Published: July 3, 2025
In general, weapons require maintenance.
Whether it is a weapon from modern Earth or a sword from "Fai," maintenance is necessary regardless.
Of course, whether one is an adventurer or a knight, they take care of their own weapons.
However, it is common to have proper maintenance done by a familiar blacksmith about once a month or once every two months.
In Run, the largest town in the borderlands, there are many such blacksmiths.
Including those blacksmith workshops, the area around the West Gate has become a craftsperson district.
One of those blacksmith workshops was where Sera and Ryo had come to visit Master Doran's shop.
“Hello, Master!”
As Sera opened the door and entered, she called out into the back of the shop.
“Oh, just a moment!”
A low male voice responded from the back of the store.
In just a few seconds, a man in his fifties with a small stature and a beard came out from the back.
(He looks like Bellrock from the Hero Party! A typical dwarf blacksmith from another world! Is there a conflict between elves and dwarves... or will this stubborn dwarf throw us out of the shop? Will it turn into a fight with him saying that he has no weapons to sell us...?)
Ryo felt a strange excitement in a peculiar direction.
“Oh, if it isn't you, Sera-chan. Was it the day for sword maintenance?”
“Yeah. As usual, please take care of it.”
Sera placed her sword along with its sheath on the counter.
“Got it. And what about that mage over there...?”
Master Doran looked over at Ryo, who was secretly excited.
“Oh, this is Ryo. He's just accompanying me.”
“A-accompanying... Well, since this is a blacksmith shop, there are only metal armors and no mage staves... Wait, you don’t have a staff?”
Master Doran looked Ryo up and down, confirming he was empty-handed.
Typically, mages carry staves.
It is said that having a staff or not makes a tenfold difference in the required magical power and the effectiveness of spell manifestation.
For that reason, mages and their staves were thought of as one entity.
“Yes, I have a principle of not carrying a staff...”
Ryo answered while nodding.
“I see... Well, there are all sorts of people after all.”
“Ryo also handles close combat, so he can use a sword better than a staff. His sword skills are on par with mine.”
Sera spoke proudly as if it were about herself.
Hearing that, Master Doran's eyes widened.
“Really...? Huh? Now that I think about it, I heard something at the mansion. There is an adventurer who has a daily mock battle with Sera-chan…”
“That would be this Ryo.”
Sera smiled and nodded deeply in response.
Ryo tilted his head and asked, “Mansion?”
“Oh, Master Doran is also part of the development workshop of the Baron of Run. He’s a skilled blacksmith, after all. The lord wouldn’t let such talent go to waste.”
“Stop it.”
Master Doran replied, his face turning bright red.
He was a good person.
Unlike the stubborn master Ryo initially expected, he was not a cantankerous dwarf, and he got along very well with Sera, the elf...
“Well then, I’ll take care of the sword. It should be ready by early afternoon. By the way, regarding that mage... Ryo, was it? Do you need maintenance for your sword as well?”
“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Ryo’s sword…”
Master Doran looked at Ryo with a questioning gaze.
Sera also looked at Ryo and tilted her head.
Sure, they had mock battles every day, but the sword Ryo used was the practice sword provided at the training grounds, which had a dulled blade.
“Probably not necessary. This is what I have…”
With that, Ryo took out Murakumo and Mikael's Custom Knife from his waist and placed them on the table.
“This is...”
Master Doran was at a loss for words as he looked at Murakumo placed on the table.
Then, after a moment, he began mumbling something under his breath.
“...No, but this is... Could it really be? I can only say it is... but... No way I would get to see it in my lifetime…”
Ignoring Master Doran, Sera confidently declared, “The Sword of the Fairy King! With that robe and that sword, Ryo is loved by the Fairy King!”