While still shaken by the dizzying turn of events, I decided to begin preparing for the journey.
I looked around my simple private room, which contained a bed, a small chest of drawers, and a few books.
My life has revolved around swordsmanship, so I own few possessions, making the room rather spartan.
The books are also mostly magic guides.
Given this situation, there’s not much to take with me.
“I guess all I need to do is get my outfit ready…”
I muttered to myself, trying to change my mindset.
I figured that the village would probably provide some of the necessary supplies.
The village at the foot of the mountain… Kaisa Village, would provide food and other necessities in exchange for dealing with monsters.
The people there are kind, so they’ll probably be accommodating about my departure.
I donned my usual leather armor set that I used for monster hunting, and attached my broadsword and main-gauche to my waist, then returned to gramps.
T/N: “Main-gauche” literally translates to “left hand” in French. In this context, it refers to a type of parrying dagger, typically used in the left hand alongside a sword.
“Gramps, I’m ready.”
I called out as I returned to the living room.
Almost immediately, gramps emerged from his own room.
He was holding an unfamiliar sword.
“Oh, you’re here, Kati. I’ll give you this before you leave.”
As he said that, he handed me a sword that, at a single glance, I could tell was exceptionally decorated.
“What is this? This sword looks like it could build a mansion.”
I responded with a slightly exaggerated reaction as I accepted the sword.
“This was the sword given to me by the late King Spike when I received my title. Its name is lost to time, but since it was in the royal family’s treasury, there’s no doubt it’s a treasure sword of some kind.”
Whoa!? My reaction wasn’t exaggerated at all.
It could build a mansion, or even a castle if you wanted!
It’s a royal family sword, after all!
…But, handing it to me at this timing…
“Could it be, is this my identification?”
Was he telling me to go to the royal castle and show it off like an inro?
T/N: An inro is a small traditional Japanese case for holding personal seals and medicines. It often served as a sort of identification or proof of status.
“No, that’s not it. The sword doesn’t have the royal family crest on it, and besides, I still exchange letters with Spike, so he knows what you look like. Also, if they meet you and hear my story, they’ll know if it’s really you right away.”
So, that means–
“That sword is for practical use. A unique one, at that.”
Gramps urged me with his eyes to try drawing it, so I slowly pulled it from its scabbard.
–A gleaming black blade emerged.
The blade was about 80 centimeters long, longer than my usual broadsword, but slightly shorter than a bastard sword.
The texture of the metal was something I had never seen before.
“The scholars at the castle theorize that it’s highly likely to be made of orichalcum. Since it’s a lost metal, there’s no way to confirm it, though.”
T/N: Gamers already know but orichalcum is a legendary metal mentioned in ancient texts, often depicted as a magical and highly valuable material.
Isn’t that like the king of fantasy metals?
I’m so surprised, I’m starting to get tired…
Okay, let’s pull myself together… ahem.
“Thank you, gramps. I’ll strive to not be called unworthy of such a weapon.”
“Hmm. A sword is meant to be used. Use it as much as you can.”
I had a lot of things I wanted to say about gramps’ boldness in handing over a sword like this so casually, but I accepted the sword with gratitude.
“Even so, Grandpa, you never used this sword, right? Why not?”
I asked, contradicting my previous statement.
“Well, if I was swinging around such an eye-catching sword, someone would recognize me right away. I was awarded the sword during a ceremony, after all. I’m retired because I wanted to stay away from those annoying idiot nobles.”
Ah. That’s true.
Despite being a commoner, Grandpa rose through the ranks of the royal guard thanks to his swordsmanship and even became a close aide to the king. Because of this, he was apparently disliked by nobles other than the royal guard members.
He had told me about this before.
It seems to have been particularly bad after he was granted a family name.
In this country, generally only nobles are allowed to have a family name.
I wondered if I would encounter the same kind of trouble when I went to the royal capital, but that was probably going to be covered in the things he wanted to talk about on our way down the mountain, so I decided to remain silent.
