Volume 3 Chapter 13 Treasure Sword
"I'm glad we were able to make the weapon safely, Mr. Fran."
"Y-yeah. It's all thanks to the two of you who went to gather the materials."
In a forest near the royal capital, we are currently searching for a certain monster.
According to Ms. Nemophila, it seems that a monster known as the 'Demon Sheep' has been appearing in large numbers in this forest recently.
It looks like a black sheep with long horns and has the ability to put its targets to sleep with a special sound wave emitted from its bleating.
This monster is so ferocious that even the royal capital has recommended its extermination, which is why we have come to the forest to hunt the Demon Sheep.
Our goal, of course, is to "enhance the sacred artifact.".
"Even though we managed to make the weapon safely, it's not complete yet, so I need to properly forge it. I'm not sure how much I can enhance it, though."
"With Mr. Roezé here, we'll be fine. Let's go without being nervous."
Saying that, Rose and Fran smiled at the same time.
Honestly, I feel more reassured by Rose and Cosmos being here than by my own presence.
However, I also want to support Fran with all my might, so I hope he can fight with confidence.
To be honest, I wanted to let him gain experience in a relatively safe area around Hyamars town, but if we accidentally break the sacred artifact, we'd have to remake it in the workshop inside the castle.
So, it's more convenient to hunt monsters in this forest.
"But, I wonder if anything has really changed? It feels like the sword I made before isn't that different..."
Fran holds the newly made sword in his hands and murmurs anxiously.
Indeed, it was almost identical to the worn-out sword he had made previously.
It looked like a dull, rusty sword, as if it had been chipped or corroded.
The material used was the steel-like bones of a mining dragon (mind lake), which primarily feeds on the ores from the rocky mountains and is considered one of the highest quality weapon materials.
From what I observed, there was nothing strange about Fran's forging process, so normally, he should be able to create a high-quality sword.
But the finished product looked like a worn-out sword that hadn't changed at all from before.
It was understandable that Fran felt anxious.
"It's okay. It's definitely different from the previous sword. The performance hasn't changed at all, but the name of the divine artifact we made this time is 'Sleeping Dragon Bone.'"
What I saw in my eyes as the divine revelation of the artifact was indeed something entirely different from the previous sword.
[Name] Sleeping Dragon Bone
[Level] 1
[Attack Power] 10
[Skill]
[Durability] 50/50
While the performance was the same, it was likely that the skills that would manifest and the growth rate would also be different.
Honestly, I still didn't know how much the performance would improve, but whether I cried or laughed, this was Fran's best effort at the moment.
"The previous sword also confirmed that it could level up through monster hunting, so I think either one could become a fine weapon with training. Just to compare, would it be okay to have Rose train this sword?"
"Yeah, I'd appreciate that."
Entrusting the 'Delicate Blade' artifact to Rose, we ventured deeper into the forest to search for the Demon Sheep.
Fran seemed to have steeled himself, but he was still slightly trembling, perhaps from fear.
To help ease that fear, I decided to chat casually.
"Didn't you say your dad was a blacksmith and got attacked by a monster while gathering materials? Did he go alone without any bodyguards?"
"Y-yeah. My dad didn't earn much as a blacksmith, so he couldn't afford to have guards. He had a lot of motivation and passion, but his weapon designs were quite 'unique,' and they didn't sell well."
"...I'd like to see that a little."
Fran seemed to relax a bit, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Then, perhaps recalling his father, he gazed at the sky and spoke happily.
"I thought my dad's weapons were really good, but no one recognized them. Still, he never gave up on his dream and kept forging weapons as a blacksmith."
"Your dad's dream?"
"...I mean, it's something every blacksmith dreams of at least once."
As I pondered what that could mean, Fran chuckled and explained.
"Have you ever heard of the 'Legendary Sword'?"
"Le...gendary sword?"
"To put it simply, it refers to the 'best weapon' of that era."
The best weapon...? I wondered what criteria determined that.
The expression seemed a bit vague, and as I tilted my head in confusion, Fran raised his voice slightly to elaborate.
"Once every ten years, the 'Sword Beauty Festival' is held in the Kingdom of Peat Moss. Skilled blacksmiths gather there to compete with their finest creations. It's not just about the weapon's performance; the beauty of its appearance is also judged. It's a grand stage where the craftsmanship and creativity of blacksmiths are put to the test."
"Is it similar to the weapon and armor auction held in Hyamars town?"
"Well, if anything, the auction is more like the Sword Beauty Festival. The festival has been around for a long time, and it seems to have started when blacksmiths began to emerge, as a way for them to test their skills."
"Really? I didn't know that."
So, the auction in Hyamars town is a more recent development.
Perhaps it was inspired by the Sword Beauty Festival, leading to the establishment of a specialized auction for weapons and armor.
"The weapons recognized as the 'best' at the Sword Beauty Festival are called 'Legendary Swords.' My father admired those swords and dreamed of creating one someday. But when he went into the forest to gather materials, he was attacked by a monster..."
"..."
Just by looking at Fran's sad expression, I understood the rest without him needing to say more.
So, I remained silent, and Fran declared with a passionate voice.
"That's why I want to create a Legendary Sword one day, to honor my father and be recognized as a top blacksmith. It's the only way I can atone for my father's loss."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)