Chapter 39

"Alright, Rody! First, I want to see your skills. Try casting an enchantment on this sword I made!"

With that, Dian held out the sword. It was a simple, unadorned blade, but it was well-made. Not only was its shape excellent, but the sharpness of the blade and the purity of the metal required considerable skill. Poor-quality swords tend to be warped and full of impurities, lacking any blade pattern and being brittle. Sometimes, a simple stick would be better... such was the quality of a terrible sword. However, this was the work of a first-rate blacksmith, and it must have taken a considerable amount of time to achieve such skill.

"Dian, you really love blacksmithing, don't you?"

"…! ? Call me Master, as I said!"

"Right, Master."

As I chuckled, Dian crossed his arms and turned away. ...I think his face is a bit red, but maybe it's just my imagination.

"Anyway, get to work!"

"Understood."

The method for casting an enchantment is to embed the spell into the magic marrow fluid and apply it. However, if you add too many spells, the weapon will be burdened and may break. This is not just about the quantity of spells but also the compatibility with the metal, the purity of the magic marrow fluid, and other factors. I believe that accurately measuring the weapon's capacity for spells is the skill of an enchanter. ...Well, that's a beginner's thought. If I'm wrong, I'll have Dian correct me.

"Then—"

I poured the magic marrow fluid into a special container and began to embed the spell. This sword can probably handle three, no, four spells. The magic marrow fluid glowed brightly, and the enchantment was complete. ...This should be enough for now. When I glanced at Dian, he was frowning and looking serious.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, unbelievable... You're directly embedding the spell into the magic marrow fluid? Normally, you would infuse the spell into a talisman and slowly dissolve it into the fluid. Otherwise, it would disappear before it mixes... It must be an extremely powerful output to do this! There wasn't an enchanter in Bortram who could do such a technique...!"

He's looking at me with an intense expression. Did I do something wrong? If so, he should just tell me. Hmm, he said he recognized my skills, but maybe he's still testing me.

I pulled the sword out of its sheath with trembling hands and examined it. The four enchantments are working fine... but this might not be enough to satisfy him. I can add one more, or maybe half a spell. I removed the enchantments and repeated the process. This time, it's four and a half. The sword is groaning, but the enchantments are holding. It should get used to it eventually. ...Yeah, I pushed it to the limit, but I couldn't add any more.

"Phew, it's done."

"…Let me see it closely."

I handed the sword to Dian, who began to examine it with a magnifying glass.

"Indeed, four and a half... Even the four from earlier were quite a stretch. Normally, one or two spells would be the limit. Even for an experienced enchanter, three would be the maximum. Yet, you managed this many... Are you compressing the spells? Moreover, you've added a variety of enchantments: increased strength, enhanced elasticity, self-cleaning, and self-repair. And you removed and reapplied them...! Your sensitivity to push the limits and the richness of the spells you can use... Your skills as an enchanter are extraordinary...! Hehe, this is great. The man who will be my partner should be like this."

Dian started muttering to himself. He's a bit scary; I hope he's okay.

"Rody!"

Suddenly, he shouted, making me jump.

"…We're going to make a magic sword now."

"! A magic sword, you say?"

The process of making a sword involves melting iron, hammering out impurities, folding it, and hammering it again. This is repeated until the sword takes shape. To make a magic sword, you embed spells during this process. Such a sword is far stronger than a regular enchanted weapon and can be used for purposes other than combat due to the long spells that can be embedded. I never thought I'd get to make a magic sword... I owe it to Albert.

"My dream. To create my own original magic sword. I'll make you help me, Rody!"

"Yes, sir!"

I firmly shook Dian's outstretched hand.

■■■

"Alright, let's do this!"

Rolling up his sleeves, Dian began to forge the sword. He stoked the furnace and hammered the red-hot iron. The strong, rhythmic sounds of hammering echoed.

"By the way, what kind of spell do you plan to embed?"

"…Actually, I can't use magic. I tried hard to learn, but unfortunately, I'm not very smart. I just couldn't do it. That's when I asked Brother Albert. He told me that with a magic sword, I could use magic just by swinging it."

No matter how much magic power one has, if they lack the aptitude, it's difficult to cast spells. I've heard that some people fall asleep just by opening a book, and talent alone doesn't guarantee success. I don't like sports either. There's nothing I can do about it.

"So, I want to make a magic sword. My own magic sword...! Can you do it, Rody?"

"Yes, I'll do my best. Let's work together!"

"Alright! I'm counting on you, partner!"

It seems we're partners now... I guess I passed the test. Still, a magic sword that can cast spells. It doesn't mean much to me, but I'm very interested in the process. I'm getting excited!