…
early morning.
It was already bright and mist filled the woods lightly.
Dew wetted the broken ruins of Knife Forging Village.
Houses destroyed by wind pressure were scattered everywhere.
Because of Tie Qiao's quick reaction, he notified the evacuation almost as soon as the ghost was discovered.
The swordsmiths - have long been hiding in the shelters built before.
Therefore, only houses in Blacksmith Village were damaged.
And because this kind of thing has been expected to happen, there are several unmanned empty knife-forging villages all over Neon, waiting to be relocated at any time.
So, the damage tonight is pretty much zero.
…
now.
On the ruins of Knife Forging Village.
The swordsmiths wearing fire man masks were bending down, picking through the ruins, and picking up some useful objects.
The village chief's house.
In a makeshift shed.
After picking up the resurrection of Hantengu and Jade Pot, Tanjuro returned to the Sword Forging Village with everyone.
now.
Everyone is gathering here.
"This time, I am very grateful to you all for your help."
The village chief of Blacksmithing Village is a thin man with white hair. He kneels on a futon and his old, withered hands are covered with calluses.
His voice was old and sharp, he was wearing a fire man mask, and his tone was jumpy:
"No swordsmith was injured. It's all thanks to you."
As he spoke, he sat on the futon, his thin body bowed slightly, and a dull voice came from underneath him, addressing the people in front of him:
"Thank you very much."
Weimingyu Xingming sat cross-legged behind everyone, stroking his rosary beads, and nodded slightly:
"Namo."
There are two lines of tears faintly visible on the face:
"Ah...this is what we should do."
Tanjuro and Makijuro did not speak.
The three of Tokito's family were sitting together and looking here with interest.
At this time.
"Village Chief, I have also made a contribution!" Tie Qiao beside him couldn't sit still. He quickly raised his voice and patted his chest:
"I evacuated everyone."
The village chief took a few deep breaths and glanced at Tie Qiao beside him.
That's the look in his eyes.
Tie Qiao, who was glared at severely, suddenly frowned, lowered his head and stopped talking.
"That's right." The village chief seemed to suddenly remember something, and he raised his head.
With somewhat blurry eyes, he made a distinction between the sturdy Ming Yuyu and the bright-haired Makijuro.
Finally, he slowly looked at Tanjuro:
"There is no doubt that this is Mr. Kamado."
He put his hands into his sleeves and shook slightly:
"Your Nichirin Sword will be forged by the old man."
"If you have any requirements, habits, or sword skills, don't worry, please tell me."
"Of course, I also know Mr. Kamado's previous request——"
"You want a very durable knife, right?"
At this point, the village chief's eyes lit up, and he looked through the fire man's mask and looked straight at the wedge ball lying next to Tanjuro:
"If Mr. Kamado had a customary sword before."
"You can also lend me a look. It will facilitate the forging of the Nichirin Sword."
His tone rose, and he looked at Tanjuro with eager eyes.
Ah - here we go again.
On the side, Tie Qiao covered his forehead slightly and looked at the village chief helplessly.
Whenever the village chief forges a sword for a swordsman, he always wants to compete with the swordsmith's previous swordsmith.
After all, the conditions required of every swordsman who is entrusted to the village chief to forge a sword are extremely stringent, and only the most skilled village chief can meet it.
The way to compete is naturally to compare the quality of forged knives.
How should I put it...the village chief's special hobby?
Tie Qiao thought and glanced at Tanjuro secretly.
"Of course." Tanjuro agreed decisively, picked up the wedge pill on the side and handed it directly to the village chief.
The village chief took Kakimaru with both hands and nodded to Tanjuro: "Generous."
Subsequently.
Click.
He held the handle of the knife and gently pulled the knife out of its sheath.
The dark blade of Kakimaru reflected the red fire man mask of the village chief.
On the blade.
Some black marks caused by lightning and traces of flames are still faintly present.
The expression hidden under the mask of the village chief was frozen in place.
Tie Qiao saw the village chief holding the wedge pill and freezing in place. He slightly poked his head and shouted softly:
"…village head?"
The village chief seemed to have come to his senses after being called.
He quickly raised his head and muttered to several people, "I'm sorry."
Then, with small steps, he quickly walked outside the shed into the low sunlight.
The village chief held up the wedge pill and looked at the sun that had just risen on the horizon, looking back and forth through the light.
From time to time, he would take out some hammers and other tools and tap on the Kakimaru sword.
soon.
The village chief held Kakimaru in his hand, and he slowly walked in from outside the shed.
He sat on the futon again, placed Kakimaru horizontally in front of him, and looked at Tanjuro in a solemn tone:
"...Mr. Kamado." The village chief's tone became slower, not as jumpy as before, and his voice also seemed duller:
"How...how often do you maintain the blade?"
Tanjuro sat upright, his face expressionless, he blinked, and his voice was the same as usual:
"Not maintained."
"This, that's it." The village chief paused slightly, coughed twice, and the expression hidden under the mask became strange:
"Can I... know who the knife forger is who forged this knife?"
Knife forger…
Tanjuro thought for a while, and the image of taking Kakimaru from Kuro's hand flashed in his mind.
And what Kuro once told him.
"It's passed down from our ancestors," Tanjuro answered.
He didn't lie.
Kedgemaru - It is indeed a sword that has been passed down from generation to generation by the Hirata family in another world.
When the village chief heard this, he lowered his head and was silent for a long time.
Then, he held Kakimaru in both hands and handed it to Tanjuro again:
"I understand, I will work hard to forge a more durable Nichirin sword."
As he said that, the village chief looked at Tie Qiao with a tired tone:
"Tie Qiao, you can take a few pillars for a walk."
"I'm a little tired."
This was the first time that Tie Qiao saw the village chief look like this. He quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes."
…
…
After everyone left.
"…Incredible, incredible."
The village chief sat alone on the futon. He shook his head, frowned, put his hand on his chin, and said to himself:
"Such a knife... it stands to reason..."
"It's already a miracle that it works..."
"How did you do it…"
For the first time in his life, the village chief felt that his view of swords had been severely impacted.
…
…
On the streets lined with ruins.
Tie Qiao walked in front of everyone.
"Mr. Kamado, right?" He turned around, said to Tanjuro, and pointed at the earrings on Tanjuro's earlobe:
"I wanted to ask before."
Tie Qiao looked at Huazha's earrings, wearing a fire man's mask with a puzzled expression:
"I also have a pair of flower letter earrings like yours at home."
"It's just that it's not hanging on people's ears."
"How did you get your earrings?" Tie Qiao looked at Tanjuro curiously and asked about the earrings.
"Heirloom."
Tanjuro replied.
(End of chapter)
