After Ajax and his friends split up in the city Springtown. Ryizen finds himself in a Swordsmith shop where he learns about a different sword. A Cursed Sword from a woman named Momo.
"Oh so you want to learn about cursed swords huh? Why is that?" Momo asks Ryizen.
"Well it's caught my interest, why should I tell you?" Ryizen says.
"Well I say we shouldn't tell him jack squat." The shopkeeper says.
"You're the one that was hogging the information, old man!" Ryizen snarls.
"Hey hey calm down you two. I can explain it all." Momo chuckles. "Cursed swords were made well. I guess made isn't really the correct word. They were found about 3 decades ago." Momo begins to explain.
"Huh? So they weren't made but then how?" Ryizen starts.
"Maybe let her speak and you'll find out." The shopkeeper says.
"I've had enough of your-!" Ryizen begins to say before Momo begins to slightly walk away.
"Fine fine I'll listen." Ryizen says, sighing.
"Good!" Momo says, smiling. "Now as I was saying cursed swords weren't made they were found. To be exact when a vengeful samurai or Ronin dies or gets killed they leave behind a curse on the sword. Now this isn't all. The curse of the sword is originally to make the user who holds the sword to become bloodlusted and kill everyone in sight." Momo begins to explain.
"Jeez that seems kinda f'd up." Ryizen says.
"Indeed. But over the years people have found a way around that. If you try to purify the sword in the water then you can get past the curse." Momo says.
"Wait seriously? That's awesome!" Ryizen says, amazed.
"Yes, however the curse won't go away so easily. After purifying it the sword lets the user cut whatever they want. Which is why it allows the user to clash with charm users." Momo explains.
"Okay that's fine then I think I like this sword." Ryizen says.
"Let her finish boy." The shopkeeper grumbles.
"Unfortunately that "blessing" the curse gives you is a curse hidden in another curse. As if you truly wield a cursed sword. You won't be allowed to wear any armour or use any other swords besides cursed swords. It's basically suicide for any type of samurai or Ronin." Momo finishes explaining small tears rolling down her face.
"It makes sense now why the train rogue wasn't wearing any armour. It was because he couldn't." Ryizen says to himself.
After Momo's explanation an eerie silence takes over the shop.
"Then I'll take one." Ryizen finally says.
"WHAT?!" Momo and The Shopkeeper yell in unison.
"You do realize that you'll die if you use one!" Momo says almost pleading.
"Kid, didn't you say you're trying to find Kimmegona's sword?! You're practically asking to die!" The shopkeeper says.
"Yeah I did. But if I can't protect the ones I love and care for what good does being alive mean. Ryizen says.
"Hmm. You drive a hard bargain. Fine them go die see if I care. But the sword will be 800,000 Ryō." The shopkeeper says.
"WHAT?! I DON'T EVEN HAVE A TENTH OF THAT KINDA MONEY!" Ryizen exclaims.
"Then that's too bad it seems you'll never get this sword then." The shopkeeper reveals a black sword blade with an orangish tint to it.
"Woah is that a cursed sword? And wait you just had that there the entire time?" Ryizen gasps.
"Indeed but since you don't have the money for it then there's no point in you having it." The shopkeeper points out.
"Damn, that's the same looking sword that the rogue had too." Ryizen says to himself. "Hey c'mon there's gotta be another way. What if I sell you this sword how much would it be then!" Ryizen says, placing his sword on the table.
"Seems like only 30,000 Ryō to me." The shopkeeper says grinning.
"Damn you." Ryizen says through gritted teeth.
"Father, come on stop teasing him and put it away! You're only making the situation worse!" Momo pleads.
And in that moment Ryizen grabs the curse sword from the shopkeeper out of desperation or maybe to prove himself.
"Alright then how about this I'll do a gamble test I'll toss this sword and if it-" Ryizen starts before a searing burning feeling erupts throughout his body.
"Oh it seems you forgot the curse once you get it you can't wear armour anymore. Momo forgot to tell you if you are caught having armour with the sword it'll burn you alive." The Shopkeeper says smirking.
"Ahhh! You damn bastard!" Ryizen yells as smoke erupts off his body.
"Father stop this! Take the sword back already, he'll die!" Momo says, trying to reach out to Ryizen.
"Sorry Momo but it's the price he has to pay for trying to steal." The Shopkeeper says keeping an eye on Ryizen.
"But this is how Leo dies please I can't bear to watch this again!" Momo says genuine tears come flowing down her face.
"Momo relax, the boy's first test is to survive this. If he doesn't burn up then he'll pass." The Shopkeeper quietly says.
"Damnit it feels like my insides are burning. I don't think I can stand much longer yet alone breathe. Ryizen thinks to himself. "Wait the armour! What if I just take it off!" He comes to a realization but as he tries to grab his armour his hand singes from the heat.
"Pass? What do you mean by "pass?" Momo says.
"Leo took this test and failed. If the boy lives he will pass the test and be deemed worthy to hold the sword." The Shopkeeper explains.
"Dammit I can't move my body anymore. Is this the end? All because I just wanted a stupid sword? Dammit I won't allow it!" Ryizen yells.
"Is he?" Momo says look at Ryizen who's practically a hot molten red.
"Yes, the boy's doing it." The Shopkeeper says.
"I can't die now, just give me a second c'mon body!" Ryizen says standing up in the pure smoke.
"Sword Arts: Concentration Cut!" Ryizen says as he slashes a table in half.
"Hey you can't just do that!" Momo yells.
"No no it's fine. He's passed. The Shopkeeper says as the smoker starts to dissipate from Ryizen.
"What the? I feel lighter and I'm not as hot anymore." Ryizen says, looking down at the cursed sword.
"It's because your body has accepted the curse and all your armour has melted away." The Shopkeeper explains and stands up.
"Accepted?" Ryizen asks.
"Indeed. That cursed sword's name is Shūnō. You'd best take care of it." The Shopkeeper says.
"Wait but don't I have to pay you for this!" Ryizen asks, patting down his shirt and pants that were previously covered in armour.
"No boy, it's free. No one ever wanted to buy that sword in the first place. But it's deemed you've chosen to wield it so who am I to stop it." The Shopkeeper explains before sitting back down.
"Thank you sir. And you too miss Momo! I'll remember this when I help Ajax find that sword." Ryizen bows before leaving the sword shop.
"Ajax huh? Now where have I heard that name before?" The Shopkeeper says.
"Daddy, that was so sweet of you to let him get the sword for free." Momo says hugging the shopkeeper.
"Yeah yeah sure." The Shopkeeper says lost in thought.
Outside the Swordsmith shop Ryizen looks down at the sword. "Shūnō huh? Well Shūnō we're gonna have a lot of fights on our hands. Hope you're up to it." He grins as the sword pulses slightly in his hand.
End of Chapter