Episode 42

The next day.

Yesterday I made Ivas’s sword, so today it’s Weather’s sword.

Unlike with Ivas’s, Weather’s sword requires melting down even more Magic Ore. That’s why Weather’s sword will be more expensive.

First, to make a large metal plate, I melt it and shape it into a long, solid form.

After finishing that work and the plate is formed, I heat it again.

I make Weather’s sword while keeping in mind the length I had been told in advance.

As with Ivas’s, the forging has to be done carefully and thoroughly.

I take out the Irea Magic Ore, melt it, strike it with a hammer, and build up the metal plate.

Even after it’s formed once, I melt the ore again and repeat the hammering.

When the plate is finished, I apply an Enchantment.

After arranging the magical data once, I place the finished plate on the anvil and take a deep breath.

Now I shape it from here. The basic form of the sword is more or less decided.

Unlike Ivas, Weather is proficient with a double-edged blade. Therefore, the sword will be a double-edged sword.

What Weather’s sword needs is a definite killing power. Ivas draws the enemy in, and Weather reaps them. That’s the basis of their fighting style.

So I must imbue this sword with enough weight and sharpness for Weather to fell an enemy in a single blow.

I heat the metal plate. When its surface glows red, I strike it with the hammer.

When the magical data is damaged, I restore it again. It’s like how human muscles become stronger after being injured and healed.

By arranging the magical data, inflicting wounds on it, and restoring it repeatedly, it becomes stronger.

Even though it’s Irea Magic Ore, it’s possible to push its performance beyond that.

After many strikes, the plate gradually changes into the shape of a sword…. It’s certainly large. Even I would have to apply Enchantment to my body to handle something like this.

However.

It’s almost the same weight as the sword Weather confirmed he wanted.

Having reached the standard he requested, I refine its shape.

…Truthfully, the size is what it is. It takes more time than Ivas’s.

I take a lunch break, then in the afternoon I start making the longsword again.

Then, by evening, the longsword is finally finished.

I lift the longsword while it’s still glowing red with heat…. It’s an incredible weight. I strengthen my body briefly, then grip it firmly with both hands.

I prepare Water magic and plunge the sword into it.

The water hisses like a scream, and the sword cools rapidly.

…It’s finished.

I pull the longsword out of the Water magic and inspect it.

I swing it with both hands a few times. If I don’t put my entire strength into it, it feels like the longsword will swing me instead.

…Alright, this seems fine.

Now it’s up to Weather’s reaction. No matter how much I say it’s fine, Weather might still feel something is off.

I prepare Wind magic—sharp Wind magic for sharpening such a longsword.

Weather’s sword is double-edged. I conjure the Wind magic at once and sharpen the blade.

After that, I need the owner to actually try using it.

I prepare the Wind magic and sharpen the sword’s edge.

I concentrate more than usual and grind the blade.

…Because it’s a longsword, every task becomes harder than usual. In the planning stage I hadn’t estimated the workload, but it takes overwhelmingly more time than Ivas’s sword.

With this, I might have been justified in raising the price a bit more.

That petty thought flashes through my head as I take up the finished, sharpened longsword.

For now, a test cut. I conjure a clay dummy and bring the longsword down on it.

…It sliced cleanly, of course, and even letting the weight do the work was enough to cut through.

With this, couldn’t it take down any monster in a single strike?

Now for the finishing touches. I place the longsword back on the anvil and move on to the Enchantment work.

I strengthen the longsword to draw out Weather’s abilities. I perform Enchantments to augment his physical capabilities.

I glance outside and see the sun has set.

It was an all-day job… but the longsword is complete.

I lift it again with both hands. It has a solid weight, and I can tell that weight is not mere ornamentation.

After making a scabbard for the finished longsword, it is truly complete.

I’m not a scabbard craftsman, so it’s not very ornate, but doesn’t that suit Weather’s rugged style better?

I exhale and wipe the sweat from my brow.

It’s completely dark now, so I fill the magic stone lamp in the room with mana and light the room.

After propping the finished longsword against the wall, I straighten my back.

With this, two weapons are finished.

As I rest in the smithy for a while, someone knocks on the door.

…She was probably worried because I hadn’t come for dinner, so Alicia came. I always give her trouble.

“Alicia?”

“Yeah, it’s dinner time… what do you want to do?”

“My work is done, so let’s go eat.”

“Got it… Is that the sword you made for Weather?”

“Yeah.”

Alicia seems curious, so I turn the longsword toward her.

Alicia takes hold of it, bracing it with her arms and whole body, as if pressing her hands against a wall.

“…It’s heavy.”

“Weather said he preferred a weight approximately like this.”

Alicia takes a deep breath and reaches for the hilt. She probably temporarily strengthened her body with mana.

Alicia holds the longsword firmly with both hands. Still, her arms tremble.

“…An amazing longsword. There are probably only two people in the world who can make something like this from Irea Magic Ore…”

“Is it only that many? Aren’t there more people than you think?”

“No. I’ve never seen it. Really, Faik is incredible.”

With some effort, Alicia returns the longsword to its scabbard and relaxes her mouth into a small smile.

“Well then, shall we go eat dinner?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

With that, the preparations for the next market are finished.

Now it’s probably just making weapons for ordinary customers.

Whether they’ll suit Ivas and Weather—I feel anxious, but also excited.