Chapter 25: Longsword
Just 10 days later
Gotton-san came to contact me at the inn.
"Here you go, the skill that has been handed down from generation to generation. It's a sword that we poured a lot into."
It was definitely a longsword in length and width.
But.
"It's single-edged."
"Yeah, if I made it double-edged with this method, the blade will be easily chipped."
It's an unusual blade.
The light seems to ripple.
“Did you coat it with clay and bake it?"
The blacksmith's expression instantly turned grim.
"You...... where did you hear that?"
"In my hometown."
With such a grim expression, Shiro-san was looking at the blade.
"...Yeah, I baked it with clay made from a secret formula. I don't know the theory behind it, but it makes the blade sharp. No, it only makes the blade harder."
"It's the temperature."
"You understand?"
"I understand the reasoning. No, I understand, but you're right."
"Aren't they both the same?"
Why he rephrased it was beyond me.
“The technology was established over a thousand years ago. I don't understand the logic behind it like my old man does, but he says it's supposed to work that way."
"Heh... it's a little older."
"How long have you guys been doing this?"
"About seven hundred years."
That long?
"And only recently... maybe not recently... well, I understand the theory."
"What theory?"
“I'm not an expert, so I can only give you the broad strokes, okay?”
“That’s fine. I'll just interpret what I don't understand."
According to the two of them.
The degree to which clay is applied to a sword changes its hardness.
Thickly, thinly, or not.
Then bake it.
The hardness of the steel changes according to the adjustment.
"What does that mean? Harder is better, right?"
"The harder it is, the easier it is to crack."
"The softer it is, the easier it bends."
I see.
"That's why it was devised to achieve both a soft and a hard blade."
"There's only my workshop around here."
"If it's such a convenient thing, why isn't everyone making it?"
The better the weapon, the higher the price.
Don't blacksmiths make them?
"The reason is that this town has good quality iron. So you don't have to go through all that trouble to make a decent sword."
“You pour it into a mold and sharpen it, right?"
"It's mostly like that. And the people in this town are all satisfied with that. Both the users and the creators."
If you're working with swords, don't you want to use the best quality?
"The blacksmiths in the service of the nobility are like that. We were the first generation of slaves, so we had to make a lot of good quality swords at the cost of our lives. In a short time."
"It took ten days."
“I'm not a slave anymore. I don't want to waste my life, I want to hammer iron for as long as possible."
Hmm, I can't keep up with the men's conversation.
“Wince-chan, it's ready, so come over here.”
Gotton-san called me.
They're still talking in the back.
"Well, let's negotiate."
"Ah? What are you talking about?"
"The price. How much does it cost?"
"Didn't you hear me?"
---------
"Master, Shiro-sama is here."
“Shiro-dono? Send him in."
------
"Excuse me."
"I don't mind, did something happen?"
"It's about the blacksmith you introduced me to."
"You don't like it? He may not be the best, but he's the best blacksmith in town, and he's been working at it for generations."
No, I'm very satisfied.
I couldn't have asked for a better sword.
"I heard that the price is provided by the lord."
"Umu, I will pay with my assets."
"I don't understand the point of having you treat me so well."
"What do you mean? My gratitude is..."
"Isn't it too generous?"
"I'm not... ah, you think there's something behind it?"
"That's... not without merit."
"Well... let's do it this way. I will lend you the money. Is that all right?"
"Yes, I'll pay you back. How much is it?"
"20 gold coins."
Ah, it was a mistake.
I should have been more gracious.
“Heh, what is the deadline for repayment?”
"Just before you die or my family dies."
No practical deadline, that was close.
"That blacksmith..."
The lord begins to speak
"He's an indispensable part of the town."
"So important that you're pushing him to the edge of the city?"
"Unwillingly, but do you know the story of his ancestors?"
"Only that they were slaves."
“Yes, his ancestors were slaves. That's why the nobles around me were so noisy."
“Are the people around you incompetent, lord?”
I said it clearly.
It's stupid to treat such competent people so badly.
"People who only care about rank are always incompetent."
"You must be having a hard time."
"You said it. It was his family that created the town's own water purifier."
It was beyond incompetent
"Ah, did the nobles get all the credit for the water purifier?"
"Very astute. All the rights belong to the blacksmiths on the side of the nobles."
Isn't it better to destroy those nobles now?
There's no advantage whatsoever.
"It will take time, but 20 gold coins. I will definitely pay you back."
"I look forward to your future endeavors."
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