After lingering in bed for a while, Caius got up and went straight to work.

  He brought Kiki along to Oern’s Smithy and pulled out the refined block of Astralite he’d prepared earlier. With practiced movements, he began forging the blade.

  As the hammer struck again and again, the thick and heavy Astralite block gradually elongated, narrowing into the rough shape of a sword.

  "That hammer technique... it's got about eighty percent of Tobias' flair," Oern commented, nodding approvingly from the side.

  Without that special forging method—striking Astralite at a precise rhythm—it wouldn’t deform so easily.

  "And the other twenty percent?" Caius asked, hammering away with sweat pouring down his face.

  "If you could forge while drinking, then you'd have the full hundred percent," Oern replied dryly.

  Caius burst into laughter.

  He wasn’t a drunkard, not really. Sure, he enjoyed a drink now and then, but he didn’t carry a flask everywhere he went.

  Still, he couldn’t help but remember how old man Tobias used to forge—hammer in one hand, wine jug in the other, sometimes even spitting a mouthful of booze onto the red-hot metal. It was partly to cool the steel, and partly... to savor the scent of alcohol.

  Time ticked by. By the time eight o’clock rolled around that night, Caius had finally completed the blade blank.

  It was only a finger-width across, and along its surface were distinct feather-like patterns—the result of his folded forging technique and precise hammerwork. Later, he planned to grind blood grooves along those same patterns, letting them blend seamlessly into the blade. It would be both beautiful and functional, like veins of a feather etched into metal.

  Next came the fine grinding.

  But Caius didn’t start immediately. Instead, he placed the blade blank into a long trough filled with various spirit-infused ores.

  These ores radiated magic energy of all elements, which the Astralite blade would absorb—a special property of Astralite. It could take in magical power and, depending on the type it absorbed, unleash elemental wave slashes in kind.

  If forged into a shield, the elemental shock released on impact would follow the same principle.

  At this stage, the blade blank hadn’t fully cooled yet. Letting it rest in the elemental ore mix for a few hours would enhance its resistance to elemental attacks.

  Three hours would be enough to reach optimal absorption.

  Once fully infused, the Astralite would display a beautiful metallic sheen—its usual silver-grey luster subtly interwoven with other elemental hues. When magic flowed through it, the sword would shine with the mesmerizing brilliance of a starfield.

  That, in fact, was where the name “Astralite” came from.

  While the blade absorbed elemental power, Caius started working on the crossguard.

  Unlike the blade, the guard didn’t require flexibility—just sheer hardness to protect the wielder’s hands.

  For this, Caius chose Dragonfang Adamantine, a rare and expensive material—slightly pricier than Astralite. Its hardness rivaled that of dragon teeth, and it offered excellent magical conductivity.

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  Forging it was no easy task.

  Especially since he planned to sculpt it into the shape of angelic wings wrapping protectively around the hilt. Caius estimated that even without rest, it would take him more than twenty hours to finish this sword for Little Swan.

  And so, a quiet, repetitive grind began.

  Through the night, Caius worked nonstop—hammering, sculpting, polishing—until morning came. Then, he went to the nearby Iron Tavern with his little feline companion for breakfast, chatted idly with Raymond and the others for half an hour, and returned to repeat the same process all over again...

  Hammer. Sculpt. Polish.

  By afternoon, Caius found himself standing in front of a breathtakingly beautiful sword, momentarily stunned.

  He couldn’t help but wonder—Did I really make this?

  It was just too stunning. Even Oern couldn’t hold back.

  “Say... this sword, can I...?”

  “Nope,” Caius interrupted immediately.

  “You brat,” Oern scowled. “You’re using my tools, can’t we at least negotiate?”

  “Nothing to negotiate,” Caius said shamelessly. “This is for my wife!”

  Oern’s eye twitched. He turned away with a snort. “Forget it. It’s a woman’s sword anyway. Like hell I’d want it.”

  “Heh, next time I’ll make one just for you,” Caius offered with a grin. “A real man’s sword.”

  “Don’t need it. I can make my own,” Oern grumbled, waving a hand dismissively.

  But the truth was, he did want that sword. Not just because it was beautiful and practical—an absolute masterpiece—but because... in that sword, he saw echoes of Tobias.

  Every artisan had their own unique style. And Caius’ work... bore an uncanny resemblance to Tobias’.

  Maybe they were simply the same kind of people.

  That was why he wanted to keep the sword—a way to commemorate an old friend and honor the one who would carry on their legacy.

  “If you’re done, then scram. You’ve hogged my workbench all day. Now I’ve gotta pull overtime because of you.”

  Caius chuckled awkwardly, thanked him, and slipped away with Kiki in his arms, still holding the sword.

  This session of high-intensity forging had increased his magic sedimentation rate by two percent, bringing it to twenty-two percent.

  It was already afternoon. The commercial gala would begin in the evening, and after dinner, Caius had to head to Hydis Academy to meet up with Little Swan.

  Instead of going to the Tavern, Caius went to the Orphanage—he hadn’t visited in two days, after all.

  When he arrived, Grandma Lunla happened to be preparing dinner, so Caius and Kiki stayed to eat with them.

  After the meal, just as Caius was about to take his leave, little Tina came running over holding two letters.

  “Big guy! You've got mail!”

  Caius was momentarily surprised. He took the letters and smiled—it was from Belle.

  Looks like the girl had actually taken his words to heart.

  The letters hadn’t been opened. Caius opened them directly while Kiki and a bunch of little girls clung to his broad back and arms.

  “Big guy, what did Sis write?” Tina asked curiously. She only recognized a few characters and couldn’t read the letter.

  Caius cleared his throat and began to read aloud.

  [Belle:]

  This morning I had egg pancakes, corn chicken soup, and a fish fillet.

  For lunch, I had egg and tomato stew, steak, and potatoes.

  For dinner, I had potato salad and a lemon chicken thigh.

  This is a healthy diet recommended by Instructor Holan.

  Is this okay?

  After reading it aloud, Caius’s expression turned a little strange. He glanced at the little girls around him and saw them biting their fingers, clearly tempted by the description.

  Despite having just eaten, these little gluttons were already feeling hungry again.

  Caius couldn’t help but laugh. Belle probably hadn’t known what to write, so she simply listed her meals for the day. It was evident she was trying hard and being quite cautious about it.

  The second letter was similar—another list of meals for the day.

  But it included more content this time.

  [Belle:]

  The Student Council President has approved access to the newest type of magitech device for magic power research. She’s a good person.

  With these advanced instruments, we’ll be able to study your magic power in much greater depth.

  Then, the handwriting changed.

  Hehe, you’d better thank us, big guy. With two geniuses helping you, you’ll be learning magic in no time!

  It was obvious this part was written by Instructor Holan. Belle would never say something like that.

  So Caius asked for paper and a pen and wrote a reply on the spot.

  [Caius:]

  That’s great news. I’ll officially become an external operative tomorrow. Let’s celebrate together—I’ll treat you both to a feast!

  And that healthy diet plan is looking good. Keep it up.

  Also, Instructor Holan, could you stop hijacking silly mushroom’s letters? If you want to write to me, send your own, okay?~

  After finishing the letter, Caius slipped it into the folded envelope and handed it to the little catgirl, asking her to take it to the mail bureau.

  Catfolk efficiency was always reliable—she was back in no time.

  Soon, the letters would be delivered to Hydis Academy via the bureau’s miniature teleportation magic circle. They would receive them tonight.