Wayne had been hammering iron like crazy all morning.


    He had been doing this for the past few days.


    In his mind''s eye, he sees armor that has been battered and beaten away by adventurers.


    (The adventurers throw away their equipment. There is no greater humiliation for an alchemist. He was so focused on revenge against Edgar and power struggles within his workshop (atelier) that he reduced the quality of his equipment to the point that the adventurers gave up on him. It''s pathetic. When did I become such a coward!　Since Edgar set me up?　Since we lost to Aina?　(I''m sure I used to be more genuinely interested in improving my specs.)


    Wayne looked at the finished armor and quickly stepped aside.


    ''d*mn. No good. Not like this. I can''t even beat Edgar, let alone Aina.


    He immediately begins to make new armor.


    Aina and Roddy looked at Wayne in amazement.


    What the hell is wrong with Wayne, all of a sudden?"


    He''s been like that ever since he came back from the dungeon. I don''t know what happened in the dungeon.


    But ...... what the hell does he want?"


    I don''t know. I have no idea."


    In fact, from the side, I wasn''t sure what Wayne wanted.


    From the way he was molding, it looked like he was making Class A armor, but there wasn''t enough iron for that.


    The quality of the iron used also varied.


    They kept making armor and breaking it down, and never seemed to be able to see where they were going.


    Good morning, everyone.


    Oh, Mr. Roland.


    Are you all right now?　I heard you collapsed as soon as you got back from the dungeon. ......"


    Yeah. I''m fine now. I''m sorry for worrying you. What is that noise?　Is Wayne working on it?"


    Yes, that''s right. He''s been like that ever since he came back. It''s as if he''s possessed by something, and he''s been hammering away at the iron single-mindedly.


    It''s good that you work so hard, but you''re wasting too much iron. You make all that armor so crazily. There were traces of cutting corners in the equipment for new partnerships. It''s time to pay attention.


    Wait. Aina.


    Roland stopped Aina, who was about to warn him.


    Mr. Roland?"


    Something in Wayne is about to change. Let''s keep an eye on things here.


    Roland appraised the armor Wayne had made.


    (At first glance, those armors were made in a very simple way. (At first glance, these pieces of armor look like they are made in a very simple way, but if you look closely, you can see that they are all pursuing one concept. It is the specifications. He is trying to make powerful and durable equipment with the least amount of iron as possible. The relentless pursuit of status. (Was this the switch that allowed Wayne''s talent to flourish?)


    Roland looked at Wayne.


    Unlike his previous somewhat distracted appearance, he was continuing to strike the iron in a frantic manner.


    (The tears he showed at the end of the search. (If those tears were not a lie, then it is worth giving him a chance.)


    Wayne made his tenth piece of armor today, but he was never able to make anything that satisfied him.


    When he put the new iron on the workbench, he finally noticed something strange.


    （What is it?　What is this? It''s iron C, isn''t it? d*mn. What am I doing? Have I become so slow that I can''t even tell the quality of iron?


    Wayne regains his composure and goes to get Iron A.


    He takes the iron out of the box with the Iron A nameplate on it and feels it to the touch.


    (But it''s starting to come back to me. (But I''m beginning to remember how it used to feel. (But I''m beginning to remember the old sensations. When I was concentrating on alchemy, my senses became so acute that I could tell the quality of a metal just by the feel of it. (Did I even forget such a basic thing?)


    Wayne''s senses became more and more acute.


    The feel of the iron, the blows coming from the hammer, the sound of striking iron, the changing colors.


    Then he checked the finished armor.


    It was indeed thickly armored, and it had to be a high-powered suit of armor.


    （But no.)


    Roland appraises the status of the armor.


    Status of the armor


    Power: 90


    Durability: 30


    (Highly powerful, but too low in durability)


    Roland looks at other armor Wayne has made.


    They all had similar problems.


    (This is what happens when you mold them before they are hard enough. This has been repeating itself since a while ago. What should we do?　(Do you want me to interfere?)


    Roland asked how Wayne was doing.


    Wayne knew he was doing the same thing over and over again.


    (d*mn. Why do I always, always, always underestimate durability? (Why do I always underestimate durability? I just made a lot of low-durability armor last time.)


    Wayne takes out another new piece of iron and starts making armor.


    (This is what happens when you mold before hardening enough. You need to hammer in more fully. (I believe Aina used to beat faster and more carefully.)


    Wayne hammers the steel, remembering Aina''s form.


    Roland also notices that Wayne has modified his work process.


    (Did you notice that on your own? I''ll keep an eye on him a little longer.)


    And so the armor was finally completed.


    [Armor status


    Strength: 80


    Durability: 80


    Weight: 80


    (It was done. No doubt about it. It''s the best I''ve ever made. ......, but why?)


    Wayne looks at the finished armor and is seized by a slight feeling of discomfort.


    （I feel like something is missing. Why on earth would ......)


    Are you going to stop there, Wayne?"


    Wayne huffs and turns at the voice that is called to him.


    (Loran ....... You were awake.)


    That armor hasn''t reached its molding limit yet. "That armor hasn''t reached its molding limit yet, and you''re just going to stop there?"


    I''ll be right back. Who said anything about quitting?


    Wayne turns to his armor, which appears to be finished.


    （It has not yet reached the limit of molding. But this is not "metal molding". (This is ......)


    Wayne takes out his cutting tools.


    (This is ''magic stone cutting''!


    Wayne uses a cutting tool to cut away the rough edges of the armor, making it smooth and smooth.


    When all the excess parts had been scraped off, the armor took on a new light.


    Roland appraises the finished armor.


    Status of the armor


    Power: 80


    Durability: 80


    Weight: 60 (↓20)


    Despite weighing 60, it has 80 power and 80 durability.


    It was a phenomenon that would normally be impossible.


    Effects of "Cutting" (cutting of magic stone)


    The power of a magic stone can be increased by shaving it.


    The excess parts of the equipment can be removed while retaining its power, making it lighter.


    [Wayne Merza''s skill].


    Metal Forming": A (up1)


    Cutting": A (up2)


    (The effect of "cutting magic stone" was added and it became class A.) (Has he finally awakened?)


    Wayne shuddered at the sensation that ran through him.


    (What''s that feeling now? It was clearly different from the sensation of normal skill improvement. It was as if he was running up two steps ....... Is this Roland''s skill?　This was not possible when I was in "Dragon''s Fires. There is someone who pushes me. (I can''t believe how much of a difference it makes in the rate of growth.)


    (I''ve seen it, Wayne. Your growth. At the same time, the biggest weak point of the workshop (atelier) was also compensated. With this, this workshop (atelier) can finally move on to the next stage.)


    Guys, come here for a second.


    In response to Roland''s call, the alchemists, who had been working individually, gather together.


    At the same time, Lange, Aryeh, and Cheal were also summoned.


    Let me introduce you to my colleagues from the "Arsenal of Spirits" headquarters," Roland said. Lange, Aryeh, and Cheal. They will be assisting me in this workshop (atelier) from today.


    <>