Tenkomori Chapter 125.1

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Chapter 125.1. The Third Year at the Academy - Two Years Later (1)

Chapter 125.1. The Third Year at the Academy - Two Years Later (1)

As the year-end approached, the streets of Selene were crowded with people.

Exhaling white breath, I moved down the bustling main street, glancing at the golem doll stalls.

When I reached my destination, it was, as expected, busier than usual.

While scanning the hall, someone, as usual, approached me and led me to a private room.

"Sorry to bother you while you're busy."

"No, not at all. For Alter-sama, I can make time anytime."

Samini returned her usual smile.

I took off my backpack and pulled out a wooden box from inside.

"I came to deliver this today."

"Is that a Majumag... No way, did you succeed!?"

"Yeah."

I placed a blue, translucent sculpture on the table.

Even in front of the actual item, Samini stared in disbelief.

"I can’t believe it... To surpass Istar-san in just a year..."

"Not exactly."

At my correction, Samini looked up.

"I can't go into details, but I acquired a skill that lets me control fire temperature. The success in heat treatment is thanks to that."

"So, your current rank is—"

"My rank is 4, [Smithing 4]."

Though understanding, Samini looked surprised at the speed of my progress.

She then lowered her gaze again to inspect the sculpture.

Strictly speaking, the fire temperature control isn’t a skill.

[Fire Spirit Summon: Salkar]

It’s spirit magic that summons Salkar, a flame serpent.

The encounter was completely by chance.

A while back, while I was working in the forge with the fire lit, Melock appeared on his own.

He was just watching the furnace without doing anything, so I left him be, but then I noticed his gaze moving.

It was strange for an earth spirit to show interest in a different attribute like fire.

On a hunch, I activated [Appraisal], focused on the flickering flames, and spotted a flame serpent swimming in the furnace.

What came next was challenging.

Unlike the easygoing Melock, Salkar was quite particular.

He ignored a single [Flint] spark, so I had to activate it with both hands through [Multi-Cast], adjust the firepower with [Breeze], and after trial and error, I managed to win him over.

He caused me quite a bit of trouble, but in return, Salkar brought immense benefits.

Fire spirits, in general, are highly aggressive, igniting combustibles or raising temperatures.

However, Salkar was unusual, being rather defensive.

His skills are fewer than Melock's, with only [Spirit Body] and [Flame Absorb].

This [Flame Absorb] is his biggest, and unique, feature.

[Flame Absorb] has an effect opposite to what you’d expect, absorbing flames and heat.

With Salkar coiled around my hand, I can stick it into fire without feeling heat or getting burned. Though there’s a limit to the absorbed heat, handling it well grants nearly complete fire resistance.

A minor drawback is that Salkar is a small snake.

To cover even one hand, several must be summoned; for an arm, it takes maximum mana, and for the whole body, [Multi-Cast] is essential.

Technically, Salkar grows after absorbing heat through [Flame Absorb], reaching the size of an anaconda at maximum. It might also be useful to grant him fire spells during summoning.

In any case, thanks to Salkar, I can now control temperatures perfectly.

Once I teach him the optimal temperature, I just throw the Majumag sculpture into the furnace, and the heating process completes.

As long as it’s within the summoning duration, no matter how long I leave it, it won’t overheat.

It was so simple I felt like laughing, wondering about all the troubles Egil and I had gone through.

"I’ll continue handling the heat treatment, but I can’t keep the fire going constantly. It’s a personal forge, after all. I’ll handle them together during smithing sessions. Send them once you’re ready. And... you still couldn’t get your hands on Shumi magic stones?"

"Apologies. Though a large quantity entered the market, they were all bought up already."

"I see. That’s a shame, but I’ll give up."

Spirit magic stones are one of the materials for the magic bag, Terpar’s Bag.

I’d hoped to secure some for when I’d eventually make my own.

Incidentally, spirit summoning doesn’t yield magic stones.

For a magic stone to form, a spirit must come to this world voluntarily, materialize, and remain for some time.

It’s a convenient tale, but even if it were possible, I wouldn’t think of dismantling the familiar Melock or Salkar.

"I have something to report as well."

As she suddenly began, Samini reached for a wooden box beside her.

She pulled out a sculpture of a knight.

"Is that Katie's work?"

"Yes. I’m extremely grateful to you for introducing me to such a skilled artisan."

"She would’ve made a name for herself. The introduction was just a matter of time."

Saying so, I looked down at the knight’s sculpture.

Was it a scene from a myth or legend?

The knight, raising his sword, was both powerful and delicate.

Katie, back when we met, favored rough decorations and lacked finesse.

The change in her style likely came from Rag’s influence.

Once I lent her Rag’s handcrafted weapons, Katie became so immersed that she even skimped on sleep to study them.

It became so distracting that I eventually stopped lending them to her.

Taking Katie's sculpture, I stood up.

"Well, I’ll be going. Sorry to bother you during the busy year-end. Deliver the additional sculptures in the evening. If I’m not home, leave them with my neighbor, Dana."

"Understood."

Seeing me off, Samini watched as I left the commercial guild.

In the cold wind, I headed down the main street toward my house.

Soon, Ted and the others would gather to prepare for the celebration.

Thinking about any cleaning supplies I might need, I turned into an alley from the main street.

After a short while, I sensed several presences.

They stayed put in front of my house.

A few adults—

Realizing who they were, I quickened my pace.

As soon as I exited the alley, they noticed me as well.

"Alter!"

Calling my name, a big man came running over.

Laughing, he patted my shoulder several times.

"Have you been well? Have you gotten a bit taller?"

"I’m well. Stop patting; it hurts. And it’s not just a bit; I’ve grown a lot."

Saying that, a smile naturally spread across my face.

Looking up at Markant, my gaze drifted to his cheek.

"You’ve gotten more handsome, haven’t you?"

"This? Pretty cool, huh?"

Markant grinned, stroking the scar on his cheek.

As we exchanged words, Valerie, followed by Danil and Ose, greeted me with smiles.

"It’s been a while, Alter-sama."

"Everyone seems the same. When did you get back?"

"This morning."

"Oh, just missed each other, huh? Sorry for making you wait in the cold. Come on in."