142 141. Beginning as a blacksmith.txt (1/2)

With the redemption deal settled and the paperwork freed up, I was walking through the Epic Seeker headquarters.

Now that I'm back, I'm going to do something that I can only do here.

My current goal is to become stronger.

The stronger we become, the easier it will be to explore the labyrinth and the more dangers we will be able to deal with. This is also necessary for the fight against Palinkron, which will come eventually.

I'll be able to stretch my game-like thinking to become stronger.

And I chose the method of collecting armor. This is what I call 'equipment' gathering.

It's basic on the high road. If this is a game, it's quite common that you have to equip yourself to clear the game.

Up until now, I was short of money, lacked a handlers, and didn't have time, so I didn't have any good equipment. Also, being an evasion-oriented style, I would rather have nothing than wear something shoddy.

However, Rowen's ore gave me a guess as to how much money I could get. He had extra time on his boat trip. There are many friends who will need equipment.

Now should be the time to work on the equipment we've been putting off.

I snort as I walk to the Epic Seeker's workshop.

I can see that my love for the game is coming out now that I have more room in my heart. Now I enjoy the act of collecting 'equipment'.

I visit the workshop and open the door with great enthusiasm.

It's the same messy space as before.

At the back of the workshop, a man with long hair was wielding a hammer. It was Mr. Allivers.

But for some reason, there was also a petite girl with her butt on the desk next to it.

The petite girl - Seri noticed her visitor and shouted out when she saw my face.

''Ma, masteraaa!　You're the master!　I knew you were going to come back to ”Epic Seeker”!　You're coming!

'No, I'm not going back to 'Epic Seeker'. I'm just going to come back every now and then to see how things are going. I'm sneaking in today, so be quiet. ......

'Yes!　I'll be quiet!

I get off the desk and stand upright, stiffly.

I leave Seri alone and greet Mr. Alibers.

''Haha, you're the master. Here's an early welcome back.

It's good to see you again, Mr. Alibers.

Mr. Alivers doesn't seem greatly surprised and welcomes you with open arms.

He is a craftsman by nature and has a special sensitivity. He doesn't seem to be surprised by this level of abruptness.

'I came here today to get a new set of equipment. Including those of my friends, so I'm sure there will be quite a few of them.''

As I look through the armor and other items on display in the workshop, I start the conversation.

'I see. I see. That's a good thing, Master. I've always thought of you as a master fighting in those filthy clothes. I could have gotten you better equipment.

Ugh, is it dirty ......?

At least that's not what the head of an organization wears. Your cloak is tattered and your shoes are in pristine condition.

As long as I can use it. Also, it's something I'm attached to in its own way.

'Hmmm, that's the beauty of being a master, though. ...... But you can't say that anymore, can you?

'Yes, I re-dived into the labyrinth, but I felt I was a bit underpowered. So I came to review the basic equipment first.

Good. If you need it right away, you may take the one you have on display. I'm sure the master will be pleased with any of your armor, as long as it's used for him. Well, I'll get paid for it.

Thank you.

While Alibers resumes his work with a hammer, I look over the works in the workshop. I walk around and ”analyze” all the equipment in the warehouse at the back.

However, it is difficult to find equipment that meets my eyes.

I'd like to have the black armor rankings that Perciona wore during the dance tournament.

Above all, there are few that fit. I'm still better, but there are very few child-sized ones for Dear Maria Reaper.

''Come to think of it, half of my people are child-sized: ......

''Come to think of it, one of the kids who was rooting for you in 'V'alfoura' was about the size of Ceri.

'Yes. If possible, I'd like to have equipment as big as Seri's.

Today's objective is to strengthen myself. However, I calmly understand that the priority should be the equipment of the rear guard, Dia and Maria.

And when I glanced at Seri, she was excited and was about to take off her jacket.

''Master, do you need these clothes!　Of course we'll give it to you!　Shall I take it off?!

Wait!　Sure, I want what you're wearing right now, but you don't have to take it off!　So don't take it off!

It's a good thing that Seri's clothes are quite good.

--The robe of white stone thread

3 defensive powers, 3 magical powers--

If you want it, by all means!　Here are my freshly undressed clothes!　Go ahead, Master!

'I don't want to get you out of your clothes!　Don't take it off!　Stop!　Quiet again!

I hadn't seen her in a while, so I was caught off guard.

She's one of the top talking girls in 'Epic Seeker'. This isn't the top, it's the top, so 'Epic Seeker' is a horrible place to be.

'Ha, yes. I understand. ....... I'm sorry, but I'm giving up this time: ......

Ceri is restrained and becomes as quiet as a scolded puppy.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, she resumes her conversation with Mr. Alibers.

''Since I know the size of my mate, can I order it now?　Something with a reasonable amount of protection from the bottom to the top, please.

I don't mind. I can make as many as I want, as long as I know the size.

By the way, I've figured out their three sizes in Dimensions.

I didn't intend to do so, but as we've known each other for a while now, I've found out naturally. It's an absolute secret around Sera, who seems to overreact.

''So, this is the magic stone in the new layer. If possible, please use this magic stone.

''Mmm. ....... Well, you've brought a rare magic stone with you. Are you sure you want me to do this?

I only know one blacksmith, Mr. Alibers, so I'm going to go to ......

''But from here on out, even if the master brings more rare magic stones, there will definitely be a time when my skills won't be able to make use of the materials, right?　I'm going to be reasonably good at it, but I'm only one blacksmith in one guild. I think it would be better to ask a larger and more famous blacksmith to do it for me: ......

But I'm almost a wanted man in the confederacy, so I ....... I don't want to go somewhere conspicuous and get in trouble if the Walkers or anyone else finds me. ......

”Hmmm, you can't stay: ....... You can't go there even if you wanted to: ......

Yes.

I can't go to ...... even if I wanted to.

As I ruminate on those words, I look at my status and worry about it, a good idea comes to mind.

I recall that yesterday, I got the skill 'Magical Combat' from training with Lastiara, a combat expert (professional). In other words, we can repeat that same thing.

There's no need to go separately.

From now on (...), from here (・・・・), you can compete with people who are experts (professionals) in blacksmithing and get the skill 'blacksmithing'.

Now that you've got 'knitting' and 'fraud' and have found that Rowen's former advice is true, it's worth a try.

...... Mr. Alibers, is there anything I can do to help you?

Helping out, master, you're an amateur.　I can leave it to you to do simple heavy lifting, but ......

Mr. Alivers' face contorts reluctantly.

It seems he was too hasty. I myself am on the verge of mastering the skills in 'Parallel Thinking', but I don't understand that kind of thing, Alivers-san.

In order to train in practice, you need to obtain the minimum amount of skills first.

-- 'Dimension Multiplexing'

I know the location of all the workshops in Lauravia and where to find the best blacksmiths. As the master of the Epic Seeker, I've been guarding Lauravia, and this country is like a garden to me.

I say ”I'm sorry to disturb you” in my mind and follow the movements of all the people doing the forging. Then, I will keep track of and memorize their every movement.

What you do is the same as following the sword streaks. Compared to Rowen, it's much slower, so it's easier.

I walk through the workshop in parallel and take out the things I want.

'Here's the material: ....... May I read it?

Yeah, yeah, no problem.

Alibers, who was a former wizard, noticed that I was emitting an unusual magical power.

He nodded at me, even though he was upset.

I take out all the books on blacksmithing and stack them in a corner of the workshop.

I hand a few of those books to a handful of Seri-chan and ask her to do so.

'Seri-chan, would you please flip through the books?

What, flipping ......?

'I'll read it with you by magic. No?

'......?　Yes, sir!　I'm going to flip it!　I'll do my best!

Seri doesn't seem to understand what it means, but she picks up the book with a lot of enthusiasm. She flips through it pretty quickly, but I can handle it now.

Beyond the third guardian (guardian) battle, my level and status have increased, and my processing power has increased even more. I read multiple books as if there are several of them myself.

I flip through the books with both hands, too. While cramming the knowledge of blacksmithing one after another, I also steal the skills of blacksmiths throughout Lauravia in parallel.

The processing of vast amounts of information causes high heat to emanate from their bodies.

I am surprised at the number of amazing processes that exist to make a single sword.

I didn't even know the difference between casting and forging, so everything was new to me. The list of words I had never heard before made my mind dizzy. And the unique movements of a blacksmith are not the same as imitating swordplay. Although I started my skill training with a light heart, I can't cut any corners.

Since I'm using Dimension and Parallel Thinking at full strength, my MP and stamina are being cut down at a frightening rate.

However, thanks to this, I was able to understand it little by little.

The basis of the livelihood of 'blacksmithing', the way of thinking. How to use the tools in the workshop, how to handle the furnace. How to hammer, how to make a fire. The process and technique, all of them.