How to Raise Your Skeletons

Chapter 61: A Weapon for Someone

The difference between an ordinary skeleton and an awakened skeleton was noticeable. From recalling past abilities to absorbing new knowledge from the old man, Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5 could never catch up to Sunny and Eldrin.

Of course, even if they shared the same body type, the ones possessed by absolute beings who had already reached the pinnacle would perform better.

Anyway, because of that, the gap between the skeletons’ skills was widening day by day. Not only in skill proficiency and stats, but even the physical knowledge of moving was overwhelmingly different. They were just in a different class.

At this rate, I worried the weaker ones would feel left out later due to imbalance.

“Hey, now. Don’t worry so much.” The old man shook out his arms after finishing the usual massage for the allotted time.

“…Even so, I can’t help but worry.” I smiled bitterly.

I had grown to the point where I could now receive this technique, which was once terribly painful, while contemplating idly.

“I’m not sure if the way I’m growing is the right direction. At least games have strategies… I’m not even sure if the party’s balanced between the summons.”

“Heh, seeing you worry about such things, it seems my technique is starting to affect you.”

His technique is affecting me, he says. Oh. He’s indirectly saying that I didn’t think at all in the past.

What good timing.

“So, about that, Elder?”

“What’s with that uneasy smile?” The old man frowned and took a step back.

“You said the technique has been effective recently, so how about we take a short break? Maybe a week or two.”

“What?!” the old man yelled.

But I didn’t back down. “I have some things I need to do.”

“…Hm, now that you mention it.” The old man looked around. “This isn’t the usual open field but the workshop.”

“Yes, I’m planning to craft another weapon… Last time, I got so immersed that I couldn’t keep my promise.”

“Ahem. That’s right.”

Practicing the Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan for 30 minutes a day was the promise between the old man and me. So when something came up, I always let him know. He rarely granted permission though.

“Well, go ahead.”

“Huh?”

I was surprised. Normally, he’d throw a fit and tell me to just quit if I wasn’t going to do it properly. Why was he so lenient today?

“The main thing is the All Techniques; the massage is only supplementary.”

“What?”

“I’m saying that practicing the spirit of All Techniques comes first. The massage is just there to assist you in achieving that goal. If swinging a hammer is the only thing you can immerse yourself in right now, how can I stop you as your teacher?”

“Oh…?”

The old man was the only one who truly cared about my growth.

“But make sure to do it properly. If you waste time and don’t immerse yourself, I’ll double the intensity of the massage next time.”

“Yes, Elder!” I responded firmly. Then I rubbed my hands together.

“Master, shall we begin?”

“Yes.”

In front of me, Demir held a hammer, waiting eagerly, and I sat down on the floor. Since I got permission from the old man, there was no reason to hesitate.

—Vwoom!

I manifested the Great Blue Heart Technique, which allowed me to feel the mystical energy that formed this world throughout my body.

“I can feel Master’s emotions connecting with mine. Is this how we’ll create something together?”

The method was the same as before, like when I hammered while communing with Boney 6. This time, I’d commune with Demir.

What weapon should I create? What should I craft to satisfy the Master? It’s an honor to craft with the benefactor of my tribe.

Demir’s thoughts also flowed into my mind. Though it wasn’t a direct conversation, the conveyed emotions were touching.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

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“There are countless blueprints available. What kind of weapon will you make?”

“Just a moment.”

Hmm. This was a moment of contemplation. I couldn’t make these often, and I could only create one for now. So should I make something that would sell well? Or something rare? Whatever it was, it had to be something that could be promoted.

Promoted, promoted, huh…

What would have the clearest promotional effect in this world? Something that would have to do with rankers, which was also my dream.

Maybe, I should make a weapon aimed at a ranker.

A ranker, huh?

As soon as I thought of it, a certain person came to mind. Without a doubt, the ranker I was closest to right now was…

Gi Soyul.

She was the person who connected the Elder and me and the person who protected me from the terrorist group. Though she might seem cold, she wasn’t a bad person.

“Oh, Master?” Demir’s eyes gleamed as he read my thoughts. “She’s quite the beautiful lady, isn’t she? She suits you. So we’re making a weapon for her?”

He was grinning ear to ear. I could see exactly what he was thinking.

“Yes, she’s a person I’m very grateful to.”

It had two meanings: gratitude for changing and saving my life and gratitude for the promotion.

If Gi Soyul were to use a weapon crafted by Demir’s Workshop, the effect would be incredible. It would be exposed in various interviews, and even a single mention from her would skyrocket the brand’s value.

“Hmm.” Demir stroked his chin. After thinking for a moment, he nodded. “Alright, let’s go with this blueprint.”

He lifted up a stack of papers. From there, he picked up a blueprint for a B-rank dagger meant for assassins. It was a simple, straightforward design drawn through alchemy. There were better blueprints Demir could create with his knowledge, but those were impossible given his current skill level.

“Shall we begin, Master?”

“Sounds good.”

—Clang! Clang!

The hammer began striking the floor. Lined up on the ground were rows of ingots.

[Completion rate: 1%]

The weapon crafting had begun.

* * *

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Translator – Dawn

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Gi Soyul was an assassin. An assassin should be silent and light, specialized in concealing their presence.

Let’s make it light, very light, yet sharp and fast.

That meant not condensing the iron; it had to be forged sharp and thin because the weight had to be kept to a minimum.

—Clang! Clang!

The ingots gradually took shape.

[Completion rate: 14%]

The shape clearly contained the image I had in mind—a cold dagger with a mysterious atmosphere.

Indeed, blacksmithing was an art form. Depending on what or whom you were thinking of while crafting, the functionality and design would change.

Hmm.

That was all well and good, but… it was too light. So light that it seemed like it would break easily against a stronger opponent. If that happened, its value as a weapon would be non-existent.

—Clang! Clang!

I was conflicted.

Hehe, Master, why worry over such things?

—Clang! Clang!

A weapon is like a masochist!

A masochist?

Yes, the more it’s hit, the stronger it becomes! Don’t worry, just keep hammering!

Oh?!

—Clang! Clang!

You might wonder how long to keep at it. But for us blacksmiths, there’s no such thing. You just keep going until it’s finished, without giving up. You keep hammering with a clear mind until your arm or the weapon breaks!

That’s impressive.

We call that pouring in your spirit!

Alright, let’s give it everything we’ve got.

[Completion rate: 40%]

When I got hungry, I bit into a chocolate bar and closed my eyes while chewing on the snack.

Fatigue? There was none. The Great Blue Heart Technique dispelled my tiredness, and the heat from hammering kept my nerves alert.

—Clang! Clang!

I continued to picture Gi Soyul as I felt the rhythm of Demir’s hammering. Her sharp eyes and solid muscles. Her sharp and fierce aura. I infused the energy I’d felt from her into the dagger.

Then the dagger began to emit a chilly aura, a cold energy.

No matter how you express it, an assassin is ultimately a killing machine.

A weapon must match its purpose. Cruelty and coldness—I also tried to infuse those qualities into the weapon.

[Completion rate: 60%]

After many days, people began to gather outside the workshop.

“Is this the famous Demir’s Workshop?”

“Excuse me! Is the owner here?”

“I heard they no longer put items up for auction. Do you take custom orders here?”

Word of mouth had spread, and people started coming, one by one. But they all had to leave empty-handed because the nearby merchants, including the lady next door, shook their heads.

“Oh, just go back. The owner is inside, but he’s not coming out. You hear that clanging sound? That’s the sound of hammering.”

“Don’t even talk about it. That guy has been hammering for a week straight already.”

“Hammering sounds are common in Gotomall, but that young man is really something. I knew he wasn’t ordinary, but still…”

Everyone was in awe. One mother even brought her child and scolded him, saying this is how hard he needed to work. Various TV program producers also came for interviews but left empty-handed.

[Completion rate: 80%]

“Ugh…”

By now, my groans were slipping out.

This was tougher than when I had crafted in the dwarf region. Even though I wasn’t the one wielding the hammer, my arms ached as if they were being torn apart. At some point, I couldn’t even tell if I was Demir or if Demir was me. That’s how deeply I had become immersed.

[Completion rate: 99%]

It’s a bit of a shame.

Everything was complete, but there was one small regret: the materials.

If only my skill level were a bit higher.

If only I could use legendary materials like mithril or adamantium… They didn’t exist on Earth, but I knew I had them. It would have been great to use those. I wanted to make it with the best materials, befitting a limited edition weapon from Demir’s Workshop.

—Clang! Clang!

But still.

This was the first of its kind. Antiques were valuable not because of their performance but because of their rarity.

Who knew? This dagger, the first I crafted on Earth, might sell for several times more than the weapons I make in the future.

No, it’s not the best, but I’d done my best. Let’s finish it here.

[Completion rate: 100%]

[Congratulations!]

[The weapon you created has been imbued with spirit.]

“Huff, huff!”

Rough breathing escaped my mouth. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and soon my whole body was drenched in cold sweat. The fatigue that the Great Blue Heart Technique had kept at bay rushed in all at once.

“Master.”

—Thud!

Demir put down his bone hammer and looked at me with an ecstatic gaze.

“It’s been an honor. To produce something like this with such a body… It makes me feel like I haven’t been wasting my time as a blacksmith.”

“…You worked hard.”

Full of emotion, I looked at the completed dagger.

A sleek, black-colored weapon, sophisticated and smooth. It felt as though I was gazing upon a child I had birthed through pain.

[The weapon’s rank has been upgraded!]

[You have acquired ‘A Dagger for an Assassin’ (S-rank).]

“Oh…” I couldn’t help but gasp.

As expected, it was a satisfying rank.

This was the second S-rank weapon I had crafted with my own hands. The difference this time, though, was that I had crafted an S-rank weapon using a B-rank blueprint!

[Item: A Dagger for an Assassin]

[Rank: S]

[Type: Dagger]

[Description: A weapon crafted by the legendary blacksmith Demir and his master, inspired by a certain assassin! With incredible focus and passion, its performance has surpassed its blueprint.]

[Effect 1: Dexterity increases by 50.]

[Effect 2: Attack speed increases by 200%.]

[Effect 3: After entering stealth, the first attack deals 500% additional damage.]

[Effect 4: Ice magic resistance increases by 30%.]

“…This is insane.”

The performance was literally insane. Unlike the last weapon, there was no race restriction, yet it had such amazing stats. Could this be the difference between Boney 6 and Demir? It seemed legends were legends for a reason.

Especially Effect 3.

It granted a 500% damage increase on the first strike. Just seeing that alone, I could already imagine how satisfied Gi Soyul would be.

I really outdid myself.

I used to be a highly calculating person. But who would’ve thought I would be happy and proud at the thought of giving a gift to someone?

Now I understood why dwarves loved making and gifting weapons—the desire for the best people to use the weapons you made. It was basically the spirit of craftsmanship.

“Hehe, Master!” Demir was also grinning contentedly beside me. “I feel like my skills have shot up a lot, as if all the hammering I’ve done until now was nothing!”

[‘Demir’ is being adjusted.]

[Proficiency increased by 3.]

[Proficiency increased by 2.]

[The skill level of ‘Intermediate Item Crafting’ (Lv. 6) has increased by 1.]

[Proficiency increased by 6.]

…

[Proficiency increased by 3.]

[Proficiency increased by 5.]

[All stats have increased by 3!]

Demir’s skill level had risen again. Now it was level 7. If it increased three more levels, he’d reach the “Advanced” stage. This was an incredible pace.

Good.

The weapon crafting was done. Now I just had to meet the person to give this gift to… Or so I thought.

“So this is the hot workshop I’ve been hearing about. Do you take commissions?”

From outside the workshop, a familiar female voice rang out. A presence with no sign of approach, as if she had suddenly appeared out of thin air.

Speak of the devil, it was Gi Soyul. It was the long-awaited appearance of the person ranked 379th—the Dark Empress.