A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 14

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
After the Japanese pirates’ attack was over, the Haenam Sword Sect not only mourned the dead but also began to strengthen their defenses according to my suggestions.

The residents of Haenam Island also actively cooperated, so in an instant, wooden barricades were erected around the port, and inspections that were not normally conducted were also instated.

It seemed unlikely that the demon cult bastards would be able to enter Haenam Island by any ordinary means.

The problem was that it was hard to gauge whether they would give up on Haenam Island or forcibly push their way in.

Their goal was to unify the Central Plains.

During the previous War of Orthodox and Demonic Sects, they decided to cut down the Haenam Sword Sect first because they had been repeatedly stabbed in the back and sides by them. It was briefly explained in the original work.

For that reason, around the time the protagonist began his journey into the martial arts world, the Haenam Sword Sect was annihilated, leading to the birth of the revenge-seeking penguin, no, Lin Hye-ryeong…

The problem was that she was a heroine used for extending the word count, so she soon became a trophy heroine who fell for the protagonist.

“Uncle? What are you thinking about?”

“I’m just troubled because of the attack four days ago.”

“Ah… for now, forget about it! Today’s the day we’re going to meet Blacksmith Baek!”

Hye-ryeong shouted while flapping her arms. Was she deliberately making a fuss because my expression was gloomy?

I nodded to Hye-ryeong, acknowledging her words, and followed her to the forge where Blacksmith Baek was said to be working.

“Blacksmith Baek!”

“Oh, what is it, Hye-ryeong? So, what brings you here?”

An muscular old man, not as big as me but large for a Central Plains person, looked at Hye-ryeong as if looking at his granddaughter. The elders and the Sect Leader cherished Hye-ryeong, so was there something I didn’t know?

Since Hye-ryeong’s backstory wasn’t fully revealed, I could only conclude that Hye-ryeong was popular among uncles and old men because she was very adorable.

“I came to request the production of Sir William’s weapon that I mentioned before!”

“Oh, then the one standing behind you is…”

The muscular man called Blacksmith Baek looked at me with curious eyes.

“So you’re the rumored foreigner.”

Those were the first words uttered by Blacksmith Baek, who fortunately lived outside the attacked area and returned safely. I nodded and immediately brought up the main topic.

“I need a weapon.”

“Yes. Compared to what you’ve done, making a weapon for you is nothing.”

Blacksmith Baek’s friendly gaze swept over my body. Perhaps he was checking my physique before making the sword. To make a sword suitable for the user, he had to check the physique.

“Young man, can you show me your hands?”

“Yes.”

I held out my hands to Blacksmith Baek. Blacksmith Baek grabbed my palms, examined them back and forth, nodded, and spoke.

“These are the hands of someone who has only eaten and wielded weapons. I heard you were a soldier. Is that right?”

“Huh? Really?”

Did I not mention it?

I nodded once to Hye-ryeong, who looked up at me as if she had no idea, and answered Blacksmith Baek.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Hmm… a soldier. Seems as if you weren’t an ordinary soldier…”

What should I compare a knight to? All I know is the Imperial Guards, but I’m not sure if this novel is set in the Ming Dynasty, so it’s ambiguous to compare them to the Imperial Guards.

“I wasn’t a regular soldier, but a cavalryman.”

“A cavalryman. Quite a high position. But how did you end up drifting here? As far as I know, cavalrymen are quite valuable troops.”

“It’s quite a long story…”

I deliberately trailed off. I had a hunch that this chatter wouldn’t end quickly if I continued. Even Hye-ryeong’s eyes were sparkling, so I planned to quickly place the order and leave.

It would take time to make the equipment I was requesting anyway.

“Well, let’s get to work first. What kind of weapon do you want? I heard you use a sword…”

“Can you make other equipment besides swords?”

“Just tell me.”

“Do you have any paper? If possible, I’d like to draw it myself and explain the shape and structure.”

“Hmm, wait a moment. Baekcheon!”

“Yes! Father!”

“Bring paper and a brush!”

“Yes!”

Along with the sound of bickering in the distance, the sound of the ground shaking was heard irregularly. Perhaps he was moving in a hurry. I leaned against the wall and observed Blacksmith Baek’s son running over with paper and a brush.

He seemed to be a year or two older.

Judging by the way he glanced at Hye-ryeong, he seemed to be interested in her. I glanced at Hye-ryeong’s side, but she was too busy chatting with Blacksmith Baek to even spare a glance.

she had no interest at all.

“H-Here you are, Sir!”

I received the paper and brush from Baekcheon.

It’s been a while since I used a brush. I don’t think I’ve used one since high school. I don’t even remember how to hold a brush.

“Uncle! This is how you hold a brush!”

Hye-ryeong made a hand shape in the air to show me how to hold the brush. I gripped the brush as Hye-ryeong showed me and slowly began to draw.

At first, the lines were uneven because I hadn’t used it in a long time and couldn’t control the strength well, but by the time I was drawing the third weapon, the drawing was decent enough.

“Hmm. It certainly looks different from the swords of the Central Plains. And… do you know how to use polearms too?”

“It’s an essential skill for a cavalryman.”

A lance would be more familiar… but it’s a pity that it’s difficult to use in the Central Plains. If I use lance-specific arts, it’s not impossible to use it against people, but it’s too cumbersome to carry around.

“I see… What’s the purpose of the dagger?”

“It’s for dual-wielding.”

“You mean you use this sword and dagger together?”

This uncle is also quite curious. Well, it’s only natural since it’s also his area of work. I answered Blacksmith Baek’s continuous questions with sincerity.

After all, these weapons didn’t exist here, so if I didn’t provide detailed explanations, it would be difficult to get the weapons I wanted.

After ordering four pieces of equipment—a longsword, dagger, poleaxe, and shield—I asked Blacksmith Baek.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Hmm… I don’t know about the others, but I’ve never made a shield before. That one might take quite some time.”

Can’t be helped for the shield. In this area, unless you’re a soldier, there’s almost no occasion to use a shield.

“Take your time making it. If possible, I’d like you to make the swords first.”

“Alright. I’ll make a famous sword that even all the swordsmen under the heavens will envy.”

A sword made by the craftsman of a massive sect. I’m looking forward to it.

“Blacksmith Baek is an outstanding craftsman, so he will make a great sword for you!”

“Just trust me! I’ll make it right away and have my son deliver it!”

“Thank you.”

“What thanks! Thanks to you, the children of the Haenam Sword Sect were able to survive, so I should at least do this much!”

Blacksmith Baek laughed heartily and patted my back. Is it because of the strong sense of solidarity within the same community? I nodded with a smile.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

“When the work is done, tell me some stories. I’m so curious I can’t stand it.”

“I’ll tell you over a drink after the work is done.”

If we can fend off the demon cult’s attack, there will be plenty of time for that.

Hye-ryeong and I left the forge and headed to the hall where the Sect Leader resided.

—

“Ah, you’re here.”

The Sect Leader was sitting in front of a long table, looking at us. In front of him was a box emitting an unusual fragrance. It looked like a precious item at a glance.

“Have a seat first. Hye-ryeong, you can go.”

“Yes! Uncle! See you later!”

Hye-ryeong waved at me and left the hall. Now it was just me and the Sect Leader. I sat across from the Sect Leader and looked at him.

“Thanks to you, we were able to catch all the Japanese pirates. We owe you a great debt.”

It was the third time I heard a thank-you.

The previous two were closer to formal appreciation, so this time it seemed to be personal gratitude.

“Isn’t it something I should do?”

I looked at the Sect Leader, feigning humility. In situations like this, boasting about achievements is a method, but there’s no need to try to get more when he’ll give it anyway.

I’ll be able to receive more things if I fend off the demon cult’s invasion. It was also a big gain to be able to order custom-made weapons from Blacksmith Baek.

“This is a personal gift from me.”

“Why something like this…”

“It’s a gift to express personal gratitude, so accept it. If it weren’t for you, it might have been taken by the demon cult bastards anyway.”

The Sect Leader pushed the box towards me with his fingertips. I accepted the box and slowly opened it.

“This is…”

“It’s a hundred-year-old Polygonatum odoratum. It’s not as good as pills like the Daehwandan, but it’s still a rare item.”

…It looks quite unappetizing.

Still, the scent was very fragrant. Just smelling it made my dantian vibrate. It seemed that even my dantian instinctively sensed that this Polygonatum odoratum would enhance my internal energy.

“Practice your breathing technique here.”

“Thank you.”

I walked to the wooden bench next to the hall with the box in my hands and sat cross-legged. Then I picked up the hundred-year-old Polygonatum odoratum from inside the box.

I don’t like bitter things.

But since it’s good for the body, I should eat it.

I closed my eyes and slowly chewed the hundred-year-old Polygonatum odoratum starting from the stem and swallowed it.

Wow, I feel like throwing up.

I clenched my mouth, trying hard to endure the terrible taste lingering in my mouth. I had to close my mouth to meditate.

And so, I slowly began to move the aura along the mana channels.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇