Chapter 138 - Evan D. Sherden, Building the Ground (6)
Evan D. Sherden, Building the Ground (6)
The very next day, after Evan had been forced to promise to make armants for each of the children, he t with soone. It was what he had asked the Marquis about the sa day he left the dungeon, but only now was it achieved.
“You can call Horta.”
“I am Evan D. Sherden. Please call Evan.”
“…Yes, Evan.” The na of the man who had been invited by the Marquis to the mansion, now sitting face-to-face with Evan, was Horta Benus. He was an older man with dark gray hair and a rocky face who projected a sense of gravity.
“I don’t know why you called a man like myself to such a precious place.”
“I wanted to go see you in person, but I apologize I couldn’t.”
“…There are many skilled blacksmiths aside from in the city. I’m not one who deserves such treatnt.” Horta responded calmly to Evan’s polite apology. Yes, Horta Benus was one of the craftsn belonging to the blacksmith guild of dungeon city, ‘The Fire Hamr.’ He was a skilled man with little greed for money, so he had been highly recomnded by many adventurers. However, that wasn’t enough for the Marquis to request him personally. Or so Horta thought.
“I’m just soone who hits tal. I’ve heard rumors of you as well…I dare say I am not capable of what you want. You’ve found the wrong person.”
“No, I think I’ve found the right one.” Horta’s brow furrowed at Evan’s firm response. Evan smiled bitterly as he faced Horta. Of course, the information about him had co from the ga he had played in his previous life. A blacksmith who had a fixed custor base in the dungeon city had to be good. Since weapons were used and broken so quickly here, it was impossible for a craftsman with poor skills to survive for long here.
‘The annoying thing was that when you asked for a weapon at the smithy, who would make it was random. But now I can call him myself.’?Horta Benus was a man who devoted himself to his work, putting his all into every weapon he crafted with a skill none could match. However, if there was a reason he didn’t beco famous, it was because he was ostracized within his guild.
“I just like working with tal. I don’t know what to do with things like magic.”
“Sure, that is what a blacksmith is after all.”
“…” Yes, that was the reason why. The blacksmith Horta Benus dealt only with weapons that originate from the pure tal. He never touched magic tools that were created through magical engineering. Whether it was an artifact naturally born within a special environnt or imbued with the power of a god, he didn’t mind it, but he hated magical tools imbued with magic by humans. Arms with magic characters engraved in them, specially treated mana stones, or even using magic to craft armants.
‘But living in the dungeon city, it’s impossible to deny magical weapons and artificial artifacts. It would be nice if everyone could carry natural artifacts, but realistically it’s not possible. That’s why research on magic tools and artifacts are conducted…’?The explorers of the dungeon, especially the high-ranking ones, carried several magical weapons and artifacts created by magical engineering. Compared to natural artifacts, they were cheaper, and their performance wasn’t bad. Evan, who wore natural artifacts, was a special case.
“I know the situation roughly. You just want to make weapons, but you don’t let it when others don’t accept those weapons and try to alter them with impurities. Because of that, the guild is rejected you.”
“…Yes. You can laugh at my thoughts for being stupid, but did you really call here to do just that?”
“No, I call you here to hire you.”
“…” Horta closed his mouth. It was obvious he felt that Evan was making fun of him, yet Evan could only find it funny. Artificial artifacts? In the ga, you would only use them at the start. Unless you were an unskilled or unlucky player, you would quickly replace them with high-level natural artifacts unearthed from the dungeon.
“Horta, do you like natural artifacts? For example, sothing like this.”
“Well…oooh.” Evan handed Horta the scimitar he had prepared in advance. It was the scimitar they had found before that absorbed the blood of monsters. Horta was quick to recognize its abilities.
“It’s great. It’s a natural artifact created in a truly terrible and dire environnt, untouched by human hands…but as far as I know, these artifacts have never been on the market…”
“I see you are also interested in artifacts. That is sothing my party and I got from the dungeon. The dungeon knights don’t need to report each item they obtain.” Evan had an evil-looking smile upon his face.
“It’s amazing. I’ve heard you were amazing, but at your age to retrieve such an artifact from the dungeon…but, this doesn’t require repair. It will absorb blood to restore itself.”
“Yes, I wasn’t calling you to fix it. I just wanted to show it to you.”
“If so…?” It was finally ti to reach the point. Evan let out a laugh.
“I wanted your help in creating natural artifacts like this.”
“What…” Horta stiffened. It had been sothing he had never told anyone before, but sohow Evan knew of his dream.
‘Well, that’s because of Yo-ma Great War 3…’?Horta Benus dread of creating artifacts with his own hands. Of course, he wanted to create a miraculous artifact without using magical engineering. It was no easy task. The technique and tal both had to be special, and even things like ti and place had to be considered.
‘That’s why I was scared of that quest. Even thinking about it again, my blood pressure is rising.’?If you went to the guild for weapon repairs during Yo-ma Great War 3 and succeeded in entrusting your weapons to Horta, your intimacy would increase with him. Only then would he entrust the protagonist with a quest. He wanted to create an artifact, so the quest was to acquire precious tal. It was a limited ti secret quest that wasn’t well known, and finding the tal was a pain. All in all, it was an annoying quest.
‘Any other tal causes it to fail, however, and even the magic tal found in the dungeon has a low probability to actually create the artifact. The entire quest was a gamble…’?However, there were quite a few players who challenged the quest for the excellent artifacts it gave them. Not that there were many success stories.
“I can prepare all the ingredients you want. You just need to work hard. Then, you will surely be able to create an artifact.” But now it was different. He could call over Horta to the mansion; there was no need to wait for the quest.
“…I will refuse.” However, Horta refused Evan’s offer with a hard tone, chewing on his lip.
“I don’t have the ability to fulfill your will. I’m just a blacksmith, I don’t know how to do anything other than beat tal.”
“That’s enough.” The higher the blacksmith’s skill was, the higher the chance of producing a natural artifact, especially for those with a high affinity for tal. Of all the characters in the ga, at least among the humans, there was no one better suited for it than Horta Benus.
“No, that alone can’t create an artifact. Artifacts are created by God, not humans. When humans try their hand at it, it results in sothing imperfect, like the artificial artifacts overflowing the world now…!”
“Well, I’m not trying to make sothing like that. I don’t intend to disparage human-developed tools, but it’s fundantally different than the artifact I want.”
“Then, how would you intend to create artifacts?”
“With alchemy.”
“Alchemy.” Horta Benus made a confused expression. Maybe he had heard of alchemy before, although it was likely that anyone who discussed it with him before was a conman. Assuming he hadn’t t Bernard, that is.
“I didn’t know you believed in such a thing…unfortunately, I don’t think I can comply with your will. Could you please allow to head back?” Well, they seed to have been the case. But, the goal of alchemy was very similar to Horta’s dream of creating artifacts with a human’s power.
“Yes, but before that, let show you one more thing.”
“Whatever it is, my opinion won’t change…what is that?” However, as soon as Horta saw the dark green tal that Evan produced from his inventory, he wordlessly sank back down into the chair. Evan handed it over to him with a smile. Evan himself had slted the magic ore he had acquired.
“Huh. Huh…huh. This…oh my. I’ve seen sothing like this a few tis before, but it’s really…” Horta’s expression changed half a dozen tis within a few seconds as he examined the tal. Evan explained while suppressing a chuckle.
“Alchemy originates from human’s desire to create the perfect tal, to turn other tals into gold. Of course, they developed the ability to deal with tal. This is an ingot made by slting the magic tal I acquired from the dungeon, made with my alchemy.”
“…Magic tal, alchemy.”
“Yes. Alchemy is the most effective technique for dealing with mysteries like this. But unfortunately, it is impossible for to create a weapon that fully utilizes its power. That’s why I called for you.”
“You’ll allow to handle this? This…”
“Yes.” Evan nodded solemnly and produced a piece of paper, handing it over to Horta.
“If you would just sign this contract.”
“I will do whatever it takes. I will beco your exclusive blacksmith!”
“Okay, thank you!” Horta replied, without hesitation. That was the power of the magical tal slted with alchemy.
Now the foundation for the dungeon knights had been completed by recruiting the blacksmith.
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