Lord of the Star Ocean Chapter 7

A Man Should Be Quiet and Carry a Sword

"h.e.l.looo. I'd like to buy some weapons."

Kasil Arms Shop was empty. Was it closed then? I wondered, but then again, the door was unlocked. The walls of the store were lined with all kinds of weapons. None of them were fancy-looking. Their designs clearly focused on practicality and function.

And then maybe there was just a small embellishment added to make them distinct. I liked their way of doing things.

"There's no one here."

"Maybe they are in the back?"

"Should we really just walk in here?"

"It is not our fault that there is no one here. If anything, we should make sure that they will not be inviting any thieves in."

"Maybe you're right…I'll take a look."

"Yes. I will wait out here."

As the owner seemed to have no intention of appearing, I talked about it with Daniela and decided to go towards the back from behind the counter.

There was a hallway behind the door, and there was a light on. h.e.l.lo? I call as check the doors.

"Ah, it's hot…a smithy…? h.e.l.lo. Anyone here?"

I came out into a large room that was illuminated by the light of a furnace. It was incredibly warm inside, perhaps because the door was closed. I was being steamed alive.

"It's d.a.m.n hot…but still, it would probably be much worse without this ice dragon armor…"

Flames were bursting from inside of the furnace. Hot air shot out and wrecked my hair. I really needed a haircut… I looked around the room, but I couldn't see anyone.

"Hmm…I wouldn't be surprised if someone fainted in this heat, but it doesn't look to be the…what!?"

I wiped at the sweat on my forehead and turned around to leave, and saw someone on the floor behind the door. A bushy beard. A hammer in hand. A blacksmith in appearance. Judging by his state, it looked like he had lost consciousness while trying to escape from the room. It had been completely out of my vision. I frantically ran over to him and tried to pull him up, but he was too heavy. And so I had no choice but to drag him out of the room.

"d.a.m.n, you're heavy….but we need to get you some help!"

I took out a blanket from the hollow bag that we used when out camping and somehow managed to roll the blacksmith onto it. Next, I created a block of ice with magic. I didn't think about it too much as the thing cracked and creaked into shape on my palm. Then I put the ice blocks near his neck, under his arms, and around his feet. And lastly, I froze a wet towel and placed it over his forehead.

"I guess that just about does it…"

I was pretty sure that this was how to deal with it. There were a lot of shows on tv that taught you about this in the summer…it's a good thing I gave them the minimum amount of my attention necessary. Yes!

"I was getting worried because you were late…what happened here?"

"Ah, Daniela. This guy pa.s.sed out in the smithy. It was ridiculously hot in there, so it might be a heatstroke."

"A heatstroke…is that what happens when you are in a very hot place?"

"You could say that. It happens when you are dehydrated and your salt is depleted."

"I see…we must be careful when we visit volcanic mountains."

I was about to ask when we had ever decided to visit a volcanic mountain, but the then the blacksmith suddenly groaned and opened his eyes.

"Mmm, mm…"

"Oh, are you awake? How do you feel?"

"Aghhh…my head…who the h.e.l.l are you…"

He seemed too dazed to stand up and continued to stare at the ceiling. But he could at least reply to my questions. That was good.

“A customer. There was no one around when we came in, so I tried to look around, and you had fainted in the smithy.”

"Mgahhh…yes, I was working. I do remember trying to leave the room after feeling dizzy…but I couldn't…"

"Yes. You were just one step short of the door, too."

He was so close. It really was too bad. I guess it showed how preoccupied he had been with his work. He needed to be more careful if he wanted to continue to work. That was a big problem for me, as I needed to buy weapons.

"Sorry…thank you for the help. I am fine now. Let's go to the store."

"Are you sure? You don't have to push yourself, alright?"

"Ah, this is nothing…oh, oh, still a little shaky."

Maybe he didn't understand the meaning of fine?

"Ah, you'll have to pardon me. But I have to sit down because of my head. So you want weapons, eh? What kind of weapons?"

Blacksmith Kasil sat down on a chair behind the counter and looked up at me as we started to talk business.

"A one-handed straight sword. And a short sword. Something light and durable would be great."

“Hmm…well…ah, sorry. Could you bring that one on the shelf over there…. Yes, that one. That would be the very light model of our one-handed straight sword.”

I tried holding the sword that he had indicated. It really was light. About the same as an iron sword. However, the color of the blade was not that of iron.

"What is this made of?"

“That one is made from the carved fang of a leva tiger. It's a fine piece, made from the strongest and longest tooth. They say that there is nearly nothing that that tiger's fangs cannot cut through. And now it's been reshaped and polished. I dare say that you will be able to sever almost anything with it. Though, it won't be cheap. People don't go killing leva tigers until their at least Ruby Rank.”

He was a lot more talkative than what I'd expect for a man who was unconscious a few minutes ago…but some people liked to talk when it was related to their profession…

Apparently, this Ruby Rank was Rank A within the guild. In terms of levels, it started from 81.

This was quite a sword… It seemed kind of insane to sharpen a fang that could cut anything. What would happen if my hand slipped… However, I didn't require something of this caliber right now. It was not something I was confident that I could handle. And how was this in a sheath if it could cut through everything? Quite the contradiction there.

"Ah, I can see it in your face. You are wondering how it is in a sheath, aren't you? But this isn't just any ordinary sheath. This sheath has an enchantment of Indestructibility. In other words, it will not break. It cannot be cut. That also brings the price up quite a lot."

"That seems like it would be a very difficult enchantment to cast."

"Indeed. It is beyond what an ordinary enchanter could do. I had it especially done by a famous enchanter."

Huh, you don't say.

"And what was this enchanter's name?"

"Ah? Are you interested then, young lady?"

Daniela intruded! We were supposed to be more careful!

"Her name is Rachel Vanargand. She does not stay at any one location, so meeting her is close to a miracle. It certainly was for me. I believe she was headed for the Lambrusen republic next."

"Rachel…Vanargand…"

Daniela repeated the name as if to carve it into her memory. Lambrusen huh…I guess we just missed her. This Rachel Vanargand was likely the enchanter that Nick had talked about. Not the person who enchanted my equipment, though.

But the name Vanargand caught my interest. Vanargand was another name for the wolf G.o.d, Fenrir. The wolf that swallowed Odin during Ragnarok. Wolf. A wolf. It was also a wolf that had granted me Legs of the Forest Wolf.

"So, have you decided on it?"

Kasil's voice brought me back to the present. I looked at the sword in my hand and shook my head.

"I think I'll go with something a little more simple."

"I see. Then try the sword next to it. I think that it should satisfy you. It has no fancy enchantments. It is a simple sword that excels in durability. That sword was made by heating armor stone to such a temperature that even a pyromancer would be shocked by. Unfortunately, it is on the heavy side."

I pick up the sword that he suggested. This sword that pursued durability definitely was hefty. A little more so than a steel sword. It had no unnecessary embellishments, making it no heavier than what was absolutely necessary. Taking it out of its sheath showed that the blade was an oxidized silver. The matte surface did not reflect my face.

"Does this sword have a name?"

"Aye, it does. The Glampanzer."

"Glampanzer…armored demon sword."

A sword that is named after armor. I like it. I choose you!

"I'll take it."

"Good choice! That will be thirty-five gold pieces!"

"Expensive!"

“I'll make it twenty. Since you helped me!”

"Bought!"

I brought out twenty gold pieces from the hollow bag and handed them over to Kasil. He carefully counted them one by one before putting them in a safe.

"Now, a short sword is it? I suppose you want this one to be very durable as well?"

"Yes. Functionality and durability for me."

"Understood. Hmm, behind that shelf over there…"

And so this pa.s.sionate business between us men continued. It goes without saying, that Daniela was not too amused at being completely abandoned, and made it very clear to me later on.

Ultimately, I was not able to come to a decision, and so I had to go again on the next day. Daniela had stormed away, saying she would do something on her own this time. And so I swore that I would buy her something sweet on the way back, as I opened the door to Kasil's Arms Shop once again.

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