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Japanese light novel series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sacred Blacksmith (Japanese: 聖剣の刀鍛冶, Hepburn: Seiken no Burakkusumisu, lit. "The Sacred Sword Blacksmith"), is a Japanese light novel series by Isao Miura, with illustrations by Luna. All 16 volumes have been published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J label. A manga adaptation by Kōtarō Yamada started serialization in the seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on March 27, 2009. The first tankōbon was published June 23, 2009. A 12 episode anime adaptation by Manglobe studios aired from October 3, 2009 to December 19, 2009.[2][3]
| The Sacred Blacksmith | |
The cover of the first light novel featuring Cecily Campbell | |
| 聖剣の刀鍛冶（ブラックスミス） (Seiken no Burakkusumisu) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Isao Miura |
| Illustrated by | Luna |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| Imprint | MF Bunko J |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | November 22, 2007 – August 23, 2013 |
| Volumes | 16 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Isao Miura |
| Illustrated by | Kōtarō Yamada |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | Monthly Comic Alive |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | March 27, 2009 – January 27, 2017 |
| Volumes | 10 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masamitsu Hidaka |
| Produced by | Hiromasa Minami Hiroshi Kudo Kazuya Takahashi Masazumi Katō Shōji Hirako Takashi Kochiyama |
| Written by | Masashi Suzuki |
| Music by | Tamiya Terashima |
| Studio | Manglobe |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | AT-X, CTC, tvk, TV Saitama, CTV, Tokyo MX, Sun TV |
| English network | |
| Original run | October 3, 2009 – December 19, 2009 |
| Episodes | 12 |
Forty-four years ago, a great war known as the Valbanill War ravaged the land. One of the war's most dangerous weapons was the Demon Contract, where humans sacrifice their bodies to become powerful demons. Realizing the damage the contracts have caused the land, the surviving nations made peace and banned the use of the Demon contracts.
Cecily Campbell is a 3rd generation Knight from Housman, one of the cities of the Independent Trade Cities, a democratic federation of cities. As her grandfather was one of the founders of the Independent Trade Cities, she is proud of her heritage and wishes to protect her city as a knight, like her father and grandfather before her. One day, she fights a mad veteran of the war causing trouble in the market, and, inexperienced and outmatched, faces defeat. But she is saved by a mysterious blacksmith named Luke Ainsworth. Cecily is impressed by Luke's katana, a weapon she has never seen before, and asks him to make one for her. Her involvement with Luke will bring her to an adventure she never expected.
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 22, 2007[4] | 978-4-8401-2083-8 |
| 2 | May 25, 2008[5] | 978-4-8401-2141-5 |
| 3 | September 25, 2008[6] | 978-4-8401-2423-2 |
| 4 | January 23, 2009[7] | 978-4-8401-2602-1 |
| 5 | March 25, 2009[8] | 978-4-8401-2723-3 |
| 6 | June 25, 2009[9] | 978-4-8401-2802-5 |
| 7 | September 25, 2009[10] | 978-4-8401-3028-8 |
| 8 | January 25, 2010[11] | 978-4-8401-3157-5 |
| 9 | May 25, 2010[12] | 978-4-8401-3283-1 |
| 10 | November 25, 2010[13] | 978-4-8401-3487-3 |
| 11 | November 25, 2011[14] | 978-4-8401-3931-1 |
| 12 | March 23, 2012[15] | 978-4-8401-4534-3 |
| 13 | July 25, 2012[16] | 978-4-8401-4646-3 |
| 14 | November 22, 2012[17] | 978-4-8401-4903-7 |
| 15 | March 25, 2013[18] | 978-4-8401-5133-7 |
| 16 | August 23, 2013[19] | 978-4-8401-5253-2 |
The manga was announced simultaneously with the anime adaptation, on the wraparound jacket of the fourth light novel volume. Artist Kōtarō Yamada launched the series in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine on March 27, 2009.[20] The ninth volume announced in February 2015 that the series would end in its tenth volume,[21] and the last chapter was published in the magazine's March issue on January 27, 2016.[22]
Tokyopop announced their license to the series in November 2010, with the first volume scheduled for June 7, 2011.[23] However, the publisher shut down on May 31, 2011,[24] with all of its titles reverting to their original owners.[25] The series was licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment in October 2012.[26]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 23, 2009[27] | 978-4-8401-2582-6 | May 21, 2013[28] | 978-1-937867-32-4 |
| 2 | October 23, 2009[29] | 978-4-8401-2928-2 | August 6, 2013[28] | 978-1-937867-65-2 |
| 3 | March 23, 2010[30] | 978-4-8401-3304-3 | December 3, 2013[28] | 978-1-937867-83-6 |
| 4 | September 22, 2010[31] | 978-4-8401-3375-3 | March 4, 2014[28] | 978-1-62692-008-8 |
| 5 | March 23, 2011[32] | 978-4-8401-3769-0 | July 1, 2014[28] | 978-1-62692-040-8 |
| 6 | November 22, 2011[33] | 978-4-8401-4062-1 | November 4, 2014[28] | 978-1-62692-086-6 |
| 7 | August 23, 2012[34] | 978-4-8401-4710-1 | March 3, 2015[28] | 978-1-62692-121-4 |
| 8 | August 23, 2013[35] | 978-4-8401-5303-4 | July 14, 2015[28] | 978-1-62692-162-7 |
| 9 | February 23, 2015[36] | 978-4-0406-7258-8 | November 24, 2015[28] | 978-1-62692-214-3 |
| 10 | February 23, 2017[37] | 978-4-0406-9042-1 | July 11, 2017[28] | 978-1-62692-273-0 |
An anime adaptation was announced on the wraparound jacket for the fourth light novel volume.[20] The series was directed by Masamitsu Hidaka and written by Masashi Suzuki, with animation by the studio Manglobe. The series character designs were provided by Jun Nakai.[38] The opening theme is "Justice of Light" by Mayumi Gojo while the ending theme is "Miracle Happy Day" (みらくるハッピーディ) by Aki Toyosaki. The series aired from October 3, 2009[39] to December 19, 2009.
The series was licensed by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand,[40] Manga Entertainment in the United Kingdom,[41] and Funimation in North America.[42] Funimation later announced that it would release the series uncut on DVD after streaming the edited version online.[43] The series was one of the first of Funimations's relaunched collector's edition line of series, receiving a limited edition containing an art booklet.[44] It was broadcast on the Funimation Channel starting on August 8, 2011.[45]
| No. | Title | Original air date | English air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Knight" "Kishi - Knight" (騎士 - Knight) | October 3, 2009 | August 8, 2011 | |
|
After confronting a citizen who was haggling at a tamahagane merchant, Cecily Campbell, a member of the Knight Guards of Housman, attempts to stop Jack Strader, a mentally unhinged war veteran, from attacking civilians. After her sword is busted in the fight, she is saved by Luke Ainsworth, a skilled blacksmith wielding an unusual curved sword called a katana. Before she can thank him, he insults her skills as a knight and leaves. Cecily learns the advanced skills necessary to repair her sword have dwindled among the cities blacksmiths in favour of cheaper mass production techniques, so she becomes determined to have Luke forge her the katana he uses. At Luke’s home where he lives with his friend and assistant, Lisa, Luke refuses her request, stating he only forges those katana for his own personal use. A nearby group of soldiers are attacked by monsters being controlled by a man in a black cloak who wants the treasure they are guarding. Luke easily slays the monsters with his katana, whilst also saving Cecily again, so the cloaked man transforms one of his allies into a demon who destroys Luke’s Katana. While Cecily distracts the demon Luke and Lisa use magic to forge a new magical katana in mere seconds. | ||||
| 2 | "Devil's Contract - Valbanill" "Akuma Keiyaku - Valbanill" (悪魔契約 - Valbanill) | October 10, 2009 | August 15, 2011 | |
|
Luke destroys the demon but Cecily is surprised when his new sword simply crumbles away, as his katana forged by magic are more fragile than his real ones. The damage from the battle suddenly catches up to Cecily when her armour falls off, exposing her breasts, so she beats Luke in a fit of rage. The next day Luke uses his bruised appearance as an excuse to skip a meeting with several foreign diplomats about the demon Valbanill who was sealed away by a sacred sword but may soon wake up. It is decided that Luke will forge a new sacred sword. Cecily’s commander, Hannibal Quasar, interrogates a bandit who claims the cloaked man can forge demon contracts and turn men into demons. The bandit is killed by a demon inside his body to keep him from talking. Hannibal finds out the soldiers guarding the treasure were a ruse and the treasure was secretly allowed to enter the city by herself. Luke finally agrees to forge Cecily a katana, but only if she can pay the enormous fee for materials and the lengthy forging process, which she can’t. Cecily is given a mission from Hannibal to guard a young woman named Aria. | ||||
| 3 | "Demon Sword" "Maken - Sword" (魔剣 - Sword) | October 17, 2009 | August 22, 2011 | |
|
Cecily is told that Aria is actually a powerful weapon called a Demon Sword that can take human form. At Luke’s request Aria transforms into a sword which Cecily demonstrates can form blades made from wind. Hannibal plans to use Aria as bait to capture whoever tried to steal her. In the city's prison many prisoners infected by demon parasites escape. Cecily obtains a new sword from the armoury that has one sharp edge and one blunt edge, intending to use it to practice for when she eventually gets a katana from Luke. Reginald, another knight, mocks her for bothering to carry a sword when she is too afraid to kill in battle. The prisoners attack the town on the orders of the cloaked man. Cecily joins the fighting, but having never killed someone before, is overcome by fear and is unable to kill her opponent. Reginald kills the man instead and accuses Cecily of cowardice in front of the other knights. Aria praises Cecily for preferring to preserve life. Elsewhere, Jack Strader, who forged a demon pact years ago to save his own life during the war, is offered a chance to redeem himself by the cloaked man. | ||||
| 4 | "Pledge" "Seiyaku - Promise" (誓約 - Promise) | October 24, 2009 | August 29, 2011 | |
|
In the morning, Cecily is using her new practice sword to train while Aria watches her. Aria expresses interest in Cecily becoming her next master, but Cecily rejects this, opting to become her friend instead. Hannibal reveals that the Demon Sword auction might be a ploy to bait Siegfried, known to Cecily as "the man in the black". Cecily performs the auction with Aria, until the participants' applause is cut off when Jack appears in the middle and sets the place on fire. Luke, Cecily and Aria manage to defeat Jack and attempt to save the people. Thereafter, Aria pledges to become Cecily's partner as a sword meant to protect the people. | ||||
| 5 | "Ties - Together" "Kizuna - Together" (絆 - Together) | October 31, 2009 | September 5, 2011 | |
|
Aria and Cecily are sitting together at Luke's shop while Lisa is supporting Luke with daily chores. Cecily finds that Lisa only has another identical set of clothes to the one she is wearing, and asks Luke to let Lisa go with her and Aria to the marketplace. They manage to pick a new dress for Lisa, and Cecily convinces Luke to show his compassion for Lisa. On their way back home, Lisa asks if Luke finds her new dress good, but Luke gives her a hat and is just glad it matches. | ||||
| 6 | "Princess" "Kōjo - Princess" (皇女 - Princess) | November 7, 2009 | September 12, 2011 | |
|
Cecily and Aria are attacked by a young woman called Doris who is a bodyguard to Princess Charlotte E. Firobisher. Cecily as a tough time until she uses Aria and discover Doris has been using the Demon Sword of Earth, Claymore, all this time. Doris is accompanied by 2 other guards Margot that has the Demon Sword of Scarlet Ray, Rhompair and Penelope who wields the Demon Sword that Slays Demon Swords, Ballock knife. Each take turn attacking Cecily and Aria. Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte herself confronts Luke and tries to force him to come with her using the Demon Sword of Black Flames, Evadne. However, it soon becomes clear that these women are not the murderous thieves and kidnappers they first appear to be. | ||||
| 7 | "Family" "Kazoku - Family" (家族 - Family) | November 14, 2009 | September 19, 2011 | |
|
Charlotte and the others are forced to work as maids in exchange for staying in the Campbell house and unfortunately for her Cecily is dragged in as well.However, whilst living and working together they begin to learn more about each other. Meanwhile Aria talks to Evadne about what it means to be a demon sword. | ||||
| 8 | "Departure - Resolution" "Shuttatsu - Resolution" (出立 - Resolution) | November 21, 2009 | September 26, 2011 | |
|
When the Empire refuses to accept Charlotte's status she is forced to make a decision to defect to the militant nation in order to protect the city and her new friends and give up the 4 demon sword to the empire or try to make a desoerate plea to her father if they are taken prisoner. Her 3 guards believe they may be able to make the emperor see reason if they bring him Luke, Aria and the 4 demon swords. Cecily make the girl see what is truly important. | ||||
| 9 | "Remnants - Lisa" "Omokage - Lisa" (面影 - Lisa) | November 28, 2009 | October 3, 2011 | |
|
Luke is off to visit the grave of an old friend, Lisa Oakwood, with Cecily. He tells the story of what happened with the demon Valbanil. Meanwhile, Lisa is left to repair a dagger for a customer named Elsa, who is not as she seems. Multiple attacks follow against the weapon shop to reveal the shocking intended target at the end. | ||||
| 10 | "Victim of Love - Tragedy" "Junjō - Tragedy" (殉情 - Tragedy) | December 5, 2009 | October 10, 2011 | |
| 11 | "Truth" "Shinjitsu - Truth" (真実 - Truth) | December 12, 2009 | October 17, 2011 | |
| 12 | "Blacksmith" "Katanakaji - Blacksmith" (刀鍛冶 - Blacksmith) | December 19, 2009 | October 24, 2011 | |
The light novels have sold over 780,000 copies.[46] Chris Schmitt wrote "Sacred Blacksmith has a very odd take on the fantasy genre, mixing moe character designs similar to K-On! with some deep, and sometimes dark, fantasy elements."[47]
Theron Martin of Anime News Network gave the anime series a B concluding, "Although The Sacred Blacksmith stumbles in places and fails to fully develop its setting or carry through on the plot threads it establishes, it nonetheless achieves an occasional and undeniable level of sincerity in its characters' convictions and interactions and at least partly delivers on its potential. It may be far from the elite fantasy titles out there, but even within its genre you could certainly do far worse for a pleasing diversion."[48]
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