*****

The day after completing the Necklace of Warding. Confident that we could actually craft Magic Equipment, we threw ourselves into producing the Arrow of Banishing with everything we had.

Unlike the Necklace of Warding, which Vanessa had already brought to the brink of completion, this time we had to make everything entirely from scratch ourselves.

While it was technically a commission I had personally received from the King... we were tackling it by pooling the entire workshop's resources. (I wasn't nearly conceited enough to think I could pull this off alone.)

After all, even Master Clein, who had taken the lead on pre-treating the materials, was struggling with the unfamiliar process.

「I was originally planning to base the crafting on mithril ore and a unicorn horn, but the latter is just too volatile to handle. We should probably use a holy roc's claw as a medium to boost the mana's stability instead.」

「I'll leave those tough calls to you, Master Clein.」

「Got it. I'll make the adjustments to ensure it's as easy to craft as possible.」

It might add an extra step or two to the process, but that was way better than failing. We couldn't afford to waste such expensive materials, and our ultimate goal was simply to successfully forge the Arrow of Banishing.

There were still plenty of wild cards to worry about, so it couldn't be helped that things were taking time.

As I was mulling this over, Leon, who had been buried deep in Vanessa's reference materials, walked over to me.

「Since we're using multiple monster materials, let's permeate them with your mana to help them blend before you perform the Enchantment, Mia. Vanessa did the exact same thing when she crafted the Necklace of Warding.」

「Got it. Also, there's just one thing I'm a bit worried about...」

「What's on your mind?」

「This is actually my first time doing alchemy with monster materials. Are there any specific red flags or things I should watch out for?」

「That's a textbook apprentice alchemist worry, but you don't need to stress over it. That's exactly why Master Clein is pre-treating everything so meticulously.」

「Oh, I see! Then I guess I just need to give it my all during the Enchantment phase.」

「Yep. And I'll support you wherever I can during the Enchantment process too.」

「Thanks a bunch. I'm counting on you!」

Taking it one step at a time together, the three of us steadily brought the Arrow of Banishing to life.

(Don't rush, don't mess up, focus on precision...) I kept drilling those mental reminders into my head as I worked, but alchemy using high-grade materials was seriously tough.

Debating over this and that, asking Master Clein for input, getting help from Leon, and having the two of them look things up for me, I stayed utterly consumed by our work on the Magic Equipment.

By the time the sun began to set, we had somehow managed to complete the base for the Arrow of Banishing.

All that was left now was to apply the finishing touches with Sacred Alchemy, and then we could go smash that magic circle created by Ancient Alchemy.

「Alright! Time to forge our second piece of Magic Equipment!」

...I cheered enthusiastically, only to be met with deadpan stares from both of them.

「Are you really going to be okay? It's already the middle of the night.」

「When you're working on something you're not used to, pushing yourself too hard is an absolute no-go.」

It looked like I had gotten way too hyper over the monumental feat of crafting Magic Equipment entirely on our own.

Even though the work had been one brutal uphill battle after another, the sheer joy of watching it come together had made me completely lose track of time.

「Ahaha... Yeah, that might actually be a bad idea. I can kind of feel my mana tank hitting empty right about now...」

(Honestly, failing to manage my own physical condition even after literally passing out from using Sacred Alchemy before... I have to admit to myself, I'm a total alchemy geek.)

「You only ever act like an apprentice in the weirdest ways.」

「Seriously. It almost feels like a total lie that you can use such mind-blowing alchemy in the first place.」

The two of them grumbled and complained, but they had given me plenty of praise when I finished the Necklace of Warding.

Leon, in particular—whom I hadn't even told about Sacred Alchemy beforehand—had turned into a total puppy, practically wagging an invisible tail while gushing, 「That was absolutely incredible, Mia!」

Sandwiched between Leon, who looked at me with sparkling eyes full of respect, and Master Clein, who watched over me with a warm, appreciative gaze, I was supposed to be enjoying a wonderfully supportive workplace...

And yet, right now, both of them were giving me major side-eye.

「Yep, we definitely need Leon's help. I still have other things to take care of myself. Leon, help her out with the Enchantment work as much as you can.」

「Understood. I'll make sure to back her up properly so Mia doesn't end up draining her mana pool dry.」

Watched over by the two of them, who had suddenly bonded over the strangest thing, I wrapped up our work for the day.

*****

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