There are some things men simply cannot resist doing.

Things that look dumb as sh*t but fun. Pure fun that speaks to our instincts.

Most of these are idiotic stunts that end in trouble, but you can't always play it safe. Besides, what if the chances of success look really good? What if you have so many chances that you can laugh off a failure?

You become a bulldozer with no fear of failure.

Something fun that also guarantees results. Something that satisfies both your dreams and your practical needs.

Absolutely irresistible. The dwarf was in it for the dream, and I was in it for the benefits. We made a great team.

Passing Dwarf

I'll give you heat-resistant bricks. Build it with those.

You'll have to coat the outside with mud yourself.

Okay. Anything else?

Like a container for the molten metal.

Passing Dwarf

I'll give you that too.

But it's heavy as fuck, so be careful.

Even experts often mess up when pouring molten metal.

How do I install the bellows?

Passing Dwarf

Since you're only melting it, a hole in the side should work.

Just make it a bit long.

Bit by bit, I got the instructions and materials for a makeshift furnace from the dwarf. He supplied most of the materials, but putting it together was my job.

Actually, construction was much easier than the oven. I didn't need to refine anything. All I had to do was melt it.

I stacked the bricks he'd given me in a square and slathered mud over the outside. I didn't forget to leave a hole for the bellows, either.

It was about fifty centimeters across in both directions and stood just above my knees. It had to narrow toward the top, though, to retain as much heat as possible, of course.

Finally, there was a crucible for the mithril and orichalcum, and tongs to carry it with. I thought that was everything, but the dwarf had sent more.

What's this blue powder?

Don't tell me it's drugs?

Passing Dwarf

Take a nice big snort.

It'll send you to heaven.

Sorry, haha...

Does it go in the molten metal?

Passing Dwarf

Yeah. This is our first mithril-orichalcum alloy, so just in case.

That powder should help them mix.

Impurities might rise to the surface too, so skim them off properly.

According to the dwarf, it was made by finely grinding and processing magic stones. He explained that it was useful for making alloys.

Something like that certainly couldn't hurt, so I gladly accepted it.

'Got the mold, too.'

The very last thing he sent was a mold. It had a lid. Apparently, I was supposed to pour the molten metal through the hole right in its center.

CREEEAK

I carefully opened it to find the shape of a longsword recessed inside. It was a mold used by a dwarf, so surely I didn't need to worry about the molten metal melting it.

I closed the lid again and listened to his warnings.

Passing Dwarf

I can't stress this enough. If you spill the molten metal?

Just run as far away as you can.

That's your best option.

Because it might splatter everywhere?

Passing Dwarf

That too, but also because even I don't know what might happen.

He also said the molten metal might spit like oil, so protective gear was an absolute must. I considered wearing a helmet if necessary, but decided against it because it would only obstruct my view.

So I got goggles from the dwarf as well. A spare pair.

You might say I was taking too much from him, but it was fine. I was willing to make more alloy if he wanted, and I'd be giving him a crab soon.

Passing Dwarf

Again, always be careful around molten metal.

I'm serious.

Okay, okay, I got it.

Passing Dwarf

If you get hurt, I won't get to touch that mithril-orichalcum alloy.

You bastard lmao

I couldn't tell if he was joking or being honest. Especially since he was a dwarf.

Anyway, everything was ready. All that remained was to do it.

'He said an eight-to-two ratio would be best, right?'

That ratio was another piece of advice from the dwarf. Naturally, mithril made up the larger share. Orichalcum had an affinity for mana, but it wasn't strong like mithril.

CLATTER

I poured about half the charcoal I'd collected so far into the makeshift furnace. Using that much nearly brought tears to my eyes, but for the sake of a sword, I could gladly make the sacrifice.

'I'll need to build a dedicated charcoal kiln, too.'

Making one thing meant needing another. Besides, charcoal was a wonderfully versatile material you could use for just about anything.

I surveyed the charcoal inside the furnace, decided that was enough, and moved on to the next step.

'Pretty heavy, just like he said.'

The heat-resistant crucible was thick-walled and fairly wide. It was heavy enough to lift on its own, but having to use tongs for safety made it feel twice as heavy.

Praying the minerals inside would melt before it did, I placed it in the furnace.

'Now to light the fire...'

WHOOSH!

I tossed a burning branch onto the pile of charcoal. After a little while, the charcoal began glowing red, and heat gradually rose from it.

"Oh. Wait a second."

Come to think of it, I should have lit a fire underneath first and added the charcoal afterward. I'd done it backward.

I cursed my stupidity once again, but what could I do? I'd already thrown in the burning branch. While the charcoal heated up, I checked whether I'd missed anything.

"Speedy. Get Roundfur well away from here."

"..."

"Kyuu?"

Just in case, I asked Speedy to go away with Roundfur.

Now it was time to concentrate. As the furnace gradually grew hot, I grasped the bellows in both hands. It was common knowledge that supplying oxygen made a fire burn harder.

HISSSSS

I slowly drew the bellows open to let air in.

WHOOOOSH!

Then I pumped that air straight into the furnace.

ROOOAR!

The fire inside grew far stronger. I could tell just from the sound.

I worked the bellows hard to make the charcoal give off more heat.

WHOOOSH! WHOOOOSH!

The more air I pumped in, the more fiercely the flames raged inside the furnace. But it still wasn't enough. I kept pumping until the flames turned white.

Every so often, I added more charcoal to boost the heat a little further. This was my first try, so I was growing a bit nervous about failing.

ROOOAR!

Eventually, all the charcoal caught, producing a fierce blaze. The flames seemed to shift between yellow and white.

That should be enough. I stopped pumping and wiped away my sweat.

Even at this distance, the heat was tremendous. I was reluctant to get closer, but I had no choice if I wanted to check the minerals.

ROOOAR!

"Ugh..."

I grimaced. Moving even a little closer made my face sting. Still, I needed to check that everything was melting properly, so I endured it and looked.

'The crucible's fine... Have they gotten a little smaller?'

They'd shrunk noticeably, especially the orichalcum. Liquid ran down the surface of the mithril too, as if it were sweating.

The minerals were melting. My hard work was paying off.

'Let's add more charcoal and work the bellows again.'

Now that I'd seen the minerals melting, all I had to do was maintain the fire. After another vigorous round of pumping, I gradually backed away.

I hadn't done all that much physical work, but the heat had sweat pouring off me.

'That dwarf does this every day?'

And mine was just a makeshift furnace. He must have worked in much harsher conditions.

No work was ever easy. Especially the work that formed civilization's foundations.

Other people had been doing the hard stuff for me all along, and I'd never appreciated it.

'Sprinkle some powder in here, too.'

I added the blue powder as instructed. By now, the minerals were about half-melted and losing their shape.

I stirred them with the tongs to help them melt, then sent the dwarf a message.

(Video of the melting minerals)

It's all melting.

I'm sweating like a fucking pig...

Passing Dwarf

Hard work, huh?

How did you do this every day?

Passing Dwarf

It's fine once you get used to it.

Experts can even drink molten metal lol

Want a drink?

Passing Dwarf

I prefer booze to molten metal.

Of course he did. I chuckled.

Since even the mithril was melting now, giving him live updates seemed like a good idea.

Passing Dwarf

Oh, right.

Forgot you'll need to quench it too.

Quench it?

I've heard of that, but do I have to?

Passing Dwarf

It's a weapon. Of course you do.

I'll give you oil. Find a suitable metal container and put it in there.

Why oil instead of water?

Passing Dwarf

If you mess up with water, it could break.

Oil's better.

Okay.

Passing Dwarf

It's normal for it to catch fire, so don't panic.

An expert really was different. He was giving me all these great little tips.

Still, tips or no tips, I had to do everything myself. I prepared the quenching oil and peered into the furnace.

BUBBLE, BUBBLE

The mithril and orichalcum had melted completely and were beginning to bubble. Something resembling impurities floated on top, so I skimmed it off immediately.

How? With another tool the dwarf had given me. Perhaps thanks to the blue powder, the impurities came out easily, leaving pure molten metal.

'Now to pour this into the mold.'

This was the most important moment. Swallowing hard, I gripped the crucible with the tongs. It had been heavy even when empty; filled with molten metal, it was much heavier.

As a precaution, I circulated mana through my body and slowly carried it over to the mold.

Then, lining it up with the small hole in the mold's center, I slowly tilted the crucible.

TRICKLE

Stop once the molten metal fills even the hole and spills over. That was what the dwarf had taught me. But I couldn't pause halfway through, because molten metal cooled quickly.

I concentrated fully on the hole. I could feel the strain building in my forearms, but I endured it.

TRICKLE... GURGLE!

Now. The moment the hole could hold no more, I stopped. There was some molten metal left in the crucible, but that didn't matter. I had plenty of material anyway.

I set the crucible down and tipped the mold slightly. The molten metal filling the hole spilled out. This step was essential to keep the metal from plugging the hole completely.

"Whew."

I let out a breath. Not bad for a first attempt.

Now I just needed to wait for the metal to harden enough.

(Video of the filled mold)

Almost done now.

Passing Dwarf

Huff. Huff.

Uh...

Just how excited was he to have lost the ability to form words?

I chuckled and waited for the metal to set.

I'd heard that molten metal took ten to fifteen minutes to solidify on average. I could clean up in the meantime. First, the furnace.

'Nothing to do but wait for the charcoal to burn out.'

Most of it was already gray rather than black. It would go out on its own without my putting it out.

'Even with all my bad luck, I've been pretty lucky.'

I thought that as I toweled off the sweat streaming down me. If the minerals hadn't been solid metal, this would have been far harder.

I'd need to make a dagger and a spare sword later too. There was plenty more hard work ahead.

'Should it be ready by now?'

After some time had passed, I slowly opened the mold's lid. A beautifully formed sword lay inside.

An alloy of green mithril and dark violet orichalcum.

'The color's surprisingly dull.'

It wasn't pretty. Just plain... dull. Neither green nor dark violet, but ordinary silver. Dark silver, at that.

It was a little disappointing, but as long as it performed well, that was enough.

I reached for the sword without thinking, then flinched and stopped.

'That could've been bad.'

I'd thought it had cooled, but bringing my hand close revealed how hot it still was.

I tapped it with the dwarf's tongs to check that it was solid, then carefully picked it up. Now all that remained was to lower it slowly into the oil-filled container and quench it.

HISSSSS! WHOOSH!

Just as he'd said, flames sprang up the moment it entered the oil. But he'd assured me there was little chance of an accident, so I kept quenching it without worry.

After several repetitions, the oil no longer caught fire.

And with that, my first sword was complete.

"Phew."

I exhaled as I watched smoke curl from the sword. Seeing the finished product filled me with pride. A tool I'd made myself.

I wanted to sharpen it myself too, but I'd have to leave that to the dwarf. He'd begged me to let him get his hands on it, saying that merely sharpening the blade would be enough.

(Photo of the finished sword)

Done.

It's cooled down. Want it now?

Passing Dwarf

Please, just let me sharpen the blade...

O-okay, I'll send it...

He was so desperate that I couldn't even bring myself to tease him. I handed the longsword over to him.

'Sweated a lot, but it wasn't particularly hard otherwise.'

I had a quick drink to rehydrate and checked the time. There was still plenty of time left. I could get some other things done.

'Roundfur's... asleep.'

As it happened, Roundfur was taking a nap. This seemed like a good time to fetch the dwarf's crab.

I hung the security recording orb Slutty Princess had given me above the cave entrance. How did I hang it? Exactly like a block of fermenting soybeans. Of course, I made sure it couldn't sway.

"Speedy. I'll be back in a bit."

"..."

After saying goodbye to Speedy, I left the shelter.

* * *

Around the same time, over where Gareth had received Grylls's sword...

"Whoaaa...!"

He exclaimed in admiration as he gazed at the sword Grylls had sent.

The sword in Gareth's hand had a blunt edge and an unfinished grip. But something about it was odd. When Grylls had made it, its color had been dull.

SHAAAAH...

Not the one Gareth held. He gazed at a sword shimmering with a brilliant green glow.

Dark violet starlight studded its luminous green surface. It was as though an entire glowing green galaxy had been captured in the blade.

"That is so fucking cool."