Ch.5858. What is the Sword For (1)

“You should get a new sword.”

The Holy Sword suddenly said that. I was in the middle of sword training. Recently, my skill had improved to the point where I could immediately understand the comments the Holy Sword occasionally made. The Holy Sword seemed to have taken quite an interest in teaching me, and I was also enjoying wielding the sword and following its guidance. Even after hearing the Holy Sword’s suggestion, I prioritized finishing my sword form. Stepping forward with a downward slash. The sound of the blade cutting through the air echoed around me.

“A new sword?”

I sheathed the Holy Sword and asked while wiping my sweat with a towel. Late summer. We were approaching the end of August. The summer sun, as if trying to leave one last greeting, burned more intensely than ever, heating the ground, and I shook my head at the rising heat with each step I took.

“Every time you’re in a crisis, you pull out dual swords, but you can’t always borrow a sword from someone else like you did during the fourth calamity.”

I frowned and nodded. Dual-wielding definitely increased my combat power by a significant margin. Even if I normally used just the Holy Sword, I should always be prepared to draw dual swords. After all, there’s no guarantee someone will always be by my side. I flexed my left hand, recalling the feel of the fine sword that Grand Duke Quenore Strope had lent me in the north. It wasn’t as good as the Holy Sword, but it was still a good, strong blade that wasn’t far behind.

“Do you think such weapons just fall from the sky?”

The Holy Sword said in a slightly sharper voice, as if scolding me. Who’s fault is it that my standards for weapons have become so high, and yet you say this?

“…Anyway, such weapons are made by master craftsmen using good metals from the start, but they’re born through time, history, and accumulated magical power. Rather than looking for a weapon like that or someone like me right away, finding a sword that fits your hand well and is sturdy should be your priority.”

The Holy Sword’s voice softened for some reason. I tapped the end of the sword’s hilt with my finger and looked up at the sky.

“An armory, a blacksmith…”

I recalled the only blacksmith I knew from the original story. The forge that Aryen Elmione visited to replace his broken weapon after rescuing Isis Blume. I didn’t know exactly where it was since I’d only read about it in text, but maybe I could just wander around the blacksmith guild area and look around.

“If you’re not sure, I can help you evaluate. I should be able to give you enough advice to prevent you from making a mistake.”

Well, the Holy Sword would certainly have a better eye for swords than a person. I looked at the sword hilt with its engraved flower crown pattern. I wonder how long it takes to make a sword? There’s no harm in getting it made quickly, so I should head to the blacksmith guild. Marianne would be at the church today, George at the knights’ order, and Daphne said she was studying the magic and mana developed in Evernode.

“Well then, let’s go take a look.”

After making simple preparations to go out, I left the office. By simple preparations, I mean the dark green hood I had to wear in this hot summer. Since defeating the giant, even more people recognized me, so I always had to wear a hood even for brief outings. Fortunately, I could dispel some of the heat by circulating mana; otherwise, I would have been drenched in sweat the moment I stepped outside. Plus, I was heading to the blacksmith guild area where the heat from the furnaces would be intense. It wouldn’t be surprising if my flesh got cooked.

“There must be a reason why master craftsmen are called masters.”

A good sword feels different from an ordinary one from the moment you hold it. The weight. The way the weight is distributed along the blade, the hardness and strength. How it responds when I channel mana through it.

“If you don’t like one, you can always get another. It’s not like you don’t have the money.”

That’s true. But it’s better to get it right the first time.

I was becoming somewhat familiar with the alleyways of the royal capital. Roads spread out like a spider web from the palace at the center, with buildings standing between them. The blacksmith alley should be to the left from here.

The sound of hammering metal is loud. Even though I had just entered the vicinity of the alley, I could already hear the hammering. Grinders sat here and there throughout the alley like street vendors, carefully eyeing the waists of passing pedestrians. They were looking for people with worn or dull swords.

“If you’re not careful, they’ll ask to see me too.”

Someone who had just entered the blacksmith alley was caught by a grinder. He had an old sword, and the grinder practically dragged him to sit opposite his mat, asking to see the sword. When he naively drew his sword to show it, the grinder clicked his tongue and scolded, “Aiyah! This needs to be sharpened right now! Why have you neglected it for so long!” I turned my gaze forward again.

“They’re all glancing at you too.”

People who come for grinding are obvious. They keep glancing at the grinders. Like someone visiting a fish market for the first time. They should have avoided eye contact like me.

“…What a fascinating sight.”

Indeed. It’s quite chaotic.

The heat from the furnaces already filled the street. I passed by blacksmiths busy hammering iron and approached one who had just finished making a sword and hung it on the wall.

“Not taking customers now.”

The blacksmith said curtly.

“I’m not placing an order, I’m looking for a specific blacksmith. Do you know where Jorge’s forge is?”

The blacksmith narrowed his eyes at me.

“Jorge? That man’s taking a day off today. He’ll probably be back tomorrow. Why, do you want to commission him?”

“Yes. Could you tell me where his forge is located?”

The blacksmith nodded and pointed deeper into the alley.

“There, the third one on the left side inside is Jorge’s forge.”

“…Thank you.”

I thanked the blacksmith and turned away. The blacksmiths were still busy hammering iron and stoking fires.

“What will you do? If you were looking for a specific blacksmith, shall we just go back?”

Hmm, I pressed my lips together. Since the Holy Sword offered to help evaluate swords, there would be no harm in looking around at other forges.

“Will you help me?”

“I’ll let you know if there’s a forge that makes decent swords. That last one certainly wasn’t it.”

The Holy Sword was quite harsh in evaluating swords. I gave a wry smile and walked deeper into the alley.

“That blacksmith isn’t bad, but I don’t think he’ll make a sword that suits you.”

“Not this blacksmith either. He makes flashy swords with little substance.”

The Holy Sword’s standards were exacting. After all, this was a weapon for a hero. There was no room for compromise or settling for a merely decent sword. I followed the Holy Sword’s guidance without complaint. Rather, I was a bit excited at the thought of having my own sword made.

“If there’s nothing here, let’s visit the blacksmith you had in mind tomorrow. I didn’t expect it would be so difficult to find someone who could make a sword worthy of you.”

“Let’s look at a few more places before we go.”

I said as I entered an alley lined with relatively small forges. It seemed to be where less experienced smiths or stubborn craftsmen who didn’t take many commissions gathered. Unlike the main alley with its constant hammering, here the sound of metal being struck was sporadic.

“This doesn’t seem much different either.”

The Holy Sword commented after seeing the first two forges. It seems the saying that good swords don’t just fall from the sky is true. Not only the Holy Sword, but I too looked around for a good sword, but couldn’t find one that satisfied me.

“So we have no choice but to come back tomorrow…”

Well, that would be the most reliable option. I sighed and was about to turn around at the end of the alley when I spotted a blacksmith. A blade was nearing completion. It wasn’t a sword, nor did it seem to be a weapon. Probably an ordinary kitchen knife. However, the blade being pulled out from the acid bath captured my attention more powerfully than any weapon I had seen today.

“…You saw it too?”

“Yes.”

That’s the one.

I felt a strong, almost certain intuition. As if entranced, I approached the blacksmith who was wiping the kitchen knife with a cloth. It was a tall female blacksmith with moderate muscle definition. She had tied her hair up to avoid it getting in the way while working with metal, and was dripping with sweat from the summer heat and the furnace. She continued working on the kitchen knife, then suddenly spoke to greet me.

“What brings you here?”

“I’d like to commission a sword.”

The blacksmith raised her head to look at me. Her gaze was as sharp as any knight’s. Orange hair and green eyes. The blacksmith studied me carefully, then wiped her hands on her apron. Her hands were a mess of calluses and burn scars.

“If it’s sword-making, there are plenty who do it better than me. You don’t need to come all the way here; just go to the main alley and enter any forge, and they’ll make you a good sword.”

“I’ve looked around everywhere. Nothing quite satisfied me.”

I gestured slightly toward the main street and shook my head. The blacksmith looked at me with one hand on her hip. Her eyebrows, dirty with iron filings and soot, curved.

“If those don’t satisfy you, there’s nothing my forge can do for you.”

“You can’t fool a discerning eye.”

I said, looking at the kitchen knife the blacksmith had just completed. The blacksmith looked down at the blade, then let out a small sigh.

“I don’t make swords. I’m sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you looked elsewhere.”

I looked at the blacksmith. Her eyes firmly rejected my request.

“It would be difficult to find a better sword elsewhere than what this blacksmith could make.”

The Holy Sword’s voice came to me. There could be no compromise. To face the calamities, compromise was not an option.

“Is there no way at all?”

I rummaged through my pocket and took out a check I had intended to invest in making a sword, scribbled a price on it, and placed it on the counter. 500,000 gold. I don’t think it’s an insufficient amount for making a sword. When else would I use the budget allocated to the party if not now?

The blacksmith’s eyes widened as she looked at the amount on the check, then narrowed again. She placed her hand on the check, hesitated, then withdrew it.

“With this much money, you could have the best forge in the kingdom make whatever sword you want, even without me.”

“I’ll pay separately for the cost of procuring the metal.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t make swords. No matter who asks. Even if the hero or the queen herself came to ask…”

I immediately pulled down my hood. The blacksmith met my eyes and blinked.

“Why are you coming out of there…?”