The shopkeeper said as though he just thought of something, “Speaking of which, it seems that nobles like to let their servants bear swords lately. The last time any of them came to pick one from me, they picked this type.”
I see… a shiny, glittering sword. Very well-suited for a noble. thought Louise.
“Is that the trend?” Louise asked. The shopkeeper naturally nodded.
“That’s right. It seems that there’s an increase of thievery on Tristain’s city streets lately…”
“Thievery?”
“Yes. Some mage thief that calls himself something like ‘Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt,’ and I heard he stole a lot of treasures from the nobles. Those nobles are getting really rattled, so they’re arming their servants with swords.”
Louise had no interest in thieves and focused on the sword instead. It looked like something that would break in an instant. Saito wielded a sword that was a lot bigger last time.
“I’d prefer something bigger and broader.”
“My lady, please forgive my bluntness – swords and people have compatibilities, just like men and women. As I look at it, this sword fits my noble lady’s familiar very well.”
“Didn’t I say I want something bigger and broader?” said Louise, impatiently lowering her head. The shopkeeper went inside again, remembering to silently mumble, “Oh, the laymen…” After a while, he returned, one hand rubbing the new specimen with an oily rag.
“What about this one?” It was a splendid broadsword of around a mail and a half in length. The handle was made for two-handed wielding and was lavishly decorated with jewels. A mirror-like blade reflected light with an irresistible glow. Anyone could look at it and say it was a very sharp and broad blade. “This is the best thing I have. Rather than say it’s for nobles, it’s more like something nobles wish they can wear on their waists, but that’s something reserved for very strong men. If not, wearing it on the back isn’t half bad.”
Saito walked closer, his eyes staring at the sword. “Awesome. That sword looks really powerful.” Saito instantly wanted it. It was a magnificent sword no matter how he looked at it. I guess this one’s fine… Louise thought, seeing Saito’s satisfaction.
“How much?” she asked.
“Well… it’s made by the famous Germanian alchemist Lord Shupei. It can cut through metal like butter because of the magic infused in it! See this inscription here?” The shopkeeper proudly pointed at the words on the handle. “You can’t get this cheaper anywhere else.”
“Well… I’m a noble.” Louise held her head up high.
At that, the shopkeeper bluntly gave the price, “This will go for just three thousand new gold coins.”
“What?! You can buy a holiday home with a garden with that!” Louise said, shocked. Saito, with no idea of the currency’s value, stood dumbly.
“A famous sword is worth as much as a castle, my lady. A holiday home is quite cheap compared to this.”
“…I only brought 100 new gold coins…” Louise, being a noble, had little skill in bargaining, and made the taboo of giving away her wallet’s contents. The shopkeeper only waved his hand dismissively. “Come on… even standard broadswords cost at least 200 new gold coins.” Louise’s face turned red. I didn’t even know swords cost that much.
“What… we can’t buy this?” Saito said in a disappointed tone.
“Yeah… we’ll have to go for something more affordable.”
“Nobles are always so arrogant, and now…” Saito mumbled. At that, Louise stared at him.
“Do you have any idea how much potions cost, because somebody got himself seriously injured?”
“…I’m sorry.” Saito lowered his head in embarrassment. He still reluctantly caressed the sword. “But I really like this sword…”
At that moment, a deep, male voice came from a messy pile of swords, “Don’t be so prideful, kid.”
Louise and Saito looked towards the sound. The shopkeeper held his hands to his head.
“Why don’t you look at yourself for a moment? You? Wield that sword? Don’t make me laugh. You’re only fit for a stick!”
“What did you say?” Saito did not take that insult kindly, but there’s not a single being in that sound’s direction to be angry at. It was just a pile of swords.
“If you get it, then go home. Yes, you! That noble girl over there!”
“How impolite of you!”
Saito slowly approached the sound. “What… there’s nobody here!”
“Are your eyes there just for decoration?”
Saito looked behind him. What? It’s actually a sword that’s saying it . It came from a rusty, damaged sword. “A talking sword!” Saito exclaimed.
The shopkeeper suddenly yelled angrily, “Derf! Do not say such impolite things to my customers!”
“Derf?” Saito carefully inspected the sword. It was the same length as that huge broadsword, though its blade was slightly less broad. It was a thin longsword, although its surface was coated with rust, and one cannot say it was well made to any degree.
“Customer? A customer that can’t wield a sword? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Could it be… that this is a sentient sword?” asked Louise.
“That’s right, lady. It’s a sentient, magical, intelligent sword. I wonder what kind of mage could make a sword speak… but it’s got a rotten tongue, always arguing with my customers. Hey, Derf! Keep up the insolence and I’ll ask this noble here to melt you!”
“Sounds good to me! I’d like to see you try it! I’m kinda tired of this world. I’d love to be melted down!”
“Fine! Then I’ll melt you down!” The shopkeeper approached. But Saito stopped him.
“That’s just so wasteful… isn’t a speaking sword rather important?” Saito stared at it. “You’re called Derf, right?”
“Wrong! It’s Derflinger-sama! Remember that!”
“Just like a person, it even has a real name.” Saito muttered.
“My name is Saito Hiraga. Nice to meet you.”
The sword fell silent, and it seems to closely observe Saito. After a while, it silently spoke. “So you came… are you a user?”
“A user?”
“Hmm… you don’t even know your true powers, huh? What… oh well! Buy me, my friend!”
“All right. I’ll buy you,” said Saito. The sword went silent again.
“Louise, I’ll take this.”
Louise reluctantly said, “Oh… you want this thing? You can’t pick anything prettier that doesn't talk?”
“You don’t like this one? I think a speaking sword’s pretty cool.”
“See… that’s why I don’t like it.” Louise complained. But she didn’t have enough for anything else, so she asked the shopkeeper, “how much for this one?”
“Eh… 100 will do.”
“Isn’t that a bit cheap?”
“For that one? I’ll let you take it for cheap.” He waved his hand dismissively.
Saito took out Louise’s wallet from his jacket pocket, and poured its contents onto the counter. One by one, gold coins dropped onto the wooden surface. After careful counting, the shopkeeper finally nodded. “Thank you for your business!” the shopkeeper said as he sheathed the sword and gave it to Saito. “If it gets noisy, just shove it back in the scabbard, and it’ll shut up.”