Chapter 14 · 9 min

Chapter 14

Beside the cushion Herdrode was sitting on, a jet-black sword was placed on a stand.

“Sit.”

Since it was sheathed, I wanted to quickly grab and draw it to check the blade.

However, the master poured the prepared tea and brought out other talk.

“Do you know why we regard the sword as important as swordsmanship?”

Ah, is he trying to give admonishing words before giving the gift.

But it’s okay.

Since he prepared not an ordinary sword but an elegant and cool famous sword visible at a glance, even if I use the whole day today, I can listen with sufficient patience.

Why does Equira regard the sword as important...

“Because we are swordsmen?”

Liking famous swords is not a characteristic only of the Equira Sword Family.

If one uses a sword, whether knight, warrior, or magic practitioner, most look for good swords.

“That would also be a reason. However, I don’t know why you who are a swordsman don’t pay attention to the sword unlike a swordsman.”

“...”

My occupation changed several times, and each time the work I did was quite a lot.

The sword was also one of numerous works to me.

In student days for grades, in soldier days for promotion, from fixer days I trained hard to live.

A sword I’ve been with my whole life like that, but strictly speaking, I never thought of myself as a pure swordsman except for the childhood when I was a sword institute student.

“Many elders are doubting my teaching.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. I postponed it thinking there was no need to make them understand earlier.”

Herdrode who answered like that drank one cup of tea and continued.

“Equira pays attention to the sword because Equira’s goal is the sword.”

I quietly nodded.

I don’t understand well, but all path of magic families define themselves as something.

And the goal of the Equira Sword Family to become gods as swords was quite famous.

“Think why our first diagram is Margo.”

The meaning and phenomenon Margo holds is ‘my body becomes sharp.’

Hearing the goal, why starting by drawing Margo was also clear.

“That also, because we wish to become the sword.”

“Correct. Relatively low complexity suitable as the first diagram and an extremely sword-like power. That’s why the first diagram is Margo.”

Herdrode who accepted asked.

“Then what meaning would there be in the sword worn by those who wish to become the sword?”

I don’t know well, but it was clear it would be quite an important meaning.

“It is the sword I wish to resemble, the sword I wish to model after. That’s why once becoming a magic practitioner, equip a sword with as good craftsmanship and good quality as possible. Because there must be something to learn by looking at that sword.”

“Understood.”

“Of course, it’s not saying to recklessly aim only for famous swords. Entry magic practitioners wearing purple tassels still lack sword-like aspects, so even swords as sword-like as those scattered in the world have something to learn.”

Herdrode looked at the sword at my waist.

“But your sword is not a sword-like sword...”

And he looked at me.

“You, in my view, have sufficiently sword-like aspects.”

Herdrode finally extended his hand to the side.

“That’s why, though still early in terms of realm, I bestow a cherished sword, so look at this sword and be able to learn many things.”

“Thank you.”

But instead of handing it to me, he placed it on his knee.

And extended his hand to me.

“Hand over that poor sword.”

“...”

When I handed over the student’s sword, he untied my purple tassel and transferred it to the pitch-black sword hilt.

“It’s a sword received from the master.”

If Herdrode’s master, I heard when receiving the clothing and tassel.

It was the family head two generations ago of Equira.

“The name is Ash Black.”

“The name is similar to senior brother’s sword.”

“Because they’re brother swords made by the same craftsman. He calls it Ash White arbitrarily shortened, that sword’s name is Ash White.”

Herdrode handed the student’s sword and Ash Black.

“Thank you.”

“Take it and go out now.”

The preamble before giving was long, but after giving he says to go out without even giving time to draw the sword.

But that can also be seen as the master’s charm.

I got up as is full of expectation and quickly bowed my head.

“When you finish the mission and return, stop by once.”

“Understood.”

I came out of the master’s room as is and closed the door.

***

Herdrode withdrew his gaze from the door the second disciple closed and went out.

And discarded the cooled tea then poured warm tea.

Ash Black.

Received as a gift when receiving the black tassel, used for quite a long time.

A sword regrettable to lay on the stand of the sword warehouse, but from opening the hand conduit root, he handled magic tools so he no longer carried it around, a tea that bothered him.

A slight laugh came out.

If that guy goes around wearing the sword the grandfather gave to the grandson, what would the elders who had pointed out the sword so much until now say.

Perhaps this time they might point out that an excessive sword was given...

In my view, if gifting a sword in the traditional meaning to that child, ordinary swords were insufficient.

At a glance just a young boy, but looking at that sword one can know.

I don’t know how he could become like that at that young age, but he sufficiently has the appearance of a sword.

That’s why there was no matter of regretting giving Ash Black.

I just hoped that famous sword would melt well into the sword the disciple aims for.

***

The diagram of Margo was now 80% complete.

If asking whether that much more time had flowed, it wasn’t.

Because the burden on repair lessened due to purification, I began opening paths more boldly.

The long time needed between repair and resumption did not apply to me.

If burning many paths at once, even my mana might not be able to purify all, but I checked that frequently, and if misaligned, immediately burned and reconnected.

I adapted to my own way of stacking quickly and checking, and from some moment the diagram was being completed at a speed that no one would not be surprised if known to the world.

Moreover, there was another very pleasant discovery.

The point that I could draw the diagram inside a shaking carriage.

Originally it would have been wasted time only able to do things like uncomfortably reading a book or retracing work to do, but I boldly closed my eyes, contemplated the interior, and widened the walls.

When training, one often feels a sensation as if disconnected from the external world due to deep immersion.

However, sudden shocks and shaking felt from the outside cannot not affect training.

Even in a state completely immersed in the internal world, the path not infrequently shook and vibrated creating precarious situations.

An eccentricity that if told to David would be called crazy.

But if I who can demolish and rebuild about one wrongly stacked wall, I could train even inside a running carriage at a speed not inferior to ordinary magic practitioners.

“We’ve arrived.”

I opened my eyes inside the rattling carriage.

When the coachman opened the door, I looked outside.

In front of it, butler Morris was standing.

“Long time no see, Morris.”

“Hello, family head.”

The smiling face was welcome.

“You received the contact, right? Get on quickly.”

“Aren’t you looking at the house? I decorated it well.”

Behind him, a mansion with a good atmosphere was visible.

A bit smaller than the grand mansion of Valdemar Count’s territory, but built in a more modern style with a refined charm.

“After finishing one work, I’ll rest here for a while.”

Morris held a heavy bag and climbed onto the carriage.

“You’re not entering the sword family right away?”

“I intend to wait a bit, do one more work, and go.”

Before starting the carriage, I opened the bag he prepared and confirmed that the items I had requested were well inside.

Various inquiry props and ropes, even makeup tools were all there.

“Let’s depart.”

“Understood.”

The carriage with Morris boarded departed again.

He briefly reported on household matters, then carefully examined me and said.

“You seem to have grown more in the meantime.”

“Yes, now it seems I’ve really fully grown.”

“How do you know that? Even now you’re a good build, but thinking of successive family heads, you’ll grow one span more.”

The well-wishing is truly thankful but unfortunately that’s not the case.

“...Really a good sword and clothes. I heard the story by letter that you became a magic practitioner with the Magic Root obtained through the Blessing, but even seeing it in person it’s hard to believe.”

I lifted the sword in a good mood and slightly drew it to show.

A dark gray blade whose material was hard to guess was visible.

“Indeed, it looks like a famous sword.”

“Right? Strangely the places that received light turned black. When drawn, the blade partially darkens, so from the opponent’s position it seems the length will be hard to gauge.”

Whether moonlight or sunlight, it didn’t matter.

Depending on the light, the degree of darkness of the blade changed, so even without magic it looked like the form changed magically.

“Other than training there was no chance to use the sword and I was immersed in training so I went around wearing the student’s sword, then the master gave something like this.”

“Congratulations, family head.”

I thereafter conveyed a few matters that happened in the sword family, and Morris listened to the story enjoying as if his own matter.

After conveying the recent situation to family like that, I closed my eyes again.

“I’ll train for a bit, so the butler also rest your eyes a bit.”

“Yes, family head.”

Continuing training like that, passing several villages and territories, and endlessly continuing golden wheat fields, finally arrived at the Westeros Ducal territory.

“How have you come?”

“I came for the matter the Duke requested.”

When I handed the identification stamped with Equira’s seal, the surprised guard turned back.

A more experienced-looking guard soldier walked out with quick steps, confirmed the identification, bowed, returned the identification, and opened his mouth.

“May I attach a decoration to the carriage? From now on to the ducal castle, no one will stop you.”

“Please.”

A red line hung over the carriage wall.

When the guard gestured, the guards in front stepped aside, and the carriage entered inside.

“This place is also not lightly large.”

“Including the wide rice fields, the area will be twice that of the Count’s territory.”

It gradually became prosperous and the ducal castle was visible.

In the middle of an overall clean downtown that seemed newly built, only the gray castle standing tall had an appearance that seemed to embrace the years.

“A scenery that doesn’t seem easily forgettable.”

“Yes, the ducal territory is also quite unique.”

“Is it not the first time?”

“I was interested so I investigated a bit.”

Would it be only investigation, I also came and saw after aging a bit more.

Since I came looking for traces of demon-humans, I’ll probably stop by once more later.

The guards of the ducal castle saw the carriage and briefly stopped it.

Receiving Equira’s identification and seeming to confirm my face, they bowed their heads and signaled.

The main gate of the ducal castle opened.

And entering quite a bit more, the coachman’s voice was heard.

“We’ve arrived.”

Getting off the carriage, attendants and servants were waiting.

“The companion this way.”

Morris lifted the luggage and walked to the servants, and I moved my steps toward the attendant.

The attendant moved his gaze to the sword hilt at my waist.

I had detached the purple tassel as soon as coming out of the sword family.

No reason to make it irritating by sending the lowest.

But even without the tassel, his gaze lingered on my sword for a long while, then he smiled brightly and politely bowed his head.

“Magic practitioner, please come in. The Duke is waiting.”