Published: September 4, 2025
This is Satou. There are many dramas and movies set in ironworks, but I don't think there are many in light novels.
It's strange because there are plenty of stories with blacksmiths as the main characters.
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"Then, forge a sword. We'll talk after that."
Jojori-san?
I glanced at her, but she quickly averted her eyes.
We came through an underground tunnel only one and a half meters high to Old Dohal’s workshop. In the back of the room, high-level dwarves were forging swords.
They were all skilled. Every sword had parameters like attack power, sharpness, and durability about 50% higher than ordinary ones.
After the introduction, he said those words to me.
"Father, Satou-dono is an acquaintance of Viscount Rottoru—"
"Hmm, Nina has helped, but that’s a different matter. You can understand a man's character by how he forges a sword. Zajiul, bring out the heated mithril ingot."
"Yes, Master."
Dorial-san facilitated the conversation, but Old Dohal moved ahead without hesitation.
A gray-bearded dwarf called Zajiul prepared the ingots and tools and gave me a seat.
Well, since I had hammered a sword once at a blacksmith's in Muno City, I roughly knew the procedure. I might as well try once. My skill is maxed, so it should be fine.
I heated the ingot red-hot and placed it on the anvil. Then, I began hitting it with the smith hammer.
Clang.
Huh? Something feels off?
Old Dohal must have sensed my hesitation because he took the tools from me and struck similarly. After one strike, he called Zajiul and slammed his fist onto Zajiul’s head with a loud gagon.
"Idiot! How many decades have you been handling mithril? I always say forging starts from melting and making the ingot!"
"Yes, Master."
I didn’t quite understand, but it seemed there was a problem with the ingot Zajiul prepared.
That slight discomfort must have been from that.
"Alright, we’re going to the mithril furnace. Young one, come along."
"Yes."
Old Dohal would guide me directly. Even though I hadn’t forged the sword yet, this probably meant I passed. Dorial-san and Jojori-san followed behind. Zajiul left ahead, probably to prepare something.
I was curious to see what kind of furnace it was.
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The mithril blast furnace was made from a heat-resistant metal called Hihirokane—the "Japanese" style was refreshing after a long time.
Zajiul was speaking to the craftsmen, but everyone was slumped on the ground.
Apparently, this furnace runs not on coal or other fuels, but on magic power.
The craftsmen were resting because their magic was depleted. Everyone here was a formidable warrior over level 30. All had both blacksmithing and some kind of magic skill. Maybe there were fewer people than usual, like with surface blast furnaces.
It seemed we had to wait about two hours for their magic power to recover.
Old Dohal shouted with deep wrinkles on his face, but you can’t pour magic power that doesn’t exist. Maybe I was thinking that too hard because his anger turned toward me.
"Young one, you have a short staff, so are you a charm caster? If you’re confident in your magic, pour your magic into that furnace."
"Hey, Father, you can’t have a guest do an apprentice’s work."
"No, pouring magic power is no problem."
Dorial-san protested, but I wanted to see the furnace in operation, so I gladly agreed.
I poured magic power.
Would 200 to 300 MP be enough?
It was rapidly absorbed. No resistance.
10.
20.
There seemed to be no lamps or display devices to check the amount, so I’d pour until the others weren’t surprised.
100.
200.
300.
Oh, the faces of those slumped changed slightly. I should stop here. A level 30 equivalent magic user can normally pour about 300 MP.
Still, from this feeling, I could probably infuse around 1000 MP.
Wiping unseen sweat from my brow, I stopped the magic infusion.
"Phew, this furnace is amazing. It still seems to have plenty of capacity."
"Indeed."
Old Dohal nodded, and the others started moving, beginning the mithril refining.
Jojori-san handed me something like sunglasses.
"Put these on; they’ll protect your eyes. And don’t stare directly into the fire while wearing them."