𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 (2)
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My first lesson from Master wasn’t swordsmanship or aura manipulation, it was how to hammer. The Gerkinde Barony, as known throughout the Martyn Kingdom, is a house of blacksmiths, not knights, mages, or administrative personnel.
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It may seem incompatible for a blacksmith and an aristocratic house to mix, but the Barons of Gerkinde have upheld this tradition for ages. In turn, each generation of Baron Gerkindes has been renowned for being excellent blacksmiths. My master was no different.
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𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩—
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Ayr reached out with his off-hand and grasped the Soul Piercer he had set beside him. The weighty greatsword was as light in his hand as fallen leaves. Without delay, Ayr drew the Soul Piercer from its scabbard of demon-beast hide.
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𝘙𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦—
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The moment the blade was revealed from its sheath,
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The nocturnal birds and insects that had been chirping all around stopped as if they had been silenced.
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The Soul Piercer’s oppressive aura and bloodlust devoured the surroundings. Even lesser demon beasts couldn’t withstand this power, let alone these tiny creatures.
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𝘎𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘭𝘦—
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Ayr suppressed the blade’s fighting spirit and killing intent with his aura. It was the first time he had drawn this sword since coming to the continent. The blade seemed to whine as if it sensed his diminished power compared to before, but it soon acknowledged him and faded away.
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“I made this sword.”
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Ayr tilted the blade to the side as he flicked his wrist. The blade was as black as pitch. It was a sword made from a rare ore found only in the Demon Realm.
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The product of the teachings and experiences he had received from Master.
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He had poured everything he had into it. And with this sword, he had overcome countless dangers.
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“If Master had seen this, he would’ve bawled me out and called me an idiot.”
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The corners of Ayr’s lips curled up slightly.
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He had always said that one must put their heart into making a sword. He said that the stronger the emotions imbued in the blade, the stronger the aura it would have.
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In fact, blacksmithing was a type of training that was passed down to him from his master. It was to create an aura that could even burn away divinity.
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However, when he made this sword, he was drenched in killing intent from the battlefield. And through the relentless battles that followed, the sword too came to resemble him.
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𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩—
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Ayr sheathed the sword again. He had drawn it once to show it to his Master, and that was enough. He would never draw this sword again. Not unless Gerkinde, the legacy Master had left him, was in danger.
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“I’ve been through a lot over the years.”
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Ayr said with a hardened expression.
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He didn’t even know how long he had lived in the Demon Realm.
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It was a place without sun or moon, without day or night.
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Only darkness and ash existed there.
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That’s why he had even forgotten the passage of time.
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Despite that, one thing was for certain: he had definitely not spent a mere decade or two there.
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And throughout those countless years, he had only one goal in mind.
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To live an ordinary life.
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Yet his master had left the Gerkinde name to his incompetent disciple.
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“From now on, I will protect only Gerkinde.”
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There was no need for a hero of the continent.
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From now on, he would live as nothing more than a mere Baron of Gerkinde.
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If anyone were to hinder that. . .
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The only thing he had learned in that place was the sword.
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🔸🔸🔸𝐀𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬(𝐊𝐑)🔸🔸🔸
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When Ayr rose from his spot, the sun was rising dimly, casting a faint glow. Ayr had spent a week in front of his master’s grave.
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For a whole week, he had neither eaten nor slept, simply staring silently at his master’s grave. In the Demon Realm, it was commonplace to go without proper food and sleep while fighting, so it wasn’t that difficult for him.
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Although he had kept it to himself, he had poured out many of his thoughts to his master. There was still much left unsaid, but there was plenty of time for that. Thanks to this, his heart felt a little lighter than before. For now, that was enough.
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𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬—
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Ayr opened the door to the house next to Master’s. The light had yet to come in, but he was more accustomed to darkness anyway.
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A brazier, a hammer, an anvil, tongs, bellows, and more,
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This place was still the same as when he had left.
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The blacksmith’s forge where he had hammered away with his master.
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From now on, he would be the only one tending to it.
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“I need to organize my strength.”
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With his current power alone, he could easily face those on the continent who were called aura masters. No, even more than that was possible.
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The problem was that his current state was too dangerous.
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Not for himself, but for those around him.
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He needed to bring all the power he possessed under his complete control. To do that, he needed to further enhance his aura and acquire the final secret technique that he had failed to learn from his master. There were other ways, but he had already decided not to take that path now that he had left the Demon Realm.
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Of course, he intended to do all of those things slowly.
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He had no desire to rush.
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𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩—
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Ayr reached out and grabbed the hammer hanging on the wall. It was the hammer he used to use. The slight scattering of dust suggested that this place was regularly cleaned as well.
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Next, he moved the other tools that were next to the hammer to one place. Once the space was cleared, he placed the sword he had been carrying there.
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“This will be your place for a while.”
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𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳—
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