Chapter 178: Lady, I'm Going to Forge Some Serious Iron (Part 2)

Chapter 178: Lady, I'm Going to Forge Some Serious Iron (Part 2)



As Rain focused on the annotation, his eyebrows furrowed in surprise after a few seconds.

The annotation read: Mithril Engraved Plate Armor, slightly enhances magic power.

Hmm?

There was a common knowledge about this.

Almost all metal knight plate armors would hinder the manipulation of spiritual power over the surrounding mysterious energy particles, and depending on the metal material of the plate armor, it would weaken the power by about half, one-tenth, or even more.

Otherwise, wouldn't wizards and wizard apprentices be fools?

Why would they choose to wear thick knight plate armor, which provides better defense, instead of fighting in thin wizard robes? Rain had already felt this to some extent in his previous battles.

For example, the Chrome Iron Set reduced Rain's magic power by about one and a half times.

However, for Rain at this stage, the priority was to solve the issue of whether he had magic power or not, rather than pursuing the ultimate power of a particular magic. Therefore, he didn't pay much attention to this.

Of course, as Rain delved deeper into the path of a wizard, in the future, the one-tenth reduction in power might surpass the defensive capabilities of the Chrome Iron Armor Set itself.

So, when Rain saw the effect of this Mithril Engraved Plate Armor—slightly enhancing magic power—it overturned his previous understanding.

Calming the shock in his heart, Rain carefully examined the production process and procedure of this Mithril Engraved Plate Armor.

First, its main material was Mithril Ingots.

Rain had, of course, heard of Mithril. It was a rare ore that was said to have good compatibility with all types of energy particles.

It was the material that weakened magic power the least among metals, seemingly less than half.

However, there was an obvious issue. If it was solely because Mithril was used, it wouldn't achieve the effect of slightly enhancing magic power, as stated in the annotation.

As Rain's doubts grew, he continued reading and found a process called Runes in the scroll. It required carving and outlining mysterious lines and symbols on the surface of the forged Mithril Plate Armor.

Rain didn't quite understand the principle behind this step, but it was clear that this was the key to the Mithril Engraved Plate Armor's ability to slightly enhance magic power!

As Rain pondered this, a flash of lightning suddenly crossed his mind.

Wait a minute!

This technique was obviously not something that blacksmiths, those rough and tough craftsmen, could master. Instead, it seemed more like a skill from the mysterious side!

Could it be that the late Baron Crowley was not only a master armorer but also a seasoned wizard apprentice?

Otherwise, it was hard to explain how he could combine the forging skills and the intricate art of Runes so well.

Rain thought for a moment and muttered to himself, "It seems that the late Baron Crowley was not as simple as he appeared."

"Perhaps there's an untold story behind his passing."

However, Rain soon shook his head slightly.

At the moment, he didn't have the time or energy to investigate this matter. It was obvious that this issue might consume a lot of his time and energy.

His current focus was still on improving his strength to face both known and unknown challenges.

As for the Mithril Engraved Plate Armor, it would have to be put aside for now.

After all, one must take things one step at a time.

He wasn't even an armorer yet, let alone mastering the art of Runes. How could he create this Mithril Engraved Plate Armor, the most difficult to master?

For now, Rain decided to first forge the first volume, the simplest plate armor set—the Spearman Armor Set.

On the one hand, he could use the process of crafting the Spearman Armor Set to raise his blacksmith level to lv5. On the other hand, the third condition for changing his job to an armorer was to independently forge ten qualified plate armor pieces.

So, Rain put away the second volume and reopened the first volume, carefully studying the production process of the Spearman Armor Set.

Before arriving in Shangjin Town, Rain had already understood the entire production process of the Spearman Armor Set.

What impressed Rain the most was that the breastplate of the Spearman Plate Armor Set was a rare 'Muscle Plate Armor.'

It was similar to the breastplate worn by ancient Spartan warriors in his previous life, with contours of chest and abdominal muscles, but much thinner for convenience.

At the same time, the quality wasn't as good as the 'Muscle Plate Armor' forged through countless strikes, but according to the scroll, the positioning of the Spearman Armor Set seemed to be mass-produced entry-level equipment.

"Hmm! The breastplate of the Spearman Armor Set is made by combining two large iron plates, the front and back plates, after they are forged separately."

Suddenly, Rain's eyes lit up.

He had just thought of an idea, remembering a book on spiritual texts he had read before, titled 'Exploring the Application of Scorching Touch in the Field of Forging.'

"If this is the crafting technique, it seems that I can combine this process with the Witchcraft 'Scorching Touch' to greatly improve efficiency."

"Perhaps, reaching Blacksmith Level 5 won't take too long!"

"Once the family moves to the county town, I can go to the blacksmith shop and try my hand at forging. If it goes well, I might be able to raise my Blacksmith profession level to Level 5 in just a couple of days!"

But Rain soon thought of another problem.

"If the Spearman Armor Set grants a lot of experience, should I consider changing to Armorer after reaching Blacksmith Level 6?" Rain hesitated, then pondered for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

"We'll see about that later! For now, I don't know how much experience the system will give me for crafting a Spearman Armor Set."

"Even if the experience reward is substantial at Blacksmith Level 5, it doesn't guarantee it will be the same at Level 6. During previous skill upgrades, I've encountered situations where the skill experience was significantly reduced after a profession level-up."

Of course, the main reason for his urgency was the one-month leave granted by Count Habsburg.

Therefore, he needed to settle his family quickly and then head to the Golden Coast in Rosby County to seek Master Gunther Odinga for further training.

If changing to Armorer only took a couple of days, it wouldn't be a big issue. After all, settling the family and handling some miscellaneous matters would also require some time.

But if it took too long, it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

Upon returning home, Rain's first words startled his mother, Emma.

"Mother, we might have to move again. You can start packing now."

At this moment, Old Rain was lounging in the backyard, half-dozing in the winter sun, watching Mint play with Cookie in the yard, a picture of domestic bliss.

But when he unintentionally heard Rain's words, Old Rain almost fell off his lounge chair.

"Rain, what's going on?" Mother Emma asked, her voice filled with concern.

Old Rain and his sister, Mint, quickly rushed over from the backyard.

Rain realized that he hadn't explained himself well enough, causing his family to be startled.

He quickly clarified, "It's good news. I've been granted the title of Baron, and the Empire has arranged a Baronial Manor for me in the county town."

Upon hearing this, Mother Emma patted her chest in relief, then chided, "Really, you should explain things more clearly."

After some thought, Mother Emma reluctantly asked, "Rain, do we have to move? We're quite comfortable here, and we like it. We're also familiar with the neighbors. If we move to the county town..."

Old Rain nodded in agreement. "Yes, Rain, we're quite happy here, and we know the surroundings. If we move to the county town, we won't know anyone."

To Old Rain, the current house they lived in was a dream come true.

He was already very satisfied with their current living conditions.

"Well..." Rain's expression turned contemplative.

He understood his parents' concerns, but if his family continued to live in Shangjin Town, their safety would be at risk.

So, Rain quickly shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Since the new manor is in the Noble District of the county town, it will be much safer. Staying in Shangjin Town would be far more dangerous."

"But with you here, shouldn't we be safe?" Mint asked, her eyes shining with confidence in her brother's abilities.

She had always been confident in her brother's strength.

Rain gently patted Mint's soft hair. "Of course, but I'll be going on a long journey soon to improve my strength. I'll be away for about a month."

"So, Mint, you don't want me to worry about your safety while I'm away, do you?"

Upon hearing the words 'improve my strength,' Mother Emma and Old Rain exchanged a glance.

They both knew that this was a significant matter concerning their son's future. At this moment, they realized it wasn't a matter of whether they wanted to move or not. To ensure Rain's peace of mind while he was away, the entire family had to move to the county town.

"Alright, we'll start packing immediately!" Old Rain declared, making a decisive decision.

Rain looked at his father and nodded slightly.

It seemed that in the face of such a significant decision, men tended to be more resolute than women.

"Then I'll start packing right away!" Mother Emma nodded and headed towards the room to gather their belongings.

"Mother, just pack the essentials. The new manor already has beds, bedding, and other necessities. There are also several servants and a team of guards who have already moved in and started their duties."

"Oh, and a few servants and a guard team have already moved in and started their duties." Rain added.

Rain's words caused Mother Emma, who had just turned to leave, to freeze in her tracks.

Old Rain and Mint, who were watching Rain, suddenly widened their eyes and gaped in surprise.

Previously, they had only heard Rain mention that he had been granted the title of Baron.

But they had never thought so thoroughly about the impact on every aspect of their lives after Rain became a baron.

What they could think of before was better food, better clothes, and perhaps even riding in carriages, but that was the extent of their imagination.

This time, when they heard Rain mention 'servants' and 'guards,' they finally realized the implications.

Their lives were about to change completely!

"Brother, does this mean someone can play with me now?" Mint was the first to break the silence, saying with a hint of excitement.

"Of course," Rain nodded.

Early the next morning, after loading their valuables onto the Crowley family carriage, Rain's family set off for the county town.

Rain entrusted the sale of other items, including the newly occupied house in Shangjin Town, to Mateo, the captain of the Night Watch, who was a short man.

Soon, Rain's family arrived at the entrance of their new manor.

As Emma stepped down from the carriage, she saw two rows of people standing neatly on both sides of the manor's main gate. One row consisted of uniformly dressed men and women, while the other row was made up of fully armed guards. Emma was momentarily stunned by this sight.

Upon seeing Rain's family alight from the carriage, the servants and guards immediately greeted them respectfully.

"Good day, Baron Rain!" the servants and guards exclaimed.

"Good day, Lady and Miss!" they added, addressing Emma and Mint.

Young Mint clung tightly to Rain's coat, appearing quite nervous.

But soon, she poked her head out from behind Rain, curiously looking around at the strangers who were addressing her as 'Miss.'

At this moment, Old Rain and Emma's minds were buzzing with thoughts.

They had imagined this scene before, but with their son, Rain, as the protagonist. They had envisioned their son becoming a noble knight, enjoying the admiration of the people.

But they never expected that one day, they too would be treated with such respect.

Rain waved at the male servants, saying, "You guys come here, take the luggage down. The rest of you, carry on with your duties."

"Yes, my lord!" they replied promptly.

The two rows sprang into action. The guards continued their vigilant duty, while three male servants approached the carriage to help with the luggage.

The female servants led the way with eagerness.

"Rain, this place is huge," Emma remarked, as she walked around, curiously examining the surroundings.

The new manor was at least ten streets better than their previous house in Shangjin Town.

She noticed that the decorations and style were unfamiliar to her, but they exuded a subtle luxury that she couldn't help but love.

At that moment, a stunningly beautiful woman, accompanied by a noble-looking young lady, emerged from the villa. It was none other than Lady Crowley, Jennifer, and Jenny.

"Father, Mother, this is Lady Crowley, and this is Jenny. I believe you've already met her," Rain introduced with a smile.

Upon hearing that the woman was the noble 'Lady Crowley,' Old Rain and Emma's bodies trembled slightly, feeling a bit lost as to how to address such a high-ranking lady.

But Lady Crowley, being adept at reading the atmosphere, didn't let the awkwardness linger.

She approached Emma, took her hand in a familiar manner, and said in a down-to-earth tone, "Just call me Jennifer, Emma. I'm currently serving as the housekeeper at Baron Rain's manor."

"So, if you have any needs, feel free to let me know. And now, shall I show you around the new manor?"

The lady's kind expression and warm words made Old Rain and Emma turn to Rain, their eyes full of questioning, as if asking, 'Is this high-ranking and beautiful Lady Crowley our housekeeper?' and 'Is that possible?'

Rain nodded at them and smiled, saying, "Father, Mother, let Jenny show you around. I have some matters to discuss with Lady Crowley."

At these words, the lady's face turned slightly red.

She had thought Rain wanted to...

But the next second, upon hearing Rain's words, she realized her misunderstanding.

"Lady, I need to use the Crowley family's blacksmith shop. Quickly, yes... Perhaps I'll also need their assistance with some small tasks," Rain said.

"Of course, Baron Rain. Shall I take you there now?" the lady replied with formality and respect, as there were others present.

Rain couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking, 'Lady, I'm going to the blacksmith shop for work, not to forge that kind of iron.'

But he only said, "The blacksmith shop isn't a place for a noble lady like yourself. However, you can introduce me to the person in charge, and perhaps I'll need their assistance with some tasks."

"After that, you can return to the manor. There are many tasks to attend to, and my parents might need your company," Rain added.

One hour later.

In the Crowley family's blacksmith shop, a private smelting room.

After a brief introduction, Jennifer had already returned, and Rain asked the blacksmiths to prepare an empty room, clay molds, and a large number of iron ingots for him.

Rain intended to start crafting a spearmen breastplate.

The reason for choosing a large and heavy breastplate instead of other smaller knight plate armor pieces like vambraces was that only the breastplate didn't require much hammering.

In other words, if Rain's magic 'Scorching Touch' could smoothly cooperate with breastplate forging, then he could successfully craft a set of spearmen breastplate in a short time, gaining a considerable amount of profession experience.

Seven or eight blocks of red-hot iron ingots were already placed in the blacksmith's furnace.

Rain raised his hands and held them about 30-40 centimeters away from the furnace, suspended in mid-air.

Immediately, he began to chant a spell softly.

Just over two seconds later, a red light appeared in front of Rain's palm.

Since Rain's spirit power had already reached 25 points, the power of the magic 'Scorching Touch' was further enhanced.

Rain could clearly feel that the surrounding free-floating flame energy particles were quickly gathering in front of his palm.

Additionally, he confirmed that he no longer needed the assistance of the furnace for heating but could solely rely on the magic 'Scorching Touch' to melt iron ingots with a melting point of around 1500°.

As Rain's spirit power continued to output, the flames in the furnace, which were already burning fiercely, suddenly surged, and the furnace temperature quickly rose!

The seven or eight iron ingots also visibly started to brighten and soften, and then, like candles, slowly melted.

After a few minutes, Rain opened a small gate and poured the scorching iron liquid from the furnace into the clay mold.

After cooling, Rain picked up the blacksmith's hammer and began to hammer, trimming the edges and joining the front and back iron pieces together to form a complete 'muscular breastplate.'

At this moment, the system prompt appeared:

【You have worked on crafting a spearmen breastplate, and your understanding has improved!】

【You have learned a new skill - Breastplate Forging】

【Your skill Breastplate Forging has improved, experience +33】

【You focused on crafting the spearmen breastplate, blacksmith experience +32】

Wow! This experience! This efficiency!

Applying magic in forging is terrifying! The key is that it can further speed up the process.

Rain had already thought of a way.

After estimating the spirit power consumption of the magic 'Scorching Touch,' he quickly asked the blacksmiths to help him make seven or eight identical clay molds.

Rain repeatedly cast the magic 'Scorching Touch,' continuously melting and pouring into eight clay molds, and after cooling, he proceeded with the hammering and joining work.

At this time, the system prompts appeared almost back-to-back:

【Your skill Breastplate Forging has improved, experience +33】

【You focused on crafting the spearmen breastplate, blacksmith experience +32】

【Your skill Breastplate Forging has improved, experience +30】

【You focused on crafting the spearmen breastplate, blacksmith experience +31】

After returning home for lunch with Jennifer, Jenny, and his family at noon, Rain immersed himself in the blacksmith shop! Finally, when the bright moonlight illuminated the room, the delightful system prompt appeared:

【Congratulations, your blacksmith level has increased!】

【As the blacksmith level reaches lv5, Rain gains one attribute point and one skill point.】

At this point, the remaining attribute points on the system panel reached 2, and the remaining skill points reached 6, the highest in history.

After some thought, Rain decided to change his profession!

【Blacksmith promotion to Armorer prerequisites: One, Blacksmith lv5 or higher; Two, Strength 12 points or more, Constitution 12 points or more; Three, independently forge any qualified plate armor parts ten times! Four, current conditions meet the Armoring Technique knowledge requirements! Do you want to change your profession to Armorer?】

【Note: After changing your profession to Armorer, the original blacksmith panel will be integrated into the new Armorer profession panel, and the original blacksmith core skills will be retained.】

If the core skills are retained, then there's no problem at all.

After reading it again, Rain chose to change his profession without hesitation.

【Ding! Successful profession change to Armorer! Strength +2, Constitution +2! Obtain the Armorer core skill: Armoring Mastery lv1.】

Huh! There's a new core skill! Rain's face lit up with joy!

Because each time a core skill appeared, it almost always brought him some kind of immediate and tangible strength boost.

It's just unknown whether this time will be the same.

T

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end