Chapter 10: Purgatory Mistcutter

After leaving the Dungeon Association, I decided to head to my usual blacksmith to get a new knife made.

Driving about twenty minutes from the association toward the mountains, I arrived at the Hooin Workshop, located halfway up the slope.

Thick plumes of smoke rose from the workshop today as well. Good, looks like they’re open.

“Hello!”

I stepped into the workshop without hesitation. As always, it’s filled with blades that I can’t imagine anyone actually using.

One of them—a sword with a dragon wrapped around the hilt—caught my eye, reminding me of a similar keychain I bought on a school trip.

I waited for a response for a while, but hearing none, I decided to venture further inside.

The clanging sound—clang, clang—grew louder as I approached.

“Hey, Hooin-san!”

I called out loudly as I entered the forge at the back.

Finally, perhaps noticing my presence, the man who was silently hammering away at iron turned around.

“…Hmph, if it isn’t Satou. Good of you to come. What brings you here today?”

This man, who speaks in a somewhat theatrical manner, is the master of this workshop, Hooin Setsuna. Of course, that’s not his real name. It’s a pen name… or rather, a “bladesmith name.”

With shoulder-length pure white hair (apparently dyed) and jingling silver accessories, he doesn’t look like a bladesmith at all. His attire is all black, making him seem like he might cast dark magic or something.

“Um, I was hoping to get a new knife made.”

“…You—you didn’t lose it, did you? My greatest masterpiece, Purgatory Mistcutter!”

Wait, that knife had such a name? How edgy.

“I-I’m sorry. Some stuff happened…”

“‘Some stuff,’ you say? ‘Some stuff’? That was the crystallization of my soul! And you… lost it?!”

As you can see, he’s a classic case of chuunibyou.

That’s why he gives my knives such overblown names and calls himself Hooin Setsuna.

By the way, his real name is Maruyama Iwao.

Honestly, doesn’t that sound more fitting for a bladesmith? I can’t help but think so. He’s actually quite young, still in his early thirties.

“I’m really sorry about this, but could you possibly make the same one again…?”

The knife he made for me before (Purgatory Mistcutter) was relatively simple in design, at least for him.

I liked that knife, which was entirely black, so I thought I’d ask—even if it might be a long shot.

“It won’t be easy. That was my masterpiece—a cursed blade imbued with the will to cleave through purgatory itself. To demand I create it again is outrageous. Tell me, how exactly did you lose it?”

“I-I’m sorry. I had to use it to help someone…”

“Hmph, helping others, you say? While it slightly deviates from the blade’s original purpose, it’s not a bad reason. As expected of the man I’ve deemed worthy. Heh, heh, heh…”

Though he looked displeased when I first told him I lost it, he seemed to have calmed down.

Hooin Setsuna may be eccentric, but his skills as a blacksmith are undeniable. They say he’s one of the top-rated smiths in the country.

I first came across his workshop years ago, thanks to a recommendation from Minase-san, and since then, I’ve been a regular customer.

While his personality and taste in weapon designs are… peculiar, he’s been a tremendous help. That said, his weapons aren’t for everyone, and his customer base is small. But then again, he only sells to people he personally approves of, so it doesn’t matter much to him.

“Hmmm… the next weapon… I’ll call it Zwei Rabe…”

And just like that, Hooin-san slipped into his own world, muttering to himself.

“W-well, I’ll leave it to you then. Thanks!”

This could get complicated. Time to retreat.

Still, could he at least keep his naming conventions consistent? Why is my weapon suddenly named in German?

…Actually, it doesn’t sound half bad.

◇

Several minutes after Satou left Hooin Workshop.

A sleek black car pulled up in front of the workshop.

“So, this is Hooin Workshop…!”

“I’m… exhausted…”

From the car emerged Shion and Kanade, dressed in casual off-duty clothing.

Shion stared at the workshop with sparkling eyes, while Kanade slumped over, looking completely drained. She gets carsick easily.

“Hello? Excuse us!”

“W-wait, Shion, hold on!”

Despite the long journey, Shion’s energy was boundless as she charged forward, with Kanade scrambling to keep up.

“This is amazing, Kanade! Look at all these incredible weapons!”

“Ehh… I don’t really get it…”

Shion’s eyes glittered as she admired the menacing array of weapons. Despite her demeanor, she’s a huge fan of cool things. She’d never admit it, but she loves swords because they’re “cool.” Her beloved blade, for instance, is called Shiden.

“Well, well. You seem to appreciate fine craftsmanship… You’ve got quite the eye.”

Just then, Hooin Setsuna appeared, having come out for a break. In his hand, he held the blueprints for Satou’s order. Quick work as always.

“Oh! Are you the owner here? We’re from the Luna Stars!”

“S-sorry for barging in like this…”

Shion, unfazed by Hooin’s eccentric appearance, greeted him boldly, while Kanade, inwardly terrified, offered a timid apology.

“No matter. So, what brings you here?”

“Well, it’s about this knife…”

Shion hesitantly pulled out a jet-black knife.

“T-that’s Purgatory Mistcutter!”

“Rengoku Kirigirimaru…?”

“So cool…!”

The over-the-top name hit Shion’s weak spot perfectly. She stared at the knife with sparkling eyes.

“You recognize it?”

“Of course. It’s a blade forged by my very soul, a masterpiece of mine.”

“We’ve been trying to find the owner of this knife.”

“That’s no knife—it’s Purgatory Mistcutter. …So, he’s the one who saved you, I take it?”

“Hmph.”

Hooin crossed his arms, observing the two carefully. On closer inspection, they each wore an explorer’s recognition badge around their necks, like a pendant.

“You said you wanted to find the owner.”

“Yes.”

“I cannot tell you.”

“W-why not?”

“Hah. Sharing customer information would violate… compliance.”

Hooin’s oddly high sense of ethics left the two dejected, shoulders slumping.

“Still, I appreciate the effort you made to return Purgatory Mistcutter. That blade is a fragment of my soul, after all.”

As he reached out to take the knife, Shion hesitated and pulled it back.

“Um… could we borrow this Purgatory Mistcutter for a little longer?”

“…What?”

“We owe our lives to its owner. We want to return it directly to him.”

At her words, Hooin closed his eyes, crossing his arms in thought.

After a moment, he opened them and spoke.

“Very well. If that is your wish, then I entrust you with this fragment of my soul. Take care of it.”