Chapter 192
I flew through the sky toward Birdy Perch alongside Darm-dono and the others, successfully delivering them there safely. We met up with Nenaashi and the others along the way, but unlike the villagers, they did not feel any particular aversion toward us. Since we already knew the reason, events had unfolded exactly as expected.
After receiving the monetary reward for our success from Darm-dono, I met up with Ruby and the others, who had finished their quest in Birdy Perch. After briefly introducing Nenaashi and the others, we parted ways with them and are now on our way back to the 'Dragon's Sacred Land'.
Incidentally, they apparently managed to find an inn without any trouble and have finally secured a safe place to sleep. Birdy Perch should sell tents and the like, so it seems they will no longer need to risk camping outdoors.
"So we're welcoming those two as companions too, right? They're a little unusual, but they're not bad people."
"Ah... They haven't caused any actual harm, so I don't mind. They are a little eccentric, though..."
In response to Eiji's question while Karu carried him through the air, I answered in the affirmative, though I hedged a little. Neither of them was evil, nor were they fools incapable of considering others. If anything, they were both gentlemanly and seemed like reliable men.
Unlike Nenaashi, whose only unusual trait was his manner of speaking, 'Dono' was a little... no, a very eccentric person. You could tell just from the fact that he had specifically chosen a monster whose appearance would make even us freeze for a moment as his reincarnation destination. And then...
"But you wouldn't feel bad if someone said they'd become a monster because they admired Izam, would you?"
"No, Ruby. Izam-san is a little bewildered by this fan who's coming on so strong."
Shio was right. I'd completely forgotten, but I had met him back when he was still a Human. It was on the way back after I went to greet Gravekeeper-dono, just before we traveled using the 'Ancient Moving Tower'.
While flying with Ruby aboard, I saw PKs chasing a fleeing player below, three against one. I disliked their bullying tactics, so I instantly killed the PKs with 【Dark Arts】... and apparently, the player I saved at that time was him.
After being saved by me—or rather, by whoever had rescued him—he gathered every scrap of information he could about me, or rather, about the person who had saved him. However, he had only seen me from a distance and did not know my exact appearance, so his investigation made little progress. Deciding that he would get nowhere near Fars, he apparently set out on a journey alone.
After a series of twists and turns, he discovered a hidden shrine of reincarnation managed by Iifa-sama, the 'Goddess of Death and Chaos'. After gathering the items necessary for reincarnation, he offered them up and reincarnated. Afterward, he apparently received an oracle telling him to seek a blessing and the Vetus Floating Island.
"Iifa-sama! Did you tell them we were here?!" I had wanted to shout that, but there was no question that both of them were invaluable people. It was frustrating to feel as though we were dancing in the palm of her hand, but I suppose I should be grateful.
Who could have imagined that my own actions would come back to me like this? If there is someone who could have, I would very much like to become friends with them.
"Those kinds of fans really are complicated, huh?"
"Oh? That sounded awfully personal."
"Ah, it has to do with real life, so don't ask me anything more."
"Oops, my apologies."
"It's a good thing to have more companions!"
"Yeah, sure is~"
Could Toji perhaps be famous? Well, I would not pry. Shifune and Wool were delighted by the increase in their companions without paying any attention to my troubles.
Perhaps I should welcome them as openly as those two did. Thinking that, I made my way home.
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After fighting the horde led by the Savage Fighting Baboon, Genjuro and the others told the Great Tengu and the others about the battle and the information Saburo had blurted out. It was getting late by then, so they logged out for the day.
When they logged in again later, the 'Heavenly Spirit Island' was in an uproar. Curious, they left the inn where they were staying and found that many of the residents had gathered at the entrance to the city, fully armed.
"What, is there a festival?"
"Jigoro-han, even if it is a festival, you can't go joining in!"
"I know, I know~"
Nanako cautioned Jigoro, who was grinning at the chance to go on a rampage. Jigoro waved his hand breezily and gave such an unconvincing reply that it was hard to tell whether he really understood. Though 'mad' was no longer part of his Race, his tendency to chase the scent of battle had not changed at all.
But they had to get closer before anything would happen. Thus, Jigoro and the others joined the onlookers and headed toward the source of the commotion. They found some sort of group gathered before the castle gate. It looked like an attack by baboons, but apparently the situation was different.
"Could those be... mujina?"
"And are those kappa over there?"
The visitors were yokai other than the baboons. The Great Tengu and these creatures were enemies who threatened each other's territories. Ordinarily, if they encountered each other in the forest, they would naturally fight to the death.
Even so, the visitors were standing there with white flags raised. What on earth could their purpose be?
"Hey, pal. What'd they say those guys came here for?"
"Oh, yes. Apparently they've come to negotiate a truce."
When Jigoro asked an oni who happened to be nearby, he learned that the mujina had apparently come to negotiate a truce. There could only be one reason they would propose that at this time.
"They mean to crush those baboons for real."
"Well, there can't be any other reason."
It seemed the damage inflicted by the baboons was severe outside the 'Heavenly Spirit Island' as well. Even if this was not exactly an alliance to fight a common enemy, it would certainly be foolish to needlessly wear down their forces against one another until the baboon problem was resolved. They were presumably trying to avoid that folly.
As Genjuro interpreted the situation, a group appeared, led by a bespectacled tengu who had been the Great Tengu's aide. They immediately began negotiating with the mujina. Since they were not shouting, he could not make out the specifics of the negotiations. That was something they could ask about later.
"There's no point in staying here any longer. I think I'll step away for a bit."
"The blacksmith you mentioned, Genjuro-san?"
"Indeed."
The 'blacksmith in question' Sei referred to was the only blacksmith in the city. Genjuro had been badly injured in his battle with Saburo. As usual, he had been able to recover the horn that had broken off and the pieces of exoskeleton that had peeled away as items.
Genjuro had collected those materials and decided to ask the blacksmith to turn them into weapons. He did not expect weapons to be made from only the materials he had brought, so he had agreed to pay separately for the other materials used.
"Then can I come too? I've been thinking it's about time to replace my staff."
"I have no objection. Let us go together."
"Then we'll stay and watch how things unfold. We'll need to keep watch so Jigoro-han doesn't start causing a ruckus, too."
"Huh? Even I wouldn't ignore the mood and start a brawl right now!"
"...Really?"
Leaving Nanako and Jigoro to their comedy routine, Genjuro headed for the blacksmith's shop with Sei and his tamed monsters.
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The blacksmith's shop in the 'Heavenly Spirit Island' rang with the sounds of metal being hammered and craftsmen shouting angrily. Since they were fighting the baboons without pause, they had been burning through weapons and armor at an alarming rate. As a result, the craftsmen had an enormous amount of work and were constantly rushed.
Genjuro and Sei visited the store attached to that busy smithy. The clerk was a young oni whose cool, dignified appearance apparently made him popular among female oni. The handsome oni saw the customers arrive and put on a pleasant smile.
"Oh, you're those wandering travelers from the other day! Welcome!"
"Indeed. Is the item I commissioned finished?"
"Well, that's the master smith's job, you see..."
When Genjuro asked, the clerk's expression turned troubled. Since the master had many difficult jobs on his hands, Genjuro was beginning to resign himself to the fact that it was only natural the work was not finished yet.
"Master! Master!"
"Shut up! I can hear you!"
As Genjuro was wondering whether he should come back another time, the clerk called loudly for the master in the smithy. The young man's voice was loud enough, but the shout that came back from the smithy was like thunder.
A huge, middle-aged oni came stomping out of the smithy into the store. He stood over two meters tall and had arms as thick as logs. A headband was wrapped around his head, and beads of sweat poured from his entire body. Judging from the hammer clutched in his right hand, he had been working until just moments ago.
"You... Wait a bit. I'll fetch it for you."
The master gave Genjuro a brief glance, turned on his heel, and returned to the smithy. A few minutes later, he came back carrying a single rod. Coarse cloth was wrapped around it from end to end, so its silhouette revealed only that it was some sort of rod-shaped weapon.
Without a word, the master held the rod out to Genjuro. Genjuro accepted it and slowly, carefully unwound the coarse cloth. What was revealed was a spear with a blackish-brown blade nearly fifty centimeters long. The shaft, long in proportion to the blade, bore maki-e lacquerwork depicting an Eastern-style dragon winding around it. Even though Genjuro had seen bladed weapons countless times in the real world, he could not help being captivated by its power and beauty.
"...Hm. A great spear?"
"Yep. This is what I came up with to make the most of your horn."
A great spear was a type of spear with an especially long head. Its blade was large, giving it far greater thrusting power than a normal spear. On the other hand, it was also known to be difficult to handle because of the weight concentrated at its tip.
Genjuro took the great spear and tested its handling, first taking it through a few stances and slow movements with two of his four arms. He repeated the same motions using all four arms. After testing it thoroughly, he nodded in satisfaction.
"You've done excellent work, Master-dono. The balance is perfect."
"Heh! Praise me all you want, it won't get you anything, Instructor-dono."
Although Genjuro praised him without reservation, the master responded curtly. However, it seemed he did not actually dislike being praised. The corners of his mouth had risen unmistakably, and it was obvious to everyone that he was desperately trying not to break into a grin. The young oni did not point it out, however, since he had no desire to be punched.
"The blade is made from your horn, naturally. I carved patterns into it that increase dexterity and penetration power. When I heated it over a fire, it became far harder than ordinary metal, so there was no need to increase its hardness any further."
"I had no idea my horn possessed such properties."
"You didn't know...? Anyway, the lacquerwork on the shaft restores the wielder's health and the spear's own durability. It's designed to get you through long battles."
"Marvelous."
Its performance was equal or superior to that of his current weapon, and Genjuro was satisfied. He was itching to swing the spear as soon as possible.
"Um, I want a staff, though... Do you have anything suitable?"
"A staff? Let's see... These should do."
While Genjuro was quietly brimming with excitement, Sei checked the weapons for sale in the shop to accomplish his own goal. Through his quests in Birdy Perch and the 'Heavenly Spirit Island', he had earned a decent amount of money. He had enough funds to casually purchase at least one weapon appropriate for his level.
"Hmm... Master-dono, may I try a few practice swings?"
"Then use the backyard. There's a wooden training dummy there, and you can spar with that young fellow too."
"Much obliged. Then let us go."
"Huh!? W-wait, hold on! I'm still choosing...!?"
After thanking him, Genjuro grabbed Sei by the scruff of his neck and set off toward the backyard. Sei cried out at the sudden turn of events, but Genjuro paid him no heed. His resistance proved futile, and Sei was dragged away.