Absolutely Do Not Touch ELdmia Egga – Chapter 170

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“This is… an intriguing design.”

Vulcun, scrutinizing the sketch I’d hastily drawn on a scrap of paper within the forge, uttered his first words with a hint of dubiousness in his voice.

“You were looking for daggers, yet you envisioned *this*?”

“I hadn’t anticipated the luxury of a custom order.”

Custom-made items were expensive in this world, just as they were in my previous one.

My original intention had been to acquire daggers as expendable tools.

While they wouldn’t be capable of channeling enough mana for enhanced cutting power, they would be sufficient for basic manipulation, like making them fly.

However, if a custom order was within reach, daggers weren’t necessarily the optimal choice.

“It resembles the horn of a narwhal.”

The design I’d presented was essentially a large needle.

Not just any needle, but one twisted into a spiral, like a drill bit.

Vulcun, after a prolonged examination of the drawing—roughly the length of my palm and the width of my index finger—stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“Hmm, a drill design. Indeed, the fundamental principle behind amplifying the power of a fireball spell lies in rotational force. Are you intending to harness the repulsive force generated by channeling Aura into the tool to induce rotation? An ingenious concept, but its practical application will prove challenging.”

He’d deduced the intended purpose and underlying principle simply by glancing at the sketch.

Impressive.

However, since I couldn’t utilize Aura, I was unaware of such a repulsive force.

This finally explained the absence of techniques like Aura Blades in this world.

I had been prepared to fabricate an excuse, claiming I intended to utilize it with other magical tools, but this revelation provided a convenient alternative explanation.

“Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Repetitive practice is the key to mastery.”

“A commendable mindset. Humans, with their fleeting lifespans, often overlook this fundamental truth.”

Vulcun nodded emphatically, adding a few notations to the drawing before turning his attention to a nearby abacus.

Initially, I assumed he was calculating the cost, but as he transcribed the results onto the sketch, transforming it into a proper blueprint, it became clear he had a different purpose in mind.

“With these adjustments, the crafting process should be relatively straightforward. Modifying the weight for optimal throwing will necessitate slight alterations to the form. However, the changes will be minimal, perhaps a slight bulge along one of the grooves, barely noticeable to the untrained eye.”

“How many can you produce with the available materials?”

“Based on your specifications, I estimate a yield of approximately five. Reducing the thickness could potentially increase the output to ten. What are your thoughts?”

“I chose that thickness with durability in mind. Will a reduction compromise their structural integrity?”

“Given the nature of the materials, even a slight reduction in thickness will not significantly impact their ability to withstand the force of a carelessly swung sword. While increased weight generally translates to greater lethality, if you can successfully imbue them with rotational force using Aura as you envisioned, they can also be propelled with considerable force. In that scenario, they would function similarly to hand-thrown projectiles, negating the need for excessive weight.”

Vulcun’s matter-of-fact explanation sparked a question within me.

If these needles could withstand the force of a swung sword despite being thinner than my finger, surely the material was far too valuable to be sold for a mere gold coin.

Why was such a remarkable material treated as surplus, sold at such a low price?

“If the material is that resilient, it must be exceptionally valuable. Why is it treated as surplus…?”

If this was truly the market value, most warriors would be clamoring to acquire swords made from this material, even at inflated prices.

Vulcun had described it as simply “exceptionally durable”, but having used a sword crafted from it, I knew that was a gross understatement.

The fact that my sword had emerged unscathed from the chaotic events at Envelde’s mansion only reinforced this belief.

However, Vulcun’s response was surprisingly simple and concise.

“The material is resistant to enchanting.”

He shrugged, as if that single statement explained everything.

However, I found it difficult to accept such a simple explanation.

“Have you ever examined the weapons wielded by the demons?”

Seemingly sensing my skepticism, he retrieved his pipe, carefully filling it with tobacco, creating a dramatic pause before continuing.

The only demonic weapon that came to mind was the sword I’d acquired in the abandoned dungeon.

However, officially, that incident never occurred, so I shook my head.

“I haven’t encountered any noteworthy demonic weaponry.”

“Well, there hasn’t been much interaction, and the front lines have remained relatively stable, so that’s understandable. You’re aware they utilize demonic energy, not mana or Aura, correct? As a result, even their moderately strong individuals can easily overpower Aura Experts, and the scale of their magic is truly formidable. However, everything that originates from their homeland is ultimately subject to the Earth Mother’s influence, so their equipment isn’t as resilient as they are. What do you think would happen if they attempted to imbue ordinary weapons with their potent demonic energy?”

“…I imagine they would shatter.”

While I knew this from personal experience, Vulcun, unaware of my encounter, simply nodded approvingly.

“Perceptive. Only weapons crafted by truly skilled artisans can withstand such power. Otherwise, their lifespan is drastically reduced. That’s why they developed a special alloy known as Demonic Steel. One moment.”

Lighting his pipe with a small burst of magic, Vulcun disappeared into a storage area, returning with a lump of metal similar in color to my sword, but with an unsettling, almost liquid quality, like mercury.

“This is it. Nothing particularly remarkable about its appearance. Its defining characteristic is its ability to withstand the strain of demonic energy. The process is rather complex, so a detailed explanation is difficult… but imagine a metal that has been nurtured and grown with demonic energy.”

“As always, your explanations are remarkably… vivid.”

“Is that so? My apprentices always seem rather perplexed. In any case, after feeding it demonic energy and refining it through magical engineering, we discovered it possessed exceptional durability. The problem is, this metal, perhaps due to its refined palate, is completely unresponsive to mana. Attempts to imbue it with Aura result in a repulsive force, like magnets of the same polarity.”

“So, using human magic…”

“…it’s impossible to enchant. Only demons, dragonkin, and other races that utilize demonic energy can effectively wield weapons crafted from this material. As a result, we can’t even produce Demonic Steel ourselves. If we want to work with it, we have to salvage demonic weapons from the battlefield and recycle them.”

So, despite its exceptional durability, its inability to be enchanted rendered it impractical for human use.

They had acquired it, crafted weapons from it, hoping to harness its potential, only to discover it was nothing more than an exceptionally sturdy, yet ultimately useless, material.

And I had stumbled upon a sword crafted from this remarkable material.

The gods truly existed.

“It’s astonishing that even Dwarven alchemy can refine such a unique material.”

“That’s a topic for another discussion among specialists, but suffice it to say, it’s a completely different domain, so the refining process isn’t particularly challenging. If you aspire to become a blacksmith, I’d be happy to elaborate, but otherwise, it’s just unnecessarily complex information that you’ll likely never utilize.”

Having recently suffered a bout of frustration after being misled by a supposedly “beginner-friendly” magic textbook, I decided to respect Vulcun’s consideration.

After gathering additional information about the demons and finalizing the order details, I paid the agreed-upon price of one gold coin and stepped outside.

It was almost lunchtime.

“Aside from the royal encounter, this has been a productive morning.”

Not only had I acquired a sword I genuinely liked, but I was now about to receive additional weapons crafted from the same material by the same master craftsman, all for the price of a single gold coin. It was a bargain that made even overseas shopping seem overpriced.

“Now, let’s pay Zikmel a visit.”

Expressing my gratitude was a secondary objective.

I was primarily curious about his reaction to Envelde’s demise, news of which he had undoubtedly received by now.

Asirye might scold me for not returning to the estate immediately after my release, but I figured I might as well address any outstanding matters while I was out and about, maximizing my free time.

With a buoyant spirit and a spring in my step, I departed the Dwarven district.

As the surrounding crowds began to thin, the familiar carriage reappeared.

‘Persistent, aren’t they?’

Its timely arrival suggested they had been waiting for my departure.

The only noticeable difference from our previous encounter was the distinctly displeased expression on the face of the woman serving as both coachman and butler.

“If you please…”

“You’re not going to try to appeal to your master’s honor and convince me to enter the carriage this time, are you? No, that can’t be right. This isn’t a formal occasion, and you’re approaching me discreetly. There’s no need for such pretense. If you want to speak with me, identify yourself properly.”

My interruption and subsequent rambling elicited a deepening frown from the woman.

Of course, she had intended to appeal to her master’s honor.

It was obvious she served a royal, and my dismissive attitude was undoubtedly offensive to her as a loyal servant.

But that wasn’t my concern.

As I prepared to bypass the carriage and continue on my way, the door swung open, the curtains parted, and a young woman with the unmistakable air of a princess emerged.

Her blonde hair and youthful, gentle features contrasted sharply with the steely determination in her eyes.

Her tone was markedly different from the butler-like woman’s.

“This time, let’s have a proper conversation!”

Damn it.

Why was she making this so difficult?

If I ignored her after seeing her face, it would be considered an act of disrespect, bordering on treason.

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[Egga is about to get jumped again, i can feel it… royals are never a good sign]