Because I care, so there's nothing else to be done…
That was a thought that had popped into his own head not long ago, and now it was coming from the mouth of the girl in front of him.
"I understand…" he sighed, like an older brother giving in to a clingy and willful little sister. "So, what's my job?"
"As for that, I can't answer just yet."
It wasn't an unexpected reply. High-profile clients often had their secrets and it was normal for them to be tight-lipped. But this time, the girl had more to say.
"For now, please just do your best to live, okay?"
Hearing this strange request, a troubled look crossed Muramasa's face again. "I've had my fair share of clients, but this is the first time I've been asked something like this."
Seeing his expression, the girl tilted her head and smiled. "What else could I do? If I didn't ask this, you'd definitely go and try to forge 'that' again, wouldn't you?"
"Didn't you use your life for something else last time without anyone's permission?"
He couldn't argue. A deep blush on Muramasa's old face said it all.
"Besides," her gaze shifted to the unfinished Holy Sword. The mana on the surface of the frosted solid had dissipated, leaving only the stubborn will of its creator. "As you are now, you can't complete 'that'."
"To pour a lifetime of swords into it on a whim… how reckless can you be?"
He could hear a hint of complaint in her tone, and it wasn't wise to provoke her further. He could only grumble in concession, "I know, I know…"
"But from the sound of it, there should be a way to fix this, right?"
The moment he said it, he felt as if he were being scolded by her gaze alone. Her eyes seemed to say something along the lines of, "You have the nerve to ask?"
After the glare, the girl finally spoke. "For the Holy Sword, yes. But you won't be able to use your Noble Phantasm for the time being."
"And, with that Holy Sword existing here, I don't know what kind of effect it will have on you…"
Hearing the deep concern in her voice, Muramasa reassured her, "It doesn't matter much. The mana here isn't enough for me to use extravagantly anyway."
"As for you, it's okay for a client to be a bit more ruthless, you know? A sword is meant to be used. If it breaks, you just forge a new one."
The girl's expression turned slightly strange, clearly displeased with him comparing himself to a disposable tool.
"That's just like you…"
"Let's end our chat here for today. Bye-bye, old man."
The magical girl flicked her silver-white hair and walked away, disappearing the same way she had come. Just as she stepped into the void, she suddenly turned back, pointed a finger to the sky as if giving a hint, and then submerged into the ripples of space.
"Above? What's above…?"
Muramasa raised his head. All he could see were the layers of mist in his inner world. His Karmic Eyes activated with a change in his thoughts, peering into a place far beyond that infinite height.
Countless dim stars were scattered there, outlining the constellations of a certain fate. It wasn't an unusual sight.
"…This is my Reality Marble, isn't it?"
Muramasa stared for a long time, hesitant. The myriad stars in the sky simply gazed back, their silence an answer. They watched each other until the frost the girl had brought melted away, and the space dissolved like thin ice in the summer heat.
The room was uncannily quiet. The changes brought by the magic had faded, and the surrounding aether returned to a faint blue glow.
"Hm?"
Muramasa then noticed that the pendant on the floor had cracked at some point, and the mana level had returned to what it was initially. Using it as a medium had been too much of a strain, but at least it had served its purpose.
Knock, knock, knock…
A light, short rap came from the entrance, as if the person was afraid of disturbing him.
"Coming."
He opened the door to a familiar figure. Hailing, who had been lost in thought with her head down, was visibly startled, as if the door opening was completely unexpected.
"Hailing? What's wrong? You look surprised."
"It's nothing. I was just worried you might have already gone to bed." She pointed to the dark house. "Because the oil lamps weren't lit…"
"Oh, that. The wind just blew them out. Don't worry about it."
He wasn't lying, but he wasn't telling the whole truth either. A full explanation would be impossible for her to understand and might just cause unnecessary trouble.
"So, what's up?" he asked, changing the subject before she could think further.
"Right! The villagers wanted to give you something." She lifted a basket in her hand, filled with an assortment of seafood, some with scales, some with shells.
"Ohh, thanks. This is great." Muramasa took the basket, a sound of appreciation escaping him.
"Ah, also. Someone from the Tenryou Commission might come by tomorrow."
The Tenryou Commission. Sounded like some kind of law enforcement agency. It made sense. Even the public officials stationed here had died in the line of duty; the higher-ups couldn't just sit back.
"Uncle Goko said that if you don't want to deal with them, he can help you come up with an excuse."
"Me?" Muramasa was slightly taken aback, but on second thought, it wasn't so strange. No matter how he explained it, he couldn't be removed from the record of events. And even if he dodged them now, a power level like his couldn't stay hidden forever.
"No need. I'll go."
Hailing nodded and turned to leave. "Alright then, see you tomorrow!"
"Don't be in such a hurry. Since you're here, why not stay for a quick bite?" He walked up and patted her on the shoulder. "You must be hungry after such a long day."
"I shouldn't, it would be an imposition…" The surprise on Hailing's face was fleeting as she tried to politely refuse.
"If you go back now, you're just going to whip up something simple and go straight to bed, right?" Muramasa mercilessly saw through her plan. "But if you don't eat a proper dinner, you won't have any energy for work tomorrow."
"How did you know…?" She had indeed planned to rest early, but she didn't think it was that obvious.
"Because I've seen it many times before. Come on." With that, he turned and went back inside, lighting the oil lamp.
Hailing hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose to follow, leaving the door ajar.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (290 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (240 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (110 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (120 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (310 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (120 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (140 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(70 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (193 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (140 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (100 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (70 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (100 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (120 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (120 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (85 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (120 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (120 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (90 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (90 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (70 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (70 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (20 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (20 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (30 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (30 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (30 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.