Everything came together just right.
He restored the blade's hardness and honed its edge again.
The material used in a Nichirin Blade was completely different from ordinary iron. Until now, this entire process had been purely theoretical for Tetsu no Sosuke.
Yet despite this being his first attempt, he had perfectly put theory into practice.
He raised the Nichirin Blade high overhead. Perhaps he was imagining it, but he could faintly hear the blade cheering!
With dark circles under his eyes, Tetsu no Sosuke grinned. "I really am sick in the head."
[Weapon repair complete!] [Current Weapon Sharpness Level: 2] [Repairer: Strength +10, Constitution +10, Agility +10, Speed +10] [Reward obtained: Bloodforging Method!]
As the notifications sounded in his ears, Tetsu no Sosuke froze for a moment. The stat increases were actually the same as those he received for forging a weapon?
"Is it because I only repaired an existing Nichirin Blade?"
He speculated to himself, but the final reward mentioned in the notifications—the Bloodforging Method—made him frown.
He had a very bad feeling about it.
"It sounds like some evil forging technique. Do I have to sacrifice someone alive? Then forge a sword spirit?"
As these wild ideas ran through his head, information about the Bloodforging Method flowed into his mind.
His expression shifted slightly. "So that's how it works!"
The so-called Bloodforging Method was not some evil technique that required human sacrifice.
Instead, it involved dripping the sword owner's blood onto the blade at a crucial stage, then using a special hammering process to fuse it perfectly with the blade.
When a swordsman wielded a weapon made this way, it would feel like an extension of their own body.
The marvel of it was that even an extremely heavy weapon, once treated with the Bloodforging Method, would take on a suitable weight whenever its owner picked it up.
Even a weapon as massive as a door panel, weighing hundreds of pounds, would feel as light and effortless in its owner's hands as a wisp of willow fluff.
"This forging method is practically... mysticism, isn't it?"
Once he had sorted it all out, Tetsu no Sosuke grinned. "But it really is impressive!"
No, incredibly impressive was more like it!
He slid the weapon into its sheath. Having gone two nights without sleep, Tetsu no Sosuke made his way toward the Village Chief's house on somewhat unsteady legs.
He needed to deliver the blade and report that the job was done. He also had to get back the first blade he had forged.
That one had tremendous sentimental value!
"It's just a shame the Bloodforging Method came too late. Otherwise, this sword..."
As he walked, he glanced at the weapon in his hand. "How exactly should I persuade the Village Chief to let me forge another Nichirin Blade for Kochou Kanae?"
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