The Sacred Blacksmith

Plot

Forty-four years after the Valbanill War, the land still bears scars from the conflict, during which humans used Demon Contracts to become powerful demons. The surviving nations banned the contracts after making peace.

Cecily Campbell, a third-generation knight of Housman in the Independent Trade Cities, is saved from defeat by a mysterious blacksmith named Luke Ainsworth. Impressed by his katana, a weapon unfamiliar to her, she asks him to forge one for her. Her involvement with Luke leads to an unexpected adventure.

Characters

Cecily Campbell is a third-generation knight of The Knight Guards of Housman, the Third City of the Independent Trade Cities. Her grandfather, a former nobleman turned knight, helped found the Independent Trade Cities during the Valbanill War. After her father died of illness, Cecily became head of the Campbell family and a knight. She believes strongly in justice and protecting the city and its citizens, hesitating to kill a possessed citizen.

She is strong, smart, and a natural leader. Luke Ainsworth is a renowned blacksmith and talented swordsman with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a glass left eye (his real eye was used to create Lisa). He is arrogant, private, and often insensitive. He lives with Lisa, who aids his work.

Luke wields a Japanese katana and uses a unique sword-fighting style uncommon in a land where longswords and shields are typical. He often criticizes Cecily but slowly comes to accept her, as her will to protect the city reminds him of Lisa Oakwood, the love of his youth. He eventually falls in love with Cecily, and they marry and have two children. Lisa is a little girl who is Luke's live-in assistant.

She is actually a demon born from Lisa Oakwood, Luke's childhood best friend. It is suggested that Lisa Oakwood made a Demonic Pact before being killed by Valbanill and sacrificed herself to create Lisa.

Media

The manga adaptation by Kōtarō Yamada was announced simultaneously with the anime adaptation on the wraparound jacket of the fourth light novel volume. It was serialized in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive from March 27, 2009, to January 27, 2017, and compiled into ten tankōbon volumes. Tokyopop licensed the series in November 2010, but the publisher shut down on May 31, 2011, reverting rights. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed it in October 2012.

The anime adaptation, directed by Masamitsu Hidaka and written by Masashi Suzuki, was produced by Manglobe with character designs by Jun Nakai. The opening theme is "Justice of Light" by Mayumi Gojo, and the ending theme is "Miracle Happy Day" by Aki Toyosaki. It aired from October 3, 2009, to December 19, 2009. The series was licensed by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand, Manga Entertainment in the United Kingdom, and Funimation in North America.

Funimation released it uncut on DVD and later as a limited collector's edition with an art booklet. It broadcast on the Funimation Channel from August 8, 2011.

Reception

The Sacred Blacksmith light novels have moved over 780,000 copies. Chris Schmitt noted the series blends moe character designs akin to K-On! with deep, occasionally dark fantasy elements, creating an unusual genre mix. Theron Martin of Anime News Network rated the anime a B, stating that while it falters in setting development and plot resolution, it shows genuine sincerity in character interactions and partly fulfills its promise. It is not a top-tier fantasy title but offers a decent diversion.