Chapter 119

Alloy (2)

There was one thing men could never resist.

Something that looked utterly stupid but also incredibly fun. Pure entertainment that appealed directly to their instincts.

Most of those ideas were idiotic and frequently caused accidents, but one couldn’t always choose the safest path.

And what if the likelihood of success seemed extremely high? What if there were so many opportunities that even failure could simply be laughed off?

That was how an unstoppable bulldozer who feared no failure was born.

It was fun, and its performance was practically guaranteed. An endeavor that offered both romance and practicality.

There was no resisting it.

The dwarf cared more about the romance, while I cared more about the practical benefits. We made an excellent team.

[Passing Dwarf: I’ll give you heat-resistant bricks, so use them to build it. You’ll have to coat the outside with mud yourself.]

[Wild Grylls: Okay. Is there anything else? Like a container for the molten metal.]

[Passing Dwarf: I’ll give you that too. But it’s damn heavy, so be careful. Even professionals often make mistakes while pouring molten metal.]

[Wild Grylls: How should I install the bellows?]

[Passing Dwarf: Since you’re only using the furnace to melt the metals, making a hole in the side should work. Just make the opening fairly long.]

One by one, I obtained the materials and instructions needed to build a makeshift furnace from the dwarf.

The dwarf provided most of the materials, but assembling them was my responsibility.

In truth, the assembly itself was much easier than building the oven.

I wasn’t going to refine the metals separately. All I had to do was melt them.

I stacked the bricks I had received from the dwarf into a square structure, then plastered the outside with mud.

I didn’t forget to leave an opening for the bellows.

The furnace was approximately fifty centimeters wide and long, while its height rose slightly above my knees.

However, it needed to become narrower toward the top, naturally, to retain as much heat as possible.

Lastly, I had the container for holding the mithril and orichalcum, along with the tongs needed to move it.

I thought that was everything, but the dwarf had given me something else as well.

[Wild Grylls: What’s this blue powder? It isn’t some kind of drug, is it?]

[Passing Dwarf: Snort it straight up your nose. It’ll send you to heaven.]

[Wild Grylls: Sorry ;; Do I add it to the molten metal?]

[Passing Dwarf: Yeah. No one has ever made an alloy of mithril and orichalcum before, so I gave it to you just in case. Adding that powder should help them mix properly. Impurities might rise to the surface, so skim them off carefully.]

According to the dwarf, it was made from finely ground and processed mana stones.

He explained that it was useful when producing alloys.

I had no reason to reject something that could help, so I gladly accepted it.

’I received the mold too.’

Finally, I also received the mold. It came with a lid.

It seemed that the molten metal was supposed to be poured through a hole in the exact center of the lid.

Creak—

When I carefully opened it, I found the shape of a longsword carved into the mold.

Since it was a mold used by dwarves, there should be no risk of the molten metal melting through it.

I closed the lid again and listened to the dwarf’s precautions.

If the dwarf wanted, I planned to make more of the alloy, and I would also give him the crab soon.

[Passing Dwarf: I’m emphasizing this again—always be careful around molten metal. I’m serious.]

[Wild Grylls: Okay, okay. Got it.]

[Passing Dwarf: If you get hurt, I won’t get to touch the mithril-orichalcum alloy.]

[Wild Grylls: You bastard, hahaha.]

[Passing Dwarf: Seriously, if you spill the molten metal, just run as far away as possible. That’s your best option.]

[Wild Grylls: Because it might splash everywhere?]

[Passing Dwarf: That too, but mainly because even I don’t know what will happen.]

He also warned that the molten metal might splatter like hot oil, so I absolutely had to wear protective equipment.

I considered wearing a helmet, but decided against it because it would only obstruct my vision.

Instead, I received a pair of goggles from the dwarf. They were a spare pair he had.

One might argue that I was receiving far too much from him, but it was fine.

I couldn’t tell whether he was being sincere or joking. The fact that he was a dwarf made it even harder to tell.

In any case, all the preparations were complete. All that remained was to put the plan into action.

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

It was the ratio recommended by the dwarf. Naturally, mithril accounted for the larger portion.

Orichalcum had a strong affinity for mana, but it wasn’t as durable as mithril.

Rattle—

I poured about half the charcoal I had accumulated into the makeshift furnace.

It was such a waste that it nearly brought tears to my eyes, but I was willing to sacrifice it for the sword.

’I should build a dedicated charcoal kiln too.’

After building one thing, I immediately found myself needing another.

Moreover, charcoal could be used almost anywhere. It was an exceptionally versatile material.

I stared at the charcoal inside the furnace, decided there was enough, and moved on to the next step.

’It really is as heavy as the dwarf said.’

It was a thick, wide container capable of withstanding extreme heat.

It was already heavy when lifted normally, but since I had to use the tongs for safety, it felt twice as heavy.

Hoping the minerals inside would melt properly, I placed the container inside the furnace.

’Now I just have to light the fire—’

Whoosh!

I threw a burning branch onto the pile of charcoal.

After a while, the charcoal began glowing red, and the heat gradually intensified.

"Ah. Wait."

Now that I thought about it, I should have lit a fire at the bottom first and then added the charcoal. I had reversed the order.

I cursed my own stupidity, but what could I do? I had already thrown the burning branch in.

As the charcoal gradually heated up, I checked to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.

"Ppareumbo, take Wonmo somewhere farther away."

"...."

"Kkyuu?"

Just in case, I asked Ppareumbo to take Wonmo away from the area.

Now it was time to concentrate.

As the furnace gradually heated up, I grasped the bellows with both hands.

It was common knowledge that fire burned more intensely when supplied with oxygen.

Fwoooosh—

I slowly pulled the bellows open, filling them with air.

Whoooom!

Then I pumped the air directly into the furnace.

Fwoooosh!

The flames inside the furnace became far fiercer than before. I could tell from the sound alone.

I worked the bellows vigorously, helping the charcoal produce even more heat.

Whoom! Whoooom!

The more air I pumped into the furnace, the more violently the flames raged.

But it still wasn’t enough.

I continued working the bellows until the flames began turning white.

From time to time, I added more charcoal to increase the intensity even further. Since this was my first attempt, I grew slightly anxious that I might fail.

Rooooar!

Eventually, all the charcoal ignited, producing a fierce blaze.

The flames seemed to fluctuate between yellow and white.

This should be enough.

I stopped working the bellows and wiped away my sweat.

Despite standing some distance away, I could feel the tremendous heat.

I was reluctant to approach, but I had no choice if I wanted to inspect the minerals.

Rooooar!

"Ugh..."

I frowned. Even moving slightly closer made the skin on my face sting.

Still, I needed to confirm whether the metals were melting properly. I endured the heat and inspected them.

’The container is intact... and the minerals seem to have shrunk.’

Their size had visibly decreased. The change in the orichalcum was especially noticeable.

Liquid streamed down the surface of the mithril as though it were sweating.

The minerals were melting.

My hard work was finally producing results.

’I should add more charcoal and keep working the bellows.’

Now that I had confirmed the minerals were melting, all that remained was to maintain the fire.

I continued pumping the bellows vigorously before gradually retreating from the heat.

I hadn’t been working for very long, yet the heat had caused sweat to pour from my body like rain.

’That dwarf did this every day?’

And I was only using a makeshift furnace. The dwarf must have worked in an even harsher environment.

No one’s work was ever easy, especially work connected to the very foundations of civilization.

Others had been enduring these hardships on my behalf, yet I had lived without appreciating them.

’I should sprinkle in some of this powder too.’

Following the dwarf’s instructions, I sprinkled in the blue powder.

The minerals were now about halfway melted and had become soft and sludgy.

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

[Wild Grylls: (A video of the melting minerals) They’re melting. I’m sweating like crazy ;;]

[Passing Dwarf: Tough, isn’t it?]

[Wild Grylls: How did you do this every day?]

[Passing Dwarf: It’s fine once you get used to it. An expert can even drink molten metal, hahaha.]

[Wild Grylls: Want a sip?]

[Passing Dwarf: I prefer booze to molten metal.]

Of course he did. I chuckled.

Since even the mithril was melting, it might not be a bad idea to keep him updated in real time.

[Passing Dwarf: Ah, right. You’ll need to quench it too. I completely forgot.]

[Wild Grylls: Quench it? I’ve heard of that, but do I really need to?]

[Passing Dwarf: Of course you do. It’s a weapon. I’ll give you some oil, so find a suitable metal container and fill it.]

[Wild Grylls: Why oil instead of water?]

[Passing Dwarf: If you use water and mess it up, the sword might break. Oil is better.]

[Wild Grylls: Okay.]

[Passing Dwarf: Don’t panic if it catches fire. That’s normal.]

An expert really was different. He even explained useful tips like these in detail.

However, regardless of how many tips he gave me, I was still the one who had to do everything.

After preparing the oil for quenching, I looked inside the furnace.

Bubble, bubble, bubble—

The mithril and orichalcum had completely melted and were beginning to boil.

Something resembling impurities floated on the surface, so I immediately skimmed it off.

How did I skim it off? By using yet another tool the dwarf had given me.

Perhaps because I had sprinkled in the blue powder, the impurities were easily filtered out, leaving behind pure molten metal.

’Now I just have to pour it into the mold.’

This was the most important moment.

I swallowed nervously and grasped the container with the tongs.

It had been heavy when empty, but with molten metal inside, it was considerably heavier.

Just in case, I circulated mana throughout my body and slowly carried it toward the mold.

Then I carefully tilted the container over the small hole in the center of the mold.

Trickle, trickle, trickle—

I was supposed to stop once the molten metal filled the hole. That was the method the dwarf had taught me.

However, I couldn’t pause midway through pouring. Molten metal cooled quickly.

Focusing completely, I carefully watched the hole.

I could feel the strain gradually building in my forearms, but I endured it.

Trickle, trickle—pour!

Now!

The moment the hole could no longer contain the molten metal, I immediately stopped.

A little molten metal remained in the container, but that didn’t matter. I had plenty of raw material anyway.

I set down the container and tilted the mold slightly.

The molten metal filling the hole spilled out.

This step was essential because the metal couldn’t be allowed to harden while completely blocking the hole.

"Phew."

I exhaled. My first attempt had gone fairly well.

Now I only had to wait for the molten metal to harden somewhat.

[Wild Grylls: (A video of the mold filled with molten metal) I’m almost finished.]

[Passing Dwarf: Pant... Pant...]

[Wild Grylls: ;;]

Just how excited was he that he couldn’t even form words?

Chuckling, I waited for the molten metal to harden.

I had heard that it usually took around ten to fifteen minutes.

I could clean up while I waited. The furnace came first.

’I have no choice but to wait until the charcoal burns out.’

Most of the charcoal had already turned gray rather than black.

Even if I didn’t extinguish it myself, it would eventually go out on its own.

’I’ve been fairly fortunate despite all my misfortunes.’

I wiped the sweat streaming down my body with a towel.

If the minerals hadn’t come in solid chunks, I would have struggled far more than this.

I would also have to make a dagger and a spare sword later, so it seemed I still had plenty of hardship ahead of me.

’Has enough time passed?’

After waiting a while, I slowly opened the mold’s lid.

A beautifully shaped sword appeared before my eyes.

It was an alloy of green mithril and blackish-purple orichalcum.

’It’s surprisingly dull in color.’

I wouldn’t describe it as beautiful. It was simply... plain and gloomy.

It was neither green nor blackish-purple, but an ordinary silver. A particularly dark silver, at that.

I was slightly disappointed, but its appearance didn’t matter as long as it performed well.

I unconsciously reached for the sword, only to flinch and stop myself.

’That was close.’

I had assumed it had cooled, but I felt intense heat as soon as my hand approached it.

I tapped it several times with the tongs the dwarf had provided to check whether it had hardened, then carefully picked it up.

Now all I had to do was slowly lower it into the container of oil and quench it.

Hiss! Fwoosh!

Just as the dwarf had warned, the oil caught fire the moment I inserted the sword.

However, he had said there was little risk of an accident, so I remained calm and continued quenching it.

After repeating the process several times, the oil no longer caught fire.

And with that, my first sword was complete.

"Phew."

I exhaled as I gazed at the sword, wisps of smoke still rising from it.

Seeing the finished product filled me with pride. It was a tool I had made with my own hands.

I would have liked to sharpen the blade myself, but I should leave that pleasure to the dwarf.

He had begged me to let him hold the sword, saying that he would be satisfied as long as he could sharpen its blade.

[Wild Grylls: (A photograph of the completed sword) It’s finished. It has cooled down. Want me to send it now?]

[Passing Dwarf: Please... just let me sharpen the blade....]

[Wild Grylls: I-I’ll send it over ;;]

He sounded so desperate that I couldn’t even bring myself to tease him.

I sent the longsword to the dwarf.

’I sweated a lot, but it wasn’t particularly difficult.’

After briefly rehydrating, I checked the time.

There was still plenty left. I could use it to complete my remaining tasks.

’Wonmo is... asleep.’

As it happened, Wonmo was taking a nap.

This seemed like a good opportunity to find the crab I had promised the dwarf.

I hung the security orb I had received from Princess Cheonggu above the cave entrance.

How did I hang it? Just like a block of fermented soybean paste. Of course, I made sure it wouldn’t sway.

"Ppareumbo, I’ll be back soon."

"...."

After saying goodbye to Ppareumbo, I left the shelter.

***

Around the same time, Gareth—the dwarf to whom Grylls had sent the sword—was staring at it in awe.

"Daaamn...!"

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

The blade was still blunt, and the grip had yet to be finished. That unfinished sword now rested in Gareth’s hands.

However, something about it was different.

When Grylls had crafted it, the sword had been dull and gloomy.

Shiiimmer—

But that was no longer the case.

Gareth stared at the sword, which now gleamed a brilliant green.

Blackish-purple points of starlight were embedded across its luminous green surface.

It looked as though an entire green galaxy had been captured within the blade.

"This is so fucking cool."

Gareth murmured in pure enchantment.