004

Shu wiped the sweat from his forehead and went back to hammering metal into the shape of a single edged blade. It was beginning to look similar in shape to the Murasame blade, but that's where the similarities end.

[Your Understanding of Smithing Increases]

[Skill: Recycle activated]

The forming sword slowly lost it's heat and morphed back into the materials used to make it. Shu sighed, his eyes looking at the dirt on his hand. He could still feel the power of the Murasame in his hand, and while he didn't have high hopes nothing he made came close.

"Mr Shu. I can't think you enough." Asagi had come downstairs, for some reason she was hiding behind her sword. Holding it to her chest like it could protect her from awkward conversations.

"No problem, I was also doing it for my own personal reasons. Due to you showing up first I was able to get a jump start on ideas." Shu put down the hammer in his hand, tossing it to the table.

"Whether you do something for personal gain or out of the kindness of your heart the point remains that you still did something good!" Asagi realized that she was shouting after she finished and retreated back a little hiding further behind the sword.

She still couldn't get what he said earlier out of her head and it was causing her face to burn. This was her first time seeing a man, she had been too scared to leave the district except for fighting.

Asagi felt even more embarrassed when he began laughing at her.

"In that case you're welcome, back in the fifth it was rare to hear a thanks from someone." Shu thought back to his time in the 5th sector which was only two days ago. It felt like so long already. "So what do you plan on doing now?"

"I have to report what I remember of last night to the handler, then I'm free until my weapons divinity returns." She held the sword out a little, pulling out the blade.

"In that case, good luck and come back any time. I can't guarantee that I can fix it above 20% but I can keep it from getting lower." Shu was done working for the day and he had something else to do but Asagi was still standing there. "What's up?"

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" She seemed to have a little more confidence now that the sword was drawn. "About my appearance."

Shu raised an eyebrow then thought back, he assumed she was asleep which is why he said ir but that wasn't the case apparently. He smiled, leaning against the workstation with his arms crossed.

The oldest active Valkyrie alive was Scarlett at twenty five, the average life expectancy was only twenty. In short, Asagi was about as young as he was. It made sense that she'd be curious about how she's perceived. At least that's what Shu thought.

"Yes." Despite her many scars, and abnormalities she was quite pretty. Raven black hair fell down to her hips, the dark hair pulling out the contrast of her fair skin. Her eyes were as pink as her cheeks blushing slightly from his blunt comment. "Your face is kinda round, you remind me of a rabbit."

Asagi nodded her head, sheathed her sword, and slowly exited the building. Shu followed shortly after since she'd been so quiet but when he left she'd already run off. He just laughed, turning around to see Vermillion standing close behind him.

He had a heart attack but refused to show it on his face.

"Master, you needn't charm the Valkyrie to work with them." She wasn't facing him, rather looking to the side with a slight downturn of her lips.

"I hadn't complimented you yet because I lack the vocabulary to accurately describe how beautiful you are." Shu watched as her micro expression changed and internally let out a breath he'd been holding.

In the two days he'd been here, having had two older sisters saved his life when it came to understanding the opposite sex, and their secret meanings. If he ever saw them again he'd have to grovel his thanks.

"I am heading out though, I'm going to try training with the Valkyrie." Shu slipped into his shoes and took off the apron.

"Train with the Valkyrie candidates? Why would you do that?" She tilted her head slightly in a bit of confusion.

"If I'm going to learn how to make weapons I should learn how to use them as well. Without that step I feel like I'm missing something when making weapons." He had to up his understanding to better produce and repair weapons.

Currently his understanding was only twenty perfect. He gained ten percent from the Murasame and ten before that by remaking the same sword over and over.

Vermillion seemed to giggle then handed Shu the first sword that he had made inside it's sheath. "Then come back home safely. I will have both a bath and dinner ready for you."

"Thank you Ver." Shu clipped it to his side and confidently stepped outside ready to start making his new life better.

But of course nothing can ever be so easy, if it was a blacksmith like him wouldn't have been necessary.

"I won't let you take another step forward!" Standing at the top of the stairs which lead to the academy in this district stood a girl with her arms crossed. Long white iridescent hair flowing in the wind. "I won't let you corrupt the school with your dirty minded intentions!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Shu stood at the bottom absolutely bewildered.

"Shut up! I will protect and uphold the morals of this academy." She continued to shout.

"Upstanding morals? Aren't you late to class right now?" Shu put a hand to his hip and sighed as if already tired of the current situation. He was doing it to edge her on.

It seemed to work as her face flushed red and she stomped her feet a couple times to reset herself.

"Bastard, I Irina Keshlen challenge you to a duel! If I win you can't step foot inside of the academy you pervert!" She did her best to try and down on him as much as possible but it came off a little silly looking.

"And what if I win?" He couldn't hide the smirk in his voice, her way of talking had triggered something specific in his brain.

"You won't need to worry." Irina said, "because you won't be."