I already completed the blade of the mithril rapier but I have some hesitation about releasing it. Well, I don’t think that this one will make such big difference in this world. Even if it is just a short sword made by the other blacksmiths, if 100 people attacked me with it, I would not be safe for sure.
However, if there is such sword that can be used to break boulders blocking the way (I think it’s possible), it would mean that one can now pass through the path that they couldn’t go through before, and that can greatly affect the outcome of the battle.
Thus I’m wondering if it is okay to release it to the world. Helen’s short sword was only made of steel, and although the sword that became the heirloom of the Eimurl House was also made of steel, it is an item that is seldom used.
I was asked to make a rapier, so it’s probably not something that will be actively used in the front lines of battles. But even if I decide that it’s fine for now, there’s still the lingering issue whether or not I’ll have to worry about it every time I make something similar in the future. I guess I have to settle this issue quickly.
“Hey, guys”
“What’s up Eizou?”
“What is it, Boss?”
“What is it, Eizou?”
When I called out to them, the three of them replied simultaneously.
“I was wondering if I should bring this out to the world. If I’m not careful, it might bring disaster to various places. It doesn’t break and it won’t deform that easily but it cuts really well. Its sharpness is unstoppable too and it can even break rocks. To be honest, I’m worried to release something like this into the world. I’m wondering if I’ll be able to bear what lies ahead. That’s what I’m concerned about, and I can’t stop worrying about it.”
I honestly revealed my current feelings. I know I’m a big man over his 40’s, but I don’t think I can stand it. The three of them intently stared at me. They might give up on me and leave this place. If that happens, well, so be it. It’s just that my capability is only up to that point.
Silence permeated the garden. Once more, all I can hear is the sound of the wind.
“Fufufu”
The next thing I heard was laughter.
“Eizou is a human too huh. I thought you would be indifferent to such things because you make amazing things.”
Diana says that with a smile.
“I thought so too. Since Boss is being unworldly, I thought you wouldn’t mind. Well Boss, that’s a matter for the user, not the one who makes it you know? I’ve been taught that, and most blacksmiths are like that. Well I can understand why you would want to be careful, that’s especially the case when it comes to making something as great as Boss’ works.”
Rike is also grinning as she said that.
“Yeah, that’s right. Whether the one you made will be a sword for protection or for assault, at the end, the person who got it will use it the way he wants. So you don’t have to take responsibility for the result. Eizou is such an upright person that’s why.”
“If it’s too heavy for you to bear, then let us carry it too. We are “family” after all, right?”
Samia slaps my shoulders as she said that. The pain is also strangely comfortable.
“Sorry for troubling you guys. Thank you.”
I bowed deeply to everyone and gently wipe the tears that spilled out of my eyes. Someone gently holds my head. Then, the next moment, I felt a hug at my leg, and then I felt someone hugging me from behind.
Inside the forest, our family of four become one lump for a while.
“Alright!”
When I lifted my head, Pak! I slapped my cheeks. I will not hesitate anymore. My job in this world is to make what I want to make and bring them out to the world for them to be useful to someone.
“Oh, you got such nice look, Eizou.”
“I’m originally good-looking you know.”
“Eeh?”
“Huh?”
Then the four of us laughed. It will be fine I have this family. I can do it.
“Let’s call it a day and let’s prepare for our meal.”
“Yey! Meal time! Meal time!”
“Hey, Samia! I already told you that’s improper right!?”
Rike chided Samia who’s getting all excited, and Diana looks at them with a smile, thus returning to our usual scene. I looked at such scene with a bright mood.
The next day, I will make the sword guard and fist guard. I will make them using steel instead of mithril. The rapier’s guard is cage-shaped or rather, it is made of complex combination of curves, which is difficult to process if mithril is used. In addition, each curve is thin, so even if it is made of mithril, it will be misshapen if heavily used. Thus considering that, it would be better if it could be replaced easily.
Steel is expensive, but I’m sure other craftsman can make it, and it will be fine even after it leaves my hand. For today, Rike and the others will be working on the general model so they will not be around.
Before starting the whole work, I engraved the “sitting fat cat”, which is the symbol of our workshop, with a chisel at the base of the blade, where it will be hidden when the sword guard is in place. The chisel had been hardened and re-sharpened so as not to lose to mithril, so although it took some effort, I managed to engrave it.
I then heat up some sheet metal and made it into a thin rod shapes. Since I had been working on mithril all day yesterday, it seemed to me that this is a lot easier to process. Even though I’m using my cheat, I can make thin rods at a fairly fast pace.
I cut it to a certain length and make it into a shape like ∫ or §. After that, they are combined to form a spherical shape. In terms of its image, it is like the “globe” playground equipment that was usually in the parks in my previous world….. Well, there were a lot fewer of those around the time I disappeared from that world.
In any case, I completed a cage-like sword guard that was combined from the base of the sword so that the hand holding the grip was guarded.
Now that the sword guard is completed, I will make the fist guard to go with it. I make a rod of the same thickness as the rods on the sword guard, then shape both ends of the rod into a ball. Once the fist guard is made, I combined it with the sword guard and the hilt is now completed.
Before combining the parts of the hilt, I wrapped leather around the grip and fastened it to the handle head to finish the grip. If I don’t do this first, it will be troublesome when it comes to the guard part. Now that the grip is done, I combined the fist guard and the sword guard to the blade.
After assembling it, the result is a fine sword that can only be described as elegant. This is a sword that I would not be ashamed to show anywhere.
And now I had no more doubt as to whether or not I would present this to the world.