Chapter 571

The Secret of the Forge
For the time being, since everyone’s equipment was finished, we sealed off the volcano’s forge.
Talat sealed it tightly, using the same method as the treasury in my house.
Neither the portion we brought home nor the part still here could be taken out without permission—the fantasy metal was locked down.

(What. Already done?)

“Ah, Lord Dragon.”

As we were getting ready to descend the mountain, Lord Dragon poked his head out of the magma.
Ah, so if he moves through magma, he doesn’t trip any barriers.

(That scabbard looks special too, but… even with the weapon inside it, I can still feel an outrageous amount of mana.)

“Really?”

(Ordinary fantasy metal weapons don’t give off this kind of aura. You did something to it, didn’t you?)

“Yes. Just a little.”

I only embedded a summoning card’s jewel in it.
If the summoning card’s power is too strong, a weapon normally breaks—but a fantasy metal weapon that can endure it naturally turns out strong.

(… Well, fine. As long as you don’t point it at me, I’ll overlook it.)

“Ah, but, Lord Dragon, you’re an examiner for gold-rank adventurers, aren’t you? Won’t you run into it again when they take their test?”

(In that case, they’ll pass on sight. I’ve no desire to fight someone carrying a monster of a weapon like that.)

… Is it really that monstrous?
I only made them imagining we might fight a strong dragon or monster.
Even with these weapons and armor, we couldn’t so much as touch Talat, though.

(More importantly, you mean to seal this forge away?)

“Yes. I was thinking of only opening it when we use it. Is that not allowed?”

(If you claim it as yours, I won’t tell others. After all, no one can reach this place without passing through my lair.)

“True. But… does fantasy metal really require a special forge to work?”

(Yes. If I recall, ordinary heat alone won’t do. The flames need to burn with added special materials—like a dragon’s scales—or the forging won’t work properly. That’s what the previous smith said.)

“Hm? But we didn’t add anything, right?”

“Yeah, nothing added. But look, all this magma flows out from Lord Dragon’s lair, doesn’t it? So maybe that’s the reason?”

(Ho, the smith there understands well. I often toss away scales that get in my way into this magma. They must have melted and become part of the heat source.)

… So in short, this forge became special thanks to Lord Dragon’s illegal dumping.
That kind of makes it feel less sacred.
Not that the forge itself is at fault—so we’ll keep using it if the need comes up!

What do you think about this chapter?