Alloy (1)
I'm so worn out even saying "I've lived this long to see this." The Four Seasons Forest is just one big bundle of unsolved mysteries. Best to accept it quick and move on. Hell, I just met a talking gorilla recently. Might as well... just go with the flow. While keeping detailed records, of course.
All of them are only good for stuff I don't need?
What I need are survival supplies. Not these damn resources.
Sure, I could forge armor and tools from them. But it'd take forever without a furnace. They're total chicken ribs right now. Even making primitive stone tools like a caveman wouldn't cut it.
Can't even sell this crap.
I let out a sigh. Mining this Mithril seems impossible. Unless I carve out the entire floor, I just have to leave it be.
Well, positively speaking, infinite resources. If I build a furnace and level up my blacksmithing, it'd be perfect.
The problem is that'd take years at minimum.
I sighed again and turned around. Gotta do what needs doing anyway.
My daily routine starts in the morning. Now it's second nature. Head to the river, catch fish, gorge myself.
Today, weirdly, only one fish bit. Kinda bitter.
Good thing I've stocked up so far.
Still got margin for error. But if it's just one fish a day from now on, that's trouble.
I had breakfast with my animal buddies and got to work. First up: gifting an adult mandrake to Gongjage doelgeoya.
After that, hit the Oriharukon Cave for some Oriharukon. Originally for doors, but scrapped that plan, so it's surplus ore now. Still, stocking a few chunks can't hurt.
Furnace after lunch.
Looks like it'll need brains and brawn, so take it slow. Dwarf said the molten metal hits lava temps. Mithril melts even hotter.
And charcoal... yeah, need that.
Charcoal's essential for higher heat. Gotta melt metal, after all.
Future looks bleak already, but silver lining: furnace size. Just needs to melt ore, no need for huge.
Doesn't mean relax, though. Fire's a double-edged sword.
Good thing I've been hoarding charcoal.
Used it for laundry and deodorant before. Who knew it'd fuel a furnace? Charcoal's a god—versatile as hell. Gotta make more from now on.
Prep done, I headed out for mandrake and Oriharukon. Same as always: Ppareumbo on my back, cute bodyguard Wonmo tagging along.
Thwack! Thud! Splat!
"Kwek! Kuek! Kuwak!"
First, adult mandrake. Familiar capture method now. More like just beating 'em down, but whatever.
Snagged the mandrake, then to the Oriharukon Cave. No dangerous beasts en route. Familiar path, plus I stayed vigilant.
Oriharukon acquired. But does this need smelting too?
Picking up chunks from the ground got me thinking. ChangguPrincess and KingLeor used theirs right away. Maybe no processing needed? Or Oriharukon trait? Ask the dwarf.
YasaengGrill has posted a trade item.
Here it is. Hope it brings you good fortune.
Gongjage doelgeoya Thank you so much! May the goddess's blessing be upon you!
Back at the cave, traded with Gongjage doelgeoya. Goddess blessing mention? Saint Country origin, maybe.
Man, adult mandrakes trade easy?
Thought they had no ego. But they scream bloody murder and swarm. Freaky, but good trade's good trade. Overthinking just hurts my head.
Nice. Sturdy as hell.
Shoes from Gongjage doelgeoya lived up to the hype—super tough. Better than PassingDwarf's friend's even. Trade-off: less comfy.
Perfect for me, though.
Dwarf shoes for known spots, Gongjage doelgeoya's for new exploration. Sneakers in-cave.
Need one more pair for backup.
Different uses mean need spares. So I posted on the Gallery right away.
People might think it's over. Looking for one more pair of shoes.
YasaengGrill Got the shoes from PassingDwarf and Gongjage doelgeoya. But different uses, so need a spare. Will trade adult mandrake to whoever provides a good backup.
└Cheonma When do you plan to give this lady her sword?
└YasaengGrill R-right away!
└Cheonma Just teasing. No rush—take your time.
└SwordTasteStar What're you giving?
└Cheonma A sword he personally forged with true silver for this lady.
└SwordTasteStar Damn, jealous. Never even used a Mithril sword;;
└Cheonma Heh. Should've been more generous?
└SwordTasteStar I gave elixirs too, you jerk;;
└YasaengGrill Cheonma gave her own sword, so it's repayment. Want one too, SwordTasteStar?
└Cheonma You sly rascal—knew you'd say that.
└SwordTasteStar Tempting, but nah. Unlike some, I'm strong enough with cheap swords lol
└Cheonma This lady has her iron mace.
└SwordTasteStar You bitch.
└Wait, Grills making it himself? Thought you asked the dwarf?
└PassingDwarf Was gonna, but Mithril's mana density too high—gave it back. Explodes on melt.
└Oriharukon okay?
└PassingDwarf Yeah, mana-absorbing property makes it fine. But only Oriharukon.
└Grills, you were handing out bombs?
└Like he was set on assassination lol
└YasaengGrill Didn't know;; Gotta make it myself.
└ChangguPrincess Using the Oriharukon great! Security recording orb from yesterday ready—let me know anytime!
Saw ChangguPrincess's comment, messaged her ASAP. Repay with Oriharukon—more the better.
ChangguPrincess Tap orb twice, it opens like an eye~ Monitors that direction. Easy peasy~
Thanks. How to view recordings?
ChangguPrincess Close eye with two taps, then three to activate~. Hold to view. Careful—views auto-delete!
Got it. Thanks again.
ChangguPrincess Thanks how? Cheer for Chaeyu next season win!
ChangguPrincess Haha perfect~
Checked the CCTV orb from ChangguPrincess. Dark purple, face-sized.
Hang it like soy bean paste?
Installing's a chore. But holing up in cave all day, no rush.
Tried tapping twice. Flash!
"Whoa."
Eye popped open like she said. Reptile eye—creepy. Felt like it was watching me hard.
Tap tap tap—eye closed softly. Held finger down. Pop! Hologram window appeared.
Showed my face, top-down view.
"Damn."
Skin looked flawless. No acne anywhere. Stared, then shut it off.
CCTV tested—time for training. Can't skip a day.
Starting inner cores today.
Cheonma's second incantation next. Roughly: read the flow, not surrender to heaven. Trickier than first. Worried but fine. Just keep at it.
Didn't expect easy.
Inner core after lunch, post-digestion.
Fish act like elixirs. Eat right after meal? Overdose risk. Avoid danger—wait for digestion.
Stuff for dwarf too.
Busy day. Can't delay.
Post-lunch: straight to furnace. No need big—just melt Mithril. But materials from dwarf.
Key: heat-resistant stone. Over 1,000°C.
Dwarf's providing.
Bellows too. All materials, really. Asked if okay—he said sharpening Mithril sword enough. So dwarfy.
Flop! Flop!
River trap: two fish. Whew.
Oven-cooked meal, then prep. But check first: cave-back Mithril.
Infinite regen nice, but questions.
How the hell does it recover? Like planaria regen.
Yesterday's mined spot exactly regrown. Core location? Scary if guardian awakens.
Stay vigilant.
Mined chunks plenty. Melt, pour in mold—done.
Prep good—messaged dwarf.
Yo. Around?
PassingDwarf Yeah. Caught crabs?
Furnace time, then crabs. Need advice.
PassingDwarf On what?
Mithril super rare, right?
PassingDwarf "Rare" too weak. Mines everywhere—finding one makes headlines.
Oriharukon too?
PassingDwarf Yeah. Most to mage towers, same tier as Mithril. Your cave find? Newspapers went nuts.
That big? Stuck here, no clue outside. Heard paper mentions, ignored as spam.
PassingDwarf So why ask? Teasing?
Nah, pro opinion.
PassingDwarf Hm. Smart one. What ya want, foolish mortal?
Wtf;; Find another dwarf?
PassingDwarf Gallery dwarves metallurgy pros? Rare lol
Sigh. Got Mithril and Oriharukon here?
PassingDwarf Bragging?
Lemme finish. Melt both together for sword—what happens? Rare + rare alloy. What I want.
Surplus here, no biggie. But outsiders, esp dwarves? Wild reactions.
PassingDwarf Alloy? Mithril + Oriharukon?
Yeah, good idea?
PassingDwarf Holy shit, like caviar fried rice lololol Ridiculous laugh, but...
PassingDwarf Do it now. What ya need? Say it—I'll get everything.
Good?
PassingDwarf My forge hammer's shaking. Pisses me off;;
Dwarf through and through, in the end.