Ch.145Starlight Scales

On the second day of Cheongik’s group’s stay at Star Forge, Se-arin left the inn alone. While she had been going around with her friends until yesterday, today she wanted some time to herself.

Se-arin headed to the craftsmen’s district, where blacksmiths gathered near the large furnace behind the market street. Despite the early morning hour, the massive furnace was already radiating intense heat.

Hisss-!

The sound of evaporating water and metal being hammered resonated from all directions. Se-arin walked through the streets to the rhythm of those lively sounds.

The reason Se-arin visited the craftsmen’s district was to purchase new swords. The three hundred blades she had brought from Cheongik headquarters had all been shattered during her battle with Hayato.

Se-arin stopped in front of the largest blacksmith shop. Perhaps it belonged to a skilled craftsman? Even in broad daylight, there was bustling activity inside. Young dwarves, who appeared to be apprentices, were running around frantically.

Se-arin entered the blacksmith shop.

“Welcome!”

She was greeted by a middle-aged dwarf with a hammer in his hand. He wore blackened gloves that were polished from years of use, indicating their long service.

It seemed they didn’t distinguish between salespeople and blacksmiths here. Se-arin looked around the display and asked, “May I look around a bit?”

“Of course! If you’re looking for something specific, please don’t hesitate to ask!”

The middle-aged dwarf explained things kindly while unable to take his eyes off Se-arin’s waist. He alternated his gaze between the Ice Dragon Sword, the Fire Dragon Sword, and Hayato’s Muramasa. His eyes reflected intense passion and curiosity.

It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. Se-arin walked alongside the dwarf and said, “I need a large quantity of swords. Sturdy but inexpensive… standard-issue swords.”

“We have plenty of those. I think the standard iron swords we supply to the kingdom would meet your requirements. Would you like to see one?”

“Is it alright to sell kingdom supplies to outsiders?”

“There’s no problem if we replace the engraved sheath emblem and the cross guard. In fact, many of the swords displayed in front of the shop are made that way.”

When Se-arin nodded, the dwarf brought over a sword from a nearby display and handed it to her. Se-arin immediately drew it.

Shing-

Being newly made, the sword naturally had no inherited memories. Se-arin nodded as she observed the sharp edge and the flow of its aura.

It was similar to the standard iron swords used at Cheongik headquarters. The center of gravity was slightly different, but since it would be used with the Formless Flying Sword technique, she didn’t think it mattered much.

As Se-arin was discussing the price of the iron sword with the dwarf, a loud noise and a great shout erupted from inside the shop.

“Can’t you do it right! How many times do I have to tell you!”

Startled, Se-arin turned her head, and the dwarf who had been calculating the price of the iron sword said with familiarity, “That’s the master’s voice. He’s instructing the apprentices inside. Mistakes are common, so shouting happens frequently.”

“The master himself?”

“Yes.”

Just then, thundering footsteps echoed in succession, and the door to the inner part of the blacksmith shop opened. A muscular old man strode out vigorously amid a cloud of steam.

“I’m going to die of frustration! Why are all the new ones like this!”

His form, swinging his shoulders as he walked, looked very familiar. Through the steam, his sturdy body was clearly visible. Despite his short stature, he had an incredibly muscular physique.

‘His stride is stable. His breathing is also steady… and his hands…’

A swordsman recognizes another swordsman. Se-arin immediately recognized that the old dwarf was a swordsman of considerable skill. And the same was true for the old dwarf.

The moment the old dwarf and Se-arin made eye contact, he approached quickly.

“Well, well. We have an honored guest.”

“Ah, Master. I’m currently in the middle of a transaction with this customer…”

The old dwarf pushed away the middle-aged dwarf who had approached from the side with one hand. As his thick palm shoved the other’s face, the middle-aged dwarf rolled away with a yelp.

“So, you’re looking for swords? How many do you need?”

“About three hundred for now…”

“Hmm…”

The old dwarf stroked his beard at Se-arin’s words. His short, stiff beard made a sharp sound as he ran his fingers through it.

“Do you have money?”

Se-arin nodded. Since it wasn’t coming out of her own pocket, she had no reservations.

The old dwarf wrote up a transaction document on the spot. Upon seeing the Cheongik Knights’ emblem that Se-arin carried, he immediately recognized it as genuine.

“Your identity is confirmed, so I’ll provide the goods first. The expenses will be billed to your headquarters, correct?”

“That’s usually how it works.”

“Well, I understand… My name is Talisman.”

After completing the transaction document, Talisman introduced himself and expressed curiosity about the swords Se-arin possessed.

“Given my profession, I can’t help but be interested in the swords you’re carrying. If it’s alright with you, could I examine them a bit? If you allow me that, I’ll give you something in return that you’ll find satisfactory.”

He was offering something just for showing him the swords. It wasn’t a difficult request. Se-arin untied her four swords and handed them over to Talisman.

The dwarf craftsman began examining the swords with careful hands. What was peculiar was that he didn’t grip the handles of the swords. As Se-arin stared at him, Talisman muttered in a low voice.

“These have spirits dwelling in them. I don’t know what might happen if they were touched by someone they haven’t permitted.”

Talisman handled Se-arin’s swords as if they were living beings. The Ice Dragon Sword, the Fire Dragon Sword, the Gonjeol Sword, and the Muramasa. Among the four swords, Talisman’s main interest was in the first two.

Looking down at the Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword, Talisman said, “Familiar yet strange techniques. Now I understand what the rumors about crossing over from another dimension meant.”

Swish-

Talisman put down the swords he had been examining and said to Se-arin, “Could I ask you for a favor? I’d like to examine these two swords a bit longer. I think a day would be enough…”

While simply showing them wasn’t a problem, it would be troublesome if the period extended too long. As Se-arin showed signs of refusal, Talisman hastily added:

“Wait, wait. If you allow me to examine those two swords thoroughly for about a day, I promise to make you a sword.”

“A sword, you say?”

“I hear that dragon scales from the Star Dragon will be the prize at the craftsmen’s competition. If I can learn from the techniques of our clan contained in your Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword, I can guarantee victory.”

Talisman beat his chest confidently. Se-arin thought briefly. In truth, it wasn’t a bad offer for her. Since she would be staying in this city for a while, she wouldn’t particularly need to use the swords anyway.

She could train, but that was only if her physical condition returned to normal. Se-arin nodded and said, “I won’t be far away.”

“Ah, of course. I had no intention of separating you from your swords either. Just stay nearby for about a day while I examine them.”

Their interests aligned. Se-arin and Talisman looked at each other and nodded.

“But, aren’t dragon scales extremely rare materials? You’re going to make a sword with them and give it to me? It’s good for me, but…”

“Look at me. I own the best blacksmith shop in Star Forge. I live a materially abundant life. Besides, I’m just a blacksmith. What good would it do me to possess exceptional items? I’m satisfied just being able to work with good materials.”

And so, Se-arin decided to stay at Talisman’s blacksmith shop for about a day.

The fire in the furnace at Talisman’s shop didn’t go out even as night fell and dawn approached. Being large in scale, he had an enormous number of employees.

The hot iron heated in the furnace was cooled with specially processed seawater. This explained why the dwarves’ city was located in the middle of the sea.

“Hmm… the more I look, the more impressive it is.”

In a spacious room.

Se-arin ate snacks while staring at the back of Talisman’s head. Sitting on the floor, he had brought a blank notebook, pen, and something like a measuring tape, endlessly recording observations as he examined the swords from various angles.

Occasionally, he would ask Se-arin to show how mana flowed over the swords.

“They were originally one sword… I see…”

“This isn’t our clan’s technique… I’ve never seen…”

“Did they strike with a soul embedded? The flow of the metal…”

Talisman’s excitement showed no signs of subsiding.