Chapter 98: Crafting Equipment

When Feld woke up again, it was already four in the afternoon.

This time, he had slept longer.

When he woke up, he felt a bit itchy on his face. Turning his head, he saw QiQi gently applying something to his face with a cotton swab.

Feld blinked, "What are you doing, Kiki?"

"Applying medicine, meow~" QiQi said, "The boss lady said you were injured, so she brought some medicine over. I'm applying it to you, meow~"

Feld touched his cheek, feeling the cool sensation. It was quite nice.

"Does it feel better?" QiQi asked.

"Much better," Feld smiled.

Perhaps it was because of QiQi's care, Feld suddenly felt like lazing around in bed. So he said, "This pillow is a bit low. Can I lie on your lap?"

Kiki's eyes lit up, and she quickly took off her shoes and knelt at the head of the bed, patting her thighs, "Come on up, meow!"

Feld lay down, feeling very comfortable.

"Am I too heavy?" he asked.

"No, I've gotten stronger through training, meow~" QiQi said, raising her arms as if to show off her not-so-obvious muscles.

Feld chuckled and then looked at QiQi's face, saying softly, "Kiki, it's so nice to have you."

Kiki smiled sweetly, "Really, meow?"

"Yeah," Feld nodded.

Perhaps QiQi couldn't help him much in battle.

But whether it was in his past life or this one, he didn't really need help in battle.

He was used to it.

What he really needed was someone like QiQi, who would readily provide a comforting lap, someone to wake up to, and someone to tend to his wounds.

He had been through the fires of war and the trials of life and death.

That was why he needed the softness of the world, to soothe the heart shrouded in smoke.

If it weren't for these things, he was afraid he would become a cold-blooded monster.

In his past life, he had numbed himself with cigarettes, alcohol, and the noisy music of the wasteland bar.

But in this life, he had QiQi, and those things were no longer necessary.

QiQi's presence, her ability to keep his spirits up, was invaluable.

Perhaps it was a moment of emotion, or perhaps the tranquility of the moment truly touched him.

He lifted his hand gently.

QiQi immediately held his face in her hands, leaning down so that his hand could cup her cheek.

"In the future, can you give birth to a litter of little QiQis for me?" he grinned.

QiQi's ears perked up, and her tail began to sway. Her face turned a rosy hue, but she didn't shy away. Instead, she looked at him and smiled.

"Yes, meow!"

At that moment, Feld couldn't help but feel that Kiki was like an angel.

After lying on the bed for a while, Field started working. With QiQi in tow, he went to the Orrin Weapon Shop, took out the previously forged Nebula Steel, and began forging the blade.

As he hammered away, the thick Nebula Steel brick started to elongate. "Your hammering technique resembles Tobias's about eighty percent," Orrin commented.

"What about the other twenty?" Field asked as he continued to hammer, sweat dripping.

"If you could forge while drinking, then you'd have Tobias's full flavor," Orrin replied.

Field chuckled. He enjoyed a good drink but wasn't a drunkard by any means. Tobias, on the other hand, was known for forging while drinking, sometimes even spraying his iron with alcohol to cool it down.

Time passed, and by eight in the evening, Field finally finished shaping the blade. It was only one finger wide, with distinct feather-like patterns on its surface, a result of his folding and hammering techniques.

Next came the refining process. Instead of starting immediately, Field placed the blade in a long trough filled with various mineral deposits imbued with magical properties. Nebula Steel, known for its ability to absorb magical energy, would absorb these properties, enhancing its resistance to different elemental attacks.

It only needed three hours to reach optimal absorption levels. By then, the Nebula Steel would exhibit a blend of metallic colors, hidden when dormant but shining like a nebula when infused with magic.

While the blade absorbed the minerals, Field began crafting the gauntlets. They didn't need flexibility, just hardness for hand protection. He chose Dragonfang Precious Gold, a material renowned for its hardness and magical conductivity.

Crafting the gauntlets was just as time-consuming as forging the blade. Furthermore, he had to carve them into the shape of angelic wings, adding to the complexity. Field estimated that, even with non-stop work, it would take over twenty hours to complete Hilda's sword.

So Field spent his day in a routine. He worked through the night, hammering, carving, and refining, until the next morning. After a quick breakfast with his comrades at the nearby Steel Tavern, he returned to repeat the tedious process.

Until the afternoon, when Field stood before his masterpiece, feeling a sense of disbelief. Could this really be something he crafted? It was stunningly beautiful, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Can I have it?" Orrin asked, eyes glittering with desire.

"No!" Field immediately refused.

"What's this? After occupying my workstation all day, you won't even negotiate?" Orrin glared.

"I can't. This one's for my wife," Field shamelessly declared.

Orrin scoffed, "A woman's sword? I don't want it!"

"Heh heh, next time, if you want one, I'll make you a man's sword," Field teased.

"I don't need it. I can make my own," Orrin waved dismissively.

In truth, Orrin wanted the sword not only because of its beauty and functionality but also because he saw Tobias's shadow in it. Craftsmen had distinct styles, and Field's resembled Tobias's. Perhaps that's why Orrin wanted to keep it, as a way to remember his old friend.

As Field left with QiQi and the sword, having significantly increased his mana reservoir by two percentage points due to the intense forging, it was already late afternoon. He needed to meet Hilda at the Hades Academy for the evening's business gala.

Instead of heading to the tavern, Field went to the orphanage. It had been two days since his last visit. Arriving just as Grandma Runa was preparing dinner, Field and QiQi stayed to eat.

After the meal, as Field was about to bid farewell, Tina ran up with two letters in hand. "Field, there's mail for you!"

Field took the letters and chuckled as he read them. They were from Veena. It seemed she took his advice seriously.

The letters were simple, detailing her meals for the day. Field's expression turned amused. Veena must not have known what to write, so she simply listed her daily meals, perhaps a bit nervously.

There was a second letter, more substantial than the first. It was mostly about Veena's excitement over receiving permission from the Student Council President to use the latest magical research devices. She ended with a note from Hilda, teasing Field about learning magic with their help.

Field quickly penned a reply, promising to celebrate their official assignment the next day with a feast. He encouraged Veena to continue her healthy eating habits and added a playful jab at Hilda for intercepting Veena's mail.

Once QiQi delivered the letters to the postal office, they'd be sent directly to the Hades Academy, and the girls would receive them tonight.