Chapter 67: Enchanting Iron & A Drinking Party with the Dwarves

While chatting leisurely with Theo at the new workshop’s cafe, a thought suddenly occurred to me. “Hey Theo, if we can add enchantments to leather, don’t you think we can add them to iron as well?” “Mm… gulph. I suppose so, wouldn’t it be possible?”

Theo hurriedly swallowed the hot dog he had been eating to answer me. “Ah, sorry. I made you eat in a rush. I should have waited until you finished eating to speak.”

The workshop cafe serves light meals that change daily. Today’s light meal is a hot dog. I asked Baker to make it for us, but sausages themselves have existed in the Albion Kingdom for a long time.

Even in my original world, sausages were established as preserved food in Germany during the 12th and 13th centuries and spread throughout Europe, so they have been eaten since ancient times. However, hot dogs have a more recent history in my original world, said to have been popularized in the United States by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, so they did not exist in this Kingdom.

What is served at the workshop cafe is simple: a roasted sausage sandwiched in a bun with ketchup and mustard. But the snap of the sausage casing, the juicy meat juices, and the sweet and spicy taste of the sauce are excellent. Tomatoes originated in South America in my old world, but they are eaten commonly in the Albion Kingdom.

It is also convenient that hot dogs can be eaten easily with one hand. We plan to start serving lunch eventually, and since Baker‘s cooking is delicious, I’m looking forward to it. This time, I decided to wait patiently for Theo to finish eating before going to the basement to try the enchantment.

I haven’t touched metalworking much because I’m not very good at it, but it is necessary to expand the range of my crafting. Besides, I want to create materials to prepare better weapons for the Elf exploration team.

I placed a lump of iron bought from the Dwarves in front of me and visualized. I want to add properties that can pierce the thick hides of monsters and cut through their hard legs when the Elves are attacked by monsters in the Sea of Trees.

Ideally, I would want to protect the Elves going on dangerous explorations myself. But since I am neither a Hero nor a Sage, I cannot fight to protect them. So, at the very least, I want to create the iron that will become the material for their weapons. With that wish in mind, I activated my Production Skill.

Magic power welled up from deep within my body and gathered at the tips of my right hand. A magic circle floated up, and the iron material was wrapped in a warm light. After the light faded, the iron that appeared didn’t look any different.

I wonder if I made it successfully. When I Appraised the iron after the light disappeared… It had become ‘Dwarf Iron: Piercing Enhancement (Enchantment), Cutting Enhancement (Enchantment)’.

Thank goodness. The two enchantments were properly attached. From there, Theo multiplied it using Replication as usual. Then, I processed the lumps of iron with the properties into ingots using my Production Skill.

I’ll leave the processing into weapons to the Dwarf craftsmen. When I took the ingots to the Dwarf village, the Chief was delighted, saying, “Oh, this is an amazing material.” The Chief, who is a skilled master blacksmith, can also use Appraisal Magic.

“To have two characteristic enchantments… you’ve made something rare again. Are you sure we can use this?” “Of course. I brought it because I wanted the Dwarf blacksmiths to forge swords with it.” “I see. Everyone will be fired up then.” I asked him to take care of it and left the Dwarf village.

A few days later, while I was relaxing in my room at the new workshop, Theo came in. “Master, do you have a moment?” “Ah, Theo, it’s fine.” “My Uncle says they are going to celebrate forging a sword from that iron with the two characteristics, and invited you to join if you’d like.”

“The sword is already done? As expected of the Dwarves. Well then, shall we go?” “Are you sure? Everyone will get drunk and rowdy, so I feel a bit apologetic inviting you, Master.”

Theo is so serious. “It sounds fun. We won’t drink alcohol yet, but that doesn’t matter, right?” “Of course. Dwarves love liquor, but they won’t force you to drink.”

When I visited the Dwarf village with Theo, large wooden barrels were lined up in the square. They appeared to be barrels of Ale. “Oh, Lord William and Theo, welcome. Look at this.”

The Chief showed us the finished sword. The blade reflected the sunlight and shimmered. Yes, it’s a good sword.

“How is it? Quite a fine piece of work, isn’t it?” “Yes, it’s magnificent. I feel like the blacksmith’s soul has been poured into it.” “Oh, Lord William understands. The blacksmith who forged this stayed in front of the furnace without sleep or rest, so he’s collapsed and sleeping now. This is a sword he forged with his whole heart and soul.”

“Alright, let the banquet begin!” “Uncle, the sun is still high.” “What are you saying, Theo? If there’s something to celebrate, a Dwarf drinks even in the daytime. The guy who forged the sword is sleeping, but he’ll join in once he wakes up.”

Ceramic tankards were lined up on the wooden tables. Apparently, black beer from the Northern Duchy, brought by the Levant Trading Company, is currently a boom among the Dwarves.

“Golden beer is the standard, but the black one has a rich body and is delicious.” “The Northerners seem to make good beer.” When I asked if their money was alright, he laughed and said it was fine because the Margrave family buys swords at a good price, and the Levant Trading Company also buys iron products and metalwork at high prices.

I’m a little worried that all the money they earned hasn’t turned into beer barrels, but when I asked Oliver later, he said he’s controlling it well so as not to sell them too much liquor. Hmm? Could it be that the reason they started properly accepting payment for road construction was to buy beer? Well, I suppose that’s fine.

For food, large platters of roasted meat and sausages were piled high. They were seasoned with plenty of salt to match the beer. Aside from that, large loaves of bread were placed in wicker baskets. I wondered where the vegetables went, but I guess that’s just like the meat-loving Dwarves.

The Chief led the toast. “””Cheers!!!””” “Puha—! I live for this one cup!” “It soaks right through the whole body.” Everyone has such great smiles. Even if I can’t drink, just being in the same place is fun.