Chapter 61

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictional and have no connection to any real entities.

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059 - Item Enchantment

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I changed my main job to Enchanter and my sub-job to Reincarnated Hero. This is the combination with the most MP.

I lined up six swords on the workbench. These were the ones I bought on my way back from the castle.

- Iron Shortsword A: ATK+8, STR+1, Durability 25/25

- Iron Shortsword B: ATK+9, Durability 30/30

- Iron Shortsword C: ATK+9, Durability 31/31

- Iron Shortsword D: ATK+10, Durability 30/30

- Iron Shortsword E: ATK+10, STR+1, Durability 29/29

- Iron Shortsword F: ATK+11, STR+1, Durability 30/30

Why did I buy so many iron short swords? Let me answer that question!

At level 30 Enchanter, I learned the skill Item Enchantment, which allows me to apply enchantments like Enchant Fire to items. It consumes a lot of MP, but I'm trying to enchant these iron swords.

The items needed for enchantment are the base item—in this case, the swords—and magic stones. I have E-rank magic stones prepared. The detailed appraisal told me that F-rank magic stones have too little magic power and are unsuitable for making magic items.

"Item Enchantment activation. Enchant Fire."

When I tried to enchant Iron Shortsword A, it cracked and shattered into pieces.

They say failure is the mother of success. I tried Iron Shortsword B next, but it also failed.

From the detailed appraisal, it seemed that the maximum durability value dropped sharply, and the sword couldn't withstand it.

It was clear that the durability of iron short swords was insufficient. I should try with a steel short sword.

It's a weapon given by the gods, but one I hardly ever used.

- Steel Shortsword: ATK+15, STR+3, Durability 45/45

"Item Enchantment activation. Enchant Fire."

The durability decreased sharply and the sword cracked and broke when it hit zero.

"Whoa... I'm not going to try with a mithril greatsword, though."

Item Enchantment consumes a significant amount of the item's durability. Even if it succeeds, the item would have no durability left.

I need to either significantly increase the durability or find a way to prevent Item Enchantment from reducing it.

"Maybe iron items are just incompatible with it?"

I tried with a copper short sword that had been flattened during training by Gandalban and others.

The result was that the copper short sword shattered into pieces. It seemed to be a durability issue, not a material issue... or maybe I haven't tried materials dropped by monsters yet.

I decided to try with the Gargoyle Buster that Bartz had left over.

"Master, the Gargoyle Buster is a rare drop from a boss monster."

Annelise, who was watching my experiment, had a half-lidded look. I know, but there are things you can't know unless you try.

"Wouldn't it be better to use a Gargoyle Sword?"

I don't have a Gargoyle Sword, which is a normal drop from a boss monster.

I could go to the boss room immediately with Dungeon Move, but the duke told me to stay at the mansion for a few days, so I can't go out much.

I stared at the Gargoyle Buster, which is made of a stone-like material. Stone... as hard as stone...

"Got it!"

I picked up Iron Shortsword C.

"Item Enchantment activation. ...Enchant Hard!"

From the detailed appraisal, the durability didn't decrease at all! In fact, it increased significantly!

- Iron Shortsword C+: ATK+18, Durability 108/108

The ATK value doubled, and the durability increased 3.5 times!

With this durability, I might be able to successfully apply elemental enchantments.

"Item Enchantment! Enchant Fire!"

Wow! The durability decreased, but Enchant Fire was successfully applied to Iron Shortsword C+!

"Master, did it succeed!?"

Annelise looked very happy. It's great that she's so happy about the success. I'm happy too.

"I'm glad the Gargoyle Buster didn't break."

You're worried about that?

Well, it's fine. The Gargoyle Buster is generally expensive.

If I clear the boss 10 times, I should get one, so it's not as rare as I thought.

- Fire Sword: ATK+18, Additional Effect: Burn (Minor), Durability 58/58 (Iron Shortsword C + E-rank magic stone + Enchant Hard + Enchant Fire)

There was no change in the ATK value from Iron Shortsword C+, but the additional effect was successfully applied!

Enchant Hard increases the ATK value and durability, while elemental enchantments add additional effects.

I need to test other swords to see if the ATK value increase from Enchant Hard is +9 or a doubling. But my MP is almost depleted, so I need to drink several MP potions to fully recover. *Burp*.

I had to start with Enchant Hard, but I succeeded with Item Enchantment.

- Ice Sword: ATK+20, Additional Effect: Frostbite (Minor), Durability 55/55 (Iron Shortsword D + E-rank magic stone + Enchant Hard + Enchant Ice)

- Cyclone Sword: ATK+20, STR+1, Wind Attribute Attack (Minor), Durability 51/51 (Iron Shortsword E + E-rank magic stone + Enchant Hard + Enchant Cyclone)

- Attack Sword: ATK+47, STR+1, Slash Enhancement (Minor), Durability 55/55 (Iron Shortsword F + E-rank magic stone + Enchant Hard + Enchant Attack)

All of them have significantly improved performance.

The Attack Sword, for example, has an ATK value higher than a mithril greatsword. And it's a short sword, which is good because it can be used by swordsmen and assassins, not just greatsword heroes.

The durability is increased 3.5 times by Enchant Hard, and each enchantment reduces it by 50 points, but since the base durability is already quite high, it's not a problem.

"Let's go to the Gorteo Shop!"

I won't go to the dungeon, but the Gorteo Shop should be fine. I'm assuming that.

"I don't think I'll get any messages today, but if I do, tell me to come back immediately."

"Understood."

I left the mansion in the hands of Mondalque and headed to the Gorteo Shop.

I traveled by carriage, with Jewel as the driver. Mondalque insists that I travel by carriage because I'm a noble.

Annelise must come with me, and the soldier Jojok follows on horseback.

I said I didn't need it, but Gandalban insists that Jojok should come as a bodyguard.

Mondalque handles noble-related matters, while Gandalban handles bodyguard and heavy lifting tasks.

Also, Annelise, who smiles in front of me, is sometimes sharp. Really, sometimes.

"Welcome, Lord Footsickle."

"Footsickle is a bit long and grand, so please call me Toi. Mr. Gorteo."

"Then I will call you Lord Toi."

"Thank you. That's fine."

Today, Mr. Gorteo is here to guide me. We head to the area with weapons and armor and browse the items.

Mithril items are quite expensive. I bought several steel weapons and armor.

There are mithril weapons and armor, but they are expensive, so I didn't buy them this time. I'll enchant mithril items when my Item Enchantment proficiency increases.

"I have something I want you to see."

Mr. Gorteo leads me to a private room. It's probably a negotiation space.

Jojok brings the four swords that were casually placed in a bag.

I took them out of the item box and put them in the bag while in the carriage. When I tried to carry them myself as I got out of the carriage, Jojok offered to carry them for me.

"I will check them. ...Wow!"

It seems Mr. Gorteo used the Skill: Item Appraisal and is holding the Fire Sword without moving. He's not moving at all, but he's breathing, right? His eyes are moving busily, so he should be fine.

"Where did you get these?"

"That's a secret."

"I see. You can't reveal your source, then."

I can't say I enchanted them. After all, I'm keeping my Enchanter identity a secret.

Mr. Gorteo nodded and continued the conversation.

"Fire Sword, Ice Sword, Cyclone Sword, Attack Sword. They are all magic swords."

"Is it possible to buy them from you?"

"Magic swords with unknown creators are slightly cheaper. Is that acceptable?"

"That's fine."

Mr. Gorteo nodded and started assigning prices to each sword.

The Fire Sword is 100,000 grils, the Ice Sword is 120,000 grils, the Cyclone Sword is 300,000 grils, and the Attack Sword is a whopping 450,000 grils.

The original cost was just iron short swords, E-rank magic stones, and a lot of MP potions. The initial cost for the Fire Sword was less than half, at 50,000 grils, so this is a great way to make money.

"The Attack Sword is quite expensive."

"The Fire Sword and Ice Sword have a low chance of activation, so they are cheaper. In comparison, the Cyclone Sword has a constant additional effect, so it's a bit more expensive. The Attack Sword, while it doesn't have an additional effect, has a very high physical attack, so it can deal consistent damage, making it more expensive."

The Thunder Sword I saw before had multiple effects, which made it quite expensive.

"If they had the auto-repair effect, they would be even more valuable, but these don't have it."

Auto-repair... I could apply Enchant Regeneration to make it stick. Thinking about it, I only applied one enchantment besides Enchant Hard. Maybe I should try applying a second enchantment next time.

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