Never Die Extra

Evan D. Sherden, Building the Ground (6)

The very next day, after Evan had been forced to promise to make armaments for each of the children, he met with someone. It was what he had asked the Marquis about the same day he left the dungeon, but only now was it achieved.

“You can call me Horta.”

“I am Evan D. Sherden. Please call me Evan.”

“…Yes, Evan.” The name of the man who had been invited by the Marquis to the mansion, now sitting face-to-face with Evan, was Horta Benus. He was an older man with dark gray hair and a rocky face who projected a sense of gravity.

“I don’t know why you called a man like myself to such a precious place.”

“I wanted to go see you in person, but I apologize I couldn’t.”

“…There are many skilled blacksmiths aside from me in the city. I’m not one who deserves such treatment.” Horta responded calmly to Evan’s polite apology. Yes, Horta Benus was one of the craftsmen belonging to the blacksmith guild of dungeon city, ‘The Fire Hammer.’ He was a skilled man with little greed for money, so he had been highly recommended by many adventurers. However, that wasn’t enough for the Marquis to request him personally. Or so Horta thought.

“I’m just someone who hits metal. I’ve heard rumors of you as well…I dare say I am not capable of what you want. You’ve found the wrong person.”

“No, I think I’ve found the right one.” Horta’s brow furrowed at Evan’s firm response. Evan smiled bitterly as he faced Horta. Of course, the information about him had come from the game he had played in his previous life. A blacksmith who had a fixed customer base in the dungeon city had to be good. Since weapons were used and broken so quickly here, it was impossible for a craftsman with poor skills to survive for long here.

‘The annoying thing was that when you asked for a weapon at the smithy, who would make it was random. But now I can call him myself.’ Horta Benus was a man who devoted himself to his work, putting his all into every weapon he crafted with a skill none could match. However, if there was a reason he didn’t become famous, it was because he was ostracized within his guild.

“I just like working with metal. I don’t know what to do with things like magic.”

“Sure, that is what a blacksmith is after all.”

“…” Yes, that was the reason why. The blacksmith Horta Benus dealt only with weapons that originate from the pure metal. He never touched magic tools that were created through magical engineering. Whether it was an artifact naturally born within a special environment or imbued with the power of a god, he didn’t mind it, but he hated magical tools imbued with magic by humans. Arms with magic characters engraved in them, specially treated mana stones, or even using magic to craft armaments.

‘But living in the dungeon city, it’s impossible to deny magical weapons and artificial artifacts. It would be nice if everyone could carry natural artifacts, but realistically it’s not possible. That’s why research on magic tools and artifacts are conducted…’ The explorers of the dungeon, especially the high-ranking ones, carried several magical weapons and artifacts created by magical engineering. Compared to natural artifacts, they were cheaper, and their performance wasn’t bad. Evan, who wore natural artifacts, was a special case.

“I know the situation roughly. You just want to make weapons, but you don’t let it when others don’t accept those weapons and try to alter them with impurities. Because of that, the guild is rejected you.”

“…Yes. You can laugh at my thoughts for being stupid, but did you really call me here to do just that?”

“No, I call you here to hire you.”

“…” Horta closed his mouth. It was obvious he felt that Evan was making fun of him, yet Evan could only find it funny. Artificial artifacts? In the game, you would only use them at the start. Unless you were an unskilled or unlucky player, you would quickly replace them with high-level natural artifacts unearthed from the dungeon.

“Horta, do you like natural artifacts? For example, something like this.”

“Well…oooh.” Evan handed Horta the scimitar he had prepared in advance. It was the scimitar they had found before that absorbed the blood of monsters. Horta was quick to recognize its abilities.

“It’s great. It’s a natural artifact created in a truly terrible and dire environment, untouched by human hands…but as far as I know, these artifacts have never been on the market…”

“I see you are also interested in artifacts. That is something my party and I got from the dungeon. The dungeon knights don’t need to report each item they obtain.” Evan had an evil-looking smile upon his face.

“It’s amazing. I’ve heard you were amazing, but at your age to retrieve such an artifact from the dungeon…but, this doesn’t require repair. It will absorb blood to restore itself.”

“Yes, I wasn’t calling you to fix it. I just wanted to show it to you.”

“If so…?” It was finally time to reach the point. Evan let out a laugh.

“I wanted your help in creating natural artifacts like this.”

“What…” Horta stiffened. It had been something he had never told anyone before, but somehow Evan knew of his dream.

‘Well, that’s because of Yo-ma Great War 3…’ Horta Benus dreamed of creating artifacts with his own hands. Of course, he wanted to create a miraculous artifact without using magical engineering. It was no easy task. The technique and metal both had to be special, and even things like time and place had to be considered.

‘That’s why I was scared of that quest. Even thinking about it again, my blood pressure is rising.’ If you went to the guild for weapon repairs during Yo-ma Great War 3 and succeeded in entrusting your weapons to Horta, your intimacy would increase with him. Only then would he entrust the protagonist with a quest. He wanted to create an artifact, so the quest was to acquire precious metal. It was a limited time secret quest that wasn’t well known, and finding the metal was a pain. All in all, it was an annoying quest.

‘Any other metal causes it to fail, however, and even the magic metal found in the dungeon has a low probability to actually create the artifact. The entire quest was a gamble…’ However, there were quite a few players who challenged the quest for the excellent artifacts it gave them. Not that there were many success stories.

“I can prepare all the ingredients you want. You just need to work hard. Then, you will surely be able to create an artifact.” But now it was different. He could call over Horta to the mansion; there was no need to wait for the quest.

“…I will refuse.” However, Horta refused Evan’s offer with a hard tone, chewing on his lip.

“I don’t have the ability to fulfill your will. I’m just a blacksmith, I don’t know how to do anything other than beat metal.”

 “That’s enough.” The higher the blacksmith’s skill was, the higher the chance of producing a natural artifact, especially for those with a high affinity for metal. Of all the characters in the game, at least among the humans, there was no one better suited for it than Horta Benus.

“No, that alone can’t create an artifact. Artifacts are created by God, not humans. When humans try their hand at it, it results in something imperfect, like the artificial artifacts overflowing the world now…!”

“Well, I’m not trying to make something like that. I don’t intend to disparage human-developed tools, but it’s fundamentally different than the artifact I want.”

“Then, how would you intend to create artifacts?”

“With alchemy.”

“Alchemy.” Horta Benus made a confused expression. Maybe he had heard of alchemy before, although it was likely that anyone who discussed it with him before was a conman. Assuming he hadn’t met Bernard, that is.

“I didn’t know you believed in such a thing…unfortunately, I don’t think I can comply with your will. Could you please allow me to head back?” Well, they seemed to have been the case. But, the goal of alchemy was very similar to Horta’s dream of creating artifacts with a human’s power.

“Yes, but before that, let me show you one more thing.”

“Whatever it is, my opinion won’t change…what is that?” However, as soon as Horta saw the dark green metal that Evan produced from his inventory, he wordlessly sank back down into the chair. Evan handed it over to him with a smile. Evan himself had smelted the magic ore he had acquired.

“Huh. Huh…huh. This…oh my. I’ve seen something like this a few times before, but it’s really…” Horta’s expression changed half a dozen times within a few seconds as he examined the metal. Evan explained while suppressing a chuckle.

“Alchemy originates from human’s desire to create the perfect metal, to turn other metals into gold. Of course, they developed the ability to deal with metal. This is an ingot made by smelting the magic metal I acquired from the dungeon, made with my alchemy.”

“…Magic metal, alchemy.”

“Yes. Alchemy is the most effective technique for dealing with mysteries like this. But unfortunately, it is impossible for me to create a weapon that fully utilizes its power. That’s why I called for you.”

“You’ll allow me to handle this? This…”

“Yes.” Evan nodded solemnly and produced a piece of paper, handing it over to Horta.

“If you would just sign this contract.”

“I will do whatever it takes. I will become your exclusive blacksmith!”

“Okay, thank you!” Horta replied, without hesitation. That was the power of the magical metal smelted with alchemy.

Now the foundation for the dungeon knights had been completed by recruiting the blacksmith.