170-Episode 170: Gordofu's Hammer

'The material given to me by my master, I couldn't process it at all!

I came to the store and suddenly Mr. Golduff got down on his knees saying something like that.

'Well, what do you mean you couldn't process it?'

Then Golduff began to explain the situation.

At first I tried to sharpen it, because it was made of beetle-type demon material, but no matter how hard I tried to sharpen it, the blade just wouldn't penetrate, and in fact, the blade broke off. Then I tried to break it again, but the mallet broke. Then, I put it into the furnace and tried to melt the iron contained in the material, but it did not melt and did not turn red. We couldn't do anything about it.

There's no way they can't process Venom Beat material, but....

Do you mind if I take a look at your workshop for a moment?

Yeah, go ahead.

Hmmm, I guess it's not the tools that are to blame.

'So you're saying I'm not very good at this...'

"What?　No, no, Mr. Gordoff's skills should be able to process the weak Venom Beat material!

''But I can't actually process this material, Master...''

Well, it can't be, but... well, can you show me some actual work in progress?

Work in progress?

'Yes, because the best way to know where it's coming from is to see it in action!

I understand. If my skills are up to it, please take a look.

'Phew!　Hmph!

Hmm?

'Say!　Say!

....

Finally, he put the material into the furnace and tried to melt it, but the Venom Beat material did not change at all.

'Well, like this ... what did you find out?'

Yeah, I understand.

Really?

"The reason Mr. Gordoff couldn't process the material for the Venom Beat is because...

That's because I don't use blacksmithing magic!

Because I don't use blacksmithing magic!

Biting?　What is that?

What's that?　Mr. Golduff, have you ever heard of blacksmithing magic?

I don't think that's possible, but....

'Blacksmithing magic is the blacksmith's essential magic for processing materials. For materials as small as Green Dragon, blacksmithing skills alone can process them, but for the Venom Beat material class, it's difficult to process them without assistance from blacksmithing magic. I thought that the Venom Beet I defeated was weakened and its quality as a material was low, but it seems that the processing difficulty level was kept the same.

Nah, I see, you needed that kind of magic to process this thing... but it's magic.

''I mean, haven't you been taught about blacksmithing magic by your master, Mr. Golduff?

What?　I'm a dwarf, remember?

'Aren't dwarves bad at magic?'

Oh, it's like you said, young lady. I'm sure you're right, we dwarves are confident in our physical strength and blacksmithing skills, but we're not very good at magic as a whole...........................we're almost useless at it. Even if you can use it, it's not very good, but it's not at a level where you can use it in a real battle.

''I didn't expect that you need to be able to use magic to process materials... How ironic that we, who took pride in being known as a blacksmith race, can't master blacksmithing...''

That dwarf can do blacksmithing magic, right?

...What?

'I mean, it was the dwarves who created the blacksmithing magic.

Whaaaaah?　Is it true, Master?

''Could it be that Mr. Golduff really didn't learn blacksmithing magic from a blacksmithing master?

That's it!　My master told me that you've already mastered some of the skills, so he threw me out to go around the outside world and train on your own," he said.

I'm sure he's a master of the style that says if you teach the basics, the rest will have to learn on their own.

But if that's the case, you could at least teach the basics of blacksmithing magic, which are the basics of blacksmithing, but....

Could it be that he didn't teach blacksmithing magic on purpose?

If that's the case, he's a hell of a spartan master!

''Master, can Master use something called blacksmithing magic?''

Yes, I can use it. But what I can use, though, is the basic level stuff I learned from a dwarf I know.

'....Master!　Please teach me this blacksmithing magic thing!

Are you sure?　What I can use is really the basics, you know?

'It's wishful thinking!　As long as you teach me the basics, I'll show you how to reach the rest on my own!

...All right. I'll tell you the basics as I know them, if that's okay with you.

'Thank you, Master!'

Well, I'm going to try some actual blacksmithing magic first.

Yes!

Blacksmithing magic is made up of three types of magic: processing magic to process materials, refining magic to purify materials, and granting magic to enhance and give special properties to the processed parts.

Hey, by granting it, are you talking about a magic item?

The first one is the one that is activated by magic circuits and the second one is activated by granting magic. The former is complex and requires time and skill to create. The latter, on the other hand, is easy to make, but its performance is not very high instead.

Wow, I didn't know there were different kinds of magic items.

'Then I'll use various basic blacksmithing magics to create them.

Nice to meet you, Master!

Mr. Gordoff looks spirited and concentrates on my hand.

''First, processing magic, processing materials!

When you activate the magic, the shape of the material of the Venom Beat changes into a gnarled mess.

"Whoa!　The shape of the material has changed!

And now the next step is refining magic. Refined Material!

Next, the components inside the Venom Beet material are sorted out and the unwanted components are separated, transforming it into a more sophisticated material for armor.

''This!　As if the beetle's material was refined iron?

Oh, as expected of Mr. Golduff.

Whether it's a blacksmith's instinct or a dwarf's instinct, he seems to have guessed just by looking at the Venom Beat material refined and purified.

Refining demon materials is hard to understand at a glance.

I'm going to use the materials transformed by processing magic and the materials refined by refining magic to make new equipment.

It's the same material, but its properties are so different that it's easy to believe it's a different material?　This is blacksmithing magic?

That's right. Blacksmithing magic doesn't just make it easier to process materials, it also draws out the potential in them.

What a...

'And then we'll use granting magic to give it toughness, enhanced sharpness, rust resistance, etc. This will be more effective for magic if it is done during processing than after completing the equipment. By the way, the granting magic of blacksmithing magic and the granting magic used in battle is the same grant in name, but they are different magic. It's a magic that strengthens everything for a short period of time and a magic that strengthens only specified items for a long period of time, so the content of the magic formula is the exact opposite.

Oh, you're right.

Liliera-san sounds impressed when she hears the difference in granting magic.

There are quite a few warriors who don't know the details of the granting magic used by blacksmiths, you know.

I thought it was something similar until I was taught blacksmithing by someone I know.

''And now it's done!

Are you finished?

Goldov rolls his eyes when he hears that the work is complete.

''Well, this is something I made lightly to practice forging magic.

''This is the one I made lightly...?''

Mr. Gordoff stares at the sword I've made, wannabe and trembling.

''Master, may I try out this thing?''

Yeah, that's fine.

Thank you.

Mr. Golduff wordlessly brought out a sword from the edge of the workshop and fixed it on the stand where he would use it for test cutting.

Then he took my sword and swung it in a single horizontal motion.

Immediately after I heard a clear sound, the sword that Mr. Golduff had fixed in place snapped in half.

''I see.......that's how it happened.

Mr. Golduff nodded deeply, satisfied.

'What did you find out?'

''Yes, I understand what's different between me and my master's forged sword. So this is the power of blacksmithing magic.

Mr. Golduff raises my forged sword and stares at it dazzlingly.

You can concentrate on improving the quality of materials by making it easier to process them, and furthermore, by using refining magic, you can maximize the quality of the materials. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of good reasons for this. As I see it........

Mr. Golduff nodded his head over and over again as if he was chewing on a piece of paper.

It's a good thing I went out to the outside world to get rid of my father, but when I found out that what you made was better than what the rest of them made, I became a bit of a bitter old fart. It's no laughing matter that you tried to make a good product with such inexperienced skills, but you missed out on the essential technique...

A laugh filled with self-mockery quietly echoes in the workshop.

''But you see.......if I can use this blacksmithing magic, my blacksmithing skills will be even better!

With those words, a flame dwells in Mr. Golduff's eyes.

Then, when he turned to me, Mr. Gordov kneeled down and bowed deeply to me.

''Master!　Again, please!　Please teach me blacksmithing magic!　Train me to be a full-fledged blacksmith!

Mr. Gordoff asks me to do it with a spirit I've never seen before.

'Wait, Mr. Goldov, please stop!'

As expected, it's not too much to ask to stay if someone above you bows to you with his hand.

''I was proud that I was able to become a full-fledged blacksmith thanks to my master!　But as a blacksmith, I didn't even stand in the doorway!　I'm a fool, myself!

Mr. Golduff's eyes were serious, and if he didn't take the job, he was likely to keep his head down for days.

''Mr. Golduff, please raise your head. You said you were going to teach me earlier.

...Oh, yes, of course.

Recalling our earlier conversation, Gordov-san raises his head in a huff.

Ah, I'm surprised. Goldov-san is a surprisingly thoughtful type.

''Well then, in order to learn the basics of blacksmithing magic, let's start by feeling the magic power.

''Ah, Master. Speaking of sensing magic, we dwarves aren't very good at magic, but how can we sense magic?

Yeah, the basic of magic, feeling the magic power, is the first wall that a person trying to use magic for the first time hits.

Even if it's a child with a flexible mind, it might be a bit difficult for Gordov-san, who has been uncomfortable with magic for years.

''But it's okay!　I have a secret plan for that!

Saying that, I take out a large number of mana potions from the magic bag.

I've learned most of the tricks of how to teach Jairo-kun's training to feel the magic power. I'm going to have Gordov-san experience safe magic and use that feeling to learn body strengthening magic!

A new type of custody system.

For some reason, Liliera-san shakes her body with a jolt.

''Are you going to learn other magic before you learn blacksmithing magic?''

''Yes, once you learn this, it will be easier to learn blacksmithing magic. Don't worry, even Gyro-kun, a warrior who isn't very good at magic, was able to learn it right away!

'Nah, I see. If it's so easy for a warrior to learn, I could do it too!

''Yes, we have plenty of mana potions, and if you're tired, we'll use our strength recovery magic to help you recover, so don't worry!

I don't know, but I get it!

'Oh, that hell is going to start again...'

Liliella looks at Mr. Goldoff with gentle eyes.

''Lex-san, my training is going to be long, so I'm going back first.

''Yes, good work. Then let's start cultivating body strengthening magic!

"Yes, Master!

Org.

"You got a new piece of equipment?

As soon as I heard that my new equipment was complete, I came to Goldov's shop.

I didn't expect my new equipment to be ready in just a week!

When I entered the shop, I saw Goldov at the counter, half-eyed and dazed.

.........but what's going on?

Oh, hey, what's up with you, Mr. Goldoff?

"...Oh?　Oh, Org.

Golduff notices us, but there is something wrong with him.

It's as if his soul has been drained.

'Yeah, it was the equipment. Hold on a minute.

With that, Goldov walks into the back of the store.

Then he waits for a few minutes. Goldov comes back.

'Here's your new equipment,'

''This is........?''

What Golduff held out was an armor that was completely black from top to bottom.

Even the sword's sheath was carefully black.

''Whoa, even the sword's body is black?

When I pulled the sword out of its scabbard, I was surprised to see that even the sword's body was black.

As expected, it's too unified, right?

I'm sure you'll find that both the sword and the armor are incredibly light.

It is hard to believe that it is light enough to carry a complete set of armaments.

It's so light that I'm not sure if it's really armor.

I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Are you sure about this?

'Oh?　Are you nervous?　Then there's a sword in the workshop for you to try out, just pick one and cut it at random.

I thought I was going to be thunderstruck for being stingy with the master craftsman's wares, but surprisingly, Golduff's reply was calm.

No, seriously, what's wrong with that old man?

As I walked into the workshop as I was told, I pulled out one of the swords packed in a messy barrel and stood it on a stand.

I've done this area many times to check the usability of things like grip and center of gravity when I had new equipment made, so I'm familiar with it.

Then, as I stood in front of the platform, I pulled out my black sword and swung it straight out to the side against the sword in front of me.

But I didn't feel any of the usual slashing sensations in my hand.

But the top half of the sword in front of me disappeared as the black sword slipped through without hitting the upright sword.

And after a few moments of delay, you can hear the sound of something hard falling to the ground with a thud.

When I looked, the other half of the sword had fallen on the floor.

''Seriously........''

I suppressed the buzzing in my chest and now propped the armor up on the stand.

Then I took out a test sword from the barrel and swung the sword as hard as I could at the black armor.

With a keening sound, there is a shock in my hand and the flicked sword returns.

''........Not a scratch on it?''

The blow that I put all my strength into, however, didn't even make the slightest dent in the armor.

''This light and this hard.......could it possibly be harder than the dragon's armor?

I put my armor on and fasten the sword to my waist belt while holding my trembling hands.

It doesn't feel like you're wearing it at all. Even light leather armor isn't this light.

I run back underneath old man Gordoff.

'This is awesome!　It's light, it's hard, it's sharp!　I can't believe it!

'Hahaha, I know, right? It's my masterpiece.

Didn't they say the same thing about armor made from dragon material?

I mean, I'm still afraid my eyes are empty...

Anyway, I'm leaving this money on the table.

Oh....

Hey, you okay?　You don't look too good, do you?

I can't help but call out to him at his face, which is so lifeless.

Oh, you've been up all night.

No wonder you look so lifeless.

"Well, in that case, you might as well go to bed. You know, you don't want to walk in there looking like that for the customers.

''Oh, yeah?　Well, maybe it is.

I guess my words were understood, and Goldov flips over the sign at the entrance and begins to close the store.

'Thanks, old man Gordoff!　You saved my life!　But don't stay up all night, it's bad for you!

After telling him that much, I quickly left the shop so that old man Gordoff could get a good night's sleep.

Just as he was leaving, the old man from Gordov's mumbled out such a mutter.

''........What do you mean by tired when you're not tired?''

I left the shop and tilted my head at the old man's comment, but I decided to understand that he was probably tired.

And from then on, master craftsman Goldilocks has been making excellent armor that is incomparably better than ever before.

The new armor that he began to make was so high quality that it was almost impossible to compare it to the previous ones.

The man who was called a master craftsman became the master of blacksmithing, the Craft King.

''Be that as it may, this black armor.......nice.

I was wearing my newly acquired equipment and feeling an unearned sense of fulfillment.