@shiro

[cranekin]

Did you know there's a museum not far from this base? You can see quite a few treasures on display. I went back for the first time in a long time. Imagine my surprise when I realized one of those treasures was missing...

It doesn't matter if it's a grave, a shrine, or the emperor's treasure chest... thieves will really steal from any place, huh? I wonder what else is lost in this world...

Ah, well, where ever I am, I'm sure I'll be surprised.

( Suddenly he's talking about himself? For those who know him, it makes perfect sense. )

Anyway, what treasures are in your world? If you can tell me a good story, I might give you a surprise.

Comments

[nutkick]

have you been kidnapped or something?

[cranekin]

Yes.
If you want me to return, you'll have to pay 150,000,000 KRYPTOS!

[nutkick]

[ 😒 ]

i guess you're spreading lies on the network out of boredom or something ...

[cranekin]

What? It's true!
I really am stolen in this world.

But I don't know if the ransom is enough.

[nutkick]

i'm confused.

[ TELL HIM THE SWORD LORE. ]

[cranekin]

Hmm
Should I start from the beginning?
You know I'm a sword, Denji-kun and even if we're from different worlds, I'm still from Japan.
If we're in Japan now... there must be a "Tsurumaru Kuninaga" in this world, too.

[nutkick]

and that version of yourself has been chilling in a museum this entire time?

... woah.
that's kinda spooky.

[cranekin]

Well, that's what the museum claims.
But do you want to know a secret?

[nutkick]

always.

[cranekin]

There is no Tsurumaru Kuninaga at the museum.

[nutkick]

so, you are bored and spreading lies ...

[cranekin]

I'm not!
Ah, let's see...

You know by now, there are many different worlds but some of those worlds have similarities.
For example, in my world, I'm from Japan.
In your world, you're from Japan.
And in this world, we're in Japan.

There are three different Japans but they're all still Japan.
Do you understand so far?

[nutkick]

[ squints. ]

ok, so-
the version of yourself in this japan is taken. but that won't affect you, right?

[intertwinedfates]

expensive!! I wonder how much I'd be worth...

[cranekin]

Really? I'm not sure how much I would be either...
But I'm sure you're worth more!

[intertwinedfates]

aw, I dunno about that! I think you're definitely worth that much, even if it's well outside of my budget
good thing you didn't really get ransomed, haha

[cranekin]

Of course!
If we're talking in terms of worth... a god is definitely more valuable than a mere sword.

( Despite being a serial menace and very proud of himself... he is surprisingly respectful when it comes to other gods!! )

There's no ransom so you can save your money.
Very few have ever wanted me for financial gain.
I've usually been a status symbol instead.

[intertwinedfates]

even a bum of a god, huh? I think it depends on the sword, honestly, and you're pretty special yourself, I think

[That's one of his selling points! He's a good kid.]

ah, that's true. possessing such a weapon is worth more than ransoming it, typically, at least when you want power and prestige
I'm glad nobody's been trying to peddle you like junk, though! that'd piss me off...

[cranekin]

I am!

( Don't let anyone ever tell you he isn't proud. He's very proud of himself! He's a renowned and highly desired sword. )

I was forged in the Heian era by Gojo Kuninaga, the disciple of Sanjou Munechika.

( Sanjou Munechika being the greatest smiths in history. )

I was named after the crane to bring fortune to my masters.
And well...
I think if you knew my stories, you would be quite disappointed.

[intertwinedfates]

yeah, I think I recall hearing that! that's so cool! imagine being born from the hands of the greatest swordsmith in all of history!! it's no wonder everybody wants a piece of you

cranes are neat, too, so-- [Wait, what]
huh? why would I be disappointed?

[cranekin]

I've been passed around from owner to owner.
Stolen from graves, lost and found throughout history, and even taken from shrines.
At a certain shrine in the old capital, a shrewd merchant with a sharp eye found me among the old knick-knacks and offerings.
Without explaining a word, he offered to purchase me in exchange for a modest price.

( It was a scam. The merchant scammed the shrine into selling a valuable treasure while pretending it was just an ordinary sword. )

But even that merchant didn't fully realize what he'd found or else he probably wouldn't have sold me off for the price he did later.

[intertwinedfates]

huh...
I don't think that's disappointing at all. if anything, I think it's a little sad, to be honest
it doesn't sound like you ever got the respect and care you deserve as an venerated blade
humans can be so selfish and greedy sometimes...

[He wishes they weren't but that's the nature of the beast, as it were.]

did you ever find your way to somewhere decent, at least?

[cranekin]

Don't be sad.

( He'd rather be hated than let others feel sad about him. )

After the merchant found me and took me away, he tried to sell me to a certain family.
The family was very old and was once been quite powerful but had fallen on hard times. They had to sell many of their treasures and marry off much of their family to maintain what they had left.
But when they saw me, they felt they had to have me. Even if they didn't have much and should have passed on the opportunity, they paid a price that was heavy for them.

I was just an old and worn out sword and at the time, my history was such a mess, even I didn't understand it. But they used searched their records and reached out to old sources and wrote down every detail they could find.
They polished up my blade and restored all of my old fastenings... they were the first ones in centuries to notice my details and they gave me the only other name I've ever had.
I'm still "Tsurumaru Kuninaga" but for that family? I'll let them call me something else.

( And if it isn't evident by how much he's already said about them.... he's obviously very fond of them. )

un: forgery

[misclassed]

That's all you'd want someone to pay?

[cranekin]

As long as my master is honorable and treats me well, I don't care what they pay.
I've never cared about money before.