An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won't Leave Me Alone! Chapter 37

Published at 9th of August 2022 07:04:00 AM

37 - The Old Man From The Countryside Is Worried

“Now that you mention it, I noticed you don't have a sword, Master,” Valder said.

“Oh, about that,” I said. “It broke.”

There's no point in telling a lie here so I'll honestly explain the situation. Well, it is true that it broke. The way it broke was the unexpected part.

“I don't think you'd mishandle it, Master, what happened?” Valder asked.

“It went something like this,” I said before explaining it to him.

Gahaha, Valder laughs and bends over from how hard he's going.

Speaking of the accident, it was all completely unintentional.

I thrust a sword into the Named's mouth, a Black Rank Adventurer stabbed the Named from above, then sliced her blade out sideways and caught my sword, which was all entirely accidental.

“But it was just a longsword,” Valder said. “Of course, I can take care of it, but if it's for you, Master, wouldn't it have to be made-to-order?”

I said the same thing as I had to Kuruni:

I'm normal, so give me something normal.

“Yeah, and I can't afford it, too,” I said. “I think that the ready-made pieces would be enough.”

This is also true.

I'm not saying that I've no admiration for custom-order swords. As a swordsman, I want to pick up one at least once.

However, the question remains whether it would fit me. First of all, I don't have enough money or time. No, it may still take some time, though.

“If you say so, Master, I can't force you…” Valder said.

“It seems that Alexia needs a custom-made sword more than I do,” I said.

Let's switch the focus to Alexia.

Of course, I don't feel bad about her using my parting gift but it's just a plain sword from the countryside. It's also difficult to say if it's worth a Knight of Revelio. I didn't mean to give her a slap in the face, but this is the way it was.

“No, I already have my sword,” Alexia replied.

“… I see?” I asked.

This is the problem.

Though Alexia usually listens to me most of the time, she refuses to yield on this matter. What drives her this much? I just don't understand it.

“Well, you never know when she might change her mind,” Valder said. “Come on, Master, we've got plenty of longswords to choose from.”

“Yeah, I'll do that,” I said.

I had my reasons to refuse custom-made swords and Alexia has her reasons why she doesn't pick up any blade other than my parting gift to her. We have our differences but the one thing we have in common is that we can't be forced by others.

As long as she thinks so, it can't be helped, can it?

I get out of my head and look at Valder's longswords on offer.

There's a plentiful number but they look similar.

The blade lengths were about 80 to 100 cm. 1 The thicknesses were almost the same and the edges were thinner than the broadsword that Selena has. The weights were similar, they all fit well in my hand.

“Hmm…” I hummed.

I pick it up and examine it, then repeat it with another.

None of them are bad. All the swords are well-polished and the centers of gravity are well-balanced. You could say that it was the perfect result for longswords, generally speaking.

It's just a feeling, but these don't feel inferior to the blacksmiths the Knights favor, the one I visited at Alexia's recommendation.

“They're good swords, all well-sharpened,” I mumbled.

“Well, that is my job,” Valder said.

Yeah, I feel like anything would be fine. It's not a bad thing, they all look like good swords and I feel they don't have many differences in the good sense of the phrase.

I'm not uninterested in weapons other than longswords, but I don't feel like training in another weapon type right now.

“Do you have any recommendations, Valder?” I asked.

“Take your pick…” Valder said. “The longswords are almost the same.”

I asked for a recommendation, I got exactly what I was thinking about already.

Longswords have the advantage of incredible versatility. If it was an outlandish weapon, it would have a name for itself.

It's mediocre, in a manner of speaking. And it's highly versatile in every aspect. It could have been a longsword or a shortsword.

“If you're so worried, why not have one custom-made?” Kuruni asked as she rushed in the middle of my browsing.

The zweihander was a little too big and heavy to hang on your waist, so it has a strap for your shoulder.

The gap between her petite body and her large sword was nice.

Whether or not she could handle it is still unknown, but since it's a Knight Order, appearances are also important. I'm not sure whether this contrast is acceptable or not.

“I don't really think about it, but…” I said. “Yeah, maybe I'm still being dragged down by my previous sword.”

My cleanly broken blade wasn't anything important but it wasn't bad, either. I may have been unconsciously attached to it after using it for so long.

“You'd get attached to weapons you use for a long time,” Alexia said in agreement.

I'm sure she's right but when it comes from her, it sounds so heavy. I hope that was just my imagination.

You'd never find the same weapon twice.

Even if they're made of the same material and are manufactured the same way, they're still different. Sometimes it's visibly noticeable and sometimes it doesn't feel odd until you take it in your hands.

My previous sword was also an ordinary sword that I got locally, but I have been using it for a long time. I don't know, maybe that feeling was ingrained.

“Well, there are a lot of things to worry about,” Valder said. “If it isn't a problem, you don't have to buy one right now.”

Valder is a blacksmith. He is, in essence, a craftsman, a swordsman, and not a merchant. So he doesn't try to close the deal in a situation like this. He's a great help for me as well.

“I agree, I don't,” I said.

I can't get rid of the discomfort because of the lack of weight on my waist but I'm still worried about whether to buy something to make do for now. I'm not asking for a custom-order blade but it's not like I don't care, either.

By no means are Valder's swords inferior. They're not, but I don't think I can explain it. It's difficult to explain it sensibly to others.

“Oh, right, Master,” Valder said, “if you go on a dungeon raid, bring me the materials. I'll buy them off of you and make a sword with it.”

“Hahaha. Well, if there's ever an opportunity for that,” I said.

I smile and lie to Valder.

Why does everyone always talk like I go on dungeon raids?

Valder doesn't know that I've gone to Azalamia Forest last time. Alexia should know but it's not something she's going to pass on to others.

Despite that, this topic coming up means people expect me to do it. Why is that so? I'm just an old man that wants to live peacefully.

“You're in the way. Is Valder here… oh, Master… and is that Citrus?”

“What's with that face?” Alexia asked. “But, I have seen you a lot lately, haven't I?”

It happened while I was lost in my thoughts.

Another customer opened the door to Valder's smithy.

“Ooh? Is that you, Selena, what's wrong?” Valder asked. “You just got your broadsword sharpened the other day.”

And that customer was Selena, the Black Rank Adventurer.

It's honestly a coincidence she came across us. Apparently, she's got business with Valder.

But how often do we meet? When I was in Bidden Village, I didn't really run into Adventurers, but since coming to Baltrain, I've got plenty to do with them.

“Oh, no, I'm not getting a sharpening today,” Selena said, shaking her head.

Then, she put the large bag on her back on the counter.

“It's the materials from a Named, Xeno Glaive. I want you to use these to get this guy a longsword.”

Chapter end