Chapter 311: Masterpiece (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 311: Masterpiece (2)
For the past fortnight, Marquis Valentino had waited endlessly for Roman Dmitry. The only things sustaining him were reports that merely fueled his burning anticipation.
"Young Master Roman has never missed a deadline by this much before. Since there are no issues in the workshop, it seems the forging process is simply taking longer than expected."
"When I probed the workshop with mana, I sensed immense energy causing massive explosions. Even for me, a Phoenix mage accustomed to the power of fire, it was a force entirely beyond my control. Therefore, I cannot say for certain what is happening inside."
These were the reports from Hans and Felix.
Their statements pointed to a single conclusion.
'A power that even the Master of the Phoenix Magic Tower cannot handle! Roman Dmitry must be forging something incredible that defies all common sense. Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to be fifteen days overdue. Ah, I want to see it! Just what kind of magnificent masterpiece is he pouring his soul into?'
Salamander.
Blaze.
Darkness.
The three swords crafted by Roman Dmitry had displayed a level of perfection that defied comparison with each successive creation. Blaze was vastly superior to Salamander, and Darkness was far superior to Blaze.
If so, he couldn't even begin to imagine how incredible this new sword would be.
To the Marquis, Roman Dmitry's entire forging process felt like a grand performance that only a true master artisan could orchestrate.
His steps were light.
The agony of waiting melted away as he practically sprinted toward the Inner Castle where Roman Dmitry was staying.
However, when he finally arrived, Hans delivered news that struck like a bolt from the blue.
"...I am terribly sorry, but as soon as Young Master Roman stepped out of the workshop, he headed straight for the training ground. I do not think you can see him right away."
"Ah..."
He stumbled.
The strength drained from his legs. Sinking to the floor right then and there, Marquis Valentino wore a look of utter despair, looking as though he had just lost his entire fortune.
For a collector like him, this was a cruel, unusual punishment.
* * *
Meanwhile, on the training ground.
Roman Dmitry stood alone.
Gazing at the sword gleaming brilliantly beneath the sunlight, Roman felt a sense of absolute perfection for the very first time.
'Even in my past life, I never crafted a sword of this caliber.'
The swords of Baek Joong-hyuk. Even the legendary blades that had shaken the Murim in his previous era could not match this level of craftsmanship. It wasn't simply because Roman Dmitry's technical skills had improved. Working with the Flame Divine Art and the Fire Demon's Flames had allowed him to ascend to an entirely new realm as a master blacksmith.
Schwing.
It was beautiful.
As he admired the blade, a sudden spark of inspiration struck him.
'A sword technique based on the Flame Divine Art, utilizing the Fire Demon's Flames.'
This was the exact reason he had come straight to the training ground after finishing his work. While hammering steel like a madman in the workshop, a long-dormant thirst for a new martial art had flared to life within him.
He raised the sword.
Visualizing an imaginary foe, he swung the blade.
'First Form: Embracing the Blazing Fire.'
Whoosh!
Fwoosh!
Crimson energy erupted from the sword. While it wasn't actual fire, it carried an intense heat that sliced through the imaginary enemy in a single stroke. Instantly, the severed flesh was charred black. There was no bleeding, but the phantom enemy shrieked in agonizing pain.
First Form: Fire.
It was a basic attack.
As multiple enemies materialized around him, Roman Dmitry unleashed the heat erupting from his sword in a sudden, violent burst.
'Second Form: Sweeping the Enemies with Blazing Fire.'
Whoosh!
Fwoooooosh!
A gale blew. The wind-driven flames swept across the area, and even the enemies who hadn't been directly struck by the blade could not escape the scorching heat. Its destructive power was immense. The enemies attempting to swarm Roman Dmitry were all engulfed in flames, rendering their numerical advantage completely useless.
Second Form: Fire Wind.
He continued to conceptualize the forms.
Just as he was finalizing the techniques with the names that came to mind, the imaginary enemies dissolved, replaced by a massive entity.
A monster.
It charged straight at him, swinging a giant axe toward his head.
'Third Form: Condensing the Power of Flame to Pierce a Single Point.'
Fwoooooosh!
The flames blazed furiously. A heat so blindingly crimson that it threatened to sear the eyes of anyone who looked pierced straight through the giant monster's heart.
Thud—
The monster stumbled.
Even its thick, solid hide could not block the strike. Like lava boring through the earth, the intense heat didn't just melt the outer hide; it completely incinerated the heart within. The monster collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. No matter how massive a creature was, it could not sustain life once its heart was destroyed.
Third Form: Blazing Fire.
Now, the final form.
Faced with the sudden appearance of hundreds of monsters, Roman Dmitry erupted his mana.
'Fourth Form: Ultimate Explosion.'
Boom!
Crackle!
Ruuuuuumble!
Fourth Form: Flame Demon.
A natural disaster descended. The surging mana transformed into a raging inferno, sweeping the surroundings like a dragon's breath. Its power was on an entirely different level compared to Fire Wind. It was a force that wielded the concentrated, piercing heat of Blazing Fire but delivered it in the sweeping, area-of-effect manner of Fire Wind. The enemies were not merely burned; they crumbled into black ash and scattered in the wind.
With that, he lowered the sword.
"I shall name this the Flame Sword Technique."
A sword technique rooted in the Flame Divine Art, utilizing the Fire Demon's Flames.
A new martial art had been born.
The thirst for new martial arts—which he thought had dried up during his tedious past life—was revitalized as he experienced the wonders of this new world. However, the Flame Sword Technique was not meant for Roman Dmitry himself. Having already mastered the flawless and absolute Heavenly Demon Sword Technique, he had no intention of replacing it.
However, a suitable owner did come to mind.
He sheathed the sword.
Now, it was time to seek out the rightful owners of his new creations.
* * *
Darkness.
Three experimental works.
And finally, the ultimate sword completed at the very end.
The owners for these swords—excluding the final ultimate blade—had already been decided in his mind. Roman Dmitry had intended to seek out the owner of Darkness first, but Hans stopped him.
"...Young Master. Could you perhaps meet Marquis Valentino first? He has been staying in Dmitry for a fortnight now, waiting for you. His desperation is so pitiful that I can no longer bear to watch. If we tell him to wait even one more day, the Marquis might just die of heartbreak."
The situation outside the workshop was something Roman Dmitry had no way of knowing. However, knowing the kind of person Marquis Valentino was, meeting him first wasn't a bad idea.
"Very well. Lead me to Marquis Valentino."
"You have made the right choice."
Hans quickly led the way.
At last, the moment Marquis Valentino had yearned for so desperately—his meeting with Roman Dmitry—was about to take place.
* * *
There was no idle chatter.
Neither Marquis Valentino nor Roman Dmitry cared to exchange pleasantries; both wished to speak of the 'new sword' immediately.
Marquis Valentino asked, "So, is the sword complete?"
His face was flushed with desire. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. As he awaited Roman Dmitry's response, the Marquis's heart pounded so hard it felt as if it might burst from his chest.
"Yes. I have achieved a result that satisfies even myself."
Roman gave a nod.
Hans bowed his head and presented the sword that had been prepared in advance.
"As promised, Marquis Valentino, I intend to give you the first opportunity to purchase a sword. The method will be an auction, just like last time. If you pay a sufficient price, you will become its owner, but I have no intention of letting my work go cheaply. If you wish, you may inspect the sword right here."
Among the four newly forged swords, this was the first experimental piece.
Fully anticipating that it would be sold through an auction, Marquis Valentino accepted the weapon with trembling hands.
"Wow..."
An exclamation of pure awe escaped his lips involuntarily.
When one spent their life collecting countless treasures, an eye for recognizing the genuine article naturally developed, even if they weren't a martial expert. The sheer appearance of Roman Dmitry's sword was enough to evoke reverence. The sharp, cold aura radiating from the smooth blade sent a thrill down his spine, and the faint, fleeting crimson glow along the edge felt like a master's unique signature.
Above all, the feeling it gave off was extraordinary.
Swords with high mana receptivity usually exhibited a distinct physical reaction, and Roman Dmitry's sword was practically humming with it.
"...If it is not rude, may I use a detector?"
"Do as you please."
"Thank you."
He carefully pulled an artifact from his coat. It was a device designed to measure mana sensitivity.
It was a new product developed just a month ago, and its five-tier sensitivity measurement was praised across the continent for boasting the highest accuracy. Marquis Valentino had spent a fortune to purchase this specific detector just for today. Roman Dmitry's sword was well worth the effort of such a meticulous inspection.
Flash.
Mana seeped into the blade.
The phenomenon corresponding to each tier was simple. The tiers were determined by how much of the infused mana the weapon could absorb. He first channeled mana equivalent to Tier 1.
The sword glowed radiantly.
Seeing it shine as if it were still hungry even after absorbing all of the Tier 1 mana, Marquis Valentino smiled inwardly. Since this was a sword crafted by Roman Dmitry—a man whose skills he fully acknowledged—he expected it to reach at least Tier 3 without any issue.
It was just as he expected.
Tier 2.
Tier 3.
The sword devoured the mana in an instant.
Since Tier 4 was on an entirely different level, he showed a hint of nervousness as he dialed it up.
However...
Flash—
"...Wow."
It was no different from the beginning. Just like with Tier 1, it consumed the mana without leaving a single trace of resistance. At this point, the sword's value was already more than proven. Without hesitation, Marquis Valentino activated Tier 5. The creator of the detector had described Tier 5 as a level reserved only for the greatest treasures of the century.
The sight that unfolded before his eyes left him utterly dumbfounded.
Even Tier 5.
It was absorbed completely.
Seeing the sword remain perfectly stable without the slightest hint of turbulence, he was filled with genuine, unadulterated awe.
‘Roman Dmitry has created a treasure that will go down in history.’
His heart raced. His mind grew chaotic.
With a performance that far exceeded his wildest expectations, he couldn't even begin to guess how much gold he would have to pour out to win this sword at the auction.
The winning bid for Blaze had been 1,200 gold.
Would double that—2,400 gold—be enough?
Not a chance.
With a bid in the mere thousands of gold, he couldn't be certain of securing this masterpiece.
Marquis Valentino looked up, his voice trembling. "...May I ask the name of this sword?"
"The sword's name is Third No-Name."
At those words, Marquis Valentino's face contorted in bewilderment.
"The name of such a masterpiece is... No-Name?"
To him, that was a statement that completely defied common sense.
* * *
Three swords.
They were merely stepping stones in the process of crafting the final, ultimate blade.
Initially, all three were collectively referred to as No-Name, but since they had to find their respective owners, he had given them different designations: First, Second, and Third. He ranked them according to their level of perfection. The sword Marquis Valentino was currently inspecting was the very first one Roman had forged in this batch. Because its technical level was the lowest of the three, he called it Third No-Name.
It had its own meaning to Roman.
It was a name given to signify that he had finally created the ultimate blade after three trials and errors. However, to Marquis Valentino, who was on the receiving end of this explanation, it was nothing short of baffling.
Third No-Name was already a masterpiece worthy of being called a continental treasure. He simply could not accept that such a sword was being called "No-Name."
Furthermore... "Third"?
With a bewildered expression, Marquis Valentino asked, "No, I truly do not understand. How can a sword that scored a Tier 5 in the mana sensitivity test be named Third No-Name? A fitting name is crucial for a blade of this caliber. Previously, you gave them names worthy of masterpieces, like Salamander, Blaze, and Darkness. Why have you made such a regrettable choice this time?"
His face showed genuine distress. Having lived his entire life as a collector, he felt a deep sorrow for items that failed to receive the recognition they deserved.
In response, Roman Dmitry simply spoke the truth.
"During this forging session, I crafted a total of four swords. This Third No-Name was the first experimental piece made in the process of creating the final blade, which is why I gave it that name. I do not find it regrettable. Since it embodies the meaning of the experimental process, I believe it is actually quite meaningful."
In that moment, the Marquis's expression shifted into something incredibly complex.
His train of thought stalled for a brief second, but it didn't take long for the puzzle pieces in his mind to fall into place.
"...So, what you are saying is... out of the four swords you made... this Third No-Name is the lowest quality?"