"...The blacksmith Muramasa?"
Hearing Ariel's words, Shirou suddenly froze. He never expected to hear that name from her, and he instinctively became a little nervous.
After all, Shirou didn't really want people to discover his identity as the blacksmith Muramasa just yet.
Because the weapons he made were so famous, powerful people all over the world wanted to find him and get weapons from him.
But Shirou clearly wasn't interested in working for those powerful people.
He made weapons purely to satisfy his own interests and to improve his sword magic skills. He didn't really want to become a blacksmith.
So, if someone found out he was ablacksmith, it would be a huge problem. If necessary, Shirou would even consider silencing them.
However, Shirou quickly realized that Ariel didn't seem to know that he was the blacksmith Muramasa.
If she knew, she wouldn't casually ask him questions, but would directly ask if he was Muramasa himself.
This relieved Shirou a bit.
He was really afraid of his identity being exposed. If that happened, he wouldn't know what to do with this noble lady of unknown origin.
Shirou didn't have the heart to kill someone to keep them quiet, and he wouldn't do such a thing.
So, all Shirou could do was try to hide the fact that he was theblacksmith Muramasa, and absolutely not let Ariel know that he was.
"Um, of course I know."
Shirou tried to speak calmly. Now that theblacksmith Muramasa was so famous, even countries around the world knew his name. As ablacksmith himself, it wouldn't make sense if he didn't know Muramasa. It would give him away.
"Muramasa's weapons are very unique, aren't they?"
Ariel didn't notice anything strange, and said with a smile, "I once saw a sword made by Muramasa up close. It was full of a strong passion that no one could ignore, as if the love for weapons had become real."
"You can tell that much?"
Shirou was shocked.
He never thought that anyone could feel emotional expression from the swords he made. Most importantly, what she said was completely accurate. When Shirou made each weapon, he put all his passion into it, using complex and unnecessary processes to create those unique treasures that shouldn't exist in this world.
Ariel didn't care about Shirou's reaction. She thought Shirou didn't believe her, so she didn't continue the topic. Instead, she quietly said, "Well, I'm not a blacksmith, but I've met many blacksmiths. Most of them don't put that kind of strong emotion into their weapons like Muramasa does. It doesn't mean their weapons are bad, but to me, those weapons lack soul, and it's hard for me to be truly interested in them."
"I... I see."
Shirou's reply was stiff.
He felt more and more that this girl named Ariel was special and not an ordinary person. He didn't even dare to say too much, afraid that if he revealed too much, she would know that he was the blacksmith Muramasa.
The two continued to talk as they walked.
The road wasn't long.
Soon, theblacksmit's workshop came into view.
"This is Boreas's blacksmit's workshop?"
Ariel's face showed anticipation and joy.
Shirou quietly said, "Yes, this is the Boreas family's blacksmit's workshop. It's the only one. It not only provides weapons and equipment for the Boreas family, but also occasionally takes outside orders to make or sell weapons."
"Just like I thought."
Ariel seemed to have done a lot of research on the Boreas family's workshop. She didn't seem like a stranger at all. She didn't care about the dirty environment and strong smell of the workshop, and walked in calmly.
Shirou didn't expect the girl to be so unconcerned about the environment. He didn't know what to do, so he just tried to keep up with her.
Inside the workshop, Ariel looked around. She stopped at each blacksmiting area and even talked to the blacksmits or apprentices who passed by.
The blacksmiths didn't expect such a high-class lady to appear, and they were all confused. But fortunately, Shirou was there to introduce her, so there wasn't too much commotion.
"Shirou, the blacksmiths here seem to respect you a lot."
Ariel suddenly said.
Shirou had to admire her amazing insight. She could notice such small details so quickly.
He was now in a very high position in the blacksmith's workshop. Although most people didn't know that he was the blacksmith Muramasa, the old blacksmith, the owner of the workshop, trusted him, and Shirou's blacksmithing skills had already won over all the blacksmiths.
To prevent Ariel from noticing anything more, Shirou quickly changed the subject. "I just have a little talent. The owner of the workshop valued me and taught me blacksmithing skills... By the way, have you seen everything, Ariel? It's still too dirty and messy here. Don't you have to go to the Boreas family's banquet later?"
Shirou tried to get Ariel to leave quickly.
But Ariel didn't care at all. Instead, she pointed to the room at the back of the workshop and asked, "What's going on with that room? No one seems to be near it?"
"This..."
Shirou's answer was difficult. Sweat almost fell down his face.
Because that room was the blacksmithing workshop that the old blacksmith had specially arranged for him. It was the core area where Shirou did hisblacksmiting, and it contained too many secrets and too many unfinished products and failed creations that couldn't be shown to outsiders.
If someone as insightful as Ariel found out what was inside the room, she would quickly realize that he was theblacksmith Muramasa.
Shirou hesitated greatly. His mind raced, trying to think of a way to stop Ariel from exploring further.
But he wasn't good at this kind of manipulation.
Could he just knock this noble lady of unknown origin unconscious?
Just as Shirou was hesitating, a loud voice suddenly came from outside theblacksmit's workshop.
"Lady Ariel! Lady Ariel! Where are you?!"
Hearing this voice, Ariel suddenly froze. A helpless expression appeared on her face, but her attitude changed quickly. She quickly put on an elegant attitude, walked out of theblacksmit's workshop, and greeted a man who looked like a serious scholar.
"Derrick, I'm here."
"Your Highness, you really came here!"
The man named Derrick said helplessly, "I told you a long time ago that the idea of the blacksmith Muramasa being in the Boreas family is just a ridiculous rumor. How could someone like that be living in such an ordinary castle? Even if they don't live in an air castle like the Dragon King, they should at least live at the top of the holy land of swords, like the Sword God."
Derrick's words were the typical impression that most people had of theblacksmith Muramasa. They all thought that a blacksmith with such extraordinary skills must be an extraordinary person.
At least not someone you could easily meet by the side of the road.
But in reality, the blacksmith Muramasa was standing next to them, listening to their conversation with an embarrassed expression.
"Okay, okay, I know what you mean, Derrick."
Ariel seemed used to Derrick's attitude. She didn't argue, but quietly said, "Even if Muramasa isn't in the Boreas family, I can still visit the Boreas family's blacksmith's workshop. Maybe there are blacksmiths here who are as good as Muramasa, right?"
As Ariel spoke, she glanced at Shirou, making him quite stiff and afraid to move at all.
Derrick said disdainfully: "How could there be a better blacksmith than Master Muramasa in this world? Do you understand Master Muramasa, or do I understand Master Muramasa? You must know that the weapons forged by Master Muramasa can already be compared with the three great craftsmen. Although they have not yet reached the level of the three great craftsmen, the world thinks that he may surpass the three great craftsmen and become the number one swordsmith in history."
"..."
Shirou couldn't help but feel ashamed as he listened to someone praising him so much.
After all, he had only been learningblacksmiting for a little over a year. With such a short time, there were things he could learn from even ordinary blacksmiths.
Shirou knew that the reason his weapons were so powerful was mainly because he had Unlimited Blade Works from Servant Emiya, which allowed him to draw on techniques and experience from another world.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Ariel was already immune to Derrick's praise of Muramasa. "Of course I didn't say that anyone could surpass Muramasa's swordsmanship. I just think that there might be excellentblacksmits here. Shouldn't we try to win over as many excellent people as possible?"
Ariel said the word "win over" directly, but no one seemed to be unhappy about it.
Shirou was so nervous that he couldn't describe it.
This woman was indeed a force to be reckoned with.
At the same time, Derrick nodded slightly and said, "That makes sense. At least Your Highness has finally understood my good intentions and knows that we need to prepare for the future. So, have you found any excellent people who are worth winning over?"
"It's him."
Ariel was clearly prepared. She immediately grabbed Shirou's sleeve and came to his side without any hesitation. "I think this Mr. Shirou would make a very goodblacksmith."
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