Chapter 3

Here's the new development!

My name is Vil Craft.

I used to work as a blacksmith in the capital city.

One day, I was betrayed by my fiancée and my own younger brother.

They had been cheating on me behind my back and even had a child.

To make matters worse, my brother even took my new house and my shop.

Fed up with their attitudes, I decided to leave the capital city.

"Haa... What should I do from now on?"

In a forest near the capital city,

I sat under a tree, looking up at the sky, and pondered my future plans.

"I have no intention of returning to the capital city. Even if they come to apologize, I won't go back."

Next, what should I do with that shop?

Well, my brother, the new owner, will have to deal with it.

"What about my work as Hachibouzai...?"

Hachibouzai.

A legendary blacksmith's name that has been passed down through the ages.

We received requests from the kingdom to create incredible items that ordinary people couldn't make, repair the city's barrier, and maintain the hero's holy sword.

I left in a fit of anger, but that was a mistake.

If I abandon Hachibouzai's work...

"The city's barrier will probably last a year. The hero's holy sword should last about the same. But... what about after that?"

Who will maintain the barrier and the holy sword?

"Well, it's just a matter of Setchin, who inherited the shop, doing it. That's right... Grandpa used to say that Hachibouzai's [true mission] is not maintenance."

I remembered Grandpa's words.

"Listen, Vil. The role of the Hachibouzais throughout history has been to create [artifacts] and offer them to the heavens."

My grandfather, [Gankoji Craft], said this.

He was the previous Hachibouzai.

My father didn't have the [Golden Hand], which is necessary to inherit Hachibouzai.

So, Grandpa (※nickname) passed the Hachibouzai name to me, his grandson.

"What are artifacts, Grandpa?"

"Special magical tools that wield power like a divine miracle. We Hachibouzais have been honing our skills for a long time to create artifacts."

He gave me one of the artifacts he had made.

"This is an example. Use this artifact as a reference, Vil. You will create your own original artifact and offer it to the heavens. Got it?"

...End of flashback.

"That's right. What I want to do is become a great craftsman like Grandpa and create artifacts."

I took out a hammer from the holster attached to my belt.

A silver, palm-sized, small hammer.

This is one of the artifacts created by Grandpa, the [Divine Hammer Mjolnir].

"Maintenance work was a business my father started when Grandpa died and we were struggling to make ends meet. It's not the true mission of Hachibouzai."

Moreover, my father said this on his deathbed.

"Vil, if you ever leave the shop, you can live as you please."

He said this to me, standing by his bedside, just a few minutes before he died.

Incidentally, my idiot brother wasn't there at the time.

Thinking back now, he was probably fooling around with some loose woman.

"The management of the shop and the maintenance business can be done by others. With enough training. ...But, the mission of Hachibouzai can only be completed by one person in the world. You, who has the Golden Hand."

My father, with his wrinkled hand, gripped mine.

"The shop and business I started are not important. However, the name, skills, and mission of Hachibouzai, passed down through generations... must absolutely be passed on to future generations."

With that, my father passed away.

"Father... Grandpa..."

I looked at the back of my hand holding the hammer.

There, a [crest] was drawn.

The sun crest.

This is proof that I am the bearer of the [Golden Hand].

"I understand. I will live as I please. As Hachibouzai, I will create my own original artifact!!"

My future plans were decided.

The shop and maintenance will be left entirely to Setchin, who inherited the shop.

I will set out on a journey to create artifacts.

"I will travel the country, honing my skills. There, I will gather materials and inspiration, and then... create them."

I lifted the divine hammer.

"Like the Mjolnir created by Grandpa, I will create an amazing artifact!"

Well.

Now that I've decided, it's time to take action.

"I need to get away from this capital city as soon as possible. I won't go back to the shop."

Setchin and Silical will surely be in trouble, but they'll have to try their best.

I'll go as far away as possible so they can't find me quickly.

"Time to get to work."

I picked up a small stone nearby.

"Golden Hand... activate. Connect with the Divine Hammer Mjolnir."

The crest on the back of my hand glowed.

Five lines extended from the sun wheel, connecting through my five fingers to the hammer.

"Skill [Super Alchemy], activate."

The line running through my index finger glowed brightly.

The Golden Hand possesses a [Unique Skill] related to crafting.

This is a one-of-a-kind skill that only the bearer of the Golden Hand can use.

All the Hachibouzais throughout history have had the Golden Hand.

And each of them had different [Crafting Skills].

I am apparently special.

"Vil, you are special. Normally, the Golden Hand can only have one skill per person. However, you have five different crafting skills. This is unique in the long history of Hachibouzai."

Grandpa said this.

I activated one of the five skills.

"[Alchemy: Stone → Transfer Crystal]"

I declared and struck the stone with the hammer.

In that instant, the stone transformed.

It became a beautiful amethyst-colored crystal.

■ Transfer Crystal (SSS)

→ A crystal that can teleport you to any place you have been to. Disposable.

"Good, Super Alchemy is working fine."

One of the past bearers of the Golden Hand, [Sei Farth], is said to have turned a stone into gold.

Super Alchemy is a skill that consumes magic power and materials to create an amazing item.

However, it is limited to creating items of the same type (※you can't turn a stone into water).

I picked up two more stones.

"[Alchemy: Stone → Gold]"

In my hand, two gold ingots were formed.

"Selling these will ensure I won't run out of travel money. ...However, if I overdo it, the market will be in chaos, so I need to be careful."

I can also counterfeit gold coins.

But doing so would cause trouble, so I won't.

I will only create ingots.

And I won't overdo it.

"Next, I'll store these..."

I lifted the divine hammer and swung it at an empty space.

"■, open."

A black box in the shape of a ■ appeared in front of me.

This is a special box with the effect of an item box.

There are [various things] inside the ■, but that's not important now.

I stored the ingots, and the preparations were complete.

"Next, the transfer crystal... No, wait. Transfer can only take me to places I've been to. I want to go to a place I haven't been to and get inspiration."

So, I activated Super Alchemy again.

"[Alchemy: Transfer Crystal → Drift Transfer Crystal]"

■ Drift Transfer Crystal (SSS)

→ Randomly teleports you to a place you haven't been to.

"Drift transfer, activate!"

The view in front of me turned white, and I was teleported.

The scenery changed instantly.

"So, I've been sent to a place I haven't been to... a forest?"

I was in a very dark forest.

Was it night?

"Kyaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh