The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 47.2
“If you do that, our workshop will be rolling in money.”
“If Rock wants to make something like that, I can help you make a magic furnace. But it will require a ton of magic stones.”
“Really?”
“Cast swords can be made by anyone, not just craftsmen. Plus, they stabilize at a certain level of quality. Well, I’m not interested in cast swords, though.”
“Not interested?”
“That’s right. A sword made by a top-class blacksmith is a work of art. In contrast, cast swords are industrial products—tools that can be obtained at any time. I don’t need tool-like swords since I don’t use swords as weapons. However, for beginners without money, they can be good, cheap tools, so there should be plenty of demand. If you think about sales and profits, cast swords can be made in greater quantities, so it’s more profitable. If Rock wants to do that, he should.”
“Swords as tools that anyone can make…”
“Exactly. It’s about whether you want to be a craftsman or a laborer. It’s not about which is better; it’s about how you want to live your life.”
“I-I am…”
“I’m not saying you have to decide now. I’m just informing you that such options exist. The sword you made now is no different from an industrial product. It might be better to create an industrial product than to spend effort on it.”
“What?”
“In the country I used to live in, swords that could be cheaply mass-produced using magic furnaces became mainstream. But the blacksmith I often visited was stubborn about forging swords with traditional charcoal. That old man refused to sell to those he didn’t like and to those without skill. However, all the top-class swordsmen had their swords made there.”
“Sounds like my dad.”
Hearing this, Rikka said.
“That’s true. He might be similar to your dad, but a bit different.”
Mergin laughed.
“A particular blacksmith is someone who makes things tailored to that person, while one who says, ‘this is the sword I forged’ creates something that selects the wielder. That old man was the latter. Your dad is the former, right?”
“Yes. I think he judges what kind of person the wielder is before making it. The sword he gave me seems to be like that too.”
Rikka understood what kind of sword her father would make, but it seemed Rock did not.
“Lock, you’re still only 19 or something, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Whether you become a blacksmith or a laborer, it might be better to think about the direction you want to go. It’s happier to do what you want to do than to be forced into something.”
Mergin’s words were listened to in silence by Dad. Afterward, even though it was already bedtime, Dad and Rikka stayed behind to maintain the swords.
“Please stay overnight, everyone.”
Mom told everyone to stay.
“I have a promise tomorrow morning, so I’m going home. Iris, take advantage of her words and stay.”
As Mergin was about to leave,
“Mergin, please stay too.”
Rock stopped Mergin.
“Huh? I have a promise tomorrow…”
“Please.”
“Alright.”
Since Rock stopped him with serious eyes, Mergin accepted.
“Did you want to talk about something?”
“How do you know so many things? You also have a lot of valuable materials.”