Volume 3 Chapter 18 The Birth Cry Of The Master Craftsman
"W-What is that sword...?"
The reaction was completely different from when Brue's Sapphire Longsword was revealed.
It was as if an unexpected masterpiece had suddenly appeared, leaving the audience speechless.
Everyone was fixated on the red straight sword placed on the stage, frozen like stone.
"..."
Meanwhile, Brue was sweating on his forehead, trembling secretly with fear.
(Did Fran really forge that...?)
An incredibly pure red blade.
The sword had a depth of luster unlike anything seen before.
Yet, the edge was honed to perfection, leaving no doubt about the skill of the Blacksmith who crafted it.
Even the experts, who had seen countless works from skilled Blacksmiths, were captivated by the red straight sword.
"W-What is this...! I can't believe a piece from an unknown Blacksmith has completely taken over the atmosphere of this venue...! This is truly an extraordinary masterpiece..."
The female host was also trembling as she gazed at the straight sword.
Eventually, she seemed to remember something and shifted her gaze to Fran, resuming the auction.
"Is this the work of Mr. Flax, am I correct?"
"Y-Yes. I am Flax."
"This sword is named 'Dragon Bone red Sword.' Is there a reason for that?"
It was the same question she had asked Brue earlier.
Fran's response was somewhat dull.
"I think it's because it was made from the bones of Mind Lake."
"You think?"
"Ah, no... 'That's why'."
It was a curious response, but the host moved on without dwelling on it.
"Like the Aquaite chosen by Mr. Brue, the bones from Mind Lake are also known for being difficult to work with. However, I had never heard of achieving such vivid colors and luster. Truly, this is the work of a craftsman."
"N-No..."
Receiving straightforward praise, Fran twisted shyly.
Brue, watching from below the stage, clenched his teeth, his head feeling hot.
(Wh-what's up with that sword...! Why does he have something like that...!)
All the weapons he had made until now were just worn-out junk.
How could Fran, who seemed to have no potential, create such a sword? Could it be a copy? No, he wouldn't take such a gamble on this big stage.
There were experts here who had seen countless swordsmiths' works.
Anyone could tell who made the weapon just by looking at it, so the fact that no one mentioned it made that possibility quite low.
In other words, it was genuinely Fran's own creation.
While Brue was in shock, the introduction of Fran's sword continued.
"This sword not only looks good, but its performance as a weapon is also highly anticipated. Now, as is customary, we would like to see a demonstration with a dummy."
At that moment, a dummy was brought in from the side of the stage again.
The previous one had been broken by Brue, so this time it was a brand new one without any damage.
Once it was set up in the center of the stage, the woman asked Fran.
"Will you do it yourself? Or..."
"Ah, um, I would like someone else to demonstrate it, if possible."
Unlike Brue, Fran didn't intend to demonstrate it himself.
Instead, he wanted someone from the staff to do it and simultaneously made a request.
"And if possible, I would prefer someone who is weaker..."
"Y-you want to ask a weaker person to do the demonstration?"
"Y-yes."
When Fran nodded, the auction organizers exchanged confused glances.
A request to ask a weaker person was puzzling.
If they were going to demonstrate the sword, clearly someone experienced would be more suitable.
If they entrusted it to a weaker person, there was a risk of mishandling the weapon and damaging it.
Therefore, the people involved exchanged looks as if to ask, 'Who will do it?' and ultimately their eyes landed on someone on stage.
"...Huh? M-me!?"
The one chosen was the female host standing on the stage.
She was clearly petite and undoubtedly one of the weaker individuals among the participants.
"W-well, I've never swung a sword before... Is that really okay...?"
"Yes, it's fine. In fact, I wanted someone like you to give it a try..."
"Uh..."
The host looked anxious.
If she showed a clumsy performance here, the evaluation of the items would drop significantly.
If she couldn't even leave a scratch on the dummy with her poor sword skills, this sword would definitely lose its value.
Failure was absolutely not allowed.
"Ah, of course, it's dangerous, so you can decline if you want."
"...N-no. As the host, I need to experience things like this. Please, let me do it."
The female host, sweating nervously, accepted the role of the demonstrator.
Then she bowed her head and picked up the Dragon Bone Red Sword.
"Ah, it's surprisingly 'light.' I think I can manage with this..."
As she gripped the straight sword with both hands to check its balance, voices of confusion began to rise from various parts of the venue.
"W-well, as expected, Mr. Brue's sword is probably superior in performance."
"Just because it uses the same rare materials doesn't mean the skill level is the same between Mr. Brue and an unknown blacksmith."
"Is it really okay to leave it to that host...?"
Brue thought the same thing and secretly smirked.
(Leaving the demonstration to an amateur is the height of foolishness. I don't know how much confidence he has, but this is where it ends for her.)
Amidst the mocking voices, the host woman stood in front of the dummy once more.
Gathering the gazes of the crowd, she raised the Dragon Bone Red Sword with a tense expression.
"Well, here I go..."
She swallowed hard and let out a rather pitiful voice that echoed from her stomach.
"Se, seyaaah!"
The red straight sword was swung down vertically at the dummy.
It was a rough strike that lacked any sharpness, relying solely on its weight.
The audience watched from a distance, laughing heartily at the amateurish sight.
BOOMMM!!!
"──What!?"
A powerful vibration spread throughout the venue, centered around the stage.
Looking closer, the wooden puppet that had been struck by the sword was not just cut; it was shattered into pieces, scattering everywhere.
That wasn't all.
"T-the stage is..."
The sword that had been swung down pierced through the brick stage floor, embedding the blade deeply.
Seeing more than half of the blade sunk in, the audience gasped in shock.
Similarly, Brue was frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened right in front of him.
Eventually, the dazed woman snapped back to reality and began to panic.
"I-I'm so sorry!!! I didn't mean to break the stage, but I felt this incredible power overflowing...!"
"..."
The audience's confusion only grew with her vague explanation.
To clear their doubts, the woman desperately added more.
"From the moment I held this sword, it felt like some power was overflowing, and I even had the illusion that I had become 'stronger.' I can't explain it well, but this sword has some special power!"
"W-what the heck...?"
Brue's mutter reflected what everyone in the venue was thinking.
What kind of power was hidden in the sword that Fran had struck? Brue felt his anxiety rise and glared at Fran on the stage.
The audience's suspicious gazes also turned toward Fran, who steeled himself to respond.
"My Dragon Bone Red Sword holds the same 'Divine Revelation' that humans possess."
"D-Divine Revelation...?"
"By fighting monsters, the weapon's level increases, enhancing its performance. Also, it has a special 'skill' that affects the wielder."
"..."
Divine Revelation and skill.
Those were contained within the sword.
The casual way he stated this fact left everyone's minds in a whirl.
(Wh-what is he talking about...?)
As the people in the venue were left in shock, Fran, thinking his explanation was lacking, added more details.
"The Dragon Bone Red Sword has a skill called 'Dragon Soul' that enhances the wielder's power. Because of that, the female host was able to maximize her strength... to the limit."
Not used to so many eyes on him, Fran's voice trailed off uncertainly.
This seemed to stir the audience's skepticism, and harsh voices began to rise from all around.
"Don't spout nonsense! There's no way a weapon can have Divine Revelation!"
"Bad lies will only worsen the impression of the auction participants!"
"That host woman is in cahoots, and she's just strong by herself, right?"
"W-Wait, I'm not strong at all! I'm not in cahoots either!"
Eventually, even the host who had cooperated with the demonstration was doubted, and Fran's eyes darted around in panic.
Just then, he seemed to have an idea and raised his voice to the crowd.
"Y-Yes, it might have been a bit unclear just now. So, I would like you to see another skill that resides in this sword."
After that, Fran asked, "Is there anyone willing to help with the demonstration?" Immediately, the skeptical guests began to raise their hands.
He pointed to a young man in the front row who raised his hand first and invited him up to the stage.
Even as Brue cast a doubtful glance, Fran handed the sword to the second demonstrator.
"Now, please hold the Dragon Bone Red Sword and think 'Fly'."
"Fly?"
In an instant──.
The young man's body lifted as if rising from the surface of the water...
And he gently "flew".
"...Huh?"
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