The King's System

Talking with Gorund really reduces my already almost non-existent brain cells.

Where can anyone buy a forge so easily? Luckily, he found me. I don't even need to buy a forge! I have plenty of flammable bones, and I can just construct a bone forge by myself.

The only thing I need is a lot of space.

To begin with though, I could just use Bone Control to make a weapon. I could actually just make any old weapon, then swap it with one I've made beforehand. I have an inventory, which is different to Magic Bags, so I shouldn't be detected.

Nevertheless, I've always wanted to get the blacksmithing skill. No doubt it will actually help with my control of bones. The weapons and armors I've been making are from my memories and imagination, and probably lack any of the really fine details that only blacksmithing can achieve.

If I level up blacksmithing, then I should be able to create Legendary weapons and armor.

"Gorund, is there any place that I can set down a forge?" (Daniel)

"Hmm? Yeah, my old blacksmithing place! I had to sell the forge, but the space is still there! Just bring a forge around tomorrow and I'll teach ya the basics." (Gorund)

Tomorrow?! Where does one buy a forge within one day?!

Sigh… looks like it will be a sleepless night for me today.

After parting with Gorund (thankfully) I made my way around to some other blacksmithing shops.

My first objective was for Ed to scan all of their forges, so I can compile their blueprints and make the best possible one.

The second objective was to see if I could get a head start on learning the Blacksmithing skill.

And it was worth it. By the end of the day, I managed to create the blueprint of the best forge this town will ever see. I also got Blacksmithing LV1.

Actually, I'll also create the anvil and hammer just in case. After all, I have no idea what Gorund actually meant when he said to buy a forge.

Back at the inn, Catherine and Arin were still looking at me weirdly.

"Hey, sorry guys. Something weird happened and… I just want to say that that wasn't me." (Daniel)

"Don't worry, we understand. You must be under a lot of pressure." (Arin)

Understand? NO! I think you're MISunderstanding! It's not within my nature to randomly spout woof all the time!

"Alright, thanks. I need to create a bone forge for something, so you guys can go to sleep early." (Daniel)

"Hmm… alright. We'll be in bed if you need us then." (Arin)

Huh? Is she implying something? Something of… 'that' nature? Argh! This is like getting stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The rock being the forge, of course, and the hard place being my… 'thing'.

Oops, no time to think about that. It will take me the whole night to make the forge, hammer and anvil. I also need to upgrade my flammable bones a bit, and make them look like normal wood.

---

The next morning, I was up early. Although, I didn't actually sleep. Is that still considered as getting up early?

Anyway, the bone forge is done. The amount of work I had to do to get it to this point is ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as the number of 'to's that I just used.

First, I had to summon a bunch of bones. After that, I had to melt them all together, before shaping into a forge.

Then, I had to change their material, their heat tolerance, and the way the flames will dance within. Following that, was making sure there was a vent for oxygen and the smoke and exhaust that it will give off.

The design was so intricate that I had to restart at least 3 times. As such, my Bone Control has actually levelled up to LV8.

So close to max level! But I'm getting afraid of the amount of work I'll have to do to get it there.

In any case, since everything is prepared, I should go meet with Gorund. Speaking of which, he never told me what time or what place to meet him. I'm guessing he'll use his homing beacon again.

---

I hate it when I'm always right. It means that bad things happen all the time.

Very soon after I left the inn, I magically 'happened' to run into Gorund.

He led me to his blacksmithing shop, and it was extremely run down. To the point where the bricks are starting to fall out. What is the structural integrity of this? Is it even capable of handling a forge?

Alas, it seemed that Gorund didn't actually care if he was buried in bricks. He said he was born in a similar way. Pretty… weird if you ask me.

I place my forge at the place he pointed at. He didn't seem very impressed by it. Well, I'm sure he'll realize its specialness when he actually starts forging.

Not surprisingly, he told me to get a hammer and anvil afterwards. I took out the ones I'd prepared earlier, and handed it to him.

"Oh, lad! You're pretty well prepared, aren't ya?" (Gorund)

"I have to be, because you aren't." (Daniel)

"Maa, don't sweat the small details!" (Gorund)

Is that his pet saying? It's going to turn into my pet peeve pretty soon.

Anyway, back to the forging process. It would seem that Gorund is as prodigal as he suggested. Just by watching him, my Blacksmithing level has risen three times.

The metal he was using was Noxia, which according to him was the introductory material for all apprentice forgers. So, Border Town only had apprentice forgers?

It turns out that Noxia is similar to Mithril in the fact that it required mana to forge it properly. As such, people who can forge with Noxia are actually called Magic Blacksmiths, which meant that Border Town at least had one apprentice Magic Blacksmith. There's no separate skill for it though.

Soon, it was my turn to try it out. Taking up my hammer, I place the chunk of Noxia onto my flammable bones pile. Waiting for a while – I may have boosted the fire with my Fire Magic at some point – I took it back out, and started banging on it.

My previous 'study' on blacksmithing really helped out. I didn't even need to think; it was as if there were lines drawn in the air that showed me where and how I should hit.

My muscles were also automatically activating, and my legs were naturally locked onto the ground.

Eventually, it came to the point where I needed to guide my mana into the metal. I had no idea how to do it, so it became Gorund's turn to teach me.

"Think of it as if it was your blood. Imagine it flowing inside your body, and then force it to extend outside into the metal." (Gorund)

At least he doesn't go, "You feel it ZAP, then KABOOM! You've done it!" like other geniuses do.

Following his advice, I started feeling around my body. No, not the o.b.s.c.e.n.e way. As my consciousness was exploring, I could start to feel a warm flow that was different to my blood.

[Mana Sense LV1 learnt.]

[Mana Sense LV2 learnt.]

I was so absorbed in sensing my mana that I didn't notice that I could see the mana in the air as well.

I should probably get back to shaping the metal now that I've got the Mana Sense skill.