Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken novel Chapter 17

It was the beginning of a new morning. Everyone had gathered in the work

room.

Yesterday, we had borrowed a vacant room that was meant for apprentices

in order to stay the night. When we first entered the work room, there were

already four people inside that were just staring at the "magic steel ingot".

All the while sighing, they were turning it over and over in their hands,

checking if it was real. The ingot I had handed over was only the size of a

human's fist.

I thought it was an overly exaggerated reaction, so I asked, ˜Is it really that

rare to see?'

[What are you even saying?]

Uncle-san (Kaijin) answered me, and followed it up with an explanation.

"Magic ore" was the raw form of "magic steel". Even in its unrefined

form, "magic ore" was considered to be valuable.

The reasoning was very simple. Its rarity, and its versatility.

There was a major element that existed in this world called "magic

essence".

This "magic essence" that didn't exist in my original world, occupied a

major role in this one.

When a demon was defeated, very rarely it would drop a condensed mass

of magic essence called a magic stone. This magic stone was something

like a concentration of energy, which was used as fuel for an invention

unique to this world: spirit engineering.

This magic stone acted as a core for superior demons, and on top of being

more beautiful than most precious gems, it was said to contain an

unimaginable amount of energy.

As such, magic stones of superior demons were used as the core for many

manufactured goods. Craftsmen were said to even use these as raw

materials for the accessories they created. Those items would grant

various effects upon the wearer, such as an increase in abilities, or an

effect that would bind the item to the user only.

And between "magic ores" and regular ores, there was one decisive point

that set them apart. Without exception, "magic ores" would only form

around the vicinity of superior demons. The reason was, that when regular

ores are exposed to dense concentrations of magic essence, they would

slowly absorb it over a very long period of time. Only when a great

amount is contained would regular ores finally undergo a change into

"magic ores". It was similar to how minerals would suddenly change.

Naturally, only powerful demons would be inhabiting locations with high

levels of magic essence. "Magic ore" was hard to find in locations like the

habitats of weak demons that adventurers defeated to earn pocket money.

For "magic ores" to form, at the very least, it needed to be a place that Branked

demons or above would live in.

Incidentally, this was the first time I learned some information regarding

the ranking of demons.

[So that's how it is! Well then, I wonder...I should also be around B-rank?]

[.......(If that's what you think, it must be true. Though you're alone in

thinking that!!!)]

*Everyone thinking to themselves

Most likely, everyone apart from that ninny Gobuta was thinking the same

thing.

Well, leaving the idiot aside.

"Magic ore" was already such a difficult thing to obtain, but the amount of

"magic steel" that could be extracted from that said ore was only roughly

3~5%.

In other words, a lump of "magic steel" the size of a fist, was worth money

that was 20 times its value in weight.

The way money was valued here, was almost the same as in my original

world.

A common way of measuring money, the gold standard system, was

adopted across the nations.

Well, what all this meant to me, was that the metal was much rarer than I

had guessed.

As expected of me! Not missing a single thing! (in the cave).

By the way, I became just a little bit scared about the fact that I secretly

possessed a huge amount of that "magic steel". There was no way anyone

could find out but...what if someone did?! Was I thinking this because I

was a petty bourgeois?

Anyhow, the main issue was from here on.

"Magic steel" was not simply valuable just because of its rarity.

There was a true reason for its worth. That was because the metal

possessed a property that had extremely good affinity with guiding magic

power.

It was possible to control magic essence to a certain degree using imagery

in the mind.

My ŽMagic Perception was the same, and even the effects of ŽWater

Manipulation was brought about the same way. The majority of skills

used by demons were based on using magic essence in such a way.

Although I didn't know much in regards to magic, I had suspected that the

theory behind its use was no doubt similar.

And so, what if a huge amount of magic essence was included in the raw

materials of a weapon?

Astonishingly, apparently it will become a "weapon that grows"!

How romantic!!!

Eh, what's it like? I want it!!!

Though I managed to firmly hold my inner thoughts back, the words that

almost burst from my throat still remained on the very tips of my tongue.

It was a weapon that responded to the thoughts of the user, gradually

altering its shape into the desired ideal form. And depending on the magic

power of the user, it was even possible to freely transform its form in the

midst of battle! Furthermore, due to its high affinity with magic essence, it

would amplify the power of skills.

In a way, when compared to normal weapons, unless there was a great

difference in talent, the magic weapon would definitely bring its user

victory.

Perhaps...though this was just my speculation of a case of pouring money

and utmost use of technology...if a superior demon's magic stone was

inserted into a blade of pure magic steel, would it possibly become a

"sword of fire", or "sword of ice"?

Though in my heart I was screaming, ˜Hurry and make it already!!!', it

was not good to get too excited. I felt that it could be done, so I wanted to

procure a magic stone if the occasion presented itself.

After a long time of explanations, Uncle-san and co were now working on

the sword.

For future reference, we were also observing what they did. Although that

Gobuta was no doubt just sleeping....

When creating a sword, there were a variety of kinds that could be made.

In my heart, the strongest sword is of course, the Japanese sword.

However, even among katanas' there was still all kinds of varieties. To

contemplate on what kind of sword you could make, was also something

quite interesting to think about.

It had been 10 hours since they had begun work. A longsword that looked

nothing out of the ordinary had been completed.

What's this? A large part of magic steel was still left unused. The

remaining amount was still largely the size of a fist. It was to the extent that

made me think to myself, would it be alright to use just that much for one

sword?...

Upon asking, I was given an answer saying, ˜If all of the magic steel was

used as raw material for the sword, who knows how much money that

would cost!'.

If you thought about it, it was natural. It was no wonder they didn't make

such extravagant things like elemental swords. I now understood that it

simply required too much money.

Apparently, they had used magic steel as the core part, while most of the

blade was made out of ordinary iron and steel. I was told that magic

essence in the magic steel would seep into the iron and steel parts, then

eventually become completely merged. It was said that the more it aged,

the stronger it became.

Another special characteristic of magic weapons was that the blade would

never rust or become chipped. Curiously, I was told that the weapons had a

life of their own. If it became completely broken or bent, then the magic

essence would burst out and dissipate all at once.

Uncle-san had explained all that to me, all the while holding up and

displaying the sword he had completed.

It was quite interesting to listen to.

I took up the finished sword and gazed at it in my hands. (Though I had no

hands.)

Looking carefully, although it was of a simple design, it was perfectly

straight. It could be said that there was no unnecessary part to it.

It didn't appear to be meant for pure cutting, which was the main principle

behind a Japanese sword, but still seemed capable to be used for slashing

attacks.

I see. The goal of this design was to use this simplicity as a base to make it

easier to realize an individual's respective ideal form!

Keeping that in mind, I could agree with the way it was made.

Well then.

As promised, Uncle-san and the others had completed a magnificent sword

for me.

Now it was my turn.

[Alright! From here on I'll be working in secret. I'm sorry, but after

confirming the raw materials, I want everyone to leave the room!]

Saying that, I made sure that everyone would leave the room.

After all, I couldn't afford to let anyone know my manufacturing method.

Mainly because it would be troublesome to explain!

[All the necessary materials are assembled in this room. But will you be

alright? If needed, I can help out.]

[Mhm. I'll be fine! Rather than that, during the next three days, make sure

not to peek in the room okay? It's a promise!?]

[I got it. I'll believe in you and wait...]

After that, Uncle-san and the others left the room.

For some reason, Gobuta also went with them...

There might be a need to strangle some sense into that idiot at least once...

Now then, today's recipe on the menu shall be, how to make "longsword à

la carte"!

The method of production was simple!

The first step, was to swallow up the model product!

Next, what I had to do with all these materials lined up here was...to

swallow them all!

Chew, chew, gulp!

And then, I would mix them well inside my stomach...

All I had to do was repeat that process 19 times over, and it would be

finished~!!!

Easy, wasn't it?

But still, good children should never imitate this, right?

And that was how I carried out my work, with my head full of silly

thoughts.

This was bad...the time needed to copy one sword took roughly 10

seconds.

190 seconds...a little over 3 minutes, and I had made all 19 longswords...

it hadn't been 5 minutes since I had driven out Uncle-san and the others.

How should I put it...even though I knew I could do it, the way I did it so

easily made me feel a little guilty toward all of the hardworking

Craftsman-sans out there...

ŽPredator was seriously too cheat-like.

Well, what now?