Chapter 157: Towards the Illuminated Path

Before delivering it to Ricardo, Lutz wanted to confirm the feel of the new sword, “Sakura.” He grasped the blade and made his way to the material storage area near his workshop. This place had just the right amount of space and was devoid of people, making it an ideal location for practicing sword techniques even during the daytime.

Lutz had swords sheathed on both sides of his waist, but he had brought this one along just in case he felt like practicing with dual swords. At the moment, however, he didn’t intend to use it.

Slowly drawing the blade from its plain wooden scabbard attached to his left hip, he assumed a stance. He executed cuts, swings, and sweeps, one after another, and Lutz’s eyes widened in amazement.

“What is this…?”

It wasn’t just easy to use; it was extraordinary. People often likened the handling of a tool to an extension of their own limbs, but when he wielded Sakura, it genuinely felt like his arms had extended.

After putting Sakura back into its scabbard, Lutz took out his wallet from his pocket. He reached in and pulled out a coin, a silver one. After some contemplation, he put the silver coin back and picked up a copper one instead.

With a flick of his fingers, he sent the copper coin into the air. As it descended, Lutz unsheathed Sakura swiftly. In a flash, there were two sounds as the coin fell: the first was a sharp ping as the coin was cut, and the second was the sound of it hitting the ground.

Lutz alternated his gaze between Sakura and the copper coin in disbelief. He hadn’t actually thought it would work. It felt as if he had been able to cut the coin as easily as catching it with his hand.

It was handling beyond common sense. Moreover, the hilt was still made of plain wood. What would happen when he crafted a proper handle for it? And what would happen when he applied magic to it? A shiver ran down Lutz’s spine. It was a mix of fear that he had created something incredible and excitement at having accomplished something incredible.

“Marvelous, truly splendid!”

Applause and admiration came from nearby, and a man approached. This was the third time Lutz had encountered him in this place. Lutz inwardly chided his past self for not sensing his presence.

“…Donald-san, how long were you watching?”

“I’ve been following you since I noticed you heading here, so you could say I’ve been watching from the beginning.”

“I was even cautious, and yet I didn’t notice at all.”

“I had to learn how to hide my presence if I wanted to survive in the mountains.”

Donald had originally been part of a useless knight order. A boy who could only rely on his knight title had undergone training as a hermit in the mountains, wielding only a sword and his body. It was likely that he had faced numerous setbacks and wandered close to the brink of death many times. He might have seriously considered taking his own life.

But he had survived. The man before Lutz was someone who, despite his origins in that trash heap, was not to be underestimated. Lutz increased his level of vigilance in his mind.

“Is this the newly finished sword?”

“Yeah, I came to do the final check, but I was surprised by how well it turned out.”

Lutz spoke with pride, and Donald leaned forward eagerly.

“Lutz-sama, could you show me the sword?”

Donald had experience with Tsubaki, the older sister of Sakura, and he had self-inflicted wounds on his face from it. Yet, rather than resenting Tsubaki, he had been captivated by her beauty and held deep admiration for Lutz as the creator. It was the obsession of an unrepentant fetishist.

It was only natural that he wanted to see the newly finished sword.

Lutz glanced at his waist and answered.

“I can’t just hand it over. I’ll draw it here, so stay back and watch.”

Lutz told him that he didn’t trust him, which hurt Donald’s feelings, but he quickly reconsidered. Lutz and the knight order were enemies. Just because Donald had killed two knights didn’t mean he had become an ally.

The fact that Lutz was not showing him the sword but telling him to watch from a distance was a significant concession and an act of kindness. Or perhaps it was a sign of sweetness.

“Please,” Donald said, kneeling on the damp ground.

Lutz drew Sakura vertically. The beauty of its blade mesmerized Donald, and he momentarily forgot to breathe.

It was a different kind of beauty than Tsubaki’s wet sensuality, a beauty that overflowed with strength and blossomed from within.

“Oh…” 

Unconsciously, Donald reached out into the air. It was a reaction like that of a man who had been trapped in a blizzard for a month and had just seen the sun.

The sound of the blade snapping back into its sheath brought Donald back to reality. Lutz had a wry smile, but his eyes held no contempt. Many people exhibited strange behaviors in front of famous swords. It was better to trip up a little than to pose any real harm.

“Well, I still have work to do,” 

Lutz said as he turned towards the exit of the materials storage area.

Work? What is work? Handing it over to the client? Would I never see that sword again?

Donald’s heart ached like a needle piercing it.

“Please wait, Lutz-sama!”

When Lutz turned around, he saw Donald still kneeling, pressing his hands together and rubbing his forehead against the ground. This was the Eastern Supreme Three-Point Prostration, the Dogeza style.

How did he know about such a thing? Or was it because he had remained in a kneeling position, and his desperation naturally led him to this style?

Lutz had heard about Dogeza style from his father, who had trained in the East. He also knew that ignoring someone in this position was a violation of the Bushino Nasake code. At the very least, he couldn’t simply walk away without hearing him out.

“Please, I beg you, please! Please, let me have that sword!”

“What did you say…?”

Donald was desperate. He screamed like he had never done before in his life, banging his forehead on the ground.

Once in his life, he had let go of a sword he had fallen deeply in love with. The regret from that time had been enough to change his life entirely. He didn’t want to lose something like that ever again.

He didn’t want to part with something he loved, not again.

Lutz could sense Donald’s desperation, but he shook his head with regret.

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Why? If it’s about money, I’ll get it, or is it because I used to be a knight!?”

“It’s not about that. It’s a matter of my pride as a blacksmith. The client has already been decided. It would be dishonest to hide what I’ve made and give something else instead. It’s a matter of honesty.”

“Is that…?”

Donald was about to say something like, “Isn’t that just a minor thing?” but he stopped himself in a hurry. He realized that saying that would not be acceptable. Lutz had called it a matter of pride, and offering that excuse wouldn’t work. If he said that, it would sever his relationship with Lutz right then and there.

The fact that he could dismiss dishonesty as “just a minor thing” showed that he hadn’t completely shed the habits of a former delinquent knight. Did he really deserve to wield a famous sword like Sakura? Could he proudly claim to be the man worthy of it?

He couldn’t. He loved that sword too much for that.

“Ugh…!”

Donald cried, tears streaming down his face as he clenched the soil in his hands. He realized how foolish his life had been. It was the result of his own actions that he was now experiencing separation.

“Lutz-sama, please guide me! How can I atone for my sins? Can I become a man worthy of owning a famous sword…!?”

A hand was placed on Donald’s shoulder as he sobbed uncontrollably. When he looked up with his face soaked in tears and mucus, he saw Lutz smiling.

“Live for the sake of others.”

“Huh…?”

“Give back to others more than you’ve troubled them. When you’ve paid for your sins and become someone you can be proud of, come to my workshop. I’ll forge a sword for you.”

Lutz unsheathed the sword from his right hip and offered it to Donald.

“It won’t be able to perform well without proper maintenance, so I’ll leave it with you.”

It wasn’t a famous sword; Lutz had used it for training purposes only. But it was still a weapon he had made, a work of his craftsmanship. Although it didn’t have any magic enhancements, he could add them if he wanted to. Its performance was on a completely different level compared to the swords those delinquent knights carried.

“Thank you… thank you so much…!”

Donald received the sword respectfully, with gratitude and tears in his eyes. He couldn’t find the right words to express his feelings. Instead, his tears, falling one after another onto the ground, spoke eloquently of his emotions.

Without saying anything more, Lutz left the material storage area. In truth, he felt he had said too much and regretted it. He didn’t consider himself a respectable person, and giving advice to others about their lives felt shameless to him.

He had only approached Donald because he couldn’t ignore the pitiful state he was in. It was more out of necessity than anything else.

“Making me do something so uncharacteristic… honestly…”

With a bitter expression, Lutz scratched his head as he headed back to his workshop.

But for Donald, this exchange meant much more than that.

“Live for the sake of others…”

He had received a divine revelation, and a sword had been bestowed upon him. The path of life had been illuminated by light.

Wiping away his tears, he straightened his back and stood up. His figure radiated determination and strength.

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