Chapter 168 168: The Start Of Something Special



"So, McAlister, what I want to try will work, right?"

Alexander excitedly asked the dwarf as the two men sat in the back of his blacksmith, now with a large closed sign along the door.

When the two began discussing the idea of multiple spirit items, McAlister suddenly became like a teenager seeing a naked woman for the first time.

'He's so amusing!'

Alexander had always been interested in magic and spirit weapons found in games, and he liked this dwarf, who was also eccentric and a bit strange at times—like himself.

The two hit it off immediately since Alexander had become intrigued by the chance of multiple spirit armaments and the idea of making them into a standard weapon for his Vesta.

McAlister had explained to him that his people had used these weapons in the past but struggled to keep up with the demand of collecting spirits willing to enter the weapons during a magical war with another race many years before the detestable gods and demons destroyed his planet.

"So, laddie, you were thinkin' of putting the weaker spirits that are currently nothing but shards and fragments of their former selves into weapons for those pretty lassies that follow you around? It might work; the spirits inside a weapon grow with each thing they slay, taking part of that being to the spirit as nourishment."

The old dwarf began to pull many old, tattered books from his shelf, seeming to need more research.

He seemed confident to perform it for special weapons like Eien in the past; using Venri and Katrin was a little easier because they were almost complete spirits, not fragmented.

Now, though, he needed more research on ensuring all those shards would function properly as weapons once entered.

But, despite having only met this man a few days ago, Alexander felt that McAlister could do it. After all, if the dwarf could create the upgraded Eien, he should be able to recreate one of the many magical weapons from the last war!

"How about we start with replacing the core of Eien's spirit, using one of the two dominant spirits to replace the one that now has a body?"

"Hmmm, that may work, but the blade would change; each spirit is different. Are you willing to risk losing the loving gift that girl made for you?"

"Good point, then. Can you make me two new weapons with stronger shards?"

"I can, but... It will cost..."

Thud!

Alexander dropped a bag of 10,000 coins on the desk without even batting an eyelid.

"Oh fuck! That's a lot of coin!"

McAlister looked at the boy in awe; only a few weeks ago, this lad was struggling to make ends meet; now, he throws more coins than a normal adventurer does in a year or two at him.

'This old man's eyes look like gold coins! Damn greedy dwarf!'

Alexander laughed aloud at the dwarf's stunned expression and continued.

"I don't know any other blacksmith, nor would I trust them with this; please help me find homes for these lost girls, so one day I might bring them back to this world. Just tell me what I need to pay, and I'll get the money," he added with a smile.

McAlister heard his words, with his jaw dropped; the coins were exactly what he needed to achieve his dream.

"Laddie, for 10,000, I could probably finish both the weapons with the two lassies who are constantly making this sword vibrate in delight each time you speak, but the weapons each of them seek, I can see them, but you might not like the things they suit most... I can tell you their reasons, though..."

"Also, they can hardly be called weapons too..."

"Hmmm..." Alexander didn't mind, but if all the souls suddenly decided not to want to become swords, spears or bows, wouldn't he be out of luck with this idea?

"Then..."

"Don't jump the gun, laddie; it's not because all spirits can choose; those fractured will accept any vessel, but I can feel these two. It's like how a doctor can sense what is wrong with you with their eyes and the information."

"A good blacksmith can see where and what kind of weapon the materials we use desire."

"Sounds like fantasy bullshittery to me..."

"Oi! You cheeky brat!" 

"Hahaha... Tell me then."

The two sat back, the sound of flames crackling, wood snapping in the fire with embers fluttering out. 

"It's strange how in sync these girls are..."

"One wishes to become Clawed gauntlets, but not just any... the image she shows is of her body growing and becoming more brutal, with long blades running from each finger... her body going all the way to your shoulder, where a sabaton would normally be placed, the image is strange but... Oh, I see..."

"What?"

Alexander was confused about how the old man suddenly no longer seemed confused before nodding continuously like a certain dog.

"You can transform? That girl showed me a glimpse from her memories, and the gauntlet makes sense now, but it will be hard..."

"She wants to become a part of your arm rather than a mere glove... Like a symbiotic relationship?"

"Her core dwelling in the back of your hand... But...No...Ack...The laddie would suffer so much pain with this... Lassie, are ye sure?"

McAlister seemed to be speaking with the spirit himself, the conversation was strange and a little jarring for Alexander, but he could imagine the voice and words of Venri leading him to these replies...

He thought back to when his hands were filled with wounds, and she would rush to his side, cleaning them, making sure nothing went wrong, even though they regenerated just fine in minutes... 

'Silly girl...'

"Oh, he also had a stupid habit of touching strange things, like black goo, with his bare hands... you want to stop that with your own body..."

"Hmmmm, what about Nightsteel? It's a little heavy and durable, and magic passes through it well; the main thing is its flexibility, able to form a thin sheet but still stronger than an iron bar."

"Lassie... I am not a jeweller... how can I make it sparkly and cute? Okay... I'll try...!"

The two sat silently for a minute, thinking about the possible risks.

Alexander watched as the old man began sketching, but it was not his opinion. 

He asked, but Eien, that was sitting on the display stand, causing him to feel a little left out; the old man promised to make a new sheath for Eien too, which was a relief; the people in the village seemed to have been strange because of his unsheathed weapon...

"Laddie, your two lassies' desire to be your weapon and armour is strong... I am very interested in the results of this experiment."

"What about the other? What does Katrin want?" 

"Oh!? Laddie, can you hear their voices and see them? How did you know it was Venri who wanted to become the gauntlets!?"

"No, I know Venri well, and she always worried about my hands."

"Gyahahaha! The spirit is blushing! So amusing; my ancestors always believed the spirits to be heartless, without emotion... Ack... this girl, I will make you into the best gauntlets the world has known!"

Alexander watched the old man, thinking he was always biased towards cute girls and felt tempted to wear a dress to get a discount, but it was merely a passing thought out of envy.

"Then Katrin?"

"Ack... this lassie is so stiff, convinced she has no special parts or memories with you. Yet her eyes beam whenever she looks or speaks about you... strange girl, do you feed them all drugs!? I am so jealous..."

"Mmmm, well, she wished to become a pair with Venri, but she will become your sabatons and grieves."

"Her mind constantly shows images of you kicking monsters and enemies far stronger than you... Although you damage them well, your bones and flesh are destroyed and flayed..."

"Why do you fight like a damn savage!?"

McAlister turned to him with a shocked face as if he saw the world's most stupid and ancient Neanderthal. 

"Gah! I don't want you to be this way, laddie, but... ahh, let's finish the weapons, shall we? We can worry about how to make you into a more skilled fighter later; the girls can sort that out..."

McAlister spent the rest of the afternoon researching the spirits, making more notes while Alexander sharpened tools; Venri helped by providing visions of Katrin's current shape and appearance, showing McAlister how to fuse them to become the perfect combination.

Eventually, it became night, and the two young men stopped working.

"Come back tomorrow, laddie; we can train together again."

"Sure, but why do you say training?"

"Well, if you are going to wear these weapons, then you must learn to control them, wielding them as one would use their limbs."

"Not only that, but you plan to keep making them, right? If I teach you the basics, you should eventually be able to make your weapons; although they would be basic, with my notes, you should do fine..."

"I won't be able to help you forever, laddie."

"Yeah, yeah, gotcha. Also, thank you for agreeing to make these weapons."

"Of course, laddie, there's more than enough space here, and I don't need the materials anyway."

"The coin was more than needed, so I'll make 50 swords, 50 spears and 100 bows. Although basic, each one will be filled with a spirit."

McAlister looked at Alexander for a moment, then thought to himself.

"In the future, I will make 100 of each for 5,000 coins, so don't worry about bringing too many coins; this time is more for the research and development costs of Venri and Katrin."