46. Blades and Banter: A Blacksmith's Tale.

Omniscient POV

Kouske stood before the anvil, a raw piece of iron beckoning him into the realm of blacksmithing. The forge crackled with the warmth of anticipation, an eager witness to the symphony of metal and determination about to unfold.

He contemplated the length of the blade, casting a critical eye over the iron. "Not too short, not too long," he reasoned, envisioning a blade that would dance with both versatility and control.

As the forge roared to life, Kouske observed the iron's changing hues, a visual symphony signaling its readiness. With tongs in hand, he gingerly immersed the metal into the heart of the flames, allowing it to absorb the searing heat.

"The soul of a blade lies in the heat it endures," he murmured, acknowledging the delicate dance between forging and burning. "Too cool, and it won't yield. Too hot, and it loses its essence."

[How would you know that? You've never forged anything before], Clarice threw a jab, challenging Kouske's newfound wisdom.

Choosing to ignore Clarice, he immersed himself in his own musings.

"Every swing counts," he muttered, recalling the advice of seasoned blacksmiths, conveniently found in a book that definitely didn't come from a nearby convenience store. "Precision begins with understanding the fundamentals."

Clarice: [Stop with the weird monologue!]

Once the iron glowed a perfect orange, Kouske withdrew it from the forge, imaginary beads of sweat forming on his brow. With rhythmic precision, he began shaping the blade, each strike echoing through the forge.

"Balance is crucial," he thought, considering weight distribution. "A blade should be an extension of the wielder, not a burden."

As he was immersed in his own musings, sparks flew (with chunks of broken iron) as he hammered the iron precisely (cracks started opening on the anvil), following the guidance of the "definitely not store-bought" book.

Clarice: [Kouske! You're breaking the iron and cracks are opening on the anvil.]

"....."

Clarice: [Kouske? Hey! Don't just ignore me. Answer me!]

The anvil reverberated as he worked, adjusting the length and thickness, striving for a harmonious blend of strength and agility. The tang, often overlooked, received careful attention to ensure a solid foundation.

"A sword is an extension of oneself," Kouske mused, appreciating the significance of the crafting process. "It must feel right in the hand, an ally in the chaos of battle."

The quenching bath awaited, a moment of truth. Kouske plunged the blade into the water, steam rising with a hiss. Upon inspection, he noted crude imperfections – uneven edges, a slightly skewed balance, and SEVERAL cracks.

"A novice's work," he admitted, his face now a shade of crimson, acknowledging the room for improvement. "But every flaw is a lesson, and every lesson refines the craft."

Vritra: "Kid, I know it's your first time forging, and you're excited, but this sword is beyond salvageable. Don't hide your embarrassment."

Clarice: [Ha ha ha! That was funny, Kouske! Seeing you so seriously, but the result was less than mediocre! Ha ha ha!]

Hearing their words, Kouske's embarrassment deepened.

Kouske(yelled out): "Just forget this ever happened!"

'I'll have to find an actual blacksmith to learn from,' he mused, using Time Magic to mend the anvil and restore it to its former self.

With determination etched across his face, Kouske would continue his journey into the realm of smithing, ready to learn, adapt, and forge blades that would one day bear witness to the evolution of his skill.

*

*

*

Kouske's POV

After what felt like an eternity in the smithy, I emerged to find Sakuya approaching with a bounty of snacks in hand.

Sakuya: "Is your work done, Kouske-sama?"

"U-um. Yes. It's done. Let's go back to the main house," I stammered, hastily sidestepping the echoes of my forging blunder.

Now, you really can't blame me! A weapon is a man's romance. I might have been a tiny bit too enthusiastic about crafting. Just a smidge. Okay?!

Sakuya offered an understanding look that I wasn't entirely thrilled about, and we made our way back to the main house, leaving the smithy and its questionable results in the past.

Upon returning, I found Rurune engaging in playtime with both Lavinia and Rin.

Rurune, the dog we'd helped find a home for, happened to end up with a sweet old grandma who turned out to be my neighbor. After hours of searching, we'd found a home for Rurune with her, and now she visited quite often.

Lavinia adored her, showering Rurune with constant hugs and kisses. Rin, on the other hand, occasionally dropped by to check on her, not at my house but at the grandma's place. Sometimes, though, Rurune decided to bring Rin along for a surprise visit.

It's like a little furry family reunion, and despite the forging fiasco—no smoke, no fire, just an almost-broken anvil(Nothing too serious. It can happen to anyone!)—the sight of Rurune, Lavinia, and Rin having their own version of quality time brought a reluctant smile to my face.

*

*

*

It's been a few days since my encounter with the Cleria Peerage, and we'll all be transitioned to the next class in school after the final test. On a different note, Irina joined our school this time of the year, just before the exams thrilled to spend more time with us(me). I don't know how the school let her do that.

Interestingly, Issei seemed a bit melancholic as one of his close 'male' friends bid farewell. Funny guy, isn't he? They are still neighbors. So they would still get to meet each other.

Currently, I find myself in the dungeon, specifically the Forest Zone. Meanwhile, I've dispatched Lavinia and Momo to the Tutorial Slime Dungeon, with Sakuya accompanying them to ensure their safety.

I acquired 'Marionette Mastery (E+)' from Lavinia. Although not a power of the Longinus Absolute Demise, it was embedded in the core of the Sacred Gear, transforming it into an Independent Type Sacred Gear.

In return, I granted Lavinia 'Time Manipulation (E+)' from my skillset. Unfortunately, due to my limited strength, I couldn't provide the A rank version. It's a downgraded version, but I believe Lavinia will evolve and utilize it effectively over time.

From Sakuya, I obtained her impressive 'Knife Throwing Technique'. Interestingly, she wanted to acquire 'Wind Manipulation' a skill that would complement her knife-throwing abilities.

Despite Sakuya's considerable power advantage, both the skills I received, like the 'Knife Throwing Technique' and the one I bestowed upon her, 'Wind Manipulation' settled at the E+ rank.

My apologies for not being stronger Sakuya; nevertheless, there's room for improvement.

So, I'll be dedicating some time to practicing my new skills, aiming to gain better control over them. The plan is to familiarize myself with these abilities and perhaps venture into the realm of monster taming once I feel confident and accustomed to their nuances.

Omniscient POV

As he delved deeper his first adversary emerged from the dense foliage—a Gloomroot Spriggan, its eyes glinting with malevolence. Reacting swiftly, Kouske summoned a Whirlwind Shield to deflect the vines attempting to penetrate his defenses. With Flash Step, he closed the distance and unleashed a barrage of slashes, effortlessly cutting through the creature's bark-like exterior. The Gloomroot Spriggan crumpled, defeated.

As Kouske pressed on, the Thornshade Panther slinked from the shadows. Its venomous claws gleamed ominously. Channeling his agility, Kouske performed a series of Cloud Steps, avoiding the panther's advances.

Employing a swift and calculated maneuver, Kouske adeptly utilized the Absorption Line to halt the adversary's movements. As he systematically absorbed the creature's powers, progressively neutralizing its capabilities. Following this precise action, Kouske used Gravity Manipulation, orchestrating a controlled descent under the intensified influence of gravitational forces. Thus completely crushing it into a paste.

In the depths of his exploration, Kouske encountered a horde of Goblins characterized by grotesque features, armed with rusted knives, bows, and swords. Reacting swiftly to their aggressive approach, Kouske invoked his Marionette Mastery skill, causing ethereal strings to emerge from his fingertips. These strings deftly entered the bodies of nearby Goblins, enabling Kouske to exert full control over them. Exploiting this advantage, he orchestrated an internal conflict, compelling the Goblins to turn against one another.

Seizing the moment, Kouske, utilizing his bloodline ability, fashioned knives with precision and accuracy. These knives found their mark, systematically targeting the hearts of the Goblins in a relentless onslaught. The skirmish persisted until Kouske successfully neutralized every member of the Goblin horde.

Continuing his exploration, Kouske systematically amassed a collection of monster corpses. Diverging from the dungeons in Danmachi, these dungeons left behind tangible remains of defeated creatures. Kouske diligently added these carcasses to his inventory, recognizing their utility as harvestable materials for diverse purposes.

In a subsequent encounter with Mossveil Basilisks, Kouske opted for a different approach, choosing to tame them after emerging victorious. This strategic decision yielded the acquisition of the 'Petrification(E+)' skill from the Basilisks.

Expanding his repertoire, he faced Phantom Nymphs and Vorpal Viper Vines, successfully taming them to gain 'Illusion Manipulation(E+)' and 'Camouflage(E+)' skills, respectively.

The synergistic effect of 'Camouflage(E+)' is seamlessly integrated with Kouske's existing abilities. Notably, it enhanced his Dark Curtain(D) skill to a heightened level, now manifesting as 'Dark Curtain(D+)'.

His status evolved through all these encounters but not enough to elevate his overall level.

Kouske's current status:

Basic Information:

-Kouske Miyamura

- Race: Human-Dragon Hybrid

- Age: 7 years

Attributes:

- Strength (Str): E+

- Endurance (End): E+

- Agility (Ag): E+

- Mana: D-

Skills:

- Summoning

- Taming

- Hypnosis (D)

- Body Transformation (E+)

- Teleportation (D)

- Memory Manipulation (D)

- Dark Curtain (D+)

- Senbonzakura

- Flash Step

- Cloud Steps

- Whirlwind Shield (E+)

- Skill Sharing (D+)

- Sense Sharing

- Mutated Sabnock Bloodline (A+)

- Metamorphic Mastery (B+)

- Ethereal Doppelgängers (B+)

- Demiplane (A+)

- Falna (C)

- Cognizance Nexus (D+)

- Time Magic (A)

- Gravity Manipulation (C)

- Search (D)

- Touki (C)

-Knife Throwing Technique(E+)

-Marionette Mastery(E+)

- Illusion Manipulation (E+)

- Petrification (E+)

Currently Shared Skills:

- Wind Manipulation (Hawks)

- Darkness Manipulation (Noctis)

- Ice Manipulation (Slime)

- Fire Manipulation (Slime)

- Water Manipulation (Slime)

- Earth Manipulation (Slime)

-Knife Throwing Technique (Sakuya)

-Marionette Mastery (Lavinia)

-Petrification (Mossveil Basilisk)

-Illusion Manipulation (Phantom Nymphs)

-Camouflage (Vorpal Viper Vines)

Items in Effect:

- Vritra's Sacred Gear (B+)

- Fountain of Youth (A)

- Condicarment (Bracelet) (C)

Resistance:

- Poison Resistance (E+)

Points: 545500

Overall Power: E+

Content with his recent acquisitions and mindful of their need for growth, Kouske decided to recall all his familiars currently engaged in battles across different locations within the area as he prepared to leave the dungeon.

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