CH.222 Testing the new Forge

CH.222 Testing the new Forge

“Master. The forge is ready.” Legendary Flame Lord came to interrupt our practice session and informed me.

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Not that I’m opposed to taking a break. While both Lua and I could likely keep going, Alice looks like she is ready to drop.

Alice had been practicing with Giltia the D. Knight. Just because I really think having Dark Paladin as her partner would have been way too difficult for her. And I don’t have any other monsters that use a swordstaff as their weapon. But Giltia has a trident thingy so that is close enough.

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My swordsmanship teacher of the day was Warrior Dai Grepher and Lua was learning the basics of the mace from Dark Scorpion - Gorg the Strong. Even though I feel like Gorg isn’t the best teacher. He just hits things, harder. No real technique or anything.

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Also, I just lack monsters that use a mace or other blunt weapon. Sure I have Goblin Attack Force, but ... yeah. And at the same time, I feel like Lua might want to practice more with using the mace as a source of vampiric steel, which she can break off into tiny needles to shoot at people or something, instead of trying to get blunt weapons technique. She already has the staff technique skill, but as that is more focused on self defense, she wanted to also get blunt weapons technique. But hey, to each their own.

“Oh. Alright. I guess we will call it now.” I said. “How are you on time, Flame? I think you are running out, right?” I asked my Flame Lord.

“Yes. Both myself and Granmarg are almost out. You should unsummon us soon, Master.” He confirmed.

Between the dance practice and then the weapon practice, we had had a very physical two hours while that duo had worked on the forge. But now, we could take it a bit easier.

“Sure. Everyone, thanks for being our instructors for the day. You can go now.” I said to our three teachers and unsummoned them. Then we walked over to where my new forge was and I unsummoned Granmarg and Flame Lord.

“Now then, let’s test it out.” I said. “Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu.”

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First, I summoned my smith.

“Hello, Master. I see that the forge is finished.” He said.

“Yeah. Sure is. How about testing it out?”

“Yes. We shall. What may I make for you?”

“Alice.” I called her over. “How about your swordstaff?” I offered.

“Wha? Really? Yes! Please.” She agreed.

“Alright. Hand the pole to Kotetsu. I’ll get a bronze sword, so he can combine the two.” I said I dug my storage for a bronze sword. I did get two of them from the dungeon, so we can just use one of them. I picked up the one with the shorter blade. Technically, I think this is a shortsword, but that should actually make it better for what we are about to do. The blade of this shortsword was only about 50 cm long. In comparison, my arming sword has a blade length of 90 cm.

“So, Kotetsu, what do you think? Can you combine the two into a practice swordstaff?”

“Of course. But we do need a fire, if you would.”

“Sure, sure. I’ll get it.” I said as I pulled open my collection.

“... Brian, that might be a problem.” Lua commented. “We do have firewood, but not coal or charcoal. Do you have some?”

“Lua, who do you think you are talking to?” I asked. “If everything else fails, I can just have a dragon breath fire. But I do have something better for this. Hinotama Soul.” I located the card I wanted and summoned it.

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“Why do we need a fire when I can just summon a ball of flames?” I asked.

“... I guess I should have expected that.” Lua admitted.

“Yeah. I’ve even used it to boil water for tea. ... but I guess that was when you were out because of your evolution, so you wouldn’t know about that.” I explained. “Anyway, can you two make it work?”

“Of course. We already practiced this in the factory.” Kotetsu answered.

Hinotama Soul couldn’t actually speak, at least no a language I could understand, so he just quickly floated up and down like he was nodding.

“Thanks.” I thanked my monsters and turned back to the girls. “So, how about lunch?”

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“No! Of course not.”

“... thanks.” I said, honestly relieved that she didn’t deny my wish to see her each day. “And as soon as you are ready, call me. I’ll come pick you up.” I promised.

“Yes. I will.”

Our flight home, on dragons and/or a firebird, went fine. Again, I made sure we landed far enough away from the city where we wouldn’t be seen by too many people. Sure there will likely be some that saw us, but as long as it is only a few, it should be fine. And the gate guards did know about it.

Well, we just swapped our dragons for Overdrive and drove into the city.

“Paulina, look, I can fly!” Alice called to Paulina when we met and floated into the air with her new skill.

“... wh? Brian? Are you doing that?” She asked.

“Nope. That’s all her.” I answered.

“... she can ... fly?”

“Yes. Can’t you see?” Alice asked.

“Technically, that’s floating.” I quipped.

“... I’m still learning. I’ll be flying in no time.” Alice countered.

“But how?” Paulina asked. “Is that telekinesis?”

“Nope.” Alice answered. “It’s mana flight!” As she called that out, she must have lost concentration, as she fell back to the floor. Well, fell is questionable, as she was only floating about 10 cm in the air.

“... is it an extra skill?” Paulina asked.

“Sure is.” Alice confirmed. “Mana uses the same skill to fly, so she can teach me now.”

“... I see. That is amazing.” Paulina said, with a melancholic voice.

“I’m sure you can learn it as well.” I said to Paulina. “From what I gathered, it is quite similar to telekinesis. Just controlling mana and expelling it from your body in a certain way. It might actually be easier than telekinesis.”

“... really?” Paulina perked up.

“Yeah. I was actually thinking of trying to learn it myself. Want to try that with me?” I asked.

“Yes. Of course.” She answered. “... but you can already fly with telekinesis, so why would you do that?”

“... because I can. And I think that skill will be better for flying than telekinesis. Maybe. It is designed for flying after all. Telekinesis might eventually hit a wall in how fast I can move myself with it. I don’t know if that flight skill will.” I explained.

“Let’s all practice together!” Alice exclaimed.

“Sure.” I agreed.

“... yes. Let’s.”

The rest of the day was spent with more practice. Not that Paulina or I could even lift ourselves from the floor yet, but we will get there. Hopefully.

Of course there is always space magic for me, fire and blood magic, as well as vampiric body modification for Ria.

And ending the day is the time I’ve been looking forward to the most. Level ups. We could still go for a few days before the Earl’s ban on level ups will come into effect. Ten days to the birthday, but as some of the other guests will start to arrive in the days before it, he asked that we stop a week before. ... well, I think I’ll still be leveling up skills. Just leave the overall level be for now, as that does seem to be the main cause of evolutions. I hope just leveling up skills won’t cause it. But we will never find out, unless we try just leveling up skills.

Anyway, back on track. For myself, I decided to level up Mana Control. Just so I won’t forget it. Ria got a level in Flickering Step. ... I should also try to learn that skill. It could be useful, and it seems simple enough.

SpoilerName: Brian WoodRace: Human !Level: 82HP: 2760Mana: 3750Strength: 805Defense: 1005Magic: 1015 Skills: Pack Opener LV.4 (unique)Different Dimension Factory LV.3 (unique)Storage LV.10 (unique)

Telekinesis LV.5 (extra)Summoner’s Unity LV.5 (extra)Dungeon Founder (extra)Summon Water Spirit (extra)Health Conscious (extra) Mana Control LV.8 Water Spirit’s Blessing (Greater)Language Comprehension (humanoid)Slave MasterSlaves: Rhianna[collapse]SpoilerName: RhiannaRace: DhampirLevel: 74HP: 1970Mana: 2190Strength: 1185Defense: 870Magic: 1030 Skills:True Blood Magic LV.5 (Racial)Vampiric Body Modification LV.3 (Racial)

Card Summoner LV.2 (extra)

Fire Magic LV.4Mana Control LV.4Fast Mana Recovery LV.4Internal Magic Technique LV.6Unarmed Combat Technique LV.5Flickering Step LV.4Power Boost LV.5Defense Boost LV.4 Blood Sucker (Racial)Slave. Master: Brian Wood[collapse]

... My defense is no longer my highest stat ... I don’t know how to feel about that. It just used to be, but I guess having magic as the highest stat isn’t that bad. But I should try to get another defensive skill. Maybe I’ll use my next install to gain one. I’ll ask Laura tomorrow how soon that can be done. I think either United we Stand or Spell Economics should fully integrate with my body soon, so I can install another card.

Well, tomorrow is another day of practice, I think. Or maybe some adventuring time. Well, I’ll decide tomorrow. Good night.