Chapter 141

Chapter 141
Chapter 141: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

The vermilion metal flickered.

Lion’s purple eyes also shifted to a deeper crimson as they caught the illumination.

Thick smoke completely swallowed it, and the metal repeatedly flashed and glinted, cutting across the clouds.

Meanwhile, gloomy clouds blended with the crimson fluid, creaking and releasing bizarre shrieks.

It resembled an ancient door groaning, or perhaps someone whispering directly into my ear.

The unsettling sound instinctively sent a cold shiver down my spine.

This must be what the fiery depths of hell look like, I mused…… yet.

Creak.

Lion’s lips curved upward.

‘Thrilling.’

My physical form clearly registered danger and terror, but simultaneously, a strange sense of fulfillment welled up from the fusion of the two components.

I had a strong intuition that the attempt would succeed.

As I observed for what felt like an extended duration, at some point…….

Shuuu-

The peculiar bubbling noise ceased, and all the dark vapor surrounding the area vanished entirely.

Then, a novel item manifested before Lion’s gaze.

『Molten Abgrund Iron (★★★)』

-The mirror-like, pure white iron has transformed into a color as dark as the abyss.

-Beware, for greedy individuals who come into contact with this iron will be overcome by an intense urge they have never felt before.

-※Caution※ Do not stare for too long.

The endeavor was a success.

Lion let out a relieved breath.

Perhaps because my physique remained rigid with primal dread, my entire frame felt stiff.

‘No, snap out of it, the task is not yet finished.’

I could not afford to lower my guard until the potion vial was fully finalized.

Indeed, relaxation came prematurely.

The dark demonic aura of the Abgrund iron was slowly creeping up the walls of the crucible.

Although the progression was quite gradual, the necessity to operate with composure and swiftness remained unchanged.

Lion immediately and carefully poured the liquefied iron into the mold.

Drip.

Unlike the strange noises from moments prior, the iron solution flowed smoothly into the receptacle.

Following the discharge of the absolute final drop, a distinct sound echoed from within the mold.

It sounded like a sizzling sizzle, or perhaps a gentle bubbling.

“It appears to be functioning properly.”

Lion nodded while inspecting the form.

Just as melting the metal held high importance, solidifying it once more was equally critical.

If every step was executed well yet moved too precipitously, causing the shape to warp, completion would be entirely out of the question.

Fortunately, this foam cast was designed to finalize the artifact and subsequently dissolve into foam on its own.

Under those conditions, waiting patiently without constant intermediate checks was all that was required.

Furthermore, a substantial amount of time was saved due to the rapid melting rate of the iron.

Lion glanced toward the low-grade fire spirit.

『The low-grade fire spirit remains rigidly disciplined.』

‘Fortunately, its condition appears satisfactory as well.’

While Nature had enforced a degree of discipline, the entity was neither parched nor corrupted by demonic forces unlike the previous instance.

The remaining equipment inside the blacksmith’s workshop also remained undamaged.

Save for a single exception.

Except for the crucible that had maintained direct contact.

Lion surveyed the crucible, charred nearly up to the handle.

“How should this be handled?”

Lion scratched his head in a troubled gesture.

Since corruption had already taken hold, discarding it or recycling it were viable options…….

Glanc.

『Artisan’s cherished tool』

-They say an artisan never blames their equipment, but one can certainly harbor a tool they hold dear.

-It remains in sound condition despite its advanced age; it appears to have been meticulously maintained.

-Currently corrupted by demonic energy.

Lion gazed upon the crucible and sighed softly.

If it could be avoided, parting ways arbitrarily with an item bearing Mudu’s touch was undesirable.

Had Mudu not already lent out the workshop without attaching any conditions?

If damage were to be inflicted here as well…….

‘He would be disappointed, even if he concealed it.’

Outwardly, he would claim everything was fine, that accidents happen, and that breaking objects deepens the learning process…….

Hmm. Let us refrain from discarding it.

Lion formed a resolute decision and stared at the blackened crucible.

‘In that case, restoring this to its original state is necessary…….’

Employing standard potions for this task felt rather awkward.

First and foremost, no alchemy apparatus was readily available on hand.

That was because the setup had been prepared in advance for execution immediately upon returning to the manor.

Departing for the manor now while leaving the cast behind would also present difficulties.

Returning home bearing solely this crucible would prove problematic.

What if an encounter with Mudu occurred…….

……Huh?

‘No. A method exists.’

A sudden realization lit up inside Lion’s mind!

A foolproof technique was available!

Conveniently, the required ingredients were already in Lion’s possession.

That item would be…….

Holy Water.

Lion covertly retrieved the holy water stored within his inventory.

Responding to the malevolent force, the holy water inside the vial emitted a faint luminescence.

Surely, holy water possessed the capacity to wash away this tier of demonic corruption.

Additionally, divine energy exerted a benign effect on ordinary people, meaning even an excessive quantity would not prove harmful.

“……I am glad some was acquired.”

Lion offered an awkward smile.

In truth, this holy water was not a formal gift.

A few bottles had simply been discreetly pocketed from the sanctuary.

Naturally, had Lion petitioned for holy water in his capacity as a ‘Messenger of God,’ provisions crafted by the Archbishop himself rather than Rikschel might have been granted, yet the notion felt burdensome.

‘Entanglement in strange affairs is best avoided.’

The individual seemed amiable, yet a persistent sense of unease lingered.

This undoubtedly constituted a warning signal drawn from the vast data accumulated through corporate experiences.

Consequently, the covert acquisition of the holy water went unmentioned, and no further requests were made.

Lion unscrewed the cap of the vial containing the holy water.

Pop!

The wooden stopper detached with a sharp sound, releasing a fresh aroma into the air.

This was likely attributable to the origin of the potion within the sanctuary.

“Let us test this approach first.”

While the violent clash between demonic forces and divine energy might normally strain the crucible, Lion’s projection suggested the outcome would remain manageable.

Is this not an instrument capable of withstanding even immense flames?

Lion filled a large basin with water and poured the holy water into it.

“Splendid. Greater dilution ensures safety.”

Immediately afterward, the crucible was submerged directly into the liquid.

Sizz!

Bubbling ensued.

The still-heated crucible released a cloud of misty vapor upon contact with the fluid.

That was not the extent of the reaction.

The blackened, eroded sections flayed away like rust, while fragments and slag of Abgrund iron adhered to the crucible either sank or drifted upon the surface.

The volume of water within the basin diminished rapidly.

Although visibility through the dense steam was poor, the complete evaporation of the water seemed a distinct possibility.

‘Will this prove safe?’

The situation grew quite chaotic, causing Lion to hesitate regarding whether additional holy water ought to be introduced.

Shortly after, the hazy steam dissipated entirely into the atmosphere, and Lion lifted the crucible.

Then…….

『Success in enchantment due to the effect of ‘Artisan’s Touch’!』

『Achievement ‘Benevolent Favor’ unlocked!』

『10,000 Shillings acquired.』

“……Oh?”

Alongside a crucible gleaming with a strange new luster, an unexpected prompt resonated.

Enchantment success?

Flustered, Lion inspected the tool.

『(Blessed) Artisan’s cherished tool』

-Someone repaid the benevolence of a generous artisan who readily lent their cherished tool!

-Acquire an increased volume of iron when smelting iron ore.

“……Why did this transpire?”

Indeed. Naturally, a reinforcement mechanic existed within In the World.

Yet, a specific reason accounted for Lion’s previous lack of focus on reinforcement.

That factor was…….

The level remained exceedingly, excessively low.

Granted, the alchemy proficiency serving as the foundation for enchantment had already reached a certain threshold.

However, was the blacksmithing proficiency required to officially unlock the ‘reinforcement’ skill not still severely underdeveloped?

Only Apprentice Level 4 had been attained.

While the achievement brought genuine satisfaction, deep bewilderment accompanied it.

『Insight into the nature of objects increases.』

『’Artisan’s Touch’ grows.』

Concurrently, another notification manifested before the eyes as though to address Lion’s uncertainties.

‘Ah.’

The confusion was put to rest at last.

Thus, the passive ability ‘Artisan’s Touch’ had undergone enhancement.

‘The catalyst for this growth is likely…….’

The progression stemmed almost certainly from Mudu’s crucible being treated as an artisan-grade item.

Such advancement was not intentionally sought, yet unexpected rewards were invariably welcome.

Furthermore, Mudu’s equipment had undeniably experienced significant improvement…….

Bubble.

“Hmm? Ah. Has solidification already concluded?”

While the crucible underwent purification, the creation of the item had apparently finished.

Lion observed the mold, which was transforming into transparent soap bubbles and fading away.

The flames of the forge reflected across the surface, scattering vibrant hues of red.

Then came a series of pops.

The bubbles burst sequentially as the form dissolved completely.

The sensation mirrored that of actual soap bubbles.

Once all the foam had vanished, Lion retrieved the remaining potion container.

“It is remarkably smooth.”

Both the exterior and interior possessed such immaculate smoothness that polishing agents proved entirely unnecessary.

This was undoubtedly the benefit yielded by the foam mold.

“Even so, applying a polish once is prudent.”

Given that the vessel was intended for potions, even microscopic impurities risked destroying the contents’ efficacy instantly.

Lion produced the polishing compound and methodically scrubbed both the inner and outer surfaces in sequence.

As a result, despite being forged from opaque iron, the material achieved a mirror-like finish.

“And……”

The exterior and interior were wiped down once more with oil to eliminate any residue from the polish.

Finally, upon confirming the lid secured tightly into place…….

『Abgrund Potion Bottle (★★★)』

-Lightweight and durable. Capable of safeguarding internal liquids against substantial impacts.

-Opaque construction blocks all external environmental influences upon the liquid.

-Possesses an antagonistic reaction toward divine energy, yet conversely preserves any liquid exceptionally well.

Completion was achieved at last.

Fortunately, dawn had not yet broken.

Lion rapidly restored order to the surrounding space.

Checks were performed to ensure the obsidian’s demonic energy had not contaminated adjacent items, and all slag shed from the Abgrund was gathered into the inventory.

‘Even byproducts frequently find utility later on.’

Carrying excess weight proves preferable to lacking resources entirely.

“Very well. Everything is tidied up……”

The sun was gradually ascending the horizon.

“Let us return.”

“Peep.”

Nature settled upon Lion’s crown, chirping with the clear implication of ‘Do not forget appetizing snacks!’

“Shall your treat be prepared first?”

“……Beep.”

Nature’s demeanor shifted instantly, as though anxiety regarding the egg had resurfaced.

“Indeed. You are a good fellow.”

A dependable elder brother figure, truly.

Lion chuckled softly, lifted the potion vial, and departed the blacksmith’s workshop to head back toward the manor.

With the potion container now finished, only the remaining obsidian was required to finalize the brew itself.

‘Container secured, the remaining steps pose no difficulty.’

Alchemy remains Lion’s most formidable domain, does it not?