Crafting Equipment! Let's Build Some Tools!
Equipment Time!
“Let's see... First, let's make a list of what we need.”
1. Ranged weapon
2. Armor reinforcement
3. Golem Mk. 2
4. Golem Mk. 3
5. Golem Mk. 4
Ugh... This list never ends? Well, if I had lots of golems, everything would be solved anyway.
“For now, I should make the weapon Dolmaeng-i will use. Do you have any preferences?”
It’s better to cater to the user’s convenience, right?
“Efficiency-wise, something like a blunt weapon or axe would be ideal. It can be used in combat and as a tool too—really versatile.”
So direct? Maybe I'm just imagining the excitement...
“I can't make anything super great, understand?”
“Of course. I've told you many times that my current level is low, so I know.”
“...”
Should I just not make it?
It’s not a lie, but it still stings a bit...
Anyway, I'm still only a 1st Circle mage. I can only engrave one magic circuit in my equipment. I can draw it exactly, but I can't activate it yet.
“Sigh...”
I calmed my heart with a long breath and sat down at the computer to draw the blueprints.
“I really need to buy a bigger 3D printer too, since I’m earning money now. The thing is so bulky, but it only prints at a maximum of 30cm...”
Still, it’s a blessing that I can punch it diagonally and make an axe and hammer small enough for Dolmaeng-i to use.
“Click click click...”
I kept the clicking going enthusiastically, aiming for the best possible weapon. In my past life, going to the blacksmith would have been such a hassle, making everything bigger or smaller.
I hope Mr. Imre from the blacksmith shop is doing well.
“The current shape is inefficient. Make the end of the head blunter. An axe isn’t for stabbing.”
Dolmaeng-i’s complaints have been getting louder lately? Wait... I finally get why Mr. Imre only ever looks at me like that!
“Sigh... Just draw it yourself.”
“It’s fine. Humans can have some inefficient work now and then.”
I’m an adult.
Even though I claim to be older than him, he’s only two years old—how can I fight a robot?
“No! Just draw it! I’ll only do the finishing!”
“Understood. From next time, leave everything to me. I’ll make something new.”
“What? What did you say?”
“This tool has irremediable flaws that efficiency can’t fix.”
“Heh...”
Did I really draw a weapon that badly? It’s a bit pointy... and more like a sword?
“Click—”
It was a real click. Dolmaeng-i mercilessly erased the axe I drew.
So it was that bad?
And he started drawing a proper axe.
Almost circular head, rectangular body in the back, and a sharp point at the top.
Even though it’s only 30cm, it somehow combined axe, hammer, and spear into one.
“Whoa? So it’s possible to make a weapon like this?”
“You can find detailed explanations online. It’s not strictly for combat use, so we’re mixing them.”
Eh? It’s on the internet?
“Look it up, then. Next time, search before making anything.”
“Ugh... I’m getting annoyed...”
“...”
Is it just my imagination? Does that look like a smile?
No way.
Dolmaeng-i saved the blueprint and I picked up the mouse to draw the magic circuits.
I made an extra file based on the original so I could reuse it later for the 2nd Circle version.
“Modern science and technology are truly amazing...”
“I think Ian-nim’s magic is even more amazing.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because I can be created like this.”
Whoa, why is he suddenly saying nice things?
“If I hadn’t existed, the mysterious weapon you drew earlier would have appeared in the world. That’s a disaster.”
A... seriously... this guy...
“Click click click...”
“Ian-nim’s mouse clicks are applying too much force. There’s a risk of damage, so please ease up.”
He’s secretly making me angry...
...
...
I almost had a tragic accident where I accidentally shut Dolmaeng-i down myself, but with superhuman patience I finished the first axe.
A silver-white polished axe.
Before I filled the mana stone powder, there were countless thin lines etched on the head.
The magic circuit I drew was ‘Recovery.’
I engraved it across the whole axe so the circuit would automatically repair it.
“The circuits drawn here will automatically repair, so don’t overload it or it might break. Be careful.”
“Thank you.”
I gave Dolmaeng-i a quick explanation and started the finishing work.
“Sarak-sarak...”
I carefully filled the mana circuits in the axe with a mix of mana stone powder and silver powder.
A mysterious process—pouring real magic into the axe.
The tiny gaps filled up like they were meant to be there.
“Ian-nim has relatively weak silver density. Is there a special reason you filled it with silver?”
“It’s the metal with the highest mana conductivity. Plus, because the mana stone powder is mixed in, it’ll actually be harder than any other metal.”
Only recently did I learn that, unlike my past life, this life made it easy to get pure silver.
I only realized now because I stopped wearing accessories. It’s a little regrettable.
“Magic really is mysterious, isn’t it?”
“...”
Dolmaeng-i’s words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
In my past life, that’s why mages were praised... but a lot of them also claimed to be gods and went down the wrong path.
Especially the cruel human experiments...
“Whoa! Let’s not think about gloomy past life stuff!”
I shook off the memories with a sigh. I hoped this life would never have those things again.
“I’ll activate the axe for you right now.”
“Uung- pot!”
I pulled in mana and poured it in. The magic circuit came to life and let out a cry.
The circuits drawn with silver on the gray axe glowed brighter than white.
“Whoa? It’s pretty.”
Almost like art.
“I made it.”
“No? I drew the magic circuits! Thanks to me, it’s so pretty!”
“The base was already pretty, so the finished product looks great.”
Now he’s arguing again?
“You call it a ‘perfect weapon,’ don’t you? Ian-nim looks pretty even in rags. I made a good base, so this came out.”
Sheesh... is this cursing or praising?
“You’re calling my clothes ugly, right?”
“...”
“No, why won’t you say it!”
“...”
In the end, Dolmaeng-i stayed silent to the end.
I started pouring my anger into the rest of the work.
Next up was the ranged weapon for Dolmaeng-i.
I thought about a bow, but managing ammunition and the weapon itself was too complicated, and I didn’t know how to make one anyway, so I went with something else.
“What’s with this bulky thing?”
That was Dolmaeng-i’s verdict.
“I had no choice. I’m gathering mana and shooting it like a gun.”
“Guns are illegal, but it’s fine, right? Anyone who thinks it looks like a gun needs to go to a mental hospital.”
For now, what I made fires magic missiles.
It’s a hollow iron ball about 10cm wide.
Outside it’s hard to use, but inside gates I can gather mana from the surroundings and shoot once every 10 to 15 seconds, give or take.
It’s just a guess...
“Okay, Dolmaeng-i’s stuff is all done... now what should I make?”
“For safety, you should make something that helps with defense.”
“There’s already so much stuff.”
To make a shield activate in danger, I need keywords like ‘Shield’ and ‘Approach,’ and it’s too weak with just one. I’d need at least a 3rd Circle for two to be useful.
“Fine. For now, I’ll reinforce my work clothes. I can make better ones later.”
Or I could ride a golem?
In my past life I rode on my shoulder, but after seeing that anime in this life, there are riding-type robots!
If I could make one, the golem would become my armor!
“Uwooo! I want to level up my circle so badly!”
...
I kept making equipment for Dolmaeng-i and for myself.
What’s left now... is Dolmaeng-i Mk. 2.
“What kind of guy should Mk. 2 be?”
“How about a transport vehicle?”
I thought transport would come later, but... why?
Is it just my imagination?
“Why? Isn’t mining equipment more important?”
“Mining equipment would be something like an excavator at the very least.”
Wait! I’m still only 1st Circle! A small excavator would just be Dolmaeng-i doing the digging faster.
“Ah! I get it.”
“Yes. Once we can make something larger, we should try.”
“But... what about a vehicle? It’s hard...”
“That’s why I looked it up. Come look at the computer.”
The thing I just thought of... why does Dolmaeng-i know the internet so well? He feels like he knows it better than me.
What did I do on the internet?
Look up papers... papers... uh? Do I only look up papers?
Oh my... what am I even doing with my life?
Thinking about it, I don’t have even one friend.
That’s fine... if I make more golems, I can have friends, right?
“And while we’re at it, I recommend looking at funny things online and meeting friends too. I’ve been aware of my surroundings for two years now, but I’ve never seen a single friend.”
“Ch... I have you, don’t I? Friends will keep coming!”
“...”
Why does that sound like a curse...?
Even to a robot he complains... maybe I’m doing something really wrong?
“Sigh...”
“Look at this.”
And the screen Dolmaeng-i showed was even more shocking.
Six sturdy wheels in front, a big driver’s seat, and a separate cargo bed in the back—a huge dump truck!
“Huh? I can’t make something that big with a golem! It’s too large.”
“No. Look closely.”
What? With 1st Circle I should be able to make just a pair of wheels or a golem...
But when I scrolled down...
Why is there always kids’ photos?
“Ah...”
“It’s a children’s toy. It’s just the right size for us.”
“Slap!”
I hit my forehead with my hand.
It doesn’t seem malicious... but it really makes me depressed...
“It’s pretty expensive, but since it’s a model based on a real car and made of steel, it’s perfect for us.”
“Ha... first I should go see Dad...”
Our company has money to buy it, right?
I opened the door to the office right next door. Dad was wrestling with papers.
“Dad? Are you busy?”
“No matter how busy I am, I can listen to my daughter’s story. If work piles up, I just stay up all night.”
“That’s even more stressful.”
“It’s fine. Dad can do anything for his daughter.”
He hasn’t even tried half of what this old man can do...
Looking at him, he’s kind of funny too. He had plenty of chances to go off the rails... but he turns out to be surprisingly steady.
“For now, the thing I came for today is an official request.”
“Oh. First time. Go ahead.”
“I need to buy a car.”
“Eh? Don’t you have a license?”
“I don’t need one for this car.”
“Is there something like that in our country? It’s dangerous. Should I just assign a driver?”
The conversation kept drifting, so I borrowed Dad’s computer and pulled up the car I checked earlier.
“Ian?”
He kept looking at me like that... why?
“You’re old enough that this kind of toy...”
“That’s not it! I’m going to use it as the body for Dolmaeng-i Mk. 2! I’m making a golem!”
It’s not like I’m going to ride it!
Eh? Does that mean I can ride it?
“Hmm?”
“The field team decided we need transport vehicles to use at the gates.”
Field team, right?
The ones actually running around are Dolmaeng-i and me.
They agreed?
“This... will it be helpful?”
“Yes! I’ll modify it.”
“Hmph...”
His gaze looked like he’d seen something he shouldn’t have...
“No! I really need it! It’s not a joke!”
“I know, but... even if you ride it, you should behave in front of others.”
He believes me with his mouth but sends doubt with his eyes... it’s tough...
“I’m not going to use it as a toy, okay?”
“What toy is over three million won? Why not just buy a regular car?”
“No! Really! And I don’t even have a driver’s license!”
“Well, if it’s not, then it’s not. You’re angry.”
Kyaaaaah! So frustrating!
“Click click...”
He clicked something and immediately ordered it, but it still stings.
Dad is never letting me ride it later.