Volume 10 - Chapter 9 – The Pitiable Beauty and the Blacksmith (1/2)
10-09 The Pitiable Beauty and the Blacksmith
Gloria noticed that Jin’s eyes were fixed on the wall behind her.
“Hm? Ah, this collection is a hobby of mine.”
She said.
“Although they aren’t of any practical use, they’re in good condition for decoration.”
But Jin kept looking at the wall, or rather the swords on it.
“Is something wrong, Jin-dono?”
Gloria seemed puzzled as she asked, then Jin finally withdrew his gaze and said,
“No, it’s quite the collection, very helpful as a reference.”
“A reference?”
Gloria said, then seemed to suddenly understand as she clapped her hands together.
“I see! So Jin-dono’s got an interest in swords! The swords on the wall are mostly for ceremonial use, but they still could be used in practice to a point. The one on the top right is a replica of the swords used by knights of a kingdom that existed 150 years ago and that’s why it’s got that rather different curvature to it compared to modern swords. The curve comes into play when slashing things with it, but since making it requires some skill the replica was made by casting instead of forging. You’d think that the one below that that’s made of not even Mithril but silver would be just for decoration but by loading it with magic it can be of effective use on top of having a design which I find pleasing. The one below that was bought from Leonard Kingdom and it broadens towards the tip, so I think it’s convenient for hacking due to its weight. The bottommost one is the newest one I’ve got: it’s the standard sword used by the magi knight troop, and then the topmost one on the middle is…”
Jin was a little put off by her starting to go on and on without ceasing.
(Whoa…)
“She sort of resembles Rai-nii.”
Elsa whispered. Hannah wasn’t listening from the start. She was eating the confection brought together with the tea. Reiko’s interest was zero to begin with.
(A beauty’s a beauty, but she’s a pitiable one, isn’t she…)
While holding thoughts like that, Jin half-ignored her.
“…And that’s the short of it if you’re interested in the swords. Now let’s talk about the reason I invited you here.”
Gloria said after talking for a while, then drank her tea in one gulp to relieve her parched throat and,
“Could I ask you make a sword for me too?”
She asked.
“A sword, for you?”
“Yes. Of course, not for decorating this wall. As a matter of fact, the other day my favorite sword finally broke. I do have many spare swords, but all of them are lacking.”
She then looked Jin right in the eye and,
“I had Lithia show me her sword and it was a good piece of work. I most certainly would like you to make one for me, how about it?”
She said to finish, then lightly bowed her head.
“Onii-chan, shouldn’t you make one?”
Hannah said after seeing Gloria’s act.
“Oh, Hannah-chan, wasn’t it? Thank you. Jin-dono, could you?”
“Jin-nii, she’s going this far to ask.”
Even Elsa said so, so Jin gave in.
“Making it is no problem, but what about the materials?”
But there was the problem of not having materials.
“Ah, for that I’ve got an acquaintance who’s a blacksmith so I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”
“Is that so…”
Well, if there were materials he had no particular objections against making it. Even more so if Elsa and Hannah were fine with it. It was just that he had purposefully come to Alban for sightseeing, is what Jin was thinking.
“Well then, let’s go make it at once.”
Since he had limited time it was better to do it fast.
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that! Alright, let’s go now!”
Gloria said and stood up. But then she suddenly looked towards Hannah and said,
“Oh, how about your sisters? I don’t mind if they stay here.”
It seemed to be her way of taking them into consideration.
“I’m fine being with onii-chan.”
“I’ll go with Jin-nii.”
The two said so Gloria nodded and they all ended up going.
They left Gloria’s house and walked straight in the direction of the wall for some ten minutes. Right next to the wall was the workshop of the blacksmith.
Since a blacksmith’s work was noisy and also dealt with fire, the place was some distance away from the residential areas.
“That’s it. Properly speaking the shop’s owner could even work exclusively for the kingdom’s chivalric order but he’s a little eccentric. He said that his job is to make tools for commoners and so he took up residence here.”
While Gloria explained, a man with a sturdy body came out of the building and said,
“Don’t just call people eccentric or whatever… Oh, it was you, missy.”
He looked to be over middle aged and was about as tall as Jin. However, his arms were unsuitably thick for his body.
“Duston, I’m already 23. Surely I’m no longer a missy.”
The past middle aged blacksmith Duston laughed and said,
“Whaat, from my viewpoint you’re still a missy. So, what’s the business today?”
“Um, as a matter of fact my favorite sword broke.”
After Gloria got that far Duston interrupted her,
“No no no no. I’ve already decided I don’t make weapons. This is the only request from you I won’t listen to, missy.”
He said and shook his head. However, Gloria said to cover that up,