Magi-Borne (A Touhou Project Fanfiction)

The Blacksmith

I flew around, searching around for the Greater Fairy. So far, I flew even around the Garden of The Sun but came out with no findings.

However, I do encounter some sunflower Fairies that need to know their places after they attacked me. Using simple lasers and danmaku I managed to drive them away.

I stopped flying in front of the Youkai Forest, and decided to search on foot. I walked inside and took glances all around me, but no foes in sight.

However the forest is dark, and yet I know that the Great Fairy would hesitate to come here due to her personality, but if she's not at the lake maybe I can find her anywhere near it.

I conjured a ball of fire, using my mini-hakkero to light the way. I continued to walk, from treeline to treeline and from clearing to clearing, but still no sign of the fairy. Oddly, there were no Youkai either.

But then as I head back inside the forest to go back out the way I came from I heard a voice.

"Over here, Magician..."

A female voice sounded through the winds that blow in the forest, and I see the source coming from a figure with turquoise hair, who then went deeper inside.

Curious, I followed the figure until I see light, coming from within. I walked ahead and I see the figure in front of me. Turquoise hair, blue right eye and red left eye, carrying a parasol with an eye and tongue. The Kara kasa Obake, Tatara Kogasa. She is wearing a black robe, that is obscuring the clothes she usually wore underneath.

She is smiling, like usual. She sometimes couldn't control her emotions like Kokoro, and frightening humans is like a game to her... Since it's the "rule for a Youkai to be scaring people." But I was never scared of her.

"Huh. I'm surprised you're not frightening me."

"Well, in these times, scaring people is probably a bad idea since you've seen how the humans were behaving."

Behind her is an old looking, rectangular tub made of ancient clay, where from inside is a burning fire.

"What's that, Kogasa?"

"That, my friend... Is a Tatara, like my namesake... It's an old clay furnace used for blacksmithing."

"Ah right, I remember you saying that you're adept at this."

"And of course I am! In these times, I arm people who wanted to defend themselves for a price, but after seeing those humans... I might as well give one to you for free. Got something here, that might interest you, Magician!"

She chuckled, before opening one of her robe's side with her left hand, revealing that behind it is a small belt attached, with two swords on it. On her torso, there is another belt, carrying two small blades.

"Got a selection of good things on hand, Magician! Take your pick."

She then laid out some of the weaponry she had on the ground. I was at awe, because the last I saw her is that she can only make needles, but now?

There are two small blades, two curved swords with wooden scabbards which reminded me of Youmu's sword. There is also lesser items like kitchen knives, meat cleavers, and more. Seeing her as of now, is like looking inside an armory.

"I'll choose... This, I think?" I pointed to one of the small blades, that is sheathed inside a black wooden scabbard.

"Ahh, the tanto. Small, yet effective, thanks to it's tamahagane steel. Nice pick, to end your foes faster, Magician."

I took it, and she handed me... A leather belt?

"You'll need a place to store weapons. This shall do. And before you go, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"I'm looking for a rare metal, to be used in my forgery. It's something called mithril, a strong silver metal that can't be found anywhere in the outside world... But maybe some places like the Forest of Magic, or that library in the Mansion is the best place to look for it."

"What's in it for me?"

"I think I could make a special something for you. To be more... What should I say, weaponised? Hehehe!"

"Alright then."

"Oh, and before you leave as well... The next time you come back here to buy or sharpen your weapons... You must pay with some ore."

"Ores? But aren't they rare?"

"Or maybe you can scavenge steel weaponry from your fallen foes and give them to me, so that I can break it down."

"Got it, Kogasa. Now, can I be off?"

"Of course, Magician. And remember, to bring the metals that I told you!"

I walked away, towards the Forest exit before I took a ride on my broom and flew away.

Well, it looks like I can upgrade my gear if I help the people who can do so for me. First, rare spells for Master and then metals from either weapons or ore for that Kara kasa Obake.

My life is turning into an adventure by now is it? But it's something I brought myself into, and I need to deal with it.

- To Be Continued