WeTried Translations
Translator: [IncomeElastic]
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◈ I Became a Blacksmith the Rankers Are Obsessed With ◈
Chapter 99
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Gaia Wishes to Invite You to Her Chambers Someday
* * *
Starting off grand, then closing out weak.
That's the kind of story I hate most, crafting a divine implement isn't done until the blessing is received.
Hoping it would all wrap up well... Dolores and I headed for Gaia's temple, located within the duchy.
For the record, I had already put it on her once, but the Genesis Garden was carefully wrapped and now sat cradled in my hands.
"Um... Lionel... I'm so thankful you gave it to me first, but shouldn't a divine implement be shown to Gaia before anyone else...?"
"It's fine. She's already seen it."
Because she'd left a comment faster than anyone else could.
Actually, the Origin Script itself meant she'd already checked the gear first.
Ever since I'd entered the Tower and met Gaia in person, she'd kept leaving something like comments on every piece of gear I made.
'However she'd confirmed it, it doesn't matter.'
Hareungar had said as much too.
So I'd been able to show it to Dolores first without delay... meaning there'd be no repeat of her sulking like last time.
"Oh, I see...."
Dolores looked down at the box in my hands, seeming relieved.
It was six in the evening, with the sun nearly set, so there was almost no one at the temple.
Whether Dolores had sent the priests off ahead of time or not, there wasn't a soul inside.
Creak....
The door opened to reveal a familiar space.
The area where worshippers prayed, and past it, a separate audience chamber.
I'd already been here once before, offering the Cradle of the Earth, so it felt familiar.
"Go on, dear. I'll wait here."
"I'll be quick."
A triumphant return.
My lady, I shall return with a blessing so badass it'll blow your mind.
With a solemn expression, I clutched the box tight and stepped into the audience chamber.
Click.
As the door closed, it went as silent as if I'd stepped into a soundproof room.
No windows, no light, walls of stone all around, and at the center of the room stood an earth-toned statue with both arms spread wide.
"... Hello."
I could recognize the face by now, at least.
The problem was it felt like a heavily nerfed version of her real face, the kind of thing that'd probably upset her if she saw it in person.
I stepped closer to the statue.
I remembered agonizing for a long while the first time I stood here too, not having the faintest idea what I was supposed to do.
This time, though, I didn't think I needed to hesitate at all.
Thump.
I knelt on one knee and opened the box.
As the white cloth Dolores had draped over it came off, the crimson water lily was revealed.
I lifted Kargon: Genesis Garden out and cradled it in both hands....
and held it out toward the statue with pride.
"... This is the divine implement I told you about."
It had taken about three months, all told.
Honestly, when I first heard divine implements could only be made once a year, I'd been a little skeptical....
Now I understood completely. It seemed like it would only get harder from here.
I'd given it everything I had. No regrets.
If someone asked whether I could make one even better, I'd probably shake my head and recoil at the thought, at least "right now."
"Took a bit long, didn't it?"
There was no answer, but....
"I'd be grateful if you'd accept it, Gaia...."
And then.
Hmmm....
The emblem in my hands immediately began to tremble.
I thought it had done the same thing last time.
And what was likely to follow was....
Flash....
"O, oh...."
A blinding light burst out from the flower's petals.
Even with my head bowed, it was dazzling enough that I couldn't even imagine how bright it'd be if I looked up.
Before long, the light died down.
Sensing it was about time, I lifted my head.
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[Kargon: Genesis Garden][★★★★✦ → ★★★★★]
[Unique Equipment] [Compatibility Rating: - / 120]
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[Divine Implement (神具)] [Target God: Gaia]
[Blessing: The Self-Mending Earth]
└ When the ground within the garden is destroyed, absorbs the mana left behind there to form a bud. The more the ground is destroyed, the more power condenses.
[Blessing: The Flower That Wilts In Your Stead][Cooldown: 72 hours]
└ Consumes the power stored in a bud to block one instance of damage the wearer would otherwise take. The bud that absorbs the damage withers.
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※ It has safely reached the ruler of the divine realm. ※
※ Others within the divine realm covet it. ※
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This is insane.
To start, the whole concept behind this Genesis Garden weapon was built around forming a new kind of combat resource.
The core idea was extra attacks fueled not just by mana, but by a new combat resource: "buds."
Deep down, though, I'd wondered what would happen to any buds embedded in the ground if that ground got destroyed....
"They come back if you break it...?"
So it was fine to smash the ground to pieces?
And on top of that, the second blessing....
"A pinch hitter??"
It would block an attack aimed at Dolores?
A cooldown of seventy-two hours, sure, but just blocking one unavoidable hit during a fight was already....
Most people would be able to tell just how broken this was.
"Thank you...."
I expressed my gratitude by dropping into a full prostration, three steps and a bow, right where I knelt.
Thanks to Gaia, though I hope she hadn't pushed herself too hard.
Beyond the blessing, there was one more thing to check: another star had gone up this time too.
No wait, half a star, I should say?
So Gaia ended up popping my five-star cherry too.
Gaia had taken my three-star cherry with the Cradle of the Earth too, and now it's happened again.
Half a star added onto four and a half made a full five, so all I could do was be grateful.
Going forward, I'd need to work at improving so I could hit five stars even without a divine implement or a blessing.
And next, the blessing.
Last time, the blessing had a clear goal, giving physical buffs so the Emperor and the Princess could wear it safely.
But since I didn't really have any grasp of combat this time, I'd approached it with more of a "whatever's good is good, just give me your best-seller" mindset.
Gaia had responded to that perfectly.
Probably because it was gear for her own Apostle, so she'd put in extra care.
I couldn't even imagine how wide Dolores's grin was going to get.
"Ah... what am I gonna do if Dolores becomes the number one Ranker."
Life at the top must be exhausting, heh....
I even let myself imagine that far, the corners of my mouth lifting.
I shall serve you with everything I have, Gaia.
Right as I was off daydreaming happily like that.
Ding.
A message popped up in front of me.
"Ah."
A thank-you message?
Last time too, a divine oracle had arrived right after receiving her blessing.
There'd been a limit of about eight messages, I think... her reaction had been so good it stuck in my memory.
This time... maybe because the contact window was already open, there was no display of a remaining oracle count or anything like that.
Instead, there was a single line attached at the top.
[72 hours remain until contact closes after the offering.]
"Hm."
Three days was more than enough time to exchange a few words.
I settled quietly into place and waited for the message.
Wondering how I could just wait without knowing when it'd come?
[.......]
Because I could see the "typing" indicator, it looked like she'd finish typing before too long, right?
I figured she'd send it soon and waited....
"......."
It didn't come.
I waited a while longer, but... it took forever, maybe she was writing something long.
As I waited like that... since I hadn't quite gotten a full night's sleep yet, my eyes slowly started to drift shut.
Ding!
"...... Oh."
I lifted my head.
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『My little one, I've kept you waiting so long. I didn't know what to say first, so I kept writing and erasing over and over. I'd write a little, then look at the flower, write a little more, then hold it up against my clothes... and my hand kept stopping every time.』
『I saw its finished shape before anyone else too, but holding it in my own hands is somehow different again. Even the slightest tilt of my head changes how it looks, so my eyes keep drifting back to it. I can hardly imagine how long it must have taken... it brings a small blur of tears to my eyes.』
『If you're worried that the things you whispered to me were disrespectful, you needn't be. It's been so long since I looked beautiful to someone... I've lost count of how many times I've changed outfits, just thinking back on what you said to me. I've been very happy because of it.』
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Whoa.
A heaping serving, same as always.
The conclusion itself was....
"Whew...."
It meant the gear was good, and that she understood the disrespectful Origin Script.
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『For so long, the two of us blamed each other... but in your hands, we bloomed together beautifully, without any fighting between us. It left me both in awe and a little ashamed.』
『From now on, more and more will come seeking you out, for all sorts of reasons.』
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This one must be about Ignia and Gaia.
I didn't know the full story between the two of them, but if she'd taken it well, I was grateful.
I was about to write back, but stopped.
[.......]
The "typing" indicator was still showing.
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『If you climb the Tower someday, will you come to me? This time, I'd like you to stay a little longer. I'll have something ready for you to eat, and set aside a place where you can rest comfortably.』
『If you fall asleep, I won't wake you, I'll just hold you... and when you open your eyes again, we can talk about everything we didn't get to say... I'd like to be with you like that for a while. Will you give me that time, someday?』
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I looked up at the statue.
"... Hm."
What I was agonizing over right now was this.
It was an incredibly generous offer, but....
『Never let yourself be tempted.』
That line was straight out of the Sun Dwarves' manual, and I was wondering whether I ought to apply it to Gaia too.
[The Earth Goddess Gaia wishes to invite you to her chambers someday.]
Something appeared in front of me.
"Well, it doesn't seem like I have to give a definite answer right now, so...."
I hedged, for the time being.
"If I climb the Tower, I hope to see you."
Leaving just enough room in the answer.
Because honestly, I didn't even know whether I'd climb, or whether an invitation would come at all.
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『Thank you, dear. Take good care of yourself until then. Go have something delicious with the elder one.』
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Thankfully, Gaia didn't press for a firmer answer.
"Yes. Please make good use of it too, Gaia."
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『I will. I think I'll wear it out today and show it off a little.』
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I smiled and started to put the emblem back into the box....
Ah, but its real owner was waiting outside anyway, so I gave the statue one last bow and turned to leave.
Gaia had liked it, and I'd received a blessing well beyond what I deserved.
It finally sank in that the work I'd held onto for nearly three months was actually done.
I carried the emblem out in my hand.
"Lady Dolores!"
"Lionel!"
Dolores was sitting in one of the worshippers' pews, waiting for me.
Eager to tell her about the gear's performance right away, I hurried over.
Too impatient to wait, I fastened the emblem on her right away.
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[Kargon: Genesis Garden][★★★★★]
[Unique Equipment] [Compatibility Rating][120 / 120]
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[Reaching a Compatibility Rating of 120 has triggered an effect that transcends the gear's own rank.]
[The Skilled Craftsman's sun engraving continuously replenishes yang energy.]
[The Children of the Forest's engraving draws out the wearer's own natural beauty.]
[Prolonged wear of gear imbued with the sun's energy produces a meaningful therapeutic effect on the Meridian Affliction.]
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The cap had gone up by 10, but that wasn't a problem.
The added effects were excellent too. Even the appearance, drawing out... well, meaning she'd look even prettier, I guessed.
I launched straight into rattling off everything about the abilities she'd gotten from the blessing.
How buds would form even if the ground got smashed....
"... So basically, what it means is, once every three days, it'll block an attack you can't dodge."
Once I'd finished explaining, I looked up, grinning ear to ear, but....
"...... Lady Dolores?"
Maman was staring straight at me.
Then, slowly, she spread her arms.
"It's just too wonderful. Thank you, dear."
Honestly, at fourteen, I felt like I was getting a bit old to be called "dear," but....
I nodded anyway.
She pulled me into a hug, and after blinking a few times, I hugged her back.
Squeeze....
"Thank you...."
Her hand gently stroked my back.
... If she was this happy about it, I was already going to start agonizing over what to make next.
I smiled and leaned into Dolores's embrace.
Some time later, right as it started to feel like it was time to head home.
"Let's head back."
"Okay."
Swoop.
"......?"
Dolores swept me straight up into her arms, kidnapping-style.
That day, I....
never once got to step outside Dolores's arms.
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