Kays Translations

Chapter 49: Encounter with the Broken Blade

Marquis Beowulf Eldenberger was visiting Count Zander's estate.

People with a lower rank are usually summoned to their place, but now is not the time to talk about such things.

"I'll return this one. I never gave it as a gift, but it was useful enough as a display sword. It was kind of funny how they all widened their eyes when they saw it for the first time."

Beowulf held out the demon wailing sword and Maximilian took it firmly.

It came back. Maximilian was a little moved that the Demon Wailing Sword was his sword after all.

"What a teary-eyed, overreacting bastard."

"I'm happy that my bond with my beloved sword has been re-connected."

The peace talks did not end with the handing over of the Demon Wailing Sword. Sorry, but thank goodness for Maximilian.

“I will return this one to you, then."

Maximilian held out the Eldenberger family's treasured sword. It was exchanged at a gathering of weapon enthusiasts.

"I received it for sure. If I lose this one, my ancestors will be angry with me in heaven.""

They laughed at each other and were fascinated by the blade of the sword, which was back in the hands of its original owner. After all, my own sword is the best.

"Wouldn't you like to enchant that sword? Our Gerhard will do a good job."

Beowulf seemed moved by Maximilian's invitation, but after a moment of contemplation, he shook his head.

"I'm not going to do it. It is a symbol of the Erdenberger family, and I don't feel comfortable tinkering with it on my behalf. I'd rather have a new sword of my own."

"Are you interested in katanas?"

"I'd like to say that I fell in love with the Demon Wailing Sword, but the truth is, I've already encountered a great sword decades ago."

Beowulf put away his treasured sword and began to reminisce about the past.

“I was around 20 years old, young. My father was still alive and well as the head of the family. A blacksmith came to him and said he wanted to present a rare sword. My father liked it at first sight and asked to see it with everyone in the courtyard, so we had a little unveiling party. There was my father, myself, my brother, and a few members of our entourage.”

"And you think it was a katana?"

"That's right. The blacksmith man cut everything in front of me. Whether it's stones, helmets, armor, he could cut them in half with a single swipe. It was as if I was watching magic.."

After saying that, Beowulf's voice was mixed with darkness. The sword is not in Beowulf's hand now. Something must have happened, and Maximilian silently waited for the rest of the story.

“When we talked about making him the blacksmith of the Eldenberger family, my brother started saying something unnecessary. He wanted to cut himself too.”

“Isn’t it because he was a master of swordsmanship?”

“I don't know. He was good at swinging his hips. He was the one who asked for the sword. The blacksmith must have sensed something, for he looked extremely pale. But he couldn't say to the heir apparent, the heir apparent of the marquis family, that you can't do it. He gave up and handed over the sword. As if praying that nothing would happen to him."

Beowulf said as if to spit. It is so annoying how art is lost through the thoughtless behavior of stupid people. It's been decades ago, but every time he thinks back on it, he gets angrier.

"As you can imagine, my brother, who had been drinking heavily, slammed his sword into his armor and it broke beautifully. My brother's face turned red and he was furious. He said, "He's a crook, he can't cut through stone and armor with that thing.”

"That's just..."

Maximilian was at a loss for words after hearing so much.

"The blacksmith's shoulders were shaking. I'm sure he was shaking with frustration, not fear of incurring the wrath of the nobility. No, he would have liked to say, it wasn't like that. But the difference in status would not allow him to argue."

“What happened to that blacksmith…?”

“My brother was calling out to be executed, but in the end he was exiled from the marquis territory. At night, I talked directly to my father that it was my brother's fault and that he should not have let go of that man."

Before I knew it, Maximilian was leaning over and listening.

"My father said, 'That sword is indeed sharp, but it is arrogant and conceited.”

"Arrogance, is it?"

“I didn’t know what he meant. My father continued. If you hold the blade vertically with that sword, there is nothing you can't cut with it. But there is no way you can always get the blade in the right position in a real battle. It was a sword made to show off your skills, without consideration for those who would use it. It was even said that a sword that is only for show is not appropriate for a family of warriors."

"That's harsh. If you had pointed that out to the blacksmith, he would have made a better one next time."

“I think it would have been nice to give him one more chance, but the problem must have been that my brother made a fuss. Then again, there was no way I could say, 'One more time."

This is exactly what it means to miss a big fish.I can't help but wonder how the blacksmithing industry in the Marquisate of Eldenberger would have changed had they retained that blacksmith.

“A few years later, my father died of illness, and my brother, who succeeded him, soon slipped on the steps of the whorehouse and died with a broken neck. You never know what's going to happen in this world. ......"

Beowulf's voice was detached and devoid of emotion. By chance, by chance. In a sense, it was only natural that my brother, who had a bad drinking habit and a bad habit of women, should meet this kind of death.

The reason why the brothel was demolished immediately was because there was a structural problem. The reason why the shopkeeper was banished rather than executed was that he didn't want to make a big fuss and spread the scandal about his brother.

That's what it is.

Beowulf looked expressionlessly into Maximilian's face.

Cold sweat runs down Maximilian's back.

……In this story, there is no point in rambling into it, no matter what the truth is.

"I see that Sir Beowulf has overcome his sorrows and developed his domain in a wonderful way. Your brother in heaven must be very pleased."

Was it a little pretentious? I thought so, but Beowulf only smiled thinly and he didn't say anything.

...... Apparently, you were being tested. I wondered if you were my friend or my enemy.

Beowulf again regained his usual cheerful tone and waved his hands.

"The Demon Wailing Sword is a good sword. It emphasizes sharpness, but never neglects practicality. If you wanted to make it thinner, you could have made it as much as you wanted, but it strikes a fine balance between sharpness and strength....If that man had continued to strike today, I'm sure this is what he would have done."

I felt as if I had found the answer to why I was so obsessed with the wailing sword, a feeling I had been holding onto for too long.

It was as if the sword that had been so cruelly broken that day had returned in a new form. The regret and guilt that had been lodged deep in my heart disappeared in front of the wailing sword.

"... Umu.  I would still like to have my own personal sword. Something that is an improvement on the sword that day, with a longer blade that emphasizes sharpness."

“When the peace negotiations are over, I will order Gerhard and the others to have it made. I am sure they will make a sword worthy of Sir Beowulf."

"Yes, after the negotiations are over......"

There are still a lot of problems, but it is also important to envision a bright future. I have some comrades I can rely on, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

At the same time, there was an old man trembling with anger in the on-site spell workshop.

"Don't be a fool, you idiot!"

Gerhard barked. He had just received a request for a gift sword from the Marquis through the Count. The contents of the request were too much.

"If it's a light attribute, I'll do it. I'll prepare the best sword and a large amount of large gemstones, and with that, three letters is the limit...ah!"

Lutz and Patrick looked at Gerhard, who was fuming, with mixed feelings. They too had been called in for a meeting.

“Patrick-san, do you know how strong the three letters of the light attribute are?”

Lutz asked. He was top-notch when it came to sword making, but he was not familiar with other types of work, such as spell-casting. In terms of broad knowledge, he was one step behind his seniors.

"I wonder if it's enough to slash at zombies and slow down the regeneration of wounds....”

Patrick said, shaking his head. He was not quite right, but he was not far wrong either.

"What a subtle way to put it. Doesn't the zombie's body disintegrate from the wound or something?"

“That's the world of the five-letter word, isn't it? Unfortunately, I have never even heard of a weapon with a five-letter light attribute engraved on it.”

Lutz and Patrick groaned and couldn't move. It seems that this request is too far from reality.

Gerhard, tired of screaming, finally quieted down.

".....Anyway, we have to do whatever it takes, even if it is reckless. The prestige of the nation is at stake. Personally, I don't care what it takes, but if we don't do it, they will get rid of us."

“Let's all just run away together.”

Lutz laughed and said, and Patrick scratched his head with a reluctant look on his face.

“I have nearly 30 apprentices and craftsmen, so I can’t escape.”

"... I'm sorry, that was thoughtless."

Gerhard had only one apprentice, and Lutz was still a mogul. The most admirable master was Patrick.

It wasn't something to apologize for, but Patrick was fond of the young man who honestly apologized. As expected of my guess.

“The signing ceremony will be held in four months, and if we consider preparations and travel time, we have three months. Lutz, please strike your sword in two months. I'll think about how to enchant it.Once the sword is finished, I'll use the decoration and the enchantment for two weeks each to finish it."

Gerhard looked around grimly, while Lutz and Patrick nodded.

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