The Afterglow-Scented Weapon Sways the Heart of a Blacksmith
"What a mess this turned into…"
In Thirdrema's back alleys, Pepper let out a heavy sigh, recalling Pencilgon's words from minutes ago.
"Alright, Aitoil, lead the way to Rabbits," he said. "Once we're there, I'll hand over the grape wine I bought from the Enhance Trading Company as your reward."
"You got it, Pepper-han!"
With a hop, Aitoil opened a gate in a nondescript wall, leading to Rabbits. Stepping through to the rest area in the Rabbit Palace, Pepper pulled three bottles of grape wine from his inventory and handed them to her.
"Thanks, Pepper-han!" Aitoil chirped. "Call me if ya need me~!"
Like a breeze, she floated out of the palace. Pepper flopped onto a bed, exhaling deeply.
"…What do I do now?"
From morning in Secondil—gathering materials, upgrading weapons, battling the area boss—the day had been relentless. The Enhance Trading Company's quest, Saiga-100's recruitment, and Towa's unexpected vulnerability… it was a lot.
He could log out now, but triggering one last event flag might make for a fun exit.
"Hm…"
Rummaging through his inventory, he pulled out the Vorpal Chopper, the dagger that had sliced the Nightslayer Lycaon's eye. Teable and Aitoil had remarked, "We've never seen a weapon etched with the Nightslayer's afterglow."
What would Bilak, the Rabbit Palace's master blacksmith, think of it?
"Guess I'll find out," Pepper said with a sly grin, stowing the dagger and heading to the palace's forge alone.
"Bilak-san, you here?"
At the Rabbit Palace's forge, Pepper called out for its master.
"Aye, Pepper!" Bilak emerged from behind a curtain. "What's up?"
As a warm-up, Pepper pulled the unique weapon Madness Breaker from his inventory and showed her the Lock-On Breaker Secret Manual.
"I wanted you to take a look at this."
"Ho, so this is the rumored unique hammer, eh? Fine craftsmanship. And this manual—details on crafting, materials, and growth forms? Humans sure know their forging," Bilak said, impressed.
"Could you make it if I got the materials?" Pepper asked.
"Pepper, who do ya take me for?" she scoffed. "I'm a blacksmith. Get me the stuff, and I'll forge it proper. That's a master's work."
"Figured," Pepper said with a wry smile.
"Ya here to tease me or what?" Bilak asked, squinting.
"No, no. I've got a weapon I really want you to examine."
He emphasized examine, recalling a Fasteia blacksmith's words about weapons being like children to their makers—and doctors who mend them. If a master blacksmith's duty was to diagnose and fix a weapon's issues, what would Bilak make of a dagger etched with the Nightslayer's afterglow?
"Bilak-san, this Vorpal Chopper is what I used to fight the Nightslayer Lycaon, piercing and slashing its eye. Aitoil and Teable said it's imbued with a strong afterglow.
As a blacksmith, I'd like your advice on how to handle it. That's why I'm here."
He drew the Vorpal Chopper from his inventory and, as he'd done with Teable, knelt before Bilak, presenting it with the blade toward himself and the hilt toward her.
Glancing up, he saw her jaw drop, frozen in shock.
"W-WHAT…!?" Her voice roared, echoing beyond the forge through the entire Rabbit Palace. "WHAT IN BLAZES ARE YA HOLDIN', LAD!?"
Snatching the dagger, she placed it on the anvil and darted to the back, rummaging frantically. Minutes later, she returned with a black cloth, a support rod, and a small tube. She draped the cloth over the rod like a tent, shading the blade, then twisted the tube's end, emitting a white light.
Under the light, the Vorpal Chopper's blade radiated a pitch-black aura, consuming the glow like a curse.
"Whoa… that's some seriously bad vibes," Pepper muttered.
"Pepper, ya've gone and pulled out somethin' downright monstrous…"
Bilak exhaled heavily, scratching her head and staring skyward, taking deep breaths to calm herself. Finally composed, she turned to him.
"This tube mimics 'moonlight,' or so me old man said. So the rumor 'bout ya slicin' the Nightslayer's eye was true… To think the key figure in hammer development pulled this off too. Showin' me this was a damn good call."
Pepper likened the tube's glow to blue light in the real world. Bilak then delivered her blacksmith's verdict.
"Here's the deal: this thing's fine to swing in the day. But at night? Never use it. The Nightslayer's afterglow etched in that blade—it'll hunt ya down, no matter where ya are, and kill its wielder. It's the 'Night Emperor's Vow of Vengeance.'
Even if its body crumbles to just a head, the Nightslayer's swearin', 'I'll kill ya, lad.' So, for your sake, don't wield it at night, got it?"
The afterglow's message was heavier than Pepper expected, leaving him stunned. A master blacksmith like Bilak spoke with undeniable authority, and he vowed to honor her warning.
Unbeknownst to him, he'd break this promise in a certain way—but that's a tale for another time.
"What a day…"
Logging out of Shangri-La Frontier, Azusa removed his VR gear, stretching his body. Checking the time, it was past 4 p.m.—nearly nine hours in-game.
"Dinner… I've got a bit of time. Maybe a one-hour nap, then stir-fried veggies, rice, miso soup… what else? Eh, I'll figure it out after the nap."
Setting his smartphone alarm for an hour, Azusa placed it by his pillow and soon drifted into a light sleep, breathing softly.
Then, his phone pinged with a new email.
Subject: Let's Battle
From: Bushikazzo
To: A-Z
Yo, A-Z. Got any free days? Been a while—come duel me in Buildifight at the usual arcade. I'm tired of losing, so this time, I'm taking you down.
The Champion's Call Beckons Azusa
Buildifight: In an era dominated by VR games, this retro arcade fighting game resists the trend. Featuring classic controllers and arcade mechanics, players can use characters built via a smartphone app. It's a beloved gem among a niche group of fans.
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