One Piece: The Archangel's Guide

Chapter 40: Kuina and Koshiro

"Passed away from old age a year ago..."

Louis fell into thought.

The top swordsmith who had forged the Great Grade swords, Wado Ichimonji and Enma, had actually passed away. This caught Louis completely off guard. He had originally planned to ask him to re-forge a suitable weapon for the growing Yelena, but he never expected to be a year too late.

Koshiro looked at the pensive Louis, a trace of curiosity rising within him. "Mr. Louis, were you hoping to ask my father to forge a sword?"

Louis came back to his senses and explained, "I had heard that the swordsmith from the Land of Wano who forged the two Great Grade swords, Wado Ichimonji and Enma, was living here in seclusion. Therefore, I wanted to ask him to forge a weapon."

Koshiro's vision went dark. He hadn't expected that Louis not only knew his father's name but had also figured out his family's entire background. But given that Louis had not come with ill intent, he didn't dwell on it.

He lifted the teacup before him, took a sip, and then sighed softly. "My father forged countless swords in his lifetime, but in the end, only those two became famous on the seas."

"If a third sword could become famous in the hands of your partner, it would have been a blessing for my father."

"It's just a pity that my father had long since stopped forging swords. The blades he left behind are merely of a common grade."

"But if your partner doesn't mind, she can choose one from among them as a temporary replacement until she finds a suitable famous blade."

In Koshiro's view, Louis's strength was great, so his partner would naturally not be weak. Exchanging a sword that could only be described as well-made for his friendship was not a loss.

However, under Koshiro's gaze, Louis shook his head, politely declining his offer. "Compared to swords, my partner is skilled in using heavy weapons like war hammers."

Koshiro's expression was a picture of bewilderment. He for a moment thought he had misheard. Someone who uses a heavy war hammer wants to find a swordsmith to forge a weapon... isn't that a bit ridiculous? For something like that, as long as the materials were high-grade, couldn't you just go to a factory that makes ship anchors? Or at the very least, wouldn't swinging a large ship anchor be more or less the same as a war hammer?

Out of good manners, Koshiro responded with a smile. "A war hammer? That seems to be an area my father was not very skilled in..."

"What a pity..."

Just then, Kuina, having changed into another kimono also bearing the Shimotsuki family crest, walked out carrying a teapot. She looked at Louis, who was sitting opposite her father and talking with him, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Based on the past few challenges, shouldn't they be dueling in the courtyard by now? Why have they been sitting and talking for so long this time?

She took a deep breath, walked forward gracefully, and refilled their teacups. Just as she was turning to leave, she inadvertently glanced at the Seven Star Sword placed to the side.

"Is that... a cursed sword?" Kuina subconsciously uttered the words.

The longsword, lying quietly on the floor, was emitting a faint, demonic, and ominous aura, like a life-reaping specter watching its prey, making one feel uncomfortable from body to soul. If Kuina wasn't mistaken, a sword that could bring about such discomfort could only be a legendary cursed sword.

Then, breaking her usual habit of leaving quickly, she turned, knelt down beside Koshiro, and skillfully poured herself a cup of tea. She decided not to leave for now. As the heir of the Isshin Dojo, there was nothing improper about her staying here.

But she didn't immediately voice her questions, instead adopting a posture of quiet listening. She knew that the conversation between these two would sooner or later turn to that sword. Every person who had come here with a slightly famous sword had been the same. After all, what swordsman isn't proud of wielding a named blade? Furthermore, she had heard that many great swordsmen on the sea even had a tradition of loudly introducing their swords before a duel to overwhelm their opponent's spirit.

Therefore, if you wanted to know the origin of a sword, you just needed to stand by or pretend to glance at it casually. Most swordsmen's desire to talk about their famous swords was even greater than your curiosity! At least, that's what Kuina had learned.

Koshiro seemed a bit embarrassed by Kuina's arrival. He could see his daughter's thoughts and had no intention of embarrassing her. He only felt that Kuina, being a girl, was at a disadvantage on the path of the sword; he had no intention of being harsh with her in his thoughts or actions.

He sighed inwardly, then smiled at Louis and asked, "Lord Louis, may I ask if that sword is a cursed blade?"

Louis heard him, reached out, picked up the Seven Star Sword, and showed it to the two of them. "It is the Seven Star Sword," he replied calmly. "As you can see, it is an ominous, cursed sword."

"The Seven Star Sword?!" Koshiro, who had been maintaining a faint smile, lost his composure. His expression turned serious. "Does this legendary cursed sword actually exist?" he muttered to himself.

"May I see it?" Koshiro looked at Louis, asking for his permission, his tone extremely solemn and sincere.

"If you can guarantee you won't be controlled by it, I have no objection."

"Thank you very much," Koshiro said. He then looked at Kuina and instructed, "Kuina, please take a few steps back first."

"Okay."

Kuina slowly stood up, carrying Wado Ichimonji, and walked to Louis's side to watch quietly.

Shing...

Koshiro slowly unsheathed the Seven Star Sword. Instantly, a gloomy green light blossomed, enveloping the blade, and a demonic, ominous aura spread throughout the courtyard.

Koshiro's eyes were tinged with a red light, and the seriousness on his face deepened. But this level of ominousness could not affect his mind, nor did it stop him from examining the sword.

To the side, Kuina felt a thick smell of blood assault her nose, followed by the spreading ominous aura, which battered her mind. In an instant, she subconsciously retreated.

She found herself wading in what seemed to be a stream of ankle-deep water. No, it wasn't a stream, but blood flowing from beneath a pile of corpses that stretched out of sight. Looking up, a blood moon hung in the sky. In the distance, a fierce battle was raging, the ground covered in blood and bodies. At the very center of the battlefield was an altar, with the Seven Star Sword plunged into it, continuously emitting a demonic and ominous aura.

"Kuina!"

A sudden shout startled Kuina awake. Her face was pale, and her body under the kimono was soaked in sweat. Cold sweat also appeared on her face.

Koshiro had already sheathed the Seven Star Sword at some point and was looking at Kuina with a face full of apology. "I'm sorry. I underestimated this sword. Its demonic nature seems to be just as the legends say; it not only affects the wielder but can also influence those nearby."