Wizard: Start with Biological Transformation to Grind Experience
Chapter 169 - 008: Blacksmith

Chapter 169: 008: Blacksmith

Jamie managed to call upon all the blacksmiths in the Tulip Domain for Lynch, among whom the most skilled was Master Bahr. Possessing dwarf lineage, he was quite a rarity, coming from outside the Ancient Ruins, hailing from the northern continent. Technically speaking, he wasn’t Jamie’s subject but merely a resident there.

"This is... Could it be the Secret Silver Mother Ore?"

"I’ve heard my father mention it, but it’s my first time seeing an actual sample."

"Truly fascinating, just like the legends say—almost alive."

The Secret Silver Mother Ore was classified as an extraordinary material. Nevertheless, Bahr Blacksmith recognized it at a glance. Regardless of his forging competency, his knowledge was undeniably impressive.

And immediately thereafter, he showcased why he bore the title of Master Bahr, proving it was no empty acclaim.

He first examined the Secret Silver Mother Ore thoroughly, then extracted a small portion for initial forging trials. After three successive attempts, he had mastered the forging technique for this material and proceeded with the formal smelting.

Throughout the process, Bahr exhibited exceptional professionalism to Lynch, and the smelted Secret Silver Mother Ore was nothing short of perfection.

Seeing that Bahr truly had the capability, Lynch boldly proposed another request.

"What? You want to smelt the Secret Silver Mother Ore into this great sword?"

The Fearless Great Sword was an excellent weapon, but it remained a creation of the mortal world, making it somewhat unsuited for the transcendent realm.

Over the years, Lynch had realized that it struggled to bear his extraordinary power. Its element compatibility was too low, making it hard for him to channel magic through the sword effectively. Each usage left the sword visibly damaged.

Now, he rarely used the great sword, primarily because it was overburdened and on the brink of collapse after a few more uses.

The sword had served him well; discarding it felt like a waste. Previously, Lynch had thought of finding some extraordinary material to upgrade it, and now with the availability of Secret Silver Mother Ore, it was undoubtedly the perfect opportunity.

"It’s possible... Alright, I’ll give it a try."

Under Master Bahr’s guidance, Lynch successfully completed the modification of the Fearless Great Sword. Bahr had nearly melted and reforged the entire sword during the process, melding the Secret Silver Mother Ore seamlessly with the blade.

The newly upgraded Fearless Great Sword, meticulously crafted by Bahr, retained its original weight, length, and handling. In Lynch’s hand, it felt no different, but spreading spiritual power over it revealed a distinct smoothness—it now embodied extraordinary power.

Leveraging his knowledge of engravings, Lynch enchanted the sword with a buffing magic spell, [Sharp], significantly boosting its sharpness.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Lynch fully participated in the sword’s modification process, humbly consulting Bahr on numerous blacksmithing techniques. By the end, he even crafted a few small items himself.

The system panel now displayed a new set of skill bars:

[Blacksmith lv0: 36/300]

[Forging lv0: 52/300]

[Fire Control lv0: 28/300]

After the wizard and knight subclasses, Lynch unlocked his third profession: blacksmith.

Learning blacksmithing skills was undoubtedly necessary, as these provided tremendous benefits to wizards—

Saving money.

Primarily in alchemy.

When wizards craft alchemy objects, they involve countless intricately engineered components. While many can be shaped using [Shaping Skill], some still require manual finishing after shaping, which is where blacksmithing comes into play.

Most wizards solve this problem by raising goblins or blacksmiths as followers to handle such manual tasks, though that entails additional expenses.

Alchemy wizards are often nicknamed "rich wizards," primarily due to this factor.

Lynch, highly interested in alchemy, had studied a substantial amount of related knowledge and already crafted many alchemical trinkets. Planning to delve further into the discipline, mastering blacksmithing himself seemed a more economical choice.

Fortunately, it wasn’t an especially difficult skill to grasp; with his foundational training as a knight, Lynch learned quickly and mastered the basics within just a few days.

[Blacksmith lv1: 16/500]

[Forging lv1: 22/500]

[Fire Control lv1: 18/500]

Lynch also successfully crafted his first official weapon—a short sword, thin and long, like an oversized iron needle. Made entirely of black iron, its body was jet-black. Lynch named it Black Ding.

Master Bahr exclaimed in astonishment, "You are the most talented blacksmith I have ever seen! Your aptitude in this field surpasses that of mortals!"

His tone carried not just astonishment but a hint of reverence.

Being part-dwarf, Bahr had a lifespan exceeding 150 years and had lived far longer than most humans. He’d traveled extensively, learning far more than common people. Myths and legends dismissed by most humans were truths he acknowledged.

Having spent days together, Bahr had discerned Lynch’s uniqueness; though Lynch’s identity remained unspoken, Bahr had surmised certain things.

The day after the great sword was forged, Lynch planned to conclude his visit to the Tulip Domain. But Jamie, reluctant to part ways with his friend, insisted Lynch stay a little longer.

"It’s hard to say when we’ll meet again. The next time may very well be when you return to attend my funeral, my friend."

"At least, stay until after the knighting ceremony," Jamie urged.

As it happened, one of Jamie’s newly promoted knights was holding their enfeoffment ceremony the following day. Lynch, unable to refuse Jamie’s persistent invitations, delayed his departure by a day, taking the opportunity to witness the solemn ritual.

The enfeoffment of a knight was a grand affair in the domain. To qualify, the candidate must first attain knight-level strength and subsequently receive a lord’s enfeoffment, granting them a farm estate and elevating them to the noble class.

On this day, almost all the domain’s subjects came to witness the ceremony.

On the castle’s square, a high platform was constructed with wood and stone. After undergoing a series of rituals—including purification, armor donning, and sword investiture—the knight ascended the platform and knelt on one knee as Jamie stood before him, tapping the knight’s shoulders with the Cross Sword’s flat blade.

The knight then raised his head, gazed at Jamie, placed his right hand on his left chest, and solemnly recited the sacred oath:

"I, Edward, solemnly swear to become a loyal and valiant knight. I will uphold justice and honor, protect the weak, combat evil, and defend truth and fairness."

"I pledge, by my sword and shield, to face every challenge and hardship fearlessly. I will safeguard the lord and domain I have sworn allegiance to, sacrificing everything, even my life if necessary."

"I promise to treat comrades as brothers, supporting one another and advancing together. I will respect every life regardless of rank or status, offering due care and respect."

"I will uphold the knight’s eight virtues: humility, honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, and faith. These virtues will guide my actions and serve as my life’s creed."

"Here, I, Edward, swear to the heavens and gods that I will remain eternally loyal to my vows, living as a true knight, fighting for justice and living for glory!"

...

After dinner, Lynch resumed his journey.

Standing atop the border hill, Lynch glanced back one last time at this land—the wheat fields, homes, castle, and Jamie, who stood by the ridge bidding him farewell.

It had been ten years since their last parting. The once-dashing prodigy knight had taken the mantle of authority, becoming a mature vassal lord.

What would the next meeting bring?