Chapter 84

Remembering that he had been invited to "Money Grabber," he headed to the forge he managed. This forge, in the capital, was said to be second in scale only to the one run by Gomen Areshik, known as "Iron Brain." Despite this, its profits were said to be unmatched, which gave a sense of his talent and resilience.

The exterior of the store and the surrounding buildings were different from the usual forges. It was as clean and safe as the noble district, which was nearby. The atmosphere hinted at the business policies of "Money Grabber."

"It's been a while since we've been together," Iris said, making my heart skip a beat. I stumbled when getting off the carriage. I didn't fall thanks to my usual training. Or maybe it was because I usually behave well and got lucky? I don't do good deeds... so it must have been a coincidence.

Iris was on leave today. Since Lacer had been busy lately, I decided to take her out. Prince Arc, who usually stayed by Iris's side, was also absent. He must have known about her day off, but perhaps he had some urgent business.

"This doesn't look like a forge at all," I said. There were several branches, but the main store in front of us was nothing like the forges I knew. I would have believed it was a jewelry store. The visible part might be sooty, but the front was immaculate.

"Oh, 'Elegant Dancer,' you've come. And the lady next to you is a fresh and beautiful dancer," "Money Grabber" said, looking up from the counter where he was doing financial calculations. He looked like a 30-something intellectual with neatly slicked-back hair. He was exactly as I had seen him on the day of the meeting. He handed over his work to an employee and switched to entertaining us. He was surprisingly formal.

"Well, I thought today's business was good, but such a distinguished guest has arrived," he said.

"I'm not a customer, though," I replied. He had said he would show us something special, and I had told Iris the same.

"A customer, to me, includes anyone who might bring future profits. As long as you can inspire me, you are a customer to me," he said.

"I see... But today, I'm more here to absorb something. You said you would show me something special," I said.

"Yes, I have it prepared. In fact, it's a project I've been working on for a while. I wanted to show it to you," he said with a sly smile. Given his business acumen, I expected something extraordinary.

There was another special thing: Iris was quite interested in this field. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at the store's displays, different from those who just glanced. I wondered if there was anything that would meet her standards.

We were led to a guest room, and even high-quality tea was served. It was a level of service not found in ordinary forges. Serving tea at all would be a miracle.

"It seems you have many noble customers. Are these facilities designed for them?" I asked.

"Yes, that's right. I believe the era of competing solely on skill is outdated. One of the reasons for our success is that we broke away from old, outdated concepts," he said. In the forging industry, where many masters like mine still held rigid views, he was a heretic. But his success proved that there was more than one way to be right.

"Using a sword every day is limited to certain jobs. Many nobles prioritize appearance over the quality of the sword. Some even consider it shameful to visit a dirty forge. Our forge meets these needs. Of course, we don't have any low-quality products," he said. His words seemed true. I felt that many people actually sought such a store. It was a good experience to hear the opinion of a senior, but it was different from the work I wanted to do. I wanted to create something called "real." Even if it was expensive, I wanted to forge a sword that would be cherished for generations. I wanted to compete with the shine that only those who understand it can see. In a way, I might end up being an old-fashioned craftsman.

"'Elegant Dancer' doesn't seem to like this path," he said.

"Was it that obvious?" I asked.

"No, but I'm good at gauging the mood of my customers. Your companion doesn't seem to like it either. I'm proud that my store is highly regarded by women, but..."

Iris, unsatisfied? She had been so enthusiastic about the products. "Money Grabber" was indeed a great businessman, sharp in his observations.

"Umm, I prefer Kruri's sword," Iris said bluntly. I admired her honesty, but I was intimidated by the comparison. She's impressive, Iris.

"Yes, in terms of quality, 'Elegant Dancer' is undoubtedly superior. I'm the lowest among the Ten Committee members. However, many people consider my swords the best. I just need to do business with those who think so. So, you don't need to feel bad, 'Elegant Dancer'," he said. He was indeed transparent. Normally, if someone questioned one's skills, even a little emotional reaction would be expected.

"I don't have a soft heart that gets hurt by small things. However, I was able to recognize my limits early, which I now see as fortunate. I can't surpass 'Iron Brain' or the others with my skills alone. But if I use my head, I might be able to bridge that gap. The special thing I wanted to show you is the answer," he said, his face full of vitality. The secret he held, the thing he wanted to show me...

"From here on, it's a secret area. These are things not yet available to the public," he said, leading us deeper into the store. The store was larger than I thought, and we passed through several doors.

We arrived at what looked like an ordinary forge. There didn't seem to be any secret.

"There's no secret in the location. Only I and three of my apprentices know what we're doing. Look at the sword on the wall. Do you feel anything strange about it?" he asked.

What was different... Could it be...

"Is magic flowing through it?" Iris and I said simultaneously. We had noticed that magic was indeed flowing through the sword.

"Yes, that's correct. As a noble, you are well-versed in magic. Magic flows through this sword because a magic stone is embedded in it."

"A magic stone in a sword?"

I'm not very knowledgeable about magic stones, but I understand that they are worn on the body. Embedding one in a sword was indeed unique.

"I was the first to recognize my limits. In hindsight, it was fortunate. I can't surpass 'Iron Brain' or the others with my skills alone. But if I take a different path, it might be possible."

"Does that mean the sword with flowing magic is that impressive?"

"Yes, it is that impressive."

He took out the magic-infused sword and a regular sword. The regular sword seemed to be of higher quality. He struck them together. The one that broke into pieces was... the regular sword. Despite its higher quality.

"This is the power of a magic-infused sword. You can see which sword is of higher quality, but the result is clear."

"Wow, that's really impressive. You're not just a businessman; you're a true genius as a blacksmith," I said, genuinely surprised. I had no idea such a thing existed. The creativity of "Money Grabber" who came up with this idea was also impressive.

"But, was it okay to show us this? It's not even on the market yet."

"Of course. You're free to make it after you leave. But I don't think you can make something that will sell."

"Is there a secret?"

"Of course. You need to create a magic circuit within the iron to allow magic to flow. It's incredibly difficult. Try it and you'll see. When this eventually hits the market, many blacksmiths will follow this path. And eventually, someone will surpass me in this field, especially you. But that's fine. My limit is there. What matters is that the person who completes this magic sword will be remembered."

I see. To be remembered as the creator... Indeed, it would be premature to announce something that isn't fully developed. If a regular sword is better, a magic sword would just be expensive and of little value. A magic sword that surpasses the best existing swords would give it meaning. So, it's fine to share this information with me, who can't reach that level for a while.

"Is this the best sword you have now?"

I looked at the magic sword that had just been tested and was still radiating its presence.

"It's not the best, but it's quite good considering how difficult it is to make it usable."

He snapped his fingers, and a young blacksmith entered with a sword. It was likely one of the apprentices involved in the magic sword's creation.

"This is one of my apprentices' work. Magic flows through it, but..."

He demonstrated a few swings. After a few repetitions, the sword snapped. It was a world of difference from the completed sword. It couldn't be practical if it broke just from cutting the air.

"The best of my apprentices took three years to reach this level. It's that difficult. Currently, only I can make a usable one."

"Three years..."

I was surprised that it took longer than my training period with my master. The best apprentice had this result.

"Have you been working on it for three years?"

"I've been at it for about four years. I started teaching my apprentices when I saw the shape. The first usable one was completed after three years. Now, I'm working on improving the quality. If I can maintain my usual skill while embedding the magic circuit, I can quickly reach the top as a blacksmith. Don't you think so?"

I do. It's an incredible skill. I'm excited. I want to start working on it as soon as possible. I didn't expect such a significant breakthrough. I wish I had come earlier, but it's better to be grateful for meeting now.

"You will surpass me someday. But for a few years, I will lead the way. Of course, my apprentices might also take the lead."

"Can I go home now?"

"You seem eager to start forging."

"Iris, sorry. I want to go home now, is that okay?"

I felt bad for taking her out and then wanting to leave, but she smiled and forgave me.

"I prefer Kruri. She looks more lively. Can I watch you make the magic sword?"

"Of course!"

We hurried home. On the way back, I bought a magic stone from the shop Lacer introduced me to. It was a magic stone that increased durability, usually worn to protect from injuries, but I would use it to enhance the sword's durability.

When I got back to the castle, I realized I didn't know if there was a forge. I asked Spatifila, and she confirmed there was one. I was surprised.

"Kruri, are you going to work?"

"What's with that surprised reaction?"

"Is Iris on leave, and Kruri is working?"

"No need to confirm. And don't compare me to Iris."

Comparing to Iris would make most people seem lazy.

The forge in the castle was surprisingly large and clean. It seemed to be rarely used.

I lit the fire and performed maintenance on the tools. Once the forge was warm, I started processing the magic stone and iron. Magic flows easily through the human body but is difficult to channel into objects, especially iron. However, there is a rare type of iron that allows magic to flow well. This iron is quite troublesome to work with. It's brittle, hard to process, and prone to rust. It's known as scrap iron, and I've seen it a few times. If you want to buy it, it's very cheap.

I mixed two types of iron, using the magic-conductive iron as the core and the other as the outer layer. This combination was quite challenging, and "Money Grabber" took three years to complete it.

How long will it take me? I'll take my time. I'm sure I can complete it someday.

I started forging the magic-conductive iron as the core. Then, I forged high-quality iron over it. So far, it seemed to be going well.

Forging the blade was complete, and the last step was to attach the hilt. I prepared a slot for the magic stone in the hilt and embedded it to complete the sword.

It was indeed quite difficult. But I felt I had used about 80% of my skills. Considering the magic flow, the performance might not be much different from the swords I