After leaving Darwin’s mansion, we headed to the market, stocked up on ingredients for tonight and the coming days, and made our way home.
「Alright then… Wendy, sorry to ask, but could I leave dinner to you tonight?」
「I don’t mind, but… what’s going on?」
「Well, it’s not exactly work, but there’s something I need to take care of.」
It’s not that I ‘have’ to do it, but it’s something I ‘should’ do.
Before the three of them leave, there’s something I must finish.
「I’ll join you once I’m done, so feel free to eat without me. You can also go ahead and take a bath. If I’m running late, don’t wait up.」
「…Understood. I’ll let everyone know.」
「Thanks, I’m counting on you.」
I still haven’t figured out a clear solution for Sorte and the others.
So, just in case I end up unable to do anything for them, I want to at least do what I ‘can’ right now.
I headed into the alchemy room and sat down on the work chair.
From my magic storage, I pulled out some alchemy materials and began the process.
What I wanted to make was a pendant, a kind of charm that could hang from the neck, meant to protect the three of them.
But a charm, huh…?
Back in my original world, charms were usually fabric ones you’d get from a shrine.
In other countries, they were sometimes carved from wood.
But the materials I work with are mostly metal and ore…
When creating accessories with alchemy, the image is important, and when it comes to metal designs, what comes to mind is a shield.
None of the three use shields in battle, so I hope this can serve as a sort of substitute, a symbolic layer of protection, at least. That’s the thought I’m putting into it.
For now, I haven’t decided on the decorative part yet, but I’ll start by making a prototype of a shield-shaped pendant top based on my own ideas.
As for materials, I’ll use the hardest one among those Hayato gave me: orichalcum ore.
It’s incredibly durable, and being a high-grade ore, it should produce excellent effects in the final product.
I activate ‘Hand Molding (Handing)’, and, just like always, it’s a surreal feeling when the orichalcum, which normally feels so hard just to touch, becomes malleable and as easy to work with as any ordinary metal.
Next, I bring out a carving set.
This time I’m planning to take my time, so some engraving will likely be necessary.
The base will be a shield formed from orichalcum.
I thinly flatten the orichalcum, then use a cutting blade to shape multiple pieces into shield forms.
I do the same with mithril, flattening and cutting it into the same shapes, then layer them like a mille-feuille, building up the thickness.
And with that, I begin forming the basic shape of the angular shield.
Next, I began shaping the back side of the pendant by pressing outward with both thumbs, causing the front to bulge ever so slightly as I made fine adjustments to its form.
Mixing in mithril weakened the overall durability since it’s ultimately just silver, but silver has long been believed to ward off evil. That’s why I chose to incorporate it.
With that, the basic shield-shaped accessory was complete.
Now came the hard part.
No matter how much my technical skill had improved, without creativity, design simply wouldn’t come together. Should I go with the same generic look as always…?
I rummaged through my magic storage and pulled out several ores and gemstones, pondering who to use what for. But before anything else, I had to decide how to decorate the shield’s design.
That’s when my gaze stopped on one particular gem.
A diamond.
Also known as vajra stone.
In my previous world, it was widely accepted as the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man.
I didn’t possess any deep knowledge of minerals or gems, but if the concept I was going for was “protection”, then this gemstone was a perfect fit.
I had previously tried a ‘brilliant cut’, so this time, I decided to challenge myself and cut both the ‘crown’ and the ‘pavilion’.
Basically, as long as I could calculate the angle of light entering and reflecting back out, and aim for upward refraction, it should work.
…Easier said than done.
The balance needed was ridiculously precise.
I somehow managed to carve the crown portion as I vaguely remembered it, but the pavilion, the underside, was far trickier.
Not too long, not too short…
I shaved off tiny bits at a time, checking and adjusting the shine repeatedly.
-0-
Finally, the first diamond was complete.
Thanks to my increased INT stat, my precision had definitely improved compared to before. Still, I couldn’t say it looked professional or like a master gem cutter’s work.
But for my purposes, it looked good enough.
From every angle, the brilliance had clearly improved from the raw stone I started with.
Still, I couldn’t afford to relax just yet.
I wasn’t allowed to feel satisfied until I had made three of them.
After a long session of painstaking, meticulous work, I finally crafted three diamonds of nearly identical size.
I pulled a water jug from my magic space, brought it to my lips, and chugged deeply.
「Fuuu…」
Even just this part alone had been enough to leave me with a deep sense of accomplishment.
Seriously, this kind of detailed work was no joke. Everything was just so tiny…
Ahhh… my eyes hurt.
But the job still wasn’t done.
With renewed determination, I picked up one of the shield pendant tops and got back to work.
First, I needed to carve small holes to embed the gemstones.
Given how small the pendants were, I used the built-in microscope and a rounded engraving blade to carefully create the settings. I repeatedly inserted and removed each diamond, shaving down the hole until the fit was just right.
I had to pay close attention to the depth as well, making sure not to pierce all the way through.
Extreme focus was required.
I carefully removed the layered sheets of orichalcum and mithril, then gently blew away the fine dust that had gathered. With the base shape finished, I now switched tools, this time to a fine carving knife, to begin engraving designs around the surface.
To give the shield more presence, I started by engraving a subtle raised border along its edge. Thin and delicate, but distinct enough to stand out.
-0-
The detailed work dragged on, and my eyes began to ache from strain, but stopping now would risk inconsistencies in depth. I continued slowly and steadily, maintaining precision with every stroke.
「Haa……」
With the border finished, I was left with a pendant shaped like a shield, a small hole in the center where a gem would later be set.
That alone had required an incredible amount of patience, but the real task was only just beginning.
This pendant, I decided, would be for Sorte.
So, naturally, I wanted its design to reflect her.
The first image that came to mind was the silver-winged brooch I had given her before. She had seemed very fond of that piece, so it felt fitting to use wings again as the central motif.
Using the hole at the center as the axis, I began carving a pair of symmetrical wings, visualizing them as symbols of speed and freedom, like the wind, and carved them with the hope they would protect Sorte on her journey.
Once the carving was complete, I paused. Then I gently set the diamond into the center hole, securing it in place with a small metal setting to prevent it from falling out. Finally, I attached a small loop to the top so it could be worn as a pendant.
Oh, right. I can’t forget the inscription.
I engraved my maker’s mark into the back, and below it, added Sorte’s name in Roman letters.
『Holy Phantom Silver Wings Guardian Pendant
・Physical Defense Greater
・Magical Defense Greater
・Resistance to Status Ailments Greater
・Agility Greater
・Non-Degrading
・Bound to: [Sorte]』
Six effects…
Six!?
Wait, that’s ‘incredible’.
This is the most ability-rich item I’ve ever made.
Almost all the effects are greater-grade too…
And “Non-Degrading”, does that mean it won’t deteriorate over time?
Probably thanks to the diamond.
But what’s with “Bound to: [Sorte]”…?
I ran an appraisal to be sure.
【Bound to Original Owner: ‘Only activates its effects when worn by the first person whose name was engraved.’
】
So it’s essentially become Sorte’s personal, exclusive equipment.
…I wonder what would happen if someone else with the same name tried to use it?
Well, I crafted it with Sorte in mind, and as long as she can use it, that’s all that matters.
In practice, that leaves five effective abilities, but even so, all are top-tier.
Honestly, I think this one pendant alone justifies all the time and effort I poured into making it.
「Nngh, nnnghh!!!」
I stretched out, arching my back as I felt it pop, then tilted my neck from side to side to loosen it up with my hands.
I’m satisfied with how the first one turned out.
Now all that’s left is to make two more just like it.
I grabbed a magic power recovery potion and chugged it down in place of water, restoring both my magic and my parched throat.
This time, I wasn’t planning on using either ‘Multi-Copy’ or ‘Experience Circle’.
Not because I couldn’t, but because I didn’t want to.
The results might’ve been the same either way, but I wanted to craft each one while thinking of the person it was for.
Besides, I wanted each design to reflect the image I had of them in my mind.
-0-
After spending a long time in quiet focus, I finally completed the other two accessories. The wave of satisfaction that hit me was matched only by the exhaustion that followed.
Ow… my neck’s gotten pretty stiff…
Would’ve been nice to have something from the ‘Irazu’ series right about now…
TN: I don’t know what irazu is. Might be a neck pillow?
Still, I can say for sure I’ve made something truly worthwhile.
『Holy Phantom Silver Flame Guardian Pendant
・Physical Defense Greater
・Magical Defense Greater
・Resistance to Status Ailments Greater
・Strength Greater
・Non-Degrading
・Bound to: [Aina]』
『Holy Phantom Silver Flower Guardian Pendant
・Physical Defense Greater
・Magical Defense Greater
・Resistance to Status Ailments Greater
・Vitality Greater
・Non-Degrading
・Bound to: [Renge』
For Aina, I engraved a blazing flame onto a shield-shaped pendant, inspired by a bold and fierce red flame.
For Renge, I engraved a radiant flower onto a shield-shaped pendant, reflecting her bright and cheerful nature.
Aina’s pendant had the diamond set slightly lower, with the design of flames rising from it.
Renge’s pendant had the diamond set higher up, nestled at the center of the flower, its sparkle radiating outward.
I think I managed to express the image I had of each of them in my own way.
And I believe the effects will protect all three of them well.
「Alright…」
I wonder how much time has passed.
Judging by how sleepy I feel, it might even be morning already.
Back when I was younger, I could pull all-nighters no problem, but that’s gotten tougher lately…
I’m hungry, yeah, but for today, I’m calling it a night.
And if I’m going to sleep, I’m doing it in a bed.
Thanks to all the magic power recovery potions I drank while working, I’m not about to collapse from fatigue either.
If I want to really rest, I should do it properly.
I stowed the three accessories away in my magic space, cleaned up the room, and left the alchemy lab behind.
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