“First, since there are industrial class cadets using the smithy right now, shall we come back later?”
“A, yes..!”
…
…
Several days had passed since Baek Sia’s gaze, filled with madness, had been seen.
Baek Sia was a truly unique individual.
She was usually cautious, quietly watching over the protagonist from behind in a supportive role, a very common type of secondary heroine who appears to be the ideal wife. However…
– “Excuse me, if you’re not using that machine, can I have it… No, just give it to me, right now.”
– “Um, Sia, it’s getting close to lights-out time…”
– “Wait, I haven’t fully understood the internal structure of this machine yet. I can’t go to bed until I solve this.”
At the dormitory, the sight of Baek Sia refusing to sleep until she disassembled the still-unopened machine, and her tendency to go berserk whenever the topic of machinery arose, created an odd contrast in her character.
This gap delighted the players. I think someone mentioned she was like a focused engineering heroine in a single field.
“I… Unfortunately, don’t.”
Well, ever since I started the game and was reincarnated into this world, I’ve been giving it everything to make Yoon Se-ah the heroine, so I don’t know much about romantic storylines.
At least, before I fully understood Yoon Se-ah’s character through Yoo Eun-ha’s story, I knew only a little bit about Seong Ah-rin, Kang Ayul, and Sakura’s character storylines during the first round.
“Well, that’s all history now.”
Frankly, remembering the main story alone is tough enough… Remembering all the heroines’ information would be excessive.
In order to clear the story and return home, and to ensure the safety of this world I’ve left behind, I need to focus on elevating the characters’ abilities—starting with Baek Sia.
“So, how much do you know about blacksmithing, Sia?”
When I questioned Baek Sia, she responded calmly like a model student who had memorized her textbook.
“Hmm… I heard that the equipment used by heroes inside the gate can be crafted, and additional effects can be inscribed to enhance their magical properties. Mainly, enchanted formulas are etched onto weapons and armor… and I also know that the price of enchanted equipment is about ten times higher than unenchanted ones.”
“That’s right, you know well.”
“I’ve been hearing this from my parents, and they said I might want to pursue such a job in the future.”
‘Story as planned.’
Baek Sia’s talent in smithing is so optimized for creation that it’s as if the blacksmith god was reborn in her.
Her parents knew well about this fact and persuaded her that supporting heroes by crafting their equipment is just as heroic as fighting inside the gate as a hero.
In short, Baek Sia is like a child with tremendous talent in fighting games but dreams of a career as a fighter.
However, Baek Sia, comprehending her overflowing talent perfectly, met the protagonist, who recommended her to join Class A’s blacksmith apprentice, and blossomed accordingly. She donned armor made of iron and flew about inside the gate, showcasing a firepower unmatched by any other in any game.
And immediately after speaking with her Class A blacksmith friend, she was put into practice where she displayed her astonishing talent. But what quality will Baek Sia’s maiden masterpiece show?
– Clang Clatter
We entered by opening the iron door, and a cold, unused smithy greeted us.
‘There’s no one here, so it looks like they didn’t even light a fire.’
This exclusive smithy was obtained with great difficulty after Eve insisted on removing her earrings, despite her strong protests.
– Creeek
“Let’s see… According to the manual, this is how the smelter operates, Sia. Can you bring me the hammers and those low-purity mithril pieces?”
“A, yes!”
Baek Sia quickly went over, filling a truck-sized cart with low-purity mithril fragments.
‘She seems full of questions.’
Her face showed that she didn’t understand my request, leading me to think she truly was a genius mechanic.
“But… Why do we need the low-purity mithril? Its durability………”
“You know well that although low-purity mithril has a high magical power amplification, its overall durability is terrible; it breaks easily even under slight impact.”
“Yes, I know that much, which is why high-purity mithril is considered superior to alternium alloys or orichalcum because of its durability.”
The top-tier material made by combining the best human technologies, alternium alloy.
Orichalcum, a rare metal found inside the gate.
Their common point is that both materials channel magic well and have some level of durability.
The material we’ll use, mithril, is less durable than orichalcum but excels in magical amplification among all known materials.
‘By tier standards… High-purity mithrl = orichalcum = alternium alloy >> other metals >> low-purity mithril.’
Even regular mithril is not particularly durable, while low-purity mithril is so fragile that it shatters even under the heat of forging. It has such poor quality that wooden swords are actually more efficient.
‘I think this kind of quality will suffice.’
I pulled a bottle filled with a blue potion from my pocket.
The upper-grade mana potion Eve gave me, warning sternly not to use her powers of vision or parts of Mephisto except in extreme situations.
There are about 4-5 more bottles in the Yuseong Group’s warehouse, bringing the total quantity to exactly six bottles.
Gulp Gulp Gulp!
I uncapped and drank them all in one go.
“President! Drinking that much mana potion could cause a mana overload and……”
“Shh.”
I gathered all the scattered mithril pieces around the smithy telekinetically with psychokinesis.
If collected all, the mithril pieces could fill a house comfortably. They emitted strange sounds as they began to fuse together.
Crushing sound!!
“………!!”
Baek Sia stared in shock at what I was doing, her disbelief evident.
‘Will it work?’
Given mithril’s fragility, I used telekinesis to crush the mithril with as little force as possible, then compressed it to its limit with high pressure and heat, enhancing its purity.
Boom!
After the heavy sound of a falling mass echoed through the smithy, a dazzling silver super-high-purity mithril revealed itself.
‘Super-high-purity mithril usually appears only when Sia develops new materials later, but… well, this situation demanded it.’
“Huff… Fortunately, it seems to have worked…”
Crumple!
Though creating this with six top-notch mana potions might seem minor, there’s now enough super-high-purity mithril to make Sia’s full-body suit.
Baek Sia approached the giant mithril slab without sparing a glance towards me, who was wobbling unsteadily.
“How could you… create a mithril alloy with such precision…? You compressed it under enormous pressure… No, the heat friction and various variables were involved… Wait, President?!”
“You’re noticing me now?”
Fortunately, I managed to collapse on a portable bed I prepared beforehand.
“I… I’m so sorry! I must be out of my mind…!!”
“Not at all, it’s natural for artisans to be drawn to superior materials… I understand.”
Look at her, despite her sincere apology to me, she can’t help but glance sideways like a tiger that hasn’t eaten for a hundred days at that beautiful block of mithril.
“Alright, your materials are all ready. Now, display your talent.”
“Got it! I… I’ll make my masterpiece!”
Crack!
“Ah, about the use of the smelter…”
“I already know how-!”
I intended to guide her, but Baek Sia confidently handled the machines as if they were her own, starting on the silver armor using the mithril alloy.
Now, since I’m tired, I might just take a good nap…
…
…
…
“Whew… What time is it now?”
[3:58 PM]
‘Oh, I slept about five hours. Why is my phone so hot….’
[Eve Director] (99+ unread messages)
“Hmm?”
What is it?
‘First things first, let me check my messages.’
As soon as I connected the call, I was on the line with Eve. The urgency in Eve director’s voice suggests she probably witnessed everything.
[“How did you do that?”]
“You were watching via CCTV?”
“Yeah, luckily, there were Celestial Horse and Jinmyeong next to me… If there had been anyone else, it would’ve been a real scandal!”]
Indeed, it was natural.
‘Given that the low-purity mithril, considered useless, has now transformed into a new material surpassing Orichalcum in magic amplification and rivaling Alternium Alloy in durability…’
No wonder Eve is amazed.
“First, I should clarify that only someone who has honed telekinesis to its limits can do that. Impossible with modern technology.”
For now, I can’t disclose this technique. It’s a rough-and-ready method that no one has yet achieved.
[“Still, if you…”
I consumed six top-grade mana potions, and I’m completely drained. Likely, I won’t be able to do it again.”
[“…Yeah, if you say so, then I’ll let it go this time.”]
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Thankfully, Eve also seemed to understand my exhaustion and decided not to exploit her students.
[“Er… If there’s any leftover mithril, can you leave it at my office…?”]
‘Indeed, Director is a good person.’
If I were her, I’d probably force the alloy’s creation by any means necessary, but here she is letting it slide.
‘Apparently, she doesn’t have enough mithril to craft the armor completely.’
Indeed, there’s still some left.
Baek Sia has disappeared for now, but a piece of mithril ingot remains, roughly half its original size.
‘Director’s staff was… made of alternium alloy?’
Then, a staff crafted from this super-high-purity mithril would be even more efficient. It might even awaken her powers to their peak era, bringing her back to her prime as an S-class hero.
“President! You’ve awoken?”
“Ah, Sia…”
While I was evaluating the mithril cost for the staff to be used, I heard Baek Sia’s voice… but.
Gong!!!
“…………Wow.”
In front of me stood a giant steel figure towering at least 2 meters tall.
Now, I understand why firepower enthusiasts are said to cry tears of joy.
