Chapter 298 : The Indigo Sword

Sniff, sniff.

What was this?

It smelled of metal.

The smell of steel that had overflowed here and there in the process of heating and handling iron was soaking the workshop.

It was clean and sharp, and at the same time, it had a slight acidity and a feeling of iron.

The smell of sweat also joined in.

It exuded a feeling of a wild and rough man's space.

Just from that smell, it was as if I could hear the clanging sound of metal as an auditory hallucination.

"I am Banshua."

I introduced myself and looked at Ophosis in front of me.

Even though he had gone back quite a few years, he was an old man with white hair.

However, his sturdy body was not at all like an old man's.

His work clothes, stained with soot and soaked with sweat, overflowed with a rough, wild beauty.

His height was... a little on the short side, about a head shorter than me.

But rather, I felt intimidated.

A small giant was in front of me.

"Yes, you were looking for me?"

His eyes were sharp.

They were the eyes of a boy who had forgotten his age.

It was like looking at a blade that was shining red in a dark blacksmith's shop.

"Yes. I wanted to meet you someday."

This was sincere.

I knew him, but he didn't know me.

Woong—

The necklace hidden inside my clothes began to tremble slightly.

But rather, the vibration was smaller than when I had met Hans, so I was a little relieved.

Ophosis held my hand and looked at me blankly, and then said.

"You can go now."

"Yes."

Hans obediently retreated.

Ophosis let go of my hand and observed me silently for a while.

I was also busy taking in the sight of the master blacksmith, who would never appear in the world again, so I didn't feel particularly uncomfortable.

After looking me up and down for a long time, and looking into my eyes, Ophosis opened his mouth.

"You are a rare swordsman."

Was that a positive meaning?

Or a negative meaning?

There was room for interpretation.

"Is that so?"

Ophosis wiped his sweat with a towel and said.

"I'm not a swordsman, so I don't know for sure, but as a sword maker, there's something I feel..."

"What is it?"

Ophosis crossed his arms and nodded.

"You are indeed not ordinary. Especially your eyes."

"Hmm."

"Your atmosphere... is very dangerous. It's utterly ominous. It feels like I'm looking at a demon that has crawled up from hell."

"..."

I could hear the Heavenly Demon chuckling softly.

[How accurate. As expected of a master.]

Should I take this as a compliment, or as a curse?

In any case, he was an old man who was unsparing in his evaluation.

"May I see your sword?"

"Yes."

I slowly drew my sword and handed it to Ophosis.

When he touched the Night Sky Sword, he ran his fingertips over the black blade and nodded.

And when I handed him the silver sword of Hans, which had been broken in half, his eyes widened.

"Do you use it like this?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"By raising my aura here."

"Can you show me?"

When I held the sword and demonstrated, Ophosis exclaimed.

"Ooh!"

His eyes sparkled.

They were the eyes of a boy who had discovered a star.

Wouldn't Linda make this kind of face when she found a new kind of poison?

"Well... it's about this much."

Ophosis, who had been exclaiming in admiration, shook his head and was impressed.

"Heh, that's... amazing for a young age. I can't even guess what level you've reached. I don't know if the conceited royal knights would be a match for you."

"Ahem. You flatter me."

When I cleared my throat, the Heavenly Demon picked a fight with me for no reason.

[Are you happy?]

"Ahem, ahem."

[He's happy.]

How could I not be happy to be recognized by a master blacksmith who would never appear in the world again?

"Banshua, Banshua..."

Ophosis muttered my name as if he were chewing on it.

"I don't know why I've never heard of you. At this age, with this level of skill, it's strange that your name isn't known."

"Ahem. I'm a bit shy."

The Heavenly Demon chuckled.

[What a load of bullshit.]

Ophosis also seemed to have a similar thought and smiled at me.

"You're a funny knight."

I wanted to talk more with Ophosis, but.

Woong—

I felt the vibration of the necklace getting slightly stronger, so I immediately got to the point.

"By the way, I heard that the sixth famous sword has been completed."

Ophosis threw the towel he had used to wipe his sweat and said.

"Would you like to see it?"

I looked at the towel that was swaying on the anvil and answered.

"Yes."

"Follow me."

Ophosis led me deep into the blacksmith's shop.

He asked as he walked ahead.

"Did you come to see a sword you like?"

"Yes."

"But what to do. They are not ordinary, picky fellows."

"They're just swords."

Ophosis laughed.

"Usually, the swordsman chooses the sword. But, these guys are different. The sword chooses its master. If it doesn't recognize you, it won't give you its power. Without their recognition, it's just a very sturdy sword."

"What arrogant bastards. I'll have to show them who's boss."

Ophosis laughed out loud.

It was a hearty laugh, then and now.

"Try your best. However, this is what I think. There's a reason for that. They are guys who are qualified to be arrogant."

"We'll have to see about that."

"Yes, yes."

Ophosis chuckled as if he found something so funny and walked ahead.

When he entered a dark room, Ophosis turned on the magic light bulb on the ceiling and then rummaged through a pile of swords.

"It should be around here..."

I looked around the room.

It was a place that looked like a warehouse, with all sorts of weapons piled up by type.

And among them, Ophosis was digging through a grave of swords.

My expectation was this.

If it was a famous sword of Ophosis, it would be displayed on the wall.

It would be carefully stored, with its blade sharpened and polished every day.

But in reality, it was just thrown in a corner of the warehouse with all the other swords.

It was quite impressive that he didn't give special treatment to the famous sword.

It also seemed eccentric.

Did it mean that to him, it was no different from the other swords?

Or, as the saying goes, if you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest, did he hide it among the other swords?

"Ah, I found it."

Anyway, after rummaging for a long time, Ophosis pulled out a sword from the sea of swords, and then, holding its blade up to the light, he carefully examined it.

And he held out the hilt of the sword to me.

"Try holding it."

"Yes."

As its name suggested, it was a mysterious sword with a blade dyed indigo.

It had a luxurious feel, and it was so glossy that it had the feel of silk.

If you looked at it quietly, it was as if the blade were churning like the sea.

I couldn't help but think, 'What a famous sword.'

"You, the more I see you, the more I like you. I hope this guy chooses you."

"What a coincidence. I also like you, old man."

"Hahaha!"

"Hehehe!"

"Alright, just try holding it."

"Yes."

"Among the guys I've made, this one is particularly arrogant, so it won't be easy."

I glanced at the black bracelet on my wrist.

'Are you ready?'

I gripped the indigo sword.

Soon, a very arrogant voice was heard.

[Who are you?]

I checked the black bracelet, which had started to absorb its power, and then opened my mouth.

"Nice to meet you. I am Banshua, a man who enjoys rumination."

The guy snorted.

[Banshua? What a strange name.]

I just said whatever came to mind to buy some time.

I don't know how it started, but in the end, most of the words that came out of my mouth were bullshit.

"You disrespectful, arrogant thing. You haven't met the right person yet. Your master has come, so worship me. Be happy! The savior who will save you from becoming kindling has finally arrived. Will you dance with me? Or will you spend the rest of your life at the bottom of the deep, dark sea, watching the fish?"

Ophosis's expression, who was watching me, turned strange.

It was as if he were trying to hold back his laughter.

It was also as if he had received a great shock.

In any case.

An arrogant laugh flowed from the sword.

Even the laugh was arrogant.

[What a crazy bastard. You should be bowing down to me, but you dare to say such nonsense. How dare you talk to me so carelessly! You are not qualified to use me.]

I was rejected as soon as I grabbed it.

But I couldn't let go yet.

Because my cute bracelet hadn't finished its job yet.

"What is this bullshit? Was it a dog's tail that I grabbed? Or a dog's front paw? My vessel is wide. A mere sword cannot tell me what to do. The only ones who can judge me are me and the Heavenly Demon in my head."

[...Did you just say a mere sword?]

It was an angry voice.

As if to represent its feelings, the sword trembled slightly and a light flashed from its blade.

"Did I say something wrong? What's the meaning of a sword if there's no swordsman to wield it? Is there any difference from kindling?"

[K-kindling? Did you just say kindling?]

I picked my ear and muttered.

"The kindling is talking."

[You bastard! Take it back right now! Otherwise...]

"Otherwise?"

[I'll make you regret it.]

It was a very solemn voice.

I picked my nose and replied.

"Uh, try it."

[You bastard...! I'll mess you up inside!]

It was a guy who was so angry that he was roaring.

Listening to it, I thought it wouldn't be bad if it sank to the bottom of the sea.

I laughed softly and said.

"That doesn't seem like a very good idea. There's a scary monster living inside."

[Hmph! It's too late to regret it! I'll show you who's boss!]

To think it couldn't understand even after I had warned it.

There was nothing more I could do.

[Here I coooome!]

I could feel some kind of energy coming up my arm and advancing into my mind.

However, since the result was obvious, I just yawned and waited quietly for the black bracelet to complete its mission.

How much time had passed like that?

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds.

[Hwaaaaaak!]

The guy screamed and jumped out.

Woong!

The sword trembled.

Light flashed wildly without rest.

[M-monster! Get away! Get away! Aaaah! Kyaaaak!]

When did it ever spit out words so arrogantly?

It was a guy who was making a fuss as if it had seen a ghost.

"Mmm?"

Ophosis's expression, who was watching from the side, turned strange.

Woooong!

I stared blankly at the guy who was flashing and making a fuss, and then said.

"Master, what did you do?"

[Nothing in particular?]

"It's a reaction as if you definitely did something."

The Heavenly Demon muttered in an indifferent tone.

[I was just looking at it because it was strange, and it's making a fuss on its own.]

It seemed it was a more timid fellow than I thought.

Blade had bravely attacked me even after being beaten by the Heavenly Demon.

By then, the bracelet had become quiet.

I stealthily looked inside, and sure enough, an indigo band that was shining gently was engraved.

"Hmm."

This was the fourth.

There were five more to go.

I smiled with satisfaction and was about to return the sword... and I flinched.

"Hmm..."

At some point, Ophosis was looking at my bracelet with a very interested expression.

It was not much different from the expression he had when he had seen the aura that had risen from the half-sword a little while ago.

"What is that bracelet? It doesn't seem like an ordinary object."

Woong...!

The vibration of the necklace grew stronger.

"May I see it?"

...Damn it.

(End of Chapter)