Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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I walked alongside a Dwarf man, engaging in various conversations. His name was Baiken, and I learned that he was currently serving in the royal knight order, having stepped out for a moment due to business at the blacksmith.

Baiken showed great interest in the three swords I possessed. Rather than instinctive Dwarven fascination, it felt more like envy from a swordsman.

“What impressive swords…”

This was already the fourth repeated admiration. How could I ignore such evident interest? I began to briefly explain to Baiken how I came to possess these swords.

“First, I should tell you the story of acquiring the sword named ‘Stormbringer.’”

“Stormbringer…? What a splendid name!”

Baiken’s reaction was positive. At critical moments, he would hold his breath in tension, and during lighter moments, he would ask questions to lighten the mood. It seemed he knew when and where to provide just the right encouragement to make the speaker feel good.

As I continued my tale, Baiken suddenly furrowed his brows and posed a question.

“Wait a minute. The swords in the story—I’m talking about one besides Stormbringer.”

The story was set after crossing the starlit desert and arriving at Greenfall. Therefore, the three swords in my possession now were not present, and the swords I wielded at that time were just two: the one engraved with seven starlights and Stormbringer.

“A sword with stars engraved on it?”

“Yes. From what you’re saying, it sounds like…”

“…A sword made by the disciples of Eos, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. But now I can’t see it. Where has that sword gone?”

I anticipated this type of question. Nodding, I continued.

“Well, to explain, we need to go further back in time. The story of how I got the sword with the stars engraved on it…”

The tale would return to earlier days, before arriving at the land known as the territory of savagery—Greenfall. In the story, I was riding through the desert on my Nightmare.

“It was a very hot desert. So hot that my friend, the Nightmare, looked almost lifeless…”

“I see…”

As I progressed with the story, Baiken, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.

“Is this the place?”

“Well, we’ve arrived, but I still want to hear more of your story.”

I nodded while glancing around the inside of the blacksmith. The sound of clanging metal echoed, and intense heat wafted through the air. The blacksmiths were busy with their work, so I decided to continue my tale while waiting for them to finish.

“The nights of Burning Road possessed a charm that contrasted with the sweltering heat of the day. The sticky glow of pleasure spread like a swamp that tempted travelers. It was then that I found that poster.”

“A poster?”

I nodded at the clear memory. It was a poster left by a man who sincerely sought the legendary Star Forge, something everyone else deemed a mere rumor.

Images of Shahkan and the inn he ran, Hot Tail, began to surface.

“Yes, it was a poster. It sought adventurers to find the legend that had faded from everyone’s memory. Only I reacted with curiosity upon seeing it; everyone else ignored it as if they were used to it.”

“Was it a poster from a swindler trying to lure in adventurers like yourself?”

“No. The person who put up the poster was sincere. He genuinely invested all his assets to find that legend. Of course, others mocked him as mad.”

“If it were me, I would certainly have ignored it too… But since you mention it, it seems you couldn’t ignore the story?”

“Yes…”

As I was answering Baiken’s question, I suddenly noticed Dwarfs around me that I hadn’t seen before, all sitting in a row. They stared at me with shining eyes, as if they were waiting for my story.

“Quickly, tell us what happens next!”

“Uh…”

They were even urging me on. Of course, the Dwarf who hurried me received a sharp glare from another Dwarf sitting next to him.

“So…”

I continued with my story. In the tale, I met Shahkan and ventured into the desert with him to seek the legend.

Dwarfs were very fond of stories about stars. When I spoke of the Milky Way that fills the night sky and the magic of the Guiding Star, they expressed genuine admiration.

When many people gather, it’s natural to attract attention. Some of those bustling about and some of the guests who had come to the blacksmith started to settle near me.

– What story are you telling?
– Sounds like a tale from the Celestial Realm.
– It’s an adventure to find the Star Forge.
– The Star Forge? Here?
– It seems there was also a Dwarf country in the Celestial Realm. They must’ve used the same name, Star Forge.
– I thought he was a fellow Dwarf, but he’s just a human…?
– The Guiding Star… It’s similar to the magic Eos used to search for minerals.

The story continued. When crossing the desert and encountering the False Whale, they seemed tense as they swallowed dry. When the False Whale swallowed camels and adventurers, there were those who let out small screams.

Thus, the story reached its climax. The vast desert and the softly flowing Milky Way above. When a sandstorm rushed from afar, sweeping everything away, a Dwarf revealed himself.

He struck the starlight. With his muscular short arms, he swung the hammer against the starlight.

The Dwarf’s breath mixed with the starlight. His touch transformed it into the shape of a dagger, and the sword engraved with seven starlights was born.

The story ended. The Dwarfs, who had been so focused on my tale, applauded and rose from their seats.

– That was a believable story.
– Did you embellish Eos’ tale? Not bad.

As always, there were few who took my story seriously. Most Dwarfs treated me like a jester. Some satisfied listeners handed me coins, while others showed interest in the swords I possessed.

Just after many of the listeners left, I turned to Baiken. He was looking at me with an oddly sullen expression.

“Is your story true?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t lie, even a little bit?”

What would I gain from lying? I took out two small stones from my bag and struck them together firmly.

Thwack-

Yes, it was like this back then. The sound of stones clashing summoned a star to guide me. It was no different now. The starlight created by clashing mana and stone retained its shape, shining as it had before.

“This is all that remains now.”

No sword with starlight engravings existed anymore. It had shattered in rough battles. After all, it was merely a regular sword that had stars engraved on it. Given how roughly it was used, it held up longer than expected.

“The star…”

The shimmering star climbed high into the sky and disappeared in an instant. Once it strayed too far beyond a certain range, the mana used in the magic was cut off, and it lost its form.

It was then that a blacksmith, wrapped in the intense heat from inside, emerged. His forehead glistened with sweat, as if he had just been hammering in front of the forge.

“It’s been a while, Baiken. Are you here on knight business?”

“Ah, that’s part of it, but…”

It seemed Baiken knew the blacksmith. He pointed at me, standing beside him.

“This friend here wanted to meet you.”

“Me…?”

The blacksmith looked back at me, nodding as he inspected me.

“That sword… It’s a piece crafted with great care by the master. There’s an inexplicable sense of liberation about it. And that golden sword, it’s made by your kin…?”

“Could you spare a moment to talk with me?”

“If it’s just a moment, that’s fine. But might I take a look at that sword?”

That was no problem. Nodding, I was invited inside the blacksmith’s workshop with Baiken. Though the fire in the forge was out, the interior was still filled with a warm heat.

“The items you entrusted are here.”

The blacksmith handed Baiken a large wooden box. Whether it contained something important or not, Baiken received it with care.

After finishing his business with Baiken, the blacksmith approached me. I looked at him and asked.

“Are you perhaps a disciple of Eos?”

“I suppose you could say I’m a disciple since I inherited his technique.”

Meaning he hadn’t learned directly from him. I nodded and continued questioning.

“Then, can you also strike the starlight?”

“Starlight…?”

The blacksmith blinked in confusion at my question. He hesitated for a long time, stroking his beard.

“I can engrave stars on a sword, but…”

I nodded calmly at his response. I hadn’t really expected much. I was merely curious about who the Dwarf I met in the Celestial Realm was.

I couldn’t be sure if the Eos the Dwarfs spoke of was the same one I’d met. All I knew was that his faint form appeared as a Dwarf and that he struck the stars, engraving them onto my sword.

“Could you tell me more about that Eos?”

The blacksmith nodded as if it were no problem at all. I was guided to a table inside the blacksmith’s workshop.

And Baiken also sat nearby.

The blacksmith looked at Baiken and asked.

“Are you not leaving?”

“For some reason, I don’t feel like going back.”

The blacksmith slowly began to explain about Eos.

When Eos was born, countless meteors fell from the sky as if blessing his birth. Eos’s childhood was ordinary. He displayed the same intense curiosity about iron and fire as other Dwarfs and naturally began to learn blacksmithing.

He first stood out when he took up his first hammer. Whenever he struck the heated iron, it was as if starlight burst forth, and his creations shimmered with a soft glow of starlight.