Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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The words that flowed from the blacksmith’s mouth were hard to believe. However, I had no choice but to believe, as I had personally witnessed a dwarf striking stars with his own two eyes.

Denying his words would be akin to denying what I had seen. I nodded calmly.

“Eos’ craftsmanship began to make waves in no time. The forge where he learned star forging was always bustling with visitors.”

Who could ignore the rumor that a blacksmith could strike starlight? It was said that all the blacksmiths in this place would always visit him to see Eos.

Even though he was still just an apprentice and not a fully-fledged blacksmith.

Eos’ star forging technique grew increasingly formidable over time. Naturally talented, he fully grasped everything he had seen and adapted it to fit himself.

As time went by, the rumors grew larger. Small whispers picked up flesh and became more extravagant. The rumor that sparks of starlight shot from his hammer transformed into tales of creating stars, and the story of starlight flowing from the swords he made turned into the legend of crafting swords from the stars in the sky.

Eos’ journey as a blacksmith was on a path to success. It was said that any commission placed with him would take at least five years, indicating his popularity showed no sign of dwindling.

Then one day, a dragon came to this land, Star Forge. The dragon had heard the rumors about Eos and had come to request a creation.

The dragon asked where the blacksmith who struck stars was. All the dwarves pointed him straight to Eos.

Despite the dragon’s arrival, Eos didn’t stop hammering. His muscular arms swung the hammer, striking heated metal and bursting forth starlight.

While the dwarves watching were in awe and nodded, the dragon merely frowned in silence.

A dragon can affect the surrounding environment simply through a change in mood. In response to the dragon’s displeasure, winter suddenly descended upon Star Forge.

The cold, freezing wind swept through the streets, but Eos didn’t stop.

He quietly continued to swing the hammer.

Even as the cold winter wind howled, the forge emitted a hot heat. In the end, Eos didn’t even spare a glance at the dragon until he completed the piece he was working on.

As the sun hung in the sky fell and night approached, when the cold winter wind began to grow fiercer, Eos finally asked the dragon.

[What brings you here?]

[I have come to request a piece from you. However…]

The dragon furrowed his brows and trailed off, as if something about it greatly displeased him.

[You’re not actually handling real stars.]

The disappointment in the dragon’s voice was palpable. The words of a dragon are not to be taken lightly. Beings that transcend creatures have mana responding to every one of their actions. Even the voice that spills from their mouths acts as magic, creating a mystery.

So the dragon left, leaving behind a statement of disappointment. That day, Eos laid down his hammer. Whether it was a simple change of heart or the words of the dragon clung to him like shackles and drove him mad was unknown to anyone.

Only from that day on, Eos would put down his hammer and sneak out of the castle every night.

Many lamented. And many tried. To get Eos back to wielding his hammer. However, all of it was in vain. As days went by, Eos looked increasingly haggard, and the sparkle in his eyes faded.

It was said that he endlessly murmured, as if longing for something, gazing down at his hands.

And thus time flowed. The fame that Eos had rapidly amassed crumbled just as fast. By the time five years had passed, most people had begun to forget Eos, the one who struck starlight.

The fall of an artisan whose future had been ensured. It was not an event easily forgotten, yet everyone chose to quickly forget it because it was related to the dragon.

Still, Eos continued to move without rest. Sneaking out of the castle at night, returning by morning. As time passed and the memories of both Eos and the dragon grew dim, a few children began to wonder.

Where could Eos possibly be going?

Young children, barely old enough to know better, could not contain their curiosity. They wanted to solve their questions rather than abide by the fear of dragons learned through words and stories.

The children snuck out early in the morning, quietly following after Eos.

Eos was once known as the blacksmith who struck starlight. However, in the children’s eyes, he appeared only as a disheveled monster.

Without any reservations, the children approached Eos and walked alongside him.

As they continued walking, they gazed up at the night sky where stars flowed like rivers.

One child asked.

[Where are we going?]

Eos replied.

[To a place close to the stars.]

Eos’ voice was clear. His eyes, shining like the stars in the night sky, peeked through his disheveled hair.

Where Eos and the children arrived was an abandoned mine no longer in use. Eos invited the children above the mine. To the place where everything he had been seeking for so long resided.

Hammer, fire, minerals, and starlight.

Everything was there.

Eos began to impart his skills to the children. Teaching them how to manipulate fire and hammer metal, how to feel the stars in the sky, and how to capture those stars into their hammers to find the minerals they desired.

That wasn’t all. Eos emphasized that they should also be able to protect themselves in dangerous situations, teaching them a swordsmanship he had invented himself.

Thus, after imparting all his skills to the children, Eos picked up his hammer once more and struck heated metal just like before. The broadly spread metal became a firm and sharp sword, with starlight engraved upon it.

One by one each day, Eos made a sword for the seven children who followed him.

When he completed the last sword, Eos looked up at the sky with a smile. It was a satisfied smile as if he had achieved something he had desired.

Returning to the city with the children, Eos went back to his dusty forge and grasped the hammer once more.

Bang—!

In the early morning, an unexpected sound of hammering echoed. A few people woke up and came to the forge, drawn by the sound.

However, they couldn’t say a word. They could only stare blankly, enthralled by the hammering of the blacksmith.

The furnace was extinguished. The disheveled monster, blacksmith Eos, was hammering a chunk of blue light instead of the heated metal.

Bang—!

With each strike, starlight burst forth and began to take form.

Bang—!

With the second strike, starlight was engraved upon the blade.

At that moment, shooting stars began to fall from the sky. Just like on the day Eos was born.

No one knew what Eos had realized during that long time. Only he would keep the secret.

After seven strikes of the hammer, the seven stars engraved upon the sword illuminated the interior of the forge.

Eos had completed a sword.

Everyone who witnessed the scene thought the same. That the completed sword was the sky itself. The seven star constellations scattered over the dark blade pressed forth a powerful presence.

And everyone cheered. Eos, the master of starlight, had returned. He came to make a sword with the stars from the sky.

Having completed the sword, Eos headed towards the Dragon’s Cradle. He left saying he would search for the dragon that had expressed disappointment in him.

From that day forward, it was said no dwarf had seen Eos.

Just vague rumors circulated that he must have been killed by the dragon.

Three days after Eos had left, a colossal dragon took flight from the Dragon’s Cradle with a pillar of intense light.

“This is the story of Eos. The seven children who followed him soon came to be known as Eos’ disciples. What is now called star forging and the royal swordsmanship resembling the drawing of stars, Seven Stars, was born that way.”

“Seven Stars…”

“Were you satisfied?”

“Ah, yes.”

I absentmindedly nodded at the blacksmith’s question. If what he conveyed was true, no, it must be true.

“Then may I take a look at that sword?”

Perhaps it was true that he was a blacksmith. I nodded and handed him the two swords besides the golden sword.

“What’s that…?”

The blacksmith trailed off, looking regretful as he stared at the golden sword. However, I couldn’t possibly hand over this sword that was like a cursed blade to him.

“It’s… a somewhat special sword.”

“Hmm. I see.”

The blacksmith obediently stepped back.

The dwarf I met in the Celestial Realm was undoubtedly Eos. Knowing the identity and the story of his past, my previously restless heart seemed to ease up a bit.

A small regret surfaced. If only the sword he had passed on to me remained, I could have cultivated a decent relationship with the dwarves here.

I asked the blacksmith, who was lost in admiration.

“Do you happen to know a quick way to get to the Dragon’s Cradle?”

“Well, if it’s the Dragon’s Cradle… taking the maritime train would be the fastest, of course, provided you can get on it.”

“The maritime train connects there?”

“Not exactly there, just close to it…”

“How can I board the maritime train?”

“It’s no trouble at all. They wouldn’t refuse a favor from a fellow kin…”

The blacksmith continued, examining the sword, then suddenly fell silent. He turned his gaze from the sword, looked at me once, and tilted his head.

“You’re… human…?”

“Humans can’t ride?”

“Not at all. An outsider would be able to board as long as they pay the fare. You should look for the conductor of the maritime train departing from rail 14. Today’s operational hours have passed, so it would be best to go tomorrow.”

I heard quite a good piece of information. As I received the sword back from the blacksmith, I exited the forge. Afterward, I took out a small notebook from my pocket and began writing down the events of the day.

[The Blacksmith Who Strikes Starlight, Eos]