Chapter 21 - Blacksmith (2)

The warm sunlight felt pleasant on my skin after so long. I paused in the shade and looked up at the sky.

The weather was perfect. Not a single cloud marred the brilliant blue.

There was a slight chill in the air, but it was bearable. I nudged the dry earth with my toe.

The scent of dry earth was a welcome change from the Demonic Valley.

Although I couldn't visit a village and had to travel secret routes, meaning no delicious food…

I feel good.

Incredibly so.

I leisurely unfolded the map. I was close enough to reach my destination within a day, even if I took my time and enjoyed the scenery.

And so I walked. Enjoying this rare respite, I effortlessly snatched a falling leaf from the air.

A movement I wouldn't have dreamed of in the past. Now so easily done.

Even small things filled my chest with elation. I released the leaf.

Reaching the Peak Realm already brings such joy, what will it be like to break through yet another wall?

. . .I might die of happiness the moment I reach the Heavenly Demon's level. Though that's likely a distant future.

Perhaps around the Supreme Peak Realm, the Heavenly Demon will entrust me with a proper double agent role. A level comparable to the head of a decent sect…

No, thinking that far ahead is too much.

Even among ordinary Martial Artists, those who reach the Peak Realm are few and far between.

And I know that even exceptionally talented individuals often fail to reach the Supreme Peak Realm.

It’s not a Realm just anyone can achieve. So, for now, let's focus on consistent practice rather than wishful thinking.

The mere fact that I might someday reach it is enough to make me happy.

Cheon So-so, the Heavenly Demon.

Whispering my goal internally, I resumed walking.

Behind me, 29th asked, ＂Why did you bring me along?＂

Her tone was sharp, but less so than within the Demonic Valley.

She must be in a good mood too. It's been about half a year since we last met.

＂I thought I’d offer some advice, seeing as your Swordsmanship seemed a little…lacking.＂

＂Unnecessary kindness.＂

＂Perhaps. My apologies if I overstepped.＂

＂.......＂

Her speech remained curt. But I didn't mind.

There must be a reason for her personality. My actions were unsolicited kindness.

It couldn’t be helped if she didn't appreciate it. If anything, I should apologize if she didn’t want to leave the Valley.

＂I heard that Blood Demon Squad members typically receive missions about once a month. However, my squad rarely received any. In a year, I only had one mission.＂

＂......＂

＂It's probably…my fault. The person above me is a bit particular…they might be exerting their influence. Fewer missions might mean fewer chances to die, but doesn't it also mean further isolation from the outside world?＂

I raised my hand.

My fingertips brushed against vibrant flowers.

＂It occurred to me that you might be stuck inside because of me. I might have even felt responsible. So, I just blurted out what came to mind.＂

＂......＂

＂29th, this isn't a debt. I'm simply returning a small part of what I took away. If you’re uncomfortable, we can keep our distance. I'll leave a trail, so follow at your own pace.＂

＂...Haah.＂

29th sighed and walked beside me, not behind.

＂Fine. Let's just go together.＂

＂Thank you.＂

＂...Strange man.＂

We continued our brief conversation.

＂Why do you offer kindness to others first?＂

＂Well…perhaps I'm imitating a friend.＂

＂A friend?＂

＂There was a friend in the Demonic Valley who always reached out to others first. He was deceived and killed, but I don't think his way was wrong.＂

Seong Ja-Myeong.

I received so much from him. More than I can count.

If I hadn't properly learned the Demonic Claw from him, my Realm wouldn't have risen.

And then I surely would have been too late to learn the Soul Chasing Technique.

Could I have defeated Maeng So-Un, who had mastered the White Demon God, without the Nine Heavenly Blood Demon Sword Arts? Impossible.

And Eun Seol-ran…my previous interaction with 29th? His story allowed me to open a dialogue with her.

In the end, what I received from Seong Ja-Myeong made me who I am today.

I fiddled with my sword.

＂This sword is his too. I wouldn't be here without him.＂

＂Is that all?＂

＂Well. I don't know. I can add one more thing…＂

＂What is it?＂

＂I just…wanted to help.＂

I smiled slightly.

＂You’re a bit…clumsy, 29th.＂

＂What did you just say?＂

29th's voice turned cold.

＂...Just pretend you didn't hear that.＂

＂Do you think I can just forget what I heard? 30th, I am not clumsy. Retract that.＂

＂I retract it.＂

＂If you don’t mean it…＂

29th tripped on a stone and stumbled. I suppressed a laugh.

＂...Did you just laugh? You think the Mask hides everything?＂

＂It's hiding it, isn't it?＂

＂...Grrr.＂

I could roughly grasp 29th's personality.

Proud, yet clumsy.

Unwilling to be indebted, eager to repay everything she receives.

＂29th, may I ask you something?＂

＂I’ll decide after I hear it.＂

＂Why do you dislike men?＂

She answered bluntly.

＂They're disgusting, obsessed with lust, and their lower bodies think before their heads.＂

＂...Aren't there exceptions?＂

＂They're all the same. Every man I’ve met has been like that. They talk about protecting us, but they’ll pounce at the first opportunity. I know men. Even you’re like that.＂

＂Me?＂

I searched my memories.

I couldn’t recall anything like that.

＂Did I…do something?＂

＂Yes. You put me in your squad. I don’t know how you did it.＂

＂Me?＂

＂The Blood Demon Squad Leader told me. He said to stay close to you. He usually grants all your requests.＂

＂What…Ah.＂

The Blood Demon Squad Leader. That guy.

I sighed, a thought clicking into place. I had no choice but to explain.

29th gasped. ＂You…you’re connected to the Thousand Blood Blade Demon?!＂

Another title for the 1st Demon.

A name stemming from the tale of him single-handedly creating the Blood Sea of Death.

Hearing that title after so long, I nodded. Unable to divulge details, I kept it vague.

＂I have a connection and learned a few things from him.＂

＂Unbelievable…how could you possibly be connected to Sir 1st Demon…D-Does he visit the Demonic Valley regularly?!＂

＂I’ve only seen him once since entering. And even that was a special case. I've also seen the 4th Demon. But not to see me, she came to see the previous 29th.＂

＂...I thought the Blood Demon Squad was where losers went for a big paycheck…but for the 1st Demon and 4th Demon to be directly involved…just how amazing was the previous 29th?＂

＂Incomparable to me. She was truly remarkable.＂

＂And now?＂

＂She became the 4th Demon's disciple.＂

＂...That's unheard of in the Blood Demon Squad. You’re not lying, are you?＂

＂What would I gain from lying about this?＂

29th pondered.

＂...Sir 1st Demon is the person I respect most. The Heavenly Demon's first disciple and the Great Dharma Protector.＂

＂Isn't the Cult Leader stronger?＂

＂A person's heart isn't simply swayed by strength.＂

29th fiddled with her cheek beneath her Mask.

＂My dream is to join the Blood Death Squad someday. The Thousand Blood Blade Demon's personal unit. That's why I joined the Blood Demon Squad. Of course, there are other reasons, but…the Thousand Blood Blade Demon being my idol remains unchanged. But the spots in the Blood Death Squad are limited, so every member is my competitor.＂

29th moved closer.

＂How did you connect with Sir 1st Demon? Is he really not coming back to the Demonic Valley? If there’s a chance…could you introduce me?＂

＂I'm in no position to make introductions. To him, I'm nothing more than a plaything.＂

＂I don’t care if I become his plaything! I’d dedicate my entire life!＂

＂...Let me be clear, that’s impossible. He likely won’t come to see me.＂

＂Is that so…＂

29th sighed.

＂So, was I mistaken about the Blood Demon Squad Leader?＂

＂I can swear I never ordered anything.＂

＂I see…indeed. If he truly had designs on me, he would’ve acted while I was sleeping.＂

29th's steps became lighter.

＂I must have misjudged you. I was confused. I thought there was another meaning behind your kindness.＂

＂I’m glad we cleared that up.＂

＂But I’ll still reject your confession. I don’t want to get involved with men.＂

＂I never confessed…＂

We finally arrived at the blacksmith's workshop. But the surroundings were quiet.

I knocked, but there was no response. It seemed the blacksmith was away, so we sat on the chairs outside and waited.

Day turned to night. He still hadn't returned. Unable to leave now, 29th and I continued to wait.

As the night deepened, 29th, dozing against the wall, kept nodding off. Seeing her struggle to stay awake, I suggested, ＂Just go to sleep.＂

＂...I can’t. We might be attacked.＂

＂It would be strange for someone to attack us here.＂

＂At least I don’t want to lie down and sleep.＂

＂Then lean on something. You’ll break your neck.＂

＂......＂

I could feel 29th glaring at me. She subtly created distance.

If she’s going to react like that, she might as well just sleep. I sighed.

＂29th, I have no interest in you. I won’t lay a finger on you, so don’t worry.＂

＂...No interest in me? That’s also offensive…＂

＂What do you want me to do?＂

29th finally rested her head on my shoulder.

＂Let’s take turns sleeping.＂

＂Alright.＂

We spent the night. After a brief sleep leaning against 29th's shoulder, I awoke to the chill of the early morning air.

29th was dozing. She had apparently fallen asleep despite suggesting we take turns.

I heard footsteps. I gently nudged 29th. She startled awake and looked around.

＂I, I wasn’t sleeping.＂

＂Wipe the drool off your Mask first.＂

＂.......＂

In the distance, we saw someone approaching. I stood to greet him.

He appeared somewhat elderly. He glanced at my Mask, then walked past me and unlocked the door.

＂Are you from the Blood Demon Squad?＂

＂I have a letter.＂

＂Let me see it.＂

He briefly read the letter and sat down on a chair.

The inside of the workshop wasn’t much different from any other. Metal hung everywhere, making the workspace rather cramped.

＂What Sword do you want me to work on?＂

I handed him my sword. 29th did the same.

The blacksmith drew the swords from their sheaths, examined them, and shook his head.

＂Hers is an easy fix. But yours…no.＂

＂...What?＂

＂It’s been treated too roughly. Have you recently cut something you shouldn't have? There are invisible micro-fractures all over the blade. It's a wonder it hasn’t shattered.＂

Something I shouldn't have cut.

I immediately thought of Maeng So-Un, empowered by the White Demon God. Even cutting through his rock-like hardness strained my wrist.

＂...Is it truly beyond repair?＂

＂It is. Just take one of the new ones hanging over there.＂

＂This sword is precious to me.＂

＂Precious or not, the weapon itself is ruined.＂

The blacksmith flipped the sword over.

＂It wasn’t high quality to begin with. It’s a common sword. The ones hanging there are far superior. Sharper and more durable.＂

＂This one is better.＂

＂Stubborn, aren’t you? Is there a story behind it?＂

＂It belonged to a deceased friend. Is there truly no way to fix it?＂

＂...Tsk.＂

Clicking his tongue, the blacksmith fiddled with the tip of the sword.

＂There is a way, but…＂

＂What is it?＂

＂You have seven days according to the letter. Considering the distance to the Demonic Valley…subtracting one day for the return trip leaves six. One day spent here leaves five. Repairs will take about a day…so you have four days to spare. Plenty of time.＂

＂Four days…what…＂

＂If you want it repaired that badly, go and retrieve the necessary materials yourself.＂

＂Where and what are they?＂

＂The sword is damaged, so it needs metal to reinforce it. I happened to find a suitable cave on my way back. As a member of the Blood Demon Squad, you must have learned Martial Arts. There’s Crimson Blood Stone in a cave half a day from here.＂

＂Crimson Blood Stone…you mean…＂

＂A rare metal. Blood-sucking Bats guard it, so even though I confirmed its presence, I couldn’t mine it. But with someone skilled in Martial Arts, it might be possible. If I report it to the Blood Demon Squad, they'll undoubtedly confiscate most of the Crimson Blood Stone. But if you help me, I get the leftover Crimson Blood Stone, and you get your sword fixed. A win-win.＂

The blacksmith tilted his chin.

＂The choice is yours. Of course, this hinges on you being able to evade the Blood-sucking Bats and mine the Crimson Blood Stone.＂