Chapter 112: Craftsman’s tools

The chapter for today is sponsored by Raymond Anthony. Enjoy reading～

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I was in high spirit but I don’t have work to do so far as the subjugation team hasn’t even left yet. Maybe it would have been better if I did what Oyasan told me and slept until after noon. Going back to sleep now is a bit…, it’s kind of inconvenient and even if I am to say I’ll help with something, there’s almost nothing I can work on yet before their departure.

In that case, it would be better to finish the spearhead that I kept inconspicuously in the corner of the branch office and make it as a warm-up exercise. I decided to do so and started igniting the left over charcoal from yesterday’s work.

As the fire on the fire bed was starting to build up, I manipulated the bellows to send in some wind. When the fire was sufficiently ablaze, I heated the spearhead that I had brought out discreetly from the corner. I added more charcoal and operated the bellows to raise the temperature further.

When it was hot enough, I took it out and hammered it to shape it. Since I don’t intend to give it to anyone else, I’m applying the method for creating custom model. However, compared in the Black Forest where my main workshop is located, the magical power here is definitely thinner. It will be able to boost the performance of the item but I don’t think that it will be as good as what I made over there.

Even if I make a knife using the same method, if it’s made at the main workshop, the entire log stand will be split apart. But at this branch office, it can only cut up till the half or a third of the log. Still, such performance is already good enough.

As I was working like that, about four soldiers brought me two barrels of charcoal. It was unexpectedly quick. I guess it’s because Miss Frederica is not that busy at the moment. When everyone returns from the subjugation, the lid of the cauldron of hell will then be opened.

“Oh, I’m sorry for troubling you guys. You could put it next to the barrel over there.”

“Understood”

The soldiers left after they put down the barrel. The subjugation team were probably already on their way to the cave so they must be the ones left behind serving as the guards here. It’s possible that I used some of their break time. I do feel a little guilty when I think about it, but I’ll let the younger ones work to their heart’s content.

With such black thoughts in my head, I tried to go back to work. However at that moment, I heard a loud voice and the source of that voice appeared before me.

“Eizou! I’m here for you to check my knife!”

It is Sandro-oyasan. Oh! right, I did told him yesterday that I would check it myself. Haa-, being forgetful can’t be helped when you get older.

“Alright”

I replied to him without revealing that I completely forgot about it. Two knives were handed over to me. It’s one big and small sized knife with a shape like that of a butcher’s knife. Their shape were almost the same, it’s just that the larger one is about two smaller knives combined, and as for the larger one, it may not be used that often.

“Hmm, I think I’ll be done in half an hour.”

I said as I inspect the two knives. As expected of Oyasan. The maintenance is almost perfect. A good craftsman has first-class tools but maintenance for the tools should also be first-class. That’s because it’s no different from the care for our arms, hands and fingertips. As far as the maintenance of kitchen knives is concerned, there may be a part where Oyasan is better than Rike.

“If it’s only about that long, can I watch?”

Oyasan asks in a rare, not-so-loud voice (it is still a big voice though). Well, the fact that he doesn’t sound timid comes from his size and the volume of his voice.

“It’s fine with me but, it might be boring for you though.”

“No, I also thought that it might help me when I’m doing it.”

Oh, I see. It’s not like I have a reason to refuse him, but since he said that, all the more that there is no reason for me to decline. I readily agreed to Oyasan’s request.

“I’m going to hit it to make some adjustments, but please don’t be surprised.”

“Okay”

I informed Oyasan in advance. It’s no good if he felt offended if I hit it suddenly. I put the knife on the anvil and check it with my cheat. It seems that it was made by a skilled craftsman, which is why it is quite good.

If I inadvertently put magical power, it will end up with a great sharpness so I don’t need to weave some magical power. However, I carefully hammered it to correct the slight distortions and variations in its structure, it’s done in a way that there’s no change to the shape of course. I can do it because of my several cheat.

No tempering is done in this process. Well, when I looked at it, I know that it would be taking more than an hour’s work if I am to do some tempering. Both pieces were made in this way to remove distortions and variations in the structure. It’s about as good as a high-end model in my workshop.

“Woh～…”

When the work is nearly finished, Oyasan exclaimed in admiration.

“I have no idea how you are doing it.”

“Well, that’s the thing about this work. This work is not within the scope of normal maintenance you see. And you see, I don’t have any idea what you guys do when you prepare our food either.”

“That’s indeed so if you put it that way.”

Actually, there is more than a difference in professions, and even a normal blacksmith probably doesn’t know what I was doing, but I’ll still dare to say that. Oyasan believe me unquestioningly too.

“I think you can understand it from here.”

“Ou-“

I’m sure he has done a lot of work on the sharpening process, and although he may not understand the details, he should understand what I’m doing.

I’m going to sharpen it slower than usual. Of course, I’ll utilize my cheats to make it sharper. Basically, it’s a matter of angle, but I think its sharpness will increase even when it’s sharpened normally because of the adjustments I made earlier. It didn’t take much time because the original maintenance was pretty good. If it’s Oyasan, since he is already good at it, he can take care of these knives by himself without any problem.

“Alright, we are now done. From what I can see, I think Oyasan’s way of taking care of it will be enough.”

I handed the two finished knives to Oyasan.

“Oh, sorry for trouble.”

“Not at all, just make a delicious meal for me in exchange with this.”

“Okay, leave that to me!”

With a louder voice than ever before, Oyasan promised me that.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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