Kays Translations

Chapter 79: Flower in the Mud

All the axes have been sharpened. The atmosphere in the workshop was also brightened.

The next thing I'm going to work on is Nguyen's request for an execution sword. I don't intend to make it a particularly unusual shape. What we are aiming for is a sword that cuts well.

...... Let's see what form it will take.

Lutz was pondering as he separated the crushed pieces of iron into two groups, one for the skin iron and the other for the core iron.

I was also a little nervous. A sword is a tool for killing people, and even if you preach about artistry and spirituality, the essence of the sword will not change. No, we should not lose sight of that.

There have been a few times when I've made weapons for hypothetical enemies or focused on a specific use. The Knight Killer is a sword designed to defeat a knight in armor indoors, and the Love Letter is a dagger designed primarily to make a single stab to the heart of a wild thief.

However, when the third prince is executed like this time, it is the first time that it is clearly decided where and who will be killed.

If you strike this sword, a person will die. Even though everyone was convinced, the hand holding the hammer was still heavy.

......What does it feel like to execute the son of a lord you admire so much?

His honor would have been preserved if he had avenged his lord. The question then remains as to who will be the next king. Will the blind first prince, the incompetent third prince, or a powerful ruling family replace the royal family?

In any case, the country will be devastated by civil war after civil war. In this case, the kingdom may also prioritize cutting off the land rather than complying with the contract.

He had to throw away honor, hatred, and everything else to protect him. He had to support the second prince, who was mentally depressed.

It's not that I didn't want to strike the sword. I couldn't make it without understanding anything about this man Nguyen.

……Why did I decide to use the piece of the High King's Eye and show it to that man?

I wanted to help him, even if it was just a little. I wanted to cheer him up by telling him that there is someone who understands him, who supports him. That's how I would describe my impulse at the time.

What kind of sword is suitable for him? I was so worried that I couldn't move.

I hear footsteps from the stairs. I knew from the sound alone that she was in a good mood.

“Hey Lutz-kun, good morning!”

“Clau, you look lovely today."

"You can’t just say the same thing every morning."

“I will say the same thing ten years from now, twenty years from now.”

While laughing, we raised each other's right hands and clapped them together.

“By the way, Lutz-kun, I have an idea for the name of that sword."

"Even if it's called a signature..."

What Claudia pointed at was just a stack of iron pieces, and what kind of katana was that sword?

“I don’t think there is a rule that you can’t decide on a signature before making a sword. First decide on the image and then strike the sword, that's fine too.”

"It depends on the inscription. Let me hear it."

The soft, glossy lips move slowly and gently.

“…………”

Hearing that name, an image suddenly spread in Lutz's mind.

I haven't done anything yet, I haven't been able to do anything. Only the name was decided. But I could see all the paths leading to completion.

"Great, let's go with that."

Lutz nodded with a smile and immediately started work.

Claudia was on her way up the stairs to return to the second floor, and remembered that she went to call Lutz because the meal was ready, but he would have already entered his own world. Let's invite him to dinner again tomorrow morning.

"Well, I made a mistake in the order of inviting them..."

Even though I was amazed at Lutz, who was a sword fool, I was also proud of him.

The sword is ready.

I asked Patrick to decorate it and then took it to Gerhard.

"If you're going to make something like that, you should have said something in advance..."

Gerhard complains about making something related to the political affairs of an enemy country, but Lutz calmly answers.

"If you consult in advance, you may be told that they can't do it."

"This guy……"

It was because he fell in love with Nguyen's manliness that  he struck a sword. It didn't matter what country or position it was. This is a man-to-man, personal contract.

If you call that a crime, then I have no use for the Count's household any longer.

"Well, it's just a matter of Gerhard-san keeping quiet."

"Don't make me your accomplice without permission."

"You sell this stuff to people and you say that?"

Lutz took out a large jewel from his pocket and showed it to him.

It was Gerhard who first got involved in the nefarious scheme. It would not be fatal, such as being immediately sent to the executioner's block, if he was found out, but it would be troublesome.

"If you don't feel up to it, I can ask another enchanter to do it for you....”

As he was about to put the jewelry back in his pocket, Gerhard grabbed him firmly by the right hand.

"Wait, wait. No one said they didn't want to!"

"From what we've talked about so far, what do you think of this guy named Nguyen?"

"There is one thing I don't like"

"What's that?"

"He’s cooler than I am"

Lutz laughed and dropped the jewel into Gerhard's hand. The deal is done.

Gerhard is a man who is even more of a romantic, sulky mess than Lutz. He never expected to be turned down.

"How much is the job worth?"

"Since he seems to be holding one of the third prince's hidden assets, he should be able to pull a hundred."

"Three, three, three?"

"No, it's one hundred."

Phew, Gerhard whistled. He seems to have been rejuvenated by the arrival of an interesting job. After all, it is more like him to be a craftsman than to be involved in political affairs.

"Great, now I'm motivated"

"I would like to know what kind of magic you would like to use. I would like to use magic to improve the sharpness of the blade."

"It's the only way. The third prince is the kind of guy who doesn't know where his chin-chin meets his neck and shoulders."

"... No wonder he and Nguyen are both impatient."

It is very difficult to bisect the human body. The skin, muscles, fat, and bones all have different textures and hardness. It is an impossible task to have to cut them all together.

It's not uncommon to hear stories of blades chipping against bones.

The bones of the neck, in particular, are quite sturdy, as they usually support the equivalent of 10% of the body weight of the head.

"I have to do it even if it's impossible or unreasonable. That is the will of a man once he has set his mind to it."

It was the face of a serious, trusted and respected craftsman.

There is no longer any need to repeat the words. Lutz bowed and walked away.

Exactly one month after the request, Nguyen came.

"Please come in, it's ready."

I led him upstairs to the living room and placed the new sword on the table.

The scabbard is painted black, and the brim and handle are plain. The sword was made in consideration of the fact that it would be difficult to use a flashy sword for the execution of the main lineage.

However, it had a black lacquered scabbard with a one-pointed flower painted on it.

After asking if he could pull it out, Nguyen stood up and pulled out the blade.

It was somewhat heavy, as it was used for execution. The blade of the sword had a cold shine like ice wet with water. This beauty was probably the result of using a piece of the High King's Eye. There were four ancient letters engraved on the blade, all of which were filled with a magical power that was so powerful that they seemed to be bursting at the seams.

It's like a sword that pursues sharpness and beauty.

…… I know the sharpness, but why beauty?

It seems to be a little different from saying that it will be used for the execution of the royal family.

"Has this sword's inscription been decided yet?"

When Nguyen asked, Claudia smiled and answered.

"I named it the lotus flower Renge."

Hearing that name, Nguyen closed his eyelids tightly.

The lotus is a lotus flower, a flower that symbolizes nobility and purity, that blooms beautifully even in the mud.

……Will you rate my life like that?

Unable to protect his lord, on top of all that, he served his enemy, and stood on the scaffold and killed his lord's child. On the face of it, it's ridiculously shameless.

In the years to come, Nguyen's name will forever be synonymous with cowardice.

A blacksmith couple from a faraway land told me that I was like a lotus flower.

If I opened my eyes, tears would overflow. It doesn't matter if no one understands, that kind of thing is a lie.

Lutz waited without saying anything. After about five minutes, he was finally able to open his eyes. Nguyen lowered his eyes because they might be red.

“…It’s a wonderful sword, and I'm glad to see it's being used for what it is. I can't jump up and down because of its purpose, but I thank you."

He puts the heavy leather bag on the table with a clunk,

"Thanks for all you've done."

and walked away as if to run away.

Lutz and Claudia looked at each other, as if it were too sudden.

"......I wonder if that one made him happy."

"The first time I've ever seen a client react that way, well, that's okay."

I was concerned about what would happen to Nguyen in the future, but it was now out of my hands. As you nailed it the first time, it is even arrogant to feel responsible.

It's his life, it's his problem. Lutz was only slightly involved in it.

"Well, let's think about us now. A nice leather bag with a nice tone. I wonder what the prince's stash is?"

Claudia smirked and pulled the leather bag closer. There was no way she could have misheard it, it would be full of gold coins.

"...... That's a gold coin."

“…It’s a gold coin.”

They looked into the bag and were speechless. Claudia plucked up a piece and saw the profile of a strong, bearded man. It was the currency of the Allied nations.

If you want to use it, come to my house, is that the case?

"That damned bastard!"

Claudia turned over the leather bag, and a golden bearded wig was scattered on the table. The faces of old kings from other lands, in other words, strangers, were lined up in a row.

There is not a single gold coin that can be used.

“Lutz Kuun……”

While stroking the head of the shocked Claudia, Lutz smiled wryly. Apparently, he does not dislike the man himself. This gold coin, if interpreted in the most favorable way possible, is also very important to Nguyen.

"... it's going to be hard from now on, but I'm fine."

The man with the gold coin doesn't answer. He could only look ahead with strength.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter