“My companion wishes to have a weapon forged by Onimaru Masa-sama, the swordsmith in Akegawa Town.
Would you be willing to provide a letter of introduction for him to present to the smith?” Kikyo gestured toward Kamamara beside her, her tone sincere.
Kamamara froze, clear surprise flashing through his eyes.
He had not expected Kikyo to ask the castle lord for help with his weapon.
“So this monk wishes to have Onimaru-sama forge him a blade?” Inagaki Masato immediately nodded.
“That will not be a problem.
I’ll have my chief retainer prepare the document at once.” He then warmly invited them to stay.
“You must all be tired after the exorcism.
I have prepared a banquet and guest rooms for you.
Please come and rest.” Seeing that Kikyo seemed ready to refuse, Inagaki Masato quickly added, “Please don’t decline.
It will be dark soon.
Stay in the castle for the night, and tomorrow I’ll arrange for my retainers to escort you out.” Kikyo looked up at the rapidly darkening sky.
After a moment of thought, she nodded.
“Then… thank you for your hospitality, Lord Inagaki.” A pleased expression appeared on Masato’s face.
He immediately ordered his retainers to lead the three of them away for dinner and rest.
— Early the next morning, Kikyo, Kaede, and Kamamara bade farewell to the castle lord’s household.
Following the address provided by the retainer, they soon found Onimaru Masa’s smithy.
Onimaru Masa was a heavily muscled middle-aged man.
He worked bare-chested, with disheveled hair and charcoal dust smeared across his face.
He accepted the letter Kamamara handed him and carefully read it.
His gaze then fell on the enormous iron club resting on Kamamara’s shoulder, lingering there for several moments before he spoke.
“Since you were recommended by Inagaki-sama, I’m willing to forge a weapon for you.
What kind of weapon do you want?” Kamamara immediately lowered the iron club from his shoulder and placed it on the ground.
“Can you melt this down and forge it into something new?
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
A katana will do.” He had no intention of continuing to use the scythe favored by the previous owner.
A scythe was inconvenient to carry.
A katana could be worn directly at the waist, making it far more practical.
“This is…” Onimaru crouched and carefully examined the iron club on the ground.
The moment he reached out and touched it, his expression changed.
“Is this a kanabō?!” “That’s right.” Kamamara nodded and looked at the swordsmith.
“Can you work with it?” The word kanabō did not mean that the club was made of gold.
It was the special name given to the massive iron clubs wielded by oni.
Because the metal contained oni power, it was far tougher than ordinary steel and could withstand an oni’s tremendous strength.
It was also known as oni iron or demon metal.
This club was a true oni kanabō.
“I’ve heard of oni iron, but I’ve never handled it myself.” Onimaru’s gaze remained fixed on the club, his eyes filled with fascination and excitement.
“But if you’re willing to entrust it to me, I would like to try.
Come back in seven days, and your blade should be ready.” As a famous swordsmith, Onimaru had forged blades for many years.
Yet the most precious material he had ever worked with was meteoric iron.
This oni metal, taken directly from an oni’s weapon, was something he was seeing for the first time.
He could barely suppress the urge to begin forging immediately.
“No problem.
I’ll leave it with you and return in seven days.” Kamamara removed a coin pouch from his waist and held it out.
“This is the advance payment.
I’ll pay the remainder after the weapon is finished.” “That won’t be necessary.” Onimaru waved his hand without accepting the pouch.
His palm continued stroking the iron club.
“I won’t charge you for this blade.
Instead, once the katana is forged, I want you to leave the remaining oni iron with me as payment.
What do you say?” “Of course.
I wouldn’t have any use for the leftover metal anyway.” Kamamara agreed without hesitation.
“Excellent!
Return in seven days to collect your blade!” When Kamamara accepted the terms, delight appeared on Onimaru’s face.
He immediately called over the apprentices inside the smithy and eagerly had them carry the iron club into the forge.
Clearly, he intended to begin work at once.
Seeing that, Kamamara no longer disturbed him and turned to leave the smithy.
Outside, Kikyo and Kaede stood holding the reins of the two horses, absentmindedly watching the people passing through the street.
Hearing approaching footsteps, they immediately turned around.
When Kikyo saw Kamamara emerge, she was the first to ask, “How did it go?” “He told me to return for the blade in seven days.
I’ll have to remain here for a while.” Kamamara accepted one horse’s reins from her and answered honestly.
“I see…” Kikyo nodded, then continued while looking at him, “Our business in Akegawa Castle is finished.
We need to continue our journey and training as priestesses, so we’ll be leaving today.” She paused, then raised her eyes to Kamamara and said softly, “We should… part ways here.” “All right.” Kamamara nodded, then asked, “Where will you go after your journey is over?
Once I’m finished with my own business, I’ll come find you.” “We…” Kikyo hesitated before answering, but Kaede beside her excitedly spoke first.
“Really?
Sis and I live in a village in Musashi Province.
You have to come visit us!” After hearing Kaede say that, Kikyo no longer hesitated.
She carefully explained the village’s exact location.
“I’ll remember it.” Kamamara committed the location to memory.
“Once I’m finished with everything, I’ll definitely come find you.” He understood that, barring any unexpected changes, this was the village that would become Kaede’s Village when the original story began.
However, Kikyo was still alive and remained the priestess protecting the village.
Since Kaede had not inherited that role yet, it was not currently called Kaede’s Village.
Perhaps people called it Kikyo’s Village, or something similar.
Villages in this world were named simply and casually, usually by people from the surrounding area who needed an easy way to distinguish one settlement from another.
If a village had a priestess or monk protecting it, nearby people often named the village after that person.
It was direct and easy to remember.
Kaede’s Village in the original story, for example, simply meant the village protected by Priestess Kaede.
“When are you leaving?
I’ll escort you for part of the way,” Kamamara asked.
“We’re leaving immediately.
We only need to buy some provisions in town before setting out.” Kikyo lifted Kaede onto the horse, then turned toward him.
“That soon?” Kamamara was somewhat surprised, but still said, “I’ll come with you.
I can escort you outside the town before returning.
I have to stay here for seven days anyway, and I have nothing else to do.” “All right.” Kikyo did not refuse.
The three bought all the food and supplies they needed for the journey at Akegawa Town’s market.
Afterward, they headed toward the outskirts together.
Perhaps because of the approaching farewell, neither Kikyo nor Kamamara spoke much.
A faintly somber mood hung in the air.
Sitting on horseback, Kaede seemed to notice the strange atmosphere between them.
Her little head kept turning from side to side as her curious gaze moved repeatedly between the two.