“This should pose no issue…”
With that, he drew his replica sword, the one he always used in training sessions. He had brought it as an example to show the blacksmith for the sword he wished to forge, as he was so accustomed to the feel of it.
“Hey, that thing don’t even have a blade or noth—”
“Shut up and watch.”
“Wh-what did you just say to me?!”
“Come now! Let’s just watch for a moment, Master Dalkin.”
Luke felt the sword in his hands for a moment, then adopted his stance. He dropped his hips just a little lower to the ground and, in the same movement, put his right foot forward while holding the blade on his right side.
Luke focused his mind, and the shift in his demeanor was dramatic and immediate. He radiated an intense, dangerous aura.
This is it.
The sight served as a grim reminder to Zack that the boy before him was a true monster. All Luke had done was take up his sword and get into position, but it was enough for everyone present to sense his power. They all saw it, including Dalkin. He was a blacksmith, but he knew his way around a sword well enough to know what he was seeing.
I’m the one who was prejudiced here. The boy’s an aristocrat, so I looked at him differently…
Luke’s strength was already undeniable, but Dalkin did not stop Luke from going ahead with the demonstration. He was overcome by the irrepressible desire to keep watching. He had to see what was going to happen next. Luke’s mind, however, was no longer open to anything but the target before him. His honed senses were focused intently on one thing, and one thing only.
His strike came so swiftly, it was barely perceptible.
Only Alfred, Canis, and Ferris were able to fully witness the technique—Alfred due to his years of training, and Canis and Ferris due to their superior senses as beastlings. Zack saw a flash of something, but it was fuzzy and indistinct. Dalkin couldn’t see a thing, but he did feel something happen.
The top half of the straw bale was severed from the bottom and dropped to the ground with a heavy whump.
“Wha—”
The cry of surprise came from Zack, who had still been watching in confusion as the bale hit the dirt and split into three pieces. To the untrained eye, what appeared to be a single movement had, in fact, been multiple swings of Luke’s sword. The small crowd in the yard remained quiet as the realization set in, and then one man broke the silence.
“Brilliant!”
A cry burst forth from Alfred’s very soul. He dropped suddenly to his knees and, raising his hands to the sky, shouted words of praise and admiration.
“Master Luke! I had no idea—absolutely no idea—that you had become so strong!”
“Huh?”
Luke stood aghast at Alfred’s transformation, and the situation only devolved from there.
“Hey, what do you think you’re—gah!”
Luke was interrupted by an unpleasant sniffle, followed by a choking sob.
For some reason, Dalkin had begun openly weeping. The moment that Luke saw tears glistening in his eyes, he knew at once that his choice had caused him the exact problem he feared it might. He called out for help.
“Hey, Zack! Do something!”
“Ehhh?!”
Entranced by the movements of Luke’s sword, Zack had been in something of a daze. He quickly snapped out of it as the pain in his stomach returned tenfold, thanks to the pandemonium unfolding before his eyes.
3
I KNEW IT. THERE’S THIS STRANGE LIGHT THAT gets focused into my sword, but…what is it? It clearly isn’t mana. It’s definitely something else; some strange power I can’t understand. Man, I feel like I might be missing some important settings option…
Whatever it is, it superpowers my strikes enough to make my bladeless practice sword sharper than any real blade.
I’ve been focusing on this new power recently while I train. I might not understand it fully yet, but I’m sure this’ll be the key to reaching new heights for me. I mean, my sword really is faster and sharper than ever. But it hasn’t reached its limit, and neither have I. No, I can go even higher. Mwa ha…the sword is so much fun.
“Er…Master Luke? Do you have a moment? Master Dalkin has something he’d like to say.”
“I’m sh-shooooooory!” Dalkin wailed as he made a mad dash to press his forehead to the dirt in front of me. “I w-w-waah…was w-wroooong! Just because y-you’re an aristocrat, I…I…w-waaah!”
I stared down at him in disgusted silence.
…Gross.
“Ah…I’m sorry! Master Dalkin’s a blacksmith, and so this sort of comes with the territory…b-but would you at least agree to hear him out? Please, Master Luke!”
I glanced at Zack. He bowed his head quickly, apparently sensing that I was losing patience with the blacksmith.
I don’t quite understand why, but I don’t hate this Zack character… I might actually quite like him, in fact. As a man, he’s of little consequence, but I feel a strange sort of fellowship with him. We only just met…wait, no, we fought once before, I think? Not that I recall.
“So…” Zack began again, but Dalkin interrupted.
“Please…accept this sword! I don’t need payment! Please! I want you to use this sword!!”
Dalkin held a sword out toward me. I drew it from its black sheath and saw my reflection in the silver gleam of the blade. I also felt strong mana in the sword. There was little difference between my beloved replica and this new sword, truthfully. In fact, it felt just as good in my hands.
Hmph. Marvelous.
“Old man, that thing’s mithril, right?” Zack said to the blacksmith. “Like, whoa, that sword’s a work of art, it’s way beyond what I’ve got. Ain’t mithril s’pposed to be real hard to work with, ’cause of how tough the stuff is…?”
“Yeah, it sure is. The sword’s made of mithril with a black dragonbone core. The guard’s made of black dragontooth, and there’s black dragonhide in the sheath. That right there’s my finest work, no two ways about it!!”
“B-black dragon?! How’d you get your hands on that?”
Oho! One of the various-hued dragons, then? I recall learning in a Monster Studies lecture that those are high-level monsters, second only to the elemental dragons and the dragon kings. I liked that class…the instructor told us all kinds of things that weren’t in the book. I’d been looking forward to the monster-hunting practicals that were due to take place this summer, but those blasted attackers took that away from me.
I took the sword from Dalkin’s hand and gave it a few light swings. It had a good weight to it, and it felt good to cut through the air with its blade.
This really is a good sword.
“Dalkin. I misjudged you.”
“O-oh…” he said with a small gasp. “I am ever so pleased to receive those words…”
“‘Ever so pleased’?!” Zack laughed. “Master Dalkin’s speakin’ like a gentleman now?!”
His insolence has been inexcusable, but I do like a man with true talent. I will forgive him. I am quite lenient, after all.
“You will take this money, however,” I informed him. “Alfred.”
“Yes, Master Luke.”
“Wait, please! I couldn’t accept pa—”
“Do not misunderstand me. This is an investment, which you will hereby use to forge me an even greater sword. Is that understood?”
“A-ah…I, er…I will! I promise!”
“He’s starting to irritate me again. Zack. Do something.”
“Why me?!”
I do want him to make me an even better sword, but that’s not the only reason. Honestly? I couldn’t bear being indebted to this man. That’s why I offered payment…but, man, it sure seems like he’s trying to make me regret it, the way he’s blubbering and wailing in the dirt at my feet. Come on, you’re a grown man!
But, hey, I guess I’ll leave that problem up to Zack.