Earth Dungeon 49.1

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Chapter 49.1. Production

At the headquarters of the Amatsugahara Corporation, people are diligently repairing and cleaning, transforming it into a livable space with clean windows. 

Among the areas, the residential floors are from the 10th to the ground floor, while floors 11 to 15 are used as warehouses and research labs. In one of the research labs, Jun, one of the original employees, was nervously holding an iron pipe in front of him.

Although it's called a research lab, it's just a former office space on the 11th floor that they cleaned up and tidied, by getting rid of the debris and junk. 

Tables and pipe chairs were placed around, and there were many iron pipes piled on the desks.

Jun's usual group was also gathered there, and Hana was looking at him anxiously, while a little girl was sitting on Sakimori-san's lap, flapping her feet.

"Don't be so nervous. It's just something we took from some random iron railing. Even if you fail, there's plenty more."

"It's plenty."

Sakimori-san, the president and our benefactor who picked us up when we were struggling to survive, said in a relaxed tone while sitting on a chair. But I guess it's natural to be nervous since it's my first time using level 1 skills.

The little girl imitated Sakimori-san and cheerfully encouraged me, so I felt some of the tension in my shoulders ease.

I took a deep breath and gathered mana in the palm of my hand, focusing on [Metal Working].

As I uttered the words, the iron pipe gradually softened. It slowly melted, much like clay. It was a delicate process that required intense concentration; otherwise, I would fail.

After about ten minutes, the iron pipe had turned into a sharp blade. Unlike before, I could now process it into about 50 centimeters.

Even I, who used the skill, was surprised by the effect.

"Wow! My skill has become hundreds of times more effective!"

Before, I could only create a few-centimeter-long blade, but now it's hundreds of times more effective. I was overjoyed at the thought that I could easily make knives and such.

"Congratulations, Jun-chan! But, um, it's probably not hundreds of times." 

"Huh? Is that so?"

From a few centimeters to 50 centimeters – isn't that hundreds of times more? I'm not very good at math, but if Hana says so, it must be true.

"How much mana do you have left?"

Sakimori-san turned his sharp gaze, which was as sharp as a knife, toward me, prompting me to check my status.

"It's 218 out of 208... so, um, it decreased by 10!"

"Well, that's good enough. It's fine." 

He said with a smirk, patting my head, and I felt happy, albeit a little embarrassed.

Level 1 skills are amazing. Even though I created them myself, I'm still surprised.

"By the way, about [Metal Working], can you make wrought iron? Sorry, but I'd like it for agricultural tools, not just spearheads. It's not usable as it is now."

The spearhead I made wasn't to his liking. It's true, as it is now, it would break or bend easily, as the knowledge in my head also informed me.

"Wrought iron? Let me see... Yeah, I can do it. I know in my head! It's a strange feeling! Oh, but making wrought iron also consumes mana? And quite a lot!"

"Ah, it doesn't matter. Can you become a blacksmith with that knowledge?"

"Yeah, I understand. How should I forge iron?"

"Well then, I want to teach that knowledge to adults and train them to become blacksmiths... but I don't have a furnace. Oh well, never mind. In that case, after forging the iron, please try making a hoe. I'll come back later."

Standing up from the chair, Sakimori-san waved his hand and left with Hana.

"I'll do my best to cultivate the fields too!"

"Oh yeah! Good luck!"

While feeling lonely from separating from me and taking action, Hana looked at the pile of iron pipes and gathered her determination. She had received a Skill Level Up Potion and a 200-Point Stat Boost Potion! Sakimori-san told her to allocate all the points to mana and keep it a secret, especially from the cat-girl. If asked, she was instructed to say that she trained by drinking potions every day and defeating monsters. In reality, she was defeating slimes and giant rats almost every day, and she drank the initial potions because they were sweet.

"I must have used the skill about a thousand times by now. I can keep using it forever! Making a home is a piece of cake!"

"Go for it!"

Holding the iron pipe, Jun poured his mana into it with determination. The young girl beside her clapped her hands and cheered, giving Jun confidence that everything would be fine.

Hana had been asked to help create the fields and followed Sakimori-san. They swiftly moved to the fields riding on Mike-chan and its companions, as if flying. Amid summer, a cool breeze brushed against their faces, and the flowing scenery was pleasant to behold. Hana wished she could always travel by riding on Tora-san.

Hana had also received Skill Level Up Potions and Stat Boost Potions, just like Jun. She allocated 100 points to mana and 25 points to each of the other stats. It was a secret from Jun, but she had probably become stronger than him.

"Um, was it okay for me not to allocate all my points to mana?"

With the disappearance of monsters and the self-defense squad patrolling the area, this abandoned town had surprisingly good security.

As they sped along the road, people who noticed them waved their hands, and Hana smiled and waved back. She took the opportunity to ask Sakimori-san about something on her mind.

"Hmm? Ah, I just wanted Jun to use the processing skill. We don't have an environment for blacksmithing, and the other stats weren't necessary. But for you, Hana, [Plant Knowledge] will likely be needed for farming. I thought the other stats would be necessary too."

Hana felt happy that Sakimori-san finally remembered her name, and she nodded in understanding. It made sense when she thought about it.