I Became the Academy’s Defensive Swordsman

Chapter 12

“…Let’s call it a day for now.”

After separating the bones from the tenth Rock Lizard’s corpse, I went over to the pile where I had gathered all the other bones.

“With this amount, the enhancement… I’m not sure how far it’ll go.”

If this were a game, I could have roughly guessed the enhancement potential just by the number of items I had. But here, that was impossible.

Just by looking at these actual bones—not game items—there was no way to gauge the enhancement value.

“I’d better head back quickly.”

It was a little past nine. My goal was to finish everything and be back by eleven, so there was no time to rest.

“It’d be nice if I could finish the enhancement today, while I’m at it……”

I began stuffing the Rock Lizard bones into the large leather pouch I had brought. Once I had gathered them all, I started descending the rocky mountain.

After walking for about twenty minutes, a small village came into view.

‘Daigon Village.’

It was a settlement located near the Academy.

The rocky mountain I had just descended from was a mining site rich with minerals, and most of the residents of this village were miners.

In other words, this was a place built by people who gathered here to mine ore.

‘And this village is where that blacksmith lives.’

To craft or enhance weapons and equipment, I had to come all the way to this village each time.

Technically, I could also do it at the Academy— after all, the Academy had its own forge.

But I had a reason for insisting on coming all the way here.

“I think it was around here somewhere……”

Since it was late, the streets were completely empty.

As expected from a medieval fantasy world, there were no streetlights, so the night was pitch-dark.

Still, thanks to the bright moonlight, I managed to find my way somehow.

“Here it is.”

The blacksmith’s workshop looked exactly as I remembered it from the game.

Part of me wanted to knock and enter right away, but it was already nearing ten at night.

In the game, I could enhance items anytime regardless of the hour— but this wasn’t a game.

Showing up at a blacksmith’s door at ten at night and asking for work… might be a bit shameless.

‘Still, coming all the way back here tomorrow would be such a pain. Let’s just do it tonight.’

After sorting out my thoughts, I knocked on the door of the forge.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing a blacksmith with a rather irritated look.

“I don’t know who you are, but I’m closed at this hour. Hm? Judging by your clothes, you’re a noble, aren’t you…? Even so, I don’t—”

“Will this do?”

I pulled out two gold coins from my pocket.

In this world, two gold coins equaled a commoner’s entire month’s living expenses.

The blacksmith eyed the coins briefly before snatching them up without hesitation.

“Come on in.”

“Thank you.”

As expected, money truly was the best.

Smiling, I stepped into the blacksmith’s home.

“This way, please. The forge is over here.”

“Got it, Mr. Regnil.”

“…How do you know my name?”

“Among the skilled blacksmiths in Daigon Village, there’s no one else but you, Mr. Regnil.”

“I didn’t know my name was that well-known.”

Regnil and I stepped into the forge located deeper inside his house.

As soon as we entered, Regnil lit the furnace at the center of the forge.

However, it wasn’t lit in the usual, mundane way I knew.

When Regnil muttered something under his breath and waved his hand, flames suddenly appeared above his palm.

‘So that’s magic.’

In this world, blacksmiths were, by default, all mages.

It was a rule here that one had to be capable of using magic in order to craft weapons.

‘Fascinating.’

I had known that magic existed, but seeing it firsthand was still a strange experience.

To think that fire could bloom from a hand with just a few whispered words.

It was a sight I’d have to get used to from now on.

“So, young noble, what brings you here at such a late hour? Judging from your attire, I assume you’re a student of Lysquare Academy.”

“I came to enhance my weapon.”

I took out the Mistcatcher and handed it to Regnil.

“Is that possible?”

“It’s possible. But this sword…”

Regnil examined the Mistcatcher with a look of curiosity.

“This isn’t an Imperial blade. Is it from an eastern country?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How interesting. Even after working as a blacksmith for decades, I haven’t seen many swords of this kind.”

“Is that so? Then, is there any issue with enhancing it…?”

“There’s no problem with enhancement. Just a moment.”

Regnil cast another spell.

A faint light emanated from his hands as he slowly ran them along the Mistcatcher’s blade.

“The enhancement limit is quite high… and it requires the bones of a specific monster to strengthen it. Also, once it reaches a certain level, it’ll need additional materials.”

“I have the materials right here.”

I handed Regnil the pouch filled with Rock Lizard bones.

“Please use all of these.”

“Hmm… this much should be enough. However, bones aren’t the only thing needed for enhancement……”

“You’ll need Slime Cores as well, right?”

I knew that well—I’d once strengthened the Mistcatcher nearly to its limit.

And if my memory served me right—

“They sell Slime Cores here, don’t they?”

“There are plenty.”

“I’ll buy fifty.”

I handed him a gold coin.

“You can keep the change.”

“…Understood.”

Regnil seemed somewhat surprised by my generosity, but without another word, he stood up.

After a short while, he returned with a bottle filled with green orbs.

“By the way, student—no, perhaps I should call you young master…?”

“Please, just call me Gideon.”

“Gideon, understood. Gideon, do you happen to be very wealthy? Not that I’m complaining, but it’s surprising to see someone spend three gold coins in such a short time.”

“I have more money than most barons, I suppose.”

“So you’re a baron.”

Regnil and I exchanged brief conversation as he began preparing for the enhancement.

He placed the Rock Lizard bones and Slime Cores into a large pot, poured in a black liquid, and set it to boil.

“It’ll take about fifteen minutes. Please wait a bit.”

“Alright.”

Curfew at the dormitory was at midnight, but the Academy’s main gates closed at eleven.

It was just past ten now.

Considering I had to return before eleven, I still had some time.

‘I’ll just quietly watch for now.’

As the black liquid containing the Rock Lizard bones and Slime Cores began to boil, Regnil submerged the Mistcatcher into the pot.

A few minutes later, he pulled it out and cast a spell over the blade.

“This should be just right.”

After inspecting the blade, Regnil carried the Mistcatcher over to the anvil and began striking it with a hammer.

From what I remembered, that was no ordinary hammer.

It was a special tool imbued with enchantments that only blacksmiths could use.

‘…Wait. Now that I think about it, isn’t there a chance the weapon could break during enhancement?’

A very small chance—barely one percent—but still possible. If that happened, I’d have to gather all the materials again to restore it……

‘Nah, no way. Weapon destruction only happens after enhancement level ninety anyway.’

At lower enhancement stages, there was no need to worry about the weapon breaking.

That was a concern for later.

So I sat quietly on a nearby chair and waited.

Fifteen minutes later—

“…It’s done.”

Regnil put down his hammer and handed Mistcatcher back to me.

“Please, take a look.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

I lifted Mistcatcher.

At first glance, it looked no different from before.

But if I looked closely, faint white letters began to appear along the blade.

‘So it’s around level 10 now, huh?’

As Mistcatcher’s enhancement level approached its limit—level 100—those white letters would become clearer and brighter.

For reference, the letters meant thunder in Japanese.

It must have been because the sword originated from a nation modeled after Japan.

‘Anyway, I remember that weapon skills unlock from level 50 onward.’

It felt a bit disappointing, realizing there was still a long way to go—but there was no helping it.

Weapon enhancement had always been one of the hardest and most time-consuming contents in the game.

‘When am I ever going to reach level 100… sigh.’

I had decided to live diligently, yet I already felt lazy.

“Does it seem well-enhanced?”

“Hmm? Ah, yes. I’m satisfied.”

“The overall durability of the sword should have increased. Also, while I was working on it…”

Regnil narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I felt that this sword holds a special power. Were you aware of that?”

“Yes, I knew.”

“…Then, could it be a Soul Weapon?”

“Well, something like that.”

A Soul Weapon—

 In simple terms, it was a weapon possessing a unique skill.

Mistcatcher, which gained a skill upon reaching enhancement level 50, was a type of Soul Weapon as well.

“…Unbelievable. For a humble blacksmith like me, living in a small village… I never imagined I’d ever lay my hands on a Soul Weapon.”

Regnil’s eyes showed clear astonishment—no, shock.

Honestly, I could understand his reaction.

After all, Soul Weapons were endgame-tier items—nearly impossible to obtain.

Even within the Empire, only a handful of people were known to wield one.

In other words, someone like me—a mere baron—had no business owning such a thing.

“Mr. Regnil, you’re an outstanding blacksmith. That’s why I entrusted this weapon to you, and I’ll probably be bringing it to you often in the future.”

“For a blacksmith, handling such a precious weapon is an immense honor. If you entrust it to me, I’ll do my utmost.”

“Yes, I’ll continue to trust you with it.”

I let out a small chuckle.

There was a specific reason I had come all the way to this village—to find Regnil in particular.

‘Because the weapon enhancement success rate increases.’

According to Regnil’s NPC background story, he was one of the Empire’s most renowned blacksmiths.

True to that setting, his enhancement success rate in the game was slightly higher than that of other blacksmith NPCs.

‘At first, I couldn’t understand why such a great blacksmith would live in a tiny village like this—but after finishing his story, it all made sense.’

If I got closer to Regnil, I might eventually experience his story firsthand.

So, it would be best to get stronger while preparing for that.

“Anyway, Regnil. Thanks for taking care of my request so late at night.”

With that, I tried to hand him an extra gold coin, but Regnil shook his head.

“I cannot accept it. Just having the chance to handle such a weapon is already…”

“Please, just take it. We’ll be seeing each other often—think of it as an advance payment.”

“But…”

“I’ll be back again. Have a good night.”

I forced the gold coin into Regnil’s hand.

After his polite farewell, I stepped out of the forge.

The moment I came outside, I drew Mistcatcher again and held it under the moonlight.

“Doesn’t look much different.”

At least on the surface, that was true.

Still, since it had been enhanced, its durability should have improved.

“This should be enough weapon enhancement for now. Time to focus on joining the Disciplinary Committee.”

If my memory was correct, Lysquare Academy began club recruitment very early—probably starting tomorrow, right after the entrance ceremony.

“The Disciplinary Committee, huh… That means I’ll finally be meeting Lisa tomorrow.”

Lisa Balmuth.

The eldest daughter of the Balmuth Ducal Family—one of the Empire’s three great ducal houses.

At the same time, she was the current head and sole member of Lysquare Academy’s Disciplinary Committee.

In the route I had chosen—the one to become a knight—Lisa played quite an important role.

“…Let’s do this.”

I had to make a good impression on Lisa and join the Disciplinary Committee.

In the long run, both were goals I absolutely needed to accomplish.