Another World Metal Factory

Chapter 60

While eating the delivered food, Richel said to Tehez,

“These days, whenever I come here, it feels like a typical blacksmith’s workshop. I can hear the hammering sounds. I think I can even smell that unique blacksmith’s scent.”

“Well, the Factory Manager is a blacksmith.”

“And Tehez, you’re an alchemist. But now you’ve become a blacksmith, too.”

Richel laughed, and Tehez smiled while rubbing her wrist.

“You’re right. It would be easier to just cut it with a milling machine, but she’s going through all this trouble for nothing.”

Channing said, and Tehez frowned and looked at him.

“If you put in this much effort, you’ll get a much cooler product!”

“Sturdy and convenient is the best. And you can get a cool product even if you cut it with a milling machine. Plus, it’s easier.”

The Factory Manager flicked Channing on the forehead.

“Ouch!”

“Just eat your food, you punk! And don’t criticize other people’s work.”

“But you said it would be easier to use the milling machine, Factory Manager-nim…”

Channing grumbled and stuffed bread into his mouth, and Oran burst out laughing.

“It’s definitely easier that way. But isn’t this more fun? The result will be cool too, so look forward to it, Channing. I’m not just saying this, but Tehez is really talented. She’s a fast learner, too.”

“That’s right. She’s much more useful than that Channing punk.”

The Factory Manager agreed with Oran, and Channing pouted.

“Hey, that’s too much. I’m still your senior. And I’m better at handling the milling machine.”

“Sigh. Alright, alright. You’re better at handling milling machines and other tools. And your welding has gotten pretty good these days.”

The Factory Manager struggled to praise Channing for his grumbling, and Richel burst out laughing at the sight.

“It seems Tehez is working hard. She’s getting praised by both of you.”

“I’m not just saying that. I haven’t had any other apprentices, so it’s hard to say, but she’s good enough to be called my top apprentice. It’s rewarding to teach her.”

Oran replied to Richel, and Tehez blushed and scratched her head in embarrassment.

“Tehez-unni is amazing. Every night, she organizes and records what she wrote in her notebook into a bigger one. She’s smart too.”

Even Illia praised her, and Tehez lowered her head in embarrassment.

“Channing, learn a thing or two from her. You still get the milling machine buttons wrong.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Channing sarcastically replied to the Factory Manager and got flicked on the back of his head. Everyone burst out laughing at the scene.

-Welcome!-

Suddenly, the sword greeted them, and everyone who was eating turned their heads.

The back door opened, and someone entered the workshop. It was a young lady in light pants and a shirt.

The young lady, who looked younger than Richel, had her long blonde hair tied up neatly with a net. She was wearing knee-high boots and had a sword and a small shield at her waist.

“Hello. I heard my grandfather left a sword here…”

The Factory Manager nodded.

“Aha! You must be the old man’s granddaughter. Did you come to see the sword?”

The young lady smiled brightly.

“Yes! My name is Grace.”

Oran stood up and approached Grace after she introduced herself.

“I’m making that sword.”

Grace slightly frowned.

“Oh… is that so? I heard the owner of this workshop was making it…”

“Don’t worry. I’m more of an expert on swords than that guy. I’ve just finished shaping the blade, so why don’t you take a look?”

Oran said, and Tehez quickly got up and went to fetch the blade.

Tehez brought the roughly shaped blade, and Grace looked at it.

“Um… Isn’t the blade too narrow?”

Oran lifted the blade and explained in response to Grace’s question.

“Because you’ll be using it. If the blade is too wide, it’ll be heavy and difficult to handle. So, the length is the same, but I reduced the width of the blade to make it a little lighter. The length is longer than the sword you’re wearing at your waist, but the weight will be similar.”

Grace briefly looked at the sword at her waist and then back at the blade. Oran handed the blade to Grace.

“Here. Try taking a stance.”

“Are you a sword user?”

Grace made a slightly awkward expression, and Oran gestured and told her to try taking a stance again. At Oran’s words, Grace held the blade in one hand and took a stance.

“One-handed sword, right?”

“Yes. I need to hold a shield in the other hand.”

Oran nodded at Grace’s answer and took the blade back.

“Good. The length seems appropriate for now. Now, let’s see your hand.”

Oran held Grace’s hand.

“There are calluses. You must have practiced quite diligently.”

“My mother hates it. She says my hands have calluses because of the sword.”

“Your fingers are beautiful. Straight and long. With this, I can make a handle with a standard shape. Good. Good. Can you squeeze my hand tightly?”

Grace put strength into her hand and squeezed, and Oran nodded.

“Good grip strength too. Good.”

Oran nodded and lifted the blade.

“Now I have a better idea of how to make it. Can you come back in a few days when I’m making the handle?”

Oran put on her gloves and lifted the blade.

“Now, I’ll start working.”

“Can I watch?”

Grace asked as Oran approached the milling machine. Oran briefly turned her head to look at Grace and nodded.

“Feel free. Tehez! Let’s start working! Bring another pair of safety glasses!”

“Okay!”

Tehez quickly put on her gloves and ran over, and Grace followed behind Oran.

“It seems like only strange women gather in our workshop.”

“I agree.”

Channing said as he watched them, and the Factory Manager agreed.

“The workshop itself is strange, so strange people gather. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Richel said as she cleared the dishes. Channing and the Factory Manager looked at the women standing in front of the milling machine.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t use the milling machine?”

Tehez asked Oran, who was fixing the blade to the milling machine.

Oran checked the blade’s level and replied.

“I’m going to make a fuller.”

“A fuller?”

“It’s a groove carved in the center of the blade to reduce weight.”

Grace answered for her.

Oran nodded at Grace’s answer.

“That’s right. Since this blade is narrow and gets even narrower towards the tip, I’ll only make a fuller up to the middle of the blade. That way, the balance will be right.”

Oran operated the milling machine.

She slowly turned the handle to bring the milling cutter into contact with the blade and repeatedly moved it up and down. As the milling process continued, the groove started to get deeper.

After working like that for a while, Oran flipped the blade and repeated the same process.

“Amazing. I’ve seen other blacksmiths make swords, and they used to hold a metal file in their hand and make the groove by moving it back and forth countless times.”

Grace said in admiration, and Oran lifted the grooved blade and replied.

“Well, the principle is the same. It’s the same thing in the end. Now, I need to refine it, but before that, I need to make the tang.”

Oran put the lower part of the blade into the furnace to heat it.

As the tip of the blade became red-hot, Oran quickly took it out and started hammering it with the power hammer. The lower part of the blade began to lengthen.

After hammering it a few more times on the anvil, Oran carefully examined the blade.

Grace was amazed as she watched.

“This automatic hammer is amazing too. I mean, it must be incredibly convenient.”

“It is convenient. Imagine how hard it would be to hammer it by hand.”

Grace marveled at the power hammer. Everything was so fascinating to her.

She had heard stories about this strange workshop. Rumors about how they made incredible things using magical methods were already widespread in Polchis.

However, seeing it in person was a different experience.

“Good. Now I’m going to refine the blade. Tehez! Can you go prepare the belt sander?”

“Yes. Okay.”

“Set it to 30 grit!”

Tehez ran to the belt sander in the corner of the workshop.

“Then how long will it take to complete?”

“Hmm. I think the blade will be more or less done by today, but it will take more time to make the other parts and do other work.”

Oran answered Grace’s question and approached the belt sander, taking a stance. Then she started grinding the blade.

As Oran put all her strength into grinding, the blackened and uneven surface of the blade began to take shape. As the surface was ground away, silver was revealed.

“It’s grinding automatically.”

“Well, in the end, I’m controlling it with my hand.”

Grace carefully watched the blade being ground by the belt sander.

Tehez asked Grace, who was focused on Oran’s every move.

“You seem very interested.”

Grace nodded.

“It’s my first time having my own sword. A sword made solely for me. So, I’m naturally interested.”

“It seems the one you’re wearing at your waist isn’t like that?”

Tehez asked, and Grace nodded and stroked the sword at her waist.

“This is the sword my father used for sword practice when I was young. I can’t properly handle a proper combat sword because my arms are weak.”

“Ah… That can’t be helped.”

Tehez agreed with Grace.

“That’s why I couldn’t wait to come here as soon as I heard that a sword would be made just for me. And the fact that the artisans making it are women! How cool is that! It’s truly amazing!”

Meanwhile, Oran finished shaping the blade and checked it from various angles. Although it wasn’t sharpened yet, the blade had taken on a neat shape.

Oran nodded and looked at Grace.

“Here. Try holding it again.”

Grace held the blade in her hand again.

“It feels quite different from before.”

“That’s because the center of gravity has shifted after grinding and all. And there was no fuller before. It will feel even more different once the handle, guard, and pommel are attached.”

Oran said, taking off her gloves and apron. Grace swung the blade a few times.

“It feels good because the blade is narrow and long.”

“Is the length appropriate?”

“Yes. This is perfect. It’s wonderful!”

Grace said with a bright smile, and Oran smiled gently and took the blade.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, see you again in a few days. We need to check the handle and the center of gravity.”

“Okay!”

Grace left the workshop. Oran continued to refine the blade, changing the sandpaper grit.

“It’s good that the young lady seems to like it.”

“You’re right. She came at just the right time.”

Oran said, examining the blade, in response to Tehez’s words.

“It seems swords need to be tailored to the user, huh?”

“Of course. If you give a sword with a large handle or a heavy weight to someone with small hands, they won’t be able to handle it properly, right? Conversely, if you give a short sword with a small handle to someone with big hands, strong arms, and a tall height, they won’t be able to use it properly either. It has to be tailored to the user.”

“Ah, I see.”

Tehez nodded, and Oran started polishing the surface of the blade again with fine sandpaper.