# Demonic Sword
Literally a sword with demonic power.
Demonic swords often appeared to adventurers like dream weapons. Adventurers who couldn't easily reach the realm of Aura needed the power of equipment.
With relatively little effort, they could gain the most effective power, and without spending expensive costs to learn magic, demonic swords provided unique "skills." That's why adventurers viewed demonic swords as tools and opportunities for social advancement.
Of course, drawbacks existed, but power is like the throat of a hungry ghost—never satisfied no matter how much you feed it—so they frequently made the mistake of overlooking these drawbacks.
That's why newspapers often featured stories of adventurers killing their companions.
[A-Rank Adventurer Rude, Consumed by Demonic Sword, Kills Party Members...]
This was also why the Empire prohibited demonic swords.
One might wonder how a mere blade could destroy a person's mind, but that's precisely what demonic swords could do, which is why the Academy often expressed negative opinions about them.
"If you discover a demonic sword in a dungeon, immediately stop your expedition and report it to the Guards."
"Never touch or attempt to possess it, and it must undergo purification through a priest..."
"I cannot emphasize enough—never touch a demonic sword."
Many have been devoured by demonic swords.
The blood of those who died because of demonic swords remained in history.
Therefore.
"Master, it's embarrassing when you look at me like that..."
One must exercise extreme caution when using a demonic sword.
"Though I have no physical body, I am still a woman..."
Probably, that is.
The sun of the Blue Kingdom rose brightly.
From early morning, I had been training in the yard of the luxurious mansion provided by the king of the Blue Kingdom, swinging my sword.
"That last strike was a bit disappointing. If you had paid a little more attention to the angle of the sword..."
I was receiving intimate guidance from Caliburn.
And there was another gaze watching me.
"Tsk... With such ferocious demonic energy, how can he not go insane?"
"..."
"Or maybe... he's already gone mad."
"..."
"Yes, he must have already gone mad."
It was the bald dwarf I had seen yesterday.
The dwarf "Clang-clang," who had visited the mansion early in the morning, was endlessly watching me train in the yard, clicking his tongue.
"I suppose that's the only explanation for daring to shave a master craftsman's head..."
I thought I wouldn't see him again after yesterday, but here he was, showing his shining face. The sun was already hot enough, and now with two suns present, I awkwardly stuck out my tongue.
"Hmm... but it is a legendary sword."
The sword maniac seemed to have no intention of taking his eyes off me.
"I don't understand how the weight of the sword is so biased toward the front..."
"How did you find our mansion?"
"If I just hammered right there, it would be perfect."
The sword maniac simply ignored my question and continued critiquing the sword. As his monologue continued, Caliburn made no effort to hide her discomfort.
"That worthless creature... again."
'...'
"I'll kill him. Master, if you just give me permission, I'll..."
Whether aware of Caliburn's murderous intent or not, "Clang-clang" stroked his beard with his chin resting on his hand, continuing his monologue. He might die if this continued.
"The weight distribution is quite strange."
"...If you value your life, you should stop your critique here. Despite appearances, my sword is a demonic sword..."
"In human terms, it would be the chest. Yes... it's like having large breasts."
*Twitch*
"Why are you casually sexually harassing my sword?"
"That's how strange it is."
For some reason, Caliburn seemed pleased. Enough to calm her murderous intent.
"A creature with discerning eyes, I see."
What strange people.
Both the dwarf and Caliburn.
With a slight sigh, I sheathed Caliburn and frowned at the dwarf who had made the sexual comment.
"So, how did you know to come here? If you followed me, that's quite unpleasant."
"Didn't I tell you? I am a master craftsman honored by the king of the Blue Kingdom."
"I don't know what you're talking about, so I'd appreciate it if you left."
"Can't even joke around. Tsk."
The dwarf pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper from his inner pocket and said:
"The king wants to see your face."
"...Why?"
"I don't know either. He said something about wanting to stretch his body."
Ah... really.
"I refuse."
Does that man not work?
I politely declined the unexpected invitation from the Blue King with a shake of my head. I had come to a different country for once, and I needed time to enjoy the culture and complete the task Malik had asked of me.
As the dwarf's determined eyes and my awkward gaze met in the air, the dwarf burst into laughter and smiled.
"I thought you might say that, so I brought him."
"Are you crazy..."
"Calling a master craftsman crazy? I'm perfectly normal."
"No... that's not..."
With the sound of a fluttering cloak, a black shadow began to fall over the yard.
"Your Highness..."
Once at the humble sight of the dwarf bowing his head with the familiar voice.
"Finally, you've come. My Crown Prince."
Twice at the title used by the king of a nation who had never offered to pass on the position of crown prince to me.
"I have come to see you, do not worry."
And three times at the sight of the Blue King sending me passionate gazes, I covered my mouth in shock.
After all, he was the king of a nation.
"Move aside, baldy."
It was awkward to see a king wandering around without a single attendant.
"How many times have I told you? It's blinding, so wear a hat in my presence."
"Your Majesty."
"Don't call me 'Your Majesty.' Baldness is contagious."
"..."
The Blue King naturally called "Clang-clang" baldy as he stepped forward. They seemed quite close, and I almost laughed at the king's joking manner, but...
"Then we should have a conversation after so long."
My emerging laughter disappeared at the sight of the king immediately bringing up a spear. It seemed like fighting was all that was on that man's mind.
"Come, draw your weapon."
"...No."
"Come on, show your father your skills."
"I'm an orphan."
"Then I shall become your adoptive father."
"What about me makes you want to be my father? That could lead to serious problems."
"It's fine. A child's mistakes are the parent's responsibility. If you run a country, an overthrow is a problem I can solve."
"No... no... I'm not okay with this."
"What a shy child you are."
This is bad.
We're not communicating.
"Draw your sword!"
"..."
"I don't have time."
"Are you perhaps ill...?"
"No, I said I don't have time to wait."
"...Huh?"
"This is my private villa, so feel free to go wild. Now, hurry!!"
Learning that the place I had slept last night was the king's private villa, I raised a huge question mark in my mind. Everything from the bed to the window frames had been made of gold, after all.
"Ricardo, should we take some of this when we leave?"
"Should we?"
"Yeah."
Now that the question in my mind was resolved, I bowed with an enlightened smile.
Well.
"I'll humor you for a bit."
Since there seemed to be no way to avoid it.
I smiled slightly and raised Caliburn toward the Blue King.
I wouldn't hurt him too badly, but...
"Crown Prince!"
I did want to hurt him a little.
***
*Splash.*
With the sound of a strike, a man's voice emerges from the darkness.
"There are two ways to create a demonic sword."
*Splash.*
"One is to imbue the sword with negative energy."
*Splash.*
"Even an ordinary sword can have different energies depending on how it's used."
"..."
"A prime example would be the 'Executioner's Sword' that has beheaded countless criminals."
"A toy that goes mad when it smells blood?"
"Yes. Though it's too violent to call a toy, most demonic swords are born that way. Like possessed dolls."
The blacksmith, striking with his hammer, continued speaking without pause.
"The second method... less common but creates the most powerful demonic swords."
"..."
"If a skilled blacksmith adds something special to the materials when crafting a weapon, a powerful demonic sword is born."
"..."
"The sword I'm making now."
*Splash.*
"Is that sword."
With the sound of bones and flesh collapsing, the forge's fire continued to burn.
"Creating a sword from a corpse is quite a beautiful thing."
"..."
"If you make a sword with a strong body and the fighting spirit that burned during its lifetime, even the person who became the sword's material would be pleased."
"What a perverted taste."
"The joy of hammering a sword is indescribable. It's a feeling I want to keep to myself."
"Hah... I don't even want to know."
The man setting the mold in the forge smiled like a master craftsman as he shaped the clay on the reddened floor.
"Father, what do you think is the most important element when creating a legendary sword?"
"Skill. That's why I came looking for you."
"Tsk tsk... Skill is important, of course. The blacksmith's heart toward the sword is also important, but the most crucial thing is the material."
"..."
The man hammering smiled slightly and said:
"Like your body."
The blacksmith's eyes began to shine coldly.
"Strong..."
"..."
"A strong body that doesn't break under any adversity..."
"..."
"That's how a true legendary sword is born."
The priest, pondering the blacksmith's words, smiled faintly and voiced a question. He had materials too precious to discard.
"Would someone who's already dead work?"
The blacksmith answered with a subtle smile.
"It depends on what kind of person they were in life."
"..."
"It won't be as good as refining someone alive, but if they accomplished great deeds in life or haven't been dead long, they could become an excellent sword."
"..."
"Much better material than what we brought today..."
*Splash.*
"I believe."
The blacksmith's eyes were consumed with madness.
"My craftsmanship is better than anyone else's."
The master who had achieved everything was not satisfied with material desires. His ultimate goal and purpose was to surpass everything and engrave his name in history.
"Show me."
"..."
"I will reforge it for you."
The blacksmith reached out to fulfill his desire.
And.
"This... will make an excellent sword."
He smiled as he looked at the faded teeth.