Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Lingering Feelings
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"Uuuuungh!"
I stretched my arms wide as I sat up.
"Ah, that was~ fun~"
There were so many things I could never have experienced cooped up in the forge.
'The Central Plains really are something else.'
In all my life as a blacksmith, I had never once set foot outside the Heavenly Mountains.
It made sense. The area around here was habitable enough, since people had already settled it, but stray just a little farther and the harsh terrain and weather made it difficult to travel recklessly without learning martial arts.
"Anyway, I learned a lot, so it was a good experience. Though I could have done without seeing the Sword Demon's embarrassing side. Hehehe, ah, it's still pretty funny thinking about it."
I thought all it could do was speak as the demonic sword's will, but it turned out to have various other abilities.
It was probably a combination of complex factors, like the Blood Demon's power and the Sword Demon's demonic energy.
'But what exactly did the Sword Demon see in that dream to make him act so strange?'
It's true that I helped him with a few words when he was trapped and floundering in the Blood Demon's dream.
But halfway through, he suddenly became emotional and shattered the dream in an instant.
From the way things unfolded, it seems he saw the demonic sword's voice as some kind of physical form. I don't know the details.
'Did he see some unparalleled beauty or something? How does someone fall head over heels and confess in a single moment?'
Given the nature of the Hell Path's ability, he probably saw his ideal woman.
"Anyway, I almost broke character having to pretend to be a woman, which wasn't part of the plan. But I'm no amateur who'd make such a trivial mistake."
I always approach my work with a professional mindset.
Even if it's not my actual job.
"Anyway, the Sword Demon really lucked out. He got a quiet, free demonic sword and even advanced his realm. I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction when he visits soon."
Though we'd built quite a bond by the end and I even got something like a confession, he was the same Sword Demon who'd disliked the demonic sword throughout the journey.
He surely wouldn't be too heartbroken just because I disappeared.
After all, didn't he curse and get angry when I was about to vanish?
He might grumble or feel a bit disappointed, but I figured he'd just accept it and move on.
Now that he's advanced his realm to the point of transcending the demonic, he won't be swayed by such trivial emotions.
Besides, he's handsome. If he's lonely for love, he can easily meet other women.
"Alright, that's enough about the Sword Demon. Shall I prepare the next episode?"
***
Four days later.
-Clang!
Someone violently threw open the forge door and rushed into the Blacksmith's workshop.
"Blacksmith! Blacksmith, are you here?!"
Even seeing Unmyeong looking as if he'd lost his soul, the Blacksmith greeted him with a bright smile.
"Greetings, Lord Sword Demon. It seems you've returned from your mission sooner than expected. What brings you here..."
Unmyeong cut him off, speaking to the Blacksmith in a tone of extreme urgency.
"Blacksmith! Bring this sword back to life! That's an order! Now...!"
"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"
"This demonic sword! I'm telling you to bring it back! You're the 'Haunted' Blacksmith, you can do it, can't you?!"
Unmyeong hastily drew the Soul-Severing Sword and thrust it at the Blacksmith.
After briefly inspecting the sword, the Blacksmith smiled brightly and spoke to Unmyeong.
"Ooh~! You've driven out the demonic sword's evil will without a trace. Congratulations."
Upon hearing those words, Unmyeong's eyes trembled violently for a moment.
"...What?"
"It must have been quite a nuisance. You truly are the Sword Demon."
"W-wait. What did you just say...?"
Unmyeong couldn't believe his ears.
"'Without a trace'... what in the world does that mean?"
"Pardon? Is there a problem?"
"The... the will of this demonic sword has completely vanished? That can't be. There must be a way to revive it... right? Huh? Blacksmith?!"
Unmyeong called out to the Blacksmith, his expression on the verge of collapsing.
But the Blacksmith's reply only served to endlessly gouge his desperate heart.
"How can one revive a dead will? Even I can't do that. Well, if you really don't like it, I could modify the eye on the demonic sword to make it red again..."
"—Shut up! How dare you insult her!"
"Eh, yes?"
As Unmyeong suddenly roared, the Blacksmith took a step back with a startled expression.
"She wasn't a mere sword! Nor was she an evil will! She was a living person! And you want to... modify her?! Don't you dare run that mouth of yours so carelessly!"
"B-but, it's just a lump of iron, isn't it...?"
-Thump.
Unmyeong grabbed the Blacksmith by the collar and spoke with a menacing expression.
"There was a person inside! A person was inside that sword...!"
"E-even so, it's just a corrupted will, isn't it...?! If it stayed, it would only eat away at the user's mind..."
Unmyeong realized.
The being before him was none other than the 'Haunted' Blacksmith.
Unmyeong already knew that everyone in the Heavenly Demon Cult was a little unhinged.
But the Blacksmith's attitude, treating a sword with a person trapped inside as a mere lump of iron, made him seem utterly devoid of emotion.
"Do not insult her again... Blacksmith. To you, who lacks human emotion, she may have been just one of many swords, but to me... to me...!"
Unmyeong, who had been glaring at the Blacksmith with bloodshot eyes, soon lost the strength in his hand and let go of his collar.
Seeing the Sword Demon's reaction was more serious than he expected, the Blacksmith cautiously offered words of comfort.
"W-well. I... apologize. I didn't realize she held such great meaning for you."
Hearing the Blacksmith's apology, a slightly calmer Unmyeong asked in an exhausted voice.
"Is there truly, truly no way to bring her back...?"
The Blacksmith, sensing the Sword Demon's state was far from ordinary, left a sliver of hope.
"Ahem. Hmm. Well, I don't know what happened while I wasn't looking, but it's probably not entirely impossible. Perhaps..."
At that moment, Unmyeong quickly raised his head and asked.
"I-is that true? What's the method? I'll do anything!"
The Blacksmith pretended to think deeply before slowly opening his mouth.
"Hmm, let's see. I've never tried to revive a will contained in a sword before... so I can't be certain."
"If it can bring her back, I'll do anything! Anything!"
"Ahem. Hmm."
The Blacksmith took this opportunity to mention the rare materials he'd been wanting.
"The thing is, they're not easy to obtain..."
"Stop beating around the bush and hurry up!"
"An inner core."
"An inner core?"
The Blacksmith replied with an awkward smile.
"I need the inner core of a spirit beast on the level of a great serpent... but that might be too diffi—"
"How many?"
"Pardon?"
As the Blacksmith tilted his head, Unmyeong asked, his eyes filled with firm resolve.
"The inner core of a great serpent. How many do you need?"
"Pardon? B-but, the great serpent is a creature of legend..."
"Shut up and just tell me the number. The inner core of a spirit beast on the level of a great serpent. Exactly how many do you need?"
"Ah, uh, well. One for now? No, two? I'm not really sure. I've never done this kind of work before..."
"I'll give you as many as you need."
"Pardon?"
"Even if it's the heart of a dragon, I will bring it to you. You must bring her back to life. Blacksmith, this is an order from me as one of the Seven Demons."
"Ah, uh. Yes, I understand. Oh, right! And there's something else..."
"What else is required?"
The Blacksmith smiled awkwardly and cautiously began to speak.
"Um, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron? Haha. Uh. Yes. I think I'll need a bit of that too. Haha, is that too much to ask?"
"I'll get it."
"Pardon? B-but that's a legendary mineral..."
"The Heavenly Demon Cult's treasury has it. I'll bring it using my authority as one of the Seven Demons."
"Pardon? But that's embezzlement..."
"You just focus on receiving the materials and reviving her. I'll take care of the rest."
"....Yes."
A man blinded by a woman is a fearsome thing.
This sight, him willing to give up his liver and gall, was reminiscent of a man bewitched by a virtual woman, giving away his entire fortune.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron and the inner core of a great serpent-class spirit beast. Anything else?"
"Ah, that should be enough."
"I will bring the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron tonight. As for the inner core... I will get it as quickly as possible."
"Ah, ah, yes. With just the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, I can apply a temporary fix, so don't worry too much."
"I-is that true?"
"Y-yes... As long as I can forge a vessel for her will with the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, it should be fine for now."
"...If you can just bring her back to life, I will be on your side, no matter the circumstances."
"Ah, ahaha. Thank you. For now... will you leave the sword here? I'll start working on it as soon as I receive the materials."
"Understood. I'll do that. I'm trusting you, Blacksmith."
Following the Blacksmith's words, Unmyeong carefully placed the demonic sword on the workbench and left the forge.
***
Left alone in the workshop, I let out a sigh of relief and muttered to myself.
"Haaa... That startled me. But wow, he's in worse shape than I thought."
So much for a swordsman not being swayed by emotion.
He was a complete wreck compared to the last time I saw him.
'Truthfully, I don't need the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron or the inner core.'
All I have to do is re-forge and adjust the part with the eye that held the will.
Still, since I mentioned it, I was planning to add the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron to make it stronger and cleaner.
"Yeah. I can do that much for him."
And if there's any left over... well, it'll be put to good use for other 'users'.
'But are great serpents actually real?'
I'd heard that spirit beasts existed, but I thought great serpents were just legendary creatures.
I only mentioned it on the off-chance, but I never imagined they actually existed.
"Anyway, once I get the inner core, what should I craft with it? I could probably make a lightsaber that shoots a death beam."
I began to draw up plans for what kind of demonic swords I would create after getting the materials from the Sword Demon.
-Vmmm
"Hmm...?"
For a moment, I thought I felt a reaction from the demonic sword, but I quickly turned my head back to the plans.
After all, with my will gone, the demonic sword couldn't possibly react.
"I must be more tired than I thought. I should take a break."
With that, I stretched, stood up, and left the workshop.
-Vmmm