Shangri La Pt. 1

42: Strategy

"Ha? What d'you want?"

Katsuki managed to get a good look at this man that they approached, and he seemed familiar to one of his own knights. A man with light gray hair and black eyes while he was covered in black soot and wearing a large heavy apron that seemed to be made of high quality leather. 

He didn't seem like the kind of person that would be safe to talk to on someone's own, but Katsuki had no choice since he came to this place with a goal in mind. 

"Kendo? What're you doing out here and tryin' to bother me? I'm busy, so you and that guy you brought better beat it." the man groaned as he tried to turn back to his work and start banging on the thin piece of metal before. 

"Tetsu..."

Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, a young and talented man who works as a blacksmith who used to serve for the palace just like Kendo. He's someone who can craft anything from nothing and make it become the best weapon in the East. 

Unfortunately, the palace had found someone who could create weapons at a faster pace than Tetsutetsu could, so he was replaced and kicked out of the palace for it. And just like Kendo, the two have kept contact if they ever need help even when the chance is practically rare to happen. Now he resides in the deep and murky alleyways as a regular blacksmith who continues to craft whatever he chooses and waits for worthy customers to take his prized possessions. 

'Why the hell did she bring me here if this guy ain't even gonna help me?' 

"Just looking at that guy you brought with you, he doesn't look like someone that came here to get a worthy weapon from me." 

"Ah– That's exactly it, Tetsu! I brought this guy here for something that isn't a weapon!" Kendo replied with excitement, catching Tetsutetsu's attention and making him stop from his work to look back at the disguised Captain.

"Not a weapon?" 

"Go on, tell him." Kendo budged as she elbowed Katsuki in the side and making him flinch. 

"Ah– I-I– I'm looking for a hairpin." Katsuki spoke as just saying those very words made him blush. 

"Ha?" 

"He's Izumi's personal bodyguard, and he wants to give her something meaningful, like a hairpin." Kendo clarified as Tetsutetsu focused his gaze at the disguised Captain once more. 

And though Katsuki was anticipating for this blacksmith to tell him to leave once more, he heard; "I haven't done something like that in a while, and I'm a little surprised that you know Izumi." Katsuki darted his eyes up at the man to make sure he didn't mishear. 

"W-What?"

"If you're her bodyguard, then are you a soldier up there?" Tetsutetsu questioned, and it didn't take long for Katsuki to understand what he meant. 

"Y-Yes, I am." 

"Huh. And now that I look at you, you don't look like someone that needs a new weapon since you got that one on your side." the blacksmith added, leaving Katsuki to gaze down at the thin and sheathed sword resting on his waist. 

'Huh? Does he know this sword I'm holding? Is it stronger than my own sword?' 

"Ugh– Tetsu, are you gonna give him what he's asking for? I can't leave my shop like this for too long, so do you have a hairpin he can have?" Kendo nudged the blacksmith.

"Arg– Yeah, I have a few that I've made." Tetsutetsu sighed, leaving the Captain to bat his eyes from that answer. 

'This guy... actually sells hairpins?' he thought, only for Kendo to lean over at him and was ready to whisper something to him.