Chapter 38: Love’s Manslayer Blade

A decorator in his forties was writhing and squirming.

His name is Patrick, and he is the best decorator in town. His head rolled around in his hands, showing no sign of dignity, but he was a skilled decorator.

“I want to meet the Wailing Sword Kikoutou-chan…”

He had once been contracted to decorate the sheaths and brims of swords presented to the Count.

It was a wonderful, truly wonderful sword. The beauty of the sword allowed Patrick to go beyond his own limits in decorating it.

I then handed the sword over to Gerhard, an adjunct spellcaster, and asked him if he would sell it to me. I was willing to lose all my money, and I really meant it.

“You’re a jerk for taking the donation.”

He did not say so clearly, but Gerhard’s eyes certainly said so. Gerhard was right. Patrick was not unaware of this, but he could not help but say so.

Since giving up the demon wailing sword, he had been feeling increasingly lonely. For the past few days, he has not been able to work, and all the orders he has received have been thrown to his apprentices.

What is it about that poor middle-aged boy, of all people, that he has picked up the demon wailing sword? He must have looked at the sword a few times and then put it away in a warehouse to collect dust. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.

I would not do that if I were you. I would treat it with more care. If it were me.

What a pathetic demon wailing sword.

“Ugh… it’s no good, I can’t take it anymore. I can’t stand the patience!”

Patrick grabbed his cloak and ran out of his room.

He almost bumped into his apprentice in the hallway, but managed to stay on his feet.

“Master, are you going out?”

“I’ll be at the castle.”

“Is it a request from the Count!?”

The apprentice’s face lit up. The rewards for a nobleman’s request are exceptional, and if you are accepted there, you get the honor as well.

It is also a matter of reputation for those who work in the city’s best decoration workshop.

“No, it’s not work”

“I see……”

“I’m going somewhere to find my lost love.”

“Is that so……?”

The apprentice looked at his master’s back as he walked quickly away with a dubious look on his face, but eventually gave up and went back to his own work as if he had given up.

That man is always weird.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s not uncommon for people to treat their weapons as if they were humans because they’re too focused on them, but if you’ve been working as a craftsman for a long time, you’ll occasionally come across them. Most of the time, I can get away with ‘Oh, not again’.

Even Gerhard, such as he was, could not help but think that this man was out of the ordinary.

“I would like to meet Kikoutou-chan. Please, I would like to ask Master Gerhard to help me.”

And the man who sounds pathetic is Patrick, the decorator.

There are so many things I want to say and I don’t know what to say.

First of all, what is Kikoutou-chan?

“You want to ask the Count to show you his sword. Is that what you want to talk about?”

“By all means!”

“…You know, Patrick. I’ll explain the basics, but a Count is a very important man. A craftsman can’t just come up to him and say, “Let me see your sword.”

“I understand, I understand that much, but my craftsman’s soul is aching. That is why I am asking you, Gerhard!”

Gerhard shook his head quietly. Whether you ask me or get down on your knees, you can’t do what you can’t do.

I am confident that the Count trusts me. However, if I were to get carried away and use him for personal matters, it would quickly lead to my own destruction.

Even so, it was a troublesome time when factions were forming around the Count’s favorites. Gerhard wanted to stay as quiet as possible.

“However, Gerhard-sama, isn’t it frustrating? For such a wonderful sword to be passed into the hands of a man who doesn’t understand its value, and just be stored away in the back of the warehouse.”

“What is it, Patrick, you don’t know. The Count carries the wailing sword as his sword. Every morning, before going about his business affairs, he does a little practice with it. I’ve been with him, so I’m sure of it.”

“What do you mean?　That loach-like ……, no, the Count, whose body is not very strong, is swinging?”

“That’s right, he wishes to be proud to be the master, the sword’s owner.”

Patrick was half in disbelief, the other half thinking it might be possible. It was understandable if you think of it as the mindset of a boy who is excited in front of the girl he loves.

“ You and I might be better at wielding a sword but the Count’s desire to grow with the sword is real. It is his sword. There is no room for others to come in.”

“Hmm…”

“By the way, magic was added to that sword after the decoration was finished, so it’s a much more splendid sword than what you know.”

It was Gerhard who suddenly laughed triumphantly.

“Why would you say something like that just when I thought I was about to give up!? Talk about how that first love girl who ended up not exchanging words became incredibly beautiful in the city!”

“It’s an easy-to-understand and disgusting expression…”

“It’s human nature to want to see it, even if it’s just at a glance!”

Patrick was still insistent, but Gerhard waved his hand with a shooing motion, as if to chase away a dog.

“I’ve told you everything I know. There’s nothing I can do for you. Go home.”

“Can I at least observe the Count’s pretense ……?”

“I don’t see how a stranger can just barge into the Count’s private place. My apprentice has been itching to slay a prowler lately, so don’t trespass either.”

“Why is that…?”

“I really wonder why.”

It seems that sticking around any longer is impossible. Patrick gets up to leave before Gerhard’s discomfort gets worse. As he stood in front of the door, he turned around as if suddenly remembering.

“Oh, by the way, did you tell the Count my name?”

“……Hmm?”

Gerhard ponders what he is talking about. Patrick’s gaze pierces sharply.

“When you delivered Kikoutou-chan, you promised to tell the Count that the decorations were made by a craftsman named Patrick. And you said so yourself!”

“Oh……”

I remember. I think I said that to calm Patrick, who was begging for the sword, or maybe I didn’t. Gerhard’s gaze swept through the air.

“… you forgot didn’t you?”

“I didn’t forget. I mean, I just kind of forgot!”

“You can’t even come up with an excuse!”

Patrick shook his head in amazement, but when he looked up, he had a faint smile on his face.

“You owe me one.”

“Tell me what you want me to do…”

“Whether it’s possible or not, just tell the Count that you have someone who wants to visit. If he says no then I give up.”

“… just listen. I can’t take responsibility for the answer.”

“Yes, please.”

Patrick bowed deeply before leaving Gerhard’s workshop.

Gerhardt regretted his thoughtless words and deeds with a bitter face. It’s just a verbal promise, but trust is only possible if you follow that kind of promise. It was surely his fault that he forgot.

I remember why I forgot. That’s right, after that, I enchanted it and achieved the feat of engraving five ancient characters, and all the details were blown away from my memory.

“While we’re on the subject of small talk, let’s tell him ……”

Not so much good or bad, but more than that, he would not settle for what he owed. That was the nature of the man Gerhard.

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