The Sacred Blacksmith

The Sacred Blacksmith (聖剣の刀鍛冶), is a Japanese light novel series by Isao Miura, with illustrations by Luna. As of August 2009, six 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. An anime adaptation started since October 3, 2009, directed by Masamitsu Hidaka, under the Manglobe studio.

Synopsis
44 years ago, a great war known as the Valbanill War raged 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 damages the contracts have caused the land, the surviving nations made peace and banned the use of the Demon contracts.

Cecily Cambell 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 overmatched, 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.

Characters

 * Cecily Cambell (セシリー・キャンベル)
 * A 3rd generation knight from The Knight Guards of Housman, the Third City of the Independent Trade Cities. Her grandfather, a former nobleman who became a knight was one of the founders of the Independent Trade Cities during the Valbanill War which since then, the Cambell family have served as knights protecting the city's independence. When her father died of an illness, Cecily took up the role of the head of house, and thus became a knight.
 * When the anime begins, she is portrayed as inadequate and doesn't fight well. Cecily later improves significantly. However, the manga and light novels depict her as a strong, smart girl with great leadership skills; the viewers are shown this in an early chapter when she leads a group of knights and mercenaries against a band of thieves and monsters. This version of Cecily learns from her mistakes quickly and is a skilled sword fighter. In both versions, she is prideful person and takes offense of any negative remark from Luke. As the series progresses, she develops romantic feelings toward Luke.


 * Luke Ainsworth (ルーク・エインズワース)
 * The titular character is a blacksmith of great skill and renown and is also a talented swordsman. Possessing dark brown hair and blue eyes, he is arrogant, private and often insensitive to others. He lives with Lisa, who aids him in his work and often accompanies him on his business. He comes to know Cecily after saving her repeatedly from certain death. Luke wields a Japanese katana and employs a unique sword-fighting style, which is uncommon in a land where most people use a longsword and shield. He also possesses extraordinary blacksmith skills, as well as the magical ability to forge a katana in the midst of a battle.
 * When Cecily sees his katana cut a sword in two, the same sword that shattered her own, she desires one of her own and persistently asks him to forge one for her. While he often comments on her pride and hotheaded personality and her large breasts, he comes to like and admire Cecily. Her will to protect the city and everyone within it reminds him of Lisa Oakwood, the love of his youth who was slain before his eyes by Valbanill.


 * Lisa (リサ)
 * A cute little girl who lives with Luke. She has a polite and sweet personality. Lisa is a demon who has blonde hair, purple eyes and elven ears. She possesses magical powers. Lisa has the blood of Valbanill, a creature who lives in the volcano in the forest and who slew Lisa Oakwood. She loves Luke and her life revolves around him entirely. Cecily believes that Lisa Oakwood made the contract herself to stay by his side.


 * Aria (アリア)
 * The demon sword of wind, she takes the shape of either a beautiful, young woman or a rapier. In her human form, she is typically light-hearted, romantic and very feminine. Her memories reach back to the Valbanill War and she was apparently born of a demon contract on a battlefield in that war. Through her experiences with Cecily, she becomes aware of other demon swords like her and becomes driven to learn why they are different. Her beauty and power provoke a strong desire to possess her in many around her. While she enjoys combat, sometimes goading Cecily into action, her past is filled with murder and treachery; carnage always follows close behind her. Cecily is the first to possess her who is opposed to wanton killing. She becomes fascinated with Cecily and the two form a powerful bond which enables both to become stronger. Her transformation into a sword is invoked with the chant "Awaken, Grasp the Truth, Control the Wind and Slay God".


 * Hannibal Quasar (ハンニバル・クェイサー)
 * Leader of the knights and veteran of the Valbanill War.


 * Hugo Housman (ヒューゴー・ハウスマン)
 * Mayor of the City of Housman


 * Patty Baldwin (パティ・ボルドウィン)
 * A friend of Cecily, she works for the city.


 * Reginald Drummond (レジナルド・ドラモンド)
 * A powerful and aggressive knight of Housman, he wields a zweihander.


 * Siegfried (シーグフリード)
 * A cloaked figure who is the source for most of the conflict in the series. He wields the Demon Sword of Darkness.


 * Charlotte E. Firobisher
 * An illegitimate child of the Emperor who is a seemingly spoiled and selfish girl, though in fact she is content doing basic chores her bodyguards taught her. A constant source of conflict is her duty to her mother's dying wish, which is to be recognized as a legitimate child of the Emperor, and her wish to be happy. Eventually she defects to the "Militant Nation" and betrays the Empire as she is condemned to death by the Emperor, revoking her "E".


 * Evadne
 * A Demon Sword of the Black Flame, who, like Aria, can take human form. In her human form, she is morose and taciturn. She was in Charlotte's possession but may have come from Siegfried. She transforms into a sword by chanting "Awaken, Cloak in Darkness, Finish thee and Slay God".


 * Doris
 * One of Charlotte's companions. She wields Claymore, the Demon Sword of Earth.


 * Margot
 * One of Charlotte's companions. She wields Rhomphaia, the Demon Sword of Scarlet Light.


 * Penelope
 * One of Charlotte's companions. She wields a ballock knife, the Demon Sword Slayer.


 * Lisa Oakwood
 * Luke's childhood friend that wanted to be a knight and protect everyone in the city. Unfortunately, she died trying to protect Luke from Valbanill and in result, a new demon called Lisa was created. While it has not been confirmed, Cecily believes that Lisa Oakwood was the one that created the current Lisa to stay by Luke's side forever in her place.


 * Fio Atkins
 * The maid who serves the Cambell Family. She is very strong within the domestic sphere and is able to physically overpower anyone who interferes with her duties as she perceives them. She is very loyal towards the Cambell's and reacts strongly to any ill speaking towards the family.


 * Lucy Cambell
 * Cecily's mother. She is a calm and gentle woman. She wishes that Cecily would be more feminine. She acts as a mother figure to Charlotte while she and her bodyguards stayed in the Cambell house.


 * Old Knight
 * The wielder of Elsa, the Demon Sword of Thunder. A veteran of the Valbanill War, he lost his daughter after the war when a demon attacked his home. His sanity now gone, he lives for only one thing, to redeem his hatred of Valbanill. He comes to Luke's home seeking vengeance.


 * Elsa
 * A Demon Sword of Thunder who can shape-shift. In her human form, she is a quiet, sad girl. Elsa was born from the rage of the Old Knight when his daughter was slain. She has the same name as his daughter.
 * After his defeat, she slays him with a misericorde, fulfilling the promise made by his real daughter and dying herself from the wounds she received fighting Cecily and Aria. She transforms into a sword by chanting: "Awaken, The Time is Nigh, Thunder's Judgment and Slay God."

Theme songs
Opening Theme
 * "Justice of Light" by Mayumi Gojō

Ending Theme
 * "Miracle Happy Day" (みらくるハッピーディ) by Aki Toyosaki

Anime
The anime comprises twelve episodes. The Japanese edition DVDs have been released by Blasmi. The English edition DVD set is scheduled to be released by licensee Funimation in the fall of 2010. Funimation began streaming episodes of the anime in June 2010.

Reception
The light novels have sold over 780,000 copies. 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."