Chapter 8
“Still, I'm surprised you became an adventurer.”
“Heh. I'm surprised by the person I've become, too. My parents now treat me well, but I wanted to put the sword I learned from you to use.”
“Risandera, you're standing too close.”
“And you're one to talk! You're the one getting all clingy and crowding him.”
“Now, now. There's no need to fight.”
Allucia on my right, Surena on my left.
Most people would call this being surrounded by beauties. But I felt like a small animal with two beasts closing in from either side. The pressure was incredible.
The three of us were out together now.
After leaving the souvenir shop, I mentioned that I wanted to look at swords, and Allucia and Surena had competed to recommend their favorite blacksmiths.
I was certainly glad to see Surena again after all this time.
I felt a little bad about just saying goodbye like that, and unlike the Knights, who were based in the capital, adventurers really traveled all over the world, so there weren't many chances to meet. Especially when it came to a top-ranked Black.
As it happened, Surena had just returned to Baltrain after finishing a job far away. She had some free time today, so we decided to go together.
It wouldn't do to waste time arguing over who would escort me. I wanted to get back to Bidden Village today, too, and time was limited.
But in my desperation to calm things down, I'd overlooked one thing.
“We're getting stared at... Well, that's only natural.”
Surena murmured, sweeping back her proud red hair.
That's right. I was the one who suggested we go together, but now all I could do was lament how thoughtless I'd been.
“I'm not used to this kind of attention...”
“No, Sensei. Before long, people will be looking at you, too.”
“Much as I hate to admit it, Citrus is right. Once word gets around about the power of your guidance, you'll be attracting this kind of attention in no time.”
“Hahaha...”
The pressure from both sides was unbearable. What the heck was “the power of your guidance,” anyway?
I'm just an old man. I don't have any grand power like that. Nice joke.
I may be nothing but a humble old man from the countryside, but I doubted either of them would listen even if I said so.
When I casually looked around, I saw eyes, eyes, and more eyes from the people passing by.
The commander of the Leberio Knights and a Black-rank adventurer. There was no way an old man with two women at his side who were top-tier in both ability and looks wouldn't draw everyone's attention.
The whispers I caught were things like, “That's Commander Allucia...” and “Hey, isn't that Risandera, the Dragon Twin Blades?” and “Who's the old guy in the middle...?” The pressure was intense. Surena even had a cool-sounding epithet like Dragon Twin Blades.
So Surena really did use two swords.
I was sure I hadn't taught her how to use two swords, but at this point, hadn't she gotten strong in ways that had nothing to do with my instruction? What did I have to do with any of it?
“This is the blacksmith the Knights regularly use. The quality is consistently good, and most of our equipment comes from here.”
“O-oh. I'm looking forward to it.”
As we endured the curious stares from the townspeople, we arrived at the blacksmith Allucia had recommended.
I was so distracted by everything that I hadn't paid attention to the route. Would I be able to find my way back?
“Oh, Lady Citrus.”
“Hello. I'd like to take a look at some swords.”
“Of course, of course.”
A burly but affable-looking man, presumably the proprietor, peered out from what seemed to be a workshop in the back of the shop.
“As I was saying, we've recently received another batch of high-quality ore—”
“I see. Then our equipment might—”
It seemed the Knights really did patronize this shop, as Allucia and the owner chatted amiably about this and that. Maybe he was used to important people visiting, too, because the owner didn't give me any strange looks.
I was grateful. Those stares were painful for an old man like me.
“Hmm... This is a fine blade.”
I picked up one of the swords displayed in the shop.
Its weight settled solidly into my hand, but it was well-balanced, making the heft feel comfortable. The blade was also well sharpened. Its exquisite craftsmanship showed that the shop was every bit as good as Allucia had said.
“You still use a longsword, Sensei.”
Surena spoke, having watched me closely as I examined the sword.
“That's right. It's well suited to teaching, and above all, it's easy to handle.”
I replied, raising the longsword.
Well, you see...
I am a man, after all, so there was a time when I admired two-handed swords like bastard swords, or dual swords like the ones Surena uses.
I'd tried each of them, but in the end, I settled on this longsword. Its weight and balance, and the length of its blade, are just right. Put another way, if you can handle this longsword, you can use most other swords by applying the same principles.
“If you'd like, would you care to test the blade?”
The owner, having finished his conversation with Allucia, called out to me.
Hmm, test the blade, huh?
When you get a good sword, you want to test its sharpness. This owner really understands how a swordsman thinks. And he picked the perfect moment to ask. What a savvy businessman.
“You let customers test the blades? In that case, I'll take you up on that...”
“Of course. There's some space in the back. I'll show you.”
If I had the chance to test it, I wanted to give it a try.
Following the owner's lead, I walked farther into the blacksmith's shop.
“It's been a while since I've seen Sensei's swordsmanship.”
“It's been a while for me, too.”
Allucia and Surena followed along as if it were only natural.
Please, no. Having the commander of the Leberio Knights and a top-ranked Black-rank adventurer judge my swordsmanship is the last thing I want.
But I couldn't say that. They were kind of scary.
“This way. Please, go ahead.”
“Thank you. Well then...”
The back of the blacksmith's shop held a decent-sized space, with several straw targets lined up. It was probably used for testing newly finished swords, too.
Focus.
I held the longsword straight before me and faced the straw target.
A sword's sharpness is proportional to the wielder's mental strength.
I narrowed it, finer and finer, sharpening the tip of my mind to its limit.
I waited for the waves of my mind to hold perfectly level.
“—Shh!”
A single flash.
I poured my sharpened spirit, honed to its limit, into the blade.
With a soft rustle.
As easily as a knife gliding through tofu.
Half the straw target fell to the ground without the slightest resistance.
Not bad!
A quality sword really is something else; you can feel the difference. Maybe I'll buy this one. I like the weight, too. I've only swung it once, but I'm already fond of it.
“—As expected, Sensei.”
“...That's incredible. I had no idea you were this good.”
Oh, right. I'd forgotten the two of them were watching. Well, that was partly why I'd focused so intently, and there was no changing things now.
“Well, anyone with a little sword experience could do that, couldn't they?”
Still, they were praising me a little too much. All I'd done was cut a straw target.
And like I said, it wasn't something just anyone could do after swinging a sword a few times, but someone with even a little talent could manage it easily. Fortunately, I had a little talent myself. I had my father to thank for that.
“Anyone could cut through straw. But to slice it this cleanly...”
“Citrus is right. I can't remember ever seeing a cross-section this perfect.”
“Come on, you two are laying it on too thick.”
All this praise was starting to make me embarrassed.
I'd managed to focus properly, and I felt I'd made a pretty decent cut. But honestly, I didn't feel it was as wonderful as they were making it out to be.
“Sigh... Shopkeeper, what did you make of his swordsmanship?”
Perhaps deciding that arguing with me would get them nowhere, Allucia turned to the blacksmith's owner, the other observer. Come to think of it, he'd been watching, too.
The shopkeeper had been standing there with his mouth half open, his eyes unfocused. Was he all right? I was starting to worry.
“Uh... Are you some renowned master swordsman?”
After several seconds of silence, that was what he finally managed to squeeze out.
No, no! I keep telling you, I'm just a humble old man from the countryside!