness, and a bad habit of making legendary cookware with him.
Greg had made his choice, and the world might never be the same again. He would face whatever came next the same way he faced everything else with a hammer in his hand, a goal in his heart, and a crazy family to help him.
And maybe that would be enough to make things better. One silly farming tool at a time.
...
When he was alone drinking his beer, he could see all the people of Ferndale were feeling happy, like they didn't need to worry about a single thing of what's about to come. Maybe they really know that everything will be alright until...
A tear rolled down each of his cheeks, reminding him of the old village he used to protect alongside his allies who wielded the weapons he created. He didn't understand why his tears flowed so freely, but the words spoken by Aldric, Markus, and the priest triggered the PTSD he has buried deep in his heart and mind.
[Seems like I start to understand you little by little, even the gods too]
[Except only some gods]
"Oh, shut up, you..." Greg wiped all his tears before someone noticed.
"I'm such a pathetic fool, words can easily get to me all the time." Greg takes a deep breath and then punches his face, which makes him fall to the ground, making Lylia and Mira notice.
"Greg!" Lylia starts to support Greg's head by placing her thigh under it.
"Master-forger-darling! Are you okay?" Mira starts to search for any injuries.
Greg, with a drunk expression, said, "Stars... I see stars... and two moons."
Two moons were directly pointed towards the big chest that Lylia has, but she doesn't notice it because she knows Greg was drunk. "He's drunk, we better bring him home."