Bro, I'm not an Undead!-Chapter 1460: The Blacksmith

The Pristine Side of the Severed Union was reserved for those who had earned statuses that rivalled those of the Factions. The means of earning said status didn't necessary matter, but they also had to form some kind of credibility in the eyes of the Factions that mattered – Eaniss' and the Mad Bishop's especially.

This was the reason why Riba, the Diviner wasn't afforded a space on this Side even with his exceptional abilities.

The Saint's Chamber had done much for the Factions. They frequented it a lot, having their high-level artefacts appraised and tempered to their niche needs.

Indeed, most of the Saint's Chamber's prestige was because of one individual, a blacksmith with a Hidden Class that granted him extraordinary abilities. He was one of the very few people on Aigas who could create Transcendent grade artefacts and weapons for instance, which was a trait that attracted most to him more than his ability to alter all manners of tools.

Of course, creating a Transcendent grade artefact took him years, but even though that was the case, he was able to pump out tens of a Mythical grade items in a single year in the meantime.

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It wasn't just this fact that made Skullius want the man's aid, of course.

There was something else about this man that he had discovered back when he was still the fresh leader of a fresh Faction without a name.

"So, you knew all along?" said the middle-aged man calmly. He was steadily dipping a hot piece of iron into a vat of what might have been water.

Future Skullius and the others were watching him closely from the wall of the large circular room. The light coming from the glass ceiling illuminated the blacksmith and his work space in the centre magnificently, emphasising his importance in the setting.

Future Skullius gave a soft smile.

"Yes. I knew," he said. "I imagined there were a few others who would know about that. For my own safety – in case learning something like that would get me killed – I decided to keep quiet."

"You were wise to do so," said the man. He was partly bald, his lazy tufts of bluish hair and crispy – singed – moustache dancing in the subtle wind that blew from who knew where. "If the other Saint's Chamber Paled Irons found out, it wouldn't matter that you were a Faction Leader, they would… question you. But perhaps Eaniss would have spared you from all that, or even the Mad Bishop, of course. They were very fond of you."

"Of course, they were. I knew how to tickle Eaniss' fancy in particular."

"I did too," butted in Aurolio with a smirk.

He was not wrong. Eaniss had a deep fascination with Veneration arts and just as Skullius exploited his – Violent Bond – to entice her, Aurolio had done the same, earning himself a temporary pass into the Severed Union for the duration of the voyage past the Central Boundary.

Skullius and the blacksmith ignored Aurolio.

"So, I imagine you're one of the few on this world with the recognition of the Voice of Worlds as well?" asked the blacksmith. He didn't cease his work.

"We do. This loudmouth, the starry lantern, and the beautiful lady have it as well," said Future Skullius. He earned looks from Aurolio, Kenno, and Elita.

This finally brought the blacksmith to a pause. He looked at them.

"That is…unexpected," he said. "For five individuals with a guidance field to be gathered in one place… I never would have thought that was possible. The fact that I cannot sense the powers that any of you hold is alarming. I must be the least knowledgeable of us five."

"That is not necessarily true," said Future Skullius. He was leaning against the wall, not bothering to sit like the others. "In the field of combat, yes, we might be a little accomplished, but we are lacking in many other fields. Power can be extracted from more than just living allies and the self. It can also come from those things that take time to form a consciousness of their own. Those who make such profound things are often underestimated."

Aurolio frowned at this, but the blacksmith laughed.

"Well said, well said!" He slapped his thigh with a great smile. "Only Arma Users saw the value in my passion for the longest time. I only altered swords, spears and armour back then, but once I grew my powers and started to expand the modifications I could give to any piece of equipment imaginable, I enlightened many to the possibilities." The fact that he went back to hammering the hot iron he had just cooled spoke of his empowered pride. "Do you have a faithful weapon of your own? You speak as though you do."

Future Skullius gave a short chuckle.

"No. For me, artefacts aren't things I prefer to use in direct conflict most of the time. They contribute just as much as my other powers, but an enemy will never see me use them directly – unless that enemy is something truly formidable, of course."

The blacksmith was rather pleased with the response.

"Your understanding of all tools and weapons is greater than I imagined. I half-expected you to pull out a greatsword and claim that you had a profound appreciation of the worth of artefacts."

Elita narrowed her eyes.

A part of her felt that the blacksmith was mocking her. She was still decked in the black and silver armour she had gotten from the Warmoth's Treasury along with the other weapons she chose after all.

"I'm a little bit better than that, you can trust," Future Skullius said and then from a spatial storage he extracted a green skeleton with many scratches and gashes over every inch of its body.

Aurolio, Kenno, Red Rage and Elita scowled at the sight of the thing.

They all sensed the traces of Undeath energy from it.

It was unspoken, but because of the ordeal just earlier, where the shorter, younger Skullius had lost control of his body, they immediately recognised what the skeleton might be, who it belonged to, and what Skullius wanted done with it.

"I would like a little help in adding some adjustments to this artefact. It's only of the Legendary grade, but I'm afraid it is extremely dangerous. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said it could contend with a Transcendent grade tool if it was awakened," said Future Skullius as he dangled the item slightly.

He needed not have said all this, however.

Just as his own companions had sensed the danger, the blacksmith could see everything about SoSei in detail with his guidance field.

"Dear Quintess…" he murmured, half in fear, half in awe.