Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?
Chapter 613: Greatest Alchemist? Chapter 613 Light Sword 2

When we arrived at the smithing workshop, Gnome brought out orichalcum ingots and lumps of hihiirokane.

「Huh? Hihiirokane isn’t in an ingot?」

「Yeah, that’s the problem.」

According to Gnome, all magic metals, which include mithril and adamantite, required magic power during the refining and forging processes.

Doganbo-san and Golan-san channeled magic power into their hammers as they forged, of which needed at the time being of no inconsequential amount.

I can shape and refine using Smithing magic and Alchemy, but that was because I had an extraordinary capacity of magic power, as well as my high skill level in both Smithing and Alchemy.

「As for the hihiirokane, it is resistant to refining through alchemy.」

「Moreover, the amount you have to channel into the hammer is unbelievable.」

「It’s just as Golan-aniki said. We’re here to help you, Takumi.」

「Temperature control is strict too. That’s why I am here.」

「I see, So that’s how it is.」

「Umu, you could say that hihiirokane is like a living metal. It is willful, and would only bend if struck with magic power.」

According to Gnome, hihiirokane was somehow the only one that couldn’t be refined trhough alchemy despite imagining its the metal structure and molecules. I suppose we should just accept it as fact. This is a fantasy, after all.

「Even so, once it’s made into an ingot, it becomes a compliant metal that can be worked on using alchemy or with a hammer.」

「Sorry for making everyone help.」

「What, we’re here to be witnesses to the reappearance of god metal. There is no greater honor than this for a Dwarf.」

「That’s right. For us dwarves to be able to participate in an impossible art, I’m glad to have known you.」

Golan-san and Doganbo-san were already moved.

What is known as god metal was used to create god-slaying weapons which were created by a god, and there was apparently only one knife saved as a national treasure in Gnomstoll Kingdom, but its manufacturing method was lost.

「Then let’s start.」

The metal that Gnome had brought out was a lump with a dull golden shine like bronze.

「Is this hihiirokane? It looks pure enough. But even this hasn’t been refined.」

「The refinement of hihiirokane has a slightly different meaning compared to other metals. This chunk has practically no impurities. Our task from here on is to permeate this chunk with magic power uniformly. Then Salamander, if you could.」

「Ou, leave it to me!」

Salamander heated up the chunk of hihiirokane.

Without utilizing the workshop’s magic furnace, Salamander’s fire alone heated the clump of hihiirokane till it grew red hot.

I understood why Gnome said that only Salamander could heat up this hihiirokane. The reason why it could only be Salamander’s flames was because of the dense magic power that formed the flames. It wasn’t only during forging that the hihiirokane needed to be exposed to magic power, but also during the heating process for it to become the material for god steel.

Doganbo-san placed the hihiirokane on the anvil, then Golan-san and I hammered it while channeling magic power.

The spots hit cast a strange light, and the impurities flew off as sparks.

As our magic power started running on empty, Doganbo-san, Golan-san, and I took turns hammering the hihiirokane.

As the shape of the hihiirokane changed, the impurities sparked away.

Just as the light began overflowing from the struck places, Gnome called for a stop.

「Umu, that should be enough. We’re done refining and forging the hihiirokane.」

「Phew~ t-that was tiring.」

「……this really takes a toll on an old man.」

「Golan-aniki, we still have to combine it with the orichalcum before we’re done.」

As the three of us were taking a break after having exhausted both magic power and stamina, Gnome brought out the orichalcum ingot.

「If it’s for two swords, this much should be enough.」

「Thank you, Gnome.」

「Well then, what kind of sword do you plan to forge?」

「Yeah, about that……」

Golan-san and Doganbo-san listened intently as I discussed my plan with Gnome.

Of the two swords I was considering, one will be single-edged, one handed sword of the same size as the demon sword Tsukiyomi that I have been using until now.

If the enemy isn’t an undead or of the Dark attribute, I can fight as a dual wielder using both.

The other one will be a small versatile short sword kept on the side of the non-dominant hand that could be used to block or to attack sword breaker or a parrying sword, like a sword breaker or a main-gauche, which I had explained to Gnome.

「Fumu, two Light blades, large and small…… very well.」

「Yeah, it sounds interesting.」

「Fumu, we’re about to witness the creation of new national treasure weapons, Golan-aniki.」

「While we’re at it, I’ve got the temperature control.」

「Thank you. I’ll leave it to you.」

It was decided that the synthesis of orichalcum and sword making were to be done after sunset.

Until then, I decided to rest in the mansion and have a meal.

I invited Gnome, Salamander, Doganbo-san, Golan-san to come with me.

Previous | TOC | Next

Up to 5 advanced chapters are available on Patreon.