The next morning, my father and I headed to the blacksmith to accomplish the other purpose of our trip to Gifu.

This marked the third time I had traversed this mountain path. Passing through the hastily repaired barrier, we arrived at what was once the workshop—now reduced to a barren plot of land. In its place stood a newly constructed makeshift shack, and from behind it came the rhythmic sound of a hammer striking metal.

Having experienced losing a home to a Sixth-Rank Monster myself, the sight felt oddly familiar, stirring a bittersweet sense of nostalgia. As I took in the scene, a one-eyed monster poked his head out from the shadow of the structure.

A towel tied like a headband adorned his head, and he carried a hammer in one hand and nails in the other. The practical attire seemed so out of place for a monster that I found myself at a loss for words.

But the one-eyed monster, unfazed, greeted me cheerfully.

“Ah, young master! What brings you here today?”

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, this? We’re building a house for Kan’nuki.”

“…Why?”

“We can’t leave him alone until a successor is found, can we?”

His answer, vague and not entirely satisfying, left me questioning why a monster would be helping with construction. If the blacksmith himself were doing this, it would make sense, but a monster?

Still, I understood the sentiment.

Kan’nuki, the gatekeeper of the Sanctuary, needed a successor. That was why the blacksmith had suggested leaving Nina here in the first place.

“You’re here, huh?”

A voice suddenly rang out from the shack. Turning toward it, I saw the blacksmith emerge from the doorway—or rather, the doorless entrance.

As expected, he held a hammer in his hand. Peeking inside, I saw the skeletal frame of the house nearing completion, with floors and walls partially installed.

I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly the structure was coming together, though I knew next to nothing about construction. My uninformed thoughts were interrupted when the blacksmith spoke gruffly.

“This place isn’t ready yet. Follow me.”

Placing his hammer on the floor, the old man barked a quick “Break time!” to the one-eyed monster before turning and walking away. My father and I exchanged glances before following him.

Around the back of the shack, there was a makeshift table and chairs exposed to the elements. The blacksmith plopped down heavily on one of the chairs and motioned with his eyes for us to sit. Despite his rough demeanor, we complied.

The one-eyed monster, noticing the blacksmith’s glance, retrieved bottled tea from a cooler and brought it over.

Seeing a monster handle something so modern felt oddly dissonant. While I was mulling over this, my father spoke briefly to the blacksmith.

“How is your health?”

“So-so.”

Hearing such a casual response from someone who had collapsed just the day before made me skeptical. There was no way his condition was “so-so.” But before I could question it, the blacksmith muttered something quietly.

“Sorry about yesterday.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“For keeping my mouth shut.”

His words were vague, but I understood what he meant.

He was apologizing for not being forthcoming about the Sanctuary and about Nina.

“We have our oaths—think of it like a gag order.”

“I understand you had your reasons, Sensei. We don’t blame you.”

“Don’t be so understanding, Souichirou. Acting like an adult isn’t always a good thing.”

Caught between their calm exchange, I remained silent. The blacksmith quickly turned his attention to me.

“So, which one are we forging?”

His gaze landed on the relic hanging from my neck.

“You’ll forge it…?”

“That’s why you came, isn’t it?”

“But you said Nina had to stay here…”

The old man shrugged, casting a glance at the one-eyed monster who was sipping a sports drink.

“This guy’s here for now. We’ll manage.”

Gone was the desperation or madness from before. His expression was calm, as though he had come to terms with reality.

Relieved, I pulled out the relic I had chosen—a colorful one that intertwined three hues like a jester’s costume.

“Then, I’d like you to turn this into a cursed blade.”

This was the relic I had decided on from the moment I arrived.

Of course, I had considered using Raikou Douji’s or Adashino Harunaga’s relics instead.

But I believed those two relics would serve better as fairies than as blades. Their potential seemed far greater in that role.

So, the one I offered for forging was the Marionette Relic.

As I handed it over, the blacksmith looked at me curiously.

“Just one?”

“Yes. Out of the relics I have, this one feels the most suited for a blade.”

“I see.”

The old man nodded deeply.

“Alright. I’ll forge it. A blade that’s yours and yours alone.”

Hearing this, it wasn’t me but my father who exhaled a sigh of relief.

I could understand why. My father had come here to have my blade forged, but being told to leave Nina must have unsettled him.

Feeling a quiet happiness that my blade would be forged, I reached into my pocket and retrieved a small peach—the fruit of a spell that now had no intended recipient.

This was the Sanctuary Peach, said to grant eternal youth and immortality.

The moment I pulled it out, both the one-eyed monster and the blacksmith’s eyes fixed on the fruit.

“Hey, old man. Do you know what this is?”

“…That’s a peach, isn’t it?”

I nodded quietly.

“…I see. So, that man gave it to you.”

Speaking as though to himself, the blacksmith continued.

“That’s a fruit of another world. I don’t know how much you’ve heard, but the rumors are plentiful. Eat it, and you’ll regain your youth. Become immortal. Never die.”

“…Yes.”

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“But that’s not entirely true.”

“It’s not…?”

Adashino Harunaga had told me as much. Confused, I waited as the blacksmith elaborated.

“Tell me, boy. Why do monsters target humans—especially children?”

“To consume their magic.”

“And why do they consume magic?”

“Because consuming humans increases their rank…”

“That’s true, but not the whole story.”

The old man shook his head slowly before continuing.

“Magic is life force. The more you have, the longer you live. You know this, don’t you? Take Akane—she’s lived for centuries.”

“What!? Really!?”

The surprising revelation slipped out before I could stop myself.

“You didn’t know?”

The blacksmith looked genuinely surprised, glancing at my father.

“Souichirou, you knew, didn’t you?”

“…No, this is news to me.”

“Really? Guess no one told you. Doesn’t matter.”

It definitely matters!

Waving off our confusion, the blacksmith returned to his explanation.

“Exorcists—or humans, for that matter—are bound by the rank they’re born into. Nothing changes their lifespan. But this peach expands their core.”

“Expands?”

It was my father who asked this time, his expression skeptical.

The blacksmith nodded deeply.

“Exactly. The peach increases one’s magical rank. Do you understand? With an expanded rank, a person can hold more life force and live longer. That’s why people think it grants eternal youth. But it’s not as grand as it’s made out to be.”

The old man sighed before continuing.

“And boy, for someone like you—a Seventh Rank—the peach is unnecessary. At most, it’ll give you a minor increase in magic.”

“…I see.”

That made sense. With my rank already immeasurable, there wouldn’t be much benefit.

“But if there’s someone around you who desires greater rank, it might be worth giving it to them.”

The blacksmith gazed into the distance, his expression wistful.

His demeanor moved me to ask.

“Did you… ever eat one?”

“…That’s a cruel question.”

As the Sanctuary’s gatekeeper, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had. But his bitter grimace told another story.

“Those who couldn’t die… don’t wish to live long.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep