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[Newest Weapon]
The thunderstorm that had appeared before nightfall thanks to my collaboration with Noelia caused a heavy downpour in the circumference of Youg Hannotes, transforming the surrounding land into a sea of mud.
The thunderstorm stopped come nightfall. Bonfires are lit brightly along the walls, and balls of light made by mages are dropped to the ground once in a while, illuminating their surroundings pale.
“Aaaalll! If you refuse to have skinship with me, I won’t give you swords, you know~!”
“What with that ‘skinship’! I’ve never heard anything about it from Frontier Count-sama!” (Al)
When I returned with Noelia after finishing the thunderstorm-calling work, I come to hear Gawain and Al’s quarrel in the courtyard of the mansion.
“Frick-sama, it seems that Gawain-shishou is… asking to have a ‘skinship’ with Al-sama…” (Noelia)
Noelia’s face turns pale hearing the content of their quarrel.
Speaking of which, Al should have received a letter from Lloyd, of which content is to allow her to use any swords she wants.
Just from Dayle’s sharpness, you can tell that the swords forged by Gawain are the best ones in the kingdom; they are must-have swords from the perspective of a swordsman.
However, if possible, I’d like him to refrain from that ‘skinship’ of his.
“With Al’s physical ability, I think it should be easy for her to avoid the clutch of even the physically enhanced Gawain-sama, however. It’s better to quickly stop them before an accident occurs.” (Frick)
“R-right. I will cast Wind Barrier on Al-sama immediately!” (Noelia)
When Noelia finishes her chanting, a Wind Barrier wraps around Al’s body.
“This is, a magic barrier, isn’t it?” (Al)
“Guaaaahh! Who is getting in the way of my ‘skinship’!” (Gawain)
Gawain, rushing towards Al, is blocked by the barrier.
“Gawain-shishou! I told you that ‘skinship’ is forbidden because we are now in a state of emergency! Did you not hear me?” (Noelia)
“Sorry~, Noelia. I heard from Lloyd and Meiss that Al is a pretty good swordsman, so I just wanna test him out a bit.” (Gawain)
“You should know that the letter from Father itself is a proof of Al-sama’s sword skills. And I, too, guarantee that Al-sama is as skilled as Frick-sama in terms of mastery of the sword.” (Noelia)
Having stopped struggling, Gawain silently looks at Al’s face.
“I heard from Frontier Count-sama that swords forged by Gawain-sama are first-rate, and looking at craftmanship of Frick-san’s magic sword, Dayle, I think you’re the greatest blacksmith of the present age… However, I’m not good with getting touched by someone else, so I would be grateful if you can pardon me from a ‘skinship’…” (Al)
Al, looking a little tired, politely refuses the ‘skinship’ from Gawain.
“The youngsters these days sure don’t pity the old geezers. Well, I have seen Al’s ability, so let’s leave it at that. As Lloyd and Noelia say, and also from your movement, your skills are pretty good, Al. You’re worthy of wielding my sword.” (Gawain)
Gawain – nodding his head, convinced – opens his arms wide toward Al.
“If you can’t receive a ‘skinship’ from me, then I allow you to give me a ‘skinship’!” (Gawain)
“U-um! I don’t like that, either!” (Al)
As expected, even Al shows a perplexed expression at Gawain’s pace.
Well, that’s how a normal person will react when they talk to Gawain.
I was thrown offbeat and perplexed at first, too.
“Gawain-sama, Al is getting confused, so why don’t you just get into the main subject? Otherwise, you’ll be scolded by Noelia again, you know.” (Frick)
“Frick, to think you would tell me, your master, what to do. Do you actually want to have some ‘skinship’ with me?” (Gawain)
“No, I’m good!” (Frick)
After I refused the ‘skinship’, Gawain starts fishing the wooden box at the edge of the courtyard without pretending to be bothered by it.
“Everyone is so impatient. Well, fine. I heard that you can’t use magic, Al. I’d like you to try out my new swords.” (Gawain)
New swords… Come to think of it, Lloyd had strictly prohibited him from making an intelligence sword like Dayle, but I recall that he said that he would make a sword that could contain magic in another way.
Is it completed already?
Gawain takes out two light-looking short swords from the wooden box and presents the in front of Al.
“Their sharpness is at the same level of Dayle. With these light short swords, you can use Spell Sword even without magic power.” (Gawain)
“Are you saying that I can use Spell Sword like Frick-san even without magic power?” (Al)
“Unfortunately, the power won’t be as high as Frick’s… If you insert this medal with a magic stone embedded in it into this hollow——” (Gawain)
Gawain inserts a medal with a red jewel embedded in it into the hollow on the pommel of one of the short swords.
The next moment, the short sword emits a flame similar to the Spell Sword, and the flame then begin to cover its blade.
“““Spell Sword!?”””
“The medal I installed has the Fireball magic enclosed in it. So, when this blade touches something——” (Gawain)
Gawain stabs the flame-cladded blade of the short sword into the ground.
The short sword that pierced through the ground scatters the light of the explosion and hot air to the surroundings.
Thanks to the Wind Barrier that’s covering Al, the hot air is blocked, and the objects that’re sent flying due to the explosion are knocked away.
“Fireball magic is activated!?” (Frick)
“Just that, it’s better not to use area type magic. ‘Cause you’ll self-destruct, it seems.” (Gawain)
Gawain receives the aftermath of the explosion, and his body is sooty.
It’s a defective weapon, isn’t it…
But, if it’s not an area magic, it seems that you can fire the magic effect at the opponent touched by the sword.
“This one is inserted with Wind Cutter magic, so it’s gonna be fine!” (Gawain)
When Gawain inserts a new medal into the other sword, the blade is cladded in wind.
“When you swing it like this——” (Gawain)
When he slashes at a tree that grew in the courtyard, the wind blades that clad the short sword shred the tree into small pieces.
“Wow… Can I really use it as well, even though I can’t use magic?” (Al)
Having seen the power of Gawain’s new sword, Al excitedly asks.
“Yeah, these are the swords that I came up with knights who can’t use magic in mind, after all. They are the first prototypes. They were meant to be the trump cards against the Abyss Walkers, but I didn’t make it in time for mass production.” (Gawain)
Gawain gives Al a short sword and a new medal.
“This medal embedded with magic stone is a magic enclosure. If you have a mage put a magic into it, even without magic power, you can activate it by simply inserting the medal.” (Gawain)
Al, receiving the medal, inserts the medal into the hollow on the pommel of the sword as explained by Gawain.
“It activated!? I-it’s dazzling, though!? What magic is this?” (Al)
That dazzle. It must be Flash magic.
It can be used to blind the enemy, but you have to close your eyes, too.
But it neither needs chanting, nor magic power, so it will come in handy during battle.
“Gawain-shishou, you said that the medal is a magic enclosure. Does that mean that the power of the magic depends on the mage?” (Noelia)
“Yeah, it’s as you said, Noelia. I don’t know if it can enclose a magic that Frick cast with all his might, but the power of the magic that clads the blade depends on the mage that enclose it. So far, I’ve only made 15 medals, so I’d be troubled if one breaks.” (Gawain)
Maybe Gawain thought that I’d try to enclose a magic with all my might and break the medal; he hurriedly put the medal he’s showing into his pocket.
Still, Gawain sure has created a groundbreaking weapon.
To think it’s a refillable Spell Sword, it colors me surprise.
It had already surprised me when he created Dayle, and now he created this. That’s the Weirdo Blacksmith for you, I think only he can come up with such weapons.
“Gawain-sama, I think those swords are amazing. I’m sure with them, Al will bring great results in the upcoming battle. The Abyss Walkers aren’t invincible. If we have weapons that can counter them, we should be able to win!” (Frick)
If Alfine, who has outstanding sword skills as a sword master, uses those swords, she should be able to play more active role than me.
While the enemy’s full force is unknown, I’m really glad that we have more ways available to counter the Abyss Walkers, who have astounding fighting power.
“Gawain-sama, I can use these, right?” (Al)
“Yeah, Lloyd’s letter said that you can use any and whichever you like. I thought I’d let Meiss or Lloyd use them, but it would be best if Al’s the one to use them. I used about 200 million garde to forge the two of them.” (Gawain)
Hearing the cost of the swords, Al and my expressions stiffen.
200 million garde…!? I feel that is a considerable amount even for a great noble family like the Henestrosa family, though!
Err, if she were to break them, Al won’t be able to compensate them, I think…
“My father has written that Al-sama can choose any swords she likes, so there is no problem. Al-sama, please don’t hesitate to use them.” (Noelia)
“Eh?” (Al)
“We must stop Vigo’s plot at all cost. My father should understand that. He is not one who complains about items that worth 200 million gard.” (Noelia)
Err… I feel that Gawain hasn’t reported the production cost to Lloyd yet, though.
It’s Al we’re talking about here, so she probably won’t break them, but…
When I glance at Al, she is sweating from her face and looking at the short swords in her hands with a pale face.
Well, she had never used a 200 million garde sword even when she was a sword master, after all.
“I think I’ll just go with another one. Right, there must be some good ones from the Frontier Count’s collection as——” (Al)
Noelia stops Al’s hands trying to return the short swords to Gawain.
“Al-sama! There is no one more suitable than you to wield these swords. Even if they are damaged, I will take all responsibility as the acting lord officially appointed by my father, so please rest your mind and use them!” (Noelia)
“I-if you say so, then I will use them. Un, I will use them.” (Al)
Pushed by Noelia’s angry look, Al put the short swords in her hands on her waist belt.