"Listen, Tort. This is more than enough material for just one blade. Why don't we make a weapon for you while we're at it?"
Master Zardan made the unexpected proposal, and Lowell nodded his head in vigorous agreement. I mean, if the materials were really there, I wasn't going to turn down a new weapon, but...
"Wait, do we really have enough for that...?"
"Oh, plenty! More than enough!" the Master guaranteed.
Even Lowell looked a bit skeptical at that. We had a decent stack of Mithril Coins, but I didn't think it was enough to forge both a longsword and a dagger from scratch.
My confusion must have been written all over my face. The Master let out a boisterous laugh and began to explain.
"I can guess what you're thinking. You two probably imagine we're going to turn this mithril directly into a blade, but weapons are almost never forged from pure mithril."
According to the Master, weapons marketed as "Mithril-made" were almost always mithril alloys. Apparently, pure mithril lacked the necessary hardness to hold an edge as a weapon. Standard practice was to alloy it with other metals to achieve a balance between physical durability and mana conductivity.
Mithril also possessed a peculiar trait: its hardness increased when mana was channeled through it. Under those specific conditions, the hardness of pure mithril actually surpassed that of the alloy. Because of this, pure mithril weapons did exist, but since they required a constant, draining flow of mana during combat to remain effective, they were incredibly inefficient. They weren't practical for adventurers; usually, they were just status symbols for nobles to carry for self-defense.
Basically, using an alloy meant the actual volume of mithril required per weapon was much lower. There was more than enough to forge something for me.
"In that case, I'll take you up on that."
"Right! Leave it to me!"
From there, we moved on to the technical specifications. As a top-tier blacksmith, Master Zardan didn't just forge the physical blades; he could also imbue spell formulas and incorporate functions to create what people called "magic swords." I'd heard that many Dwarves were not only dexterous but also possessed a natural affinity for magic-related crafts. However, since they specialized in things like imbuing formulas and magic tool production, most people didn't think of them as traditional "mages."
For Lowell's sword, we decided against any complex special features. Instead, he would incorporate a spell formula specifically for sharpness enhancement. By stripping away extra gimmicks, the structure would remain simple, ensuring that mana transmission wouldn't be hindered. For Lowell, who fought by imbuing his blade with his own magic, this was the ideal setup.
The real question was my weapon. I hadn't planned on replacing my gear today, so I was coming up blank. If I was getting something new, I wanted it to be practical, but—
"Come to think of it, weren't you worried about the reach of your daggers lately?" Lowell asked, offering a hint while I sat there brooding.
He was right. Recently, I'd been facing larger monsters more often. In those fights, a dagger's lack of reach was a serious handicap. It was almost impossible to deal a deep, decisive wound to a massive opponent. I was forced into a strategy of "death by a thousand cuts," whittling them down slowly. It wasn't efficient, and against a monster with high regenerative power, it was outright useless.
So yes, the short reach of a dagger was a major concern. But if I stayed within the "dagger" category, how much could I really extend the blade? I wasn't even sure where the system drew the line for the Dagger Skill to apply. Who decided those classifications anyway? The gods?
Well, regardless of how the world worked, having a bit of extra length would be a godsend. I figured I'd let the Master judge the feasibility and just put the request out there.
"You're right," I said. "As long as it still qualifies for my Dagger Skill, I'd definitely prefer something with more reach."
"I see. Tort, you use magic too, don't you? Since you favor daggers, your dexterity must be high, but... you've got no muscle to speak of!"
The Master reached that blunt conclusion after giving my frame a thorough once-over.
Hey, I wouldn't go that far! I mean, sure, I'm slender, and I'm probably below average compared to other adventurers at my level, but still... though I had noticed lately that I was actually weaker than Halfa. That realization stung. Yeah, I really need to take that Status Enhancement Potion soon. I'd have to focus on gathering magic stones from monsters known for their strength.
"Show me what you're using now," Zardan commanded.
"Oh, right. Here."
I handed over my Dagger of Piercing. The Master began inspecting it with practiced ease. He seemed to be checking the weight and balance, but he also recognized the enchantment, muttering, "Piercing power enhancement, eh?" His expression was deadly serious now—a far cry from his usual gluttonous persona.
"Could you handle something a bit larger? It’ll have a bit of weight to it."
"I'll be fine."
I was a C-Rank adventurer, after all. I wasn't going to be tripped up by a slightly heavier dagger. My strength might be on the lower side for my rank, but I was still plenty strong compared to an average person... probably.
"Alright. In that case, let's make it so it can generate a magic power blade. The mana consumption might be a bit steep, but it won't be an issue as long as you don't leave it on constantly."
A magic power blade...?
Wait, that sounds incredibly cool!
When I asked for details, he explained that the weapon could project a blade of light to extend the physical edge of the dagger. Since it required mana to generate and maintain, I wouldn't be able to use it indefinitely, but having the option to extend my reach in a pinch was exactly what I needed. I wasn't sure if the Dagger Skill would technically apply while the light blade was active, but if I extended it after the physical blade was already buried in a target, it probably wouldn't matter.
Above all, the idea of it being like something out of a mecha anime or a sci-fi flick was just too good to pass up.
I was starting to get really excited about this.