Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?

First up will be the sword I'll pair with mainly with Tsukiyomi.

I'll start by shaping what will be the core steel using Smithing magic.

「Kuh, it conducts magic power well, but it still takes so much even though i's just shaping it.」

「Obviously, it's god steel[1] Besides, some soft metal that's easy to mold could never turn into the greatest sword.」

When I grumbled a tiny bit about how it took more magic power than I had imagined during the breather I took after I finished molding it, a fed up Gnome said it was a given.

Sure, it made sense. Just because something channels magic power easily doesn't mean it would be easy to manipulate.

Taking breaks to drink mana potions, I molded two of the parts that were to become the skin steel, and then started shaping the edge steel.

Since I completed the parts somehow, I combined the core steel, edge steel, and skin steel.

If this part had been done the normal blacksmithing process, the metal would have been heated up, but I was fundamentally a magic blacksmith. I do use the hammer on occasion though.

My magic power was being consumed at a quick pace, and sweat beaded on my forehead.

I took turns recovering magic power and synthesizing, until eventually, it became a sword that had the same form.

「Fumu, it looks well done. Salamander, heat it to 900°.」

「Sure, evenly?」

「Ah, please wait a bit. I'll apply the mud.」

I smeared pre-prepared mud on the sword blade.

(It's pretty if there's a blade pattern on it, after all)

The reason for adding the mud wasn't just for the visuals but it is also important.

「Okay, please do, Salamander.」

「Ou, leave it to me.」

The single-edged sword made of orichalcum alloy glowed red hot.

By this time, it was completely dark outside the Smithing workshop, illuminated only by the dim orange light of the workshop.

「Now!」

Kshhhhhhh!!

At Gnome's signal, I dipped the red hot sword blade in its entirety into the pure water taken from the Spirit Spring.

I turned the workshop lights on and checked the blade after quenching.

After a bit of readjusting and sharpening it using Smithing magic, the Great Spirits, Dwarves, and I examined the sword we worked together to forge.

The silver blade, tinted with a faint emerald hue and a wavy blade pattern, was breathtakingly beautiful.

「Hou, words fail me……」

「Umu, it frustrates me that this was created by someone other than a dwarf, but it isn't a possibility for us right now.」

Doganbo-san and Golan-san stared at the blade intently.

「Hey Takumi, can Golan-aniki and I handle the assembly of this sword?」

「Eh, is that okay? I'm grateful for the offer.」

Doganbo-san asked if they could make the fittings for it. Since I needed to craft another one of these, I was grateful for any help that I could get.

「Fumu, it will be fine to enchant it after it's been fitted. Doganbo, let's head to my workshop.」

「Okay Aniki, I'll bring the materials for the hilt and scabbard immediately.」

「If there are any materials you would like, please tell me.」

「Ou, in that case, could we have some dragon bones, fangs, and claws. Some membrane if you have it too.」

「Okay.」

To fulfill Golan-san's request, I took out high quality bones, fangs, claws, and membranes of dragon species from my Item Box and handed them over to him.

「Okay, let's go, Doganbo.」

「Ou!」

The two quickly scurried out of my smithing workshop.

「Let's stop here for today. It's already too late, let's continue tomorrow.」

「You have a point. You only need me for the quenching, so I'll come tomorrow after dark.」

「Thanks Gnome, Salamander. I'll rely on you again tomorrow.」

「Umu, think really carefully about what you want to enchant it with.」

「Gotcha.」

Gnome and Salamander disappeared.

When I returned to the mansion, Maribelle scolded me.

「Please inform us if your return will be delayed. No one could start their meal.」

「Okay, Maribelle. I had gotten a little bit too engrossed in my work. I think I'll be in the smithing workshop all day again tomorrow, so don't mind me.

「Very well, I understand. We will have your lunch and dinner brought to you.」

「Yup, I'd be happy if you could.」

The workshop I normally use is inside the house, but while the smithy in the estate grounds, it was far from the living space. Moreover, it can get very noisy, so I've put up a soundproof barrier, and that seemed to be why the maids couldn't come by.

I told Maribelle that they should ring the bell when they bring my meals, and decided it was time to head to sleep.

Stamina-wise, I was still fine, but my magic power had been exhausted multiple times that I just felt mentally exhausted.

Since there was still another day ahead of me, I fell asleep the moment my head touched my pillow.

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Footnotes

1. To clarify, Hihiirokane is the god metal, but once it's been alloyed it was called god steel. I used the wrong term last chapter.