123. Baek A (1)

Kkang-! Kkang-!

The sound of a hammer hitting the sword on the anvil. The sound of the blacksmith’s rough breathing, the sound of melting iron, and the sound of the iron cooling down when it is immersed in water.

Chi-Ik-!

The fishy smell of iron pierces your nose. The blazing furnace was stirring, creating haze in the midwinter air. Therefore, the color of the forge is a combination of harsh iron and intense red light that stings the eyes, making it shine heavily and reverently. In the middle of the workshop, a blacksmith who was said to be the best craftsman in the kingdom stood holding a hammer.

There was no call for an assistant, no muttering to oneself. As if the craftsman had become a machine that quenched the iron, he repeatedly pounded, heated, cooled, and polished the iron. Only one new order came in this month. Even that, with the sword already finished, was quietly lying in its scabbard, waiting for its new owner. The rest was the work of repairing the swords made for the existing regulars.

“This guy is done now.”

The polishing of one sword was finished. The tattered sword with its dying blade was dazzlingly shining as if it had just been born. The blacksmith calmly placed the sword on the pedestal and began preparing for the next task. In the eyes of the craftsman who kept the heat in the furnace while working the bellows, the sword to be worked on next came into view.

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Next, it will be your turn.

The craftsman put in black iron and picked up a sword with a black blade. The blade wasn’t badly damaged, but the owner of the sword cared for his sword like a child, so he regularly sharpened the blade and came to get paid. This time, with a big event called the martial arts competition coming up, maybe he just wanted to fix it.

‘I’ll have to sharpen the blade, oil it, and keep it shiny.’

The blacksmith picked up the sword after finishing the idea of how to sharpen the sword in his head. Sitting in front of the grinder, I pressed the pedal that touched my feet, and the grinder started with a sharp sound. The craftsman gently brought the sword to the grinding machine and sharpened the sword. When it was first made, it was so sharp that it even cut off the palm of its craftsman.

smart smart

There was a knock on the workshop door, but it was a sound that did not reach the ears of the artisan sharpening the sword. The craftsman continued to step on the pedal to save the blade.

smart smart

Even the second knocking could not be heard by the craftsman. A few minutes to sharpen the sword like that. When the artisan, who had sharpened the blade, got up from his seat, a customer knocked on the studio door for the third time.

smart smart

The craftsman finally heard the knock and put the sword down for a moment. Ten years ago, a visitor who came while he was working on something else would have screamed and kicked it out, but the passing years and his late grandson have softened even the rugged and obstinate personality of the craftsman.

“Yes, who are you?”

Did the sword I entrusted to you come back? The craftsman sighed and opened the studio door. Then, when he saw an unfamiliar knight standing in front of the door, he frowned.

“This is Thomas Zimmer’s workshop, right?”

The knight was looking at his father-in-law, Thomas, with black hair and the same black eyes. For some reason, Thomas raised his eyebrows with interest in the unique atmosphere of the knight looking at him.

“I am Thomas Zimmer.”

At the father-in-law’s answer, the knight nodded and continued to ask questions calmly. Those eyes were staring at the furnace where the flames were heating up in full swing.

“You’re at work, so sorry for popping in here. Anyway, I have something to ask of you today.”

When the knight gave an example, Thomas didn’t just give a vague answer. However, it was not difficult to guess why he came to the workshop now.

“Are you also participating in the martial arts competition? I heard that today is the day for the 1st qualifying round, but seeing that they came to my workshop, they must have already passed the 1st qualifying round.”

The knight tried to explain the situation, but when he realized that his father-in-law had already figured out all of his circumstances, he let out a dejected laugh.

“you’re right. Meister seems to have already figured out the situation, so of course he must have figured out what my request was.”

“Either sharpen the sword, or make a new one. It’s obvious. Since you’ve never visited my workshop, it’s probably the latter. Isn’t it?”

The knight nodded. The craftsman tried to figure out what kind of knight it was by looking at the knight’s posture, breathing, and atmosphere. If you are a craftsman, you should be able to grasp not only the sword, but also the person who handles the sword. However, the knight standing in front of his father-in-law now had a different atmosphere than any other knight he had ever seen.

‘I think I’ve felt it somewhere.’

Faint clues kept tickling a corner of the father-in-law’s memory. It was hard to recall because it was so old, but the father-in-law could confirm that he had felt that feeling before. The knight looked at his father-in-law silently and thoughtfully for a while, then took a step back and watched him.

“Can I see the sword you were using?”

It was bound to leave traces on the sword. What mana was contained, who used what aura, with what swordsmanship and how he cut and killed someone. The knight hesitated after hearing the father-in-law’s request, and then released the sword from the belt of his waist and handed it to the father-in-law.

“Here it is.”

“Thank you. I’ll just take a look and return it.”

The history of the sword is the history of its owner. Thomas pulled the sword out of the scabbard, full of curiosity about the history of the unknown young knight’s sword. At first glance, it was an ordinary iron sword that could not feel any energy. The quality wasn’t bad, but it was at a level that didn’t deviate from military supplies. However, the sword body was completely ruined and was on the verge of death. To take a closer look at the sword, the craftsman put his hand on the blade and looked into it.

‘You cut someone. Not one or two. And he must have cut ten times as many demons… , for a moment.’

It wasn’t an old sword. However, the more I looked at the sword, the deeper the karma the sword had built up. The traces left on the body of the sword, the atmosphere that the sword exudes. What this sword cut through was not a monster or a person. Thomas couldn’t quite guess what the sword was cutting. Thomas’ eyes began to tremble.

“… Hey, what did you cut with this sword?”

—

Did he read any history from the sword? The old craftsman studied the sword alone for quite some time, then raised his head and asked a question. Maxim narrowed his eyes as he listened to his father-in-law’s question. It was still the sword he used when he was a member of the Raven Knights. It was also the sword that cut the heads of Death Worm and Behemoth.

“I cut the Witchbeast.”

At Maxim’s answer, Thomas, the father-in-law, frowned.

“Of course you must have cut the beast, man. Surely you’re not answering like that because you don’t even know what I’m asking?”

Maxim let out a deep sigh as he saw Thomas return to the image of a resolute and stubborn craftsman.

“I know. However, Meister must have known that I had no intention of answering.”

“yes. Most knights like you have at least one such reason. This is the first time I haven’t figured it out. I wish I could find out what swordsmanship you use… .”

The craftsman grunted and turned the sword around. Then, as if something flashed into his mind, he froze on the spot with his sword in his hand. Maxim looks at the father-in-law, who has suddenly frozen in place, as if he is used to it. The craftsman immediately raised his sword, put his nose to the blade, and began to smell it. If I keep going like this, I’ll lick it with my tongue and taste it. Maxim looked at his father-in-law anxiously.

“This… .”

The craftsman lifted his head from the sword and looked at Maxim in disbelief. What else did you find out this time? Maxim looked at his father-in-law anxiously.

“Their swords are mysterious. As it is a sword wielded as one with the world, it also has the opposite tendency to Aura, which is the power to go against the world. And it also takes a long time to learn. Or someone whose sword skills are unusual.”

Maxim’s expression stiffened slightly, and the father-in-law continued to explain as if muttering to himself.

“I don’t know why a knight who used to use his original aura changed to a sword like this after locking up his own aura.”

Thomas raised his head to face Maxim. Maxim could feel the depth and sharpness of his father-in-law’s eyes piercing him.

“Hey, you’re using a non-human sword.”

sh*t.

In an instant, the air in the studio became chilly. Maxim’s gaze instantly turned into a life-filled light and stared at his father-in-law. The hot furnace was overshadowed, and Thomas felt a cold sweat running down his back. was it a mistake Maxim inwardly sharpened his sword again. Thomas hurriedly waved his hand, trying to calm Maxim’s life.

“Wait, wait! this man Please listen to what I have to say.”

Maxim did not answer and looked at his father-in-law. It was just a gaze, but the craftsman could really feel the sensation as if a blade was being thrust into my neck. Thomas swallowed dryly.

“It’s pretty old. Probably at least 15 years. There was a strange guest who came to my workshop.”

Thomas recalled the sight from memory and explained.

“It was a guest wearing a hood. Just like you ask me now, I asked you to make me a sword.”

The mysterious atmosphere that the guest gave off. The smell of wind, grass, and soil that I could clearly smell even in the smell of iron. Thomas then intuited that the visitor to him was not a person.

“In the furnace heat, when the guest flapped the hood for a moment, I could see. The tips of those pointy ears.”

To Maxim, who still couldn’t take his terrifying gaze away, Thomas spoke as if complaining.

“Just like I asked you, I was able to examine the elf’s sword closely and feel something very similar to what I felt with your sword. The elf seemed to have noticed that I recognized it as well, but he didn’t ask anything. I just took the sword and turned around.”

Maxim nodded, and Thomas continued his explanation.

“I decided to keep it in my heart for the rest of my life, and from then until now I haven’t told anyone that I met an elf. I swear on my mana. It’s real.”

In response to Maxim’s constant pressure, Thomas seemed frustrated.

“And if I were really going to tell anyone about it, would I have asked you directly if I was stupid enough to use the elven swordsmanship?”

At Thomas’ words, Maxim gradually regained his life. Thomas let out a sigh of relief as he felt the pressure on him fade.

“And I’m the only one in the whole kingdom who can figure this out with a single sword. So, this time I think you were just out of luck.”

Maxim shook his head.

“… I will believe you.”

“great. Then let’s change the subject a bit to talk about the sword you need.”

At the threat posed by him, Maxim knew that his father-in-law would exorcise him, but Thomas rather took a more positive attitude than the first time and tried to cooperate in making Maxim’s sword. Maxim gave an expression of embarrassment at his eager attitude.

“Are you making them?”

“Then, do you think I will miss out on this exciting opportunity, weighed down by your flesh? no. If you miss an opportunity like this, you don’t deserve to be called a Meister.”

Thomas crossed his arms and began to ponder. He must have started thinking about what kind of sword to make in his head. At the father-in-law’s quick change of attitude, Maxim stuck his tongue out.

“Have you thought about what kind of sword you need?”

“I never thought about the shape. However, since the sword I used is familiar to me, I think it would be nice to be able to make it in a similar shape… .”

“is it? Then how about doing this?”

Thomas tapped Maxim’s sword in his hand.

“I will refine the sword you used and transform it into a better sword. This way, it will cost less than making a new sword, save a lot of time, and you will quickly get used to the discomfort of using a new sword.”

Maxim raised his eyebrows at the unexpected offer.

“Then it would be perfect, but… , is that possible?”

“What do you see me as? There is no question that the one who is called the best meister in the kingdom cannot ask.”

Maxim gave an embarrassing expression to Thomas, who answered with a snort. Thomas shrugged his shoulders, raised his sword, and began explaining in detail.

“This sword. There is no doubt that it is an ordinary sword that can be seen often, but the karma accumulated by the sword is very heavy. I don’t know what the hell it cut, but the sword that cut the king of a kingdom, ‘King Slayer’ didn’t have this level of karma. If you say it’s the sword that cut down the emperor of the old days, it’s understandable.”

Behemoth howled. Maxim remembered the monster advancing with the momentum to destroy the walls of the no-man’s land like a sand castle and turn the continent into ashes. Certainly, it could be said that becoming the king of a country is a job that cannot be compared to the job of ben. Thomas narrowed his brows, looking at Maxim, who seemed lost in thought. Imaginings of what he had done with this sword ran through his mind, but there were limits to what he could guess.

“I don’t know about ordinary knights, but the history and tradition that the sword has built up makes it special. It brings victory in unwinnable battles, takes the lives of those who cannot be killed, cuts rocks that cannot be cut, and is passed on from generation to generation to the next owner, accumulating greater karma and victory.”

The blacksmith raised his eyebrows.

“The so-called magic swords, demonic swords, and holy swords weren’t made that way from the beginning. It is called the Magic Sword and the Magic Sword because it drank enough blood to bear its name, and it is called the Holy Sword because it saved so many people that it was called that.”

It is not that a name is attached and a tradition is created, but a name is attached because tradition and folklore exist. As the blacksmith explained, he tapped Maxim’s sword.

“Your sword, in my opinion, is filling up the qualifications for that name one by one. I’ve already accumulated enough karma to call it a special weapon. It would be too much of a waste to send a sword like this to the warehouse just because its lifespan is coming to an end.”

The blacksmith spoke in a confident voice.

“I bet you. The moment this sword gets a new body and is reborn, you will understand what I said.”

Seeing the person called the best craftsman in the kingdom speak so confidently, Maxim couldn’t help but nod his head involuntarily. The artisan raised the corner of his mouth and raised the sword and placed it on the workbench.

“I am not going to start working on it right away. I need to think a little about what materials to put into the sword, and above all, I have to finish the work I’ve been working on and start.”

The craftsman glanced at the furnace.

“You should know what shape and material the new sword will be made from, so if there is no special schedule, could you wait at the studio?”

There were no special schedules or appointments. Since the first prince’s training was over in the morning, Maxim willingly decided to wait in the studio while watching the craftsman’s work.

“Yes. I will wait for you.”

“Okay then let me finish my work.”

Thomas walked over to the sword stand at the back of the furnace and pulled out a sword that seemed to be in the middle of sharpening. Maxim narrowed his eyes when he saw the sword in the hand of his returning father-in-law. It was because the shape of the sword was too familiar to his eyes.

“… Meister, that sword, perhaps.”

“Well? oh, that’s a good sword Come to think of it, the owner of this sword belongs to someone who participated in a martial arts tournament like you. Other than you, I rarely get new customers, but the owner of this sword had something just as special as you.”

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No, I didn’t mean to ask that. Maxim looked at the sword the craftsman was taking to the polishing table with a subtle expression on his face. If I’m not mistaken, that sword.

smart smart

Right before the craftsman started working, there was a knock on the workshop door again. This time, the craftsman put down the sword with a really irritated face and opened the door as he approached the door with trudging footsteps. Maxim turned his head slightly toward the craftsman who was treating the visiting guest.

“Well, sorry for the slight delay in polishing. First of all, wouldn’t you wait in the studio for a while? Coincidentally, there are guests waiting for you, just like you, so you won’t be bored.”

The craftsman said so and opened the door wide. The guest stepped toward the open door. Maxim froze on the spot after making eye contact with a customer entering the studio.

“”ah,””

The voices of the two overlap. Cloudy eyes. His face looked slightly reddish in the red light of the furnace. Platinum hair flowing down her cheeks.

Under unexpected circumstances, Maxim meets Theodora again.