Chapter 23 - choosing a weapon 2
The moment I stepped inside, I was completely stunned.
The treasury was enormous.
Rows upon rows of weapons lined the walls. Spears, axes, bows, greatswords, daggers, shields, and countless strange weapons I had never even seen before.
Shelves filled with armor stood neatly arranged throughout the room, each piece emitting faint mana fluctuations.
Ancient scrolls containing powerful techniques rested behind protective barriers.
Rare ores, precious gemstones, monster materials, and countless treasures sparkled beneath the magical lights illuminating the chamber.
The entire place resembled a dragon’s hoard.
Yet despite all of that...
My attention wasn’t drawn to the armor.
Nor to the skill scrolls.
Those things could wait.
Right now...
I wanted only one thing.
A weapon.
I walked straight toward the sword section.
There were longswords.
Rapiers.
Sabers.
Tantos.
Katanas.
Countless masterpieces forged by master craftsmen rested silently before me.
I picked them up one by one.
A rapier.
Too light.
A longsword.
Balanced...
But somehow lacking.
A tanto.
Its reach was too short.
Another katana.
Good...
But something still felt off.
I continued testing them, giving each sword a few light swings while paying close attention to their balance, grip, and weight.
None of them felt wrong.
But...
None of them truly felt right either.
Until—
I noticed it.
Resting quietly in the far corner was a single katana unlike all the others.
Its sheath was obsidian black, decorated with faint crimson patterns that seemed to flow across its surface like veins.
It wasn’t flashy.
It didn’t radiate overwhelming mana.
Yet...
It possessed an indescribable elegance.
It simply rested there in silence...
As though it had been patiently waiting.
Waiting...
For someone.
Before I realized it, my feet had already carried me toward it.
Almost unconsciously, I reached out and wrapped my hand around its hilt.
The instant I touched it...
I felt something.
It wasn’t warmth.
Nor was it cold.
It was...
Familiar.
As though something had quietly acknowledged my presence.
Slowly...
I drew the blade.
Shing—
The clear sound echoed softly throughout the treasury.
I froze.
It was beautiful.
The blade possessed a deep crimson color, almost like crystallized blood, while its razor-sharp edge shimmered with an obsidian-black sheen.
Under the magical lights...
The sword almost looked alive.
Its beauty was breathtaking.
Without realizing it, I held my breath.
I gave it a light swing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Perfect.
Everything about it felt natural.
Its weight.
Its balance.
Its grip.
Every movement flowed effortlessly.
It was as though the sword had always belonged in my hand.
Or perhaps...
As though my hand had always belonged on this sword.
At that very moment...
I knew.
This was the one.
Without the slightest hesitation, I carefully sheathed the blade before walking back toward Mother.
"Mom."
She turned her attention toward me.
"I’ve made my choice."
I smiled happily while holding up the katana.
"This one."
"It feels... familiar."
"And..."
"I think it suits me."
Mother quietly examined the weapon in my hands.
The moment her eyes settled on it...
A faint look of surprise flashed across her face.
It disappeared almost instantly.
Then she gave a small nod of approval.
"You’ve made an excellent choice."
I blinked.
"Really?"
She gently rested one hand on the sheath.
"This isn’t an ordinary weapon."
"It’s a Blood-Bound Weapon."
My eyes widened.
"A Blood-Bound Weapon?"
Mother nodded.
"These weapons recognize only a single master."
"They reject everyone else."
She looked directly at me.
"Place a single drop of your blood on the blade."
"The moment it accepts you, the bonding process will begin."
"Once the bond is complete..."
"No one else will ever be able to wield it."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"And unlike ordinary weapons..."
"Blood-Bound Weapons grow alongside their owners."
"They evolve."
"Some awaken unique abilities of their own."
"Others develop entirely new powers as their masters become stronger."
"They are more than weapons."
"They are lifelong companions."
I stared at the crimson katana in astonishment.
A weapon...
That could grow together with its owner?
Such a thing actually existed?
I slowly lowered my gaze toward the sword.
The crimson blade reflected my face quietly.
It remained perfectly still.
Yet somehow...
It no longer felt like an ordinary object.
It almost felt...
Alive.
Waiting patiently.
Waiting...
For me to take the first step.
Mother nodded toward the blade.
"Go ahead."
"Complete the bond."
I carefully drew the katana once more.
Without hesitation, I lightly pricked my fingertip against its razor-sharp edge.
A single crimson droplet formed.
It slowly fell...
Landing gently upon the blade.
For a brief moment...
Nothing happened.
The blood simply rested there.
I blinked.
Did it fail?
Then—
The droplet vanished.
It was absorbed completely into the blade.
A faint crimson glow slowly spread across the weapon, tracing every crimson pattern engraved into the sheath.
The treasury became completely silent.
A soft humming sound echoed from within the sword.
Not loud.
Not violent.
Just...
Gentle.
Almost welcoming.
The glow lingered for only a few seconds before gradually fading away.
Everything returned to normal.
Yet...
Something had changed.
I could feel it.
It was difficult to describe.
Almost as though an invisible thread now connected me to the sword in my hand.
Mother looked at the weapon quietly before speaking.
"...It accepted you."
I looked up.
"It did?"
She nodded.
"Many people have tried to wield that sword over the years."
"It rejected every single one of them."
I stared at the crimson katana in disbelief.
"...Really?"
Mother’s expression remained calm.
"Yes."
"For years, it remained here without acknowledging anyone."
She looked at me.
"But today..."
"It chose its master."
I looked back down at the weapon.
A smile slowly spread across my face.
"I see..."
I gently rested my hand against the sheath.
"Then..."
"I’ll be counting on you."
The sword, of course, gave no reply.
Yet somehow...
I felt as though it had already answered.
And standing there inside the Family Treasury...
With the crimson katana resting comfortably at my side...
I couldn’t help but feel that this was only the beginning.
Not just of my journey.
But of ours.