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Chapter 452

[Black Night Sword No. 3]

[Material – Polar Iron]

[Grade – Unique]

[A sword forged from Polar Iron, created by the madman Leon Cascadia—who knows no naming beyond “Black Night Sword”—by walking the tightrope between a simple iron ingot and overwhelming firepower. Though made of ordinary iron, it possesses durability and sharpness that cannot be compared to conventional iron swords. The surface of the blade is so hard that sharpening it requires exposure to high heat followed by extremely precise techniques.]

[Special Ability – Sharpness]

[Special Ability – Durability]

Black Night Sword No. 3.

The sword currently in my hand was only that much.

If you asked whether it had been made incorrectly, that wasn’t the case.

Unique grade.

And seeing that it even had two special options attached, it was certainly a high-grade item.

Of course, the number of special options doesn’t determine the grade, nor were the options attached to Black Night Sword No. 3 necessarily top-tier, but at this level, it meant it was among the best that could be made out of iron.

Still, with the name of the Divine Craftsman at stake, I couldn’t just make anything.

Moreover, if I hastily made something and ended up failing, that would be ridiculous in its own way.

“Hmm. Armor is a bit of a hassle though……”

Armor involved far more tedious processes than a sword.

I had brought plenty of materials, and I could request more if needed.

Considering the number of craftsmen gathered here, it wasn’t a small amount by any means—but this was Dragon Forge.

A kingdom of mines, and a city of craftsmen.

* * *

Compared to a sword, armor inevitably consumed far more time.

From chainmail, to scale-like helmets, brigandine, breastplates.

There were many types, each with its own pros and cons.

Among them, what I chose was the breastplate.

Something like chainmail would require far too much work to finish within the time limit.

For experimental purposes, plate-type armor suited better.

As I piled up the leftover materials from making the sword in one place and pondered, Dobog approached.

“A… are you planning to make only the chest piece for the armor?”

“Yes. Well. I don’t think the other parts are really necessary.”

“That’s true.”

He looked like he had something to say.

“Is there something you wanted to tell me?”

“Well… you. If you don’t have anything in mind, would you try making something from a blueprint I have?”

That sounded interesting.

When I nodded, he hurriedly ran off somewhere.

Then he came back, wobbling as he ran, carrying a box that looked valuable at a glance.

“This is it!”

“What is it that you’re storing it in such a box……”

Inside the box was a blueprint.

A design for armor that had clearly been carefully devised.

I silently skimmed through it.

To sum it up, it wasn’t anything extraordinary.

Judging by the practicality-focused design, it was at the level of “made by someone skilled.”

However, unlike the blueprints I had seen so far, this one contained a certain passion and affection.

It bore traces of having been designed and tailored for a specific person.

The intended wearer was slightly larger than a dwarf. It wasn’t sized for a dwarf.

“You drew this yourself. Were you planning to give it to your son?”

At my question, he gave a bitter smile.

“That’s right. I tried to make it because I was worried he might get hurt… but I gave up.”

He said his son had died in a mining accident.

I could feel the regret and sorrow lingering in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, but… may I have a drink?”

This felt like a story was about to come out.

With the mindset of listening to the radio, I tossed an iron ingot into the furnace.

“Go ahead.”

“To tell the truth, it’s a lie that I’m not a craftsman. I was once a craftsman who made a decent living.”

“It looked that way.”

I didn’t know exactly what kind of craftsman he was. In the first place, Dragon Forge was filled with craftsmen.

“My son, you see… didn’t really like the idea of becoming a craftsman like me. He wanted to become a great warrior! But… I forced him to inherit my family trade.”

There was regret mixed into his voice.

Piiing!!! Ping!!

A peculiar hammering sound rang out.

“So I gave him a condition—if he personally went to a newly discovered mineral site, confirmed it, and mined something himself, I’d let him do whatever he wanted. It was me who pushed him out the door… I thought that if he saw a mysterious mineral himself, he might become interested in processing it.”

He said that when he was young, he had fallen in love with minerals at first sight upon seeing mithril ore.

So he had imposed the same standard on his son.

He rubbed his face with both hands and let out a deep sigh filled with regret.

“It was me who killed that child……”

“Well. Who can predict an accident?”

“After that… I put down the hammer. What right does someone who drove his son to death out of greed have to call himself a craftsman?”

Piiing!! Ping!!

After his son died, he gave up making armor.

But perhaps bringing out that blueprint now was because he had made a decision contrary to his own reason.

“What do you think?”

Jet-black iron armor.

It wasn’t anything extraordinary, since it didn’t contain mithril or any special material.

The grade was Unique.

In fact, it was the highest grade that could commonly be made, and also the highest grade possible with the current materials.

He silently ran his hand over the surface of the armor.

“If only it had been made a little earlier… If only I could have seen that boy smile in delight at least once……”

The last image of his son he remembered was his back, following his words despite showing dissatisfaction.

That image became a chain that bound his heart for life.

“Sir.”

“……”

“After this is over… let’s make one using good materials. So that your son can achieve what he wanted, even if it’s in his next life.”

He was a good man who had lent me his workshop without asking for anything in return.

Could I not do at least that much for him?

At my words, he gave a bitter smile.

“I appreciate the thought. But… what face would I have to go to my son’s grave with now?”

It seemed that because of guilt, he couldn’t even visit his son’s grave.

I, too, knew well the sorrow of losing family, so I didn’t offer any complicated comfort.

Because I knew it was useless.

Thus, once the first goal—the sword and armor—was completed, I immediately headed to the administrative office set up in front of the Dragon Forge royal palace.

I had thought there would be fewer people compared to the previous day.

Apparently not. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Amid craftsmen and dwarf appraisers still grappling and arguing, countless verbal clashes were ongoing.

“If it exceeds the standard, Dragon Forge will appraise the equipment accurately, pay a price matching its value, and provide a pass token and special mineral.”

And then, one simply had to prove the ability to fully handle that mineral.

There was only one Sea Dragon’s Armor.

In other words, failure was not an option, so they needed proven, highly skilled craftsmen.

“Next! Step forward!”

The dwarf, looking exhausted from dealing with so many people, lazily opened the box when I stepped forward and presented it.

“A sword and armor. Is it correct that the main material used is solely iron?”

“Yes.”

At my calm reply, he put on a monocle and lightly examined the sword wrapped in cloth.

Then, narrowing his eyes, he frowned slightly.

In the silent stillness, the dwarf who had been examining the sword asked,

“Are you certain you used only iron ingots?”

“Yes.”

“That’s nonsense. Take it back. Disqualified.”

She spoke coldly and roughly shoved the sword back into the box.

“Is there a problem?”

“There is. The level of completion is quite astonishing. The balance is precise, the surface is uniform, and the finishing is excellent. However… it violates the rules.”

He spoke calmly, as if pronouncing a sentence.

“We’ve already seen several cases like this. We are not seeking excellent items. We are evaluating the ability to process iron. If you were going to mix in other materials like this, you might as well not have tried to hide it.”

He continued,

“The sword and armor you made are not iron at all—you used entirely different materials.”

At those words, murmurs spread through the surroundings.

Some sneered.

Others looked as if to say, “It would be discovered anyway—why make such a foolish choice?”

“Your skill appears outstanding, but rules are rules. No exceptions. Next!”

Of course, the transformed state of the steel I created wasn’t commonly known.

However, regardless of its altered properties, this was clearly made from iron ingots.

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If I had changed its structure using the Machine God’s Heart, at least it wouldn’t feel this unjust.

Just as I was about to explain in detail out of sheer disbelief—

“No. It is correct that only iron ingots were used. Wood or leather used for finishing does not fall under exceptions.”

At the sudden voice, the dwarf appraiser flinched and raised his head sharply.

And then—

“D… D-Do… Dobog, Grand Master Smith!?”

At that shout, the dwarves in other areas also widened their eyes in surprise and looked this way.

Regardless, Dobog, who stood beside me, reopened the box and said,

“I guarantee it. This young man produced these solely by changing the way he handles iron ingots.”

Simple and concise.

Even if I explained, it would have been tedious and overly academic, but his single sentence delivered everything cleanly, without room for dispute.

It seemed this old man held a position far greater than I had thought.

A Grand Master Smith…

Among smiths, they were especially revered.

“Iron? No matter how I look at it, this cannot possibly be considered iron……”

“Then verify it.”

“Th-that……”

To the dwarf who couldn’t continue, Dobog handed over a small vial.

“It’s an extract from Flamorus petals. Expensive, but nothing is more reliable.”

At those words, the dwarves checked the vial Dobog had handed over.

“It’s a reagent that reacts only with metals—specifically iron.”

“It is indeed Flamorus petal extract, Grand Master. But… to use something so precious……”

“It’s of no use to me anymore anyway. Go ahead and verify it.”

The dwarves carefully dropped a single drop of the extract onto Black Night Sword No. 3.

To their astonishment, the liquid that touched the surface instantly began to boil and evaporated.

“Good heavens, it really is iron?”

“If even a trace of another metal were mixed in, this reaction wouldn’t occur.”

They looked bewildered.

No matter how they looked at it, it far exceeded the properties of iron—yet it stubbornly insisted on being iron.

“This young man worked directly in my home, in the workshop my son used. I personally witnessed the entire process. And I guarantee that only iron ingots were used throughout.”

“With the Grand Master’s eye, there can be no mistake. However… how could such a result even be possible……”

It seemed beyond their understanding.

However, the authority of Grand Master Dobog left them no room for further doubt.

With the biggest issue—the material—resolved, they immediately proceeded to a detailed appraisal, now recognizing the weapon and armor as iron products.

Because their form itself differed from conventional ones, numerous dwarf appraisers gathered, intrigued.

It didn’t take long for exclamations to erupt.

“My goodness. This is a sword made from iron ingots?”

“Amazing—such strength!”

“It’s resistant to impact, strong against heat, and even has good elasticity.”

“Have you seen the blade? A sword made of black iron was split in two, yet this one doesn’t even have a chip.”

“Especially this sword… there’s some special force forged into it. Is it a magic sword that even skilled craftsmen can only create a few times in their lifetime!”

“Oh… O God of Iron.”

Their confusion as they exchanged opinions was understandable.

The special options on Black Night Sword No. 3 had been manifested through the aura of the Divine Craftsman.

Though they didn’t realize it yet, within that blade lay thousands of layers of metallic breath.

The more they investigated, the more astonishing its performance appeared, and in the dwarves’ eyes, a mad desire began to flicker.

“Looks like it turned out well.”

“Grand Master, was it?”

“I’m just a sinful old man who’s been pushed to the back room.”

He picked up a pass token and a large box placed nearby.

“Seems it went well. May I take these?”

“O… of course! Grand Master! The appraisal of the sword may take some time. I will visit you separately!”

One of the dwarf appraisers expressed eagerness to return quickly and re-evaluate it again.

“Haah… truly an ecosystem-disrupting species.”

Perhaps because he too had been quite shocked, his reaction was rather amused.

Leaving the noisy place, we returned to the workshop.

Inside the box was a strangely shaped, bumpy mineral.

“They said the theme is free. Make whatever you want with it. After all, what they want to see is whether you have the depth to handle that mineral.”

Of course, among them, only a select few would be given the opportunity to restore the Sea Dragon’s Armor.

“Have you seen the Sea Dragon’s Armor, sir?”

“The Sea Dragon’s Armor… yes. I’ve seen it. Isn’t it a divine relic containing the history of Dragon Forge?”

“What was it like?”

“To be frank… with my skill, I wouldn’t even dare to touch it.”

He smiled bitterly and sat down, gulping down strong liquor.

Even as drops of alcohol messily dripped onto his long beard, he drank even more fiercely, as if trying to forget something.

“In a way, the reason I became so immersed in smithing was because of that monstrous item. In my youth, I believed I could reach the level where I could handle it with my own hands.”

But he failed, and that failure turned into impatience.

And that accumulated impatience became an obsession that it had to be completed in the next generation, not his own.

In the end, it was once again connected to his deceased son.

“Just the ramblings of an old man. So then, what do you plan to make?”

“Well. With this amount of Vanta Metal, it doesn’t seem like I can make anything grand……”

“Vanta Metal?”

“Ah. It’s nothing special. Once processed, it turns into a color that seems to completely absorb light, so I named it Vanta Metal.”

Even among dark-colored materials like adamantium, it was a rare mineral.

I didn’t know what it was called here.

“Heh. Seems you’ve seen it before. The reason they required all work to be done inside in this announcement was to prevent that mineral from being taken outside.”

“I just happened to learn about it.”

That was how precious this mineral, called Vanta Metal, was—even within Dragon Forge.

Naturally, it was extremely rare to see such a material outside.

Even within Dragon Forge, only certain skilled craftsmen were said to handle it.

“That mineral is not well-known and is difficult to handle, so very few can process it. In fact, the reason the higher-ups released Vanta Metal is to filter out the real ones. Well then, if you’d like, I can give you a few tips on processing it……”

“No thanks. I’ve handled it to the point of boredom.”

Saying that, I tossed the Vanta Metal into the furnace.

The temperature wasn’t even enough to heat iron—just barely reaching the minimum required for metal processing.

But seeing that, Dobog burst into laughter.

“So it wasn’t an empty boast when you said you’ve handled it to boredom.”

* * *

The amount of Vanta Metal provided wasn’t enough to do anything particularly large.

In the first place, only a very small quantity had been distributed.

So I simply finished by making a single arm guard, attaching it onto another metal.

The purpose from the start was to see whether one could handle Vanta Metal—not to evaluate the quality of what was made with it.

Afterward, the appraisal of Black Night Sword No. 3 and the armor was completed.

Though rumors hadn’t spread externally, within the dwarf kingdom, there had already been an enormous reaction upon seeing the sword and armor.

The biggest reason was that they were made not from high-grade special materials, but from common high-quality iron ingots.

Moreover, regardless of material quality, the level of completion of the sword and armor themselves was astonishing.

It was more than enough to drive the dwarven craftsmen of Dragon Forge into a frenzy—chewing, tearing, tasting, and enjoying them.

As expected of craftsmen mad about metal—their passion was immense.

As a result, the administrative department of the Dragon Forge royal family was currently showing considerable favor toward me.

Well, if one was a craftsman who had proven exceptional skill, dwarven craftsmen would treat them favorably no matter who they were.

And now.

While I was waiting at my lodgings for the results, a request arrived asking me to come to the Dragon Forge royal palace.

It was an invitation stating that I possessed more than sufficient skill as a technician required for the restoration of the Sea Dragon’s Armor, and asking me to come and lend a hand.

Of course, I wasn’t receiving special treatment.

A considerable number of skilled craftsmen who had already proven their abilities had also been summoned to the palace.

Many craftsmen had come after seeing the announcement, but only a very small number had received this level of treatment.

It was said that those gathered would be brought together in one place to begin the restoration work of the Sea Dragon’s Armor.

Since even the craftsmen of Dragon Forge alone couldn’t handle it, they were recruiting external craftsmen as well—so it was a natural development.

In that process, I casually asked Dobog if he would come with me, and after much deliberation, he accepted my request.

A Grand Master who had left the royal court, was it?

For him, the royal palace was a place filled with painful memories of his son, so I had expected him to refuse.

But after thinking it over, he agreed.

He said that since he had chosen to help due to the connection we shared, he would see it through to the end.

It was a truly grateful gesture.

The problem was that, unlike other kingdoms where one would quietly enter the palace, be assigned a room, and rest in a refined manner, things worked a bit differently here.

“They’re here!!”

“That’s definitely the human!!”

“Surround him! Encircle him!!”

Like golden retrievers spotting their owner, the dwarf craftsmen charged in like madmen and surrounded me in an instant.

If they had been holding weapons, it might have looked threatening.

But instead of sharp weapons, their eyes gleamed with madness.

“You’re the one who made that mysterious sword, right?!”

“My word, he’s incredibly young—even for a human!”

“How fascinating! How could a human—such a young human at that—possess such remarkable skill!”

“I am Progi! Would you care to discuss your technique with me?!”

The crazed craftsmen, their eyes completely gone, surrounded me and bombarded me with questions without mercy.

It wasn’t just one person—more than ten rushed in shouting, and their overlapping voices seemed to amplify each other.

I knew they weren’t doing this with bad intentions.

I knew it was just excessive passion—but dwarves had naturally loud voices, so my head started to throb more than expected.

So I turned my gaze to Dobog beside me.

‘Sir. Please help me.’

At my sudden telepathic message, he flinched and looked at me, then cleared his throat and stroked his beard.

And then—

Displaying the dignity of a Grand Master, he unleashed a tremendous lion’s roar.

“Kaal!!!!!!!!”

Wow, the old man’s voice is something else.

After instantly silencing the surroundings, Dobog skillfully shouted,

“You brats!! Have you thrown dwarven etiquette into the furnace and melted it away! Get back at once, you lot!”

The dwarves surrounding me were all renowned craftsmen, yet Dobog treated them like youngsters—I saw him in a new light.

Of course, the seasoned dwarf craftsmen weren’t easy either.

“What are you saying, old man! If you’ve retired to the back room, stay quiet!”

“I am speaking with this young human right now!”

“W-what did you say?!”

“Now then! Leon Cascadia, was it! Come along! I have much I wish to discuss with you!”

“This crazy old man—trying to monopolize him!”

“Hey, hey! Back off! I’ve already marked him!”

As I pushed away the head of a lunatic dwarf who stuck out his tongue and actually tried to lick me, I wore a thoroughly fed-up expression.

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