Chapter 76 The Blacksmith’s Dilemma
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I finally had a goal for my life.
But to reach it… I was far too weak. My strength—no, my fighting power—wasn’t enough.
Back in the game days, the final boss in the deepest level was known as the “boss you suffered to even reach.” Reports said most players gave up somewhere between the 90th and 99th floors. By that point, being level 90 wasn’t enough anymore. You needed every useful skill maxed out and the best gear possible just to stand a chance. Sure, if you repeated runs with the full “poster girl” lineup, you might scrape through—but trying from the start? People called that suicidal.
Honestly, on my first playthrough, I couldn’t get past the 50th floor. I think I only reached the deepest point after my seventh run. That kind of sudden difficulty spike was normal for this company’s games, but there were plenty of times I almost resorted to cheating. Thanks to that experience, I at least had an idea how to beat the final boss. But for that, every party member needed to hit level 90 with all the right skills.
Weapons, though—that part I could handle. If Archangel helped me, I might even manage solo.
But that was the problem. According to Chef, Archangel hadn’t destroyed the final boss—it had sealed it. Which must mean that, for some reason, Archangel couldn’t defeat it. Maybe that’s why Chef told me to “go and destroy the deepest one” myself. Could it be that beings as high as Archangel couldn’t kill that boss at all?
The game’s text and artbook never explained it clearly. Still, there were hints that the final boss had a deep connection to Archangel. It might even be the same enemy that stole Archangel’s wings during the “poster girl” event. Maybe when the wings were taken, some kind of curse or bond was created—something that made it impossible for Archangel to fight back.
Leaving it to Smith, the original game’s protagonist, wasn’t an option. Sure, he was fine to control as a character, but in the story, his brain was full of nothing but lust. Anyone who remembered that opening scene—him inventing a machine to measure the body sizes of married women in the neighborhood—knew he was hopeless.
In the end, my future was mine alone to grasp. There was no other way.
”Alright… first, I need to figure out how to improve Genbu.”
Dahlia’s Arcane Armor used Chef’s methods directly, but before that, Genbu needed to be completed. Right now, some of its parts were still made from substitutes. I had to replace the inner components with the original magic metal. That alone would change everything.
I fixed Genbu onto its special hanger and removed every piece of armor. Then I took out the artificial orichalcum from the internal frame and rebuilt all the joints using forged orichalcum instead. Neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, knees, ankles—all replaced. The result was stunning. Mana flow jumped to a whole new level.
Next, like Chef’s armor, I added an Arcane Gun system to both arms and legs. Chef had focused the effect only on his right arm for power, but I wanted all four limbs to use it evenly.
I put Genbu back on and moved a little. The mana transfer felt smoother, and every enhancement spell I cast worked better. My body’s movement matched my will exactly—no delay, no drag. I couldn’t help but admire how well real orichalcum responded.
After taking off the armor and reattaching the plates, I cast Appraisal to check the results.
Arcane Armor – Genbu Revised
HP +100
Mana 0
Skill Power 0
Physical Attack +50
Physical Defense +40
Magic Attack +25
Magic Defense +70
Speed +40
Movement +3
Special Abilities: Artillery, Magic Bombardment (Revised), Self-Regeneration
Magic Bombardment (Revised)
Mana Cost: 2–100
Power: (Mana Spent ÷ 2) + Magic Attack
”…Wait. Is this even safe?”
It wasn’t quite at Chef’s level, but it far outperformed the Reinforce I got from Sister Kareha. The city mayor was going to scold me again once I sent the report. Still, duty was duty.
When a bird-type golem tried to flee from me midair, I put on Genbu and chased it down. Even with my boosted stats, it took fifteen minutes to catch. I tied the blueprint and report to its leg and sent it off, watching its tired wings fade into the sky. Poor thing. At least I hadn’t sent the design for Chef’s Waga Ga Ga yet—that one broke the limits of sanity. Even reproducing half of it could start a war. That blueprint was sealed tightly away, and as the mayor warned me before, I had no intention of releasing it.
After writing up the plans for Dahlia’s inner muscle armor, I headed to the bath. The moment I entered the changing room, Ethelena slipped in behind me and locked the door.
”Sorry to keep you waiting ♪”
”I wasn’t waiting.”
My voice trembled a little as she smiled playfully.
”That’s so mean, Tatara. How could you say that to your wife?”
”But I know where this is going. You’ll jump me, and we’ll end up having sex in the bath again. We just got back from exploration—I don’t want to tire myself out.”
”It’s fine! I’ll share my energy and heal you!”
”With that logic, I’ll die of exhaustion… or worse.”
She laughed softly, washing my back as she spoke. I wanted to joke back, but part of me couldn’t. With my current strength, I sometimes worried I might actually hurt her. There were moments—when I couldn’t hold back—that made me wonder how she hadn’t broken yet. Maybe her succubus drain was keeping my power in check.
”School’s tomorrow, and we’re exploring again too…”
”Hmm? You don’t want to?”
”I didn’t say that.”
Ah, that slipped out. In the mirror, Ethelena’s grin widened. I was doomed.
”Hehe. I’m Ethelena, No.1 girl from Soap Baral. Tonight, I’ll make you feel amazing ♪”
”…Guess soon it’ll be Soap Julon, huh?”
”Yep. Make it Julon, Master ♪”
She wrapped her arms around me from behind. My mind went blank. I turned, kissed her, and our tongues tangled deep. Just that was enough to bring me to full arousal.
Somehow, it felt like I’d gotten even bigger lately. Maybe it was the effect of that Sex Sorcery skill…
Ethelena was ready, as always. She straddled my hardening manhood and prepared to take me. My arousal was so slick with pre-cum that she couldn’t quite aim, and my manhood brushed against her vaginal opening again and again, like a bird pecking at a seed. The stimulation was too much. I grabbed my manhood with my hand, guiding it into her. The moment I slid inside, Ethelena gasped as if she’d been waiting for it, and began to thrust her hips. She moved with such force that I could tell she’d been holding back for a day. I supported her massive breasts with my hands, teasing her nipples. The stimulation caused her vaginal canal to contract, squeezing my manhood. Even after all this time, I couldn’t get used to the sensation. I fought the urge to explode, thrusting back against her. Ethelena’s hip movements became more skillful, varying in speed. “Stop it,” I thought, “you’re giving me too much pleasure.” I started to reach my limit, my thrusts becoming faster. Ethelena seemed to sense it too, her movements growing more frantic. As I reached the deepest point, I finally climaxed, releasing my seed with a great ejaculation. I poured my seed deep inside her, marking her as mine with a surge of possessiveness. Ethelena gently stroked her lower abdomen, where she’d received my seed. I hadn’t heard that children could be made yet, so I assumed she’d absorb it to maintain her body. I pulled her close and gently bit her neck. She returned the favor, biting my neck in return—a succubus’s mark. I wondered if anyone would see the marks tomorrow, on the way to school. But if they did, I’d proudly declare she was my partner. I wasn’t satisfied with just one round, but the strain on my mind from Ethelena’s growing power was too much. To avoid pushing her too hard, we stopped and washed each other off. We soaked in the bathtub together, warming ourselves, but even her touch made my body tingle with arousal.
”Tatara, if you want to, we can go again?”
”I don’t want to push you when you’re tired like this, mentally.”
Ethelena looked a little displeased. She pouted, so I kissed her gently. She wrapped her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss. Her body was aroused too, but I felt like bathing together was different.
”Ethelena, come to my room.”
”Okay.”
After getting out of the bath, I waited in my room. Ethelena arrived soon after, wearing the sheer underwear I’d bought earlier. The sight of it shattered my resolve. I grabbed her wrist, pushed her onto the bed, and covered her mouth with mine, our tongues tangling. I teased her tongue, traced her palate, and licked the inside of her teeth. She choked when my saliva went down her throat, so I quickly pulled away and shifted my position to let her breathe. I rubbed her back as she coughed, waiting for her to calm down. Once she had, I stroked her hair.
”Sorry, I lost control.”
”It’s nice that you want me, but try to hold back a little next time.”
She complained with a hint of resentment. I couldn’t argue; it was my fault.
”Are you sorry?”
”Yeah.”
”Then, as an apology, let me suck your breasts ♪”
”Ehh…”
Guilt-tripping me into a nursing play? She always found a way. I lay on my back, and Ethelena brought her erect nipple close to my mouth. I clasped it with my lips, rolled it with my tongue, and sucked. Each movement elicited a sweet moan from Ethelena, causing my manhood to harden. It was strange how I could be so aggressive when I was the one initiating, but completely useless when Ethelena took the lead. Was I secretly a sadist? I deliberately made sucking and licking noises, not out of arousal, but out of sheer focus. If I realized what I was doing, my mind would probably break. Ethelena, perhaps unconsciously, rubbed her wet crotch against my leg. If her vagina was aching, she must have been at her limit. I sat up, pushed Ethelena down, and held her legs apart. I pressed my glans against her gaping vaginal opening and pushed forward. The sensation of sliding into her vaginal canal without resistance made me lose control again. I thrust like a beast, pounding into her. Ethelena arched her back, feeling the pleasure, and moved her hips to match my thrusting. I scraped against her vaginal walls, reveling in the sensation of her cilia, and reached my limit. I lifted Ethelena’s hips, pinning them down with my own, and sank deep inside her, releasing my seed into her depths. Ethelena climaxed too, her vaginal canal contracting and squeezing my manhood, drawing out every last drop of my semen. After ejaculation, which lasted nearly a minute, I pulled out. My semen gushed from her vaginal canal, now lacking its plug. “Ah, don’t let it out…” Ethelena murmured, but the semen kept flowing. I gently lowered her from her high-hip position to a normal supine one, but she was too weak to move properly. She whimpered, trying to stop the semen from flowing out, but she couldn’t control it. Her helplessness stirred my sadistic side, and my lower body sprang to attention again. I shifted Ethelena onto her side, lifted one leg, and entered her again. Ethelena cried out at the stimulation and simply accepted my manhood. I held one leg up with one hand to keep her legs apart and thrust, pushing my semen deeper and deeper, trying to prevent it from flowing back out. The stimulation of my manhood, now highly sensitive after ejaculation, quickly brought me to my limit. I hugged her legs and climaxed deep inside her, releasing the largest amount of seed today. Ethelena, having been used one-sidedly, looked satisfied despite her exhaustion. As I lay facing her, she slowly moved closer and rested her forehead against my chest. I hugged her and stroked her hair. Exhaustion from ejaculation must have hit me hard, as sleepiness washed over me. Ethelena must have noticed, as she pulled away from my arm and kissed my forehead. “Good night, Tatara. Have sweet dreams.” With those childlike words, I finally lost consciousness.
Morning came, and the first thing I saw was Ethelena in her sexy underwear. It was bad for my heart and my lower body. My young body, still easily aroused, couldn’t complain. In fact, I wanted to thank her. But I wondered what Ethelena herself thought of the underwear. She’d seemed a little embarrassed when I’d picked it out at the lingerie shop, but today she’d put it on enthusiastically. Maybe, as a succubus, she felt more mentally stable with this level of exposure. That was worrying in itself. I was so lost in thought, staring at Ethelena, that my lower body reacted. If this continued, I’d be ‘eating’ Ethelena for breakfast. I decided to wake her up. I grabbed her shoulder and shook her gently. Her large breasts swayed with the vibration, and my resolve wavered, but I kept shaking her.
”Nn…? Tatara?”
”Yeah, good morning, Ethelena.”
”Good morning…”
Ethelena finally woke up. I returned her greeting and got out of bed. I was still naked from last night’s fierce battle, and the stains from various fluids were noticeable and smelly. I needed to get to the bath. Ethelena also got out of bed and went to the closet to get a T-shirt from my drawers, pulling out the bottom shelf. Instead of squatting, she bent forward to reach it, presenting her shapely rear to me. With the sheer underwear, nothing was hidden. My resolve shattered again. My manhood hardening, I approached Ethelena from behind. I grabbed her protruding buttocks and pressed my manhood against her vaginal opening.
”Eh!? Tatara, it’s morning!?”
”Ethelena… Ethelena!!”
Ignoring Ethelena’s bewildered words, I inserted my manhood into her vaginal canal. I called out her name like a delirium and manipulated her pointed clit through the hole in her underwear. Pinned from behind and with her nipples being squeezed, Ethelena, true to her succubus nature, quickly became aroused and accepted my assault. She squeezed my throbbing member with her vaginal canal, urging me to ejaculate. I accelerated my hip movements, seeking pleasure, and ejaculated deep inside without thinking. Her hips trembled, and I poured my semen into Ethelena’s depths. Ethelena’s body trembled too, signaling her climax. It was then that a revelation struck me: “Skill Complete.” Mastering Sex Sorcery first thing in the morning… what was I even doing?
”You know, Tatara. I’m part succubus too, and I like sex? Especially with you. But… could you be a little gentler?”
”No, I’m really sorry.”
We were in the couple’s bath, and I was washing Ethelena’s hair. I massaged her scalp, then carefully shampooed from root to tip, washing away the dirt. The medicated shampoo, mixed with healing ointment, repaired hair damage. When Ethelena’s hair was long, the dryer tended to overheat it, so I usually handled it. The cypress bath had a permanent setup, but this one was built specifically for me, so I’d added an extra one. I asked her to rinse, then slowly washed out the shampoo and squeezed the water out with my hands. I confirmed the repair was thorough and applied conditioner for moisture. Carefully, quickly, and evenly. It was a crafter’s moment to shine… or maybe not.
”Tatara, be careful when you’re grooming my hair and getting aroused by my body?”
”Don’t be ridiculous. Being told to hold back when I’m with the woman I love is torture.”
”Still, Tatara, you’ve already had sex once this morning. It’s the reverse of the usual pattern, which is surprising.”
Indeed, usually Ethelena would try to drain me endlessly, but today I felt an unusual urge for sex, and I was the one seeking her out. Had mastering Sex Sorcery enhanced my libido?
”Ethelena, I’m truly sorry, but…”
”Tatara’s lewdness, boob saint.”
”No, I was just going to say you should wash yourself.”
I still wanted her, but I also had breakfast to prepare. I knew my limits. If I washed Ethelena’s body, I wouldn’t be able to hold back, so I wanted her to do it herself.
”…Mmm.”
”Why the long face?”
”Girls are complicated, Tatara. It’s still nice to be wanted by you.”
”…After exploration, I won’t hold back, okay?”
To suppress my urges, I hugged Ethelena and kissed her deeply. It was a rich, deep kiss that could cause heartburn in the morning, but it would have to do.
Afterward, ignoring my manhood’s desperate longing for Ethelena, I finished washing and started preparing breakfast. Yohira and the others were already training in the garden. Well, after a morning session and a bath, it was about that time. Breakfast was bacon and eggs, salad, white rice, and miso soup. After much deliberation, I chose the classic breakfast set from my past life’s popular beef bowl chain. Honestly, it was a simple and delicious combination, something I’d serve if I were ever unsure. People might call it lazy.
No one put anything on the fried eggs. Everyone had their own philosophy about what to add. Personally, I liked salt on bread and soy sauce on rice. I laid out all the seasonings and waited for Yohira and the others to finish washing their hands.
”It’s simple, but this is good,” Yohira said, sprinkling salt on his fried egg. It was surprisingly popular. I put the bacon and eggs on top of the white rice, drizzled it with soy sauce, and broke the yolk. It was like the quintessential male dish, tamago kake gohan. The slightly sweet, half-cooked yolk combined with the saltiness of the soy sauce was delicious when scooped up with the rice. The flavor also paired well with the bacon and salad. Placing bacon on top of the rice mixed with the yolk offered a different kind of enjoyment with its saltiness and savory fat. For the salad, I didn’t need dressing; the texture of the vegetables added a new flavor to the tamago kake gohan. And if it got a little too rich, I’d sip the miso soup—a sweet white miso soup with onions and potatoes. This would reset my palate, which was full of the egg’s flavor, and allow me to enjoy the rice with fresh enthusiasm.
”…It might be bad manners, but the way Tatara-dono eats looks very delicious,” Hinagiku-san said. No, tamago kake gohan is simply delicious. Even if you try it, it doesn’t look very elegant, and the way you scoop it up might seem crude. If I were alone, I’d eat it by slurping. By taking in air with the food, the flavor explodes. “I’m being relatively polite even now? If I were alone, I’d be slurping.” “Tatara, why can you slurp soba and udon but not the noodles in this country?”
Well, my soul is Japanese, after all.
”Tatara, making noise while eating is bad manners, you know?”
”That’s true, but in some places, not slurping is more disrespectful. Like in Yohira’s country. Also, when eating hot food, eating it with air cools it down. Eating food when it’s fresh is the best etiquette, right? Considering that, there are times when this way of eating makes the most sense.”
”Is that really true…?”
Ethelena was skeptical, but she was originally an Ojou-sama, so she must have been strict about manners. Still, I really wanted to eat it with a slurp. Sometimes I just wanted to eat plain white rice, miso soup, and pickles. It reminded me of that instant miso soup commercial, ‘Breakfast, sometimes rice.’ Just remembering it made me hungry.
After that breakfast scene, I washed the dishes and headed to the academy. I ended up having two bowls of rice, so I might have overeaten, but honestly, my body is still growing, so I’m not sure if the nutrition is enough. Ethelena looked a little exasperated by my eating habits, but as an explorer, she needed HP, so she also ate more than the average woman. She was secretly wondering if she should try to imitate my eating style at breakfast. I was the only one who noticed.
”Speaking of which, Ethelena, what about your dress for the graduation party?”
”Huh? I was thinking of getting one tailored, but my body is still growing, so I’m waiting to see.”
”…I see.”
Because she’s getting nutrition from me, Ethelena’s size might change quickly. I don’t know what Ethelena will be like when her body is fully developed as a succubus. Or rather, it’s unclear when her body will be fully developed.
”Let’s decide on the dress design somewhere, and I’ll make it. It’ll probably have to be white, though.”
”You’re not going to dye it?”
”No. The fabric’s going to be woven from mithril-silver thread. That kind of cloth can’t be dyed.”
”…We’re probably the only party in this whole town who could actually make something like that, right?”
Thanks to Tatia, we were never short on mithril. Even after I used eighty kilos of it for Chef’s armor yesterday, there was still plenty left. We chatted about that as we reached the academy.
The moment we stepped into the classroom, the familiar burst of noisy energy came straight toward us.
”Tatara! You’re the best crafter ever!”
The idiot didn’t even bother with a proper greeting—just came running up, grinning from ear to ear.
”Morning,” I said, half-smiling. “You really liked that armor, huh?”
”Hey. You look lively,” Ethelena added.
”Yeah, sorry. Guess I got too hyped up. Morning, you two.”
Once he’d calmed down, he finally managed a normal greeting. Still, it was obvious he was thrilled about the armor.
”You liked it that much?” I asked.
”Of course I did! It’s amazing! Even when a troll hit me, I didn’t take a scratch! An ogre’s blow didn’t even bend it! And if I use the weight of it for a punch, I can take out goblins with one hit! It even holds up as a shield against trolls, so my sword doesn’t get dull! And that cape—man, that cape! It even blocks long-range attacks! You’re a legend, Tatara! A real legend!”
”…You’re way too excited,” I said, but I couldn’t help smiling.
If he liked it that much, then all the effort had been worth it.
”Next time you want a demonsteel piece, ask for greaves,” I said. “With how much you kick, they’ll probably be perfect for you.”
”Oh, that’s a good idea! I’ll save up and order those next time!”
”Got it. I’ll forge you something special.”
”It’s a promise!”
He went back to his seat, still grinning from ear to ear. Damn it—having someone thank me so honestly like that made my face feel hot. I could feel myself smiling like an idiot.
Ethelena was watching me with a soft, gentle smile—the kind that reminded me of a saint. I wished she wouldn’t do that in class; half the boys looked like they’d just had their souls stolen.
The morning lecture was about graduation projects. For the exploration department, graduation meant defeating the floor boss on the twentieth level—the High Ogre. Technically, Ethelena had already met that requirement. She glanced at me, a little uncertain, maybe because we hadn’t done it through pure individual strength. But the academy allowed party victories, so it was fine. Some students even paid professional explorers to help them.
For crafters like me, though, the graduation requirements were different. We either had to present a new piece of technology or submit an academic thesis. That was a problem. Honestly, I hadn’t learned any new crafting techniques from the academy itself. That meant I’d have to come up with an entirely new theory.
”Tough one, huh?” my idiot friend said. “How’s your graduation project going?”
”I’ve got to write a thesis on a new theory,” I said, rubbing my head. “And since I haven’t learned anything new here, I’m kind of stuck.”
Explorers just had to kill something big; I had to invent something.
”Couldn’t you just pass by explaining one of your patent designs?” he asked.
”I don’t even get why you keep showing up to classes,” he added with a grin. “Couldn’t the mayor just graduate you through connections?”
That made me remember something the city mayor had said when I enrolled: ‘If you ever want to graduate, just say so.’ I’d thought it was a joke at the time.
”She said something like that once,” I muttered. “But I figured she was kidding. Even if I asked, she’d probably just laugh.”
”Nah,” he said seriously. “She might’ve meant it.”
”You think she’d play favorites for one student?”
”You’re not just any student, future Chief Crafter.”
”I’ve never even heard of that title before,” I said, frowning.
We went back and forth like that—pointless, but easy and familiar. Dumb conversation between friends. Most days, I was surrounded by girls, trying to look composed, so talking like this was kind of refreshing.
Eventually, the next class started, and I headed to the workshop. The idiot went to the training yard, flashing me a thumbs-up in his new armor. It looked great on him—too great. I felt a twinge of jealousy but also a quiet pride. I returned his thumbs-up with a grin. Somehow, I felt ready to give my best today.
”Alright,” I said, turning to the students in front of me, “today we’ll go over how to craft something a little expensive.”
”‘A little’? The demonsteel you use costs thirty thousand apiece!”
”Shamir,” another student, Est, sighed. “If he says ‘a little,’ it probably means two more zeros. Get ready.”
”I’m not ready!” Est yelped.
I couldn’t help laughing. “Come on, don’t give up already.”
With a sigh, I laid out seven hundred fifty small mana stones on the table. “We’re making Levitation Stones today.”
Both students gasped.
”You both have the Alchemy skill, right?”
”Yes, sir!” they said together.
”Good. You’ll need to use Alchemy and Crafting at the same time. But if you can make this, it’ll sell for a fortune.”
I began merging the stones. Seven hundred fifty small ones became seventy-five medium, then fifteen large, and finally three massive stones.
”Step one,” I said, “prepare three giant mana stones.”
”Sensei,” Est whispered, “you fused them too fast. I couldn’t even follow that.”
”Yeah,” Shamir added, eyes wide. “You turned almost a thousand stones into three giants in under a minute. That’s not human.”
”Practice makes perfect,” I said with a grin. “Always aim for efficient skill use.”
They nodded nervously.
”Alright, watch closely.”
I placed the three massive stones on the workbench, activating both Crafting and Alchemy at once. The stones lifted into the air, surrounded by layered magic circles. Their surfaces softened, merging into one. Then, using Alchemy, I refined and stabilized their essence while the circles etched anti-gravity spell formulas across their surface. The outer shell solidified—and it was done.
”This,” I said, holding up the faintly glowing stone, “is the Levitation Stone. It’s an artificial recreation of the natural Floating Stone. According to the city mayor, one of these sells for around thirty million.”
Both students froze. “Thirty… million!?”
”What’s wrong?” I said, grinning. “That’s about a thousand times more than demonsteel, but it’s good money, right?”
”‘Good money’—he says…” Est muttered weakly.
”Sensei,” Shamir asked, voice trembling, “what’s the highest price you’ve ever gotten for something you made?”
I didn’t even have to think. “Hard to say exactly, since it was payment in kind, but probably around eight billion in total. A matching shield and mace set—so, about four billion each, give or take.”
Both students stared at me in stunned silence.
I chuckled and set the levitation stone down gently, the faint blue light pulsing like a quiet heartbeat. “See? With the right skills, even the impossible becomes part of your everyday craft.”
Notes:
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Kareha – A human paladin and nun appearing in ch.71. She requests new weapons from Tatara after past battles damaged hers. The order sends her under church duty. Works with Tatara and Dahlia as ally. Close to Ranka. Strong, polite, and fearless.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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