Chapter 13: Vulcanus II (part 2)

Because of Vulcanus’s culture, it took quite a long time to find the holy sword in the original story as well.  

Originally, I had planned to visit every workshop.  

It was a stroke of luck to have met Marinen like this.

“This is my workshop and store.”

The workshop we arrived at under Marinen’s guidance had numerous weapons on display.  

Among them, the one that caught my attention was a sword displayed right beside the cash register.  

Unlike the other swords that gleamed with silver, this one had a soft platinum glow.  

It wasn’t flashy—rather, it could be considered simplistic.  

But the color of the blade convinced me.

That’s the holy sword.

“Smart of you. If you display it so plainly, no one would suspect a thing.”  

“Hahaha.” I responded with an awkward smile.  

If I hadn’t known the original story, I would have overlooked it too.

“Anyway, this is where I sell swords I’ve crafted. The workshop is in the basement. Ike, you said you wanted a custom weapon, right?”  

“Yes.”  

“As I mentioned, I only accept orders from people I approve of. So, follow me.”

Marinen opened the back door and glanced at me. She stepped through, revealing a staircase leading down to the basement.

“Wait a moment.”

As Marinen and I began descending to the workshop, Reina grabbed us.  

“Can I request a custom piece too?”

Marinen looked her up and down briefly, then gave a slight nod.  

“Alright. You can come as well. But no one will help you—be prepared.”

As we descended underground, we were greeted by blacksmithing tools—fire, an anvil, hammers, tongs, and more.

“How long do you plan to stay in Vulcanus?”  

“I plan to leave by Thursday lunchtime at the latest.”  

Today was Saturday. The final round of the Knight Competition was on Friday.  

I needed to be back by Thursday evening at the latest to get accustomed to the sword.

“Alright. That’s plenty of time.”

With that, Marinen approached a red orb in the corner of the studio and infused it with her magic.  

“Ugh?!”

Instantly, a flame ignited in the brazier attached to the wall.  

It wasn’t like the weak campfire from last night—it was much hotter, a heat that felt like it could melt flesh.  

In a matter of seconds, the room was engulfed in intense heat.  

Sweat began to pour down my back almost immediately.

“It’s hot.”  

“I understand—it’s your first time. But bear with it. If you want to wield a sword, you should also know how one is made.”

With that, Marinen took her place in front of the furnace.  

Despite the heat surrounding her, her expression remained unchanged.

“What do you want me to make for you?”  

“A standard two-handed sword.”  

“I’m thinking of a dagger,” Reina added.  

“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

With nothing more to say, Marinen fell silent.  

She pulled out a piece of metal from somewhere and began to hammer it.

She didn’t speak another word.  

The only sound in the workshop was the rhythmic ringing of her hammer striking iron.

Ta-tang! Ta-tang!

Chaaagh!

The heat was so intense it was hard to breathe.  

Ta-tang! Ta-tang!

I lost count of how many times she repeated the process.  

There were many moments when I wanted to give up.  

But Marinen’s serious gaze never wavered. She repeated the motions naturally, as if it were nothing. Her clothes were already soaked in sweat.  

When I glanced over, Reina was as expressionless as ever, but her face was red from the heat.  

I didn’t say anything, influenced by Marinen’s atmosphere, but we were both at our limits.  

She, however, was the only one who remained focused, not even gasping for air.

“It’s done.”

With those words, time seemed to start moving again.  

Marinen immediately stood up, pulled a knife from her back pocket, and began scraping off the ashes.  

Slowly, a silver blade was revealed.  

She continued to scrape until all the black ash was gone.  

A sharp blade emerged, born of heat and effort.

“For a quick job, this turned out pretty well.”  

“Are you finished?”  

“Almost. I still need to craft the hilt.”

She resumed her work, though this time it didn’t take long.  

She swiftly fashioned a hilt that fit the blade and joined them seamlessly.

“All done.”

The finished product was a two-handed sword, similar in size to the one I had originally been using.

“Here. Take it.”  

“Huh? You mean this is for me?”  

“Don’t worry. No one would custom-order something this mass-produced. And as for the lady… let’s wait on hers for now.”  

“Alright.”

Marinen glanced at the clock.  

“Time’s… 8:30 p.m. That should be enough.”

She counted something on her fingers, then nodded.  

“Good. Follow me, both of you.”

With that, she opened the studio door and led us back upstairs.

We returned to the shop, where Anna was waiting at the counter.  

“Is the talk over?”  

“No. It’s just beginning.”

Marinen answered her question and walked over to another door next to the one leading to the workshop. She opened it and stepped inside.

“This place…?”  

“Just a garden. A regular one.”

As Marinen said, it looked like a garden with green grass.  

But it was far from ordinary.  

There were no flowers, no refreshments, no benches.  

Only one thing stood in the middle of the garden.  

It was so out of place, it couldn’t be called “ordinary.”

“The way to earn my recognition is simple.”

And without hesitation, Marinen picked up a massive greatsword.

“Defeat me with that sword. Easy, right?”

She grinned, baring her fangs.