I decided to lay it all out. No half-truths, no games. We all took seats deeper inside the workshop, and Kaido kindly gave a quick rundown of events. I filled in the juicy bits. Things moved along nicely.
One of the younger ones—Mildo, I think—barely said a word. How does a guy stay in a conversation by not talking? He was just there, like a polite houseplant.
"All right," grunted the old dwarf, arms crossed. "I get it. But what do you want from me? I can't help. I've already got a job lined up from another country. Keep this quiet, but…"
Ah, of course. That country. The one probably foreshadowing some "war on the horizon" subplot. Not my problem. They weren't even name-dropped in the original timeline, so I'm filing them under "Not My Problem Until It Explodes."
"So," Kaijin went on, tapping his temple like it was supposed to impress me, "I pulled an all-nighter to crank out two hundred steel spears, but now they want twenty swords too. I haven't even started. I don't have the material."
"Why not just tell them you can't do it?" Kaido asked, reasonably.
"Fool! You think I didn't try?! That bootlicker Vester cornered me in front of the king—'Oh, is the legendary Kaijin saying he can't do it? The shame!' Can you believe that idiot?!"
Ah, Vester. Mental note: publicly humiliate him later. Politely, of course. I am going for diplomacy… mostly.
"What's the difference between the spears and swords, anyway?" I asked.
"I need magic ore for swords," Kaijin snapped. "The spears? Just steel and sweat."
Hmm. So swords are higher tier. Shame—I was leaning toward something more exotic. Like a chained greatsword. Or kusarigamas. Maybe one of those Final Fantasy sawblades. Kurobe could probably make me one. Eventually.
While they kept complaining about their sword shortage, I simply sighed and reached into my "inventory." Or more accurately, my stomach.
"Here. Think you can use this?" I asked, dropping a shiny lump of processed metal onto the floor.
"...Wait. Whoa!! That's magic ore! And—my gods—it's so pure!!"
Heh. Wrong, old man.
"That's magisteel. Already refined for you," I smirked. "What, eyes giving out in your old age?"
"What...? No… It can't be… This whole piece is magisteel?!"
He finally caught on. About time.
"You… You'll let me have this? I-I'll pay you the market rate—of course!"
Heh-heh-heh. Gotcha.
"Ooooh, about that..."
"Nggh, what do you want? I'll do anything for it!"
Good. Hook, line, and Kaijin.
"Help me with something I need. That's the deal. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. You get it?"
"That's all?"
"Don't underestimate the value of a hot shower, old man. Oh, and I'll need a few other things too. Minor stuff."
"If that's all it is—deal!"
And just like that, Kaijin and I had a verbal contract. The magisteel was his. We'd iron out the rest after he finished his quota. I could have milked more out of him—but hey, no point being greedy. I'll bleed the empire dry later.
The three dwarf brothers, ever the grateful trio, kept thanking me like I'd saved their mom and did their taxes. Guilt must've been eating them alive, seeing Kaijin get thrown under the political bus because of them.
"So why not come along with us?" I offered.
Jaws dropped. The three huddled together, whispering. Pretty sure I just offered them an escape route and job security in one go.
The next day…
"...Things aren't looking good for you, bud."
"What do you mean?"
"Deadline's in four days, right? Think you can finish it all?"
"...No, if I'm honest. But I have to."
Love that "can-do" attitude. But sometimes, if it's physically impossible, it's just… not going to happen.
Still. What the hell. Time to shine.
"Kaijin, make the best sword you can."
"Huh? Why?"
"I've got an idea. Could be your salvation."
"But you're an amateur. What can you do?"
"Look, man. Just trust me." I shrugged. "Then again, if you don't... well, don't cry when your license gets shredded."
"...You serious?"
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be risking a hunk of magisteel, would I?"
He paused. Then nodded.
"You keep your promise, I'll keep mine. I'll get you the best swordsmith this kingdom's ever seen!"
After a brief lecture from the dwarves about just how rare and powerful magisteel was, Kaijin went off to work. Meanwhile, I sat down to meditate.
Hmmm… Maybe I can add water manipulation to my kit. Fire's coming anyway—once I absorb Ifrit. Then maybe I could unlock a unique skill.
Like Rimuru did with Merciless—clearly, you just need the right conditions and mindset. Two more elemental skills might trigger something. Or maybe I should develop metal manipulation more?
Too many possibilities. Too little time.
I had a bad feeling about the upcoming trial. The kind of gut feeling that whispers, bring a big stick… or ten backup plans.
And finally… the moment I'd been waiting for arrived.