12 Chapter 12_ Blacksmith (2)
Lexus had a very eager and excited gleam in his eyes. As he let the Great Sage take over, Lexus didn't waste any time; his movements were swift.
[You can sense the temperature due to the rapid changes in ambient temperature. 30 degrees. 31 degrees. 31.5 degrees. 32...]
The strange yet welcome panel in front of Lexus' eyes continued.
[Pagma's Successor is sensitive to changes in temperature. If there is a furnace in the vicinity, you can accurately measure the temperature inside the furnace.]
[700 degrees. 720 degrees. 740...]
The constantly rising temperature was displayed in the continuously updating notification window.
'1,000 degrees.'
Lexus poked and prodded at the fire he just created. In no time, a roaring inferno erupted from the stone and intense heat swelled the forge. The heat wave could still be felt by Lexus, even though he had heat resistance. As if they were one entity, Lexus, who was allowing the Great Sage to control his body, was now completely focused on adjusting the temperature within the forge.
"Hoo. Hoo." He took short breaths.
His arms were numb and his skin was hot, but he endured it. As he continues, his concentration increased.
[The Legendary Blacksmith's Patience skill has been activated. Concentration, stamina, and defense will rise to the extremes for one hour.]
Suddenly, the weariness in his body disappeared, and he felt refreshed. This was similar to the vigor he felt whenever he eat and drink. Lexus then pumps more air in the forge, using a tool at his feat and after a while, he pinches the magic steel with a special tool and thrusts it deep into the heart of the flames.
Sensing the right moment, he pulled the magic steel out of the forge and placed it on the anvil. The glowing red steel shimmered in his hand.
The smithing has officially began.
The impact of metal on metal sends a shock through the room. The forging has begun. Lexus hits the glowing material in red with his hammer as and a series of shorter, more precise strikes sends out a new chorus of echoes throughout the workshop.
He starts mixing strong hammer blows with short strikes, the rhythm of the echoes changing every moment. The material lengthens with the heavy impacts, the quick hits adjusts the shape.
It didn't take long for the hot object beneath him takes a new form. Showers of sparks fly, red beams of light flash. Flakes of burned metals are launched from the horn with every blow.
Sweat dripping down to his chin, Lexus raises his hammer again. Another round of echoes rings out. The workshop is drowned in a fierce melody of metals.
Ttang! Ttang!
This was in harmony with the hammer! It was a moment when he felt stability and contentment.
[The Legendary Blacksmith's Breath has increased the effectiveness of your production items]
[Legendary Blacksmith's Breath Lv.1]
[When you are concentrating on making an item, the will of Pagma's Successor will fill the production item.
All stats of a production item will increase by 5%.
There is a rare chance of giving special features to your production items.]
"Whoa...!"
Lexus was impressed seeing a dark red blade in front of him.
[A unique-rated item was produced, all stats have permanently risen by +12 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +300.]
The cutting edge of the blade is so thin, and the blade's color has a reddish maroon color.
"Quality materials makes a quality weapon. Without a doubt, it will be one of the best thing I've ever crafted."
Lexus smiles with satisfaction of a job well done at the dark red sword.
[The title, 'First Unique Item Maker' has been obtained.]
[First Unique Item Maker]
* Dexterity +200
[Blight of Misery]
Rating: Unique
[Durability: 550/550 Attack Power: 625
* Physical attack damage will be amplified by 1.5 times.
* The greater the number of enemies, the greater the damage.
* There is a certain probability of attacking two times.
A sharp and balanced sword made by the legendary blacksmith with the best possible craftsmanship, great skills and potential, but lacks the reputation of a legend. He has completed a sword that has a great impact in this world before.
A weapon made for ultimate cutting, crushing, annihilating and exterminating any foes. It is designed for the user's convenience and is perfectly balanced, helping the user achieve the best swordsmanship.
Condition of Use: Level 250 or higher. More than 1,800 strength. More than 900 agility. Advanced Sword Mastery. ]
Lexus grasped the red sword in his hand.
[Due to your class characteristics, you have equipped the Blight of Misery.]
[This is an item you created. Your understanding is 100%.]
[In the case of items made by you, a penalty will be applied if you don't meet the item usage requirements, even if you have full understanding.]
[Attack power of the Blight of Misery will decrease by 20%. Only half of the option effects will be applied.]
He took a few practice swings. Gripping the hilt and lifting it off, Lexus swung the blade from the floor up to the ceiling, carving a silver arc in the air. After swinging the blade a few times, Lexus noticed that the blacksmith was on the verge of losing his mind.
"Heok! But… the level of the sword is unbelievable, even to the eyes of a lowly person like me!!" The man in his rear trembled. "This… this is a masterpiece…! This is a sword that will come out once in 100 years! C-Cough!"
"H-Hey! Old Man! Old Man!!"
He was so surprised that he collapsed in pain as he struggled to breathe. The rating he could produce with the best of his ability at most is rare, while the chance of epic is very low. Although it is not entirely impossible for him or any blacksmith to create an epic-rated item, it requires a significant amount of luck to craft an epic-rated weapon.
「 Despite it's grade being lower than my original partner, I guarantee that this sword is one of the good ones! 」
Lexus noticed that Madra's tone was reminiscing. Well his ego was in a sheath so he might really be.
「 Well that rating could have been produced by your interesting skill if not for your desire to avoid creating those grades. 」
Madra commented as he was also confused why does Lexus wanted to avoid creating weapons of legendary grade despite inheriting the techniques of a legendary blacksmith. For him, it was a shame.
Sending the blacksmith to the nearest infirmary, Lexus then returned back at the palace. Even though he wanted to spend more time in smithing, he obviously couldn't do that when the owner of the smithy had passed out from shock and was not in a good condition.
'Hmmm—It's almost night time.'
Lexus thought while gazing at the sunset and the sky. He found it a bit of amusing that it almost took him a whole day to finish producing a single sword.
It didn't take long for him to reach the palace gates. The moment he stepped in, a guard had approached him.
"Your highness, his majesty, the king requests an audience with you."
•~~~•
Arriving in the palace, Lexus had a confused expression on why does the king wanted to meet him. There was no particular reason that came into his mind as he was sure that even his NPC self didn't cause any trouble at all.
"Well it doesn't really matter."
Lexus decided to shrug it off. Knocking the giant door in front of him, Lexus spoke clearly.
"It's Lexus. I heard you wanted to meet me."
Then, the massive and luxurious door of the throne room opened revealing King Wiesbaden sitting on his throne. Seeing him, Lexus inwardly thought.
'Did I choose the right words?'
As a man who has lived in the modern world of the 21st century, he does not know the proper etiquette to greet a king. Well, he has the memories of his NPC self, but there isn't much to them. Even his NPC self did not meet the king often and could only be counted on one hand.
As Lexus was about to ask what this was about, his eyes saw something that caught his interest. The elegant young daughters of the noble families that Lexus had seen while living in the capital, and the countless beauties that he had seen on TV in his previous life… including all of them, there had been no one with features as beautiful as the lady before him right now.
Her brilliant pinkish hair and deep blue eyes were like twin lakes, while her soft skin resembled white jade, without a single blemish; all of this combined to create her aesthetically pleasing face.
More than anything, the air she exuded was awe-striking. The energy enveloping her was not the result of feminine qualities such as purity or beauty; it was a mysterious sense of majesty. He had heard the saying that your soul would be taken if you kept complimenting a beautiful face, but... Today was Lexus's first time actually living and breathing with this saying.
"I am Dovie, daughter of Chucksley, the Royal Knights Commander. It is an honor to see you again, your highness."
Dovie gracefully greeted Lexus. Then, memories of his NPC self came flowing into his mind and recognizing who she was and all related informations about her.
Unlike most lady nobilities, she was very kind, smart and knew how to make wise decisions. At the age of 7, the first time she saw her father train with the sword, she would sneak out and hide in the bushes to listen as sometimes, the Great Swordsman spoke like a trainer to himself.
At night, she would then sneak out back of her courtyard with a stolen sword in her hand, as she made her way to the practice field. But one day, her father noticed her sneaking away and followed. At first, Chucksley was fuming at the fact that she wanted to learn swordsmanship.
Even though he was a Great Swordsman, surpassing the abilities of Sword Experts, he didn't believe that a girl or a woman could have the aptitude for battle.
When he was about to stop her, she perfectly executed a move that would take a least months or even a year to learn. Seeing that, his eyes lit up. She clearly had the talent for the sword.
From then on, Chucksley enthusiastically shared his findings to the king and began observing her every night and he was utterly stunned by her quick reflexes and aptitude. She was just a curious child and didn't understand why women was discriminated that they couldn't do certain things.
They told her that she couldn't wield a sword but didn't she successfully do it? As a child, she really didn't get what's the big deal was. She hated doing needle works, and all those other things, so what she was doing right now, was trying to find things that she love.
She had also seen her father had read a book, so she thought that reading was also fun. Hence she started to sneak her way to the royal library at night. When she took the first manual of war and combat basic tactics, she was intrigued and completely lost herself to it.
Reading seemed to be something she liked as well. Plus, she also realized that she could remember and understand things a little better than others.
From then on, with a word from the Commander of the Royal Knights, words spreaded of how gifted she was. From then, even at the early age, she was permitted and accepted as a knight as well as the only one who will go on missions and aid the poor.
Maybe it was because she was a girl, people noticed that she's giving it her all to help those in need. She never did anything half heartedly. If she would do it, she would do it perfectly or die trying.
At the age of 14, mostly all people in the capital of Reinhardt had heard her talent and people could agree that she will become a heroic warrior someday.
'Well enough of that. More importantly, why is she here?'
Lexus thought as his eyes wondered to all the people in the throne room. The king, the commander of the royal knights, him and Dovie were the only people here.
With his accelerated thinking processing, all of his conclusion was finished in instant. Narrowing his gaze, Lexus murmured.
'I'm feeling that I don't like where this is going.'
