Soon, Bailey clicked his tongue.
“Tsk! Hey, Aiden. I clearly told you to bring a blacksmith. Do you really think this milk-smelling kid can even hold a hammer properly?”
“What did you say?”
Kurt bristled.
The boy was a promising talent whose potential had been recognized even among the renowned artisans of Grand Valley.
Lately, he had manifested Dismixer (U) and was brimming with hope, so hearing such words right to his face was bound to wound his pride.
“An artisan is like wine—the longer it’s aged, the more the skill matures. It’s obvious that kid with blood still wet behind his ears would get a failing grade.”
“Then how great of an artisan are you, old man?”
Kurt’s provocation.
Bailey snorted.
“Hah, you insolent kid. Do you think there’s no artisan outside Grand Valley who can compare? If you really believe that, all I can think of is the frog in the well.”
Bailey Millis had once shaken the underworld of the Prima Continent with the nickname “National Treasure Forger.” Even among the renowned artisans of Grand Valley, the only one who could match his overall skill was the most famous of the current generation, “True Silver Needle.”
There was no way he’d be rattled by a provocation from a 13-year-old blood clot like this.
I shook my head and stepped between the two.
“I vouch for Kurt’s talent.”
“Aiden, what exactly makes you so confident?”
“It’ll be faster to show you directly rather than explain. Why don’t you test the kid’s abilities?”
I explained that Kurt had exceptional analytical skills. After hearing this, Bailey soon brought out a few weapons with unusual colors from the warehouse.
“Let’s see how good your eye is. Kid, how do you think these weapons were made?”
“….”
Kurt’s expression turned quite serious.
The three pieces Bailey had brought were a spear, a sword, and a scythe. After fiddling with them for a bit, Kurt suddenly spoke.
“The sword was made by alchemically mixing ‘ink iron’ and ‘yellow rust stone’ in a 1:3 ratio, the spear was purely forged using only ‘severing demon iron’ without mixing in other techniques, and the scythe seems to have been triple-fused with ‘black-white gold,’ ‘red jade steel,’ and ‘light iron’ in the same method as the sword.”
“……….”
“Am I right?”
Bailey just blinked at the smooth, uninterrupted answer.
In truth, for a seasoned blacksmith who had spent decades in the forge, figuring out the material and manufacturing process of a tool was simple.
But it took quite a bit of time.
It would probably consume several hours.
The act of lightly brushing over it and fully grasping the tool’s structure and manufacturing process, like Kurt had just done, could only be described as a miracle.
The Ultra-Precise Structural Analysis (S) trait he possessed was a talent capable of instantly grasping even the structure of the mobile fortress Melkina. It was a perfect upward compatible version of Bailey’s Structural Analysis (A) trait.
A-grade was of national value.
And S-grade was of continental value.
They were only one rank apart, but from another perspective, that single step was the difference between heaven and earth.
“Y-your eye isn’t half bad.”
Bailey said in a trembling voice.
He was clearly trying to feign composure.
It was time to deliver the finishing blow.
“Kurt. Show him that.”
“I was going to even if you didn’t say so, bro.”
Kurt grinned and stepped forward.
The trigger-type soul imprint that allowed free manipulation of metals and mechanisms, Dismixer (U), was an extremely versatile ability.
This unique skill’s functions were broadly divided into two branches: Disassembly and Assembly.
First, regarding Disassembly, it was a highly useful ability not just for production but also in combat.
No, actually, it went beyond useful—it was downright fraudulent.
I’d already explained how it was like a natural enemy to the Machine God Tribe, but that wasn’t the end of it. For example, imagine using Disassembly on an opponent’s metal weapon during a fierce exchange. You could disarm them before they even had a chance to react.
Though there was the condition of piercing through the ‘aura blade’ enveloping the opponent’s weapon, considering the level of return after using disassembly, it was a reasonable restriction.
Of course, since the user Kurt himself was non-combat oriented, the fraudulent aspect was somewhat diminished.
“Disassembly.”
Swoosh!
Crack crack crack!
A loud noise rang out.
And shortly after.
“This is…!”
Bailey looked like his eyes were about to pop out. And understandably so—the sword made with alchemy had been separated exactly in a 1:3 ratio.
Into ink iron and yellow rust stone.
“H-how did you do that?! Magic? Or alchemy?”
“Neither. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but this is a unique ability called a soul imprint. It’s a power only Kurt in the whole world can use.”
“…!”
Bailey’s mouth gaped open.
The applications of the Disassembly ability were endless.
For starters, you could filter desired components from ore without needing metallurgy. And it was extremely convenient for removing impurities after equipment was completed.
An ability any artisan would dream of!
Yet Kurt himself, who had just demonstrated such an incredible talent, had a hardened expression for some reason.
Suddenly, he asked Bailey.
“Did you make this equipment yourself, old man?”
“…Yes. It’s not a failure, but it wasn’t to my satisfaction, so I shoved it deep in the warehouse.”
“Not a success? This level of quality isn’t even common in Grand Valley.”
It seemed he had been greatly surprised by the equipment’s completion after analyzing its structure prior to Disassembly. Bailey was one of the top three artisans on the current Prima Continent. Even his weakest skill as a blacksmith was top-tier.
“Come on, let’s call it a day. I think you’ve seen enough of each other’s skills and potential. Then, Mr. Bailey, we have business to attend to, so…”
Before I could finish, Bailey shouted.
“Wait!”
“Yes?”
“You, Kurt, was it? I’m sorry for insulting you earlier! Turns out you’re not a blood clot but a treasure—a treasure!”
Kurt smiled at the swift change in attitude.
“I didn’t think there’d be someone like you outside Grand Valley either. Honestly, when I first came out, I was looking down on other artisans, but I need to reflect on that.”
“Haha! Who cares if you look down on the world a bit! With your level, it’s fine!”
The atmosphere that had seemed on the verge of a fight completely evaporated, and a warm air filled the musty shop.
It looked like I didn’t need to worry about their relationship.
Bailey seemed eager to test out Dismixer (U)’s disassembly ability in various ways right then and there, but Kurt and I ignored his gaze and stepped outside.
Soon, we headed to the largest forge inside Elanore. Before long, an apprentice greeted us.
“We’re currently swamped with orders from the Caracol Clan and not taking any other customers. Sorry.”
“It’s not that… This kid is an aspiring blacksmith and wants to see the weapons being made in the forge?”
I said, pointing to Kurt.
The apprentice subtly glanced over my attire, then went inside the forge, spoke with the artisans, and returned.
“Um… They say that much is fine.”
It was a good thing I was dressed in proper noble clothes; if I’d been in leather armor or something, they’d have surely chased me away, accusing me of pulling tricks.
“This sword is the pride of our forge, the top in Elanore, a handmade piece by our face of the shop, David.”
“May I touch it?”
“Of course.”
Right after permission was given, Kurt stroked David’s sword. After watching for a moment, I said to the apprentice.
“I’d like to see some other weapons too?”
“It hasn’t even been 10 seconds since I brought out the sword… Anyway, understood.”
The apprentice gave me a look like I was some weirdo.
Regardless, Kurt continued his structural analysis.
Then.
“Excuse me. Are you the sub-master of the Blispiel Clan?”
“…?”
The person who suddenly addressed me was a young man with a tall, lean build and soft blond hair.
<Adelio Altus>
[Level: 46/49] [HP: 14] [STR: 16] [AGI: 13]
[MP: 14] [Mental: 07] [Sense: 12]
[Divinity: 02]
[Traits: Rock (S+), Indestructible Body (B), and 2 others]
[Skills: Tuluy Shield Arts · Extreme (A), Biselio Blunt Arts · Extreme (A), Altus Secret Heart Method (B+), and 3 others]
[Description: Age 35, human race. One of the key executives of the Caracol Clan, the second son under Citrio Altus.]
Ah.
A troublesome opponent.
Adelio was one of the top three powerhouses in the Caracol Clan, including Citrio. Additionally, in the main story of Reca Chronicles, he appeared as a resourceful sub-master of Caracol.
“I heard my little sister committed a great offense. On behalf of the Caracol Clan executive, Adelio Altus, I apologize in her stead.”
“…No need to concern yourself.”
“You’re quite magnanimous. More importantly, what brings Duke Stroke here? I’m sure they’re not taking customers right now.”
Adelio glanced meaningfully at Kurt, who was examining the forge’s weapons. But he soon lost interest.
I inwardly sighed in relief.
Fortunately, he hadn’t caught on.
“That boy is a promising talent I recently took in after an introduction from an acquaintance.”
“I see. Have a peaceful tour.”
The conversation with Adelio ended there. Suddenly, he passed by Kurt and me, heading deep into the forge.
On the way back to the clan house.
I asked Kurt.
“How was it?”
“Unlike what the old man Bailey made, they’re all mass-produced level. Judging by the artisans in the forge, it doesn’t seem like they’re deliberately hiding superior goods either.”
Indeed, none of the equipment we saw today was B-grade or higher.
In truth, even B-grade was quality cherished by territorial nobles, so it wasn’t something you’d easily find in a neighborhood forge.
“When do you think mass production will be possible?”
“At this rate, in a few months? And much better than what we saw today.”
“Faster than expected.”
“Ever since I ate that elixir you stole and gave me last time, my proficiency with Dismixer has been developing at an abnormal speed.”
The true value of Dismixer (U) lay not in Disassembly but in Assembly.
With sufficient materials, using Assembly allowed instant creation of equipment following the blueprint in Kurt’s mind.
However, in the original history, Kurt had spent a considerable amount of time before he could properly use Assembly. The main issue had been a complete lack of dexterity-related traits, but acquiring the Monster’s Hand (A) trait recently had eliminated even that sole weakness—a promising development.
The clan master of the renowned Caracol in the central continent, and a member of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes—Citrio Altus.
He asked his son.
“How are the movements of the clans around Elanore?”
“Of the twenty-seven clans, fifteen have expressed interest in joining under our Caracol. Half of the remaining twelve also seem to want alliances.”
At that, Citrio sneered.
“Alliances? Foolish idiots.”
Once Caracol swallowed the Glicia Kingdom, they would expand their influence in earnest. The fate of the surrounding clans was doomed anyway.
The choices left to them were to crawl under Caracol, relocate their base elsewhere, or slowly wither away after a desperate last stand—one of the three.
“Or do they think we, the kings of Elanore, will show mercy?”
“Perhaps.”
The most likely candidate to become Citrio’s successor, Adelio Altus, smiled coldly as he replied.
Citrio had intentionally framed himself as a “benevolent hero,” so it wasn’t surprising if other clan masters thought that way.
“Some clans seem to have vaguely sensed the uneasy air in the Glicia Kingdom… but starting preparations now is futile. We’ve already seized the surrounding forges. Even if they join the civil war, there’ll be an enormous gap in supplies.”
Citrio smiled in satisfaction at the report. Then, suddenly remembering something, he slightly furrowed his brow.
“What about the Blispiel Clan?”
“They show no movement at all. They clearly haven’t sensed the signs of civil war.”
The Blispiel Clan.
It had once been a formidable force with the Thousand-Man Slayer and the Green Witch, but that was almost all in the past.
Moreover, recently, due to Caracol Clan’s machinations, it had been on the brink of ruin, but a certain boy had appeared and cleared the debts, allowing it to barely maintain its lineage.
The boy’s name was Aiden Stroke.
A whelp blood-related to Ebel Stroke, one of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes like Citrio.
“The Stroke Principality, huh.”
Quite a troublesome background.
If that Aiden brat had come a few years earlier, the board might have changed, but unfortunately, he was too late to the starting line. That was why, despite his recent suspicious movements, they had sent only one spy.
“Recently, they even brought in some milk-smelling kid from a village. Their leisurely behavior suggests no need for caution.”
Adelio said that… but in truth, Aiden and Camillo had leaked false information.
They had told Luca and the other employees that they were heading out to build connections with a noble from some kingdom, thoroughly concealing the fact that they had gone to Grand Valley.
Their failure to grasp the true movements of the Blispiel Clan at this point would act as a massive variable in the upcoming civil war—something they didn’t yet know.