“Alright, Little Roddy! First, I’m gonna see what you’re made of. Go ahead and cast some enchantment magic on this sword I forged!”
With those words, Dian held out a sword toward me.
It was a rugged, unornamented blade, but it was exceptionally well-crafted.
The shape was perfect, and the vividness of the temper line and the lack of impurities suggested a high level of skill.
Poorly made swords are often warped and riddled with contaminants. They lack a proper temper line and are incredibly brittle. At their worst, they’re so pathetic that a simple wooden stick would be a more effective weapon.
But this was the work of a master blacksmith. He must have spent years honing his craft to reach this level of proficiency.
“You really do love blacksmithing, Dian-niisan.”
“...! I—I told you to call me Master Craftsman!”
“That’s right. Master Craftsman.”
I let out a small chuckle, and Dian crossed his arms, averting his gaze. I thought I saw his face turn red, but it was probably just my imagination.
“A-Anyway, just hurry up and get to it!”
“I understand.”
Enchantment magic is a simple enough process: you weave a spell formula into magic marrow fluid and then apply it to the object.
However, if you cram in too many formulas, the burden on the weapon becomes too great and it snaps. This is influenced not just by the sheer volume of formulas, but also by their compatibility with the metal, the purity of the magic marrow fluid, and several other factors.
In my opinion, an enchanter’s true skill lies in accurately judging the capacity of the weapon and the formulas it can handle.
...Well, that’s just the amateur perspective of someone who’s only just started. If I’m wrong, I’ll let Dian set me straight.
“Here I go—”
I poured the magic marrow fluid into a specialized vessel and began weaving the formulas.
With a sword of this quality, I could probably manage three—no, maybe four layers.
The magic marrow fluid glowed with a brilliant light as the enchantment formulas took hold.
...That should be enough for now.
I stole a glance at Dian, who was knitting his brows with a complicated expression on his face.
“Hey, hey, hey, hold on... Are you weaving the spell formula directly into the magic marrow fluid? Usually, you have to imbue a talisman with the formula first and let it slowly dissolve into the liquid. If you don't, it vanishes before the two can even mix... Doing it like that shouldn’t even be possible without an insane amount of output! I never saw an enchanter in Bertram who could pull off a stunt like that...!”
He was staring at me with a pretty intense look. Did I mess up the procedure?
If I did, he could just tell me, yet he remained silent.
Hmph. He said he acknowledged me, but it seems I’m still being tested after all.
My hands were slightly tense as I drew the blade and inspected the results.
The four layers of spell formulas had taken hold without any issues... but this might not be enough to satisfy him.
I could probably add one more layer—no, maybe a half-layer would be safer.
I deactivated the formulas and repeated the entire process from the beginning.
This time, I went with four and a half layers. The tip of the blade was practically screaming under the strain, but the formulas held.
They should settle in over time.
...Yes. It was right on the edge, but I had successfully enchanted it to its absolute limit.
“Phew. It’s finished.”
“...Let me see that.”
When I handed him the sword, Dian pulled out a magnifying glass and began to inspect the blade with a fixed stare.
“It really is four and a half layers... Even the four from before was pushing it. Usually, one or two is the limit. Even a veteran can only manage three. And yet, this many...? Are you compressing the formulas? On top of that, you haven’t just used strength increase; you’ve applied elasticity reinforcement, self-purification, and self-repair—all completely different enchantments. And you went out of your way to strip the enchantments and redo them...! The sensibility to jump in without compromise, the sheer variety of formulas he can use... This kid’s instincts as an enchanter are off the charts...! Heh, heh heh, not bad. The man who’s gonna be my partner has to be at least this good!”
Dian began muttering to himself. It was a little creepy; I wondered if he was alright.
“Little Roddy!”
Just as I was worrying, he suddenly shouted. He nearly jumped out of my skin.
“...Starting right now, we’re gonna make a magic sword.”
“! A magic sword?”
To forge a sword, you hammer molten iron to drive out impurities, fold it, and hammer it again.
By repeating that process, the metal gradually takes the shape of a blade. To create a magic sword, however, you have to weave spell formulas into the metal during that very process.
A sword made this way is overwhelmingly more powerful than a weapon that has simply been enchanted. Because you can incorporate long, complex formulas that would be impossible with standard enchantment, it can serve as much more than just a simple tool for cutting.
To think the day would come when I could participate in making a magic sword... I really have to thank Albert.
“It’s my dream. To create my very own original magic sword. I won’t take no for an answer, so you're coming along for the ride, Little Roddy!”
“Yes!”
I firmly gripped the hand that Dian held out to me.
“Alright, let’s do this!”
Rolling up his sleeves, Dian began his work.
He lit the furnace, melted the iron, and struck the glowing red metal. The powerful rhythm of his hammer echoed through the workshop.
“By the way, what kind of spell formulas are you planning to incorporate?”
“...To tell you the truth, I can’t actually use magic. I worked hard in my own way because I wanted to use it someday, but... unfortunately, I’m just not built for it. No matter what I did, I couldn't pull it off. That’s when I heard from Albert-nii. He told me that with a magic sword, you can cast spells just by swinging the damn thing.”
No matter how much magic power someone possesses, it’s difficult to exercise magic if the person doesn't have the innate aptitude for it. I’ve heard there are people in the world who get sleepy just by opening a book; no matter how much talent one might have, everyone has things they are suited for and things they aren't.
I don’t like physical exercise myself, for instance. There’s really no helping it.
“That’s why I want to try making a magic sword like that. My very own magic sword...! Can you do it, Little Roddy?”
“Of course. I’ll do my absolute best. Let’s work together!”
“Yeah! I’m counting on you, partner!”
It seems I’ve become his partner before I knew it... but I suppose that means I passed the test.
Regardless, a magic sword that triggers magic, huh? It’s not much use to me personally, but the process of making it is fascinating.
I’m starting to get excited.