I wasn't going to lie, a katana was one of the coolest, if not the coolest, swords ever crafted. I praised it inwardly. Even its name sounded cool.
A katana is a traditional Japanese sword, curved and single-edged, with a long grip. Back on Earth, it was iconic for its use by samurai warriors and stood as a symbol of Japanese culture, honor, and craftsmanship. It was known for its sharp blade, designed for swift and powerful cutting motions. Not only that, but almost every main character in webnovels wielded one as their primary weapon, to the point that it became a cliché for many readers. Still, I liked it anyway.
I grabbed the katana and removed it from its black scabbard, the saya, revealing a sharp, curved blade. The katana was around twenty-five inches long. It wasn't heavy like a greatsword, but it wasn't light either, weighing a little over a kilogram. Its handle, known as the tsuka in Japanese, was long enough to accommodate two hands for better control and stronger strikes, yet it could also be wielded with one hand without much difficulty.
It was certainly better than a longsword. I could execute fast attacks with it, and moreover, katanas were renowned for their incredibly fast drawing and cutting techniques. Just like those anime characters who draw their katana halfway, sheath it back at blinding speed, and then an entire army collapses, cut down in pieces. Very cool.
I withdrew the katana fully, producing a soft sshiiing sound, and began swinging it dozens of times. It cut through the air swiftly and cleanly. Even though I didn't truly know how to use a sword, it strangely felt like I had wielded it before.
However, I still felt incomplete. Something was missing, like a puzzle with one piece gone. Just like the other weapons I had tried, the katana wasn't the right one for me.
I felt a bit disappointed, but it was what it was.
As I continued looking through the variety of swords, my eyes caught on a peculiar one that immediately drew my attention. It was a double-edged sword, almost equal in length to a bastard sword, though slightly shorter, around thirty-two inches. It had a cruciform, cross-shaped hilt, and its grip was short but long enough to be wielded with one or two hands.
How did I know exactly what type of swords these were?
Well, I was a sword fanatic.
It's an arming sword, but a bit different compared to the standard ones, I thought as I identified it in my head. My hand moved on its own toward the sword. I lifted it, and the moment my fingers wrapped around the grip, a sudden sensation washed over my entire body. It felt as if I had just reunited with an old friend I hadn't seen in decades.
This…
I spun the sword diagonally in my grip and cut through the air in a horizontal slash. The air itself seemed to part, as if submitting to the attack.
Not too heavy, not too light either… fucking perfect, I thought as I praised the sword.
I performed a few more movements. They were clumsy, yet it felt as though I had been wielding this blade my entire life. Without realizing it, a wide smile had formed on my face.
Arthur noticed it and smirked. "That's the one?"
Stopping my swings, I turned to him and replied, "Yes. This one is the one for me."
Arthur let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "Thank the gods you didn't choose a greatsword. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to teach you much, since I don't wield one."
Turning to him, I asked, "Do you wield an arming sword as well?"
Shaking his head, he replied, "Nope." In a flash of golden light, a sword materialized at his waist. "I prefer rapiers."
The rapier had a golden hilt that twisted inward elegantly. Its scabbard, made of refined wood, was covered in black leather. Along both sides, golden steel fittings shaped like circles ran down the length of the scabbard, each placed exactly an inch apart. At the center was the most stunning detail of all. A long golden dragon was engraved along the scabbard, its tail starting near the hilt and its roaring head reaching the tip.
It looks… fucking ridiculous, I thought, unable to take my eyes off it.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Arthur said proudly. "It was crafted by one of the best blacksmiths in the world."
"It's… stunning. I don't have the words," I replied honestly. I wondered when I would be able to obtain a personalized weapon of my own.
Even without being drawn, I could feel power humming from that sword. It had to be incredibly expensive. A weapon forged by one of the greatest smiths in the world could probably be sold for the price of entire kingdoms.
Blacksmiths were incredibly important in this world, especially for warriors. Not just any blacksmith, but the best of the best. A superior weapon could change the tide of battle entirely. Even a slight advantage in material quality or durability could be the difference between life and death. That was why everyone sought weapons crafted by legendary smiths, though convincing one to forge a blade for you was nearly impossible. Even emperors couldn't easily obtain such weapons.
Not only that, but the higher one's rank, the stronger their weapon needed to be. Otherwise, it wouldn't be able to withstand the user's power without shattering.
I fucking love swords, I thought with a smirk.
"You actually chose the second and last weapon compatible with my sword art," Arthur said with a smile.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
Nodding, Arthur explained, "Yes. My sword art is fast and destructive, just like lightning. The rapier excels at swift and elegant strikes, while the arming sword is better suited for destructive attacks, yet it can still be fast. It matches the nature of lightning well."
I could understand why Virgil called himself the 'God of Destruction'. Lightning was far more destructive than cosmos in most cases. Well, not entirely. If someone could unleash a supernova, then cosmos would be vastly more destructive. Still, lightning by nature left nothing but ruin in its wake wherever it struck.
"I am going to teach you my sword art," Arthur said calmly.
My eyes went wide in shock.
"W-what? You're not serious," I asked in disbelief.
He was planning to teach me his own sword art. Was he insane?
A sword art, especially one created by a powerful swordmaster, wasn't something given freely. Such arts were usually passed only to relatives or disciples, never to strangers. Teaching one's sword art was akin to revealing all of one's weaknesses. If betrayed, those secrets could spread across the world. I had known Arthur for barely a day, and yet he wanted to entrust me with something so valuable.
I was about to question him again when I noticed his expression. He had stopped smiling, and the seriousness on his face froze my words.
"I'm not even a vampire, nor am I your disciple. Aren't you afraid I might use your sword art against you?" I asked honestly.
I wasn't a person who exploited kindness, nor was I naïve. Nothing in this world was free.
"You might be suspicious, but don't worry," Arthur replied calmly. "I don't expect anything from you. It doesn't matter that you're not of my kind, and I'm not afraid of you leaking it. I believe you won't." He smiled faintly. "As for the disciple part, I want you to become my disciple."
How did he have so much trust in me? I knew my morals wouldn't allow me to betray someone who had shown me nothing but goodwill, but this still felt unreal.
"Why do you believe in me so much?" I asked.
Shrugging, Arthur replied, "I don't know. A gut feeling, I guess."
This bastard was either the dumbest person I had ever met, or he simply didn't care. I sighed and studied his face, searching for any trace of deceit, but all I found was genuine honesty.
I couldn't pass up this opportunity. Being taught by one of the strongest people in the world was something anyone would dream of. Refusing would be foolish.
I wondered how far we would go together. I found myself looking forward to it.
I knelt on one knee and said, "I accept your offer, Sir Arthur. I will be your disciple."
Arthur smiled, not one of his usual playful smiles, but a warm and sincere one.
"You won't regret it."