Seiken no Blacksmith 44

149:

Chapter 44
Sword and Scabbard ②

First, let me tell you once more
what the mayor just told you.

They're not doing it for such a great cause as "restoring order to the continent" or "peace".

Indeed, they do not have a way to seal Valbanill,

and they do not know how to craft a sacred sword.

We do not know what their real motive is,

but it's obvious they're plotting something involving Valbanill.
And you can be sure it will bring harm the continent.

Luke!!

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Don't screw with us!!

Why should we trust you!?

That's the kind of man Siegfried is.

You won't fool us!

Please listen to what the mayor tells you.

We will definitely forge a sacred sword
and seal Valbanill once again!!

Luke is trying to take all the blame for what's happening.

He must be trying to decrease the burden on us...

Please.

Please believe in us.

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Please.

Believe in us.

Don't give up, Luke.

Don't give up!

Don't give up...

"Don't give up"?

When she heard herself murmuring "Don't give up",
Cecily was /taken aback by how she was behaving/.

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/Since.../

/when?/

Since when am I the kind of person who just says "Don't give up" as if it has nothing to do with me?

Chief!

Please let me go to Luke's side!

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Yes, you're the person he needs most right now.
Go.

Yes sir!

It feels like you've changed, Cecily-san.

It feels like you're more adult now.

I'm feeling a little lonely...

And when did I turn into someone who can calmly think about things from a distance...?

154:

I've not been behaving like myself lately.

How can I hypocritically say "Don't give up" from a safe place,

when he's franticly fighting with all he has!?
This is not...

At least, from my point of view, right now...

This is definitely

not how I should behave!!

155:

Mother!

!

Oh!? What is it?

Cecily!?
What's going on?

Haah! Haah!

Mother...

Do we still have the clothes you were wearing when you won father's heart?

!

I just wanted a little bit of courage...

156:

because my legs were shaking at the simple thought of what I was about to do.

Even after Luke's speech, the citizens kept screaming their complaints.

Therefore, in order to soothe their anger, Hugo kept repeating

his explanations through the tamahagane, as earnestly as possible.

The situation was clear, even in Atelier Lisa, where they could only hear what was going on.

Mayor...

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Cecily-san!?

What!?

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H-Hey, Lisa!

Close the door, qui-

Lisa!

Huh?

This is my resolve!

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Luke!
I love you!

161:

Please marry me!!

162:

Luke!

163:

I love you!

Please marry me!!

164:

Huh?

W-What did you just...

You couldn't hear me?

I'll say it as many times as you want.

I love you.

Please marry me.

Hey, what's going on?

I don't know.

Wait.
Don't tell me...

That voice... Isn't she the girl from the Knight Guards?

165:

Shit!

Shit!

I swore to never let my determination waver...
But, right now...

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I want your answer,
Luke.

...

Why...?

Why me?

Probably because you're just right for me.

Your voice,

your eyes,

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your face,

your stature,

your usual brusqueness,
your hidden gentleness,

your obstinacy and sincerity too.

All of it.

They're all just right for me.

Just as if...
they were meant to charm me.

I'm sorry.

I don't harbor this kind of feeling towards you.

168:

You liar.

My instincts are telling me your lying.

This is nonsensical...

Yup. It's nonsensical.

Fufu!

Hey, Luke.

I want to save this city.

I want to turn Aria back to normal.

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I want you.

I want to be useful to you.
I want to devote myself to you.

I'll say it one more time.

I love you, Luke.

Please marry me.

...

I...

I don't have much time left.

/I know./

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But that doesn't matter.

Because I love you, and you love me back.

!

Shit! I'm not match for her!

Your answer.

Do I have to say it now?

Huh?

We don't know what will happen to us in the next fight...
Let's wait until that's behind us and...

No.

I don't need a ceremony, nor a ring, nor a feast to celebrate.

Just...

become mine right now,

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and make me yours.

Don't regret it later.

I won't.

172:

Let me tell you...

I really love you a lot.

Stop joking.

I love you much more than that.

174:

Ga, ha, ha, ha, ha!!

...

He he!

Erm...

At that moment, the citizens were all thinking different things...

but they also all thought that the conversation they had just heard had dispelled the malice in the air without even meaning to.

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A long time ago, she was born as a "human".

She was once reborn as a "demon sword".

And now,

she's living as a "sacred sword".

176:

It seems

the time has come.