Anvil and Hammer
As I emerged from the warping space, the familiar scenery near the Tower brushed past my eyes.
Not the pitch-black darkness from when we'd entered, but the bustling midday crowd.
Sua and I quickly melted into the throng before anyone could spot us.
"I'm a real climber now…."
Leaving Sua behind as she muttered to herself in awe, I headed in a direction slightly different from Daon's house.
"Hmm…."
Sua followed silently without asking a single question.
Eventually, we stopped in front of a stump deep in a secluded forest a short distance from the Tower.
I've got the necklace anyway, so it should be fine.
This was my secret spot, but I had no worries about Sua spilling my identity anywhere.
I brushed off the concern, plopped down on the spot, and busily dug into the earth with my hands.
"Uh… should I… help?"
"Nah, just keep watch."
A few minutes passed like that.
I was digging up the spot where I'd buried the money bag before, using both feet and hands furiously.
"That's weird…."
Something felt a bit off from my memory.
The position of the half-buried stone, the damp texture of the moist soil—it was subtly different.
The unease poking its head out made me dig faster, and soon the familiar money bag surfaced.
"Phew…."
Must've been my imagination.
I let out a sigh of relief, left the bag buried, and yanked open the zipper.
Stacks of bills still piled high inside.
I grabbed a thick wad with one hand and stuffed it into my pants pocket.
Need materials.
Finally, I had a faint thread to work with for making Sua's gear.
I didn't want to lose this sensation.
I pocketed the cash, tamped the earth back down, and hurried off.
"Let's go."
"Oh, all done? But… what were you doing?"
Guess she really kept watch—didn't even glance my way, just scanned the surroundings diligently.
"Nothing much."
No need to reveal my sneaky instincts then.
Walking side by side with Sua, I glanced back over my shoulder.
"Hmm…."
The stack of bills seemed just a tiny bit thinner than before.
"Nah, imagination…?"
This was the perfect spot I'd chosen after much thought. No way.
I shook my head to dispel the worry and quickened my pace.
Preparing for forging was far more urgent than pointless fretting.
*
We'd set out, but there was one small problem.
I had no idea where to get Magic Stones or other materials.
- Uh… I don't know either?
Sua was useless again, so we headed straight back to Daon's house to ask her.
I tried to tag along, but…
The moment Daon saw me covered head to toe in dirt, she freaked out and forbade it, leaving me stuck at home with Sua.
I wanted to watch too.
I really couldn't fathom why dirt warranted such a reaction.
After finishing my hard labor, I hated getting wet right away anyway.
So there I was, lying spread-eagle in Daon's yard, basking in the sunlight.
— Beep, beep-beep-beep, beep.
The familiar rhythm of the door lock chimed.
And a familiar scent wafted over.
"I'm back!"
Daon flung open the yard gate and greeted me the instant she got home, right on cue.
"Oh… yeah."
My gaze shifted from Daon's face to the massive basket cradled in her arms.
I bolted upright to grab it—
Whoosh.
"…Huh?"
Daon twisted away, refusing to let go of the huge basket.
"Wash up first, then I'll give it to you."
Her curt words followed.
My brain froze for a moment.
'Wash' and 'later'—two things I hate, all at once.
My body slumped back down.
"Why…?"
It pissed me off.
She knew exactly how long I'd been waiting.
Overwhelmed by hollow frustration, I stared up at Daon from my seated spot.
"…Ugh."
Daon met my eyes, hesitated for a long while, then finally set the basket down.
"You have to wash up after you're done looking…?"
"Yeah!!"
Seemed my imposing dignity worked.
Daon went on nonstop about why dirt is gross and how important cleanliness is, but…
"Heh."
It didn't really sink in.
All my focus was on that basket.
I didn't even stand properly—just scrambled on all fours to Daon's feet.
"Whoa…."
The basket, even bigger than before, brimmed with all sorts of materials.
Magic Stones glittering in rainbow hues, fangs as thick as my forearm, tough hides from unknown beasts.
It felt like the blanks in my blueprint—filled only in my imagination—were slotting perfectly into place.
I pulled out a red-glowing Magic Stone from the corner.
A satisfying heft transmitted through my palm.
"Perfect."
Tail straight up, I praised it and hugged the entire basket to my chest.
With this quantity and quality, any failure would be entirely on me.
"Okay, promise kept—straight to the bath after checking the materials!"
Daon planted hands on hips for her final warning.
Still munching on my favorite ore from the basket, I sneaked a glance toward the Dry Room in the living room.
The massive Dry Room, delivered yesterday right after I ordered it the day before.
"Uh, yeah."
I was curious how it worked, but bathing could wait.
Avoiding Daon's gaze, I nodded awkwardly at Sua, who was fiddling with her phone on the living room couch.
She'd been watching me the whole time and headed straight to the yard.
A scorching stare burned into my nape, sweat beading, but that wasn't important now.
I hefted a chunk of Magic Stones.
Melted them all down, then reached into the air.
The mindset from making Sawol, the setup back then.
Whoosh!
Multicolored radiance poured from the void, clashing with warm sunlight to send shimmering heat waves everywhere.
The massive emerald and golden Magic Stones flowed like clay, merging solidly in midair.
"Hoo."
In the heavy, settled air.
I instinctively extended both hands, compressing the fluid mass firmly.
About two-thirds of the Magic Stones I'd hugged close.
What is an anvil to a blacksmith?
Not just a pedestal for metal.
A vast earth that fully absorbs the recoil of every forged weapon and supports the essence it holds.
The swirling liquid Magic Stones molded under my touch into a hefty base.
A transparent, steel-tough anvil of pure density, free of impurities—rainbow-hued.
It thudded onto the yard, unveiling its majesty.
Still cooling, faint vibrations rippled from its surface, heating the air.
"……Whoa."
A soft gasp from behind made me glance over.
Sua stared blankly, eyes flicking between me and my anvil.
"…Hm."
For some reason, it felt pretty satisfying.
I'd forged gear mostly alone till now, so maybe I craved a bit of recognition without realizing.
I cleared my throat to refocus shattered concentration and looked ahead.
The remaining one-third of Magic Stones.
I reached toward the molten metal twisting and clashing wildly.
This would be the hammer.
If the anvil is earth, the hammer is flame.
Tearing fibers apart, rebirthing them as one.
The hand of destruction and creation.
From my fingertips emerged a colorless hammer, contrasting the rainbow anvil.
No color.
Thus, it could shape anything.
A hammer of infinite potential atop the multicolored anvil that supports all.
"…Done."
I exhaled excitedly and picked up the hammer.
The pulsing grip throbbed through my veins.
A shiver ran through me.
Times eternal as forever, unforgettable, awakened within.
"Haa…."
Magma and metal shavings. Hammer and anvil.
The forge.
I hate it so much.
Tiring to death.
But even so…
I love it beyond measure.
Heart filled with that love-hate, I suddenly looked up at the sky.
Clear blue expanse, fluffy white clouds drifting below.
Not that forge anymore.
I could go anywhere I wanted.
"…Shall I make it?"
Right now…
I feel like I could make anything.