Chapter 42 - Days of Trial and Error
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Author's Note:
The third act has begun.
A story of a man from a knightly family, carrying something far greater than honor.
This is an act with rapid development.
Behold the way of life on the frontier!
I hope you enjoy it.
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--- Reflecting alone within the "fortress."
I pondered over the infantry’s equipment. The enemy consisted of monsters and magical beasts—creatures with tough exoskeletons or thick fur. Blades wouldn’t pierce them easily. Even high-powered magic sometimes failed. No matter how much humans trained, the harsh reality was undeniable.
There were only two situations in which blades could pierce the sturdy bodies of these monsters and magical beasts.
One instance was when facing them with a sword imbued with mana, commonly known as a magic sword. A magic sword was an exceptionally rare weapon that held magic within its blade. These were said to be masterpieces crafted only by specialist blacksmiths and fetched exorbitant prices.
The second was the art of those who could circulate abundant internal mana throughout their bodies, amplifying their physical capabilities to an extraordinary degree. While a dull blade wouldn’t suffice, even a mediocre blade could cut through thick fur in such hands. However, such internal mana required a level comparable to that of a "high count." On top of that, very few individuals were capable of using [Body Enhancement Magic] in the first place.
In this frontier, such options were out of reach. Simply thinking about it would lead me into the depths of thought, a cycle of unproductive rumination. During my days at the Alchemy Tower, I had learned that the best way to escape such pitfalls was to keep busy while thinking.
At the moment... I was carving the skull of an insect-like monster using my handmade knife—a specimen I had begged from Second Brother. The soldiers had requested it. They had been using a simplified version of the "scouting magitech tool" attached to their light helmets, but they insisted they wanted that specific appearance for the helmet after all.
Though it didn’t look great, the soldiers advancing through the forest while using the [Invisibility] incantation insisted that the appearance of the scouting magitech tool, which resembled the head of a magical beast, was incredibly useful. Despite being man-made, its design helped it blend seamlessly into the forest landscape.
They weren’t wrong. The aesthetic carried a certain atmosphere, and it might even improve their survival chances. That’s why I accepted their request. Since I couldn’t entrust such a peculiar task to another magitech craftsman, I again begged (asked) Second Brother for additional magical beast heads from his hunts.
Using my handmade knife was necessary because carving with a store-bought blade was too laborious. The exoskeleton of an insect-type magical beast was incredibly tough—equivalent to carving human bone. Due to its hardness, larger chisels or saws often caused it to crack. Processing such material was painstakingly tedious.
This was why such exoskeletons were rarely distributed commercially. At best, plates cut from the exoskeleton were sewn into leather armor. It was something only a few adventurers might use. While it made for good plates for lightweight armor, there were plenty of superior alternatives available.
Weaponsmiths rarely favored magical beast shells. If it were horns or fangs, they’d have far more practical applications.
Still, my handmade knife proved effective against such exoskeletons. By blending crystal powder with steel, I created a lump of iron (ingot) that fit comfortably in my hand. Using the alchemical magic Handcraft to mold it, I eventually craft it into the form of a knife.
The blade didn’t chip at all, and it cut through effortlessly. Not only was it useful for carving the skull of the insect-type magical beast, but it was also invaluable for cutting through various other materials.
While I was absentmindedly working with my hands in the workshop at the Fortress, contemplating and preparing the base for the scouting magitech tools to be distributed to the soldiers, a rough voice interrupted me.
"Young Master, about that high-powered alchemical furnace you mentioned the other day—the guild approved it... By the way, what are you up to?"
"Really?! That’s great news. Huh? This? Oh, the soldiers requested it."
"Tch, magitech tools, huh?"
"Don’t be so dismissive. They’re quite practical. During stealth operations in the forest, blending into the surroundings makes things a lot easier."
"Heeh..."
The voice belonged to an advisor from the Smith Guild, who peered at my work. He was the kind of person who insisted I call him Master. Despite his age, he was still an active and formidable blacksmith.
His tone was casual, but his appearance was the epitome of strength—like a walking boulder. Watching him wield a hammer and forge steel reminded me of the Japanese swordsmiths I had seen in my memories. For some reason, he took a liking to me, and when it came time to set up the furnace at the Fortress, he went out of his way to help in various ways.
As he observed me carve the insect-type magical beast’s skull, his face twisted into a grimace.
"Insect-type magical beast exoskeleton? And it’s the head, no less? What are you up to, Young Master? With such a flimsy blade, it’ll take you forever. Wouldn’t it be better to use one of my forged short swords?"
"That might be true. Mind if I give it a try? Honestly... when it comes to the weapons the infantry are using against monsters, they’re often insufficient. I’ve been looking for something better."
"Oh? That’s quite the intriguing problem. Here, take this—it's a short sword I use regularly. Give it a try."
Master handed me a short sword. Its design wasn’t extravagant, but I could tell at a glance it was masterfully forged. The steel was excellent, and the craftsmanship impeccable. I placed my handmade knife aside and took the short sword in hand.
Scrape, scrape, scrape.
Scrape, scrape, scrape.
Hmm? It was an exceptionally well-made weapon, but... it couldn’t carve.
The blade barely made a dent, only shaving off a thin layer like peeling skin. If this sword were used in actual combat... could it even pierce through against the exoskeleton of an insect-type magical beast? Was I using it wrong? Even when I lightly infused mana into it, there was no response. Perhaps it wasn’t made with magical ores.
It would undoubtedly be effective in combat against humans, and given that it was forged by Master's hands, it was certainly a finely crafted masterpiece, but... As the main weapon for the infantry in the guerilla unit... it fell somewhat short of the mark.
As I pondered this, Master’s gaze shifted from the exoskeleton I was carving to the handmade knife I had set aside. He seemed more intrigued by the knife than what I was doing and reached out to pick it up. Inspecting the knife carefully, almost as if studying it, he wore a thoughtful expression, as though trying to recall something.
As I continued to scrape at the exoskeleton, Master finally spoke, his tone curious.
"Hey, Young Master. Where did you get this? Was it from a weapons shop in the royal capital? Or maybe from the Adventurer Guild's marketplace in the royal capital? Did some adventurer haul it up from a dungeon (ruins of an ancient city) or the depths of some forest (remnants of an ancient capital)? It looks rough, and it’s not much of a sword... but this—this is magical ore, isn’t it? And of an incredibly high purity at that... Damn, as expected of the royal capital."
"No, Master. I forged that myself. Back at the Alchemy Tower of the Magic Academy, I needed to process things like magical beast horns and fangs. Ordinary tools just couldn’t handle it. So, after much trial and error, I infused steel with magic crystal and shaped it using alchemical magic. It’s not something worthy of showing a master blacksmith of the highest caliber like you."
"You... made this?"
"That’s right. Is there something about it that’s bothering you?"
Master looked at the knife again, more intently this time. His gaze never left the blade as he turned it over in his hands, observing it from every angle. He tilted his head, clearly deep in thought. I couldn’t help but turn my attention to him, curious about what he might have noticed.
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