Nada Volume 1, Chapter 2

Episode 2 — The Green Dragon Crescent Blade

Inferno was an exceptionally large city.

Its grid-like streets were wide and easy to get lost in.

Because it housed three dungeons within its borders, the city’s size naturally expanded in proportion to them. The districts were broadly divided into three sections centered around each dungeon, and of those, the area where Nada and the other students mainly operated was often called the Academy City.

A defining trait of the Academy City was how young its residents were—ninety percent were students. Dormitories and single-family houses were clustered nearby, and almost all of them were occupied by students. Of course, some non-students lived there too, but the abundance of youth-oriented facilities made the area inconvenient for ordinary adults to commute or run businesses in. Especially since most students weren’t wealthy, commerce and residential life tended to thrive in the other two districts.

Naturally, weapon shops also existed within the Academy City, but Nada already knew from five years of experience that none of them carried the weapons he wanted.

Shops in the Academy City mostly sold items popular with students—wooden swords for classes, lightweight weapons easy to carry around campus, or into the dungeon. Most were mass-produced.

Nada disliked those weapons, so he headed toward the shop he frequently visited. For part of the journey, he used the carriages that connected the city’s important points. The place he was heading for was in a district so far away that walking wouldn’t be enough even in a whole day.

In terms of district division, the shop was located on the outskirts of Toro.

The shop’s name was Astuto Bleza.

He pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside.

The walls were built from brick. In one corner, large barrels were filled with assorted low-grade weapons and armor. The expensive items were displayed in glass showcases; everything else was hung on the walls, leaned against them, or worn by mannequins. It was a shop where the difference between cheap and costly equipment was obvious at a glance.

“…Welcome.”

Behind the glass-covered counter at the back sat a chubby man with a balding head. He was grinning creepily as he inspected the blade of a single sword.

“It’s Nada. Balba, sell me a weapon.”

Nada leaned his elbow on the glass counter. The man—Balba—lifted his big eyes toward him.

“…What happened? Did the Gauntlet of the Land-Black Dragon break?”

Another craftsman had forged that weapon, but Balba had handled all the arrangements. He was unmistakably the one responsible for getting it into Nada’s hands. Balba ran the shop entirely by himself, despite its size.

Perhaps confident in his own skill, he stared at Nada as if unable to believe what he’d heard.

“No. I left Aghiya.”

Nada pouted slightly as he said it.

Finding that amusing, Balba burst into manic laughter.

“…Ahahahaha! So they finally kicked you out, eh? What did you do? Cut down a party member or something?”

“As if I’d ever do that. The leader said he’s bringing in new juniors. So they don’t need an old guy like me with no talent or future.”

“I see! So even that leader finally did it! And your weapon got taken away? Serves you right. So, what’ll it be? Another greatsword? Or maybe a greataxe?”

Still laughing, Balba stood up from behind the counter and walked around the shop.

The weapons in Balba’s shop included lightweight ones like shortswords and rapiers, of course, but he also carried oversized weapons such as greataxes and warhammers.

For someone like Nada who preferred heavy weapons, this shop was a godsend.

In modern dungeon exploration, large weapons had fallen out of fashion. Lightweight weapons, easy to carry, were the mainstream.

After all, adventurers had to carry their weapons through hours of dungeon delving. Hauling around a heavy weapon consumed far too much stamina. That was why lightweight weapons, which lasted longer and demanded less strength, were favored. Not to mention, heavy weapons required a lot of materials, making them expensive and difficult to craft.

In the past, one couldn’t fight monsters effectively without using heavy weapons due to concerns about durability and power. But nowadays, weapon quality has improved dramatically, allowing lightweight weapons to perform well in combat.

Even so, a minority—like Nada—still preferred heavy weapons.

This shop catered to such unusual customers, making it a rare and valuable weapons dealer.

“Anything is fine. Something cheap.”

“Well now… how about this one? It’s shaped pretty similarly to the greatsword you used before.”

Balba picked up a sword that had been leaning against the wall and brought it over to Nada.

It was big.

Made not from monster materials, but from metal.

The handle was about thirty centimeters long, just like the greatsword he had used before, and the blade was broad and thick.

It was practically a lump of iron.

“…How much?”

Nada picked up the greatsword and narrowed his eyes, examining it closely.

He thought the metal looked different from the cheap alloys used in low-grade weapons.

“This is a one-of-a-kind piece, forged from an orichalcum–iron alloy! And the price is twenty-six point eight million! Well? A bargain, isn’t it?”

Orichalcum was one of the rare metals found in dungeons.

It occasionally existed inside powerful monsters, separate from Calvaon. Though useless as fuel, it was harder than diamond, lightweight, immutable, and impervious to rust—making it the metal most beloved by modern adventurers. It paired especially well with lightweight weapons, massively improving both sharpness and durability, and was traded at very high prices.

“Rejected. How would I afford something that expensive?”

Nada refused the weapon without hesitation.

“What’s with you? If you want something comparable to your old weapon, nothing less than this exists in my shop.”

Balba returned the greatsword to its place with a disappointed grunt.

“I’m broke. A million is the most I can spend.”

Not only did Nada lose his weapon, but he also lost his armor. He had to buy replacements for both. And being a student, he had plenty of other expenses as well—he simply couldn’t gather any more money.

“With that budget… You won’t get anything decent.”

Balba scanned the shop, looking troubled.

Heavy weapons were expensive to begin with.

Even if made from the same material, comparing a thin blade like a rapier to a massive greatsword, the greatsword naturally costs more because it requires more material. On top of that, blacksmiths hated making such large weapons, which drove the price up even further. Crafting a heavy weapon required much more muscle, time, and effort.

And producing high-quality lightweight weapons—popular and quick to sell—was much better for a blacksmith’s reputation.

“That’s fine. It doesn’t have to be a greatsword. A mace is okay, too. Worst case, just sell me a chunk of iron that’s easy to swing.”

Nada wasn’t expecting much.

As long as he could get something decent, he wasn’t aiming high.

“You’re always asking for something ridiculous. How long has it been since you last said something like that?”

Balba let out an exasperated sigh.

“Wasn’t it when I asked you for the Gauntlet of the Land-Black Dragon?”

Nada rubbed his chin as he recalled it.

When Aghiya defeated the Exlidhao Ragario, the materials were distributed with priority given to those with the lowest-ranked equipment—Nada.

The party leader at the time had told him to have custom-made gear forged.

Nada then went around the Academy City, visiting various smithies, searching for someone who could process the Exlidhao Ragario materials. But the moment he said he wanted a greatsword, every one of them reacted poorly. It would take too much time, too much effort, and since Nada was a nobody, crafting a weapon for him wouldn’t boost their reputation. As a result, no blacksmith was willing to make a greatsword for him.

So Nada expanded his search beyond the Academy City into the other two districts.

That was how he discovered this weapon shop, and through it, was introduced to a blacksmith willing to forge the Gauntlet of the Land-Black Dragon.

“At this point, why don’t you switch styles? There are plenty of weapons far more practical than oversized ones. …Let’s see. How about this?”

Balba tossed a sword to Nada.

It was a straight blade, sheathed in something resembling silvery-white precious metal. About eighty centimeters long. When he drew it, a beautifully clear, gleaming blade emerged.

Nada swung it several times inside the shop—whoosh, whoosh—producing a satisfying sound.

But Nada frowned deeply.

“Too light. No good.”

“Hey now, why not? That’s a replica of the famed holy sword Caramero, forged by the legendary blacksmith Drake. The material comes from a unicorn with an icy horn. In terms of rank, it’s the second-highest—quasi–first class. Same grade as your old Land Black Dragon’s Fang. You shouldn’t have any complaints. If you want, I can even set up a loan for you.”

Balba let out a weary sigh and flashed a vulgar grin.

“You think I’ve got the skill to handle a sword this light?”

Nada said in a tone of resignation.

“You don’t?”

“Nope.”

“This is why clumsy guys… You really should graduate from maces and greatswords already.”

Balba looked at Nada with pity, as if gazing at someone hopeless.

It wasn’t anything to brag about, but despite being at the academy for five years, Nada’s martial skill was frankly poor. That was exactly why he had relied on heavy weapons.

Small, lightweight weapons were easy to swing, yes, but unless one had solid technique, actually cutting an opponent was a chore. No matter how sharp the blade might be, the lack of mass meant the blade would stop midway through flesh if he didn’t angle it perfectly. Worse, handled poorly, they often snapped.

But heavy weapons didn’t have that issue. Weight and speed—if you had just those two, even if your cutting line wobbled and the blade wasn’t particularly sharp, you could brute-force your way through a monster’s flesh. And with a mace, you didn’t even have to think about that; power came just from striking. Axes and hammers focused their weight on the tip, making speed and power easier to generate through centrifugal force compared to swords. For muscle-bound Nada, they were merciful weapons.

“…Shut it. So, you got anything? Something crude enough that even I can handle it?”

Nada looked around the shop.

There were a few heavy weapons, but none seemed to catch his interest. He didn’t even touch the great scythes—they were unwieldy and impractical. He picked up several maces, but they were all around sixty centimeters, small and light. Having used greatswords until now, Nada felt uneasy about their destructive power.

“In that case, hang on. I’m pretty sure we’ve got a halberd in the back.”

Balba headed toward the rear of the shop.

Besides the weapons on display, this shop stored duplicates and items that were hard to sell in the back.

Peeking in, Nada saw that Balba’s apparent hobby was collecting large weapons—there were many stored away. Among them, he seemed especially fond of polearms; numerous halberd variants were lined up.

Balba picked up one halberd and brought it to Nada.

It was a standard halberd—two meters long. Since the shaft was made of wood, it was surprisingly light for its size. The spear tip featured an axe blade, and on the opposite side, there was a spike known as a pick. The axe blade was thin and broad. Depending on the situation, it could stab, chop, hook, or smash—one of the most versatile weapons.

Nada took it. For its length, it felt quite light—lighter than his previous greatsword, at least.

“How about it? I’ll give it to you for fifty million, loan included.”

Balba grinned, showing the gaps in his teeth.

Nada held the halberd one-handed and was about to go outside to try some swings when something else in the pile of polearms caught his eye.

“What’s that?”

Returning the halberd to Balba, Nada approached the weapon.

“Hey, hey. Those aren’t good weapons. They were originally made for mounted combat back in the old wars. They’re not the sort of thing you can use well inside a dungeon where everyone’s on foot.”

Balba called out a warning, but Nada ignored him and picked up the weapon he’d spotted.

Calling it a weapon felt generous—it was more like a war engine.

It was even longer than the halberd.

The shaft was thick, made entirely of dull-colored metal with no concern for weight reduction.

Mounted on the spearhead was a curved blade—wide and large. Compared to a normal spear, it was far thicker. The blade gleamed silver, and the rest of it was also silver. On the reverse side of the blade, remnants of decorative fabric still clung, evidence that some sort of banner had once been tied there.

—A Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

“Don’t lie to me. You’ve got a damn good weapon here—just my type.”

Nada lifted the weapon with one big hand as if it weighed nothing. His expression was the kind of joy a man might show upon meeting a woman of exceptional beauty.

“…Hey, hey, you’re really holding that with one hand?”

Balba’s eyes widened in spite of himself at Nada’s strength.

“What’s the material?”

Nada narrowed his eyes and examined it carefully from the blade to the shaft.

A wood-grain-like pattern ran from the blade all the way down the handle.

“Wootz steel. The entire thing—from blade to shaft—is forged from the same stuff.”

Wootz steel was a type of refined steel. One of its visible traits was the complex, wood-grain pattern that emerged on its surface. It was also hard and durable, and in the past was often used for strong weaponry.

Its weakness, however, was its weight. Being made of iron, it was far heavier than dungeon-forged materials like Hihiirokane. In small weapons like knives, the weight wasn’t much of an issue, but once it became a straight sword, the burden on an adventurer was immense. And since adventurers had to keep their load as light as possible—cutting back on food and water just to dive into the dungeon—wootz steel had fallen out of favor.

And this wasn’t even a sword. It was a massive pole weapon.

A weapon crafted with zero consideration for weight reduction. Almost no adventurer would ever use something like it.

“Not bad. I like it. How much?”

“…Are you serious? It’s heavy, hard to maneuver. Sure, if you just swing it around, you’ll get plenty of power, but it’s a pain to carry.”

“Oh, I’m serious. So? How much will you sell it for?”

Nada had already slung the heavy weapon onto his right shoulder with one hand—as if he were perfectly used to its weight.

With Nada’s tall frame, it suited him surprisingly well.

Balba grimaced at the sight, then let out a defeated sigh and named the price.

“…Eight hundred thousand.”

“That cheap?”

Nada sounded genuinely surprised.

“Yeah. It’s supposedly something left over from an old battlefield. I bought it, sure, but no adventurer wants it. And disposing of it would cost me money, so it’s been trouble. Nobody uses wootz steel anymore anyway.”

“Then it’s settled. This thing’s my partner starting today. Balba, help me pick out clothes too. Cheap ones are fine. I can spend up to seven hundred thousand.”

Nada seemed satisfied with the crescent blade and leaned it against a nearby wall before asking for the rest of his gear.

“Alright. For that price, these should do…”

Several hours later, Nada was fully equipped—looking entirely different from when he’d arrived.

In his hand was the wootz-steel Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Across his chest, he wore armor shaped from thinly bent iron plates, with additional pieces covering the rest of his body. Over that, he wore a surcoat made from the hide of a low-grade red bicorn-type dragon—it was reddish-black, and its inferior dragon scales stood out. As before, his kukri knife was sheathed at the back of his waist.

“How is it? I kept the armor as light as possible.”

“Looks good. Alright, here’s the money. Just double-check it.”

Nada took out a pouch from his coat.

It was packed full of gold coins, which Balba counted one by one.

“Perfect. Alright, come back anytime. I’ll handle maintenance for you whenever.”

Even though he wasn’t officially a blacksmith, Balba could perform weapon maintenance at a level comparable to any ordinary smith. He could even forge weapons to some degree—the shop had the facilities for it—but mostly he bought and sold pre-made arms.

“Got it. I’ll drop by if I feel like it.”

With that, Nada stepped out into the night, which had grown fully dark.

“That muscle-bound nightmare of a customer…”

Balba muttered under his breath as he watched Nada disappear, then returned to his work.

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