Budget-Friendly Magic Weapons, Part 2
"Oh! You're here."
Lisa welcomed me with a bright smile.
Her voice was brimming with anticipation.
"So, will you do it?"
"Yes. I will."
I nodded in response.
"But there are a few things I need you to source for me."
I pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to her.
"Here is the list of materials needed for production."
Lisa's eyes widened.
She took the paper as if she were receiving a treasure map.
"Finally...!" she whispered, her voice trembling with excitement.
Unfolding the list with shaky hands, Lisa began to read down the page.
Then, suddenly, her eyebrows shot up.
"Ugh. Why so many potions...? The cost of the potions alone is going to be insane."
Worry seeped into her voice.
I asked cautiously, "Ah... Is it too much after all?"
Lisa seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Though trace amounts of conflict flickered across her face, a look of firm determination soon settled in her eyes.
"No! No..."
She took a deep breath before replying.
"You're doing the mana enchanting for us. Providing this much is only natural."
Lisa nodded, turning her gaze back to the list.
"Goblin glue... iron ingots..."
She muttered, scanning further down the list of materials.
Then, suddenly, her face went pale.
She looked as if she had just seen a ghost.
"Three thousand Kraken tentacles?!" Lisa shrieked.
Her voice was a mix of shock and sheer bewilderment.
"I mean, why on earth do we need creepy Kraken tentacles for a magic enchantment?"
I smiled at her reaction.
The Kraken.
In Norse mythology, the name was synonymous with terror—a legendary sea monster.
However, the Krakens of this world did not quite live up to that fearsome reputation.
Of course, they weren't small, but they were only about the size of a small boat.
Along the coasts of the Empire, Krakens bred as rapidly as pests.
There were so many of them that they were considered a major nuisance.
They indiscriminately devoured other marine life, making them the primary culprits behind the destruction of the coastal ecosystem.
Furthermore, the people of this world harbored an extreme aversion to cephalopods like octopuses and squids.
Naturally, they were never used as food, and thanks to their grotesque appearance and exponential reproduction rate, they had earned the dishonorable nickname of 'cockroaches of the sea.'
Suddenly, a memory from my gaming days surfaced.
I remembered boarding a sailing ship to gather a rare material, only to be ambushed by a swarm of Krakens.
The scene replayed vividly in my mind.
Krakens had leaped onto the ship relentlessly, like a swarm of locusts.
The fierce battle on the deck had been nothing short of a warzone.
Despite the desperate resistance of the knights hired by the merchant guild, the Kraken onslaught showed no signs of stopping.
The escort knights hacked away at the tentacles, but the severed limbs regenerated almost instantly, accompanied by endless spurts of blue blood.
Lisa's eyes widened once more.
This time, it was filled with confusion rather than surprise.
"And what is this? Slime jelly?"
I nodded.
The slime.
It was the epitome of regeneration—a monster that would return to its original form no matter how many times it was sliced with a blade.
They primarily inhabited wetlands, deep seas, and caves.
At one point, rumors had spread among noblewomen that slime jelly was good for the skin, making it briefly popular.
However, due to its characteristic foul odor, it was now completely ignored by everyone.
"This seems more like alchemy than blacksmithing..." Lisa said, stealing a glance at my face to gauge my thoughts.
"...Are you planning to brew potions to sell first?"
"No," I replied firmly.
"Lisa, what do you think these materials have in common?"
Confusion clouded her eyes.
"They're dirty and smelly...?"
"...No, that's not it. They possess incredible regenerative properties. And above all, they are cheap."
Before explaining further, I pulled a small glass vial from my pocket.
Inside was a small, blue-tinted fragment of a Kraken tentacle.
"This is a sample of a Kraken tentacle I brought. The fundamental source of regeneration comes from mana. The reason these creatures, which don't possess massive innate mana pools, can show such remarkable recovery rates is due to their unique properties."
Lisa's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
She nodded, focusing intently on my words.
"These creatures have a special ability to absorb natural energy from the surrounding air and convert it into mana."
I showed Lisa the Kraken tentacle inside the vial.
A faint vibration could be felt from the tiny fragment.
"By utilizing this property, we can store a set amount of mana in a weapon without needing a mana stone. Furthermore, it will continuously absorb mana from the atmosphere without requiring any separate recharging process."
Lisa's eyes grew wider and wider.
She carefully examined the new product proposal on the back of the material list, then spoke in a voice filled with awe.
"Wow... I had no idea such a method was even possible. This is a truly revolutionary idea!"
I smiled and nodded.
"Of course, the efficiency isn't high enough to make top-tier weapons, but I believe it's the perfect solution for our current situation."
Lisa scanned the list of materials once more, checking it thoroughly before asking, "But... with this quantity, the workload will be immense. Can you handle it all by yourself? Even if you're modifying existing products, it won't be easy..."
I replied confidently, "Don't worry. As long as I have potions, I can work indefinitely. I'm practically built for grinding."
One day, a new craze swept through the Lucentia Imperial Academy.
Rumors about a certain weapon shop spread like wildfire among the students, and soon, the shop was packed to the brim with people.
"Please line up! Get in line!"
Lisa's voice echoed over the long queue.
"Due to limited stock, purchases are restricted to one per person!"
The conversation of two students passing by the weapon shop could be heard.
"Hey, did you hear? The magic weapons they're selling over there are incredibly cheap."
"Pfft, please. What's the point of it being cheap if the performance is garbage? Only commoners would flock to buy stuff like that."
A student who appeared to be of noble birth snorted in derision.
"That's not what I heard. Rumor has it they might even be better than Mystic Arts."
At his friend's words, the noble student's eyes went wide.
"That's impossible."
Their gazes turned back to the front of the shop.
The long line stretched all the way down the street.
The noble student looked conflicted for a moment.
Then, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, he said, "Well... shall we check it out anyway?"
The rumors about the newly released weapon swept through the entire academy in an instant.
Although this weapon cost only a third of the price of a basic model from Mystic Arts, its performance was so outstanding that it defied its price tag.
While it lacked the flashy decorations and luxurious exterior of Mystic Arts products, it possessed a unique charm of its own.
In particular, the faint trace of blue light flowing along the surface of the weapon looked like the brand's trademark.
That mysterious glow was more than enough to capture the attention of anyone who looked at it.
Furthermore, the quality of the finish was second to none, holding its own against any high-end weapon.
From the delicate craftsmanship and perfect balance to the comfortable grip felt when held in the hand—the dedication of a master artisan was evident in every aspect.
Above all, the most talked-about feature was the revolutionary function of automatic recharging.
This weapon was not merely a cheap alternative; it seemed to symbolize the innovation of a new era.
The campus of the Lucentia Imperial Academy was lively under the warm spring sunshine.
Laughter and chatter from students gathered around the fountain filled the air.
Among them, three students stood out in particular.
Two noble students wearing richly embroidered robes, and a commoner student wearing a neat but plain uniform.
"Let's stop by Mystic Arts after class," one of the noble students said, a hint of fatigue in her voice.
"It's already time to get my mana stone recharged."
"Sure, sounds good," the other noble student agreed with a nod.
Hearing this, the commoner student chimed in with interest, "Where are you guys going after class?"
The first noble student replied, showing a slight hint of superiority, "Oh, we're going to Mystic Arts. Want to come along?"
The commoner student grinned. "Ah, I bought a new weapon recently, so I don't think I need to go for a while."
The noble student's eyebrows shot up. "You? A magic weapon? Didn't you say your parents couldn't afford to buy you one?"
There was a subtle sneer in her tone.
"Oh, I bought this by saving up my own allowance," the commoner student said proudly, lifting her sword.
At that moment, a faint blue light rippled along the blade.
The noble students couldn't hide their surprise at the unexpectedly high-quality appearance of the sword.
However, their eyes were soon filled with confusion.
There was no mana stone to be seen on the sword.
The noble student was flustered for a second, but quickly adopted a dismissive attitude.
"Ah, so it's not a magic weapon."
"No wonder... I didn't see a mana stone."
"Actually, it is a real magic weapon," the commoner student countered confidently.
"Is that so? Well... if you say so."
The noble student clearly still didn't believe it.
The other noble student sighed and chimed in, "Magic weapons are great and all, but going to get them recharged is such a pain."
"Right? Exactly," the first noble student agreed.
The commoner student's eyes sparkled. "Hehe, mine doesn't even need to be recharged."
"Pfft..."
One of the noble students burst out laughing before she could stop herself. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
"Ah, sorry. It just slipped out."
Her eyes were still mocking the commoner student.
"Of course it doesn't. Because it's not a magic weapon."
"I'm telling you the truth! Want me to show you?"
She slowly drew the sword from its scabbard.
At that instant, the surrounding air seemed to vibrate faintly.
As she channeled mana into her hand, a vivid blue light flared along the blade.
The light grew increasingly intense, brightly illuminating their surroundings.
Blue flames erupted along the surface of the sword.
It was just as brilliant as any Mystic Arts product, yet it appeared far more stable and balanced.
The flickering blue flames brought to mind crashing waves in a stormy sea.
A soft gasp escaped the lips of the noble students.
In particular, the expression of the girl who had been mocking her just moments ago changed completely.
A look of awe, mixed with a hint of jealousy, flickered in her eyes.
She realized it immediately.
The weapon before her eyes was undeniably superior to the magic weapon she owned.
Even when compared to any basic model from Mystic Arts, it wasn't lacking in the slightest.
In fact, in some aspects, it looked even better.
"Whoa... How is this even possible?" one of the noble students finally managed to stammer out.
His voice was filled with shock and curiosity.
The gazes of the surrounding students locked onto the sword.
Everyone was marveling at the magical energy, which looked both brilliant and highly efficient.
"See? I told you so," the commoner student said, a broad smile spreading across her face.
"Where... did you buy this?" the noble student asked.
There was no longer any trace of mockery in his voice.
"I bought it at a weapon shop called Song of Steel. The product is called the Kraken's Sword," the commoner student replied.
The noble students exchanged glances.
Song of Steel... It was a weapon shop they had never heard of before.
And a weapon named after a Kraken was even more unfamiliar.
But one thing was absolutely certain.
This unfamiliar weapon was a completely new kind of armament, unlike anything that had existed before.