It's not anything else that's dopamine.
This is dopamine.
A sort of escape drama, staking my remaining 5 years of nighttime sleep autonomy.
If caught, it's confinement.
Creak.
I carefully grabbed the repaired door handle and closed it.
The result - success.
The only person I ran into on the way was a servant who was mowing the lawn.
That person was also focused on their work and didn't even glance my way.
"..."
I looked around the Workshop.
In fact, I had never even lit the furnace, and on the workbench, the Enchant Powder pouch I used yesterday was lying there as it was.
Beside it, two hammers were placed.
Honestly, I had come to the Workshop, but.
That was only because of a momentary impulse that I ran here.
I looked down at my right hand.
"...Ouch."
Since it's swollen up like this.
It was true that it was difficult to do anything.
Maybe because it's a young body, it's certainly vulnerable to stimulation.
I suppose I should see it as a frail body.
Still, let's not worry. There's a lot to do.
It's just hard to swing a hammer down.
It seemed sufficient to operate our 30,000 Gold furnace.
I had already learned the usual way to use a furnace a lot from the manual.
I had already learned a lot of the theoretical parts, that's it.
If so...
Now, what is Metallurgy?
Metallurgy is a massive perverted act.
To put it simply.
You crush ore, melt it, extract metal, mix metals to make an alloy, produce an ingot, heat and melt it according to the situation and purpose, hammer the heated ingot and forge it into shape, quench it to cool it, and finish.
If you only look at it in writing, it seems quite easy.
Actually, it doesn't seem like a very difficult process.
It's just that if you slip up, your hand gets grilled like a Frank sausage.
What I felt here.
What was the part where Sun Dwarves differ in quality from others in Metallurgy?
"This is fine dining."
I have a total of three Blacksmith Manuals.
Forest Fairy, Frostfoot Tribe, and Sun Dwarf.
The former seemed specialized in crafting.
If the middle one is specialized in mining.
The Sun Dwarf's tenacity and obsession in each and every step is no joke.
Those fine differences become one and create value.
Like fine dining.
Let's take an example.
Now, shall we start with the ore?
To melt Good ore, you need a furnace with quite strong firepower.
The best is a blast furnace, but.
This furnace model seemed to be about a quasi-blast furnace.
I didn't know either. I originally thought this could do everything.
This furnace can do smelting to melt ore, and melting to melt ingots, but...
As the stage goes up, you do need a blast furnace.
Actually, because of that, later I might have to ask Mama to purchase an additional blast furnace.
I feel a bit awkward about it, so I'm also considering selling the gloves and buying it with that money.
I tried to take out ore from the basket Dolores had prepared.
But then.
"...Huh?"
In the basket, not ore, but.
There were already-made ingots.
In other words, ones that already skipped a series of processes.
"Hmm..."
I don't like it.
The Sun Dwarf's detail starts from melting ore and making ingots.
To use fine dining as an example, it's like suddenly taking out frozen meatballs.
No matter how well you grill it and make the sauce, it's still frozen meatballs.
Just as I did various things with leather, Dwarves start from there.
Because ingots - are items with an enormous difference in quality.
Melting metal and hardening it is not the end.
Depending on what and how much is mixed in, how evenly it's mixed, and how many impurities there are, the grade is divided.
And also, for each piece of equipment, you have to make the ingot differently.
Just as I was feeling regret in many ways.
Something appeared before my eyes.
-----------------------------
[Iron Ingot] [Common]
-----------------------------
[Components]
[Iron] [96.30%]
[Carbon] [2.85%]
[Sulfur] [0.42%]
[Phosphorus] [0.28%]
[Stone Powder] [0.15%]
-----------------------------
[Quality]
[Homogeneity] [C]
[Density] [C]
-----------------------------
[Evaluation]
Standard mass-produced ingot.
A typical low-cost ingot with only the iron content raised. Unsuitable for shaping.
-----------------------------
It seems ingots, like equipment, can also have their status viewed.
Is it natural because I'm a Blacksmith?
Actually, right now, rather than being impressed by the new ability.
"Ah, annoying."
Tap tap tap.
I tapped the ground with one foot, my face full of dissatisfaction.
Can this kind of thing really be called an ingot?
Currently, for the past week, I had only looked at the manual containing the Sun Dwarf's perverted ingots and process every day.
In other words, I had done a tremendous amount of imaginary Metallurgy.
I've never thought of using such a crappy ingot.
Me? This kind of crappy ingot? Why?
I'm a Sun Dwarf.
Suddenly, strength drains from my arms.
The carbon ratio is too high, so if handled wrong, it will break.
Because impurities were introduced while raising the iron, the density is also poor.
Ha...
Steam is rising from my forehead, but rather than use this, it's better to copy 100 Oak 20 Enhance items.
Seriously.
First, I decided to deny reality.
"You are not a kind ingot, but ore."
I will treat the ingot as ore.
Actually, from its perspective, it would be better to be reborn.
Let's start Metallurgy image training, evolved one step from notebook Metallurgy.
I did image training for lighting the furnace.
I threw the charcoal next to me inside.
Now, here, I light the charcoal with kindling.
Of course, I wasn't planning to actually light it now.
"Ah~ shall I light it~"
[Blaze blaze blaze~]
Yuna took on the role of the furnace for me.
Good.
Let's say the charcoal caught fire.
When the inside has heated up a bit.
Right now.
Slide...
I slowly pushed the ore (ingot) inside.
I lightly place the ore on top of the charcoal. Originally, you break and crush the ore before placing it.
For now, skip that process. Right now, I'm learning how to operate the furnace.
Let's say the charcoal caught fire.
The ore was placed on top.
What I'll do from now is exactly raise the heat like crazy.
Plain charcoal fire only consumes oxygen in the air. So it's hard for it to get hotter beyond a certain level.
So, at that time.
Right then, you push air into the charcoal fire. So the charcoal consumes more oxygen.
So it burns more.
That is exactly Bellows.
In the Sun Dwarf manual, it's a quite convenient process that is handled by pressing just one button.
This process is a freebie.
"Hehe."
But.
Where's the button?
"..."
Just as I was looking around and scanning the area.
There was one suspicious-looking iron pedal below.
In other words, it looked like a car's accelerator.
"...?"
No, right?
Surely not.
I couldn't hold back my curiosity and lightly pressed it with my foot.
Creeeeak...
Damn, this is fucking tough.
It's heavy enough that I have to put my whole body's strength into pressing it.
It's hard for a 13-year-old baby.
For now, I put in a bit more strength and stomped hard.
Then.
Whoooosh...!
The powder stuck to the surface of the charcoal flew off.
Fuck.
[Whoosh!]
Whoosh?
Then that means it fucking caught fire.
This is real Bellows?
"Huaaaah!"
I pressed the pedal once more.
Fwooo!
[Whirrrrrr~~!]
Ah...
The Bellows in my memory is.
When you press the W button, a sheep-like character breathes a cone-shaped fire from its mouth.
And when you strike down with a hammer, it makes a clang! sound.
"Haa..."
It's hard.
I pressed it about three times and all my strength is drained.
Creeeeak...
[Fwoosh]
Creeeak...
[Oppa, you stepped too much so the fire is escaping outside]
"Thanks..."
[Awesome]
I wish it would just all burn up.
After doing that Bellows whining a few times.
Strength left my body.
"Wow... is this even right."
I wiped the sweat on my forehead and roughly sat down on a chair.
There's one thing I overlooked.
The Sun Dwarf's technology is the latest within their worldview.
And the furnaces used by the humans of the Outer Tower and such were extremely outdated.
Should I grease it or something?
It doesn't seem like a level that can be solved with that.
"..."
Suddenly, an ominous imagination came to mind.
I won't have to make a Dwarf-grade furnace, right?
Please.
Actually, that side was my field.
Mechanical engineering...
Dripping with sweat, I swept my hair completely back.
I think I roughly know how to use the furnace.
Anyway, all my series of processes are for Dolores.
As far as I've observed so far, her equipment was just one thing: Gorgonue's White Gloves.
I think I should gradually change the remaining parts too.
But looking at the state of things, Metallurgy seems to need a bit more time.
The gloves are done.
"What's left is clothing..."
Shoes, pants, a top, things like that.
Or else...
One thing comes to mind.
'Underwear.'
I closed my eyes.
It's the most intuitive, after all.
It stays on the body the longest.
And it's the first to be put on.
And it doesn't seem hard to make either.
This is seriously ridiculous.
"I can't just strip it off either..."
According to what I've confirmed so far.
Unless I see her equipment directly with my eyes, detailed information doesn't seem to come up.
As if proving that, her equipment window was all dyed black except for the glove slot.
Yeah, let's keep underwear at a distance for now.
Let's say we skip this. Let's find the next goal.
I kept rolling things over in my head.
Shoes, is the best one shoes after all...
"What do you want to take off?"
"First, from the feet..."
Uh.
My body stopped as it was.
Yuna, is that you?
Let's refrain from such jokes among family.
[.......]
Don't do that.
Then who was I talking to?
As I couldn't do anything and was frozen stiff like a mouse before a cat.
"Feet?"
Once again.
A voice came from behind me.
"..."
I slowly turned my head.
There, with her body resting on the wide-open window.
Dolores, leaning her upper body on the inner window frame of the Workshop, was looking at me.
Her smile is still gentle.
Since when had she been there?
When I was complaining while looking at the ingot?
From when I was stepping on the pedal while cursing?
No, what does it matter?
Just now, I said I'd take it off.
I don't know about other things, but it was a huge relief that I didn't mention the subject.
"Lionel~"
Dolores gently slipped her body over the window frame.
She slowly approached me.
"What are you taking off?"
She gently lifted me up and patted my forehead with a handkerchief in one hand.
I was lifted about 1.5M into the air, so escape became useless.
"Feet, feet... take off..."
"Whose feet?"
"..."
Now.
There are two cases.
Either I lie and get caught by her ability and spit out the truth.
Or I just obediently spit out the truth.
Either way, it'll be the latter, so the former is a losing process.
"Do, Do, Do, Dolores..."
In the end, I told the truth.
Dolores kept her smile and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
What will happen?
Just as I was nervous.
She, who had just been calmly looking at my face...
Smack.
Kissing my forehead.
"Lionel, how are you so eager..."
She hugged me.
With a bewildered expression.
I was held in her arms.
***
Dolores quietly followed Lionel.
When Lionel sneaked out of the mansion and crossed the garden.
When he carefully opened the Workshop door and went inside.
Dolores was following exactly ten steps behind, without making a single sound.
Tiptoe.
His back as he looked around and glanced about, and the way he scurried inside, was so cute.
I almost forgot the purpose of coming to catch him.
As the Workshop door closed.
Dolores completely erased her presence and went around to the back.
Swoosh...
The open window at the back of the Workshop.
Completely killing her presence, she placed her upper body on the window frame.
The inside is clearly visible.
"..."
Lionel, with his back turned, picked up one ingot from the basket.
"...Hmm."
He lets out a sigh, as if something is unsatisfactory.
He also seems to be grumbling.
'Cute.'
Dolores began taking notes in her head.
'So the ingot isn't good. I'll have to replace it.'
Just then.
Lionel suddenly pointed his finger at the ingot.
"You are not a kind ingot, but ore."
"...?"
He shouted in a quite sharp tone.
Then suddenly humming, he threw a few pieces of charcoal into the furnace.
"Ah~ shall I light it~"
He lifted the ingot and put it in the furnace.
"..."
So, it seems he's practicing something.
What Dolores felt now was nothing else.
Lionel.
Was carefully doing every process only with the opposite hand, not the hand she had applied medicine to.
-Don't use this hand.
Since she told him not to, he really wasn't using the painful hand.
But, even though she told him not to.
Perhaps he didn't feel at ease, despite his body hurting, he came all the way out here and was working hard.
Something touching welled up in Dolores's heart.
'Why are you so eager...'
He could just rest.
Then.
Lionel pressed the pedal.
Creeeeak!
"Hnnngh!"
Creeeeak!
"Kuaaah!"
With his tiny foot, he pressed the pedal that looked impossible with all his strength.
He was practicing operating the furnace.
She wanted to go right away and press the pedal for him, but.
From Lionel's personality so far, he seemed to like standing alone.
After pressing it several times in a row like that.
"Wow... is this even right."
Perhaps all strength drained, Lionel sat on the chair and wiped his sweat.
'Poor thing.'
Pitiful.
The sight of him panting and wiping his forehead was pitiful.
Watching his small shoulders rise and fall, something welled up in Dolores's heart.
Just then.
"What's left is clothing..."
Lionel muttered something.
"I can't just strip it off either..."
Take off, strip...
Clothing...?
Dolores's eyes widened.
Surely, so if all the actions Lionel is doing right now are...
She urgently asked.
"What do you want to take off?"
"First, from the feet..."
The child's body stiffened at the voice from somewhere.
Since she didn't mean to surprise him, she quickly went inside.
"Lionel~"
Calling his name softly.
"What are you taking off?"
She lifted Lionel right up...
And wiped the sweat on his forehead.
"Feet, feet... take off..."
"Whose feet?"
"..."
Lionel tightly shut his eyes and thought, then...
Slowly opened his mouth.
"Do, Do, Do, Dolores..."
"..."
Thump, thump.
The truth of the words her ears pointed to.
Was true.
Lionel dragged his painful body all the way to the Workshop.
And what he was doing without using that painful body was equipment production for Dolores.
How could he think of something like this?
Smack.
Dolores kissed Lionel's forehead.
"Lionel, how are you so eager..."
With her face buried in his shoulder, she stroked his back.
She tried to say more, but no words came out.
Something was caught in her throat.
Someone's blind goodwill.
Even if she were to receive it, she had never imagined it would be from a thirteen-year-old child.
She repeatedly stroked Lionel's head.
"Thank you..."
There was nothing she could do but say thank you.
"Haha..."
Lionel, reading the mood, flinched in her arms.
Then.
"Um... Dolores."
"Yes."
She set down Lionel from her arms.
And met his eyes.
"Um, by any chance... is there ore?"
"There is. I'll definitely prepare some for you."
Lionel's body flinched, and his expression brightened slightly.
'So this child is happy with things like this.'
Dolores took in that expression and smiled gently.
"Um, is there lubricant...?"
"There is. I'll definitely apply it for you."
"Hehe."
He likes it again.
Dolores let out a short laugh.
What a child, reacting to such trivial things.
Her mind was already rolling on what to prepare next.
Then Lionel carefully added one more word.
"Um, since it's daytime now... what you said earlier, it's okay, right?"
What she said earlier.
Aha.
"..."
Dolores looked at Lionel for a moment.
And smiled gently.
"No."
Whether night or day.
Since he was caught, it can't be helped.
"A promise is a promise."
Moreover, now that she had seen that sight.
Dolores could not let Lionel loose even more. Even more.
"Huh...?"
Lionel's face hardened.
Dolores stroked that Lionel's head once more.
"From today, let's live together."
"..."
That afternoon.
Lionel's room's bed - had disappeared somewhere.