Magnus here, I'm sure I told you this before but I really don't have any skill when it comes to blacksmithing. I'm excited by the prospect though. After all, deep inside my core is a creator.

It's been a week now ever since we travelled to Barkenvail? I'm pretty sure it was called Barkenvail or was it Barkenvall?

Whatever.

Currently, I'm on top of a tree just a few meters away from that noisy adventurer's big house.

I can't remember his name...

*Clang!*

I hear the sound of metal clashing with metal from the big house.

I take out a metal scope that I borrowed from one of the adventurers.

You stole it child.

Shhhh...

"Marc! Child where did you go again!"

I hear my mother's voice calling for me.

I start to climb down.

Child... we are watching the godblood... stop moving.

I stop and think about what I'm going to do.

Go to my mother or... listen to Darky.

"Marc! You still need to help old man Hendrikson with his planting!"

I stay on the tree.

There child!

I resume 'stalking' the 'godblood' and immediately pull out the metal scope.

I don't know what a godblood is but Darky told me that person who saved us from the wolves is a godblood.

I remember my teachings from our village priest before.

Gods are omnipotent beings that constantly watch over us blah blah blah...

They're these benevolent beings that gave us mortals the world.

Darky told me otherwise...

My mother prays to Supremas daily for fortune but I stopped doing that when my dad died in the demon attack.

*Clang!*

I've followed Darky's suggestion on watching the godblood and... Nothing has happened!

I am wasting my time here!

Quiet boy...

Why are you so interested in a godblood? What's so special about them anyway?

You would not understand...

Try me! I'm a smart person!

I hear Darky grate his teeth.

They smell delicious...

*Sigh*

You can't eat a person.

This one is not a person... It's a godblood...

I still don't know what a godblood is.

"What is this! It's horrible!"

*Thud*

I lose focus for a moment and see a massive bear-like man slam the godblood on the head... with a steel hammer...

"Why is this piece of metal all bent and curved?! I told you to make a simple dagger! Why are you so incompetent! Even my talentless son could make a dagger!"

*Thud*

I hear the godblood contesting with the man about circles?

What does circles have to do with metal? Or was he trying to make a circular weapon?

That's stupid.

Everyone knows that greatswords are the best weapons!

I continue watching the beatdown happening in the building's forge.

*Thud*

Another headache inducing blow hits my head and I hear my status ding.

[Pain Tolerance VI (Rare) evolved into Pain Tolerance VII (Rare)]

Tch...

I used to try dodging his blows but Jonathan said to take them head on or else he'll just swing stronger.

"This metal is utter garbage!"

"Dariu-"

"Sir! You will call me sir!"

I give Darius a stoic face as he berate me about my failures in molding metal.

In fact he's been bashing my head every time I failed in his teachings...

Why did I even accept his proposition?

*Thud*

"Are you listening to me boy!"

"Yes sir!"

I answer strongly.

Ever since I went under his teachings I had to address him respectfully...

This is humiliating.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Somebody knocks at the door behind us.

Darius immediately takes a clean cloth behind him and throw it at me.

"Quick, hide your eyes boy."

I immediately nod and start covering my eyes up.

A burly man enters and starts to talk with Darius concerning their sales. They both leave and Darius gives me a glare.

*Finish your work!*

Yes yes, I know.

Once they're gone, I remove my cloth again and silently thank Darius.

The reason I accepted was because...

"Do you smith boy?"

I wanted to run but Darius' stare was too deep and too strong to be the stare of a simple blacksmith.

His eyes revealed a madness that only a few people carry.

It was a being who wanted to learn the deepest secrets of metal.

I sigh.

If only those knuckledhead sisters were here, he would be the happiest man alive.

"I don't sir."

Darius stare wavers for a moment then he asks.

"Do you want to learn?"

I take a deep look on the bone knives I created.

What's so special about them that he's asking me these questions.

They're just normal alchemical circles.

I return my stare at Darius.

"I do."

"Then I want to teach you."

"Why?"

Darius activates a skill and tightens his grip on the knife.

[Mountain Grip]

The knife immediately turns to dust through sheer force alone.

"This knife despite having no obvious enchantments had different properties. It wasn't just a normal bone knife. It's as if the very material itself changed. It still has the hardness and thickness of a bone but the weight differs... This technique can be similarly done through smithing."

Darius stares at the bone dust scattered all over the bathroom floor.

"... And the most perplexing part... Is the fact that the bones returned to their original properties when destroyed..."

Impressive... He discerned all of that within a few looks...

He levels his eyes to stare at me.

"Learn under me."

The thought of learning something from someone literally the junior of my junior's junior is a little aggravating but...

I want to learn how to properly smith and my current level isn't enough to help me survive out there.

A measly wolf almost killed me.

I give Darius a look.

"You do know that I will not stay here and eventually I will leave. Just like your son, I will travel the world as well."

Darius looks a little disappointed.

"Does that mean you'll do it?"

I nod and a devious but extremely bright smile drops on Darius' face.

And that's basically it.

For a whole week, I did everything Darius told me to, excluding menial chores.

Jonathan kept giving me a sympathetic look while Pep just laughed when I showed up at dinner with bruises.

Thankfully Aria decided to heal my bruises which removed the pain from my body and increased her overall usage of it.

At this rate, she'll increase her spell's skill level to a higher rank.

But the main reason why I allowed myself to join that madman, is because he knew about my eyes and didn't react horribly.

He made me remove my mask and I complied.

Instead of attacking me like Kin, he just nodded and that sealed the deal for me.

Once I'm done contemplating I stare at the circular metal on the table.

I remember Darius' words and remember his teachings.

Blacksmithing itself is a new lesson that I've been taking to heart, especially since I'm enjoying myself.

I've been trying to mix my magical knowledge with mundane blacksmithing.

And to be honest it's not working.

I've tried adding alchemical circles to the metal ores before melting it but the added properties doesn't mix well with the blacksmithing process.

Once the ore starts melting, the circle loses its effect.

I pull out a rough iron dagger with an engraved alchemical circle on it.

Earlier I created a rough iron dagger and engraved it with an alchemical circle after the blacksmithing process but like all alchemical circles the circle loses its power once enough time has passed.

I've been trying to permanently imbue the weapon with an alchemical effect.

It's proving to be very hard.

And the ironic part is that I was the one who set the rules concerning alchemical circles.

While I did set the rules concerning magic and similar laws, they're not 100% foolproof. I made sure that if a magic user was ingenious enough they can develop a branch of magic that belongs only to them. After all, I appreciate beings who strive to make something of their own.

I've tried before and after...

I should start doing it during the forging? But I don't trust my skill to be good enough to make it.

*sigh*

"Magnus? Are you okay?"

I hear the little voice of my mini helper.

"Absolution? No I am not."

"Hmmm you are not happy... I thought doing these would make you happy? Wasn't making something of your own effort your wish?"

I hear Absolution repeat Elyis' words and feel a kick in the gut.

"At first, I enjoyed learning blacksmithing but now that I'm facing an obstacle, I'm actually having a hard time."

"... Are you holding yourself back?"

...

"I guess I am. How did you figure it out?"

"You are the nigh omnipotent creator of magic. I'm sure you already found the loopholes you put on alchemical circles."

I already did but that solution includes me using magic.

"I did and I realized something during my time here."

"What is it Magnus?"

"I made magic to be an extremely convenient source of power. If trained well enough, one can destroy mountains with a flick of a finger and level cities with a bat of an eye. I made magic too cruel for mortals."

I haven't been entirely honest with myself. Ever since that wolf incident and that kid, I've been thinking about it constantly.

I saw the fear that those mortals showed. It was practically a scent that tightly clung on the air.

They all prayed for the gods to come and help them but knowing my family... they would never come.

... I would never come as well.

While I lament my mistake Absolution speaks up.

"Cheer up! Loss like this is common!"

I take a serious look at Absolution.

"Don't take death too seriously Magnus. Isn't death what makes mortals so much more than just mortals?"

That's a nice way to look at it.

"Whille it is true that gods tend not to help mortals one by one, isn't their combined effort and strength what made them special in your eyes in the first place."

I nod.

"While mortals die like insects, every once in a while a mortal will burn brighter than any star surpassing those that was before them. Isn't that what makes mortals extremely special?"

I sigh.

"You're correct but what brightness warrants such unneeded suffering. For every 1 exceptional mortal, must millions die for him or her to appear bright?"

Absolution doesn't answer.

"I've killed millions upon millions of mortals with the flicker of my mood. What is their point in this meaningless world? Is it to serve us?... Nevertheless I need to focus. If I keep on this dark mood of mine, I will not be able to progress."

Absolution answers me with a great smile.

"Then once you ascend back to godhood, maybe you should make it easier for mortals?"

I give Absolution a look and think, that is a good idea.

"I will think about it. After all, there isn't only one type of mortal."

Absolution nods.

"In my eyes, all is equal from the lowliest of ants to the highest of dragons."

Once I'm done with my thoughts, I shove them deep into my mind and start heating up the forge.

I hear Absolution 'ooohhh' and 'aaahhh' from the burning forge.

I was impressed at first as well.

We're going to change the rules and create something new but this time, as a mortal.