NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Is That Equipment Okay?
The utilization rate of Tzvalnea Castle’s workshop was significantly lower than that of others because extremely few demons used weapons. From birth, their greatest and most powerful weapons were their high magical power and physical abilities.
Ryushi, being a human, neither had the high magical power nor the exceptional physical abilities of demons. His underdeveloped body was, at best, slightly weaker than an adult’s.
He needed a weapon to fight.
“Excuse me. Is Hulfas-san here?”
“Well, well! Welcome, Ryushi-sama! Come this way, please.”
The workshop had very few visitors.
In that sense, Ryushi’s visit was important for the demon who managed it – Hulfas. The crow-shaped humanoid demon, Hulfas, was delighted, making Ryushi smile.
“As always, it’s hot in here…”
The heat that awaited beyond the door mercilessly warmed up any visitor.
It was natural, considering it was a place where flames were handled. Hulfas, a demon enchanted by blacksmithing, calmly picked up a sword.
The blade was about 72 cm long, slightly longer than a training sword.
Upon closer inspection, the wide and thick blade was a dull lead color, but it shimmered with countless tiny sparkles.
The gemstone embedded in the guard shone a vivid red, like flames.
“What’s this sword?” asked Ryushi.
“What is this sword…”
“It’s as light as a feather!”
Ryushi, with eyes wide in astonishment, stared at the sword he was holding.
Hulfas, observing Ryushi’s scrutiny, snorted with pride.
“Thank you for asking! This sword, the Spirit Steel Sword Argus, was crafted by me with great care, especially for Ryushi-sama. Its main features are its sharpness, durability, and lightness. Are you familiar with spirit steel, Ryushi-sama?”
“Yes, a bit. It’s a mysterious ore that possesses a power different from magical power, right?”
“Exactly!”
Hulfas smiled broadly.
His voice was as loud as ever.
“Spirit steel exhibits various effects when combined with other metals and materials and possesses a mysterious power. This power, different from the magical power we demons possess, is known in the human world as spiritual power.”
“So, does this sword contain spirit steel?”
“Of course!! For Ryushi-sama, I employed all my skills for this special creation!”
“Okay, okay, calm down a bit…”
People often labeled Hulfas as an eccentric.
Whether they knew him well or not, his usual low energy level almost felt sinister, but his personality seemed to change drastically once he started working in his forge.
His behavior, akin to a split personality, made him an oddity.
However, his skills as a blacksmith were exceptional.
That’s why Ryushi sought him out.
He believed without a doubt that Hulfas could turn the impossible into possible.
His choice was a good one. The Spirit Steel Sword Argus, too, was forged perfectly according to Ryushi’s intentions.
“The target is primarily humanoid. To maintain both endurance for long battles and exceptional sharpness, spirit steel was essential. The blade is primarily made of Mithril alloy, which is highly resistant to oxidation, combined with powdered spirit steel. The ruby in the guard, a beryl stone, is designed to reduce the user’s fatigue and the sword’s weight.”
“Huh,” Ryushi said, lightly swinging the sword.
Even with a light swing, the sharp whooshing sound it made satisfied Ryushi, bringing a smile to his face.
“This is a great sword! Thank you, Hulfas-san!”
“No, no, thank you. Since being invited to this castle and serving Lady Astaroth, I have only had a few opportunities for satisfying blacksmithing. Therefore, I am truly grateful to Ryushi-sama. If Ryushi-sama wishes, this Hulfas will craft any weapon for you!”
“His enthusiasm is good, and his skills are perfect.”
“But I wish he could be a bit quieter.”
“I’m worried my eardrums might burst one of these days.”
Ryushi was a swordsman in his past life.
Choosing a sword as that past life greatly influenced his weapon.
It felt extremely weird to Ryushi as if someone else’s memories were implanted. Initially, Ryushi greatly despised the memories from his past life, but as he delved deeper, he came to admire the high skill level and grew intensely interested in it.
Especially fascinating to him was the sword.
The Ashitachi – a sword from his past life’s memory – was characterized by its blade.
The smooth arc of the single-edged blade was as beautiful as a piece of art. It was unbreakable, unbendable, and could easily cleave iron.
Ryushi wanted such a sword and commissioned Hulfas to make it.
However, the Ashitachi was a weapon that only existed now. Ryushi had to make the most of his past life’s memories and trust in Hulfas’s skills. The progress seemed challenging.
“I apologize, but this Hulfas will surely create the weapon conceived by Ryushi-sama!”
“Please continue your efforts, Hulfas-san.”
“Ah, there you are,” said Amon.
Ryushi slightly bowed to Hulfas and then turned to Amon, who was wiping sweat from his forehead, seemingly overwhelmed by the workshop’s heat.
“Well then, Hulfas-san, we’ll be leaving now. Thank you for your help.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
“Let’s go.”
Exiting the workshop, Ryushi let out a sigh of relief, free from the intense heat.
Their steps led them straight to the training ground.
The training ground was the second-largest space in the castle, with the largest being the great dining hall used by the demons.
It was spacious enough to accommodate over 60 people, making it seem almost too vast for just Ryushi and Amon.
Their private use of the space was Amon’s consideration to prevent Ryushi from being recognized as human.
What they were about to do required their utmost attention.
“Ugh… this again.”
“Can’t be helped. Consider this as a technique for surviving here, boy. Or rather, get used to it.”
“No, no, no, it’s extremely difficult, you know? A normal human wouldn’t even think of doing this.”
Ryushi reluctantly accepted what Amon offered him.
A small bottle with a slightly blackish-red liquid filled to the brim.
The cork popped off with a crisp sound, releasing a strong iron scent that immediately overwhelmed Ryushi.
He choked, and Amon sighed in exasperation.
Ryushi is human and lacks the demonic power source – magic.
Incorporating demon blood for physical enhancement was Amon’s strategy.
Every day during these private moments, Ryushi took in demon blood without fail.
The idea of drinking a stranger’s blood, let alone a demon’s, was inherently repulsive.
After drinking, Ryushi would turn pale and feel sick for a while.
“Alright, let’s start.”
“Yes. Thank you for today.”
Ryushi and Amon faced each other again, keeping a distance.
Being in the training ground, their goal was, of course, training.
Ryushi immediately unsheathed the Spirit Steel Sword Argus.