Welf's Capability (Part 2)

"Ah~ha~ha~ha!"

Welf has a very excited glint in his eyes making Bell chuckle in his enthusiasm. Welf doesn't waste time as his movements were swift.

Grabbing measuring tapes and different tools from a metal bucket. Welf goes his way around Bell, measuring as he goes. Welf asks Bell to take off his boots and spends a great deal of time recording the shape of his feet.

"You can head home once I'm finished measuring."

"Um, Welf~san, about that..."

"Yeah?"

"Would it be okay with you if I watched?"

Bell managed to ask, really wanting to see a smith does and how items were forged. Welf didn't reject him and agrees to let Bell stay.

"It gets pretty damn hot in here; it'd be pretty a good idea to take off your armor."

"Eh, ah, yes."

Following Welf's suggestion, taking off his armor leaving his undershirt, Bell curiously watched Welf's action who was next to the forge.

[You can sense the temperature due to the rapid changes in ambient temperature. 30 degrees. 31 degrees. 31.5 degrees. 32...]

The strange yet welcome panel in front of Welf's eyes continued.

[Pagma's Successor is sensitive to changes in temperature. If there is a furnace in the vicinity, you can accurately measure the temperature inside the furnace.]

Together with Veritas Burn that gives Welf high fire resistance, it benefitted him very well. He placed his hand over the furnace.

[700 degrees. 720 degrees. 740...]

The constantly rising temperature was displayed in the continuously updating notification window.

'1,000 degrees.'

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Heating up the drop item"

"You're going to burn a monster's horn?!"

Bell yelled out in surprise despite promising earlier that he wouldn't interfere. For Bell, animal horns are just like bone. Like they'll turn into ash in a fire.

"There's something like metal inside a monster's claws and horn. Ever heard of adamantite?"

"Adamantite...I feel like I've heard of it before. All I can think is that it's an extremely rare metal..."

"Adamantite can only be found in Dungeon. When it comes to making weapons, it's the best stuff out there. Very sturdy."

"People find it in the dungeon?"

"Yep. Sometimes pieces of it just fall out of the dungeon walls, like the monsters. But that's once in a blue moon. Even so I often hear someone finding it in the upper levels but most adventurers bring it up from much deeper floors in the lower levels."

It can only be collected in the Dungeon. That means it can only be found in Orario. Apparently, adamantite weapons are specialty of Orario. Since its very difficult to acquire, its value puts magic stones to shame.

"So then, its possible that monsters born from the Dungeon have adamantite inside them?"

"Exactly. Although, its not as pure as the stuff that come out from the dungeon."

In that case, it was not strange that monsters born in the Dungeon are affected by this material. Welf told Bell that only a few of them have adamantite in their fangs and claws, but they're perfect for making weapons.

"Minotaur Horns also have a metallic element to them. Heat them up just right, and you can shape them at will."

Making the horn hot enough to forge, just like a piece of metal. This is just the first step. From there, Welf took all kinds of tools to it, just as if he were working with metal.

"Sorry to bug you, Bell. Could you open the door and the shutters all the way?"

"No problem!"

Following his request, Bell went around, opening every window and door. Turning back to find Welf poking and prodding at the fire he just started. There is a rock at the base of the forge, a drop item from a monster known as Inferno Stone...The flames it can produce are so intense that average people can't buy one.

"Just like adamantite, this horn ain't gonna bend unless I heat it just right."

In no time, a roaring flames erupts from the stone and intense heat swells the forge. Even though Bell was in a good distance, the heat wave still reaches him.

Welf is now completely focused on adjusting the temperature within the forge.

"Hoo. Hoo." He took short breaths.

His arms were numb and his skin was hot, but he endured it. As he continues, his concentration increased.

[The Legendary Blacksmith's Patience skill has been activated. Concentration, stamina, and defense will rise to the extremes for one hour.]

Suddenly, the weariness in his body disappeared, and he felt refreshed. This was similar to the vigor he felt whenever he eat and drink.

"Well we have a direct contract so I don't want to have any secrets. So Bell, ask away."

While heating up the horn, Welf withdraws his face from the forge and looks at Bell. He has a gentle aura around him. Seeing that he had a light smile on his lips making Bell sense a look of trust in his eyes.

"Why don't you...Why don't you make magic swords Welf~san?"

Bell could still remember how happy Welf was when he became his client. If Welf would just make magic swords, he would have more clients and more money than he would know what to do.

He already has a famous name that would draw in people from all over. That's how well known the Crozzo family was.

"Well, there are few reasons, but..."

His mouth was curling into grimace, he casts his gaze back to the flames.

"I hate magic swords."

Then he explains why he despise them so much.

"I told you my work doesn't sells but the truth is, I've had tons of clients...."

"Eh...?"

"But because they knew I was a Crozzo, all they ever asked me for magic swords, magic swords, magic swords..."

Welf pumps more air in the forge, using a tool at his feat.

"I got really sick of it."

A magic sword that is said to be strong enough to burn away the sea, probably the strongest ever. Everyone was after the magic swords of the Crozzo, not Welf's armor or weapons.

"They wanted something to make them stronger, to make them famous. Everyone said the same thing."

Welf pinches the horn with a special tool and thrusts it deep into the heart of the flames.

"But that's not right. That's not how you should use a weapon."

Sensing the right moment, he pulls the drop item out of the forge and places it on the anvil. The smelted Minotaur Horn was glowing red.

"It's not just another tool or something that brings fame..."

The impact of metal on metal sends a shock through the room. The forging has begun. Wilf hits the drop item with his hammer as if he's trying to drive out his thoughts into the material.

"A weapon is a part of its wielder."

A series of shorter, more precise strikes sends out a new chorus of echoes throughout the workshop.

"No matter how bad and desperate things go, your weapon will not betray you. From the moment they grip the hilt, it becomes an extension of their arm."

He starts mixing strong hammer blows with short strikes, the rhythm of the echoes changing every moment. The material lengthens with the heavy impacts, the quick hits adjusts the shape.

"That's why I don't like magic swords..."

Welf keeps talking as the hot object beneath him takes a new form.

"They always break and shatter leaving their weilder."

Showers of sparks fly, red beams of light flash. Flakes of burned metals are launched from the horn with every blow.

"I despise magic swords. That kind of powers rots people souls. It defiles both the dignity of the user and the pride of the smith."

The all-powerful magic swords that corrupted their creator.

"Cursed magic swordsmiths."

Muttering to himself, Bell now understands what those words mean.

"That's why I don't make magic items anymore."

Sweat dripping down to his chin, Welf raises his hammer again. Another round of echoes rings out. The workshop is drowned in a fierce melody of metals.

"Or that's how I thought it should be."

That's what Welf swore before. However, his perspective had now changed knowing the heights that Pagma had reached in his prime by fully utilizing the strong power of items.

Ttang! Ttang!

This was harmony with the hammer! It was a moment when he felt stability and contentment.

[The Legendary Blacksmith's Breath has increased the effectiveness of your production items]

[Legendary Blacksmith's Breath Lv.1]

[When you are concentrating on making an item, the will of Pagma's Successor will fill the production item.

All stats of a production item will increase by 5%.

There is a rare chance of giving special features to your production items.]

"Whoa...!"

Welf emerges from the corner of the workshop carrying a shallow box in his hands. He places it in his workbench.

Bell was impressed seeing a dark red blade inside.

[An epic-rated item was produced, all stats have permanently risen by +4.]

The cutting edge of the blade is so thin, and the blade's color matches the Minotaur Horn almost perfectly. It's hilt has a reddish maroon color.

"Quality materials makes a quality weapon. Without a doubt, its one of the best thing I've ever crafted."

Welf smiles with satisfaction of a job well done.

"Now, this guy needs a name."

Welf leans over in front of Bell and takes a long, hard look at the dark red sword. His eyes narrow as he stretches his chin with his right hand.

"Ushiwakamaru...No, the Bull Blade, Mino~tan?"

"Wait, wait, wait, WAIT! Isn't the first one so much better?"

"Huh? You prefer Ushiwakamaru, Bell?"

With a sad look in his eyes, Welf accepted it.

"All right, take it."

"Thank you so much, Welf~san."

Bell grabs the sheath as Welf holds the sword to Bell. The sheath was designed based on the size of the blade while the length, width, and shape of the hilt were based on the size of Bell's hand. The minotaur's horn had an artistic pattern on it, so they showed an artistry without Welf having to do anything.

Suddenly the blade was pointed in his chest which surprised Bell.

"I know we've only known each other for a few days, so I won't ask you to completely trust me...but treat me more like a comrade like Li'l E."

Hearing Welf's request, a smile formed in Bell's lips as he responded.

"Gotcha, Welf."

The moment Bell said those words, Welf flips the blade forward to Bell and excitedly grinned.

"Then, it's time to make your armors next."

"Huh?"

Bell was surprised hearing Welf who was smiling.