CHAPTER 9
— A CALAMITY BEYOND REASON
The air outside the Adventurers' Concord felt fresher after the bustle inside the Guild building. The city welcomed them once more with its characteristic symphony: the rhythm of footsteps, the clanging of metal from nearby workshops, the enticing aroma of street food, and the glances of adventurers busy with their own affairs. Kyoichiiro walked ahead as usual, his steps calm yet purposeful. Behind him, Amura and Aetheria followed at a comfortable distance.
After walking in silence for a while, Kyoichiiro broke the quiet.
Kyoichiiro: "You mentioned 'Abyssal Dungeon' earlier?"
Amura: (turning) "Yes. That's the name of the nearest dungeon recommended for Rank C like us. It's about an hour's journey from here."
Kyoichiiro: "Why do you know details like that so well?"
The question was asked in a flat tone, yet it carried sharpness. Amura smiled faintly—an expression hard to read, as if holding many stories behind it.
Amura: "I'll tell you everything later. As long as… we can share our stories then. After we trust each other more."
Kyoichiiro didn't press further. He understood that everyone had secrets, and forcing them now would be useless.
Kyoichiiro: "In the meantime, we have a more pressing issue. We lack adequate weapons. Before going to any dungeon, we must find a blacksmith."
Amura: (face brightening) "Good idea! Coincidentally, I know a good place. Follow me."
They continued walking through the city streets. Kyoichiiro observed his surroundings carefully as always—without excessive commentary, without easily readable expressions. The architecture, types of people, economic activities, all were noted in his mind as data to understand this world more deeply.
They turned right, leaving the main road. The atmosphere gradually changed. The streets became narrower, sunlight diminished as it was blocked by tall buildings. The ambiance grew quieter, darker. In the corners, some figures—clearly criminals or vagrants from their appearance—were seen lying down or sitting silently with empty faces. Yet, none of them bothered or even paid attention to the three children. There was an unwritten rule in areas like this: don't pick fights with anyone who looks ordinary, because they might be more dangerous than they appear.
They walked past it all without looking back, focused on their goal.
At the end of the nearly dead-end street stood a small, simple building. Smoke billowed from its chimney, and the rhythmic sound of metal forging echoed from within. They entered.
The interior was warm from the heat of a large furnace. A large, muscular man with a thick beard partially grayed was hammering a piece of hot metal on an anvil. He turned upon hearing the doorbell ring.
Blacksmith: "Ahh, customers. Please wait over there for a moment. I'm almost done with this important part."
His voice was deep and friendly, though his face was covered in soot and sweat stains. Kyoichiiro, Amura, and Aetheria nodded, then sat on a long wooden bench available in the corner of the room.
Time passed. The warmth of the room and the exhaustion from the day's journey began to take effect. Without realizing it, the three children fell asleep, lulled by the rhythmic sound of hammer strikes and the hiss of cooling metal.
Blacksmith: "Sorry to keep you waiting."
The voice woke them. Kyoichiiro opened his eyes quickly, while Amura yawned and Aetheria startled slightly.
Amura: "Ah—it's fine, Uncle. We actually fell asleep here."
Blacksmith: (smiling) "Happens often. My place is too comfortable for tired people. So, what brings you here?"
Kyoichiiro: (getting straight to the point) "We need weapons. Swords suitable for fighting strong magical beasts, and durable."
The blacksmith stroked his beard, his sharp eyes looking them over one by one.
Blacksmith: "That can be done. Depends on the specifications. How many blades do you need?"
Kyoichiiro turned to Aetheria.
Kyoichiiro: "Can you use a sword?"
Aetheria: (shaking her head, voice soft) "No… but I can use basic defensive and healing magic."
That answer surprised Kyoichiiro slightly. Healing ability was highly valuable in an adventuring party.
Kyoichiiro: "Good, then. That's actually more useful than just an ordinary sword."
He then turned to Amura. Without a word, Amura immediately understood his meaning.
Amura: "We need two swords. For me, I want a durable sword that can channel or absorb magic well, with a flexible form—maybe a one-handed sword that's somewhat light."
Kyoichiiro: "And for me, I want a katana."
When the word "katana" left his lips, the blacksmith froze. His eyes widened.
Blacksmith: "Ka… katana? Sorry, kid, I've never heard of that weapon name at all. Is it some kind of short sword? Or a dagger?"
Kyoichiiro sighed inwardly. Of course. This world had no Japanese culture. A katana was a foreign concept.
Kyoichiiro: "It is a type of long, single-edged sword, with a curved blade, and a hilt designed for a two-handed grip. Flexible yet strong, with a balance that allows for quick and precise cuts."
He gestured with his hands, tracing a curved line in the air. The blacksmith looked increasingly confused, yet also curious.
Blacksmith: "An unusual shape… But interesting. Do you have detailed plans?"
Kyoichiiro: "Do you have good materials? High-quality steel, pure iron, and hard wood for the hilt?"
Blacksmith: (face brightening) "Of course! I have a stock of Mithril-Alloy Steel—a blend of steel with fragments of rare magic stone. Light, very strong, and with good magical conductivity. For the hilt, there's Ironwood from century-old trees, as hard as metal but still comfortable to grip."
Kyoichiiro: (nodding) "Good. Then, allow me to make it myself. I'll show you what I mean by a katana."
The blacksmith fell silent for a moment, then laughed heartily.
Blacksmith: "How bold! But alright, I want to see what you can make. My workshop is ready for your use."
Amura patted Kyoichiiro's shoulder, smiling with an "What in the world?" expression yet full of support. Kyoichiiro only glanced at him, then stood up and followed the blacksmith to the work area in the back.
---
The workshop area was hotter and filled with impressive forging equipment. Kyoichiiro was given a bar of Mithril-Alloy Steel already in ingot form. The metal shimmered silvery with faint blue veins—a sign of magical content.
Blacksmith: "This is rare material. I got it from leftovers of an elf knight's order last year. Very good."
Kyoichiiro didn't speak much. He began the process with intense focus.
1. Heating: He heated the metal bar in the furnace until it reached the right temperature—glowing orange, almost white. The master blacksmith observed carefully, ready to assist if needed.
2. Initial Forging: With a large hammer (almost too heavy for him, but he managed with proper technique), Kyoichiiro began striking the hot metal, lengthening and shaping it into a rough blade. Each strike was made with precision, thinning the part that would become the cutting edge while maintaining thickness at the blade's spine.
3. Forming the Curve: This was the critical part. Kyoichiiro carefully forged it at a specific angle, using a specialized anvil, to create a smooth and proportional curve (sori). The blacksmith nodded repeatedly, beginning to understand the aesthetics of this unusual weapon.
4. Folding Forge (Modified): Due to time and material constraints, Kyoichiiro did not perform the traditional hundreds of layers of folding. Instead, he used a simple technique of folding the metal several times to evenly distribute the carbon and magical content, while increasing strength. Each fold was done with carefully controlled temperature.
5. Forming the Tang: He cut the still-hot base of the blade and forged it into an elongated tang (nakago), with a hole (mekugi-ana) for a pin.
6. Quenching & Hardening (Yaki-ire): The most dramatic process. Kyoichiiro heated the blade once more, then quickly cooled it in a special oil bath. Smoke billowed, and the metal changed color. This process created a natural and beautiful hardening line (hamon) along the blade—a wavy line like frozen waves, proof of the change in the metal's crystalline structure. The hamon on this blade even emitted a faint blue glow, indicating the magical nature of the base material.
7. Tempering & Polishing: After the blade cooled, Kyoichiiro performed light tempering to reduce internal stress, then began sharpening and polishing the blade with provided whetstones. The cutting edge (ha) became razor-sharp, reflecting light like a mirror.
8. Making the Hilt (Tsuka): He switched to the Ironwood. With a small carving knife, he carved two side panels (tsuka-ita) that fit comfortably in the hand. In the middle, he carved a groove for the blade's tang. He also made a small hand guard (tsuba) from leftover metal, simple yet elegant in a circular shape.
9. Finishing: He wrapped the blade's tang with imitation sharkskin (samegawa—from magical stingray skin provided by the blacksmith), then began wrapping the hilt with special cord made from magical plant fibers (Ito), strong and comfortable. The wrapping process (tsukamaki) was done in a traditional diamond pattern (hishi), tight and neat. Finally, he attached the hilt and guard, securing them with a hard wooden pin (mekugi).
In less than two hours—a surprising speed to the blacksmith—a katana stood before them. Its blade length (nagasa) was about 70 cm, suitable for Kyoichiiro's current height. Its curve was elegant, its hamon shimmered like a river under a full moon, and the black-and-white hilt with the hishi pattern provided a perfect grip.
Kyoichiiro: (lifting the katana, feeling its balance) "Thank you for your guidance and facilities."
The blacksmith fell silent, his eyes gazing in awe at the creation. He swallowed.
Blacksmith: "...Not at all. I should be the one thanking you. I've never seen such a forging philosophy. Light, balanced, and... deadly. A weapon made for pure efficiency, not show. It turns out you are quite skilled."
Kyoichiiro: "If Amura's sword is finished, please deliver it directly to him. I'll wait outside."
Blacksmith: "Of course. I'll make the best one for him too."
Kyoichiiro nodded and left the workshop, returning to the waiting room where Amura and Aetheria were still waiting.
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Amura: (surprised) "That was fast! Only two hours?"
Kyoichiiro: "Yes. The materials were very responsive."
Aetheria: (looking at the katana in admiration) "Beautiful... but it also feels dangerous."
Kyoichiiro sat down, placing the katana on his lap. They waited again. The warmth and fatigue struck once more, and fifteen minutes later, all three fell asleep again.
Blacksmith: "Ahh, it's finished."
They woke up. The blacksmith approached, carrying a one-handed sword in a simple leather sheath. He handed it to Amura.
Amura: "Ahh, thank you very much!" He immediately drew his sword. The blade was straight, slender, made of similar material, with a fuller in the center to reduce weight. Near the guard, a small crystal circle was embedded—likely for channeling magic. "Perfect!"
Amura reached into his pouch to pay, but the blacksmith raised a hand in refusal.
Blacksmith: "You don't need to pay. Consider this a gift and... my investment."
Amura: "Ehhhh?! But—"
Blacksmith: (smiling wisely) "You've shown me something new and interesting today. A young man with unique forging knowledge, and the three of you have an aura that's... different. I feel these weapons will see many adventures."
He looked at them seriously.
Blacksmith: "Take good care of yourselves. The outside world, especially dungeons, is no place for the careless."
A question that didn't need asking, Kyoichiiro mused inwardly. They had already experienced firsthand how cruel the world could be.
After repeatedly thanking him, they left the workshop. They retraced their steps through the dark streets, this time with new weapons at their waists, feeling a bit more confident. They didn't pay attention to their surroundings, focused on their next destination.
Back in the busier city area, they found a merchant with a horse-drawn cart willing to take them to the area near the Abyssal Dungeon. The journey began again, taking them away from the city's bustle towards the quieter forest outskirts.
---
The horse-drawn cart stopped at the edge of a dirt road that disappeared into a dense forest.
Amura: (jumping down and paying the driver) "Thank you!"
They stood before an entrance marked by a worn wooden sign reading "ABYSSAL DUNGEON - FLOOR 1-5 - RANK C RECOMMENDED". The area in front was quiet, only the wind rustling through the leaves of tall trees. The atmosphere felt oppressive.
Kyoichiiro: (looking towards the dark cave entrance in the distance) "Is this right? Too quiet."
Amura: "Of course. Maybe we came during a quiet time, or other adventurers entered earlier."
The dungeon itself was a large cave mouth carved into a stone cliff, appearing dark and deep. From behind, the sound of footsteps and chatter began to be heard. A group of adventurers—about five people with various armor and weapons—were approaching. They glanced at the three children with mild surprise, then without much talk, walked straight into the darkness of the cave.
Kyoichiiro, Amura, and Aetheria exchanged glances. There was tension in the air, a feeling that once this step was taken, there would be no easy way back.
Kyoichiiro: (taking a deep breath) "Let's go."
Without further words, with new swords in hand and hearts filled with resolve (and a bit of anxiety for Aetheria), they stepped forward, slipping into the mouth of darkness that was the Abyssal Dungeon.
They did not know what kind of calamity awaited in its depths. Destiny had begun to unfold, and the wheels of adventure—or perhaps catastrophe—had started turning, unstoppable.