At the tip of the staff, I positioned the golem's core and used an oak handle to begin forging.
"Regenerate, Fairy Wish, Slip Guard, Power Up, Element Boost!"
As the temperature rose from the forging device, I felt the influence of Phoebe's supportive magic. I checked the materials coming from the forge; a bright red lump of metal, like when I had crafted shovels and swords, was delivered to the anvil.
"The wood is completely burned up…" I muttered, picking up the hammer.
After striking repeatedly, the process wrapped up much faster than when I'd made the shovel or Lily's sword, and without any fatigue. Was it because the material's rarity was low?
Then came the crucial wooden material. As soon as I pressed the finishing button, a portion of the heated metal chunk transformed into oak.
"Why is that!? The laws of physics aren't working here!?"
"It's quite a mysterious phenomenon…"
"This must be a game mechanic; if that's the case, we could probably add firework powder without issue!"
We reacted to the appearance of the oak. Then, the system screen displayed the staff's properties:
*'Staff of the Golem Core
Element: Fire
Stats: Attack +1, Magic +7
Special Effect: None
A staff imbued with the core of a golem, wrapped in fire's power.'*
Huh? No ability to name it, and no special effects either?
"It's pretty weak. At this rate, I can't auction it off; I should just sell it to an NPC shop."
"Hmm, is it because the material's rarity is low? Or should I try increasing the number of golem cores a bit? Also, the core will make the tip of the staff heavy, so should I switch the handle to iron? Lily, are we good to go?"
"Just wait a minute; my MP will recover soon."
Once ready, I tossed the materials back into the forge—this time, ten golem cores and five iron ores. Bathing in the forge's heat, aided by Phoebe's magic again, I started swinging the hammer.
"Whoa... this feels different from before!"
"Are you okay, Lena?"
The sparks flew more fiercely, and the recoil when striking the metal was intense... Is it just the switch from oak to iron, or is it really the increased number of golem cores making that much of a difference?
"I'm fine! I can handle this! Keep the support magic coming!"
"Got it!"
I wanted to avoid looking foolish over a minor material change—after all, I'm set to inherit the forge one day! Fueled by determination, I swung the hammer repeatedly until, finally, I managed to complete it. By the time I finished, I was so exhausted I had to kneel...
'Staff of the Nameless Golem Core
Element: Fire
Stats: Attack +3, Magic +200
Special Effect: One-Time Use, Fire Affinity (Medium)
A staff infused with the condensed core of a golem crafted by Lena. It harnesses the power of fire, but the core is so overloaded that it shatters after one spell is cast.'
The completed item is… what is this, a disposable staff?
"This is incredible! Instead of a disposable item, it's a super powerful staff. We can put this up for auction! Amazing, big brother!"
It seems the first one is done.
Lily suggested that since having multiple staves might lower their value at auction, it would be better to create a sword next. I decided to take her advice and prepare for sword crafting.
"Is the golem core made of metal?"
"Let's find out, big brother!"
"Well, we might as well give it a try. If it fails, it fails."
I only have eight pieces of magical silk from the leader, but I still have plenty of golem cores and iron ore.
For now, I'll attempt to craft a sword using ten golem cores and one piece of magical silk.
With Phoebe's supportive magic, I swung down for the first strike. In an instant, my vision turned red, then white, then black, and before I knew it, I was standing at the entrance of town.
"What!? Did I die!?"
Could it be that it exploded the moment I struck!? Is Phoebe okay!?
Fortunately, I had received the key to enter Lily's team's workshop from the leader. I quickly used the key on the magic circle and returned to the workshop.
"Phoebe! Are you okay!?"
"That's what I should be asking! Lena, you disappeared in an explosion! It was terrifying!"
Phoebe said with a frightened expression. Yeah, I'd be scared too if something suddenly exploded and I vanished.
Phoebe stood unscathed, just as close to the explosion as I was, likely thanks to her shovel and Archie's protective effect.
"If I fail, it will explode… If I had used gunpowder when forging the sword, would it have caused the blast we just saw?"
"It would have been disastrous if I'd added gunpowder while making the sword… I hadn't made Archie then and wouldn't have been able to protect Phoebe."
Thinking that made me grateful for our leader.
"But can I really fail with just the golem core? Maybe I should mix in some iron… Oh, and there's the damaged golem body."
The damaged golem body might actually work better than iron… It was worth a try.
"Phoebe, sorry for startling you with that explosion earlier. Can you help me one more time?"
"Sure, but I really don't want another explosion."
"Then I need to get it right this time."
With determination to avoid another blast, I prepared to forge again, this time combining ten golem cores, ten golem body parts, and one enchanted silk in the forge.
With Lily's magic powering the forge, a glowing red mass of metal moved to the anvil.
"Regenerate, Fairy Wish, Slip Guard, Power Up, Element Boost!"
With Phoebe's supportive spells invigorating me, I swung the hammer with all my might.
Each time the hammer struck the metal, I felt my strength drain. Was it the curse of the forge? I felt fatigue setting in faster than when I was making the staff. Regardless, I couldn't stop—if I did, it would mean failure, and failure meant another explosion. I had to keep going, not just for myself, but for Phoebe.
Yet it seemed I might collapse if things continued like this. What could I do? Ah!
"Phoebe! Picture the fire, the eternal flame of life!"
"I understand!"
As I urged Phoebe, I focused on the same image and swung my hammer with all my might. Each strike rang true, but I felt little change. I had hoped the resonance would mitigate my fatigue, but perhaps I was mistaken? Even so, as a blacksmith, I had to forge this!
"Now, this is it!"
The moment I pressed the final button, my vision faded to black, and I found myself transported back to the entrance of the town.
"Dying from forging instead of combat? What am I, some kind of corporate slave? My body is too fragile…"
The weariness of my work faded away as I joked to myself and made my way back to the workshop.
"Hey, big brother! You made an incredible weapon!"
"Lily, what kind of weapon did I create?"
'Nameless Golem Core Heavy Demon Blade
Attributes: Fire
Stats: Attack +50, Magic +15
Special Effects: Equipment Restrictions (Strength: 250, Dexterity: 200), Fire Resistance (Small), Damage When Unsheathed (Small), Continuous HP Recovery (Medium)
This sword, crafted with Lena's devotion, bears the core of a golem, infused with Phoebe's prayer for regeneration and Lena's eternal flame. Due to the compression of大量 golem materials in its blade, it is heavy, making it difficult for most to wield.'
Despite its restrictions, like taking small damage when unsheathed, its performance might surpass Lily's sword. Could the HP recovery be a result of the resonance?
"...The equipment requirements are pretty strict, but in terms of performance, I have no doubt that top players will want this..." Lily seems to have a good evaluation of it, so I'm feeling optimistic.
"Lena, are you okay? You disappeared just like when you made the sword."
"Oh, it's no problem. Sometimes when I get tired, I have the ability to teleport outside the city. It's not a drawback, so don't worry."
I say this to reassure Phoebe, who is worried. It's a bit frustrating that the NPC Phoebe can't understand the technical aspects, so I have to put it this way. It feels like I'm keeping secrets.
"Anyway, I'm off to put these up for auction! Just wait for a bit!"
With that, Lily grabbed her staff and sword and headed off somewhere.
Hmm, what to do with the remaining time? I logged in late this afternoon and don't have much time left… Plus, after all that blacksmithing today, I'm not really in the mood for combat.
"Phoebe, is there anything you want to do?"
"If that's the case, I'd like to explore Two Towns again."
"Alright, let's go sightseeing then."
So, we spent the rest of the day leisurely exploring Two Towns. We enjoyed some street food along the way, which was fun.
"Big brother, I have something I want to do in Fantasy Freedom today... Do you have time?"
"Yeah, sounds good. Does Lily have no plans?"
The next evening, after dinner, my sister Yuna timidly asked me, and I replied, "P-please don't say that name here! It's bad manners; you can't use it for anyone else... Well, let's meet in that other world."
"Y-yeah... Let's meet there."
Yuna, embarrassed at hearing the name Lily, returned to her room. I wondered if it was generally frowned upon to use game names in real life. With that thought drifting in my mind, I equipped myself with the VR gear to enter the world of Fantasy Freedom.
"Alright, let's hit the casino!"
"???"
Transformed into Lena by the power of the game, I stepped into Lily's virtual home, where Lily had already suggested a visit to the casino.
"I think I've been there before; it's the place where sexy people work, right? I remember someone screaming really loudly. What's it like?"
"It's a place where you can win a fortune if you're lucky! Phoebe!"
Phoebe closed the book Lily had given her and promptly nestled into the pocket of her gym uniform.
"That's not wrong, but don't give Phoebe half-hearted explanations, Lily... The casino is all about gambling. You bet money, and if you win the game, you can win back more than you wagered, but if you lose, you lose it all. Some people get so hooked that they bet everything and end up ruined. So, Phoebe, you can only wager a bit of money if you go to the casino, alright? Overdoing it can be toxic. Do you understand, Phoebe?"
"Okay, I understand," I said after seriously filling Phoebe in on casino information, then turned to Lily with a question. "Why the sudden interest in the casino? I thought the auction results would be in by now."
"The auction results don't come out right away, even after you list something. I thought we could have some fun together while we wait. I can cover the money for the casino, if you're up for it?"
"I don't have much extra cash, and I'm not planning on borrowing from my sister. But well, you can treat Phoebe." The idea of taking money from my sister, even for a game, felt uncomfortably wrong. Fortunately, I had managed to sell a low-quality golem core staff to an NPC, leaving me with some spending money. I decided it was fine to have a little fun at the casino, so we headed there.
Inside the casino, the atmosphere was filled with cheers for wins and groans for losses. With Lily towering over everyone, I felt out of place in this child's body.
"Here you go, Phoebe's chips… and this little hat, a good luck charm." Lily handed me casino chips and a small hat.
**Small Hat
Attribute: None
Special Effect: Luck Increase (Minor), Presence Concealment (Major)**
"Thanks, Lily." I used my appraisal to check the hat's effects before placing it on Phoebe's head. Maybe the luck charm was just a cover—more of a way to keep Phoebe from being targeted if anything went wrong.