"Vairochana...!"

Elodie's eyes widened and she stared blankly at the long item delivered by Shikizaki.

When she came to her senses, she had reached out to take it and peel off the outer layer of homespun cloth.

The black and purple handle and sheath, a simple sheath that tells a long history...it is the demon sword Vairocana!

While Elodie and Kondo Shusuke's attention was attracted, Shikisaki Jiyose grinned,

"A foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes... I've heard of you. You should be Tachibana Aoto's apprentice, right?"

Elodie nodded subconsciously.

"That's just right! Since you are Tachibana Aoden's apprentice, I can safely hand it over to you!"

When he mentioned the pronoun "it", he lowered his head and looked at the Vairocana in Elodie's hand with soft eyes.

"Although it took a little more time, I was lucky enough to live up to my mission."

"I am willing to use my life as guarantee, this is my supreme masterpiece!"

Having said this, his eyes became softer and softer, as if he was looking at his child.

“‘Wanliangang’ is indeed an unparalleled top-grade steel material.”

"Even using the furnace that our Shikisaki family has inherited from generation to generation, it still took seven days and seven nights to smelt it."

"I'm afraid there is no tougher steel material in the world than this."

"To be able to use such excellent steel to forge a sword... I will definitely not have the chance to forge a sword of this quality in the rest of my life."

"Being able to forge such a supreme sword at a time when the popularity of swords is about to be eliminated... is within the Minggan Five!"

"Whether it's the 'Supreme Great Property' or any other sword, there's no way it can be compared with this sword!"

When he said this, an excited flush appeared on his cheeks.

At this moment, he was no longer a prodigal son who gave up on himself in despair because of the outdated sword, but a proud swordsman!

After calming down a little, he couldn't wait to say:

"Okay, let's inspect the goods quickly!"

"Let the legendary 'Black Knife' appear in the world!"

After saying that, he raised his hand to signal Elodie to draw the sword.

Seito used the rare "ten thousand steels" to recast Vairochana's blade - Kondo Shusuke had heard a little bit about this.

As a swordsman, how could he not be interested in the legendary "black sword"?

Therefore, he stretched his head and stared directly at the mouth of Vairocana's sheath, not even daring to blink, preparing to welcome the moment when the black sword appeared in the world.

Facing the warm gazes of Kondo Shusuke and Shikisaki Kiyo, Elodie picked up the Vairocana in her hand with a stiff movement, holding the sheath with her left hand and stroking the handle of the knife with her right hand.

"..."

The coldness of the sheath, the texture of the knife handle... Elodie felt all these touches seriously and attentively.

At this moment, she felt her heart beating very fast.

For her, this knife has a very special meaning.

Using the "Ten Thousand Steel Steel" passed down from generation to generation in her family to create a magical weapon that is unique to her, and then holding this weapon in her hands, she can become a knight who fights against injustice... This has been her dream all along.

Because she believed that Qingdeng needed the steel more than she did and could exert the power of the steel better, she willingly entrusted it to him.

At first glance, it seems like she has given up on her dream.

Actually it is not.

If we use accurate words to describe it...she entrusted her dream to Qingdeng!

I hope Qingden can wield a sword forged from this steel.

I hope Qingdeng can hold this sword tightly, become a leading knight, and realize her unfinished dream for her!

In other words, the sword he is holding now is a concrete symbol of his dream...!

When she thought of this, she felt her heart beating faster and even her hands were trembling slightly.

At this moment, her right hand had grasped the handle of Vairocana's knife, and she could pull it out with just a little effort.

However... her hand stopped and she didn't pull out the knife for a long time.

After a while, she shook her head and slowly let go of her right hand.

"...No, I can't pull it out."

Before Kondo Shusuke and Shikisaki Kiyoshi could ask, she explained in an unquestionable and firm tone:

"This Vairocana is the master's sword."

"Only the master is qualified to pull it out!"

"'The appearance of the black sword', 'the first draw of the sword after recasting'...these precious honors must be left to the master."

"I can't overstep my bounds."

At the end of the conversation, she deliberately switched to a half-joking tone to lighten the mood.

After Kondo Shusuke listened, he smiled helplessly and nodded lightly:

"Well, Elodie, you're right. We really can't pull out Qingdeng's sword casually, especially a sword that is full of special meaning."

Shikisakiji posted his hand as a sign of regret.

"You swordsmen always have unusual persistence in some strange places."

"But... okay."

"Since you insist so much, you have to hand it over to Mr. Tachibana intact."

After finishing speaking, he turned his body sideways and made a gesture to leave.

"I've already delivered the knife."

"I have to hurry up and leave Edo before the enemy attacks."

"If it weren't for forging a knife for Mr. Orange, I would have wanted to run away..."

Perhaps he didn't want Elodie and the others to think he was a coward. As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly added:

"I'm just a knife maker. I have no other skills except swinging a hammer."

"I chose to leave Edo out of sheer desperation!"

Elodie and Kondo Shusuke smiled slightly, seeing through it but not criticizing it.

Let those who cannot fight leave the battlefield - this is a matter of course.

Elodie smiled brightly:

"Mr. Shikisaki, thank you for your hard work!"

Kondo Shusuke said:

"Mr. Shikizaki, I wish you a safe journey!"

After the two said goodbye, Shikisaki Jiyō no longer stayed.

After leaving the words "See you soon", he trotted away.

Elodie and Kondo Shusuke stood still, silently watching each other.

After his figure slipped into the far corner of the street, the girl turned her head and looked at the old man with an apologetic face.

"Mr. Kondo, I'm sorry, but you really want to see the whole "Black Knife", right?"

Kondo Shusuke rubbed his chin and laughed a few times:

"Hoo ho ho ho ho!"

"Elodie, you don't have to worry!"

"You are right, it is very impolite for us to pull out other people's knives without authorization."

"Unless we get Qingdeng's permission, we cannot draw the sword for him."

"Besides...compared to you, this little shortcoming of mine is nothing worth mentioning."

"You want to pull out this knife immediately more than I do, don't you?"

Although he used a question sentence, his tone was an affirmative one.

Elodie chuckled, showing a playful expression that said, "You were right."

Why didn't she want to pull out Vairocana immediately?

This black knife symbolizes her dream... It is no exaggeration to say that she now feels as if there are ten thousand ants wandering and gnawing in her heart!

She couldn't wait to pull out the knife, couldn't wait to see the blade of the knife, couldn't wait to let its light fill her eyes!

"Hiss...! Huh...! Hiss...! Huh...!"
To be continued...