"A sword? You made a sword?"
Sia looked at Raon with wide eyes.
"Come to think of it, I don't see Raon's sword?"
She waved her hand in front of him, asking where he had put the Heavenly Drive.
"I left it with them because they said they'd make it into a better sword."
Raon pointed to the letter, saying he had given the sword to the master craftsmen.
"Huh? But why does it say a demon appeared instead of a sword?"
Sia tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand Borgos's letter.
"I'm not sure about that either..."
Raon folded the letter with an awkward smile. He couldn't tell Sia that the master craftsmen were competing to make the sword.
-These old geezers have only grown in age, they're more childish than kids.
Wrath shook his head in exasperation.
"I want a shiny sword too!"
Sia raised the wooden sword above her head as if in protest.
"Hmm..."
Raon looked at Sia with narrowed eyes.
'It wouldn't be bad, would it?'
Since she had learned to control her strength, it seemed okay to let her hold a real sword without a sharpened edge.
'I should give one to Mother, Father, and Aunt too.'
While making Sia's sword, he wanted to make swords for Sylvia, Edgar, and Alice, who was said to have gone up North Grave Mountain.
"Alright."
Raon nodded and led Sia to the garden table where Sylvia and Edgar were sitting.
"How about you two have swords made on this occasion as well?"
"Swords? The ones made from dragon bones?"
"Don't tell me you're planning to make ones for us too?"
Sylvia and Edgar blinked, as if the thought hadn't even crossed their minds.
"Yes. While ordering a sword for Sister, I'd like to have swords made for Mother and Father too."
Raon nodded to Sylvia and Edgar, asking what they thought.
"Well, the sword I'm using now isn't bad, but if my son is making one, I must accept it!"
Sylvia smiled, saying she would of course use a sword her son procured.
"T-Then, could you make a sword from a dragon's horn for me?"
Edgar excitedly pounded the table with his fist.
"A horn?"
"Yes. Swords made from dragon bones are sturdy, those from teeth are sharp, and those from horns absorb aura better."
He nodded, explaining that different parts of a dragon have different characteristics.
"Were there such characteristics?"
Sylvia looked at Edgar with blank eyes, as if she had no idea.
"Of course! Even swords made by the same master can be vastly different depending on what materials are used and how much!"
Edgar nodded gravely, saying the world of craftsmen was profound.
"I didn't know either."
Raon let out a sigh. He had no idea there were such differences in materials, having trusted Vulcan, Kuberad, and Borgos.
-This king didn't know either. I only know that the rump is tender, the belly is firm, and the tenderloin melts in your mouth...
Wrath smacked his lips, saying he only knew which parts of dragon meat were delicious instead of bones, teeth, and horns. What a truly remarkable Demon King.
"Oh really? Then I should explain a bit! Not just bones and horns, but dragon scales have different uses too! Scales around the neck are tough yet flexible, good for making armor, while scales around the body are just hard, good for shields or weapons. Plus, different types of dragons have different attributes..."
Edgar poured out answers to unasked questions like a downpour, not wanting to miss the chance to speak.
"Red dragons naturally have fire resistance and affinity. Blue ones have water attributes, Gold ones..."
"Ah, Father! Since there are three dragons, it should be possible to make the entire sword from horn!"
Raon shouted that he'd make a sword from horn to cut off Edgar's endless chatter.
"R-Really?"
Edgar let out an exclamation as if he had just downed a beer in one go after stopping his explanation.
"To think I'll use a sword made from dragon horn in my lifetime! Having a good child really is the best!"
He held up his thumb, saying that a child's success was better than his own.
"Then I want a sword made from teeth. So I can cut down all those who covet this place."
Sylvia nodded with a smile, contrary to her fierce words.
"Ah, yes..."
Raon felt Sylvia's firm resolve to protect the annex building. It seemed she still held the White Blood Religion's invasion in her heart.
"I'd like a sleek sword with dragon horn as the main material. I need flexibility to use my swordsmanship effectively. Ah, of course, I don't want it too floppy like a flexible sword, it should be light yet sturdy. The length should be slightly shorter than a longsword..."
Edgar was talkative even when making requests. It seemed he was trying to release all the chatter he'd been holding back because of Sylvia.
"I want everything!"
Sia nodded, saying she wanted everything done.
"Those scales? Bones? Use them all!"
She raised her sparkling eyes, asking for all the materials to be combined.
"Alright."
As Raon was about to leave for Mirtan Village after compiling the three people's requests, Sia grabbed his sleeve.
"I want to go too!"
Sia grinned, saying she wanted to come along.
"It won't be fun though?"
Raon shook his head while looking at Sia.
"It'll be boring since all you'll see is hammering."
"I'll go! I'm going!"
This time, Sia grabbed her own arm tightly as if she wouldn't let go. Her strength was so great that even the sturdy training clothes' sleeve tore.
"Why don't you take her along?"
"Yeah. Nothing much will happen there anyway."
Edgar and Sylvia smiled, suggesting it might be a good opportunity.
"Hmm..."
Raon let out a low groan as he saw the moisture in the corners of Sia's eyes.
'I guess I have no choice.'
Unlike Sylvia and Edgar, this was her first sword, so it didn't seem bad for her to go and talk directly with the blacksmith.
"Alright. Let's go together."
Raon sighed as if he had no choice and nodded.
"Yay!"
Sia wiped her eyes as if she had never been on the verge of tears and grinned.
"What Mom said worked!"
She said the tears had worked as she hugged Sylvia.
"I told you. Your younger brother may seem cold, but he's soft-hearted."
Sylvia patted Sia's head, saying she did well.
"Ah..."
Raon took a deep breath as he watched Sia boasting to Edgar and Sylvia.
'It was an act?'
-Already acting, is she?
Wrath let out a hollow laugh, as if dumbfounded.
-She's definitely your sister! There was another god of acting right here!
'...'
* * *
Clang! Clang! Sia turned her head left and right, seemingly fascinated by the sound of hammers echoing throughout Mirtan Village.
"Hammer! There's a hammer there too!"
She pointed at a hammer larger than a person's forearm and grinned. New things seemed to fascinate her.
"Aren't you hot, sister?"
Raon looked down at the beaming Sia.
"I'm fine!"
Sia shook her head, saying it was just right.
'Is it because her physical abilities are still at the Grandmaster level?'
Though she had lost all memories of swordsmanship and martial arts, her physical abilities remained intact, so she seemed to feel neither hot nor cold.
"But why are they hitting sparks with the hammer?"
Sia pointed at a craftsman hammering heated iron.
"That's not fire, it's iron heated by fire. When you heat iron, you can change its shape."
As he was explaining how swords were made while walking up to Mirtan Village, a familiar face appeared midway.
"Chief Administrator?"
It was Gambling Monster. He was leisurely looking around Mirtan Village with a bottle of alcohol hanging from his finger.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to have a sword made too."
Gambling Monster waved his hand, saying he was also part of the annex, so it should be fine to place an order first.
"Of course."
Raon smiled, saying it was his natural right.
"Ah, and I have a gift for you."
He opened his subspace pouch and took out the fine liquor he had bought for Gambling Monster.
"Ahem! This is quite nice!"
Contrary to his words, Gambling Monster immediately reached out and grabbed the bottle.
"You came because you heard the sword was finished..."
"Grandpa!"
As Gambling Monster was about to ask about the sword, Sia stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
"Why haven't you been coming to our house lately?"
Sia narrowed her eyes, as if disappointed that Gambling Monster, who used to visit occasionally, wasn't coming anymore.
"S-Sia. W-Well, lately I've been looking after the kids..."
Gambling Monster stammered, seemingly flustered by Sia's clear eyes.
"First grandpa doesn't come, second grandpa doesn't come, and weird grandpa doesn't come either. I'm bored!"
Sia pouted, saying she couldn't see Glenn, Rector, or Gambling Monster.
"I-Is that so! Then I should at least visit!"
Gambling Monster nodded, his chin trembling. He smiled broadly, as if finding Sia adorable.
'They've become quite close.'
Gambling Monster, being a responsible person, would occasionally visit the annex to act as a real chief administrator, and it seemed they had become close during that time.
"Please come tomorrow. I'll have everything prepared."
"Raon!"
As he was telling Gambling Monster to come tomorrow, someone called his name.
"I told you to come quickly! Why are you loafing around there!"
It was Vulcan. He stomped his foot loudly in front of his workshop, as if telling them to hurry up.
"You're hurting my ears, keep it down."
Kuberad waved his hand, saying to leave them be as they'd come on their own.
"Right. The match is already decided. Just wait patiently."
Borgos nodded leisurely, as if he had already won.
"Chief Administrator. Please watch my sister for a moment."
Raon entrusted Sia to Gambling Monster and went up to Vulcan's workshop.
"I'm sorry for being late."
He bowed to Vulcan, Kuberad, and Borgos. All three looked disheveled, with messy clothes and hair, and dark circles under their eyes, as if they had spent the night forging swords.
"Hmm, you brought that child too."
Vulcan recognized Sia and nodded gravely.
"The child who makes Gambling Monster flustered..."
"Who is she?"
Kuberad and Borgos tilted their heads, not knowing about Sia.
"She's my older sister."
"Older sister? You had an older sister?"
Kuberad's eyes widened, as if hearing this for the first time.
"Yes. She appeared rather suddenly."
"Huh, humans are strange. Not a younger sibling, but an older sister can suddenly appear?"
Borgos shook his head, as if unable to understand.
"To put it simply..."
Thinking he'd have to explain anyway to request a sword for Sia, Raon briefly explained the circumstances.
"So that's what happened..."
Kuberad swallowed hard, as if feeling sorry.
"Those filthy Eden bastards! I'm telling you, there's no one normal among those who cover their faces!"
Borgos ground his teeth audibly, revealing his deep grudge against the Five Demons.
"Let's leave the heavy talk at that and get to the main point."
Vulcan waved his hand as if trying to clear the heavy atmosphere.
"Right. Today is about presenting new swords."
Kuberad nodded with a faint smile.
"I hope you'll cut down all those ghost bastards with the sword I made!"
Vulcan said he was counting on it as he removed the cloth on the table. Whoosh! Three newly refined swords appeared under the white cloth.
"Hmm..."
Perhaps because they were in their scabbards, Raon couldn't feel any particular change in the swords. They had the same presence as when he had them before.
"You won't know just by looking. Examine them yourself."
Vulcan stepped back, telling Raon to draw the swords.
"It only has meaning if you see and judge for yourself."
Kuberad nodded calmly.
"A demon is born..."
Borgos licked his lips with darkened eyes, like someone who had gone a bit mad.
"Understood."
Raon took a short breath and grasped the Heavenly Drive made by Vulcan. They probably hadn't modified the hilt, but it felt like it fit his hand even more tightly than before.
As he drew the Heavenly Drive, a clearer sword mantra than before rang out, and a pure white blade appeared. Though its shape hadn't changed much, the sword's own will seemed to be transmitted.
'An unyielding firmness that won't bend to anyone.'
The willpower he had maintained from when he first held the sword until he reached transcendence was quietly imbued in the Heavenly Drive. He felt certain that it would never break, no matter who the opponent or what swordsmanship it clashed with.
"It's amazing. I can feel this sword's power even without swinging it."
He lightly swung the Heavenly Drive, his reddened eyes trembling.
"Ahem!"
Vulcan grinned broadly, seemingly pleased with Raon's reaction.
"Then, next..."
He sheathed the Heavenly Drive and grasped the Blade of Requiem. Whoosh! As soon as he held the hilt of the Blade of Requiem, a chilling coldness rushed through his fingertips. It felt like being exposed to necromancy, but without malice. Shing! As he drew the Blade of Requiem, an even redder blade, as if splattered with blood, revealed itself.
The demonic energy emanating from the red blade had intensified, but strangely, the malice of the vengeful spirits had greatly diminished.
It felt like the noble aura of an excellent swordsman.
"The Blade of Requiem's power and will have strengthened, but its resentment has decreased. No, rather than decreased, it seems the malice has been converted into power."
Raon swallowed hard as he touched the blade of the Blade of Requiem.
"After hearing that your master soothed the vengeful spirits in the Blade of Requiem, I decided to trust the souls in the sword. Just as you help the vengeful spirits, they too will help you."
Kuberad nodded, saying that if they trust each other, they could create great power.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed to Kuberad and grasped the last sword, the Wooden Ring.
"Hmm..."
As soon as he grasped the sword, a red aura flickered before his eyes. A chill ran down his spine as if facing a swordsman filled with killing intent. Ching! As he drew the Wooden Ring, a blue blade as clear as Rimmer's wind revealed itself.
However, what he felt within that clarity was a deep and intense killing intent. It felt like a powerful aura that wanted to cut not just people, but the entire world.
"Hmm."
Raon brought his finger to the tip of the Wooden Ring. Slice! Even though his body had become tougher after reaching transcendence, the sword cut him without any aura infused, and blood trickled down.
"It's chilling."
He thought it would just scratch him slightly, but he didn't expect it to actually wound him. It was an unbelievable level of killing intent.
"I knew it would be like that!"
Borgos clapped his hands repeatedly, as if he had predicted Raon's reaction.
"Use that sword to cut down all those Five Demons bastards!"
He bowed his head heavily, making the request.
"I'll do my best as much as I can."
Raon clenched his fist, saying he would become a swordsman who wouldn't lose to the Wooden Ring.
"Hmm, so whose sword is the best?"
Kuberad asked, tilting his head slightly. He seemed uninterested in competition, but this was apparently what he was most curious about.
"Why ask? It's obvious!"
"Right. It's mine."
Borgos confidently pointed to himself, and Vulcan also chose himself as if it were obvious.
"They're all such excellent swords that it would be a shame for me to use them, so I can't rank them."
Raon shook his head as he looked at the Heavenly Drive, Blade of Requiem, and Wooden Ring in turn. The Heavenly Drive was imbued with an unbreakable will, the Blade of Requiem had the power to turn resentment into salvation, and the Wooden Ring contained the willpower to kill anyone, regardless of who the opponent was.
The completion level of the swords was equally high, but because the will contained in each was different, it was impossible to determine a winner.
"This match is a draw."
Raon squeezed his eyes shut, saying he really couldn't decide.
"Where in the world is there a draw!"
Borgos shook his head vigorously.
"We need to make a decision though..."
Kuberad also licked his lips as if eager for a decision.
"In the world of craftsmen, there's always a winner."
Vulcan also frowned, displeased.
"Look properly again!"
"Raon!"
As he was telling Raon to look again, Gambling Monster came up the hill carrying Sia. Although Sia was tall for a woman, Gambling Monster's build was so large that it didn't look particularly strange.
"Sister?"
"Are these the grandpas who will make my sword?"
Sia smiled as she looked at Borgos, Vulcan, and Kuberad.
"Hello!"
She got down from Gambling Monster's arms and bowed her head to the three masters.
"Sword?"
Vulcan tilted his head as if asking what she meant.
"My sister has been learning swordsmanship recently, so I was going to ask you to make a real sword without a sharpened edge for her."
"Hmm, I see."
Vulcan narrowed his eyes as he examined Sia's hands and legs.
"Unlike her appearance, I can feel an enormous sword energy."
"Should we call her a bundle of talent?"
Kuberad and Borgos also swallowed hard, seemingly sensing Sia's talent.
[As I mentioned, her original level was top-tier Grandmaster.]
Raon sent an aura message that only the masters could hear.
[Although she's lost her memories and power, if my sister properly grasps a sword...]
He nodded, watching Sia smile as she examined the Heavenly Drive.
[She'll definitely be able to reach transcendence.]
He concluded with confidence, certain that with Sia's talent, reaching transcendence was a certainty.
"Huh!"
"To that extent?"
Borgos and Kuberad opened their eyes wide in surprise.
"Young lady."
Vulcan approached Sia and met her eyes.
"Would you like to swing a sword once?"
He gave Sia an ordinary sword and told her to swing it.
"Hmm? How much?"
Sia tilted her head and looked back at Raon.
"This time, don't hold back. Swing it towards that mountain."
Raon pointed to a distant mountain, telling her to swing with all her might.
"Okay!"
Sia nodded and brought the sword down. They thought she would do a horizontal slash, but her sword path contained the flow of the Fangs of Insanity technique, which she had only recently been taught. Boom! The sword strike, extending fiercely like a beast's fangs, crumbled one side of the mountain.
"I hit it!"
Sia jumped up and down, delighted to have hit the rock.
"Uh..."
"W-What is this..."
"Huh!"
Not only Kuberad and Borgos, but even Vulcan widened their eyes in shock.
"It's as I said. Who would like to make the first sword for my sister, who will reach transcendence in the future?"
Raon waggled his finger at the three men like a skilled auctioneer.
"Me! I'll make it!"
"No, a sword for a lady like that should be handled by someone delicate like me!"
"This time, we'll surely determine the winner!"
The three masters started arguing again, each shouting that they would make Sia's sword.
"They're all good!"
Sia grinned broadly, as if pleased with having many options.
-Childish old geezers...
Wrath shook his head, saying how pathetic they were.
-It's like they're aging backwards.
'...Are you one to talk?'
* * *
After taking Sia back to the annex building, Raon headed to the Fifth Training Ground.
The training ground floor was neatly tidied, as if the Light Wind division swordsmen had finished their training and left.
-Yawn...
Wrath yawned widely and shook his head.
-After eating a warm meal, why don't you just sleep instead of coming out again...
He rubbed his eyes and waved his hand, suggesting they go to sleep.
'Now that I've got the swords, I need to check how much they've changed.'
The characteristics of the Heavenly Drive, Blade of Requiem, and Wooden Ring had improved remarkably, so he felt he needed to swing them himself to get used to them.
-That's true, but can't you do it after sleeping!
Wrath shook his head, asking why he had to make a fuss at night.
'It's nice and quiet, isn't it?'
Raon smiled and drew the Heavenly Drive. Just holding the sword made him feel his body and mind becoming stronger. It felt like he wouldn't lose to anything. Whoosh. As always, he started with basic swordsmanship. He swung the Heavenly Drive, projecting onto himself the flow and subtleties of the basic swordsmanship he had taught Sia. Swoosh!
The blade of the Heavenly Drive, containing his beliefs, cut through the cold dawn air. An unwavering, unbreakable sword. Vulcan had created exactly the sword he had promised.
-It's a sword that seems to have been forged from the very word 'steadfast'. It's become even stronger than before.
Wrath nodded, saying it was an excellent sword that could perfectly embody a swordsman's will. Shing. He sheathed the Heavenly Drive and grasped the Wooden Ring. Along with a deep killing intent, the blue blade scattered a murderous aura that erased the darkness. Ching! Raon moved to the center of the training ground with smooth footwork and employed the Fangs of Insanity technique.
The chilling sharpness contained in the Wooden Ring became like the fangs of a mad beast, extending in all directions. Even without his intention, a web-like killing intent bloomed from the end of the sword path, tearing apart the atmosphere.
'This is dangerous.'
A killing intent that extended not just to enemies, but to allies as well. If not perfectly controlled, it seemed like the sword might end up in the back of a comrade.
-So that's why that dwarf said he created a demon.
Wrath let out a sigh, saying they had created a crazy sword.
'Then lastly...'
As Raon was about to draw the Blade of Requiem from behind his waist, the door to the training ground opened, and Glenn entered.
"Testing swords? Can you do that alone?"
Glenn waved his hand with a calm expression.
"H-Head of House?"
Not expecting Glenn to come here, Raon immediately approached and bowed his head.
"Now that you've received new swords, how about fulfilling our postponed promise?"
"If you're referring to the promise..."
"A sparring match."
He grasped the Heavenly Tremor with a smile on his lips.
"Let's see how far you've come."