Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 123. Guardian’s Oath Arm Guard

Chapter 123: 123. Guardian’s Oath Arm Guard
He slowly sat up, being careful not to wake Marina, who was curled up next to him. His hands were shaking a little, and he suddenly realized he was scared. Not because of the competition, but because he didn’t want the incident in the Sunken Citadel to happen again to his family, especially if everyone’s here.
The Sunken Citadel had shown him how weak they all were. Yes, his tools were powerful, but they were meant to bring peace, help people live their lives, and help them build and create. They weren’t made to keep people safe in really dangerous situations.
But that wasn’t entirely true, was it? He had changed the pickaxes in the cave. He had made something with Instant Forge that could keep them safe. He could do that again, and he ought to do that to prevent that from coming towards them.
Greg got out of bed as quietly as he could and went to the small forge space he had built into the carriage for quick repairs. It wasn’t much, just a small setup with some basic tools, but it would work.
He took things out of their stores. Mithril silver, star copper, deep iron, and even tiny pieces of adamantine from the mines.
He put together all the strong materials they had found. Then he took out the strange forge core crystal from the dead blacksmith’s workshop. This was the crystal that had taught him new things and ways to do them.
Greg felt the master’s knowledge flowing through him again as the crystal pulsed warmly in his hand. Advanced techniques for forging, harmonization of materials, and that skill that wasn’t fully developed, Soul Crafting, whatever that meant.
He got to work, and even in the small space, his hands moved with practiced accuracy. He was making arm guards for all the members of the Brotherhood. Not big or obvious ones, but sleek designs that would look like simple accessories until they were turned on.
The base was made of mithril silver, which is light but sturdy. He added strands of star copper to make it more flexible and able to carry energy.
The deep iron made things strong and gave them shape. He used the adamantine, those rare pieces, to make the core mechanism that would deploy the shields.
Greg put everything he had into the pieces as he worked. His worry about his family’s safety and the resolve to never lose anyone again. His desperate need to keep the people he loved safe without having to kill them.
The Material Harmonization skill kicked in, and he was fascinated to see how the metals started to mix, not just on the surface but on a deeper level as well. They were becoming more than just the parts that made them up.
Hours went by. Greg hardly noticed because he was so focused on making things.
The room filled with hammer strikes, careful shaping, and detailed enchantment work. Each arm guard was the same, but it would adjust to fit the person wearing it perfectly.
The way the deployment worked was simple but elegant. When the user clenched their fist, the shield appeared as a full circle, large enough to protect the entire body.
The shield would do more than just stop attacks. It would take in the kinetic energy of any impact, hold it for a short time, and then release it as a shockwave that could be directed.
So the utility for the shield is to block, take in, and hit back. It’s a defense that could turn into offense if needed, but only in response to an attack. It felt right and fit with his way of thinking.
When he finally finished the eighth arm guard, and one for Hammy too, of course, the sun was coming up, and Greg realized he had been working all night. But he was feeling better than he had in days. He had done something real to keep his family safe.
"Boss?" Bork’s voice came from behind him. "Have you been up all night?"
Greg turned around and saw the dwarf looking at him with worry and interest. "I couldn’t sleep, so I’d rather make something that could keep me company at night."
Bork looked closely at the arm guards and let out a low whistle. "Holy piece of art... these looked like a masterpiece! What do they do?"
"Protection," Greg said plainly.
He showed one by putting it on his forearm. It looked like a fancy bracelet until he made a fist. Then, in front of him, a round shield of shimmering energy appeared, easily six feet across.
The shield was see-through, so he could see through it while still being completely safe. Greg hit it with his free hand, and the shield didn’t even ripple when he hit it. Then he opened his fist a little, and the shield let out a cone-shaped shockwave that shook papers all over the forge area.
Bork said, "Holy fucking shit...!!! Now that’s...! What I really called a masterpiece of work."
"What rank is it?"
Greg looked at the system notification that had popped up.
[ITEM MADE: GUARDIAN’S OATH ARM GUARD]
[RANK: EX]
[PROPERTIES: SUMMONABLE SHIELD, KINETIC ABSORPTION, ENERGY REDIRECTION, PERFECT PARRY MECHANISM, UNBREAKABLE DURABILITY]
[NOTE: FINALLY MAKING SENSE OF SOMETHING FOR PROTECTION. GROWTH IN CHARACTERS!]
{The gods are proud that you wanted to overcome your own trauma]
"This is my second EX rank. And I know that this shield will be perfect for us to go anywhere," Greg said. "And I’m glad it’s really helpful this time without any strange side effects like dancing or even manipulating emotions."
"This thing is just for protection so that I can make sure everyone is safe."
"You made one for everyone?"
"Eight in all. One for each of us."
Bork’s face softened. "You were worried about us... It’s because of that, right...?"
"After the Sunken Citadel..." Greg stopped talking because he couldn’t find the words to say how he felt.
Bork said, "I get it," and patted him on the shoulder. "You really are the best blacksmith I’ve met, boss. Thank you for caring enough to stay up all night to make these items."
When the others woke up and saw what Greg had done overnight, they all said thank you. Marina hugged him so tightly that he thought his ribs might break.
Lylia’s eyes were full of tears. Elwen stared at her arm guard as if it were the most valuable thing she had ever gotten. Even Seraphine seemed moved as she thanked him in her usual calm but sincere way.
"These are great!" Felix kept turning his shield on and off like a kid with a new toy. "Is it okay if I test it? Can someone hit me while I’m using it?"
"No," Greg said.
"Come on!"
"No, the shockwave is going to ruin the inside of this carriage!"
"But it’s for science purposes!"
"That’s not how science works!" Seraphine got insulted hearing Felix say that.
Hammy’s little arm guard fit perfectly on one of the slime’s pseudopods. When it was turned on, it made a shield that was just the right size for Hammy to bounce around behind and chirp happily.
Greg pulled out eight crystals that looked like the communication crystals they already had but were more polished. "I also upgraded these," he said.
"With improved communication crystals. They can work over any distance, record any voice, and have an unlimited range so that we can stay in touch if we get separated for any reason."
Felix then stood in front of him with eyes full of excitement, and Greg sighed, "Yes, Felix... I exclusively made yours record stuff with the help of your blueprint. And I want you to use it wisely."
"Yes, sensei! Thank you!!!"
Marina said softly, "You really thought of everything."
"I am trying," Greg said. "I only want everyone to be safe."
"We will be," she told him. "Especially now."
The rest of the trip went more smoothly, in part because everyone was too busy playing with their new arm guards to fight over team names or handshakes. They practiced putting up the shields, timing when to turn them on, and how to use the energy they absorbed to fight back.
Greg was glad to see that they were taking it seriously. Even though Felix was excited, he was really learning the right way to do things with Bork’s help.
On the thirteenth day, they finally saw Meridian in the distance.
The city was beautiful. It was built as a sign of peace between the eastern and western kingdoms, and it used architectural styles from both regions in a way that was somehow harmonious instead of chaotic.
The tall spires that Aethermoor liked to build were next to the strong, useful buildings that Valdris liked to build. Beautiful bridges and raised paths connected all these buildings.
"Wow," Elwen said, looking at the city with wide eyes. "It’s beautiful."
Bork said, "It’s goddamn huge!"
"It must be three times bigger than any city in the western territories."