After that, I experimented with the magic stones I had on hand to brew several Status Enhancement Potions. Naturally, the threat of a fatal negative effect like the Death Curse was a concern, so I limited myself to one potion per day over several sessions. Through this process, I discovered that the monster's rank made a significant difference in the potion's potency.
I tested stones from a C-Rank Lizard Soldier and a Goblin Commander, as well as a D-Rank Goblin Leader. Potions crafted from C-Rank stones resulted in Mid-tier versions, while the D-Rank stone only produced a Low-tier one. The Lizard Soldier's stone slightly increased my Strength, and the Goblin Commander's slightly boosted my Vitality, but the Goblin Leader's stone resulted in no immediate stat change at all. It was likely at a level where the effects would only manifest after multiple doses.
As I suspected, using magic stones from D-Rank monsters seemed inefficient. While I still had plenty of Goldidilla coins, they were a finite resource, and gathering the other necessary ingredients was a chore in itself. I decided it would be more practical to reserve my efforts for magic stones of at least C-Rank or higher.
However, I couldn't say for certain that monster rank and the magnitude of the boost were always perfectly correlated. For instance, despite being a D-Rank monster, a Raremerat’s Agility far outstrips that of a C-Rank Goblin Commander. It was possible that such a monster could produce a potion with a massive Agility boost. Unfortunately, the Raremerats I’d defeated in the Ruins Dungeon hadn't dropped any magic stones, so I couldn't verify my theory.
For the time being, I planned to turn all my remaining C-Rank or higher magic stones into Status Enhancement Potions. Since I’d picked up a fair number of Lizard Soldier stones in the Underground Waterway, I figured I could make about twenty more. Of course, I still didn't know how severe the penalties for a medicine making failure might be, so I was prepared to call it quits if the risks became too high.
While I intended to continue my training with Pearl, I also wanted to look into upgrading our equipment. Hunting for treasure chests in a dungeon sounded appealing, but with the cooking contest approaching, I couldn't afford to be away from the Royal Capital for long. Consequently, I decided to have my Mithril Coins forged into a weapon.
Weapons made of Mithril possessed high mana conductivity, allowing them to serve as a magic activation medium. I’d also heard that a blacksmith with the right skills could process them into magic weapons. Considering the amount of Mithril we had, there was just enough for a single sword, so I decided to have it forged for Lowell. If we were going to imbue a blade with magic, using steel would be inefficient. A Mithril Sword alone would likely cause Lowell’s combat strength to skyrocket.
Persuading Lowell, however, proved to be a bit of a struggle. He insisted that I should be the one to get a new weapon first. I pointed out that Mithril didn't offer much of an advantage over steel in terms of raw physical attack power. While I was using magic more often these days, my primary style was still focused on physical strikes. Since my Dagger of Piercing already had a positive correction to its piercing power, switching to a Mithril dagger wouldn't necessarily increase my damage output. That explanation finally managed to win him over.
Once our schedules aligned, Lowell and I headed to a blacksmithing workshop to place the order. Our destination was, naturally, the Zardan Workshop. The Master’s reputation was solid, and though the Arms Contest was drawing near and he was likely busy, I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
"Hello!"
"Oh, if it isn't Tort! Good to see you!"
When we stepped through the entrance, the Dwarf artisan I’d come to know was sitting at the reception desk. Usually, the apprentice, Mark, was the one there, but it seemed he was currently receiving some hands-on instruction. In his place, one of the senior artisans was watching the front while taking a break.
"What's the occasion? Another job for us?"
"Yes, exactly. Is the Master in?"
"Yeah! Hang on a second."
The Dwarf hopped up and ran toward the back of the workshop.
"Master! The Teriyaki Burger—I mean, Tort is here!"
"Oh, is that so!"
I heard the exchange echoing from the back. Hey, was that slip of the tongue really necessary? I wondered. I felt a bit slighted, but I let it slide.
"Welcome, Tort! And that's Lowell with you, right? Another cooking utensil? I'll take a Teriyaki Burger as the fee. You’ve got a new menu item, don't you?"
Master Zardan poked his head out from the workshop with a grin. Since they had met at the stall before, he and Lowell were already acquainted. It was so like the Master to demand a Teriyaki Burger before he even knew what the job was. Even though the hamburger shop had opened and he could technically buy them whenever he wanted, it made me happy that he still wanted my cooking. I did wonder if that was really enough for a professional commission, though.
"Actually, no. I'm here to ask for a weapon today... How are the preparations for the contest going?"
"Oh, the contest? My submission piece is already finished!"
I was surprised. I’d always imagined that artisans were perfectionists who would labor over their work until the very last second to squeeze out every drop of quality. When I mentioned this, the Master let out a booming laugh.
"Of course, an artisan's duty is to pour their soul into creating the finest product possible. And I have already crafted a weapon with every ounce of my strength. It’s as simple as that. The contest rules specify that we have to use steel, a material I’ve handled a thousand times. I know exactly where my current limits lie."
I suppose that made sense. If he always gave his absolute best, there was no point in fussing over it at the eleventh hour. His lack of a backlog was a stroke of luck for us, anyway.
"Now, you mentioned a weapon. Is it for Lowell?"
The Master guessed correctly before I could say a word. I usually came by myself, so seeing Lowell with me probably made it an easy deduction.
"Yes. Though I still think we should be making one for Tort..." Lowell added reluctantly. It seemed he still wasn't entirely convinced. I, on the other hand, knew that upgrading Lowell’s gear was the best way to boost the party's overall power.
"I’d like you to use these for the material," I said, pulling a handful of Mithril Coins from my Storage Ring.
The Master looked skeptical at first. Seeing coins presented as raw material would make anyone suspicious. However, as he picked them up and examined them closely, his expression transformed. He’d realized what they were made of.
"Is this Mithril?! And so much of it! You're really going to let me forge a weapon with this? Are you sure?!"
The Master's excitement skyrocketed. Even a Teriyaki Burger hadn't triggered a reaction this intense. I suppose for a Dwarf, a rare metal really was the ultimate thrill. It looked like he wouldn't be turning us down.
"If I get to work with Mithril, I don't need a reward! The chance to forge this is a reward in itself! Please, let me do it!"
I was stunned. I hadn't expected him to go that far. Was Mithril really that enticing to a blacksmith?
"...On second thought, I definitely still want the Teriyaki Burger! In fact, consider it an advance payment! They say Teriyaki Burgers are a Dwarf's fuel; if I run low, I won't be able to forge a decent blade!"
...And there it was. Master Zardan was still Master Zardan.
Besides, the "Dwarf's fuel" thing had to be a joke people had started recently. They’d gotten along fine without burgers for centuries, so there was no way that was true. Still, I had no intention of asking for free labor. I’d give him the burgers, but I intended to pay him a proper fee as well.