Volume 9 Chapter 1 Part 2 (1/2)
Roughly 3 minutes had pa.s.sed.
Munechika opened her eyes and made this declaration.
”Er, what does that mean exactly?”
”This sword does not host a consciousness. But I can transfer mine into it. Leaving my original form here.”
”Is it alright to do something like that?”
Listening to Munechika's explanation, s.h.i.+n was reminded of a videogame's VR technology.
To leave the real body behind and move with only one's consciousness as a VR avatar was similar to Munechika's proposal of transferring her consciousness to another sword, he thought.
”T-that's right. Isn't it dangerous to do something like transferring your consciousness?”
”No, it doesn't seem like there would be any trouble. Because this too is Mikazuki Munechika. I know that even before trying.”
Munechika firmly nodded to s.h.i.+n and Mitsuyo's questions.
”Let me confirm, just in case. What would happen if you were defeated after transferring your consciousness?”
”If the host disappears, my original form would simply awaken. Of course, my original form would be defenseless while my consciousness is transferred elsewhere, though.”
”What if the host was contaminated by miasma?”
”I would not be able to transfer my consciousness anymore, or I would be trapped by it, I suppose. I cannot say with certainty unless that actually happens.”
What she knew was simply that she could transfer her consciousness into s.h.i.+n's Mikazuki Munechika. That even after transferring her consciousness she could detect Yasutsuna and Kunitsuna's presences. Lastly, that if the host body was broken her consciousness would return to the original one.
s.h.i.+n tried to ask her the tricky question of how she could know all that, but Munechika simply replied ”somehow”.
”This is just a hypothesis, but the sword you hold is also me, in a way. I do not know if we can consider it and me as one and the same, but I don't think it's wrong to consider it as something born from myself.”
”In other words, there are multiple containers for you?”
”That could be a way to put it. To inhabit them, though, I would need permission from the holder. I could not inhabit just any unknown stranger's Mikazuki Munechika.”
To inhabit a weapon, first it was necessary to align one's wavelength with it, explains Munechika. She could not just inhabit any weapon as she pleased.
”It's turned into something huge.”
Tiera was listening silently, but in the end blurted out a comment. Filma nodded in agreement.
”To inhabit other bodies with one's consciousnessanthropomorphized weapons sure can do amazing stuff.”
”We are aware that we are unusual beings. We can also alter our appearance to a degree.”
”Indeed, we might be weapons but we also host a soul. I don't imagine such bizarre creatures exist anywhere else.”
Munechika spoke seriously, while Tsunetsugu commented while laughing.Their reactions were different, but they both seemed to comprehend what kind of beings they were.
”.”
”Hm? Why the sudden silence, s.h.i.+n?”
”No, I just wanted to ask something else. Could you inhabit this weapon even if it had been reinforced?”
”Reinforced?”
”Yes, being an event item it doesn't have many capacity slots, but Mikazuki Munechikacan still be reinforced. I thought that since we're going to use it, it'd be better to boost it up while we're at it.”
s.h.i.+n thought that if the weapon Munechika carries in human form has the same stats and effects as her original form, if the original weapon was powered up maybe the human form would be strengthened as well.
”Wait just a moment there. You are aware that Mikazuki Munechika is one of the Five Supreme Blades, right? Maybe Munechika recognized your ability, maybe you're an incredible guy, but don't just say you can ”reinforce” it so casually!”
”No, I mean that it's not a proble-don't glare like that, please.”
s.h.i.+n could only laugh wryly before Mitsuyo's accusing stare.
”Calm down, Mitsuyo. That's true, something unexpected might happen, I cannot refuse to be reinforced. I do not know what would happen if you fiddle with my main body, but I have no objections. As long as I can keep my form as the weapon Mikazuki Munechika, being reinforced is not a problem.”
”I see. The sun will set soon, so we will leave the exploration for tomorrow and do the reinforcing today. Do you have any requests in what way you would like to be reinforced, by the way?”
Weapon reinforcement contained many options: st.u.r.diness boost, attack power increase, attack range extension, element attachment, etcetera.
The times a weapon could be reinforced too had different patterns: depending on the strength of the effect applied, many different ones could be added, or it was also possible to focus on a single element.
Based on how it was reinforced, a weapon could change to the point of becoming like a completely different one.
”Hmm. Personally, I would favor sharpness and st.u.r.diness. Because the ideal katana never breaks, never bends, and slices well. Besides, adding unique effects could make me feel weird when I return to my original body.”
”I see, roger then. I'll use the clearing in front of the shrine for a while.”
After obtaining permission, s.h.i.+n materialized Tsuki no Hokora. s.h.i.+n headed straight to the smithy, but for some reason, behind s.h.i.+n's group, the 3 Supreme Blades and the baby Kagutsuchi were following.
”Wait, why are you all coming?”
”What? Is that a problem or something?”
”Well now, is that not the place where weapons, what we would call a part of ourselves, are tempered? It is not something we can see every day. It is not strange for our interest to be piqued. Or are women forbidden to enter a smithy?”
Depending on the age, some locations were forbidden to women. Munechika's question to s.h.i.+n was probably because she knew this fact.
”No, I don't particularly care about things like that. I understand Munechika, but I didn't think that Mitsuyo and Tsunetsugu, and even Kagutsuchi would come.”
”I don't mean to boast, but we are not weapons that average blacksmiths can handle. I cannot deny I am interested.”
Tsunetsugu spoke with an innocent smile.
In the game era, s.h.i.+n had very rarely let others see him work in the smithy.
The residential area and smithy of the Tsuki no Hokora weren't accessible to any player outside the Rokuten members; keeping one's ideas and methods hidden was also common practice.
Furthermore, having people watching made him feel a little awkward too.
(Maybe because of the people present, it feels pretty different from the time at Falnido.)
Probably because of the presence of Munechika's group, weapons with a consciousness, it was different from having Girard's attendants or Tiera watching. s.h.i.+n felt a kind of nervousness he couldn't quite put into words.
Munechika especially, was completely serious. Even the baby Kagutsuchi resting on her head, which would normally brighten the mood, had a deadly serious expression now.
”Then, I'm starting.”
With these words, s.h.i.+n started the fire in the furnace.
He checked the appearance of the magic power-imbued flames, impossible to generate in reality, then took out ingots of Orihalc.u.m and Scarlet.i.te from the item box.
He placed them in the furnace and waited several minutes. A mineral sparkling with a mix of silver and red was formed.
”Is that”
Mitsuyo commented, impressed.
”Something we call Chimeradite.”
”Hmm, it hasn't become a weapon yet, but I already feel a peculiar intimidation from it”
”Is it something you can use without problems?”
Tsunetsugu and Munechika both stared intently at the Chimeradite ingot, after feeling its magical power.
”No problem at all. I have already used ingots like this to reinforce weapons.”
s.h.i.+n understood their feelings, now that the world had become reality. Normal minerals do not possess magical power, and even unique minerals for blacksmithing would not emit unusual magical energies like Chimeradite does.
”I will focus on tempering now. I don't think I'll be able to answer anything even if you ask me, so please keep it in mind.”
Everyone in the smithy felt the atmosphere changed after s.h.i.+n spoke these words using a serious tone.
”-I'm starting.”
s.h.i.+n first took Mikazuki Munechika out of the item box and removed its hilt from the blade. Holding it with tongs, s.h.i.+n heated the blade over the furnace, turning it gradually whiter.
The magic power-imbued flames depended on the magic power of the blacksmith that had ignited them. Because of this, they could have various effects, depending on the blacksmith's will.
This time the weapon was gradually reaching the most suitable temperature for reinforcing it.
”.”
After about 20 seconds, s.h.i.+n silently removed the blade from the furnace and placed it on top of the Chimeradite ingot atop the anvil.
The white hot blade, with the sharp side pointing down, cut through the Chimeradite like a knife through b.u.t.ter. When the blade reached the center of the ingot, s.h.i.+n lowered his hammer.
”.hnngh!”
The hammer swung down on the ingot.
Every time the hammer struck, a long, bright sound of struck metal echoed in the smithy. At the same time, like ripples in a lake, the magic power imbued in the hammer spread through the ingot and the blade.
”Whoa, what's this magic power?”
”Hmm, now this is impressive.”
Looking at s.h.i.+n performing blacksmith work, feeling the echoing sounds and the magic's ripple, Mitsuyo and Tsunetsugu couldn't help but to voice their surprise and admiration.
Munechika simply stared at s.h.i.+n, without a word.
”As usual, s.h.i.+n is really amazing when he does blacksmith work.”
”Of course he is, blacksmith is his second name after all.”
”That's true. His strength stands out more, but originally this is what s.h.i.+n is best at.”
Following Tiera's words, spoken while her body trembled because of the ripples of magic power, Filma replied jokingly, while Schnee did with pride.
”It looks like it will be complete soon.”
s.h.i.+baid, who had been nodding silently, commented too.
As Schnee and the others turned their eyes back on s.h.i.+n, the Chimeradite on the tip of s.h.i.+n's hammer had become very small, as it had been gradually absorbed into the blade, and had mostly disappeared.
”Shhh!”
The metallic echoes resounded one more time, stronger than before. With this last blow, the Chimeradite was completely absorbed by the blade.
Supported by the tongs, the blade was not touching the anvil and was held in midair. The silver aura surrounding the katana was clearly denser than before the reinforcement.
”Phew, it's complete.”
With a small sigh, s.h.i.+n reattached the hilt to the blade.
The katana's appearance had barely changed, but he understood that its attack power and resilience had grown by 20%. The name had also changed to Mikazuki Munechika s.h.i.+nuchi.
”Here we are. Just in case, check if everything's all right.”
”Yes, I willit's all right.”
Munechika closed her eyes holding the sheathed Mikazuki Munechika s.h.i.+nuchi, then nodded with conviction. A small grin on her lips suggested her excitement.
”I will try to transfer my consciousness right away. Mitsuyo, take care of my body.”
”Leave it to me.”
”Here I go.”
Munechika's body glowed silver, then after a few seconds turned into light itself, vanis.h.i.+ng in the air. From inside the light, a katana just like Mikazuki Munechika before the reinforcement appeared.
As Mitsuyo grabbed the katana that appeared in midair, it fell in her hands, as if it had lost whatever was supporting it.
On the other hand Mikazuki Munechika s.h.i.+nuchi was floating, in the same position as when Munechika was holding it. At the same time as Mitsuyo had grabbed the materialized Mikazuki Munechika, Mikazuki Munechika s.h.i.+nuchi started to glow.
Silver light gathered around the reinforced katana, gradually forming a human-like silhouette.
After a while, it morphed completely into a human.
”.phew, looks like there really are no problems.”
”Er, what?”
”Hmm.”
”Mitsuyo, Tsunetsugu, why are you surprised? Hmm? s.h.i.+n, you all too?”
Not only Mitsuyo and Tsunetsugu were surprised to see Munechika as she appeared again in human form.
Their reactions, though, were a mixture of awkwardness and looking pointedly at s.h.i.+n.
”If no one talks, I don't know how I'm supposed to react.”
”Well, eryes, I think it's faster if you take a look yourself.”
s.h.i.+n materialized a hand mirror from the item box and gave it to Munechika.
Even if still puzzled, Munechika took it in her hands.
”Oh? I see, so this is the reason.”
Looking at herself in the mirror, Munechika nodded in understanding.
”What!? Is that it!?! Why are you more beautiful than before anyway!?”
Mitsuyo loudly voiced what everyone other than Munechika was thinking.
Munechika was already considerably good-looking, but her beauty seemed to have been upgraded too.
Her waist-length black hair had acquired an even s.h.i.+nier gloss, making her pale skin stand out even more. Her well-defined eyes expressed a proud elegance blooming from her beauty.
It seemed that even her chest, pus.h.i.+ng up her armor, had become more ample than before.
”It looks like being reinforced also influenced my appearance.”
”Hey, Munechika!! Why are you so calm and collected!! This is just weird!! Not only did you get prettier, but your curves improved too!?”
She might be a weapon, but now she was a woman. She apparently harbored the desire to be prettier, so Mitsuyo questioned Munechika.
”Wait, Mitsuyo, that's not something I can answer. s.h.i.+n, do you know what could have caused this?”
s.h.i.+n was the author of the reinforcement, but even he could not explain this phenomenon.
”Of course I don't. If you transfer your consciousness to a reinforced weapon you can become more beautifulI had no idea this would happen!”
”Maybe you put in even more effort because Munechika is a beautiful lady?”
”He-hey now, Tiera! Stop saying things that could cause misunderstandings. I really, really don't know why this happened!”
s.h.i.+n desperately explained himself to Tiera's suspecting gaze.