The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 44.3

“Rikka’s sword, huh? That’s difficult too. Swords are dangerous.”

“No way! I want a sword!”

“Please don’t make Rikka a sword. What if she gets hurt?”

Wife Taliru worried that her husband Grumman, who was indulgent with Rikka, might end up making her a sword.

—When Rikka turned eight—

“Why can’t I go into the workshop?”

“Because it’s dangerous, as I explained.”

“It’s not dangerous! I’m going to make my own sword!”

“Rikka, I’ve told you many times, the workshop has a furnace and it’s incredibly hot. What if your pretty face gets burned?”

“Eh? Then Dad should make my sword!”

“I’ve told you many times that swords are dangerous…”

“If you won’t make it for me, I’ll make it myself!”

And Grumman, giving in, promised to make Rikka a sword.

“You said you wouldn’t make Rikka’s sword. You said you’d raise her like a butterfly or a flower, didn’t you, Dad?”

“Even after telling you that, you’ve been begging for years. There’s nothing I can do about it. Plus, it’s more dangerous if you sneak into the workshop later.”

“That may be true, but…”

—When Rikka turned ten—

“Rikka, this is your very own sword.”

“Yay!”

“There are conditions to receiving this.”

“Dad, what’s the condition?”

“Don’t take it outside. You can only swing it in this yard. A sword is a weapon. Even with your strength, you could kill someone if you slash them. Don’t forget that.”

“I know that.”

“Okay, it’s a promise.”

And Rikka began practicing with the sword by placing logs in the yard for her solo training.

“Dad, why is my sword so dull? It doesn’t cut at all!”

“Idiot! It’s dull because of your arm. You can’t cut well because you’re handling the sword poorly. Look, the tip is round, so sharpen it!”

“Sharpen it for me! I can’t do it well!”

“Listen, you sharpen your own sword. If you can’t do that, you’re not qualified to handle a sword. You only have a craftsman sharpen it during maintenance. If you don’t like that, don’t hold a sword. Now, I’ll watch you sharpen it.”

“Ehh…”

—When Rikka turned twelve—

“Are you planning to become a hunter?”

“Dad, it’s useless to oppose me.”

“I understand you’ve been swinging your sword every day, but I didn’t think you’d say you want to be a hunter… Weren’t you supposed to become a shopkeeper in this workshop?”

“Shut up! Don’t oppose me every time I decide something!”

“What do you mean ‘shut up’ to your parents?”

“You never let me do what I wanted since I was little! I’m already twelve, so don’t interfere with what I want to do!”

“I wasn’t opposing what you wanted to do!”

“You wouldn’t even let me into the workshop. I wanted to be a blacksmith!”