Chapter 74

Duke's Family Magic Genius - Chapter 75 (74/324)

75

After seeing Iris off, I prepared to create an artifact.

The first step in the process was to create a framework for the artifact that would contain the magic circuit.

Framework.

In short, it was the body of the artifact.

Whether it was a sword, an earring, or armor.

First, I had to create such an item to be able to embed the circuit.

‘A ring would be best.’

What I had in mind was a ring.

It was one of the most straightforward types of artifacts.

A magic circuit to assist the mind.

Since the circuit was quite high in grade, the materials used to construct the ring also had to be of high grade.

If I made the framework using low-grade materials like copper, bronze, or iron and then engraved the circuit, I wouldn't be able to fully utilize the circuit's capabilities.

These low-grade materials wouldn't allow mana to flow well, even if I engraved the circuit.

To create a good artifact, the grade of the material and the magic circuit had to match.

Balance isn't just a word.

The Flonel's Precious Ring I was using.

It was made by mixing a small amount of mithril and gold into the ring to accommodate the material Flonel's Precious.

Mithril.

It was exactly what you'd imagine: a metal as light as a feather but as strong as steel, and it conducted mana very well.

Because of these properties, it was a valuable mineral that fetched a high price whenever it was discovered.

So, this ring only had a small amount of mithril added to it.

The operation of this ring was simple.

It collected mana in the precious stone and then used the mithril, which conducted mana well, to spread the mana throughout the ring and activate the Aqua Shield.

The difference in grade was mainly determined by the quality of the material used for the framework and how intricate the magic circuit was.

Most artifacts were made in roughly this way.

Thinking about the Flonel's ring, I smacked my lips.

‘If the entire body of the ring was mithril...’

Instead of just a 2nd Circle spell like Aqua Shield, it could have engraved a 3rd Circle or higher defensive spell. It could have been evaluated as at least a Unique grade ring, not just a Rare one.

‘It couldn't be helped.’

Flonel's Precious.

It was a good material, but not high enough grade to cover a ring with a body entirely made of mithril.

If the body of the ring were entirely mithril, I would have needed to use better materials to balance it.

Although the ring I wore was only a Rare grade, I intended to make the ring for Seron at least a Unique grade.

With the materials I had diligently taken from the magic storage, it seemed entirely possible.

‘The storage is indeed useful.’

The Duke's family material storage.

Perhaps because it was one of the top ten families in the empire, even mithril, which was so hard to obtain, was stored in considerable quantities.

There were also many other metals that rivaled mithril.

The way I obtained them was simple.

I took very small amounts of materials that seemed to match well with each other.

I had gathered a total of ten types of metals.

Although they were precious materials, taking just a little bit each time didn't raise any suspicion, and I had permission to take materials up to 200 platinum coins.

How much material would it take to make just one ring, anyway?

Especially when I had taken several types of metals.

‘I need to start by making the framework.’

I had gathered materials that matched well with mithril, so now it was time to melt them and make the ring.

For that, I needed a skilled blacksmith.

A craftsman who could handle various metals and shape them into the form of a ring.

Fortunately, there was such an excellent blacksmith within the Duke's family.

‘Blacksmith Rowman.’

Rowman.

The chief blacksmith working for the Duke's family.

Having worked for a renowned swordsmanship family for decades, his skills were undoubtedly reliable.

He would also handle the various materials, including mithril, well.

I stepped out of the room and looked at Leonhardt.

"Let's go to the forge."

"The forge... sir?"

"Yeah. I have a request to make."

"Understood."

Thus, I and my bodyguard began moving toward the forge inside the inner castle.

* * * * *

The massive forge inside the inner castle.

Stepping into the forge known as the 'Fire Furnace,' I and Leonhardt entered.

Clang!

Clang!

The sharp smell of iron spread as soon as we entered.

The temperature inside was much hotter than outside, and the blacksmiths, with their shirts off, were striking their hammers forcefully.

Anyone could tell it was a thriving forge.

As soon as we entered, the blacksmiths slightly bowed their heads.

There was no need to scold them for being impolite.

This was one of the things the Duke had instructed them to do.

Even if Remton visited, they would continue their work while slightly bowing their heads.

This was a common scene here.

Soon, one of the blacksmiths approached.

"Fourth Young Master? What brings you here...?"

"I'd like to meet Mr. Rowman."

"Ah, yes. Please wait a moment."

The blacksmith walked toward the inside, and soon an elderly man with a rather advanced age approached me.

His gray beard and hair.

At first glance, he looked like a frail old man.

But his body was different.

His muscles bulged all over his body.

‘Wow.’

The exposed upper body revealed a physique that seemed to belong to a man in his fifties.

A high-ranking opponent.

I could roughly guess why.

Rowman.

He was once a mid-level knight who later turned to the path of a blacksmith. He found it incredibly interesting to make things.

It was a story from over thirty years ago.

The body he had trained as a mid-level knight.

And the innate talent for blacksmithing he displayed.

It was no wonder he became the chief blacksmith in just fifteen years after starting his new path.

The old man bowed his head to me.

"Young Master? What brings you here?"

"Ah, Mr. Rowman, I have a request to make."

"...A request?"

"Yes. I need a framework for a circuit."

"Ah, you mean the exterior of an artifact?"

"Yes."

Rowman nodded and asked.

"May I know what kind of item you plan to make?"

"A ring. Is it possible?"

"I need to see the materials first."

"It's a bit difficult here... Can we talk in a quieter place?"

The materials I planned to use were quite high-grade by the forge's standards, and there were also some things I needed to discuss privately.

Talking in a place full of blacksmiths hammering away wasn't a good idea. Sensing something, he nodded.

"Yes. Follow me."

Thus, I and Leonhardt followed him.

Inside the forge.

We moved to a space that looked like his office, and I immediately took out the metals from my magic bag.

Mithril, Pelanium, Moonstone, Bloodstone, and more.

Although in small quantities, the display of these metals began to pique the blacksmith's interest.

"...The materials are quite numerous. Ten of them... Do you mean to melt all of these and have me make the body of the ring?"

"Yes. After making the framework, you can engrave the circuit according to the method I provide. Is it possible?"

"...Can I see the circuit first?"

"Sure."

Nodding, I handed him a piece of paper, and Rowman's expression began to wrinkle.

"...It's an incredibly... complex circuit."

"Yes. It's so complex that only a skilled blacksmith like Mr. Rowman could engrave it."

"Hmm... Young Master."

"Yes, what is it?"

"To make this ring, we need to address a few issues. Even with the best materials, their compatibility matters. Especially... "

Rowman then picked up a few metals.

"If we mix about ten metals like this, it won't just bring out their good effects. For example, these two metals. They actually suppress each other's beneficial effects."

He held up mithril and moonstone.

Looking at these two metals, the blacksmith began to explain.

"Using mithril and moonstone will reduce their strength, and using bloodstone and pelanium together will lower their mana conductivity. The other materials also don't have the best compatibility."

Hmm.

You know your stuff.

This was advanced knowledge that a typical blacksmith wouldn't know.

Copper, silver, iron.

These were materials that blacksmiths often handled, but it was rare for ordinary blacksmiths to have the opportunity to work with precious materials like mithril or moonstone.

"...I understand your intention, Young Master, but mixing materials like this could result in a product worse than iron. Moreover..."

Rowman held up the paper and began explaining the issues with the magic circuit.

"It's an incredibly complex magic circuit. To engrave it, the shape must be carved into the metal immediately after making the ring's framework. However, mixing so many metals will make it difficult to maintain the shape due to their mutual repulsion. The ring itself could be deformed."

"I see."

"To address this, it's better to make the ring with one or two materials. Using mithril and pelanium for the overall framework and gold for the body, which has high mana conductivity, would be..."

Shaking my head at Rowman's passionate explanation, I replied.

"There will be no change in materials. I can use them as they are."

"...Young Master? Even a dwarf, known for their unparalleled skill in metalworking, would find this combination impossible..."

It would be impossible.

Even if the king of dwarves appeared to make the ring, it would be impossible to counteract the mutual repulsion.

However.

I didn't come here just to rely on the blacksmith's skills.

"There is a way. I have a reagent that can help these metals blend well."

"...What... a reagent that can harmonize over ten high-grade metals? I've never heard of such a thing!"

Excitedly, Rowman began to refute my claim.

The reason was simple.

The higher the grade of the metal, the stronger the mutual repulsion, which was a common knowledge in this world.

Using more than two high-grade metals like mithril was taboo.

Using three or more would result in deformation due to repulsion. That's why he was so agitated, refuting my claim.

To him, it was an incomprehensible story.

But that was the common knowledge of this world.

My knowledge was different.

With the reagent I had, I could mix these ten metals without any side effects.

I didn't choose these ten metals randomly.

"It's real."

"There's no way such a thing exists..."

It does.

The old man was just too skeptical.

Taking out a purple reagent from my magic bag, I placed it in front of Rowman.

"Whether it exists or not, we'll know once we try. Even if it fails, you won't suffer any loss. The usage is simple. Melt the ten metals in the furnace, then sprinkle this reagent, and they will mix on their own."

The mixed metal would transform into a higher-grade metal.

Fantasy Defense.

The 'Ten Metal Synthesis Reagent' I discovered after a month in this world.

Using the ten metals that matched this reagent, I could mix the metals sufficiently.

As I finished speaking,

Swallow.

The blacksmith swallowed hard.