Kays Translations

Chapter 156

The next morning, as always, I woke up early. Before getting to the final stage of today’s work, I decided to cleanse myself and headed to the public bathhouse in the city.

…You know, smell is the first sense you lose awareness of. You get used to your own scent, so even if you reek, you don’t really notice it yourself…

And I’d been working day after day, drenched in sweat in front of the fire. Of course I stank. A quick splash of water wouldn’t be enough to deal with how filthy I’d gotten.

So, I paid the attendant and made my way to the men’s bath.

“…Looks like everyone else’s situation—and thoughts—are about the same as mine.”

Inside the bathhouse, groups of burly, muscle-bound men were gathered. Judging from their burn scars and wounds on their arms rather than their bodies, they were clearly fellow craftsmen.

I washed myself thoroughly with ladle water, rinsing off all the grime before slipping into the bath.

“Ahhhhhh… I’m alive again…”

The deep groan echoed louder than I expected in the steamy hall. But it wasn’t out of place—similar voices rumbled from all over.

I wasn’t the only one. Everyone’s muscles were worn out from long days swinging hammers, and the hot water was melting away their fatigue and stiffness.

“Hey, you’re that craftsman from outside town, aren’t you? So, how’s the work coming along?”

“Hm? Oh… I’m just about at the climax now.”

“Already? That’s fast. What’re you making?”

Well, no harm in answering.

“Two magic swords. And they’re going to be exceptional. Sorry, but this time the championship is mine. It has to be. I’ve got my reasons.”

As I said this, the man who’d asked—and the others listening—swallowed hard.

A declaration of war. I will win. And then… I’ll hand the Heart-Silver over to Melt.

I don’t know the details yet, but if it’s medicine… then someday, she’ll definitely need it.

“Big words. So you’re a magic sword craftsman too, eh?”

Just then, a dwarf entered the bath and sat down near me.

“Oh? You too? Then… maybe it’ll come down to a duel between you and me.”

“I’d like that… but that’s not how this tournament works. Last year I came in second place. The winners were a team of smiths hired by some noble. For three years straight, they’ve taken the crown.”

“I see. Plenty of funds and manpower, then. Not that I’d deny their advantages…”

So… there’s no rule saying one person has to finish a work alone. No wonder those full teams are so strong.

“That’s not all—they’ve got a bad reputation. Buying out materials, sure, but there are rumors of sabotage too.”

“Buying out, huh. Well, if anyone here’s short on something, speak up. I’ve stocked up all kinds of materials for my research. I can spare some.”

At that, the men crowded around me.

Too close! A pack of macho muscleheads all bunched together is… an eyesore!

For now, I just gave them my workshop’s location, promising to hand over what I could later.

“Phew… Alright, I’m getting out. Anyone who needs something, come by the workshop later.”

“Got it! You’re a lifesaver!”

“Much obliged! I just ran out of stock!”

So it’s like that… Winning this tournament might carry more meaning than I thought. Enough that some would resort to sabotage to take it.

“Ah, Shijima!”
“Melt?”

After changing and heading to the rest area, I ran into Melt, her tail still damp from the bath.

“Perfect timing. Melt, I’m about to start the final stage of weapon-making. I’ll need to measure your hands for the grip. Can you come to the workshop after this?”

“Mm, of course! So it’s finally happening… my sword’s about to be finished! I know you’ll make something incredible—something worthy of victory!”

“Leave it to me. I’ll forge a masterpiece no one could ever hope to imitate.”

Together, we made our way back to the workshop.
Come to think of it, it’s been a while since Melt last came inside.

The moment we arrived, I noticed something was wrong.

The faint smell of chemicals. The stench of burnt material. Clearly, someone had broken into the workshop.

“Melt, draw your weapon.”
“Got it.”

…So I’d become the target of sabotage already?
My growing reputation must have backfired.

Melt burst through the door, weapon at the ready. But—

“No one’s here. Not even a trace of presence. But…”

“Yeah. The place has been ransacked. Most of the materials are gone. And… the special equipment we borrowed from the guild is missing.”

The very tub I’d used for the reactive solution—gone.

A key component of magic sword forging.

“Shijima! What’ll we do? Did they steal your weapons!?”

“Hm? Oh, no, I keep all of them stored and carry them with me.”

“Ah—ohhh… thank goodness…!!”

“Anyway, we’ll report this to the guild. Let’s go, Melt.”

…Was this the work of that “team workshop” everyone whispers about?

“So this year, you’re the one hit, huh…”

At the guild, the receptionist muttered that right away.

Apparently, this kind of sabotage happened every year. As for the missing tub, they wouldn’t hold me responsible.

“But then, Shijima… what about your magic swords?”

“The blades are finished. All that’s left is the grips. No problem.”

“Wha—! You work fast. And the blades weren’t stolen, right? Then a small container should be enough. Want one?”

“Yeah, that’d help.”

“Wait here. For that size, the accessory smiths have plenty of spares.”

So, no real issue.

But damn that workshop. Golhar Workshop, they called it.

Not that I can settle this with force, and there’s no proof anyway.
So… I’ll just have to beat them fair and square.

“Here you go. Will this container do? And what about your workshop—are you still using the same one?”

“No problem. Starting today, I’ll put guards on the door too.”

“Do your best, Shijima. Honestly, seeing shady types like them strut around just ticks me off. You’re from outside, but I know you’re a true craftsman at heart. So show them what that means.”

“Count on it.”

That was Shijima speaking… but the sentiment was mine too.

Back at the workshop with Melt, I immediately began measuring her hands, preparing the grips, and forging a fresh alloy for the final touch.

The finishing stage had begun.

“Hot, hot…! I’m taking this off already!”

“…When you’re in front of men, keep it to just your jacket. Don’t go showing your shirt.”

“Ehh! But I’ve started wearing this thing called a ‘bra’! Even if I take off my shirt, my bo—my chest is still covered, you know.”

“Underwear is not something you show.”

“Muu…”

While shaping the alloy for the grip, I scolded Melt as she started stripping her clothes off.

This girl… she may be growing as a person, but as a woman she still hasn’t grown enough…!

Already, as a Sheele, I can’t properly teach Melt about that kind of knowledge and common sense anymore… what should I do?

“Alright, now all that’s left is the engraving and putting it in the reaction solution…”

In truth, the step of immersing the blade in the reaction liquid still remained. Losing a container at this timing was a big setback. But—there might still be another way I can manage.

“Melt. Something about this big… big enough for the dagger you’re using to be fully submerged—can you make a bath like that with magic?”

“Hm? Yeah, I can.”

“And can you keep reinforcing it with magic so that it’s as durable as possible, resistant to corrosion or change?”

“I think I can. It’ll take a lot of mana though… but if I drink medicine while doing it?”

“Yes, then please drink this while you do.”

I pulled out, for the first time in a long while from my item box, the highest-grade recovery potion. The very same one I once had a trio of rookie adventurers drink, healing their near-fatal wounds.

“Ah, this is amazing medicine! Is it really okay?”

“It’s fine. I’m about to make the best sword there is. I won’t hold back.”

I poured the reaction liquid into the container Melt had conjured, and without letting her see, I submerged the blade. Until the weapon was complete, I wouldn’t let its form be revealed.

“Mmm… the container really does take a heavy toll! It’s corroding, and… I can feel some kind of powerful magic in it.”

“I thought so. In truth, this reaction solution…”

For the final catalyst the reaction fluid needed, the substance containing tremendous magical power I used… was a fragment of the original dungeon core from the Lindwurm’s nest—in other words, the core stolen from Isaka’s chest.

Creepy, maybe. But among all the magically grown substances in this world, I figured it would be the very best catalyst.

The berserk-state core I obtained in the artificial dungeon would likely be used for stabilizing and resetting that dungeon, anyway.

“Shijima, open my mouth—I’ll drink the potion.”

“Got it.”

Melt had both hands fixed against the conjured container, continually pouring in mana. So I brought the vial to her lips instead.

It felt a bit like hand-feeding her—cute, in a way.

“Gulp… gulp… phew, that’s enough for now. Just a sip and I already feel completely restored.”

“It really is that potent, huh…”

“Right! And it tastes good too! Such a strange taste—it’s like orange, then apple, then some fruit I don’t even know. The flavor keeps changing over and over.”

Seriously!? This stuff tastes that good?

“Shijima, the reaction liquid’s changing color! And the fizzing sound stopped too.”

“Mm, I think it’s done. Okay, Melt, I’ll pour it out now, but don’t look at what’s inside.”

“Okay! I’ll close my eyes!”

She shut her eyes tight—it was adorable.

After discarding the liquid and checking the blade inside, I found it blackened and dull, like it had been smeared all over with soot, with no visible patterns.

But once I rubbed it down with coarse cloth, a faint gleam emerged, and golden lines began to surface across the blade.

If I polished it further with finer sandpaper, cloth, and abrasive, then finished it with oil… it would be complete.

“Alright, no problem, Melt. As for the grip, I can manage with the guild’s containers, so you don’t need to help anymore.”

“Got it! Then I won’t come into the workshop for a while, okay? But… what about guarding the door?”

“Hm? Like this.”

I summoned Silent through Order Summon.

…Seeing him like this, the sheer intimidation he gave off was overwhelming. No wonder people went pale.

Silent isn’t a production type, so the orders I can give him are limited. But one of those orders is [Gatekeeper].

“Silent, guard the entrance. Knock out anyone who tries to break in through the doors or windows.”

“……”

Silent quietly stepped outside and began his watch.

With this, the workshop was practically an impenetrable fortress.

“And that’s that. Now we’re safe.”

“I see! …Silent really is scary, huh! But I do feel safe with him here!”

Melt, standing outside, said that while watching Silent.

She probably didn’t mean anything by it… but for just a second, I thought I saw Silent’s expression twist in sadness.

Then, Melt walked away from the workshop.

“Alright then… all that’s left is making the grip and guard, blackening treatment… polish, assemble, and it’ll be finished.”

I still had some time. But I planned to complete it early and keep the weapon stored in my own menu screen, not the guild’s.

I’d need to confirm if submitting it on the day itself was acceptable.

Later, when the craftsmen I’d spoken to at the communal bath came to pick up their materials, they nearly collapsed when they saw Silent at the door.

Ah… right. I’d completely forgotten…

Rest assured, though—the materials weren’t stolen. I’d stored them safely in my menu.

After that, I moved on to the final finishing touches.

Silent, standing guard, made not a single sound. A quiet night went on.

The only noise was the scritch, scritch of carving hard metal.

I engraved grooves into the grip sized for Melt’s hands, filled them with gold-colored alloy with high magical conductivity, to channel mana from the handle into the blade.

“…Done. Now all that’s left is to immerse it in this container…”

Fizzing bubbles and light spilled out as the reaction fluid slowly changed the color of the grip.

The guard darkened as well, turning sooty black, and I simply waited until all the parts reached the intended shade.

“…Alright.”

At last, the blade, guard, hilt, and pommel were all complete.

All of them blackened and sooty, in no way what you’d call beautiful parts.

But I carefully polished them.

Using files, coarse cloth, and polishing compounds, I worked every detail, then finally finished them by rubbing in a thin layer of vegetable oil.

“…It’s done.”

What emerged were two black-plated daggers.

Layers rose to the surface of the blades like tree rings, and from within them shone golden lines, forming patterns.

The grips, decorated with what looked like golden coils, also gleamed with a dark luster, radiating a mystical beauty.

So much so that, for a moment, I forgot to breathe, stunned by their perfection.

“…Time to appraise them.”

I shifted back into my true form—Shizuma.

Along with a slight dizziness, I felt the feedback of blacksmithing knowledge flow into me.

But I could bear it.

“…Amazing… my stats have already risen this much.”

Stats:

HP　　　　5581
Strength　 1901
Magic　　　136
Spirit　　　671
Agility　　 1755

【Growth Rate: Maximum, Fully Reflected】
【Blessing of the Silver Fox】
【Mind’s Eye】
【Basic Universal Magic】
【Warrior’s High】
【Food-Linker】
【Super Strength】　←New
【Blacksmithing】　←Master
【Performance Lv3】
【Cooking Lv4】
【Craftsmanship Lv8】　←New
【Sewing Lv1】
【Swordsmanship Lv6】
【Archery Lv1】
【Magic Lv2】
【Martial Arts Lv1】
【Hunter’s Lore Lv1】
【Scholar’s Lore Lv1】
【Thief’s Lore Lv1】
【Swordsman’s Lore Lv4】
【Warrior’s Lore Lv7】
【Mercenary’s Lore Lv2】
【Dance’s Lore Lv4】
【Saint’s Lore Lv2】
【Fist of Doom’s Lore Lv1】
【Mage’s Lore Lv2】
【Astrologer’s Lore Lv1】

It seemed that while before I’d only been able to pick up the basic skill 【Craftsmanship】, this time, having truly done blacksmithing work, I acquired 【Blacksmithing】—and even fully mastered it, gaining the title of “Master.”

After confirming my stats, I finally turned to appraise the completed weapons.

I activated my evolved skill, 【Mind’s Eye】, and focused on the twin daggers in my vision—

『Twin Magic Blades: Nocturne Light』
『A joint creation of the blacksmith Shijima and Shizuma』
『A magic sword, forged with extremely advanced technique, brimming with immense power and sharpness』
『Highly attuned to mana, it aids the user’s spellcasting』
『Easily accepts elemental enchantments, functioning as an elemental sword』
『Constantly leaks vast magic, gradually restoring the wielder’s mana while also absorbing the magic of slain enemies』
『A supreme pair, created solely for one person』

“…It named itself, huh. Well… that’s fine.”

Light in the darkness of night. Black blades laced with two streaks of gold.

The flowing lines of the blade carried seamlessly into the guard, perfectly suited to deflect attacks.

And the grip fit to Melt’s hands, easy to handle.

Even without testing, I could tell—the quality was beyond “supreme.”

And beyond that, it also functioned as a magical conduit. That alone already placed it leagues above other weapons.

It seemed to qualify as a “magic sword,” but those were rare treasures to begin with.

I remembered one appearing at an auction before. It had gone for an absurdly high price.

“…I’ll stash these in my menu for now. All that’s left is making the scabbards.”

Well then… the real tournament is going to be fun.

Don’t lose heart before my blades, Golhar Workshop.

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