What a nice morning.
Waking up in my nice, cozy and warm futon.
The window to my room is wide open, fresh air blowing in together with the nice chirping of birds.
Light rays of the sun flow in, casting a nice glow and making the view even better.
And then, of course, I cannot forget the most important thing.
The fucking screaming voice in my head.
[Your Supernatural Heritage has Awakened!]
How does one even react to that, without starting to think that they are going crazy?
Has my time come?
I am in my early twenties, but it seems Schizophrenia has come for me.
[Your Half-Fae Bloodline has Awakened!]
My what?
Why am I still giving this thing any attention anyway?
[Fae's Ancestry]
Masters of the craft and arts, feared for their sharp tongue and making others fall into tricky deals that cost them dearly.
Their understanding of Smithing, Forging and Blacksmithing is nearly unmatched, with their capabilities know and feared for having forged the Mythical Excalibur.
[Fae's Charm]
Fae are naturally alluring. Their looks, no matter the gender, are soft and perfect, feminine and alluring, with their flirtatious words being the icing on the cake.
…
Is that why I can get laid so easily?
That… Kinda answers many questions.
[Unified Language]
The language used before Humanity enraged God by building the Tower of Babel. Few Races escaped his wrath, and thus managed to keep knowledge of this ancient tongue.
A mystical language that grants the wielder the power to manipulate the world or the people around them.
This…
I do not get knowledge of an Ancient Language shoved into my head… Instead, I understand it.
It is not a language that requires speech, as this Unified Language uses the Soul itself as a medium.
...Is this why the Fae can so easily trick others into deals and whatnot? Because they affect the Soul itself?
Why am I even believing all this stuff that my head is conjuring up?
…Who am I kidding, of course it's all real. I can feel the understanding of metallurgy, of forging, of smithing, of raw ores and everything in-between.
Because it has been a part of me since I was young. Hell, even my classes at the Kyoto University are about Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, because clearly it is something in my very blood.
That means that one of my two parents was a Fae, then… Never met either of them, as I am an orphan, so whatever.
Anyway, let's start waking up while I process the rest of… Whatever this is.
[The 'Novice Blacksmith' Class has been acquired!]
[Novice Blacksmith]
Big dreams and budding skills, a Novice Blacksmith is someone who can, at best, farm barely passable farming equipment.
Create 10 Normal Grade Weapons/Items to Evolve this Class! (0/10)
I stretch my back with a groan and lift a brow at the information given to me by this System in my head.
A Class? Like a Videogame? It has been a long time since I've played one since I've been focused on my University classes. Or just messing around, heh…
Still, guess I am starting at the lowest level, huh- No wait, there are no Levels, but goals. That's peculiar.
[A Skill has been acquired!]
[Minor Ore Appraisal Eye]
Simple ores are easy for you to identify, and a thorough check can swiftly reveal the amount of impurities within them.
It levels up with the Class!
Simple ores… Stuff like Iron and Steel seem to be counted among those simple ores. Including Bronze and Aluminum.
I've always had a fine eye for such things, though. How to best repair certain metal objects, how to remake them better, how many strikes it took to put them in such a shape and that the temperature used was a few dozen grades below or higher.
...How did I not realize this sooner?
This Fae Heritage of mine is kinda bullshit. It gives me such insane understanding of metalworking that it feels like I never really required the lessons I've worked hard to pay for.
Hence, this Skill… It's kinda useless right now, isn't it?
I stand up with a soft chuckle, then run a hand through my long hair. With a low sigh, I step off my soft futon and towards the door of my inn room.
Oh well, can't really expect everything I get to be very good-
[Your Forge Dimension is now active and running!]
I blink.
Then, very slowly, I close the open door to my door room that, instead of leading to the inn hallway… Leads into the interiors of a large smithy.
I saw a large anvil, tools hanging on walls, a furnace, and many other useful things for a Blacksmith.
But that's not the fucking point!
[Forge Dimension]
Your personal Forge, holding an infinite supply of wood and charcoal, with an outside shed that will hold and replenish any raw ores or ingots placed inside it each week.
The Forge and the tools will improve with each Class Evolution!
A Dimension.
A goddamn Dimension.
It just popped up out of nowhere.
This is pure insanity…
I drag a hand along my face and sigh… At least these weird Notifications finally stopped.
I open the sliding door to my room again, and it's still there… How do I fix this? Do I jump out of the window and into the water canal below?
I sigh, close the door and my eyes, then just… think about removing the Dimension from being connected to my room door.
Opening it again makes me release a breath of relief at the sight of the hallway. That was simple, at least.
Despite the fact that I am insanely curious and also excited to explore this Forge Dimension of mine that appeared out of nowhere, I'd rather first get ready and go do my class at the University.
I go to close the door to my room when a beautiful girl just floats past me and down the hall.
Yes, floats.
Long white hair, the specific yukata of the Yuragi-Sou hot springs, and long luscious legs hanging below as she floats past while humming a happy tune.
There is also a certain triangular shaped white cloth around her head, which kinda tells me what she is.
Is she a ghost…?
I did hear that the Yuragi-Sou is haunted due to the corpse of a high-school girl being found in the hot springs a long time ago, and that's why no one uses this place and why the rent is so low.
I just chalked it up to people being superstitious or something, and even though I've lived here for a long time – nearly two years, in fact – I've never had anything weird happen to me or around me.
But now I can see her because my Supernatural Heritage has awakened, I presume?
I scratch my cheek and look at her departing figure, then just shrug and go grab a change of clothes. With how weird this day started, I'm going to need a nice long dip in the warm waters of this inn's hot springs.
As I grab my things and depart down the hall to go to the baths, I cannot help but let my thoughts wander back to the things I just learned.
Or more like, were shoved into my head as soon as I woke up.
I'm half human, half Fae. I have some kind of System that relies on Forging equipment in order to… upgrade or evolve my Class.
It feels like a Game, so… Are there rolling percentages on the Grades of the things I'll forge? Is it up to chance, like in certain games where item drops are up to chance?
…
No answer from whatever the thing in my head is.
So… What exactly are the Grades for the-
[Normal Grade – Rare Grade – Epic Grade – Unique Grade – Legendary Grade – Mythic Grade]
So now you answer, you bastard.
Anyway, Mythic Grade seems to be the highest so far. I think. There might be hidden ones, as I know some games that have special grades for a different kind of equipment.
My mind wanders at that. I can feel a… connection to my Forge Dimension. I can tell what there is inside it at all times, and I can even tell how it looks like despite barely giving it a cursory glance before.
It's small, perfect for the use of a single blacksmith, and everything is neatly stacked inside the small hut.
There is even an outside area to said hut housing the main forge equipment and furnace, though it's not too big.
Just a small field, with a small shed close to the forge hut, with the inside housing the crucial materials needed to forge weapons.
Seven barrels of quenching oil, seven iron ingots, seven steel ingots, and seven caskets filled with charcoal.
There is even a section of woods behind the shed, holding a few trees before it all just… cuts off into nothingness, so I guess I gotta chop my own wood.
Everything is very medieval, holding none of the electronic factory presses for hammering heated ingots and the likes, telling me I'll have to do everything by hand.
I'm usually a lazy person, but this actually excites me quite a bit.
Still, the ability of the storage shed is quite interesting. Anything put inside it will be registered, then refill after a week.
That means that I can stack up on a total of certain raw ores and ingots, move them out so to start the timer, then hoard them in great quantities.
I do wonder if the timer will grow shorter as my class advances. It could be useful.
...Oh shit, since the Supernatural is apparently very much real, does that mean that there are magical fantasy metals around?!
"Good morning, Sol!" I blink and perk up at the young and cheerful voice, making me turn my gaze towards the child-like woman holding a pair of clean towels in her arms.
A smile covers my face at her approach, "Good morning to you too, Miss Nakai!" I greet her just as cheerfully as I fix my hot spring yukata. A good warm dip always improves my mood.
The child-like woman falters in place, her eyes widening and a faint flush covering her cheeks as she stares at me in a daze.
I blink and tilt my head at her reaction, "Is everything alright?" Don't tell me…
Miss Nakai, the very young looking woman who pretty much takes care of the Yuragi-sou Inn all by herself, blinks herself out of her staring daze before giggling nervously, "O-Oh, forgive me! You seem to have gotten more handsome recently!"
...My Fae Charm was never active before today, was it?
How overpowered have my wondrous looks become?
"It's probably the effects of your wonderful baths!" I brush off her words with a simple warm smile, and I allow myself to relax when her expression goes back to her always warm and sweet smiling one.
I'd squish her cheeks if I didn't know she was a woman probably in her fifties.
Gods, the waters of this place are downright miraculous…
"Will you be going to take classes today, Sol?" Nakai asks sweetly, and I nod with a light smile.
"Yeah, they are always early in the morning." But this time I just want to get them out of the way so I can focus on what this thing in my head has given me. "Has Sagiri already woken up and left?"
Nakai giggles and nods, "You missed her by just a few minutes!" Damn it! Lost my chance to annoy her this morning too. "Let me guess; You wanted to annoy her before she left?"
That ninja-wannabe gets so stabby when I start poking her that it's funny. Plus, I love teasing her a lot, as her flustered face is very cute.
...With my now improved looks due to my Fae heritage, I should be able to charm her completely now…
Sagiri is a babe, so I'd love to go wild in the sheets with her!
Oh well, something else to think about for later!
"You know me so well, my dear Miss Nakai!" I sniff and pat the woman on the head, earning an adorable pout and glare from her. I, of course, ignore such things like a proper gentleman. "I'll go and finish getting ready. Do let me know if you need help with anything?"
Of course the young looking woman just waves me off as she goes back to her job. The inn is massive, yet she perfectly handles it all with laughable ease despite being by herself.
She's one hell of a worker, I'll give her that.
I move down the hall and back towards my room upstairs, and I pause when I reach the door. There's the familiar humming from that ghost girl I saw before.
I slowly open the door and lay my eyes on the floating ghost woman, hanging around in my room and right by the open window.
She perks up and turns around when I enter the room, and like an idiot I let our eyes meet. She blinks at that, then cutely tilts her head to the side curiously, "Did our eyes just meet?" She questions aloud.
And I, like the complete fucking dumbass that I am… Actually answer. "No they didn't."
…
A gasp leaves the ghost woman's eyes, eyes wide and frantic as she points an accusatory finger at me, "You can see me!?"
"No I can't." I instantly answer, drawing my gaze away and hurrying towards my wardrobe.
Alas, the damage is done, and the beautiful and very curvaceous ghost girl now starts floating around me, "You totally can! How long have you been able to do so!? Only Sagiri and Miss Nakai can see me!"
Huh, they can? Are they related to the Supernatural, then?
Ugh, I hate knowing so little. I'll have to find a way to gain knowledge about everything Supernatural and whatnot without doing anything dumb.
I swear, if Sagiri turns out to be an actual fucking Ninja, I'm going to lose it and bully her so damn much.
"Weird, I keep hearing the buzzing of a mosquito…" I drawl out even as the ghost girl keeps poking me in the cheek, her touch soft and very cold.
"How rude!" She cutely pouts my name, "I've wanted to talk to you for a long time! My name is Yunohana Yuuna! It's nice to finally be able to talk to my roommate!"
…
"Excuse you?" I instantly give up on ignoring her and look straight into her bright eyes, a giant smile on her beautiful face, "What do you mean by 'roommate'?"
The now named Yuuna blinks at me, "Well, this is the room I have been bound to. I pretty much sleep here." Ghosts can sleep? The fuck?
This… Is that actually why both Sagiri and Miss Nakai thought I'd leave after a single night staying here? Because Yuuna haunts this room and scares away people?
"You're supposed to haunt this place, but you've done a miserable job at it." I point out flatly, making the ghost throw a big pout my way, "I've never heard you make even one noise. How did you scare away all the previous occupants?"
I've read so many bad reviews online about how this place is so haunted and creepy that one can't even stay here for a few hours, how they can hear weird noises and creepy giggles, or how they feel someone look over their shoulders or breathe down their necks a lot of time…
"I am a fantastic ghost! You are just a heavy sleeper that snores a lot!" Yuuna accuses right back, poking a finger against my forehead while her other hand rests on her hip, "D-Do you know how many sleepless nights I've had to suffer b-because of you, you big pervert!?"
I sniff at that. So, basically… I've been bringing chicks back here, and fucking them in front of a ghost, for like… Years.
"Enjoyed the free show?" I cheekily questions with a massive grin, then snort when the flushed ghost departs with an embarrassed scream, flying straight through a wall as she does so.
Well, that's one way to handle her. She looks like a school-girl, but she seems more mature. Wonder how long she has been stuck here…
I shake away those thoughts and swiftly get dressed, then depart from the Inn – while I feel Yuuna glare at me from the distance the whole time – with a smile on my face.
Though my smile does falter a tiny bit when I start getting a lot of attention from… Well, everyone.
Men gape at me, women giggle and wave my way with flushed face, and I just feel like a big piece of meet. It does wonders to my ego, but… Isn't this way too damn insane?
My Fae Charm is just constantly active now, and I am not even flirting with anyone, just existing. This is crazy.
Am gonna get laid so damn much!
Those exciting news aside, my mind goes back to my Skills… How do I go about acquiring more?
The Unified Language ability sounds amazing, but I can't even think about how to use it well, or for forging. After all, it's a language that works through speaking to the Soul, from the Soul.
Do weapons have Souls? Eh…
There is much I do not know about this Class of mine, and my capabilities, and my limits. What can I do? What can I make? What can I not do?
It all makes me curious, and very excited.
It reminds me of the birthday present given to me by a certain spoiled young lady. She threw so much money around just to make me happy, and somehow ended up being able to make me take part in a Tatara refinement process.
A furnace that is lit for a whole day, for a single day each ear, and produces the iron that will then be used to forge the beautiful Japanese swords. A method older than a thousand years.
I was like a kid that day. Didn't catch a wink of sleep since we had to work a whole twenty-four hours, but God was it worth it. Even got the chance to see the sword be made with the iron I helped smelt.
Just remembering that day makes me so excited. It's disappointing that my furnace and Forge Dimension does not have the required capabilities and structure to replicate the Tatara method, but it's not like I am out of options.
And speaking of said spoiled young lady… I just arrived at the University, and can already see the usual crowd she attracts all under the large tree before the entrance of the building.
Must be hard to have to deal with so many people sucking up to her because she is super rich, and that absolute Milf of her mother being a CEO of some big group or whatever.
Never really cared about that stuff. I prefer spreading legs than currying favor, though a tumble in the sheets with the lovely Kunou would also be wondrous and a nice memory to have.
Alas, I don't do that because I enjoy being her friend, and I don't want to give Yasaka the wrong impression. That woman helped Kunou with my birthday present, so they are the most cherished people I currently have.
Hmm… Shall I give Kunou a helping hand, or just enjoy her suffering?
The beautiful young woman was handling all of that attention with ease, as expected from the daughter of a CEO. A head taller than me, long and fluffy blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail, wide curves that attract one's gaze…
I gotta admit, while Kunou is lacking in the chest compartment compared to that downright perfect and divine Milf that is Yasaka, who boasts breasts surpassing melons, Kunou makes up for it in the ass compartment.
She got some hips, thighs and booty that just make a man go wild.
...Why am I always so damn horny?
Is the voice in my head sure that it didn't leave out something from my Fae Race? Like, being super horny or something? It did mention that we are good at flirting, but that's that.
Guess this is all me then…
I scratch my chin, enjoy the beauty of Kunou for a few more seconds, before turning away to resume walking towards the University building. Meh, she got things handled on her hand-
"And where are you going, mister?" How is she behind me?
I slowly turn to meet Kunou's narrowed golden eyes with a nervous smile, "How did you get past that crowd-"
"You have not greeted this Kunou yet!" The woman harrumphs haughtily, arms crossed below her generous bust, nose turned to point towards the Heavens above, attracting the jealous gazes of all the men that previously surrounded her.
"...I'd have greeted you once you were free of the meat hungry coyotes over there." I get being horny, but these most of these guys aren't even infatuated, just super lustful and greedy for Kunou's body and what she has to offer thanks to her mother.
Must be hard to have to deal with these would be leeches on a near daily basis. Yasaka must have it even worse, with how breathtaking she is.
Kunou sniffs, eyes narrowing further at my 'excuse', because of course. How dare I make up 'excuses' for having the courage to not greet her after the very femtosecond the light particles containing her presence touch my retinas. "They are irrelevant! My, Kunou's, attention would have been wholly yours the moment you'd have greeted me!"
...You know, maybe it was a bad idea to introduce her to those cultivation novels. But it is very hilarious.
"Truly, having your attention cast upon this junior is a fortune of three lifetimes." I adore the way her whole being lights up from me just sticking to her way of speech. Making her happy is always a delight.
"H-Hmph! It is good you know when fortune smiles upon you!" I scratch my cheek as I stare at her, then notice… something new. Something that bounces up and down.
Ears.
Fox ears.
...Why the fuck does Kunou have fox ears on her head? Since when? How did I not even notice them?
You know what? I'm just going to accept it. After I've seen a ghost girl that probably saw me rail dozens of ladies through my stay at the inn, I am ready to accept anything the world throws at me.
Unaware of my gaze on her ears, Kunou sniffs haughtily once more and gives me a smile, "This magnanimous Kunou shall grant you the honor of accompanying her to the doors of the University! Be grateful!"
"It's just a dozen steps away…"
"Y-You have the guts to question this Kunou?!" This is too fucking hilarious and cute. She gets flustered so easy, and it makes her ears twitch in a way that makes me want to scratch them.
But I must resist the temptation!
"I would never, my dear lady." I lower my head and offer my arm, earning another sniff from the young master- I mean, the Jade Beauty- I mean, Kunou. Yes, that.
Her hand takes my offered arm, and off we go- For about five seconds, because that's how quickly we reached the entrance.
And yet Kunou is quite literally sparkling all over, very satisfied just from that.
How cute.
I blink when Kunou suddenly startles and flushes brightly, as if she heard what I said, her fox ears going wild above her head as she scrunches up with the hem of her shirt while avoiding my gaze.
Ah, did I accidentally use the Unified Language? I guess I expressed myself so freely that I relaid my thoughts to her Soul.
Thankfully enough, it doesn't seem like she 'heard' me, but more like understood that I find her cute. As if I displayed my thoughts on my face for her to read openly.
My thoughts come to a halt when I feel soft and warm hands cup my cheeks, then squeeze and pull at them, Kunou's eyes staring with an intense laser focus. "You look… different." Oh? No more Xianxia speech?
I raise a brow at her words, "More handsome? Why, thank you." She flushes and flinches at my words, then actually fucking hisses at me. Wow.
"H-Hmph! Must be a trick of the light!" Or my Fae Ancestry having been unlocked. "T-This Kunou demands to know what you have planned for the day!" Why are you pointing a finger at me from so close?
"I got a date with your mother." I sniff with a smug smirk.
Kunou instantly falters, "Huhwha-?!" That's a new cute noise that shall go in my 'weapons against Kunou' folder, "Lies! Mother promised me I'd be first!"
Wait what?
You know what, let's just… Not touch that fire. For now. Then I'll gladly throw myself in it. "I mean… I'm gonna try my hand at forging a blade." Her bratty and prideful attitude evaporates into thin air at my words, "So yeah, I'll be busy for the rest of the day after classes."
Without industrial presses and modern equipment, hammering and thinning out the metal will require strength and stamina, so a lot of resting and work.
A light, cute laugh leaves Kunou's lips as she smiles warmly at me, "You've always been obsessed with such things." She points out softly, then pauses for a few short seconds, as if considering something. "Would you… Would you like to come over to my home tomorrow?"
I blink and tilt my head at hear, "What brought this on?"
She flushes and once more starts shuffling in place like a shy school-girl, "W-Well, mother is going to take her short monthly break from work this week-end-" So tomorrow, "-and she is also a big lover of old traditions and things like that."
Yeah, I did notice that last time I've been around one of their many homes. Lots of old paintings, ancient vases and even century old samurai swords.
"Sometimes she just watches the blacksmith that cares for her collection of swords hammer away at metals and forge weapons, so maybe you can learn some things from him?"
Huh… Well, I ain't going to turn down some free lessons from a man that does this on a daily basis.
When I took part in the Tatara method refinement, I mainly learned how to make swords from iron sand, making strong carbon steel, and how to tell which parts of the final molten slag will be good to use for weapons and which should be thrown away.
I learned how to prepare the iron sand and how much is enough, the tempo of releasing the molten slag from the bottom of the furnace, so on and so forth. It was mainly the refinement process that I watched over and took part in.
The hammering, bending the carbon steel to create the wave like patterns and reinforce it, all that stuff came much later, but I did not see the full process unfortunately.
"If you're sure…" I'd rather not impose on a day when Yasaka should rest and have a break from the very tiring job of being a CEO handling who knows how many things, but I know that if I don't accept then Kunou will bring out her pout and puppy dog eyes.
"It is good to know you can accept this Kunou's gracious gifts!" Kunou harrumphs proudly, fists on her shapely sides and nose once more pointed towards the Heavens above, "This Kunou shall be magnanimous and grant you an experience even better than the one on your birthday!"
I scratch my chin and look at the very beautiful and irresistible young lady.
"You tryna get pregnant or something? Because I don't mind having that responsibility."
"Ababababa-!"
A new noise? Two in one day? It appears my wondrous skills have improved.I cannot wait to bully Yasaka too. That woman is flirty, but she cannot handle being attacked right back!
I foresee a wondrous Oyakodon in the future!
….
As eager as I was to swiftly throw myself inside my Forge Dimension and test things out, I knew I had to wait a bit before I could do so.
Sagiri is very observant, and as much as she finds me 'annoying', she'd get worried if she doesn't find me back at the inn at the usual times I should be there.
Plus, now I have to account the presence of that cutie that is Yuuna. I cannot blame her for not having a sense of privacy, especially since my room is also hers apparently.
Miss Nakai will find it weird if she comes knocking at my door and she doesn't find me there, but she won't question it.
So I had to pick the right time so that I can disappear for a few hours without worrying the others and bringing attention to my new peculiar abilities. At least until I know what I am getting myself into, and how big this Supernatural stuff is.
Kunou is clearly part of it, so Yasaka is too for sure. Sagiri… I have a feeling her part time job is something else entirely.
Some of the bandages I've seen on her through the years now make a lot of fucking sense.
There has to be something in the air. Something that just… distracts normal people from seeing or questioning the obvious. It probably used to affect me too, but now it doesn't because I am aware of it.
I shake away those thoughts and change into a white tank top and gray sweatpants for my several hours of grueling work I shall get myself into soon.
Sagiri is off to do her 'part time job' and won't be back until late night like usual. I've seen Yuuna hang around Miss Nakai to help her do the dishes – because the damn woman kicked me out when I wanted to help – so now she shouldn't see me just disappear through the door.
Hence, this is the best time. I have the whole afternoon and night for myself. At least, until Sagiri comes back.
'Annoying pervert' my ass, always making sure I'm home when she comes back. Damn Tsundere.
A push of the door while I visualize my Forge Dimension, and I find myself there, filling my body with excitement.
I shut the door, then open it again to behold the small field of the Dimension, showing a valley with distant mountains and rivers, and while it feels and looks real, I know that I cannot go past a certain distance.
There's like an invisible wall pushing me back, so I do not test things and simply return to do what I am eager to start.
What I do notice though, and missed from my initial look over the Dimension through my mental connection, is the fact that there is a hatched and a stack of already split logs right beside the forge hut. Guess I won't have to do any cutting for now.
"I won't need that many cut logs, probably just a dozen or two." They last long, and the charcoal they turn into will last even more, so heating up the ingot won't be an issue, keeping the heat up will be.
A look inside the forge tells me that I only have a bamboo tube to blow through to help heat up the smelter, so perhaps I should think about buying an electric hair drier to bring in here.
It should help, but it'll also get ruined after a while. I doubt it'll last a month.
Hammer and anvil, check. Prongs to hold the metal as it gets heated and hammered, check. Brush to clean up the particles on the heated metal… Check.
There is already a barrel of quenching oil in the forge too, so I pour some in a nearby wooden bucket and set the rest aside. Each barrel is three buckets, I'll remember that.
...But how do I start the fire?
Wait, can I use the Unified Language? The description and my understanding of it does tell me that I can manipulate the world. Setting a single log on fire in the smelter with the others should be more than enough.
Maybe it can even help me keep the heat stable? Something to try out.
Without wasting time, I gather two dozen logs of wood and bring them inside, then I walk out towards the storage shed. It is small, just like I remember seeing it when I did a quick check with my mind this morning, but I do notice more things I did not before.
For one, at the other end of the storage, there are ten folded pieces of dried up leather that are hard to see in the darkness. They'll do well to mildly decorate the guard of the sword.
The iron and steel ingots are stacked beside each other on the right of the storage entrance, while the barrels of quenching oil are on the ground on the left.
The folded pieces of leather are nearly the size of half of my body, and even wider, and seeing that I'll just need to cut up a small bit to make leather straps for the sword guard, I'd say that they'll last me a long while.
So I grab one, smile at how well treated and dried up it is, then turn my attention to the steel ingots.
Heavy just as expected, and my eyes – probably due to the Skill – can easily discern that while it's not amazing, it's not horrible either.
It'll do, and I am still very satisfied. "You'll be part of my first sword, buddy. Treat me well." I rub it against my cheek with a grin, remembering the words of that smith that forged the carbon steel into a katana.
He told that when he forges, he always envisions something grand. A weapon that is wonderful, perfect, powerful and unmatched.
He does it so that the end result will disappoint him, and will make him strive to do better each time, so to never get complacent. He'll always find faults in his creations so that he can find reasons to improve his craft even further.
So, I will do the same. I will turn this ingot into a wonderful steel sword. My first ever creation shall be amazing.
I grin in trepidation, pouring my expectations, my hope, my drive and my desire into the steel ingot as I walk back to the forge.
You will be the greatest steel sword ever.
I stack some logs of wood inside the furnace, then focus and will one to be set alight.
A single look, a single 'Burn' demand from my Soul, and the log of wood bursts into bright flames, making me flinch and swiftly throw it into the smelter.
Those are way hotter than normal… Wow.
I'll let this first group of logs burn into charcoal before adding more at the sides and back of the smelter, so as I wait them to burn I start doing something else.
I move outside, grab the hatchet resting against the side of the forge, then cut an already split log into half, then another half but from the middle.
It's very hard wood, and it'll be good for the handle. I'll just have to shape it with a knife, which is inside the forge.
With that, I return inside, the area already starting to grow warmer. I take a minute to blow air into the smelter and fan the flames before grabbing the knife and turning my attention to the medium sized piece of wood in hand.
I already have visualized the general shape of the sword in my mind, and the general length of it. The blade will be around thirty inches long, and two inches wide or so.
So the handle can't be more than four or five inches. It has to fit perfectly in the palm of a hand, for a good grip.
I barely blink as I drag the knife along the wood, dropping the shavings on my lap and ground as I keep an eye on both the smelter and what is in my hands, the finalized products of my hard work already visible in my mind.
You're going to be perfect. I repeat to myself as I throw intense looks towards the ingot resting on the anvil.
You will be strong.
It is like a mantra. One that gives me motivation, that fuels me, that pushes me further.
More wood is thrown in the furnace, the heat growing high enough that I start sweating profusely. A demand from my Soul urging the flames to soar and turn a bright white-orange color.
It's ready.
The prongs grab the heavy ingot, then insert it right inside all of that intense heat.
I rest it on the charcoals, then return to the handle that is already taking shape.
I wipe away the sweat, but not the enormous grin on my face. It might be my imagination, but I feel a… connection building with the steel ingot.
With the materials. The fire. The forge itself.
I connect to it, bare my Soul to it all, encourage it and help it, keeping the heat high with words not spoken but conveyed, and even reassuring the ingot that I'll take care of it. That I will grant it the shape that it deserves.
All of this is just calling to me. It all is a part of me.
How did I live so long without realizing that I needed this?
Soon, something tells me that the Steel Ingot is ready, heated up enough that I could start hammering it into shape.
With the prongs, I grab the Ingot and move it onto the anvil, where I grab the heavy hammer and breathe in.
Heavy. I convey through my Soul as I strike down, the impact ringing out across the shed and through my whole arm.
Strong. Another impact, but on the other side.
Stable. Impact on the right side.
Durable. And then on the left side.
I convey my desires with my Soul, and the Unified Language helps me make them reach the budding Ingot, who seems to talk back to me.
Excited. Eager. Confident.
My hammer strikes down, flattening the ingot faster than I should be capable to, yet it's like the Ingot itself is cooperating with me.
You're molding yourself into shape, huh? You just need me to strike you into it.
I grin at that, sparks and remnants of heated shards flying everywhere, piercings holes through my tank top and bouncing off my skin, leaving behind a faint stinging sensation with it.
Yet I ignore it all and keep bringing down my hammer even as my arm swiftly tires and grows as heavy as lid.
After a few more strikes I return the ingot back into the heated furnace to get back to a proper level of heat. As I do so, my eyes flicker to the bucket filled with quenching oil.
It can help enhance the properties of steel, helping achieve the desired level of hardness while also helping to deal with distortion and cracking.
Stable. Strong. The Ingot conveys, and I decide to put my trust into it, as silly as it sounds.
I'll quench it after the next hammering session. Fire, oil, fire, then oil again.
I use my shirt to wipe my face clean of sweat, breathe out, then return to the handle. I'll need to carve a hole into it, both above and below, so to add the blade, guard and pommels.
Shedding. Strong. The Ingot inside the furnace conveys to me once more, making me hum and rub my chin.
"I guess I could use parts coming from you to make the pommel and guard." It is assured that it'll 'shed' the excess, probably to keep the perfect weight to length ratio for the blade.
This is actually insanely fun! Especially when I can somehow communicate with the focal part of the blade!
It doesn't take long for the stretched out metal to heat back up, and it's shape changes more and more with each hammer strike.
The tip growing thinner and pointy, the side stretching thin while the middle remains thick and strong, and the length goes a bit off the thirty inches, so I end up with two pieces of steel that I can shape perfectly to fit the guard and pommel.
Another round of hammering later, and the blade goes into the quenching oil, a delighted feeling embracing my Soul from the sword-looking piece of metal that used to be the ingot.
I swiftly throw the two other pieces of metal inside the heated furnace, another command from my Soul making the flames swell back to the perfect level of heat, before returning to the handle.
I use the knife to carve the hole for the blade and pommel, though I have to stop after a bit so to move the quenched blade back into the furnace, while I take out the heated metals for the guard and pommel.
A few light hits and the cooperation of the metal helps me make the guard perfectly round and with a slightly pointy end, which I can fully hammer into the wood of the handle.
The guard instead will have to be a perfect fit to go around the wood, though it's nothing that a few hammer hits won't help with.
Using the knife, and taking advantage of the metal still being hot, I carve a circular pattern around the pommel, light hits from the hammer and the help from the delighted metal making the process last barely a minute.
The guard instead I shape it into a crescent moon curving towards the handle of the soon-to-be sword, giving the back of the wielding hand some protection from disarming strikes.
The sword goes through another short round of quenching while I finish the handle, having hammered the guard and pommel into their respective places before giving them a polish with sand paper.
The dark coloration of the iron starts clearing up, becoming very, very clear looking, much to my surprise. Should it do that already?
The blade is heated up one last time, the metal having done most of the job in shaping itself, having taken the perfect shape of a straight and dangerously sharp blade despite me not even having taken it to the grindstone just yet.
Still, I give it a few more hammer strikes where the metal requests them, giving it the last bit of aid it needs in settling itself, droplets of sweat falling off my nose or flying everywhere from each swing of my very numb arm.
Once that is done, I let it rest and cool down slowly as I return to the handle, which now requires to be decorated with leather strips.
I'll have to buy some decent paint of all colors and put it in the shed, so that I can later give it a nice paint, but until then, I'll settle for this.
After all, I just have to do ten Normal Grade swords to improve my class, and I'm sure I can decorate the swords even once I have finished forging them.
"Hmm… Would you like to be decorated?" I ask the blade resting on the anvil as I cut thin strips from the large leather, blinking slightly when said metal vibrates strongly, a negative feeling coming from it.
Simple. Might. Battle. Ah, gotcha. It doesn't wish to be a sword for decoration, but one used for fighting.
Heh, I made a sword with an attitude as my first creation. That's kinda hilarious.
I don't go wild with the decorations of the handle, as I'd rather not fuck up and make something that looks stupid, so instead I use a single leather strap and wrap it around the handle, giving it a nice honey-like color.
I then use a heated rod of metal to burn the two sides at the back together. Once I get my hands on some paint, I'll turn the leather fully black.
I've had to use this method since I lack a sewing kit, or good sewing skills. More things to learn, it seems!
Still… The time has come. The blade gets a cleaning with sand paper, its color changing with each passing second as it becomes more and more clear, the black color fading away without me having to do anything.
Then, picking it up with the prongs, I guide it to the prepared handle as my heart hammers in my chest and ears, then-
I near blinding blood-red flash erupts the moment the blade is slotted into place and the weight falls into my hand.
What just-
[Through the desire, love and grand dreams of the Blacksmith, a budding Soul was born within the metal.]
[Through pure determination and force of will, the blade helped shape itself into being!]
[You have forged a Unique Grade One-Handed Sword!]
[Unique Grade - ?]
Fierce, loyal and confident. This blade made out of steel seeks to prove itself, wishing to achieve the dreams its creator envisioned when picking up its ingot.
[Unique Ability – Steel Superiority]
The wielder of this blade shall be blessed with a body as strong and as sturdy as steel itself.
[Fixed Unique Bonus – Medium Sword Mastery]
To be wielded, this blade demands great skills with a blade… If found lacking, it'll grant the wielder a passable level of mastery.
[Unique Imprint – Auto-Sharpening]
No matter how much this blade is used, it will always keep itself sharp.
I gape at the information displayed to me, my mouth hanging wide open and my eyes nearly rolling out of their sockets.
This… This is the first weapon I've made? Are you shitting me?
I made a fucking Unique on my first try!?
I am God.
I gulp, handling the heavy blade quite easily, feeling immense strength fill my body just from holding it in my hands.
Now that the product is finished, I can see a faint blood-red glow around the blade. Perhaps a characteristic of it's Grade?
This is so fascinating, and so amazing at the same time.
My first weapon is so damn good!
Wait! I've made a Unique when I needed to make a Normal, so how many points do I get for making one so many Grades above-
Create 10 Normal Grade Weapons/Items to Evolve this Class! (0/10)
…
You shitting me?
I got nothing?!
I literally just failed due to success! What bullshit is that!?
I nearly scream and slam my head against a nearby wall, but with my enhanced strength I'd very likely demolish the whole damn wall. Or building.
With a huff, I hold the purring and excited blade up, a smile tugging at my lips. Ah whatever, this is still amazing. I feel so proud for having made such a thing.
"Let's see how you fare against one of those trees outside, shall we?" The blade purrs, the blood-red glow intensifying as I walk out of the hot forge and towards the mass of trees further in the back.
I give it a twirl with laughable ease, then a few swings with wide eyes, finding myself doing so with skills that I should not have, but have been granted to me through the weapon I have created.
It feels amazing, and like a cheat that feels good to exploit! I wonder what the higher grade weapons have for capabilities and modifiers.
Though, I probably need to get insanely lucky to forge one…
With a smile, I swing the sharp blade through the air with just a little strength behind it, unleashing a sharp and quick noise before a loud groan rings out.
The tree whose trunk is thicker than my whole body was effortlessly cut without problem, its large form crashing down and shaking the ground as I whistle in amazement.
If I make more of these things, I could sell them for a pretty penny…
Shaking away those thoughts, I give the blade a twirl before returning to the forge. "I'm gonna need a bath, then I gotta think about how to make a sheath for you."
With how sharp it is, I'll probably need to make one out of iron or steel… Something to think about while taking a bath.
I rest the blade on the anvil and feel the strength it grants me disappear in a flash, making me shudder slightly while the blade goes quiet, as if entering slumber.
That's good, that way I won't feel like it'll be lonely.
Now, to get all this sweat off of me!
xxxXXXxxx
Yasaka isn't one to miss things, or not notice small things. She wouldn't be the leader of the West Youkai Faction of Kyoto is she didn't have such a much needed skill.
Still, there were few things that could attract her attention after having lived for many, many years.
And one of the things that has started to have much of said attention was the lovely friend of her wonderful, precious daughter.
Sol McCarthy, a young man that became an orphan at a very young age, his father having died in an accident while the mother was never in the picture, having left after having given birth to the boy.
Born in Ireland, grew up and became an orphan in England, then moved to Japan after becoming an adult through sheer hard-work and determination.
And that's where he met her lovely daughter, who nearly fell for his flirty tongue and lovely looks dozens of times through the years.
Yasaka had a feeling that her baby girl would have already been dominated by that promiscuous young man, were it not for Kunou always running away when overwhelmed.
Though, Yasaka could tell that despite having a chance with Kunou, Sol never truly pushed things, clearly treasuring the friendship they had forged instead of seeking pleasure, or wealth through Kunou.
It had been a while since she had last seen the lovely and flirty young man who always made her feel very, very beautiful and bashful. It was a natural that Supernatural species were alluring and breathtaking, even more so for female Kitsune Youkai.
So Yasaka was more used to the lustful and greedy looks of people, and was completely unprepared for Sol's utter adoration for her beauty.
Compliments roll off that boy's tongue like droplets of rain during a storm, always leaving her all flustered despite her composure.
Still, she always knew he was more than just a human. Though she didn't know what… And neither did Sol, clearly. She had tested him many times in secret, to see if he'd slip up, but he never did.
Even the esteemed Zashiki Warashi that handles that old inn that is often used for meetings between the Youkai factions confirms that the young man does not know of the Supernatural.
Yet… Things were clearly different now. It was clear that the qualities of the other Race the young man held as heritage had awakened, as even she found herself unable to tear her gaze off of him for a good few seconds.
Those long and fluffy silver hair of his sparkled under the sun, his fair skin glittering and looking so soft and supple, his lips so kissable and glossy, his pink eyes so innocent yet teasing, and his short form so cute and alluring.
Perhaps she should remove the secret guards that followed him around to keep him secure when he goes out now…
Before, the female Youkais that were meant to stay away and protect him used to approach him, get charmed by him, and have a wild night that they always fully described in their reports for some reason.
Now that those wondrous charms of his had grown like so? That young man was going to be jumped by nearly half of the females of her faction. And she might join.
How her daughter was resisting that charm, Yasaka couldn't tell… Other than guess that her lovely daughter was just too dense sometimes.
With a smile tugging at her lips, Yasaka turns her gaze towards the doors of the room she was residing in, "Mother! Your wondrous daughter has returned!"
Why did that brat have to introduce her baby girl to those silly novels?
"Welcome back, honey." She greets with a lovely smile on her mature face, her golden eyes flicking to the side to meet sparkling pink gems, "And hello to you too, Sol. It has been a while."
And of course, the flirty young man grins widely at the sight of her, though Yasaka does not miss the way his eyes shortly flicker towards the top of her head, where her fox ears are. Interesting.
"Ah, mine eyes hath been blessed with Miss Yasaka's addictive beauty once more!" The young man sighs heavily, one hand over his chest while the other fans at his face, "Not even paintings can fully capture your beauty, ma'am!"
A faint flush graces Yasaka's cheeks at the young man's words, her feet carrying her close enough to reach out with one end to squeeze one of his soft cheeks and pull at them. His charm was so much deadlier from so close too. "Still the same virile young man, aren't you?"
A wiggle of the brows is her first answer, "We can find out how virile I am together, if you are so curious!" Oh dear…
"Don't you dare covet my mother, you cur!" Her daughter cuts in with a slap over the head that doesn't even make Sol flinch or falter, though his gaze does move towards her daughter.
Her daughter, who is doing her best to make sure his gaze is always on her. That white shirt, having quite a few buttons loose to reveal plenty of cleavage, and that skirt a bit too short to reveal plenty of thighs of her long legs.
Truly, her daughter was playing with a fire that she could not handle just yet.
Despite having been courted by many young Youkais, only Sol manages to fluster Kunou, and her daughter is not used to it. So she runs away.
"Then should I covet you?" The young man fires back without missing a bit, teasing grin on his beautiful face, pink eyes playfully leering at her daughter's exposed flesh, "I did say I'd take responsibility, if you want to do a wild roll under the sheets."
An embarrassed squeak leaves Kunou, her face dark red and her arms coming up to try and cover the cleavage she was using to tempt the promiscuous young man, "Y-You-! How dare you bring that up again! And in front of mother too!"
Sol shrugs without a care, "You're the one tempting me, young lady."
Unable to sit out of it, Yasaka giggles aloud, "Oh my, is my daughter already planning to have children and settle down?" Her eyes narrow in amusement as Kunou's face turns even redder, nearly resembling a tomato, "You are making this old woman feel left out…"
She barely said those words before Sol's gaze snaps towards her with a nigh predatory hunger, "We can always make this a family trip to the bedroom!"
Yasaka flinches and flushes furiously, yet her daughter comes to her aid… Kind off.
She just starts assaulting the unwavering Sol without stop, "Y-You pervert! B-Beast! Ogre! Cur! Lecher!" Slap after slap rained down uselessly on Sol's shoulder, with the young man taking it all in with clear amusement and warmth on his face and within those sparkling pink orbs.
"You say all these words, yet you came here mainly to visit the blacksmith." Yasaka sniffs, throwing a knowing glance towards the young man.
Who blinks her way, then smiles brightly, "I can hammer you all day, if you want!"
Kunou chokes on her, her assault coming to an end due to her sheer shock at Sol's words, while Yasaka gapes, her face going nearly as red as her daughter's.
Truly, this young man is far too dangerous…
Shaking her head, Yasaka pats the young man's cheek before turning to the side and waving towards the artificial gardens of her manor, "Go on ahead, the blacksmith is waiting for you." And there he goes.
One second he is utterly focused on the beauty of her and her daughter, and the next he only cares about metallurgy and crafting weapons. What a strange but wonderful young man.
Turning her gaze away from his disappearing form heading towards the large building in the middle of the artificial gardens, Yasaka regards her panting and flushed daughter with an amused stare, "Still weak to him, my daughter?"
With a cute huff, Kunou crosses her arms and turns her gaze away, "H-He merely caught this Kunou off guard! T-That's all!"
"He catches you off guard very often, it seems."
"H-His words are sharper than blades…"
Yasaka hums, wide and amused smile on her face, "I am surprised you still haven't tied him down and made him yours. If I was in your clothes, I would have!" And she means it.
Such a strapping and virile young man? All for herself? Forget working, she'd spend the whole day in the bedroom!
Especially if those very detailed reports hold even a small amount of truth…
"W-Who said that I want him?!" Her daughter harrumphs with a dark flush on her face, the ears on her head flicking up and down, her now visible tails wagging left and right like an excited puppy, "W-Who'd want to h-have that lecherous beast…"
"I-I'd end up being pinned down, d-dominated, r-r-ravished, a-and-!" Her daughter hugs herself and outright moans, dreamy eyes staring into the distance as she forced herself to deny what her body and mind clearly desire and crave for.
Perhaps she should give her a helping hand…
"Does it not bother you that he sleeps around a lot?" Yasaka questions softly, walking up behind her daughter and resting her hands on the shorter girl's shoulders, "Giving you none of his love…" Her words become a whisper, and her daughter shivers, "And not making you experience none of that virility of his…"
Her daughter screams and nearly combusts into flames, flailing her arms around wildly as Yasaka steps back with a lovely laugh, enjoying bullying her daughter oh so much.
Truly, Sol is a gift that just kept on giving.
"I-I do not c-care that he sleeps around a lot!" Her daughter shouts out, then starts gnashing her teeth while glaring holes through the floor, "It's just a bunch of wenches! It means nothing that be brings a dozen wenches back to his inn each week!"
… A dozen? Each week?
Oh dear… Calling him virile was an understatement, it seems…
A cough brings the attention of the mother and daughter back towards the balcony facing the artificial garden, the imposing form of a crimson skinned and bald Oni in a white yukata standing there nervously, "I hope I am not interrupting anything, ma'am…"
Recovering herself, Yasaka plasters a smile on her face and waves off the Oni's worries, "It is alright. Is something wrong? Shouldn't you be with Sol?" Kunou instantly perks up in worry, ready to pounce to save her crush at a moment's notice.
Still, Yasaka found it peculiar. Onizuka was one of the many Oni Blacksmith's that she hired to care for her collection, while sponsoring them to craft weapon and improve their skills.
While his skills weren't the best among her hires, he was one of the most persistent, never leaving while he was forging something new.
And yet, here he was, outside his forge, and away from the hammer and anvil he was at not too long ago.
"I, uh…" The Oni starts, nervously scratching his cheek as he gazes at her, then looks back towards his abandoned forge, "It is hard to explain but… It felt like my own forge kicked me out?"
Yasaka and Kunou blink in unison. What?
"Explain." Perhaps, she was getting close to unraveling the mystery that was the lovely Sol.
The Oni nods with a nervous gulp, "Well, the young man came in… And the moment he did, I instantly felt like I wasn't wanted there. In my own workshop."
"I just… I just gave him a few pointers, my hammer, and let him take over without a second thought for some reason… And he started shaping the heated Black Iron like it was nothing."
Yasaka's eyes blow wide open. Black Iron was among the best supernatural ores used for armors and shields due to how thought and hard it is, and shaping it requires even someone of immense strength like an Oni dozens of days of hammering and breaks.
Yet Sol was doing it with ease?
"It's like watching a master at work… I presume he'll be done shaping the zweihander's blade in no time-"
Yasaka felt it before it happened.
An enormous pressure of energy, all concentrated in a single spot within the blink of an eye.
For a second, Yasaka thought someone had tapped into the Leylines under Tokyo, and which she oversees, but then she reminds herself that they couldn't be tapped into from where they were.
A blast of immense force rocks the mansion, obliterating the forge and the artificial gardens like they were nothing, a towering pillar of platinum-gold energy soaring high into the Heavens with might that shook the ground and air with the force of an earthquake.
The sheer magical pressure washed away the dust from the blast, but Yasaka kept her arm raised to keep the barrier erected, finding it cracking under the sheer strength of… whatever was causing that pillar of platinum-gold light.
Luckily, the wave of force and magical energy swiftly started waning, returning from where it came and concentrating back into a singular spot, where the forge used to stand.
Hurrying over, Yasaka comes to a halt together with Kunou when he gaze lands on Sol, both of his hands clasped around the handle of a massive zweihander bigger than him.
The blade had a zig zag pattern, yet just gazing at it made Yasaka's eyes hurt, having a feeling like it was insanely and unnaturally sharp and that it could cut her even from afar.
Despite it having been made from Black Iron, the blade was actually see-through and sparkled with white light, casting down a sacred radiance that forced respect.
The guard resembled a thunderbolt, dark gold in color, same as the pommel, while the handle was clearly made of Black Iron and remained a pitch black color.
Gulping from the sheer pressure that weapon released, Yasaka turns her gaze towards the equally stunned and nervous looking Sol holding said weapon, and watched as the roaring energies whipped his hair through with strong gales.
Revealing the pointy tips of his ears, and Yasaka was sure they weren't like that the last time they met.
Yet, this also answered the question of what Sol was, and it both elated and terrified her.
He was a Fae.
And slowly, the young man turned in her direction and smiled nervously.
"I did not fuckin' mean to do this, I swear…"
….
I should shut the fuck up and not talk to metals anymore. It brings bad luck.
A lot of bad luck.
Horrid bad luck.
[You have done what even Gods struggle to do.]
[A new Forge bowed to your presence, and the tools were elated in being used by you.]
[A metal that demanded perfection requested your attention to awaken from its long slumber.]
[All the power it had accumulated through the years was unleashed, helping it ascend and become what it was meant to be.]
[You have created a weapon that will write its own Myth.]
[You have forged a Myth Grade two-handed weapon.]
How the fuck did I make a Myth Grade weapon on my second fucking try!?
And it doesn't even fucking count on the class progression quest!
I nearly fucking sob at that.
[Myth Grade – 'Absolution']
A weapon forged with Black Iron ore, an ore known to only be found near the core of the planet.
The ore that went into this specific weapon gained sentience countless centuries ago, and laid in wait until it could show it's brilliance, constantly absorbing Mana and refining itself over and over.
Once stirred awake, the ore strove to achieve perfection.
[Mythic Ability – Mana Syphon]
When activated, this weapon sucks in the surrounding Mana like a vacuum, only ignoring allies and specifically focusing on enemies.
It has no limit on how much Mana it can absorb.
[Mythic Ability – Mana Burst]
The absorbed Mana can be released just as easily, unleashing immense devastation with each swing of this cataclysmic blade.
[Fixed Mythic Bonus – Perfect Greatsword Mastery]
Those who wield it can only be those that have achieved perfection like it has.
[Fixed Mythic Bonus – Zero Distance]
It matters not if the target is right in front of it, or a thousand meters away; If this sword is swung, the target shall be cut, no matter the distance.
[Mythic Imprint – Ascension]
This blade knows it has not yet achieved the peak of its capabilities. With time, it will grow.
[Mythic Spell – Juggernaut]
This weapon will not allow its master to fall. When injured, absorbing the Mana from inside the blade can swiftly heal the wound.
Excessive use may lead to complications.
What the fuck have I just created?
And why do I feel like this is just the start of this goddamn nightmare?
A.N. I did not like the first 'Blacksmith' fic, so I rewrote it.
It was called blacksmith, yet there was no weapon forging in the first chapter.
Plus, I kinda dislike doing Devil MC's, as it has to deal with a lot of politics way too often.
Anyway, I have posted this from inside a hospital, so the end might have a lot of errors. I apologize about that.