Chapter 85. The Melancholy of the Magic Sword Smith
Ratatoskr Settlement.
This was one of the human gathering places located in the northwestern part of the continent, near the edge of the "Great Chasm." Rather than a town, it was more like a large refugee camp enclosed by giant wooden fences. In this era, where the gods had not yet descended and "Falna" was not yet widespread, humans survived like ants in the cracks between monsters.
"Man, no matter how many times I look at it, the architectural style of this era is full of... well, wild wasteland-punk vibes." Shirou Emiya stood at the main gate of the settlement, looking at the crooked wooden huts and ragged pedestrians, unable to suppress a sigh. Compared to the neatly planned, flourishing Orario of thousands of years later, this was like the ruins of a starter village after a Demon King's visit.
"This is called 'historical weight,' don't you understand?! Brother Emiya, you have no romanticism!" Argo, beside him, was full of enthusiasm. He tucked the electrified wooden sword into his belt and strode in with his head held high, looking like a king about to review his army.
"Citizens! Listen up!" Argo stood in the center of the street, spreading his arms and projecting his voice.
"Standing before you is the Great Hero Argo—the man who will soon save the Princess, defeat the Demon King, and be written into future textbooks! And his adjutant, the Red Flash, Shirou Emiya! Now, we need a small amount of 'sponsorship' (referring to food and water). In return, we shall grant you..."
Before he could finish, Whoosh! A rotten apple hit him squarely in the face.
"Get lost! You stinking beggar! Get out of the way! Can't you see everyone is busy trying to stay alive? Where did this lunatic come from, dressed like a clown?"
The surrounding villagers cast glances as if looking at trash before hurrying away. In an era where no one knew if tomorrow or disaster would come first, nobody had time for a fool who only knew how to brag.
"..." Argo remained in his pose with arms outstretched as the rotten apple mush slid down his nose. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
Pfft. Shirou couldn't hold it back and let out a laugh. "It seems your 'Heroic Aura' hasn't finished charging yet, Great Hero."
"S-Shut up! This is a trial! This is the neglect one must experience before becoming famous!" Argo messily wiped his face, forcing his dignity back. "Let's go! To the tavern! That's the gathering place for information and companions! It's an ironclad rule of adventure novels!"
"Are you sure you still have money?" Shirou weighed the nearly empty bag of ancient gold coins (given by Zald) in his hand. "This is our last bit of travel funds."
"Don't worry! We'll cross that bridge when we get to it! If all else fails... I'll mortgage your cooking skills there!" "Hey, don't just treat other people as collateral!"
The settlement's only tavern, "The Broken Horn Pavilion." The environment here was even worse than outside. The air was thick with the sour stench of cheap ale, sweat, and an indefinable smell of mold. A group of burly men with bare arms were standing on tables drinking, or brawling in corners.
"This is your typical... chaotic fantasy world hub." Shirou activated his [Mind's Eye (True)] and quickly scanned the room. Though most were ordinary people, there were a few with slightly stronger mana reactions. However, the most eye-catching was a... girl sitting at the largest table in the center of the hall?
She was a woman with wheat-colored skin, wearing a minimal animal-skin bikini and a figure so hot it was practically illegal. Her hair was a wild brown, curling slightly at the ends. Though she looked young, she radiated a sense of wildness and power, like a lioness in human skin. Olna. The ancestor of the Amazon race, and the prototype for the future sisters Tiona and Tione (though her personality was closer to the hot-tempered version of Tione).
Currently, this Amazon girl was fretting over a pile of food on the table. It was a plate of... grilled raw lizard meat? And it was the kind of dark cuisine where the skin was charred black like charcoal while the inside was still bloody.
"Pig feed again..." Olna poked the meat on her plate with a dagger, looking disgusted. "Isn't there anything that makes you feel 'it's good to be alive' after eating it? This world truly sucks."
She sighed, just about to shove the meat into her mouth (for survival).
"Wait a moment." A hand pressed down on her wrist.
Olna's gaze instantly turned sharp, and she whipped her hand back with a dagger thrust. It was incredibly fast, carrying the explosive power unique to Amazons.
Clang! A black short sword parried the dagger. Shirou Emiya stood by the table, smiling at the temperamental girl.
"Miss, if you don't mind, it's better not to eat this 'biological weapon.' You'll get an upset stomach."
"Huh?" Olna paused, looking at the red-haired youth who had suddenly appeared, then at her parried dagger.
"You've got some skill, kid." She retracted her dagger and licked her lips, a glint of "hunting" flashing in her eyes. "But if I don't eat this, what do I eat? You? You look quite tender; you should be quite chewy."
"Stop with the terrifying jokes." Shirou shook his head helplessly. He looked at the tavern owner. "Boss, I'd like to use your kitchen. The fee is included in this meal."
"Huh? Who are you?" The boss was a one-eyed man who waved his hand impatiently.
"Beat it, don't cause trouble."
Clack. A Zeus gold coin was slammed onto the counter.
"Please, be my guest! Seasoning is in the left cupboard! If the fire isn't hot enough, I'll add wood for you!" The boss's attitude did an instant 180-degree turn. Indeed, whether in ancient or modern times, the power of money is universal.
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Fifteen minutes later. A meat aroma so rich it was domineering wafted from the kitchen, instantly conquering the entire tavern. The burly men who were brawling stopped their fists; the drunks who were drinking put down their cups. Everyone's noses twitched involuntarily toward the kitchen.
"W-What is this smell? It's so fragrant... could it be the legendary cooking of the gods?"
Under the gaze of the crowd, Shirou walked out carrying a large wooden tray. On the tray was carefully prepared, marinated with special spices, and stir-fried over a high flame—[Emiya-style Stir-fried Lizard Meat over Rice]. Although the ingredient was still low-level monster meat, under the transformation of [Reinforcement Magecraft] on the meat's texture, it had completed a magnificent evolution from "trash" to "delicacy."
"For you." Shirou placed the tray in front of Olna. "It's lizard meat, but I removed the poison glands and the gamey smell, using fruit wine to bring out the freshness. Try it."
Olna looked at the golden, sizzling meat before her, her throat moving with difficulty. Without a word, she grabbed a spoon and shoveled a large portion into her mouth.
In that instant, the Amazon girl's pupils contracted violently. It was as if volcanic eruption special effects appeared in the background. It wasn't meat. It was... fire dancing on the tip of her tongue! It was a hymn to life!
"IT'S SO GOOD—!!!" Olna let out a deafening roar, her foot cracking the floorboard beneath her. "What is this! Why does it taste like this! Amazing! Simply amazing!"
She began to eat frantically, her speed so fast only afterimages remained. In less than a minute, the plate of rice—enough for three adults—was wiped clean, and she even licked the plate.
"Phew..." Olna put down the plate, a look of celestial satisfaction on her face. She turned her head and stared fixedly at Shirou. That gaze was like she had found the greatest treasure in the world.
"Hey, Redhead." Olna stood up and grabbed Shirou's collar, pulling him close. "What's your name?"
"Shirou Emiya."
"Very well, Shirou," Olna announced imperiously.
"From today on, you are my 'exclusive chef.' In exchange, if anyone dares to bully you, I'll twist their head off and kick it like a ball. How's that? A fair trade, right?"
"Does this count as... being a kept man?" Shirou was stuck between laughter and tears. However, this was his plan all along. In this dangerous era, relying only on himself and the bragging Argo wasn't enough to survive. They needed strong teammates. And the Amazon race was undoubtedly the best vanguard.
"I refuse to be an exclusive chef." Shirou pushed Olna's hand away and straightened his collar. "However... if you're willing to join our 'Heroic Faction,' I don't mind being responsible for your meals every day."
"Heroic Faction?" Olna raised an eyebrow, glancing at Argo, who was hiding behind Shirou trying to sneak a taste of the leftover meat scraps. "With this monkey-looking clown?" "Hey! Who's a monkey?!" Argo jumped out. Though his legs were weak in the face of Olna's aura, he still shouted bravely, "I am the man destined to be a hero! Beautiful and strong lady, don't you want to leave your name in future epics? [The Amazon Valkyrie]—Olna! Sounds impressive, doesn't it?"
"Valkyrie..." Olna stroked her chin, seemingly pleased with the title. "And..." She looked at Shirou. "If I join, can I eat that food every day?"
"Correct. Three meals a day plus midnight snacks." Shirou added.
"Deal!" Olna slammed the table and laughed heartily. "I've wanted to leave this dump and explore the world for a long time! Since there's good food, I'll go with you! From today on, I'm your bodyguard!"
"Great!" Argo pumped his fist excitedly. "The second member! And a super-strong Amazon! Brother Emiya, your food diplomacy is invincible!"
Thus, through a transaction filled with money (for ingredients) and appetite, the future Heroic Faction welcomed its first heavy-hitter.
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However, the expansion of the team did not end there. Since they had a warrior (Olna) and support (Shirou), what else did they need? Correct: equipment. Led by Olna, the three arrived
at a blacksmith shop in a corner of the settlement. Before they even entered, they heard the sounds of angry hammering and cursing from within.
"Dammit! Broken again! Why! Why can't mortal iron withstand mana! This trash... this trash is not the 'Magic Sword' I want!"
Accompanied by a roar, a red-hot sword blank was thrown out, landing right by Argo's feet and making him do a panicked tap dance.
"What a temper." Shirou picked up the sword blank and looked at it. The craftsmanship was exquisite, master-level even. But... the materials were too poor. And the smith was too impatient; the timing of the mana infusion was wrong.
"Let's go in." Shirou pushed open the door.
Heat waves rolled within the forge. A lean youth with red hair was bare-chested, venting his anger on the furnace. His gaze was fanatical and obsessive, as if he wanted to smelt the entire world into his anvil.
Crozzo. The ancestor of the world-famous "Magic Sword Smith" family. Welf Crozzo's ancestor. But right now, he was just a "mad blacksmith" caught in self-doubt because he couldn't create his ideal magic sword.
"Are you here to buy a sword too?" Crozzo roared without turning around. "Get out! I'm in no mood to sell that scrap metal today!"
"We aren't here to buy a sword." Shirou walked to the anvil and set down the discarded blank. "We are here... to teach you how to smith."
"Huh?" Crozzo spun around, staring fixedly at Shirou. "What did you just say? Teach me? With your pretty-boy face that looks like it can't even lift a hammer?"
"Don't judge a book by its cover." Shirou wasn't angry; instead, he directly picked up a hammer nearby. The way he gripped the hammer and the rhythm of his breathing instantly caused Crozzo's gaze to change. Those were the movements of an expert.
"Watch closely." Shirou gripped an iron ingot and placed it in the furnace. Trace — On.
His Magic Circuits operated. Although he lacked the [Divine Smith] skill, he relied on the experience he accumulated in the future and his absolute understanding of "structure."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of hammering rang out—rhythmic, with every strike landing precisely on the nodes of mana flow. The ingot deformed, impurities were expelled. More importantly... Shirou perfectly fused a sliver of his own mana into the metal's molecular structure.
"A magic sword isn't made by forcing mana in through brute strength," Shirou said while hammering. "It's about guidance. You must make the metal itself 'crave' the mana. You must listen to their voices."
Ten minutes later, a short sword emitting a faint red light appeared on the anvil. Although it was only a low-level magic sword, the structure was stable, the mana flow was smooth, and there were no signs of collapse.
"Th-This is..." Crozzo's hands trembled as he touched the short sword. "Perfect fusion... the realm I've always pursued..."
He looked up sharply, staring at Shirou as if looking at a god (or a monster). "Who... exactly are you?"
"Shirou Emiya. A passing blacksmith." Shirou put down the hammer. "Your talent is very high, even higher than mine (referring to the future Welf's talent for magic swords that don't drain the user's mana). But you're too impatient. Do you want to join us? Go see the outside world, search for truly top-tier materials. Dragon bone from the Valley of Dragons, Orichalcum from the deep sea, fragments of fallen stars... Only by seeing those can you forge the true 'Ultimate Sword'."
"Dragon bone... Orichalcum..." Crozzo's breathing grew rapid. For a blacksmith, nothing was more tempting than these legendary materials.
"I'm in!" Crozzo shouted without hesitation. "Master! Please take me in! As long as I can create magic swords, I'll do anything!"
"Don't call me Master, just Emiya." Shirou smiled. "Good, our equipment and logistics are settled."
Team Assembled:
Leader: Argo (Mascot / Meat Shield / Hype Man) Vice Leader: Shirou Emiya (Chef / Blacksmith / Tactician / The Actual Carry) Vanguard: Olna (Berserker / Glutton) Logistics: Crozzo (Magic Sword Smith / Tech Geek)
This bizarrely configured team had finally taken shape.
"Well, since everyone's here..." Argo stood at the door of the forge, high-spirited. "What's our first goal? To save the imprisoned princess?"
"No." Shirou pulled out a map. "Before that, we have to deal with a problem." He pointed to a red dot on the map. "Just now, I sensed it... a massive malice is approaching this settlement."
"Malice?" Olna frowned. "Monsters?"
"No, more troublesome than monsters." Shirou's gaze turned cold. "Humans. And... thugs who possess 'power' in this era."
BOOM!
Just as he finished speaking, a massive explosion rang out from the direction of the main gate. Alarm bells wailed.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! It's the army of the 'Black King'!"
"The Black King?" Argo shrank his neck in fear. "Isn't that the tyrant who supposedly rules this region? Why is he here?"
"Probably... coming for me." Shirou remembered the knights he had killed previously.
"Let's go, everyone." Shirou drew [Kanshou and Bakuya]. "As the debut battle for the Heroic Faction... this opponent is passably qualified."
"Ooh ooh! Finally I get to go wild!" Olna excitedly brought out her new weapon (the giant axe Shirou just reinforced).
Crozzo also shouldered a bundle of prototype magic swords. "Perfect time to test these blades on them!"
Only Argo had a look of suffering. "Do I have to go too? Can I stay behind to guard the base?"
"No," the three said in unison.
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Settlement Main Gate.
Hundreds of fully armed black-armored knights had already broken through the defenses. At their head was a man riding a black warhorse, holding a spear. [The Black King] — Eld. One of the hegemons of this era, possessing an ability (or primordial magic) to manipulate shadows.
"Hand over that red-haired brat," Eld said coldly, his voice sounding as if it came from hell. "Otherwise... we slaughter the town."
"You want to touch our guy?" a boisterous voice called from a rooftop.
Eld looked up. There, under the glow of the setting sun, four figures stood in a row.
The Red Clown. The Wild Amazon. The Gloomy Blacksmith. And... the Red-haired youth.
"Did you ask us, the 'Argo Heroic Faction'?!" Argo shouted. Though his legs were shaking, his pose was perfect.
"Move!" Shirou commanded.
Trace — Project! Countless sword silhouettes rained from the sky.
Olna roared as she leapt into the enemy ranks, her giant axe sweeping away thousands. Crozzo ignited his magic swords, and flames swallowed the knight formations. Argo... ran around to the side shouting "Witness my Lightning Wooden Sword!" Though it did little damage, he successfully drew a lot of aggro.
A cross-era brawl erupted then and there. And this was only the beginning of this legendary team's conquest of the world.
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