Nodding in agreement with Ruler, Rikka bowed her head politely.
"Then… we gratefully accept your hospitality, Grandpa!"
"Yeah, eat up, eat up! Doing good deeds for nothing in times like these—I like your style. You too, samurai warrior, relax a bit."
"We are both recipients of this kindness. In that case…"
"So good… It's so delicious…"
"Dau~, kyai, au~!"
Ruler provided premium ingredients and cooked a top-tier meal using the iron pot. Onui and Tasuke were served a feast of salmon, gleaming white rice, and potato miso soup. As these were all blessings of Nihon, Ruler could easily manifest and share them.
"You're really something, samurai gentleman. To think you can even forage top-grade ingredients…"
"It is a mere imitation of the Fujiwara ways. Yet, if it brings smiles and happiness to young children… matters of pride and status become entirely trivial."
Ruler himself casually sipped on a small bowl of porridge, miso soup, and pickled radish, his eyes softening as he watched Onui and Tasuke eat.
"Onui-chan, Tasuke-kun, you can have my salmon too!"
Rikka offered her own side dish to the children, shoveling plain rice into her mouth instead.
"Huh…? Dragon God, are you sure?"
"Seeing you eat it makes me way happier than eating it myself. Besides…"
It is fine, Rikka. Please, have my portion as well. Yes, really, it brings me joy. Seeing one's child eat happily… there is no greater happiness than that.
"…Mother."
"? Dragon God?"
Snapping back to reality as her mother's voice echoed in her mind, Rikka forced a bright smile onto her face.
"It's nothing, nothing at all! Come on, eat up, eat up! Eat and be happy… You want some too, right, Tasuke-kun?"
"Kyakya!"
"See? Don't be shy!"
"…Okay! Thank you, Dragon God! I won't leave a single bite!"
"Good girl! No being a picky eater!"
The three children giggled and played together in a heartwarming sight. Ruler watched them affectionately with glowing crimson eyes, while Grandpa's expression visibly softened.
And so, the delightful gathering passed filled with warm laughter…
"~♪ ~♪"
Her belly full, Onui hummed a cheerful tune as she cleared the dishes.
"…"
"Kyakya~♪ Au~♪"
While Ruler was busy changing Tasuke's diaper, Rikka sat across from Grandpa.
"I see. I could tell by your clothes that you weren't from around here. Fujimaru Rikka, huh… And you want to get back to your own world."
Red-haired Grandpa stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"The anomaly seems small for now… so I'm thinking of returning to Chaldea first to prepare properly before coming back."
"Ah, I see. I was only summoned around here recently myself, so I don't know much about the details of what's going on… but I can at least introduce myself."
Gulping down his tea, he stated his name as if it were nothing special.
"I am Senji Muramasa. You've probably heard of the Muramasa blades that caused so much trouble for the Tokugawa clan. I'm the swordsmith who started that line."
"Muramasa?! The cursed blade Muramasa?!"
Anyone familiar with games would recognize that name. The legendary cursed blade Muramasa—the ultimate weapon in games like Wizardry, the blade that grew stronger the lower your health dropped—that famous Muramasa was standing right in front of her?!
"Wait, but aren't you way too young…?"
"You noticed, huh? This vessel isn't mine. The original Muramasa forged plenty of blades, but he never accomplished any grand heroic deeds. He never saved anyone, nor did he cut down a hundred men. That's why his Spirit Origin wasn't enough on its own. So… he was fused with a soul who lived a similar life, held similar beliefs, and met a similar end to become a Heroic Spirit."
A Pseudo-Servant. In short, he was here due to special circumstances as well.
"Well, my backstory doesn't matter. As long as I take pride in knowing the blades I forge are truly mine, that's enough. Being stuck with the Saber class and having a smithy as a Servant is whatever. Now that I've been summoned by the hands of a god rather than a mortal, I'm sure I'll have my turn to shine sooner or later."
"Woah~. Well, as I said before, I'm Rikka Fujimaru! My motto is: 'As long as there's a will, I can even become friends with a god!'"
"Ha! Look at you barking big words. Friends with a god, huh? But well… you look like someone who might actually pull it off."
She had been receiving nothing but compliments since arriving. While happy, Rikka couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed. And then—
"So, here's the deal. Stay here until today or tomorrow."
"WHAT?!"
Muramasa's sudden offer took Rikka completely by surprise. When she asked for his reasoning, his gaze shifted to the blade at her side—Dojigiri Yasutsuna.
"No matter how you look at it, that's not a weapon a girl your age should be swinging around. It's a national treasure sitting at the very peak of Japanese swordsmanship. Leave it with me for a bit; I'll perform maintenance on it."
"Ah, maintenance…"
"You don't have to explain why you have it. I can tell the blade doesn't want to leave your side, and I can see you treasure it more than anything. …But kid, are you really okay with that thing?"
"?"
"What's clinging to that sword is heavy. It's packed tight with intense thoughts, emotions, and attachments. It's practically a curse born of lingering grudges. …Answer me honestly. Are you truly fine carrying that?"
Wondering why he was asking such an odd question, Rikka simply nodded. Was he asking if her mother's feelings were scary?
"I see. …Fair enough. Consider this my thanks for saving Onui and Tasuke. I'll forge a blade for you."
Rikka's eyes widened at Muramasa's unexpected offer.
"Even a masterpiece has its limits when overused, you idiot. You must be swinging it damn well, but it's tasted far too much blood for a single sword. If you want a long partnership with it, you'd better prepare a companion blade to share the burden."
"A companion blade… You mean dual-wielding?!"
Hearing that immediately brought Musashi-chan's dynamic swordplay and bright smile to mind. …I wonder what Musashi-chan is up to right now?
"Something like that. I'll forge everything from a short sword to a great sword, so pick whichever you like best. …As for my condition, take Onui and the baby back to their village. There's no guarantee they won't be attacked again."
Rikka nodded in agreement at Grandpa Muramasa's words. Satisfied, Muramasa stood up and draped his white coat over his shoulders.
"Alright, time to get to work. Don't worry, the monsters aren't too wild right now. Feel free to take it easy. You've earned that much. Oh, and leave the sword behind. Don't worry, I'll give it a flawless tuning."
"Please take good care of my mother."
Rikka bowed deeply. Being separated from the blade was painful, but it was far better than letting it break or shatter beyond repair someday.
"Yeah. …Still, getting to maintain one of the Five Swords Under Heaven… A swordsmith couldn't ask for a better honor…"
With those words, Grandpa Muramasa retreated into his workshop, looking genuinely thrilled.
"Grandpa looks so happy!"
"Yeah!"
"Kyakya!"
"Replacement complete."
Ruler, having successfully changed Tasuke's diaper, also looked satisfied.
Behind the Hermitage
"…"
A Memorial Monument.
"This is…"
"It is a monument… to soothe the souls claimed by the monstrous beasts. A stone marker of mourning."
"Did you make this, Lord Ruler?"
"That dark unrest still pervades this land is proof of my own shortcomings as a protector. For the lives lost as a consequence… I regret it beyond words. The least I can do is pray. May their lingering regrets and grief be softened, if only a little, and may they pass on in peace."
"…"
"Grant them tranquility after death. May these lost souls find their way to the rightful realm…"
"…May I offer a prayer as well?"
"It shall serve as a tribute to their departed souls. …Master, kneel beside me and join thy hands."
"Yes, Lord Ruler."
Inside the Workshop
(I said all that, but… can I really forge a blade to rival one of the Five Swords Under Heaven in just a single day?!)
(Competing in sheer sharpness is out of the question. In that case… I'll forge a blade that cuts through what lies beyond mere sharpness. A sword that reaches that realm—that glimpses that state of mastery!)
(…Heh. It's certainly a challenge worth taking on…!)
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