130 5.19 The Formidable Odachi That Cuts Through Anything (1/2)
The moment I left the house and beyond my knowledge, Hiko-sama went to my little bedroom and took my 'Shinrai to yujo-ga' down from the wall and wrapped it with a cloth since there was no sheath on it yet.
He carefully wrapped it up and carried it off to the marketplace where he had seen a Blacksmith that had just opened his shop for business for the day.
He entered the shop and was greeted by the Blacksmith. ”Irasshaimase, what can I do for you, Samurai-san,” the Blacksmith asked.
”Here, I have an odachi but the sheath was destroyed. It had not been used for quite some time and I need the sheath by today.”
Hiko-sama unrolled the cloth and presented the odachi to the Blacksmith. He looked at it with full admiration and asked about this.
”Is this a new odachi? Where did you get this from? This is not from anywhere around Kitakata, am I right?”
”As I've said, this odachi was rather new. It had never been used before and was kept in my collection without its sheath. I won't be seen around carrying this without its sheath right? Patrolmen would have surrounded me already.”
”Haa...haa...its true. But this odachi seems to emit its own aura by itself when I held it. It seems a bit special, unlike other weapons that I had held in my hands so far. Mind telling me a bit of this piece of history?”
”Well, all I can say that this was handed down to me some time back. I wanted to gift this away.”
”Oh... If I offer you, would you like to sell it to me? The way the metal was forged it was definitely from some quality iron. As a Blacksmith, this was forged not from [Ordinary Iron] but was made from [Refined Iron] and this piece here can be considered being made by a Level 5 Blacksmith, at least. ”
”I am sorry, but this is not for sale. I intend to gift this away after making a sheath for it.”
”Ah... I see. You really don't want to sell it away?”
”I am sorry, as again I've said it, it is not for sale.”
”Since this odachi had been with you, would you mind if I give you an example when I said this odachi had been made by [Refined Iron]?”
”Sure, go ahead. But please do not make a scratch on the odachi. I wished to have it the same condition as the way I brought into your honourable shop.”
The Blacksmith gave a ”Don't worry, I won't hurt your odachi” look at Hiko-sama as he took another katana that he was selling and place it in front of me. He held the odachi in his hands and he slashed down on the katana's blade.
”SHIIIINNGGGG....!!!” as soon as the odachi made contact with the katana that he had experimented on, a loud slicing sound was made and the odachi cleanly cuts through the katana in front of him in 2 pieces.
Omagai...!!!
The odachi effortlessly slices through the katana and this was said the katana was made by [Refined Iron] as well. But the quality of this odachi surpasses the quality of the highest weapon made by this Blacksmith.
Both Hiko-sama and the Blacksmith looked in total shock at the odachi and it surpassed the quality that was appraised by the latter.
”Look here Samurai-san, I could offer you 100 gold coins for this odachi if you could sell me. I understand that you do not intend to sell this to me, but yet my reputation in my shop will be two-fold if I could display it on my shelf. Surely once I buy this, I would not sell it to anyone else even if they offered me 500 gold coins for this masterpiece.”
”Hmm, a 100 gold coins you say. How about this, you make me the sheath for free, and I bring you the person who originally forges this masterpiece to you at a price of 250 gold coins just by meeting him alone. However, I still get to keep the odachi and you will pay once you had met the person and maybe he can show you a piece or two weapons or even armour instead. ”
”The price is very steep but it's worth it in my kind of trade. Have you shown it to any other Blacksmith in Kitakata here? I would make the sheath right now if you could wait. It won't take as much as one hour to make the sheath. When would I be able to meet the honourable person?
”Just as soon as you had finished making the sheath, I would go and inform him straight away. I am sure he would be glad to meet you and show you his pieces of work.”
”Samurai-San, if I could meet a fellow Blacksmith that could forge this type of weapons, I am highly honoured with his presence in my shop here. I am sure my fellow apprentices in the back would also like to learn a thing or two.”
”Sure, Mr Blacksmith, it'll cost you just 250 gold coins just to meet him. As for the weapons or amours, the price would be negotiable with him. I am sure he too, would be honoured to meet you too.”
”OK, Samurai-san, take a seat here first. Take this odachi with you first and I prepare the standard sheath here in front of you. Trust is important to establish friendship in this business.” the Blacksmith said as he handed the odachi back to Hiko-sama and went back to the shop to get the standard prefabricated sheath that he would work on the length of the odachi.
”Trust and Friendship” that's the name of the odachi that had been named by Himura. Is it a coincidence or he himself knew that this odachi would mean such a thing with a Blacksmith of this calibre.
By the way, I am sure not taking advantage of Himura since meeting this Blacksmith alone would be worth 250 gold coins. If every weapon or pieces of armour was to be made by Himura, then at 100 pieces of gold would definitely surpass the savings that I had.
This is his luck and the Gods are definitely smiling on him as well. This kid sure has a lot of potentials. I better speak to him during lunch time later when I presented his odachi that had been sheathed by then.