Chapter 10 : The Cursed Sword [1]

Logue Town was a well-established place, unlike Ragna's home, Lost Island, which was practically a secluded place, while this place had everything. So it wasn't a surprise that this place had a weapon shop as well.

Ragna soon learned that anyone can get themselves a weapon without any license or proof, that was the culture and nature of this world.

"Come on, this way…" Tashigi's voice rang out in his ear and a smile appeared on his face, he might be a loner but 6 years of solitude had made him starved for human interaction.

He met Tashigi not more than 20 minutes ago, however, he already enjoying his time with her, the girl was cheerful and honest. Being a Marine, Ragna had believed in her that she was a decent person.

"Coming coming…"

Along the way, Ragna saw the town for the first time, market place, town's own little town hall and even a little school, the place got everything. Ragna wasn't expecting a school here but it was and he found the place even more adoring. The idea of maybe settling down here after his journey to sea arose inside him, of course, that was only the case if he returned that is.

The sea is a dangerous place, especially the grand line, his mother told him.

'I have to get a lot stronger if I wish for a peaceful life that like.' He can't help but sigh. He actually had no interest in the sea itself, he preferred land travel much more enjoyable, but he had to. Besides the fact that he wants to travel across the world, which was only possible through seas, the only reason he was going out was to find those people who destroyed his home.

He will have his revenge and won't be stopping at anything from achieving that.

"We are here…" A cheerful voice of Tashigi broke his daze, he saw in front of him was a big shop with the name of 'Logue Town Finest Steel'.

"Yeah, let's go in…" Smiling he said, forgetting everything else for the time being, he was finally getting a sword of his own and he gonna cherish this time.

*Ting…

As soon as both enter the shop, the door hits a bell placed at the upper corner of the door, indicating that a customer has arrived.

"Welcome, how may I help you ?" A slightly old and rough voice attracted their attention, Ragna saw a man with a strange hairstyle was behind the counter, the man was half bald with only the sides of his head having hair and even those hairs were spread out like an eagle's wings. Making Ragna smile up but he didn't laugh out.

The man was wearing a blue coloured shirt and had a slightly red noise, undoubtedly this man was the owner of this shop.

"Hello, I'm looking for a sword…" Ragna holding back his laughter, asked politely to which the man rubbed his hand like he hit a jackpot.

"Oh sure, sure. What kind of sword does the customer desire ?" The shop owner asked with a very merchant-like tone and posture, it wasn't hard to see that he was trying to sell the thing and make a profit.

"Hmm…" Ragna thought about it, he himself had no idea. Though he liked swords but he knew nothing about them, for him a famous sword and a fake one for decoration might be similar until he tried them out.

"Tashigi, what do you think I should do ?" He by default left the decision to the sword's expert. He really had no idea, besides the fact that he wasn't actually looking to spend that much money on his first sword, he knew nothing.

As for spending less money, he had his reason, part was because he still had no idea whether he had a talent for swordsmanship and part was his limited amount of funds.

He planned to stay in Logue Town for some time and he gonna need the money.

And as if Tashigi could read his mind, she pointed out at the cheap-looking swords stashed on the side.

"When I was new to swordsmanship and just getting started, my teacher told me to use only wooden swords, but I assume that you will be using the sword in hunting pirates so that's out of the question. Since you are yet to learn swordsmanship, I'll say just pick a cheap good sword from that stash and get started, Once you master your craft well, you can always buy yourself a better one,' Tashigi pointed at the cheap stash of sword on the side and added.

"Ah, I was also thinking the same, you're quite wise one ain't you." I grin formed on his face and he moved toward the corner to pick a sword for himself. Tashigi felt a blush hearing her comment controlled her face from forming a grin, this was the first time someone was praising her for her knowledge about swords and swordsmanship.

"Tsk." The only person who wasn't happy was the shop owner, he expected to sell an expensive sword today but the customers were once again like usual, cheap stakes.

Uninterested, he went back to his newspaper.

Ragna on the other hand started picking up one sword after the next to get the best one for him. Being a noob, the only thing he could do is to feel each sword and see which suited him the best.

Length, curve, handle, size, even something unimportant as colour. Being its first sword, he just wanted to take his time and choose the best one under his budget.

'What the budget by the way ?' He paused, having no idea what the normal price of a good sword should be. Having no idea he just left all that bargaining to the woman of the group.

'Maybe later I should give her a treat or something to express my thanks.' He mused.

As he was looking for a sword, his hand touched a red hilt and a buzzing came to his ears. A warmth spread though his body or maybe it was just his imagination. Blinking he observed the second basket of swords he was browsing through and among them, he saw a red hilt and sheath.

This sword was just like any other in the basket, the only difference was that the colour of his hilt and sheat wasn't as dull as other swords here.

But it wasn't the colour which attracted Ragna's attention, it was the strange feeling when he touched the sword. A strange buzzing sound with this heat. He can't explain it, but it was like the sword was calling for him.

He pondered to himself whether something like that was even possible and then after shaking his head he took out the sword to inspect it.

Again it looked similar to any other sword to him. But as took out the sword from his sheath, a brilliant reflection fell on his eyes, and even though there was no red light in the entire shop, he saw a fiery red light like that of fire. Only then did he notice that there was a red tint to the edge of the blade.

Instinctively he wanted to put the sword back, he didn't like fire for obvious reasons, not like he hated it but he rather not have it if that's an option.

But as he held the sword more, he felt how well-balanced the sword was, it wasn't as heavy as that other sword but could tell that it wasn't made with inferior materials. It was an instinct which was telling him that this sword was even better than the other swords.

Pondering he finally decided.

"Tashigi, look at this sword."

Tashigi, ever so excited about a sword, came running in as she was only keeping her distance since wants to let Ragna decide his first sword.

But as soon as she saw the blade, she fell in a daze.

"I have seen this blade somewhere ?" She muttered to herself, she had an itch inside her to just open her sword encyclopedia and look for this sword but she wasn't carrying it today with her.

"What do you think ?" Seeing Tashigi like this, Ragna was confused.

Tashigi almost immediately came out of her daze and was about to ask for the sword to get a closer look at the sword, there was something strange about this sword, being a swordsman she could tell that this sword was different.

However, before she could even do that, a voice jolted both of them.

"No, not that sword, I can't… that sword is not for sale, choose another." The owner shouted, his looks were strange as he was glaring at the red sword.

"Huh… Why ?" Ragna was annoyed, he finally found a good sword and now he can't have it.

"Because I said so ?" The shopkeeper didn't explain but this was more suspicious.

Ragna felt even more annoyed.

"Nope, I have decided. I'll be taking this sword and none other," he didn't like the sword that much but he still didn't want to give up a good match, from weight to height and the curve of the blade, he felt the sword was perfect, so much so that he was ready to suffer the red colour even.

"No, you can't have it, why can't you take some other sword from that rack," the shopkeeper was a too stubborn creature, he didn't back down.

"Not until you explain why you're not selling it." Shrugging he glared at the man into the eyes. Tashigi on the other hand was just left sighing as both stubborn men were unyielding.

Finally, when she couldn't take it anymore, she was ready to politely ask Ragna to choose another, after all this was the old man's shop, they can't do this.

However, before that, the old man finally opens his mouth. Let out a sigh.

"Because that sword is cursed."

"Curse ?" Ragna was taken aback, out of all the things he wasn't expecting a superstition. A strange look appears on his face only for a second before he removes it. If it was his previous world then he would have immediately refuted but this was an anime world, so it might as well be true…

'A cursed sword.' Tashigi's eyes narrowed and instinctively her eyes went to the red sword in Ragna's hand as her mind started to recall all the curse blade she could think of. And there was only one Red Cursed blade that came to her mind.

Her eyes widen.

"Anyone who had used this sword before had died a gruesome death. I-I can't have it in my conscience if I let you have it and the sword led you to your death." The man finally confessed, looking down and a little afraid.

Ragna wasn't sure what to think about this, he didn't believe in Superstition but if the man wouldn't sell him then he couldn't have it.

"It is said that all the curse blades are extremely blood thirty, let alone the enemies they even spill the blood of their wielders…" He continued making Ragna dejected.

Sighing he was ready to put the sword back in the basket but another buzz came from the sword, he felt a slight vibration in his hand as he looked down.

He felt like the sword was trying to say something to him. He had a feeling that this sword and him were meant to be together. He wasn't sure, this had happened to him very few times, it's like on instinct that he knew something as if the world itself was telling him a tale.

As his hand was ready to put the sword back in the basket, he gritted his teeth and stopped.

'No, at least not like this…'

"Hey, what are you doing ?" The shopkeeper called out as he saw Ragna didn't put the sword back but rather he took it out from its sheath and by its tip, he placed it down on the ground vertically while holding the sword's hilt to balance it by fingers.

"I'm not someone who believes in superstition, bloody thirsty sword my foot, a sword is a sword, its wielder decides who it's cut.

As for whether this sword cuts me, we'll know soon enough…" he shouted and spun the sword by its extremely pointy end on the ground with his finger like a bay blade while his eyes were closed.

"Oi what are you doing… ?" Both Shop Keeper and Tashigi were confused?

But then what Ragna did almost gave them a heart attack. While his eyes closed he grabbed the spinning sword and swung it towards his left hand which was outstretched.

"No, you fool."

"Ragna…"

xxx

[Word Count: 2143]

Haha, had to see zoro's episode to write this and then come up with another way as I didn't wanted it to be similar as Zoro.

As for the buzzing and heat ?

What do you guy thing it is ?

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