Episode 14

Once the shape had taken form, I applied yakibatsuchi—a fired-blade clay produced with Earth magic—to the surface of the heated knife.

Yakibatsuchi increases cooling effectiveness. By applying it, the object cools more rapidly, resulting in a sharper, more durable weapon.

The use of yakibatsuchi is where a blacksmith’s skill shows. The allocation of mana is crucial: it strengthens the magical information that fills the object’s interior.

People often misunderstand and say, “Just Enchant it and everything’s solved, right?” But that’s not the case. The capacity for Enchantment is limited, so you can’t overdo the strengthening. If you try to, the weapon will break from the inside.

By carefully reinforcing the magical information, the capacity for Enchantment increases. In short, if you want to perform a stronger Enchantment, you must lay the proper groundwork during the forging process.

After finishing the yakibatsuchi, I conjured low-temperature water with magic and plunged it in.

Sizzle! A sound rose from the lump of water.

The globe of water heated in an instant, but I immediately cooled it again with Water magic. A slight curvature formed, and thanks to the yakibatsuchi a temper pattern appeared. The knife took on a good shape.

However, this is merely the magical ore shaped into a knife. Unless it’s properly honed, a true blade won’t be born.

That work is done with Wind magic. I generated a blade of wind in the air and placed the tip of the knife into it.

I manipulated the wind to sharpen the blade portion.

With a high-pitched “keeee!” the knife’s edge was sharpened.

After sharpening it to smooth it out wholly, I took the knife out.

I managed to sharpen and polish it enough that the surface looked as if it were gleaming.

Finally, I bestowed an Enchantment. I wrote a program into the magical information inside. And that was it—the process is complete.

I gave the knife a light swing. Yeah, the weight is sufficient.

The work probably took about three hours? Since it had been a while, some parts took a bit longer.

Precision and speed—those are especially demanded of a blacksmith.

I produced a lump of earth and transformed it into a solid mass. Then I swung the knife down.

It cleanly cut through a fist-sized lump of earth. Well, after all, it’s just earth.

“For now, the cutting edge is fine.”

I found some monster hide among the materials in the workshop and wrapped it around the handle.

I bonded it with Earth magic, and after confirming there were no problems, I wrapped more monster hide around it to serve as a sheath.

I couldn’t just leave it like this, after all.

With that, it was finished. I put the knife into an extra box and then stretched.

…I’ve worked up quite a sweat.

I wonder if I can take a shower this morning?

…Or rather, is it almost time for breakfast? …When I was working, I could eat while working, or even skip meals entirely, so I had forgotten.

But even if I was going to eat, I needed to wash off the sweat first. Just as I thought that and was about to leave the room.

“…Amazing.”

It was then that I finally noticed Alicia standing in the corner of the room, watching me with eyes full of intensity.

“Wh-when did you get here!?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I couldn’t help but shout.