Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Weapon Making (2)
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Clang! Clang!
It was the second day since I'd been assigned to the forge.
By making use of my lunch breaks and evening rest periods over those two days, I'd gained permission to use the forge.
Normally, evening rest time meant returning to the prison cells.
But Godin, the master of this forge, had asked Karga to let me stay behind alone.
"Hmm... not bad at all. Is this really your first time?"
The process of heating iron and shaping it with hammer blows.
Godin, watching from the side, let out an impressed voice.
'Well, it's not exactly my first time.'
Sure, swinging a hammer in real life was new to me.
But the striking process? I'd done it to death playing as Morduin.
Just the swords I'd forged to level up his artisan skills could build a castle.
[Great Men Maker] was a game with exceptional detail.
Weapon crafting was incredibly detailed too.
From manipulating the character to shape the ingot into a weapon, to the heat treatment process.
And sharpening the blade, attaching fittings, and more.
In the game, players could control every minute step themselves.
Of course, at high proficiency, you could churn out basic weapons with a click.
But to level up artisan skills, those steps were essential.
So this work felt etched into my memory—I could do it blindfolded if I had a controller.
That's why.
"Incredible... You've got real talent, kid...!"
On my first day with forge access, I'd produced a plain dagger blade.
Godin, witnessing it, admired the blade with wide eyes.
"Not bad. It's a bit warped since you're not used to it yet... but really your first try?"
"Yes. Embarrassing as my first piece is, will it do?"
"Do? More than. This could see real use without issue."
The result was a success.
Godin looked at me with sparkling eyes.
On the other hand, he shot me a pitying glance like, 'Such talent wasted as a slave...'
"Sigh... If you weren't a slave, I'd take you as an apprentice..."
As Godin muttered that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' is watching you closely!] 'He's here...!'
The one I'd been waiting for had finally taken interest in me.
'Yeah, couldn't resist peeking.'
Me, who'd beaten one of his descendants with elven power.
Ever since spotting me, he'd been checking in occasionally.
Now here I was, forging weapons in the smithy.
With skill worthy of his descendant's approval, no less.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' examines your creation!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' widens his eyes!] Seems my first work had really caught his eye.
"Well then, looking forward to tomorrow."
"Oho! A kid like you is welcome anytime!"
I'd succeeded in drawing Morduin's attention.
Now, just seduce him for all he's worth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day came.
I volunteered for the forge again.
"There you are! Come here, Number 17!"
"Huh? But the work..."
"The forge runs fine without one more! Just come!"
But things were totally different from yesterday.
I'd braced for hell again, steeling myself for the forge.
Yet upon arrival, Godin pulled me from the workshop and led me to a corner station.
"Can't slack during work hours, but experiment on your own. You'll figure it out."
"D-does that mean... I can skip regular duties...?"
"What does it look like?"
For a moment, Godin looked like an angel.
"Master Craftsman Godin!! I pledge my loyalty!!"
"Hahaha! Skip the loyalty! Hone your skills—that's repayment enough!"
Godin laughed heartily and returned to the main workshop.
Passing combat slaves shot looks like, 'Why's that guy exempt...?'
I answered their glares with mocking smiles as I eyed my station.
Perfect—Godin had stepped out for his duties.
Now I could practice forging with the forge's scrap freely.
In other words, tease Morduin at will.
"Alright, let's get started."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' glances at you.] Feeling Morduin's sneaky gaze, I hefted the hammer, pretending nonchalance.
And all morning.
Clang! Clang!
Hammer strikes echoed nonstop from the corner station.
And at the same time.
"Ah, oof... messed up."
"Darn... same mistake again..."
"Damn, why does this keep happening...?"
My deliberately theatrical mutters lingered in the air.
Of course, aimed at some heavenly listener.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' shouts out!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' pounds his chest in frustration!!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' yells at you: That's not how you do it!] My goal: open communication with that dwarf ancestor.
For that, Morduin needed the urge to talk to me.
When would a legendary smith want to advise a novice?
When the kid's breezing through with genius ease?
No.
——When that genius keeps making frustrating mistakes.
Clang! Clang!
"Whoa! Slippery hands!"
Crack!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' screams!] [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' laughs merrily!] With Elisis's mockery piled on, Morduin's frustration hit its limit.
Finally, he took the bait.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Conditions met!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' tunes in to your voice!] 'Yes...! He bit...!'
Unable to hold back, he'd sent the first love call my way.
Well, less love call, more unsolicited nag mail he couldn't resist sending.
Either way, two-way communication unlocked—half my goal achieved.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' tunes in to your voice!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' tunes in to your voice!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' tunes in to your voice!] Even after granting communication, my silence made him spam messages.
'Whoa, easy there. Should I pray in the forge or what?'
Communing with ancestors just needed me talking.
But muttering to thin air looks crazy.
And if caught talking to ancestors, trouble.
Prayer form was safer.
Especially since.
To achieve my goal with him.
The work wasn't done yet.
Clang! Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Hey, Number 17. Lunch time. Take a break..."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Heh, guess I'm interrupting..."
After Morduin's call, I dove into hammering.
Recalling the countless reps from playing him.
The cautious strikes to level artisan skills.
Now, with my real hands.
So ambient voices faded; I forged till sunset.
"......"
"All done?"
Godin, who'd silently watched behind me, spoke up.
I turned, sweat-drenched face breaking into a grin.
"Yes. A satisfying piece."
"Insane focus. For your next match?"
"No."
I held up the finished work.
"......A helmet?"
"Yes. Ancient dwarf-style helmet."
"You made this? ...Sigh, it's perfect. Really your first hammer?"
Godin gawked at my helmet, exclamations spilling out.
And then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' gazes at you.] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' widens his eyes at your work!] Morduin, quiet during my focus, erupted at the helmet.
No wonder.
This was the exact helmet he'd first sold successfully.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' gazes wistfully at your work!] "I made this thinking of the great teacher of all smiths, Lord Morduin."
"Lord Morduin...?"
"Yes."
His descendant Godin echoed in surprise.
His face questioned why a mongrel like me would craft for him.
I smiled brightly.
"I hold the hammer thanks to Master Craftsman Godin. I wanted to honor your ancestor Lord Morduin with this."
"...I-it can't be."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' is moved by your words!] Dwarves, man.
So sentimental where you least expect it.
But that sentiment served me well now.
"Sniff...! First mongrel like you...!! Never thought I'd tear up easy...!!"
"Haha, glad you approve. Thank you."
"Alright! Decided!"
"...Pardon?"
"Your station's permanent forge-side from now on!!"
".........Huh?"
"Hahahahaha!! No need to refuse!! I'll square it with the warden!! Swing away!!"
Whoosh!
Godin declared, spun coolly, and waved one hand as he strode off.
"Wait, hold on..."
Forge every day...
Think I'll pass.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Later, returned to Karga via Godin's underling, I knelt in prayer pose in the cell.
The dead of night, everyone asleep.
Perfect prayer time.
"Great ancestor..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Your voice echoes through the Feast of the Stars...] [Responding ancestors: 2] Clearing daytime conditions, Morduin responded to my voice.
And.
Having deeply moved him, he'd likely grant a fitting boon to my request.
"O divine artisan ascended to creating from nothing. ...Your distant descendant earnestly beseeches you."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' looks upon you!] "I still lack strength.... Future fights fill me with dread, my life precious. Please... share a sliver of your great artisan power for your descendant..."
The one ability I craved from Morduin: [Forge of the Void]
Playing combat-weak artisan Morduin.
His most useful combat skill.
A cheat letting you craft instantly from nothing.
Mastery even ditched material needs.
'With that... no worrying about broken weapons mid-fight...!'
Weapon breaks?
Whatever. Forge a new one on-site.
Grinning sleazily at the thought of Morduin's power.
Soon after.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' is greatly moved by your prayer!] [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' bestows a gift upon you!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Acquired Trait 'Soul of the Burning Artisan'!] [...You feel the artisan's blessing envelop you.] "Huh...?"
But the gift was nothing like expected.
"Wait... this is just a proficiency buff passive..."
I grumbled at the air, indignant.
And as if answering.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' attaches conditions to the gift!] [Gift Quest started!] 📜 NEW QUEST 📜 [Quest: Path of the Artisan]
ㅁ Practice crafting 5 times a week
ㅁ Repair weapons 5 times a week
[Warning: Failing the weekly quest may reclaim the given gift.] "......"
Quest name: Path of the Artisan.
Content: practice crafting and repairs.
Morduin's will seeped through.
'You... suck...'
My ploy of feigned flubs to lure him.
Like revenge for the frustration, he gave proficiency buff and weekly chores.
"Gaaahhhh—!!"