"The One-Eyed Master Smith"
Drake completely forgot about hunger and fatigue; the magic stone lamp burned all night. After a night of intense study, he gained a preliminary understanding of sacred script.
Sacred script is the language of the gods, and the most unique writing system in this world.
The most important aspect of this world, the Divine Blessing, exists in the form of sacred script.
Increases in ability scores, acquisition of skills and abilities, and level-ups are all achieved by the gods modifying the sacred script.
The unique nature of sacred script is that even the gods cannot change it arbitrarily; specific conditions must be met.
These conditions involve adventurers accumulating experience and achieving great deeds.
According to the materials Hephaestus provided, sacred script itself possesses power. However, only gods and a very few humans can utilize this energy.
Logically, reading and writing are skills that can be learned. But with sacred script, while normal reading and writing are possible, using its power is far more complex.
The books stated that the sacred script written by gods and [Mystery] users is fundamentally different from that written by others.
Simply put, the world's rules are like underlying code, and sacred script is the programming language. Only those with administrator privileges can write the programs.
Besides the gods, only those possessing the [Mystery] skill have this privilege.
Drake closed the book, feeling frustrated. He'd finally found a lead in his research, but his progress was completely stalled. He needed to master [Mystery] to continue.
However, Drake didn't lose heart; instead, he began learning to decipher sacred script.
The connection between [Mystery] and sacred script was undeniable; studying sacred script was the only course of action available to Drake. Even if this effort yielded no results, it was better than giving up.
Without involving special powers, sacred script is merely a language. Drake quickly mastered basic reading and writing.
Then, like hitting a game wall due to a missing key item, Drake's progress stalled.
However, Drake was prepared for this and didn't lose heart.
He returned all the materials to Hephaestus and asked her for Welf's workshop location.
After easily finding Welf, Drake saw him forging a greatsword.
After a brief greeting, Welf returned to his work.
Drake didn't mind; he began to examine Welf's workshop.
Compared to Drake's own, Welf's workshop was more typical of a blacksmith's forge.
Most of the space was filled with forges and tools. The remaining space was piled high with raw materials and finished products.
Drake picked up a greatsword, examining it closely and testing its feel.
Undeniably, even without his magic sword-making skills, Welf was a skilled blacksmith.
The sword's quality was excellent—top-tier equipment for lower-level adventurers.
However, according to Welf, these were all returned by weapon shops due to poor sales.
This wasn't surprising; while the sword's quality was high, the cost-effectiveness was poor.
Drake could tell that a small amount of hardened steel, a material used in high-grade equipment, had been added during forging.
For a Level 1 adventurer, buying such a sword would be enough to equip themselves entirely.
This highlighted the gap between blacksmiths and adventurers. Blacksmiths aim for top-tier quality, while adventurers consider many other factors.
Therefore, besides ordinary equipment, blacksmiths often contract with adventurers to create custom-made, top-tier equipment.
Drake set down the greatsword and focused on observing Welf's forging process.
Drake's forging experience was short, only achieving rapid progress due to Fal's assistance. Therefore, Drake could learn a few forging techniques from Welf.
After a rhythmic forging sequence, Welf immersed the half-finished short sword in a cooling liquid.
Noticing the faint patterns emerging on the short sword, Welf wiped his sweat and smiled.
Drake also noticed the short sword's unique feature and suddenly understood.
Welf must have been inspired by Drake's equipment; he'd added his own blood while forging this short sword.
Considering the sprite's power, the Crozzo bloodline also possesses a similar power. Indeed, this short sword also had unique patterns.
Unlike the dragon scale patterns on Drake's equipment, the patterns on Welf's short sword resembled intertwined flames.
However, the short sword wasn't complete yet; its special abilities were unknown.
Just as Drake was about to examine it more closely, a loud crash came from the doorway; Drake clearly saw Welf's workshop door fly off its hinges.
The door had literally detached and crashed into a pile of materials.
Drake was stunned. While Welf wasn't popular in the Hephaestus Familia, he wouldn't be attacked, would he?
Had he offended someone recently? Drake wondered, preparing for a fight.
But Welf remained calm, as if accustomed to such events.
Rubbing his forehead, Welf sighed. "It's been quiet for a while; is that woman back again?"
Although his tone was dismissive, Drake sensed that Welf wasn't entirely unhappy.
"Welfy, I'm back!"
Accompanying the voice was a woman with a flamboyant style. She wore hakama pants (East Asian style) and a scanty top, revealing much of her skin.
She had short black hair, an eyepatch over her left eye, and a ruby-red right eye.
Tsubaki Collbrande, the captain of the Hephaestus Familia, Orario's top master smith, and a Level 5 top-tier adventurer.
Tsubaki is a half-dwarf, but aside from her forging skills, Drake couldn't see any other dwarf characteristics.
Her return meant the Loki Familia's expedition had ended.
Welf grumbled, "Could you please be quieter next time you enter my workshop?"
Tsubaki strode to Welf, clapping him on the shoulder; the immense force made Welf's eyes roll back.
"Don't be so stiff, Welfy! You've made something amazing again; let me see!"
Tsubaki also saw the unfinished short sword in Welf's hand; her blacksmith's passion ignited.
"I saw some equipment in the main hall; you didn't make those, did you?"
Tsubaki, upon returning to Hephaestus's mansion, immediately noticed Drake's equipment and was instantly captivated.
She immediately forgot about her expedition report and rushed to Hephaestus to inquire about the equipment.
Before Hephaestus could respond, she ran to Welf's workshop. She probably assumed Welf had made them!
Welf chuckled wryly. "I don't have that kind of skill. The person who made them is behind you."
Tsubaki turned, doubtfully, and saw Drake watching.
Under Tsubaki's gaze, Drake stepped forward. "I'm a recent addition to the Hephaestus Familia. My name is Drake. Pleased to meet you, Captain Tsubaki!"
"Whatever! Drake… I'll call you Drakey. Did you really make that equipment? What techniques did you use?"
Drake was momentarily overwhelmed by Tsubaki's enthusiasm.
Truly Orario's top blacksmith; her pure passion for forging was unmatched.
And Drake didn't dislike this boisterous but pure-hearted person.
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