Chapter 28 – Blunderbuss

The alchemist people were Zatasians, that is to say shapeshifters and I thought I noticed the spell mark on the statues of golems. Only great wise men could control and create such an imposing artificial life.

The next day, I saw Ratvert arriving in the hut at sunrise.

"I hunted to pass the time as well as to feed myself, I brought you two carcasses, I don't know how to cut the animals"

"I thank you, Ratvert, and the blizzard, you probably got through it."

"In fact, a shopkeeper told me to follow the golden stones every 10m."

"I understand" Then I set out to dispose of the carcasses in the garden facing the hut to retrieve the ingredients.

It was Taabug, a rare animal to find that fed on toxic mushrooms, its organs served as a catalyst, that is to say that they could modify the very nature of the potion. Once my work was done, I explored the village, 500m by 400m long, most of the stalls were tiny but concealed a much superior space thanks to the formula of spatial manipulation. It was also very complicated to master the magic of space by its mysterious nature. The merchant Atqium was probably capable of it.

True to my habits, I entered the magic bookstore.

Although I have two books to read, they were too advanced for me at the moment.

"What do you want to venture?"

I can't say, something offensive, I only have 3 arcane formulas and they're all about fire."

"I see, I know what you will need" And the merchant went to his reserve in search of a specific book.

"That's it!" he said, laying down a thick work.

It was a book called "Teaching on Magic Explosive Weapons".

"What is it?"

This book is very useful for adventurers, it explains the design of explosive projectile weapons as well as their handling using mana. I'm sure it will increase your attack power if you follow it to the letter»

"How much for the book?"

"1500 pieces"

It was the rest of my savings, but I did not hesitate.

«I take it»

After my purchase, I saw a blacksmith in a shop, I went inside and saw many weapons that seemed to work as my book explained.

Is it complicated to forge such a weapon?" I asked, wondering if I would succeed.

«It's more technical, you have to create the parts separately and then assemble them with precision»

An idea came to me.

"Can I be your disciple for a while? I have skills in forging and I would like to produce such a weapon"

"Why not, how do you call?"

"Evo and you?"

"Axdore, Enchanted

"I estimate 2 months to progress"

I agreed, I planned to stay here for a while to improve my chemistry, I could kill two birds with one stone.

«We will start tomorrow at dawn, bring some metals to work»

"I'm afraid I don't have any on hand"

«In this case, I will help you for the first time with my metal but find some for the next»

Then I retired and said goodbye to Axdore.

A man came to meet me.

"Are you Evo?"

"Indeed"

The sages have agreed to let you learn alchemy for 3 months, then you have to leave»

That's more than enough to gain expertise.

[ Ellipse ]

We were in the first month spent in Cilucide. I gained 2 levels in alchemy and 3 in forging and 2 points in mirics thanks to the book I bought. My intelligence had increased to 41 giving me the ability to read it in detail, but I had not finished it.

The work on enchanted weapons was very complex for my weak mastery of forging, it was necessary to assemble the machine with the help of tiny mechanical parts and containing mana.

"I never thought you would progress so quickly in the forge," said Axdore.

«At this rate in 3 weeks your weapon will be ready»

I smile at him, happy to hear such a compliment from a master in his field.

Oclageor our house host, had trained me to decipher and understand the famous arcane periodic table. I then trained to recognize the elements contained in an ingredient in order to have a better theoretical approach. The task proved simple for Oclageor, who used a formula for automatic element detection. I wanted to learn this arcane formula but my level of alchemy being 6, was insufficient.

I've run out of materials to forge my alloy weapon. The weapon I created, I had named it the powder keg as long as the barrel was shaped like a parable. Here is the description given in the design book: The magic projectile weapon is operative when the handler has a sufficient mana. The detonation of the projectile by the weapon is carried out either by the use of enchanted parchment as a detonator, or by an arcane formula that allows the explosion and projection of the cartridge used. Cartridges are tiny capsules containing the type of ammunition. Other non-users include mana, a high-density explosive powder that allows the projectile to function autonomously. However, strong alchemy and forging skills are required to produce them on the chain.

I did not have the knowledge to create such projectiles but I kept the idea in a corner of my head.

A week passed when Oclageor came to see me at the blacksmith's.

«Evo, come with me, I have something to show you outside the village»

"Is it urgent?"

"At all, finish what you started and come find me in the hut. I'll be preparing my equipment."