Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal echoed loudly from the nearby forge. The weapon shop was at the center of that noise.
It was early morning, so the shop had few customers. The shopkeeper, with skin tanned from his work, looked us up and down, clearly surprised to see us in a place like this.
Clang! Clang!
The loud clanging sounds didn’t seem to bother Armin Grey, who was intently examining the weapons on the walls and the blades laid out on the counter.
My brother was right again. Despite being the heir to a dukedom, Armin Grey seemed to enjoy this kind of shopping.
“Ahem! Are you… nobles?” the shopkeeper asked, eyeing us warily.
“Yes, we are.”
“What brings you to a weapon shop? There’s nothing here that would suit nobles like yourselves.”
“We’re just here to look around. Is that okay?”
The shopkeeper seemed surprised that nobles would want to browse in a weapon shop. He let out a hearty laugh.
“Of course, feel free to look around.”
Knowing we were nobles but not realizing just how high-ranking Armin Grey was, the shopkeeper spoke casually. Armin Grey examined the swords, bows, daggers, and crossbows with a serious expression, making me feel a bit foolish for suggesting this place.
“Do you see anything you like?” I asked.
“Hmm.”
He didn’t answer directly. I needed to buy him something to ease my conscience.
I turned to the shopkeeper. “Is this all you have?”
“Why, nothing catches your eye?”
“If you have something better, please show us. It’s our first time here, and while everything is interesting, nothing really stands out.”
I spoke casually to the shopkeeper. Armin Grey, who had been watching us with a stern expression, suddenly softened and smiled slightly.
“Hmm.”
The shopkeeper, wiping a sword with a cloth, asked Armin, “Are you looking for something specific?”
“Not particularly.”
“Hmph!”
“What do you usually use? That way, the shopkeeper can bring you the right item.”
I nudged the unresponsive Armin Grey. The top-tier noble didn’t even know how to shop! The joy of shopping comes from buying the best item at the best price!
Armin Grey spoke to the shopkeeper. “I usually use a long sword made by Baltazar.”
I didn’t know who Baltazar was, but the name sounded like a blacksmith.
However, I was the only one who didn’t recognize the name. The shopkeeper’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing it.
“Baltazar?! Are you perhaps from the Grey family?”
Huh? How did he know Armin Grey’s identity just from hearing the name Baltazar? I looked back and forth between the shopkeeper and Armin Grey in astonishment.
Armin Grey simply nodded in response. The shopkeeper’s attitude suddenly changed, and he spoke hurriedly.
“Sir, please wait a moment. If you don’t mind, I’ll call my elder brother.”
Seeing the desperate expression on the shopkeeper’s face, we couldn’t refuse. He nodded slightly, and the shopkeeper rushed out of the shop at an incredibly fast pace.
“Hmm. He seems very flustered.”
“Indeed.”
If we left, the shop would be empty. We had to wait for the shopkeeper to return. Fortunately, the shopkeeper returned much quicker than expected, accompanied by an elderly man with a similar stern demeanor. The elder respectfully addressed Armin.
“I heard you use Baltazar’s long sword?”
Armin nodded. The elder’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
“Sir, if you wouldn’t mind, could you please examine this sword of mine?”
There was a pleading tone in his request. Armin considered for a moment before agreeing.
“If you insist.”
The elder seemed overjoyed. I was confused and asked the shopkeeper, “Who is this Baltazar person?”
“He is the legendary master blacksmith.”
The shopkeeper’s tone was much more respectful now. The elder trembled with excitement as he spoke.
“He was a man who loved swords more than anything else. He dedicated his life to crafting the perfect sword.”
“So, he must have made many swords.”
“No.”
“Why not? If he loved making swords so much.”
The shopkeeper shook his head.
“He destroyed all his previous creations when war broke out, realizing that a sword is a tool meant to shed blood.”
“Oh, why would he do that?”
“He believed a sword should only be used to protect, not to harm innocents.”
I was captivated by the elder’s story. Baltazar, the legendary master blacksmith, never sold his swords and only crafted them for his own satisfaction, constantly seeking perfection.
“But there was one sword he couldn’t bring himself to destroy.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it was the embodiment of his lifelong pursuit of perfection.”
“Oh.”
From the context, it seemed that this sword was the very one Armin Grey used.
The elder carefully lifted a panel from the counter, revealing a hidden compartment. He retrieved a sword that, even at a glance, was extraordinarily sharp.
“This is my life’s masterpiece. If it can be compared to Baltazar’s sword, I will die without regret.”
The elder’s words carried a heavy weight. Armin took the sword and swung it gracefully a few times.
The sound of the sword cutting through the air echoed. I had never seen a sword up close before. Sasha was good at everything, but he wasn’t particularly interested in swordsmanship, and he always kept me away from dangerous places.
“What is that whooshing sound? Does every sword make that sound?”
“No.”
I had asked the elder, but it was Armin Grey who answered.
The elder looked at Armin with anticipation, his eyes gleaming with excitement. After a while, Armin, who had been holding the elder’s sword, spoke.
“I like it. It’s very sharp and well-balanced. And it’s made of high-quality steel.”
“Thank you!”
“It’s comparable to Baltazar’s sword. As you said, a 100-year-old sword is hard to use in actual combat.”
A 100-year-old sword would be considered a treasure.
Armin Grey skillfully swung the sword and asked the elder, “How many of these can you make in a year?”
“Excuse me?”
“I want to make a contract. Exclusive to the Grey family.”
The elder’s eyes welled up with tears upon hearing Armin’s words.
“I’m sorry. I’m just so happy that I can’t help but tear up. Please understand.”
The elder wiped his tears with his fingers and spoke to Armin.
“When I completed this sword, I once sought an audience with the Grey family to compare it with Baltazar’s sword. But how could a commoner like me meet the Duke? It was a long time ago. After being turned away at the door, I gave up and started making ordinary swords…”
It seemed unbelievable to him that he had gained Armin Grey’s favor so unexpectedly.
The shopkeeper quickly handed a handkerchief to his elder brother. The elder, having wiped away his tears, spoke confidently.
“I can guarantee 20 swords a year. What do you think?”
“Good. I’ll send someone here tomorrow. You can discuss the contract terms with them.”
The scale of the deal kept growing, and I felt anxious. If the sword was as good as a 100-year-old masterpiece, it would be very expensive. I had boasted that I would buy him anything, but how much money did I actually have…?
I cautiously asked the elder, “How much is that sword…?”
“I won’t sell it. I want to give it to you as a token of gratitude for the contract.”
“What?”
I stared at the elder in disbelief. But he seemed not to hear anything. The joy of his life’s work being recognized was overwhelming.
“If my brother says he won’t sell it, there’s no way to force him to take the money.”
I couldn’t force someone who didn’t want to sell to take money. Helplessly, I approached Armin Grey and asked, “Is there anything else you like?”
Come on. Anything else.
But he calmly shook his head.
“No. I’ve already received more than enough value from this visit.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you hadn’t suggested coming here, I would never have met this elder.”
Armin said that and sheathed the sword.
Just then, the cord attached to the sword’s sheath snapped. The elder saw this and said.
“The cord on the sheath is too old and has snapped. We have cords for sale here. Would you like one?”
The display case held various cords. Seeing those leather cords, a sudden memory surfaced.
I quickly turned to Armin Grey and asked, “That one! Do you need it?”
Come on! Say you need it!
