Note (2)
Note (2)
The Beacon Fire Sword, once wielded by the founder Hong Yeon, was the weapon that represented the head of the Calamity Flame family, its crafting method having been passed down to the present day.
Its function was simple.
The storage, Harmonization, and amplification of the Calamity Flame.
It held the surplus Calamity Flame that was too burdensome to store within the body, soothed and calmed the flame that threatened to rampage, and more safely drew out its already powerful output.
'The perfect weapon for a Calamity Flame manifestor.'
It was a weapon that existed solely to handle the Calamity Flame. Of course, being a sword, it was sturdy and suitable for stabbing and cutting.
"Unfortunately, the Azure Sea and Taesan don't have such unique weapons."
Baek A-rin murmured, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"The family heads have plenty of weapons they use, but they're all original artifacts they acquired separately or inherited."
"The Azure Sea and Taesan can just make theirs on the spot, so their weapon dependency is low."
"Honestly, isn't the Calamity Flame even more extreme? Just scattering it has incredible lethality. Actually, it's more about the difference in characteristics than whether or not you can weave one."
"That's true."
As could be seen in the conversation between Baek A-rin and Lee Ji-yeon, the Azure Sea and Taesan families lacked a unique weapon like the Beacon Fire Sword.
'Their weapon dependency was low, and their characteristics were different.'
The Azure Sea and Taesan had low weapon dependency, because they could instantly create weapons out of cold energy and earth energy.
Baek A-rin mainly made and used spears, while Lee Ji-yeon made and used axes, hammers, armor, and the like.
In contrast, the Calamity Flame found weapon weaving difficult. It wasn't impossible, but compared to the other two, it was cumbersome and inefficient.
'And the biggest reason is that they don't have a weapon like the Beacon Fire Sword to begin with.'
The Beacon Fire Sword was a special weapon.
While it was a magic tool-cum-weapon with clear limitations compared to artifacts, the Beacon Fire Sword was comparable to a top-grade artifact in rank.
Despite that, as long as the materials and a craftsman were available, there remained a detailed crafting method that could produce as many as needed.
It was different from artifacts, which were lost forever if the original was destroyed or misplaced.
'What I had to do now, was to create such a crafting method.'
It was more difficult. That's why I had come to the Siyoram Secret Storage. Because most materials were piled up here in abundance.
The inside of the Secret Storage, as read by Observation. It was confusing due to the spatial expansion applied to it, but I didn't wander. I opened the door that led to my destination.
As soon as the door opened, a chilling cold energy gushed out.
"Looks like it's divided by attribute. Well, with this scale, I guess that's to be expected... Oh, there's a top-grade one here?"
It was one of the rooms storing magic stones from ice-attribute monsters.
Baek A-rin, who had been scanning the room, widened her eyes. At the end of her gaze was a magic stone that was particularly large and radiated a piercing cold.
'A 3rd Rank magic stone?'
Sometimes mana coalesced and crystallized inside a monster's body, and this crystal was classified as a magic stone.
Even these magic stones had characteristics and grades according to the monster that produced them.
A magic stone from a 3rd Rank monster. It was a resource that money alone couldn't buy.
'There are quite a few in the Secret Storage. I guess that's natural, since they've been collected since the Chaos Period.'
The Chaos Period. They'd been stockpiling resources since an era teeming with monsters, unlike the present. A lot had also come in from outside in the form of sponsorships and donations.
Considering that, it made sense why precious materials were so plentiful they seemed to be lying around everywhere.
'Still, it's too good to use right away... I'll just leave it for now.'
Around the 3rd Rank magic stone. I gathered up several smaller ice-attribute magic stones with the Sky Wing Feather.
Even though they'd given me ownership, it felt burdensome to just scoop up and use materials of a strategic resource level.
'The main materials for the Beacon Fire Sword were Red Jade and a 3rd Rank monster's magic stone. If I was aiming for that grade, similar materials would be best, but I didn't need them right now.'
What I was making now was a prototype, and considering the direction, I didn't need to waste a 3rd Rank magic stone right away.
I wandered through other rooms as well, gathering up materials.
[Here, please hold this one this time.]
There was a reason I had brought Baek A-rin and Lee Ji-yeon along for this process.
I placed a magic stone in Lee Ji-yeon's hand and sharpened my Observation and Qi Sense. Woom... very faintly, a feeling of resonance with Lee Ji-yeon came through.
[Hmm... this one's no good. This one now.]
"...What can you even feel with this kind of thing?"
Lee Ji-yeon, looking puzzled, switched the magic stone. Woom! This time the resonance was active. My face brightened as I stored it.
[Yes, I can tell them apart. I want to use the ones with the best compatibility, so please wait a moment.]
"That detection ability is really amazing. Isn't that more precise than Observation?"
[.......]
Ignoring the piercing question from the side once again, I busily moved around the Secret Storage. Since I was looking for materials that were compatible each time, it took a while.
'I think this much should do for now?'
Auxiliary magic stones to be used for the Azure Sea, and a Heaven Snow Flower that had absorbed a rich amount of pure cold energy from a lofty high mountain.
Earth-attribute magic stones to be used for Taesan, as well as auxiliary materials to add alongside them.
I also generously packed materials for other purposes.
I nodded my head, checking the pile of materials accumulating in my subspace.
...I suddenly wondered how much this would be if converted into money.
"Have you gathered all the materials?"
As I was once again getting a shiver at my own monetary sense, which had started handling such things routinely, Baek A-rin, who had propped her chin on my head, asked.
The soft sensation pressing firmly against my head. The cold energy I felt from within it was colder than the ice-attribute magic stone I'd been holding earlier.
[I've finished gathering everything I need from the Secret Storage.]
"Phew, it's finally over. It was fun to browse, but... how should I put it, I think I understand the feeling of a man being dragged around shopping in a drama."
[Awkwardness]
[...I don't know how to respond to that.]
"It just is what it is."
Baek A-rin, who had been giggling, stepped a few paces away. As I lightly shook my head with an awkward expression, Lee Ji-yeon, who was beside me, tidied my hair.
[Thank you.]
"I wasn't bored either. There was so much to see that just examining the artifacts we passed by made for an informative time."
[Then I'm glad.]
While poking around, we had passed several rooms piled with artifacts. Because all the artifacts listed in the catalog were here.
'The Sky Wing Feather must have been here, too.'
As I was being tidied by Lee Ji-yeon, I inserted a key into the air. The entrance had a fixed range, but an exit could be created from anywhere.
The place the exit connected to was the forest where the Secret Storage's door had opened.
"Time has flown by while picking out materials."
Lee Ji-yeon glanced at the sunset streaming through the leaves and looked back at me.
"It's almost evening, and you've been studying and training since morning. How about returning to the mansion and resting comfortably?"
[Hmm... I have plenty of stamina, so it's fine. I'll try making it at the mansion.]
"Well, then I have nothing to say, but..."
Worried I might be overdoing it. Those feelings were clearly written on her face.
[Then... Senior, would you like to have dinner at the mansion and then leave? Coincidentally, what I'm making today is a prototype, so it won't take long.]
"Really? Won't it be a bother..."
"You already come over to eat and sleep every couple of days, sister."
"...Ahem. I'm obviously asking out of courtesy."
At Baek A-rin's teasing, Lee Ji-yeon's face, which had brightened, crumpled slightly.
.
.
.
"Where did Yeon-hwa go? She should have come running out by now."
"Queen Hong Yeon-hwa said she had family business and asked me to tell you she'd eat dinner out."
"Ah, I see. Thanks, Oru."
"Yes!"
At the answer from Oru, the fairy who had fluttered over before we knew it, Baek A-rin smiled brightly.
"We arrived a bit early. If I'd known, I would've just wandered around nearby before coming."
"Right..."
It was early evening when we arrived at the mansion. A little too early to eat.
[Then, shall I try making it in the meantime?]
"Already? It *is* a bit early for dinner, but will it be done by then?"
[It's fine. I've made preparations for dinner in advance, and if it goes according to the blueprint, the prototype won't take long.]
Of course, there's a chance it won't go according to plan, but in that case, I'll just have to dejectedly come back up.
The two of them, who had been looking back and forth at each other with some lingering reluctance, nodded at my suggestion.
And so, we descended to the underground facility.
"Isn't this the training room?"
[Yes, it's the training room.]
Seeing the wide-open, flat underground training room, Lee Ji-yeon showed her confusion.
I walked briskly to the center of the training room and plopped down on the floor.
[I'll have to do hammering or engraving later, but I don't need to right now.]
"Just what kind of method is it that you don't?"
Baek A-rin, who had settled down next to me, showed her curiosity. Lee Ji-yeon, who sat carefully across from me, was equally curious.
[Delight]
[I'm not sure if it'll work right away... but watch for now.]
Feeling rather proud under those gazes, I straightened my shoulders.
[Before that, let me take a little blood from you two.]
"Here."
"Here."
Before truly starting. Just as I had done with Senior Daera, I cleanly drew blood with the Sky Wing Feather.
Since it was common to use blood for branding purposes when crafting a dedicated weapon, the two offered up their blood without any reluctance.
But that act was also likely due to their trust in me. That made me feel even better.
[Ahem.]
With a fake cough, I took a deep breath.
An act intended to sharpen my focus. Recognizing this, Baek A-rin and Lee Ji-yeon quietly stared at me.
'Hmm...'
Blueprints flooded my mind. I sorted through them, picking out the ones I needed.
A unique weapon utilizing the Azure Sea and Taesan.
I needed to refer to the Beacon Fire Sword, but it couldn't be completely identical.
The Beacon Fire Sword was a sword for the Calamity Flame. The Azure Sea and Taesan, which had different characteristics, had to be made differently.
'The Azure Sea and Taesan...'
The Azure Sea's water energy was free in form from the start. The cold energy linked to water energy was generally similar.
Taesan. With earth manipulation, one could create a variety of things. Armor, weapons, even fortifications or defensive lines.
It was easy and free to manipulate. The manipulated form also persisted.
Rather than an already fixed form like the Beacon Fire Sword, a freely changing form was better.
Of course, depending on personal taste, a fixed form might be better. The desired shape of the weapon could also differ.
So, it would be best if they could choose the form according to the user.
'Form Transformation.'
It was a precious function. Most artifacts had a fixed form.
I wanted to incorporate that as the basis of the weapon.
How? I had already thought of a method beforehand.
- Snap!
"Oh?"
The two who had been quietly watching me let out exclamations.
Their wide-eyed gazes focused on my back.
The Sky Wing Feather bound to me.
A chunk of its end had fallen off.