155話 鉄の熱
刀の鍛冶依頼をなんとか取り付ける事ができた俺は、更に武器を作る行程を見学したいと申し入れた。二席のガンテツは予想通り、俺の提案に対して強い反発を示したものの、報酬に持ってきた『
「まずぁ鉱物を武器の素材にするためにゃぁ、インゴット状態にするんだぜぇ!」
「お前さんの持ってきた金属は既にインゴット状態になっているため、加工する手間が省けるけどな」
ガンテツとゲンクロウさんは『
大きな『かまど』みたいなモノで、火を燃やし続ける事ができる装置らしい。
「おら、見てろよ」
のトップが、対応してくれるなんてかなりの好待遇なのではないだろうか。それだけ、俺の金属を高く評価してくれたのかもしれない。
「こうやってよぉ、溶かし、鉱石から不純物を取り除くンだよ」
ガンテツは真っ赤な炎が噴き出す『
「ふつーわよぉ、一種類の鉱物しか入れねえ。だけんどな、今回はちげー種類の鉱物をそれぞれ、入れてくんぜ」
「一種のみの鉱物を投入し、その金属の純度を上げる。これがセオリーなのだが、俺達が最近編み出した手法は、それぞれの鉱物を入れて特別なインゴットを作る事なんだ。もちろん、なんの鉱物をどのくらいの比重で入れるのか、さらにインゴットを無事に作成させるための難易度も格段に上がるけどな」
ゲンクロウさんの簡易的な説明と補足を聞きながら、作業をじっくりと観察していく。
』の中の炎を強くしたり弱くしたりしながら、鉱物を溶かし混ぜ合せていった。
赤く輝く液体が、激しい炎の中で融合していく様は非常に美しかった。
時折ガンテツが、青い光を手から放って何かのアビリティを発動していく。
鉱物を混ぜるなんて、ちょっと錬金術の『合成』と似てるような部分もあるんだなぁと思いながら、俺はまじまじと観察していく。
「ちぃ、温度調節がやべぇな......ちぃとばかし
ガンテツはブツブツいいながら、白熱した炭のような粉を吹きかけていく。
「今のは『混ぜ物』を入れたんだ。それぞれの金属には相性の合う素材が存在していてな。鉱物を溶かし終えた段階でそれらを加えると、不純物を取り除くのに役立つ効能を持っているんだ」
それはまるで煮えたぎる赤熱の海上を、白光する海鳥達が踊るように舞っているように見えた。それらがチリチリと染み込んでいくと、ガンテツは金属棒で炉をゆっくりとかき混ぜていく。すると茶色のカスみたいのが浮かび上がってきた。棒の動きを止めずに、カスを丁寧に取り除いていくガンテツ。
その表情は真剣そのものだ。
「詳しくは話せないけど『
出来上がったインゴットは、荘厳な色合いを帯びていた。
一言で表すなら重い。
鈍く黒光りしながら、その存在感をずしりと放っている、そんな雰囲気を漂わせるインゴットが目の前に置かれる。
「堅さは現時点のクラン・クランでは最高峰だかんなぁ。もちろん、こいつから創り出す武器も半端もんじゃねえぐらいかてぇ。難点としちゃぁ、こいつから作れる武器は重量があるから、どうしても力ステータスが必要になるのと、鍛冶中に折れちまう事が頻繁にあるっつぅーことぐれえか」
ガンテツやゲンクロウさんが精錬について語り終えると、そこまで無言を貫き、その存在感を極限まで薄めていた『千年鍛冶の大老侯』が動きだした。
「............」
ハンマーをその手に持ち、ガンテツが作ったインゴット、『
二席と三席が、一席の動きに合わせてハンマーを手に持った。
「いや......それだ......」
おもむろに『千年鍛冶の大老侯』が指差したのは、俺が持ってきた『
「おやっさん、まさか......」
「その金属の特性上、たしかに......」
今まで刀を打とうとすれば、細い刀身、反りの再現、そのくせ堅さは一級以上という特性から、難易度が相当に高いためポッキリと折れてしまっていた。しかし、柔軟性に優れた『
』を、惜しげもない手つきで『千年鍛冶の大老侯』は作業台へ移動させていく。
そこからは、何かを質問できる雰囲気ではなかった。
三人は鬼気迫る顔でそれぞれのインゴットを加工していった。特に『
そこへ液化した黒と金、二つのインゴットが流れ入って行く。
ジュゥゥウっと音を立て、インゴットは見事に混ざり合った。
マサムネさんはその様子を眺め、鉄板をひっくり返す。すると作業台へと垂れていき、落下するがままに固まっては、歪な形の塊と化した。
そんな物体に手をかざし、何かのアビリティを放ったマサムネさん。
すると先程まで黒金だった塊は、深紅へと鮮やかに染まった。おそらく熱か何かを付与したのだろう。
その熱い輝きを見て、『千年鍛冶の大老侯』はハンマーを振り上げた。
マサムネさんと金属のぶつかり合いが始まった。
ハンマーの一振り一振りが重く、その音は心臓を鷲掴みするように激しくも優しい。
アビリティで熱せられた鉄塊は、少しずつ、少しずつ、ハンマーによって剣の形に整えられていく。
ハンマーと金属が響き合う度に、大小様々な煌めきを飛ばされる。美しさもさることながら、変化を遂げていく鉄塊に魅入ってしまう。いや、単純に金属だけに魅了されたわけではない。
『神をも斬り殺す神刀を打ってやる』と、言わんばかりの気迫を持って金属と語り合う『千年鍛冶の大老侯』の姿に目を放す事ができなかったのだ。
あれは挑戦者の目つきだ。そして、職人の限界を超越した、常人には見えない世界を垣間見ている。打ちつける度に、神々しいまでの眩しい光彩を火花と共に叫ぶ金属。それに対し、マサムネさんはおもむろに会話を続けている。金属と鍛冶師、両者の在り方と見て、あの
しばらくはスローペースでカンカンと叩き、刀の大まかな形を整えていく。
すこし鉄が赤みを増したかなと思った刹那。
マサムネさんの双眸が鋭くなった。
「熱が上がった......今が......『
現象は一瞬。
ハンマーがぶれたかと思うと、数ヶ所を目にも止まらぬ速さで連打し始めた。
どこをどう何回叩いたかなんて目視できない。
かろうじてわかることは、ただ強く叩いているのではなく、極微弱な力で打つ事もある、というぐらいだろうか。
金属の甲高い音が連続的に響くなか、『千年鍛冶の大老侯』は獰猛な笑みを浮かべた。
最高峰と言われた鍛冶師の表情は、神々の領域に恐れ多くも、果敢に踏み込もうとしているソレだ。
激しく火花と汗が飛び散り、虹色の光を乱反射させた!?
さらにその光が、ハンマーを握る右手になぜか集束させていく。
振り下ろされた一撃は、神の咆哮に等しい畏怖をも抱かせる破裂音を響かせた。
金属を覆う赤熱の色みが徐々に弱まりつつあったが、その
「お前たち......」
ここで初めて『千年鍛冶の大老侯』が金属以外に意識を向けて、ぼそりと声をかける。それに素早くガンテツとゲンクロウさんが応える。
「あいよっ! ここからが本番でぃ。打ち鳴らせ、『
打たれる武器は歓喜に震えているようだ。
交互にハンマーで叩いては整え、叩いては整える。互いの意志が結ばれていないと実現できない神業。まさに呼吸をするかのような一糸の乱れもない、圧倒的なまでの信頼と練度が、驚異的なスピードで一振りの刀を生み出そうとしていた。
これが......鍛冶職人。
まじパネェ......。
「......時間がくる......」
どうやら武器作りには時間制限があるのか、『千年鍛冶の大老侯』は
その間、周囲の熱気が彼に付き従うかのように、彼の身体へと集まって行く。それらはオレンジ色のオーラとなり、漂い始めたではないか。
そしてゆっくりと、大気をゆるがしながら、『千年鍛冶の大老侯』はハンマーを上へ上へと、掲げていく。
その背後には神をも
「......『竜火打ち』......」
鍛冶師からハンマーへと伝わる熱い想いが、その一の豪で武器へと浸透していく。全ての火を透明なままに、遥か遠くまで、刀の
これが鍛冶職人の普通――――。
彼らの武器に捧げる情熱の深さを思い知った。
「ふぅ......」
巨躯の男が全身全霊を賭して気力を振り絞り、出来上がったばかりの刀を、ただただ見つめる姿には畏敬の念すら抱けた。
俺はまだまだだ。
まだまだ錬金術の真髄、深層、真相へは辿り着けてなどいない。
だが、刀を生みだすには未だ一歩足りてない、という点では『千年鍛冶の大老侯』も同じだったようだ。
赤黒くひび割れてしまった刀らしき物を見つめ、『千年鍛冶の大老侯』は唸る。
鍛冶を失敗し、貴重な鉱石を代償にしてもなお、その目に宿る燃え上がる炎は消えるどころか、勢いを増しているように感じだ。
「......どうだ、嬢ちゃん」
おもむろに『千年鍛冶の大老侯』が尋ねてくる。
きっと鍛冶を見た感想を求めてきたのだろう。
「途中まで、武器が......歓喜の声を上げていました」
俺は深く考えずに、そう口走っていた。
感じるがままに、率直な気持ちをマサムネさんに伝える。
「よいモノを見せてもらいました。この光景は決して忘れません」
鉄と語る。
ならば俺も、錬金術の元となる万物と語らなければ、創造の深淵には到底辿りつけない。
「......今回は失敗した......」
マサムネLv14から、フレンド申請が送られました:
俺はおずおずと頷き、フレンド申請を受託する。
「......いつでも、ここに遊びに来い......」
白髪の武骨な初老は、好々爺のような台詞を吐き、大きな手で俺の頭をなでた。だが、その目は決して柔らかいモノではなく、むしろ猛禽類のような鋭い視線を放っていた。
「お前さん、親方に気に入られたみたいだな」
』の二席と三席がそれぞれの反応を示す。
「......例の金属をくれるのならば......」
『千年鍛冶の大老侯』は二人をそのままに、俺と会話をボソボソと続ける。
「......刀はタダでくれてやる......」
要は、珍しい金属を供給できる取り引き相手として認めてくれたのだろう。
俺としては刀が無料で手に入るかもしれないという話は、願ってもない事なので喜ばしい事態ではある。
「わかりました。ただし、刀が出来上がってからは、俺の金属は有料での取り引きにさせてもらいますよ」
「......構わん。よろしく頼む......錬金術士殿......」
それに応じて、俺も笑い返す。
「こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。天下の鍛冶職人殿」
ジョージの店に帰ってからも、俺の胸の内にある興奮は収まらなかった。
あの鍛冶場の熱にでも当てられたのか、未だに
「もっと、もっと、錬金術を極める。それが錬金術士の在るべき姿だ」
俺は思い当たる限りの手法でスキル『錬金術』を試し、研究に没頭していった。
157 155 Stories Iron Fever
I managed to attach the blade request, and I offered to take another tour of the weapon-making itinerary. As expected, the two-seater Gantetsu showed a strong backlash against my proposal, but when he said that he would give away the "Gold (Pride Blonde) of the Venerable Horizon" he had brought to the mercenary regiment (Klan), "Wu (Bu) batter (Bu)", he pulled me back a lot. Or on the contrary, it motivated me.
"First of all, to make the minerals the material of the weapon. Well, we're gonna make them ingot!
"The metal you brought is already in the ingot state, saving you time processing it."
Gantetsu and Genklow stand in front of an artisan kit called 'Roshin' and explain so.
It seems to be a device that can keep the fire on fire with something like a big 'kamado'.
"Oh, look at that."
I wonder if the head of a group of famous mercenaries (clans) for a single mercenary (player) style would be quite a treat to deal with. That's probably all you valued about my metal.
"This is how it melts, removes impurities from the ore."
Gantetsu puts some minerals in the 'furnace heart' where bright red flames erupt, using instruments that carefully grasp the ore.
"Ooh, you can only put in one type of mineral. I don't know, this time, I want you to put in each of the different minerals."
"Put in only one type of mineral and increase the purity of that metal. This is Theory, but the method we've been working on recently is putting in each mineral to make a special ingot. Of course, the difficulty of creating more ingots safely in terms of how much specific gravity you put in the minerals is also remarkable."
We will observe the work carefully, listening to Mr Genklow's brief explanations and supplements.
Gantetsu melted and mixed the minerals together as he strengthened or weakened the flames in "Rohin" with his lid.
It was very beautiful for the red, radiant liquid to blend together in a fierce flame.
Occasionally, Gantetsu activates some kind of ability by letting the blue light out of his hand.
I seriously observe that mixing minerals is a bit like 'synthesis' of alchemy.
"Chi, temperature-regulation is bad... I think I might have missed it."
Guntets are bumpy, while spraying powder like incandescent charcoal.
"I put in the 'mixture' now. Each metal has a compatible material. When you add minerals to them after they've been melted, they have the power to help remove impurities."
It looked as if the white-light seabirds were dancing through the sea of boiling red fever. As they stain with chili, Gantetsu slowly stirs the furnace with metal bars. Then it came up like a brown cuss. Gantetsu carefully removes the cusp without stopping the movement of the stick.
The look is serious in itself.
"I can't go into the details, but I'm seeing what's going on inside the furnace, and I'm activating a variety of abilities at the right time, producing more pure metal."
The ingots that could be done were in majestic shades.
Heavy if expressed in a nutshell.
Ingots with such an atmosphere are placed in front of them, bluntly blackened and letting their presence slip away.
"I don't know if solidity is at its peak in Clan Clan at the moment. Of course, the weapon you create from this guy is half-money. The difficulty is that the weapon you can build from this guy is heavy, so you really need strength status, and it breaks frequently during blacksmithing."
When Gantetsu and Mr. Genklow finished talking about refining, "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith," which had been so silent and diluted its presence to the extreme, moved.
............
Hold the hammer in its hand, Ingot made by Gantetsu, "Kuroyao Iron".
Two and three seats held a hammer in their hand as one seat moved.
"No... that's it..."
Most importantly, "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith" pointed to "The Gold of the Honorable Horizon (Pride Blonde)," which I brought.
"Oh no..."
"Due to the properties of its metals, indeed..."
Until now, when I tried to hit the knife, the thin body, the reverse reproduction, and the strength of the knife were more than one level, so I broke it in a pocket because of the considerable difficulty. However, with excellent flexibility, "The Gold of the Honorable Horizon (Pride Blonde)," it is possible to create a knife if mixed with soft metal and hit, Mr. Genklow discusses with a bump.
There are only two "Gold of the Honorable Horizon (Pride Blonde)" with a spare hand. "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith" will be moved to the workbench.
From there, it wasn't an atmosphere where you could ask questions about something.
The three processed their respective ingots with an impatient face. Especially when he stared too cautiously at the process of heating and dissolving the "Gold of the Venerable Horizon (Pride Blonde)" and changed it into a radiant liquid form, he even leaked a soothing exhale.
There goes the liquefied black and gold, two ingots flowing in.
Jyuu made a noise and Ingot mixed it up beautifully.
Mr. Masamune looks at the situation and flips the iron plate. Then it dripped onto the workbench, and as it fell, it became a distorted mass.
Mr. Masamune put his hand on such an object and unleashed some abilities.
Then, until earlier, the black gold was vividly stained with deep red. Probably granted a fever or something.
Seeing that hot glow, The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith shook up his hammer.
Mr. Masamune and the metal bump began.
The waves of the hammer are heavy, and the sound is as intense and gentle as eagling the heart.
Heated with abilities, iron chunks are shaped into swords, little by little, little by little, by hammer.
Whenever the hammer and metal echo, they fly brilliantly, large and small. The beauty goes on, but I'm fascinated by the iron masses that are going through the changes. No, I wasn't simply fascinated by metal.
"I will strike you with a divine knife that will slay God," he said, unable to look at the figure of the Great Old Marquis of the Thousand Years of Blacksmith, who talks to metal with all his temper.
That's a challenger's eye. And a glimpse of a world beyond the limits of the craftsman, invisible to the ordinary man. Every time you strike, metal screams with a spark a dazzling glow until divine. Mr. Masamune, by contrast, continues the conversation largely. Metal and blacksmith, seeing as how they both are, I didn't know that that oligarchy (possibly) "Great Old Marquis of the Thousand Years Blacksmith" would rap so much when hitting iron......
For a while, he beats Cancun at a slow pace and shapes the sword roughly.
The moment I wondered if Sukoshi Iron had increased redness.
Mr. Masamune's eyes sharpened.
"The fever has gone up... now..." "Ryusen" "
The phenomenon lasts a moment.
When I wondered if the hammer had broken, I started hitting several places in a row at an unstoppable speed.
I can't see how many beats I've made where.
What I can barely tell is that I'm not just hitting hard, but sometimes with very slight force?
As the tall sound of metal sounded continuously, "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmile" gave a fierce grin.
The blacksmith's expression, said to be the highest peak, is a sole who is about to step into the realm of the gods, fearfully and resolutely.
Sparks and sweat scattered violently, causing rainbow light to reflect indiscriminately!?
Furthermore, the light somehow focuses on the right hand holding the hammer.
The waved down blow echoed a bursting sound that also caused fear equal to the roar of God.
The color of the red heat covering the metal was gradually weakening, but with one (one) strike, it burned again to breathe back.
"You guys..."
Here, for the first time, "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith" turns his consciousness to anything but metal and speaks out blurry. Mr. Gantetsu and Mr. Genklow respond quickly to that.
"Aye! This is the real deal. No. Let it ring," Willow Scarlet "!"
The weapon being struck seems to be trembling with joy.
Alternate hammers to get it done, and hammers to get it done. Divinity that cannot be achieved without the will of each other. Trust and proficiency to the point of being overwhelming, without a single yarn of disturbance exactly like breathing, were trying to produce a sword wave at incredible speeds.
This is... the blacksmith.
Seriously Pane......
"... time will come..."
Apparently, there is a time limit for weapon making, and "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith" raised a roar. In response, the two and three seats of "Wu (Bu) Hitter" stopped hitting him with a hammer, and instead fixed the knife using a metal grasping instrument so as to support his body.
In the meantime, he gathers to his body as if the enthusiasm around him would follow him. Have they not become orange auras and begun to drift?
And slowly, loosening the atmosphere, The Great Old Marquis of the Millennial Blacksmith lifts the hammer up and up.
Behind it, he could see the shape of a dragon that slaughtered God.
"... 'Dragon Fire Strike'..."
The enthusiasm transmitted from the blacksmith to the hammer permeates the weapon with one of its prizes. It was beaten to keep all the fire transparent, far away, to the medulla of the knife (sloppy), only to forge it up.
This is the normal thing about blacksmiths - -.
I thought of the depth of passion dedicated to their weapons.
"Phew..."
A man with a giant body gambled his entire body and squeezed his strength, staring at the sword he had just been able to, even in awe.
I haven't.
We have not yet reached the essence, depth or truth of alchemy.
But the same seemed to be true of The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith, in that it was not yet one step short of producing a sword.
Staring at the knife-like object that has cracked red and black, "The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith" roars.
Even if you fail to forge and pay for precious ore, it still feels like the burning flames that dwell in its eyes are gaining momentum, rather than disappearing.
"... what do you say, lady"
In the meantime, The Great Old Marquis of the Millennium Blacksmith asks.
I'm sure you've been looking for thoughts on seeing a blacksmith.
"Along the way, a weapon was... raising its voice of joy"
I didn't think deeply, I was running like that.
Feel it, but tell Mr. Masamune how frank you feel.
"I was shown a good thing. I'll never forget this sight."
Talk to iron.
Then I, too, will not reach the abyss of creation unless I speak of all that is the source of alchemy.
"... failed this time..."
: Mercenary (Player) Masamune LV14 sent you a friendship application:
I snort and entrust my friendship application.
"... whenever, come visit me here..."
The gray-haired martial artist threw up a likable dialogue, and with his big hand he hit my head. But that eye was never a soft thing, but rather a sharp gaze like a raptor.
"You look like your parents liked you."
Two and three seats in "Wu (Bu) Hitter (Bu)" react to the attitude of the team leader.
"... if you can give me an example metal..."
"The Great Old Marquis of the Millennial Blacksmith" keeps the two of us together and keeps me and the conversation going bossy.
"... I'll give you the knife for free..."
The point is, he probably recognized me as a dealer who could supply rare metals.
As far as I'm concerned, the story that I might get a knife for free is a delightful development because it's something I don't even wish for.
"Okay. However, once you have a knife, I will let you trade my metal for a fee."
"... I don't mind. Nice to meet you... Alchemist..."
Correspondingly, I laugh back, too.
"Nice to meet you. The Blacksmith Hall of Heaven"
When I got back to George's, the excitement in my chest didn't subside.
Did the blacksmith's heat strike you? You still can't get the light off your cheeks.
"Extreme alchemy, more, more. That's what an alchemist looks like."
I tried my skills' Alchemy 'in every way I could think of, and immersed myself in research.
I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie
美少女になったけど、ネトゲ廃人やってます。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-became-a-beautiful-girl-but-im-still-an-mmo-junkie/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender Mystery Psychological Shoujo Ai
Accelerated Growth Adapted to Manga Age Regression Alchemy Appearance Changes Appearance Different from Actual Age Beautiful Female Lead Chuunibyou Curious Protagonist Cute Protagonist Demi-Humans Disabilities Doting Older Siblings Fairies Famous Protagonist Fast Learner Friendship Loli Male to Female Misunderstandings MMORPG Multiple POV Mysterious Illness Older Love Interests Overprotective Siblings Past Plays a Big Role Past Trauma Pill Concocting Popular Love Interests Race Change Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0170db/
星屑ぽんぽん