Melt That Down
“Phew…”
Leon exhaled a plume of smoke, tasting the bitterness of life.
He had sparred with Ceren a total of ten times, and every single bout had ended after exactly ten exchanges.
An overwhelming gap in skill. Leon hadn’t even managed to properly extend his sword against her once.
“A Master is a Master, alright.”
Moreover, Ceren ranked among the more skilled of the Masters, so she handled Leon like a child.
Muttering that he still had a long way to go, Leon crushed the cigarette butt underfoot.
Stepping out of the training hall, the bright sunlight stabbed at his eyes. The sun hung high in the sky. It was noon.
Leon returned to his room, washed up, gathered what he needed, and headed out again.
“Alright, shall we go?”
Humming a tune under his breath, he made his way into the city. Naturally, he walked rather than taking a carriage.
He people-watched, building-watched, and even flower-watched as he headed for District 4. Though it was his first time, he had memorized the nearby geography yesterday and didn’t get lost.
Entering District 4 and walking five blocks east, his destination came into view. District 4, Block 13.
The entirety of Block 13 was one massive complex—a village. Buildings with black roofs densely packed the area.
Whoosh—!
The moment he stepped into the village, a wave of heat stimulated his senses. Fiery energy filled every direction.
Clang, clang, clang, clang…!
The sound of hammering metal rang sharply in his ears, and steam billowing from everywhere filled the sky.
In the middle of a towering three-story building, the signboard read:
《Halito Forge》
The foremost forge of the Empire—Halito.
One of the rewards granted to the top student of Elprime Academy was a custom commission ticket for this very Halito Forge.
Leon had come today to place his order. He needed to put it in early if he wanted to pick it up during the break.
“Welcome!”
A staff member in a neat uniform greeted Leon.
This was the first-floor lobby of the main building in the smithing district. It was nothing like the common image of a forge filled with fire, anvils, and hammer-wielding blacksmiths.
It was an elegant, refined luxury weapons boutique. The actual forges where weapons were crafted stood around the main building.
Leon approached the desk.
“How may I assist you?”
“I’m here to use this.”
He presented several documents issued by the Academy—essentially identity papers confirming he was the top student and that they should make whatever he requested.
“Ah, you’ve come to use the commission ticket. Please, this way.”
The staff member responded without much surprise, handling it routinely. This was exactly the time of year when one student from Elprime would show up.
Leon followed the employee up to a reception room on the second floor. There he sipped coffee and chewed cookies while waiting a short while.
About ten minutes later—
“Well now, a pleasure to meet you!”
A short, stocky figure with a bushy beard and rugged muscles—a young dwarf—entered with a hearty grin.
“You’re from Elprime Academy, yes? Haha, it’s an honor to meet the famous young master of the Crusif family. I’m Glem Halito, the head blacksmith who runs this place.”
“Yes, Leon Crusif.”
Leon shook hands with Glem. From the firm grip he felt rough calluses and powerful strength—the hands of a true craftsman.
Despite his rough appearance, Glem was extremely friendly and sociable.
He was nothing like the widely known image of the surly, foul-tempered dwarf blacksmith.
“Haha, sure, plenty of our kind are like that. But if you live by your temper in the capital, you won’t make a living.”
Glem explained with a laugh.
This was the capital, after all. Dealing with customers and running a business required social skills. Without them, the title of the Empire’s finest forge would have to be stripped away.
“So then, young master.”
They quickly set aside small talk and got to the point.
“What sort of armament would you like crafted? Of course, even with a custom commission ticket, you’re free to choose any of our high-end pieces. How about looking around first and deciding?”
Halito Forge’s high-end products. Naturally, they carried staggering prices and value.
In the original story, Billy had chosen one of the numbered swords here.
“No.”
But Leon shook his head.
“I’d like one made. Having a sword of my own has always been a dream of mine.”
“Haha, of course! A man ought to have a personal weapon of his own!”
Glem laughed heartily, but Leon clearly caught the emotion that flickered across his eyes.
Damn it, more work. Just pick one of the existing ones and get out.
Something along those lines, no doubt.
Using the custom commission ticket meant the head blacksmith Glem Halito himself had to craft it personally.
That was why the tickets were so extremely rare. Only five or six were issued a year.
“A sword, then, I take it?”
Glem asked, glancing at the Heaven-Shattering Sword at Leon’s waist.
“Yes.”
“But the sword you’re using now looks quite fine as well…”
Indeed, his skill seemed genuine. Even sheathed, he had immediately recognized the value of the Heaven-Shattering Sword. His eye was exceptional.
“Would you like to take a look?”
Shing—.
Leon casually drew the sword and handed it over. Glem exclaimed as he accepted the Heaven-Shattering Sword.
“Hoh! I thought it might be, but this is the real Heaven-Shattering Sword!”
“Oh, you know of it?”
“Of course! It’s one of the swords forged by the legendary dwarf blacksmith Brihart!”
If even Glem of the Halito family was this excited, Brihart must have been a smith of considerable renown in ages past.
Was it?
Leon blinked in mild bewilderment.
The Heaven-Shattering Sword was one of the Crusif family’s three great treasured blades, but he hadn’t expected this level of recognition. There was a reason Duke Roque had been so furious.
I just casually grabbed something lying around in the warehouse?
Of course, he couldn’t explain it that simply.
“This delicate curvature and balance, the alloy composition…!”
Glem pulled out a round monocle and began scrutinizing the Heaven-Shattering Sword like a madman. He looked like a beast greedily devouring its prey.
“Black iron, true silver, thallion! And to think—orichalcum that hasn’t been seen for fifty years…!”
He even sniffed it and stuck out his tongue to lick the blade.
Crazy bastard.
Leon smiled faintly and nodded.
Having someone like this forge his sword was reassuring. The more obsessed someone was with their craft, the better their skill tended to be.
“…Ahem. My apologies. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a blade of this quality… Oh dear, I’ve gotten saliva all over it…”
Glem pulled out a cloth and vigorously wiped the blade as he asked,
“Young master, are you truly going to discard this sword for another? Honestly speaking, this blade can stand against every high-end piece in our forge. After all, it was made by Brihart himself.”
“Yes.”
“Even though you’ve used it for so long? For a swordsman, how well a blade has been broken in matters a great deal, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Leon answered without the slightest hesitation. His decision was already firm. There would be no going back.
It’s sturdy and cuts well, but it’s just not right for swift sword techniques.
There was no dispute that the Heaven-Shattering Sword was an outstanding blade.
But for the swift sword style he had recently switched to, it left something to be desired. He needed a new sword specialized for that technique.
“I’m changing it.”
Seeing his resolute attitude, Glem’s eyes gleamed behind his monocle.
“If you’re truly set on it, then this Heaven-Shattering Sword… to me…”
Leon readily nodded.
“Yes. From now on, that sword will be in Master Glem’s care.”
“Wha—?!”
“Why so surprised?”
“Y-you’re really going to sell it to me? Isn’t this a treasured sword of the Crusif family?”
Glem’s hands holding the Heaven-Shattering Sword trembled. The thought of obtaining one of the masterpieces forged by Brihart made his heart pound as if it would burst.
“Wonderful! I’ll pay any sum you name…”
Leon doused that excitement with cold water.
“Sell it? I’ve got plenty of money.”
Glem’s face crumpled. Watching that boar-like face pull such a pitiful expression, Leon frowned.
“Then…?”
“Melt that down and forge me a new one.”
At the words that didn’t immediately make sense, Glem tilted his head.
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
He raised his index finger and pointed precisely at the Heaven-Shattering Sword.
“I want you to melt down that Heaven-Shattering Sword and forge me a new blade from it.”
“…Huh?”
Glem’s brain refused to process it for a moment.
“….”
The broad smile hanging on his lips gradually faded. He creakily lowered his head to look at the Heaven-Shattering Sword.
“…Melt… this… down…?”
Clink—.
The monocle slipped from Glem’s frozen face and fell.
Leon beamed and continued casually,
“If we throw something of that quality into the mix, something just as good should come out, right?”
“….”
“Ah, and of course, this stays a secret from my father.”
“….”