The Blacksmith Sage
鍛冶屋の仙人
After that ordeal, I decided to take care of my morning duties as calmly as possible. It could even be considered a miracle for me to be able to move after what happened last night.
When we left taking the holographic message and some other items, more SENTINELS came to attacking us, this time with Lightning Resistance and sturdier to the point that broke my remaining METAL FORGED TRIAL SERIES.
The system must have remodeled the next batches to ensure they can counter any of my attacks.
“These guys cannot leave the interior. If we get to the entrance it is our win.” thankfully, Sera has a good memory and was able to locate the entrance with ease.
“What happened to my show...?” the elder guard was disappointed that he did not get to see his usual show.
“He he he. Marcus, today I will have the last laugh.” Sera was acting childish again. I am glad that she has reverted back to her otherwise weird yet jolly self.
*****
Today, I was back to my regular duties and cleaned all the stalls and the courtyards faster than ever, I needed the afternoon to rest this body.
“Ace…” while cleaning, a mechanical voice approached me. I noticed her MANA, but disregarded it since I thought she would not come to me unless she was with the princess.
“Miss Sara, what a pleasant day.” I greeted her with a genuine smile.
“Hmmm….” As she pushed a vial to me. “From my sister….”
Sister? Why would… now that you mentioned it, this girl somewhat resemble someone I know… where was it… ah! This girl’s MANA does overlap with hers.
“Miss Sara… are you perhaps teacher Sera’s…”
“Hmm…” her curt reply. “Thank you… she said.”
“I will gladly accept it then.” This is probably a toxin to relieve fatigue. Since Sera is probably still teaching and could not get it to me so she used her younger sister to do her bidding. “Thank you too for delivering it, miss Sara.”
“Hmmm.” Another curt reply, she’s probably the extreme introverted type who never talks unless there is no more choice but to. So instead of pursuing anymore words, I bowed down and soon after she left.
The day does not end without the constant bickering from nobles and complain from the commoners, but this day will be peaceful… no it has to be, so…
“Look at these plebeians. A girl like you should just stay with me as my concubine and live hap… arg!”
“The nobles are swine lunching on the states money, join us to over…. Whaaa the registration forms are being carried by the wind~”
See very peaceful indeed.
.LOG {
•BLOODLUST Skill Activated
•FUUJIN Skill Activated
•C-captain… please do it in moderation
•What’s with the irritation anyway?
}
While I do apologize to my unwilling victims, Grim-chan is actually right, I am a bit irritated. The reason: most METAL FORGED TRIAL SERIES are broken beyond repair. While I can just forge another set on my free time, I do not think they will hold a candle against stronger enemies.
“I really need to level-up my Blacksmith Craft to forge stronger weapons...”
I wanted to learn from any of the blacksmiths in the Academy, however Sera told me it is not the best solution.
“You see, all blacksmiths… no, not just them really, but all craftsman here have an exclusive contract to teach students only enrolled in the Academy.” So I am told.
The problem will probably go away if I enrolled here officially as a student, Sera can probably vouch for me, but certain freedom that I currently need will be taken from me should I do become a student. So my trouble continued.
“Ara~” while my internal worries latched within me, another girl I am familiar with approached me. “You looked troubled, do you need any help?”
“Your highness, I apologize for slacking off in my work. This is a problem that I must solve by myself.”
“If it is not something that you can solve alone…” the princess nods curtly and gave me her most honest opinion. “Talking about it with someone you can trust will give you a fresh perspective on things.”
They say that human are social beings, even an introvert in the previous world will agree that I was not able to live just by myself. The food I ate were somehow prepared by someone else and allowed me to live to this day.
To think that a teacher (in the previor world) is being lectured by a student, I guess it goes to show that a person can only do so much by himself and that we can have our weakness become others strengths.
“Thank you princess, your wisdom has enlightened my mind.” I gave her a small bow and thanked her from the bottom of my heart. I guess I will discuss my problem with Sera.
“….” Hmmm the princess slightly turned pink, must be the heat, we are standing in the middle of the garden after all, soon after that she left bowing wobbly, I hope she is fine.
That night I took a student’s advice and consulted Sera with my problem.
“Unfortunately, weapon creation is out of my league…” although her words are apologetic, her voice sounded a bit merry, I guess she has been hearing the message from her lover countless of times and felt refresh after. “I may be able to introduce you to someone who can help you master Spirit Blacksmith Craft.”
“Will you do anything I say…” this Witch is not gonna ask for my soul is she?
*****
"Hwaaa, what a beautiful beach..."
The sun in the azure sky looked beautiful and its warmth was hitting my skin in all the right places. The breeze was soothing, the fresh air relaxing. it had a scent of salty breeze but, then again what would you expect I was standing in the sandy beach and beside it was the open sea.
How long has it been since my last vacation in a beach? And from the looks of it this was not some beach anyone would be able to visit, it was a luxurious beach that my income and time for work would covet. The sand was white and refined even without removing my leather shoes I could still feel it like I was barefooted.
“…”
What is this sense of déjà vu? When I first came to this world the beautiful view of the beach came to greet me, and now, I am once again greeted by such beautiful scenery. This would have been perfect to have a lovely dip in the beach and soak ‘till my skin gets tanned.
But…
“Commoner, you were tasked to serve us.” it would have been great if people like these did not come and bother my internal monologue. But unfortunately, I was here for work. “Go get deserts for Sir Alfred.”
“My apologize sir noble.”
“Ace, I would like a glass of champagne please.” Et tu Sera….
“Magnus just choke on something please go get some water.”
“hmmm… ice scream…”
“If it is not too much of a trouble, can I also have a glass of Iced Tea?”
“…”
You might be wondering why I am here serving students in such a wonderful beach. Well, it had something to do with my dilemma of forging strong weapons.
When I consulted with Sera, she came with an idea and I had to come along with her on this little School Excursion.
*****
Levantis Royal Academy while a mainly fixed in a vocational curriculum still adheres to holistic improvement of their students. They do not just prepare the students’ career path but also their psycho-social development. So, from time-to-time they plan this little school trip to give their students time to explore new horizons.
The academy however, could not plan a school wide excursion for safety. Therefore, excursions are done by small group to ensure minimal supervision. I with Sera and with 25 of her ‘Magic Elite Class S’ students.
“Will you do anything I say…” everything started with these words two days prior. I was desperate and immediately said yes without even hearing the actual idea.
Teacher Sera is a superior Mage that learned Alchemy as a hobby however her specialty on Alchemy mainly focuses on Curatives and other healing Synthesis. Weapon Synthesis however, was beyond her purview due to the unique process detailing it.
“However, I may be able to introduce you to a Sage who may be able to teach you…” What’s up with this uncertainty? But regardless, I still accepted her proposal. Which brought me to my current state as the 25+one’s personal errand boy.
We left the academy two days prior, and today we arrived at this luxurious beach getaway sometime at lunch. Sera and the students decided to leave their luggage and spent the day either playing in the beach or talking with one another. As I was nothing more but a servant, I could not do either activity, instead became everyone’s servant.
That night after making sure that I have prepared my work itinerary for the next day, I took off for the mountain where Sera had informed me where the Spiritual Blacksmith Craft Sage resides.
“Take this with you.” She handed me a note, with letters I am unfamiliar with, probably Elven Language. “I do not know if he will accept you as an apprentice, everything from here on is your own luck and courage.”
With that I need to get to the peak of the mountain before morning comes, since I still have work, the next day.
“Thank you, teacher Sera.”
“I-it’s just a small thing.” Now she is acting all girly, what happened to the usual womanly charms I wonder? “Ahem… do not forget. You still need to convince to allow you to become his apprentice.”
“Hmm.” After nodding in agreement, I sped through the mountain path hoping that I’d get there without incident.
*****
Getting to the top was not really a problem. Thanks to its mountain road, traversing it was easy. But right now, I am skipping through the uncharted area to hasten my climb.
There were two reasons for this: one was to the top as fast as I could and needed to cut time. The second… to level-up my skills.
I had developed this or more accurately gain its awareness against the SENTINELS. I already have two readily powerful maneuver skills, Half-Step and Flash Step.
These skills are used to shorten distance or perhaps create huge gaps. For example, Half-Step allows me to shorten a distance of 10 Kilometer in half-a-step and Flash-Step in 25. But I was not able to use them effectively against the narrow areas.
And so while traversing the mountain, I tried to think of a way to cover this weakness and awakened the skill:
.LOG {
•Through constant use of quick movements QUICK STEP Skill is awakened
•Captain, be faster than the wind.
•…and cut through it.
}
Even Grim-chan is enjoying the new movement. Unlike the previous mentioned skills. QUICK STEP increases my overall speed and movement. After a few more quick steps through the mountain, I was able to see the lodge that Sera had instructed me to go.
As I got closer to the lodge my KI and MANA perception took notice of 7 individuals. Was the Sage getting visitors? Then I remembered Sera mention that the Sage hated visits, so they might not be visitors… and the likelihood of them being not friendlies a bit higher.
“Evanus, It is quite admirable that you did not scream after you got your leg broken.” a cold and shrilly voice run to my ears. “If you will not make the key, then the other leg will also have to go.”
“That’s enough!” thankfully I had a strange habit of concealing my presence using Erase Existence allowing me to get close. While I did want to see what might transpire, his words however were just too dangerous to ignore.
“Puppet 123, did you miss this plebeian?” a hooded individual (probably the leader) shouted at another hooded individual behind him.
“…” the one called Puppet 123 was just silent as if it did not even bother his words.
“Deal with him!”
Four people instantly surrounded me. They were fully armed with curve swords, which reminded me of curved swords known as Khopesh… and here is me armed with a piece of stick a found lying on the ground.
*Snort
Someone snorted. it was probably the hooded leader. He will have to be taught a lesson in combat that the might of a true swordsman is not only marked by a sharp blade.
Using my new and old maneuver skills, I then shortened and speedily took the enemies one by one. While they were no push overs, for some reason their attacks are very calculated almost mechanical, they reminded me with the SENTINELS only these guys are fleshed and bones.
“What the hell are you doing, he has wood for a sword, and you are losing!” the hooded leader panicked when not even their swords could cut the makeshift wooden sword I am using.
Too bad though, I am not so merciful to people who disregard other people’s lives and so readily hit one of the four who tried to recklessly enter my safety zone.
“Ahhh!” a woman scream resounded in the air when my makeshift sword connected with her body. As the moon shown, revealing a beautiful lady with well-defined face, if Sera is curvaceous beauty with a seductive facial feature, then this person called Puppet 123 is the stoic-ephemeral beauty.
Her eyes were a bit weird though, there was no life to it, the DOLLS in the Dark Forest Dungeon might be lively in comparison with hers, I am guessing the other 3 are the same. These guys are puppets as their numbered names suggest.
“Puppet 123, what are you doing!” the person panicked even more when the Puppet 123 got her face revealed. “E-ey, we are leaving. Evanus! If you value your life, make the Key! And as for you interloper, for your meddling, your life will surely meet its end.”
As if darkness swallowed them, they completely disappeared. I am guessing the 6th individual a bit farther ordered the retreat, as to how they communicated that will be something to look in to later, for now I needed to tend to the person who had lost his consciousness as soon as the others were gone.
Looks like, I’ve gotten myself involve in something messy again.
