Forging a Weapon—Light Shadow Blade (Part 1)

Forging a Weapon—Light Shadow Blade (Part 1)

The next day, after eating and drinking with Joseph and the others at a large hotel in Finley City, Fengyun agreed that they would keep in touch whenever they had time. Then he left the hotel and headed for a blacksmith's shop.

Along the way, he kept thinking over the gains and losses of this journey, his friendship with Huihui, Joseph, and the others. Finally, feeling the Level 5 Radiance Battle Qi within him, he said happily, "Why think so much? Nothing is more real than strength."

"Right now, what I need is a good blade!"

After transmigrating here, he had first studied magic and unarmed combat. It was only after becoming a warrior that he began learning to use weapons.

But whether in the Special Warfare Camp or the Training Camp, he had always used the Knight Sword, the weapon most representative of the Light Church, in order to maintain his persona.

He had used it for so long that it had become a habit. He had never even considered whether a sword was truly suitable for him.

It was not until his sword had been bitten in two by the Alpha Wolf today that he realized blades unexpectedly suited him well.

Even though he had wielded the blade like a sword during his battle with the Wind Wolves, making it seem somewhat awkward, he somehow found using a blade more comfortable. He did not even want to try any other weapons, so he decided to come straight to the blacksmith's shop and forge a long blade.

Inside the blacksmith's shop, the owner, Brady, saw Fengyun arrive and set down the broadsword he had been polishing. Teasingly, he said, "Little Yun, you're back from training again? Did you play the hero and save a beauty during this Monster Trial? Did some noble young lady offer herself to you in marriage?"

Fengyun's title of Light Shadow Swordsman had spread because he had casually saved a few inexperienced rookies who did not know their own limits during the trial.

These nobles were all socially adept. Aside from spreading Fengyun's name as thanks, they had sent all manner of gifts and gold coins, doing so with great fanfare.

This led many people familiar with Fengyun to joke that one day, he might save someone and catch the eye of some noble young lady, who would ultimately offer herself to him in marriage.

"Uncle Brady, which of those noble young ladies isn't arrogant and haughty? My name may be well-known, but I'm still only a commoner in the end."

"We're simply not a match. There's no chance at all!"

Brady said disdainfully, "Tch, what's the big deal?"

"You're from the Special Warfare Camp. With your hard work and ability, you might become a high-ranking officer in one of the Eight Ace Knight Orders someday."

"By then, never mind marrying a noble young lady—you could even take one as a concubine!"

Fengyun shook his head and shrugged. "That's all in the future. I might die in a Monster Trial someday. No noble family would want a son-in-law who could lose his life in the Monster Mountain Range at any time."

Brady sighed leisurely at that. "It's a pity your talent for magic is so ordinary. Otherwise, you could quietly study magic. After graduation, whether you became a Priest or received a royal title and became a noble, it would be a fine thing."

After chatting for a while, Brady seemed to remember something. "Why did you come here so early this time? Didn't you usually rest for a few days after returning before coming to practice your craft?"

Fengyun smiled. "My sword was bitten in two by a Wind Wolf in the Monster Mountain Range. I need a new weapon now, so I came here first."

Brady was startled. "You use a Knight Sword. Its blade is broad and thick, and it's forged from hundred-forged steel. For something to bite your sword apart, that's not something an ordinary Wind Wolf could do. It would have to be at least an elite Level 5 Wind—"

At this point, Brady seemed to recall something else. "Eh? No, that's not right!"

"Wind Wolves are pack-dwelling magical beasts, and the weakest among them are Level 4. You're only a Level 4 Warrior, yet you survived after encountering Wind Wolves? Impressive! You truly deserve the name Light Shadow Swordsman!"

Boss Brady assumed that Fengyun had encountered Wind Wolves, lost his Knight Sword, and barely escaped with his life. He simply could not imagine that Fengyun had directly wiped out an entire pack of Wind Wolves.

At the same time, he understood why Fengyun had come to his blacksmith's shop as soon as he returned.

To a warrior, a weapon was their second life. If their weapon was destroyed, it would be strange not to come and have it repaired immediately!

But when he held out his hand for Fengyun's broken sword, Fengyun said, "It's broken already, so what's the point of repairing it? I came here to forge myself a new weapon."

Brady scratched his head. "That's true. No matter how well a broken weapon is repaired, it'll still have flaws."

"Those flaws might not mean much to ordinary warriors, but for someone like you, who often trains in the Monster Mountain Range, they could be fatal."

"It might break again during a fierce battle someday!"

"But there's no need to forge a new one. You know my craftsmanship. Pick one of my finest works as your new weapon. Every one of them is durable, sharp, tough, and sturdy—a good sword with the best possible balance."

Brady's blacksmithing skills were considered first-rate even in Finley City. The weapons he forged could indeed be called fine works. Even the Special Warfare Camp and Training Camp worked with his blacksmith's shop.

The weapons he personally forged were all used by captains and higher-ranking officers in the military.

For the current Fengyun, they were certainly good enough!

His offer to let Fengyun choose one now came from their good relationship and Brady's confidence in Fengyun's future.

But Fengyun shook his head. "Forget it, Uncle Brady!"

"Your weapons are all good, but those broad, heavy Knight Swords no longer meet my requirements for a weapon."

"Let me forge a weapon that belongs to me. After all, I'm a senior blacksmith myself. Though I originally came here to learn blacksmithing mainly to train my strength better, forging a suitable weapon for myself won't be a problem."

Brady was rather surprised, but seeing that Fengyun was not joking, and recalling the modifications Fengyun had previously asked him to make to his Knight Sword, he said nothing more and led him directly to the forging room in the back courtyard.

Forging Room, Back Courtyard

The glowing red coal, the blue-red furnace flames, and the scorching heat did not make Fengyun feel much discomfort. On the contrary, the endless crisp sounds of hammering iron sounded especially pleasing to him.

Back then, in order to learn Lifting the Heavy as if Light and Lifting the Light as if Heavy, he had gone to his instructor in the Special Warfare Camp and asked to modify his weapon. But unfortunately, the Special Warfare Camp only had facilities for Alchemists to study in. There was no place for trainees to learn something as technically undemanding as blacksmithing.

After going around in circles, he had ultimately come to Brady's blacksmith's shop on his instructor's recommendation. During the process of modifying weapons and helping with the forging, he had discovered the joy of blacksmithing!