"Swords"

In the village there was an atmosphere of peace, there was no such fuss as in the city.

Takumi pointed to one of the cabins.

"This one's mine, come on."

It was nondescript, just like all the other houses in the village.

Takumi opened the door.

- Come on in

Once inside, it was clear that the owner was not often at home.

We went into the kitchen

Takumi wiped the table and pointed to a bench.

"Sit down and we'll eat now."

Takumi lit the stove and sat down next to us.

- By the way, who is this girl?

"My slave."

- Hmm, I thought at least someone,

I managed to approach you, and you're still the same as you always were.

I took out a couple of silver coins and gave them to Hidora.

"Go buy us some food

"It will be performed by Mortis-sama."

Hidora left the house.

"Why did you do that?" He asked.

Takumi pointed to the stove.

-When you put the pot on, I noticed that it was empty, apparently you were too tired to notice it.

Takumi clutched his head and burst into tears.

"Damn it!!! I'm completely lost!!!

I've been working on the kingdom order for days now.

If I don't make a hundred swords this week, I won't see my head on my shoulders.

"How many swords have you forged?"

-15 (Takumi sobbed)

"We still have seven days.

Don't worry, I'll help you.

"You fool, you don't know how to forge swords.

"I think so, but in your case, you don't have to choose.

"You're right, I'm sorry you have to help me.

"Never mind.

Hidora is back.

"Master, I bought everything you asked for.

"Fine, sit down, I'll handle the cooking myself."

I took the basket from her hand and laid it out on the table.

Bread, a dozen eggs, a couple of pieces of meat, a jug of milk, and a bottle of wine.

I made a quick omelet with meat and toasted bread.

Hidora seemed surprised.

"Mortis-sama, can you cook?"

"Yes, and quite passable, as you will see in a moment.

I put the pan on the table and we started eating.

By the way, the omelet was eaten within a couple of minutes.

I was drawn to sleep, but I had to help my friend.

"Hidora clean up here, Takumi and I are going to the forge."

"Yes, Mortis-sama.

Takumi and I left the house and went to the blacksmith shop.

After entering, Takumi rekindled the fire in the forge.

The guy who brought us in was still lying on the floor.

Takumi grabbed a pitcher of cold water and poured it over the unfortunate man.

The guy jumped up.

- This is my student Ryota

- Let's get acquainted, Mortis Messorim

All right, get to work.

- Yes, there is.

Ryota began to carry the coals to the forge.

"What's Mortis to you?"

Takumi thought for a moment.

Hmm, try it, pick up that hammer.

He pointed to a large hammer in the corner.

I was prepared for the fact that it is very heavy and it will take me a lot of effort to lift it.

I took it in my hands and pulled it up.

I picked it up very abruptly and surprisingly easily, the way you usually pick up a kettle when you think there's water in it, but it's actually empty.

The hammer flew out of his hands and stuck in the ceiling of the forge.

Takumi's face was contorted with amazement, his eyes were wide open, and he himself was slightly pale.

At the sound of a broken tree, Ryota came in, and he, too, stopped dead, dropping the coals.

"Wh, what's wrong with your arm?"??

Takumi asked me in a trembling voice.

I looked at my hand, and I was no less surprised, for it was wrapped in a thick black mass.

Suddenly this mass jumped on the hammer and brought it down.

"calm down, it's my shadow.

The shadow detached itself from me, and I felt a sense of relief, as if I had lifted mountains from my shoulders.

The shadow leaped at one of the swords, completely enveloping it.

We watched her, fascinated.

Then she jumped onto the finished metal ingots.

After a couple of minutes, she began to spit out exactly the same swords that she had swallowed earlier.

-No, well, did you see it, did you see it???

"Calmly, this is my shadow, and it will help us save your skin."

The shadow spat out about three dozen swords.

It rolled across the floor toward me and leaped into my own shadow.

I immediately sank to the floor.

The heaviness and fatigue were incredible.

The floor sagged beneath me.

His eyes were growing dimmer by the second

"Mortis, what's the matter with you?"

Takumi was worried.

He tried to lift me up, but it didn't work.

Eventually I lost consciousness…