Jaune Arc: Unlimited Enhancements

Looking at my {Skills} tab, I made no progress with my F-rank skills at all. It seems that it is more cost-effective to simply kill a few monsters and enhance them rather than try and rank them up naturally. That way, I would not even have to waste too much time. I can also just train using the higher rank.

Looking at my {Skills}, I decided to upgrade them all to A-rank. It was pointless training it on my own since the last month has shown me no growth. I guess it is just that hard to increase, even with my higher learning capacity. Or is it because I am so pathetic that even with the increase in learning capacity, I'm still not growing fast enough? Nah! That can't be it! I was able to learn something like [Blut] in about a week.

Even after all the enhancements I have made, I still have plenty of EP.

[Name: Jaune Arc

Age: 17

Mind: A-rank

Body: S-rank

Spirit: A-rank

{Inventory} {Abilities}

{Skills} {World}

{Mall} {Mission}

{Map}

EP: 508,380]

Ah! This is the most I have collected and haven't used up. However, should I increase the Spirit and Mind to S-rank? Do I even have enough? I should. It should cost me 131,220 EP to bring one of them to S-rank, then for two, it would be 262,440 EP. Should I? Let me think about it. I don't need it at the moment, but then again, it would be better to enhance it before shit hits the fan.

Sigh! Never mind, I'll think about it later. I then looked at the food I was cooking. It tasted great. I should bring some for Hephaestus. I wonder if she would like it. I mean, they have food in Tenkai, right? If they do, it should be better than any mortal food. I wonder how mine compares?

Oh, well, not like I would get to try Tenkai's food anytime soon. I will stick to my cooking for now. Oh, and right now, I'm using all eight high-speed partitions of [Thought Partition] to learn [Ingall], [Teo Ingall], [Eyss], [Dien], [Lyfid], [Ent], [Ei Chael], and [Syrica]. The most important I have made a priority is [Ei Chael] since I am curious if it would be able to reverse the curse on Hephaestus' eye.

After cooking, I packed all I had prepared and made my way to Hephaestus' manor. It was the place we would meet and have our exchange of knowledge. Oh! Recently, I mastered and increased the rank of [Teles]. It was one of the magic I was working on for Bell. I wanted to see if he could use the magic I impart to him using that spell.

[Teles – A-rank]

A spell that engraves knowledge directly into a target's mind. At this rank, there is less pain to be felt. Nothing more than a bee sting.

Looking at the spell, I thought about using it to give all my knowledge of engineering to Hephaestus, but I did not want to end our little meet-ups. It was one of the greatest highlights of my time here in Orario.

Arriving at the Hephaestus Manor, I was greeted by the guard and let in. I made my way to her office, which is where her personal forge is located. It is only a small section of the room, but according to her, a blacksmith does not need excessive amounts of space.

Opening the door to the room, I saw Hephaestus making learning plans for the day. I can see that she wants to see if I have gained any improvements in my smithing. Until now, I still haven't gotten the smithing skill. It was a shame, but I do like learning for her, so all is well. I set the food on the table and put on my apron. It was time for some good old hammering.

The forge sizzled, waves of heat rolling over my skin as I stood before the anvil. The metal before me glowed a deep orange, hot enough to shape but not yet weak enough to break. I took a steady breath, tightening my grip on the hammer.

Clang! The first strike sent sparks flying. I felt the impact in my bones.

Clang! Another strike, folding the steel over itself.

Strengthening.

Refining.

Each motion was precise and practised. A dance between fire, metal, and technique.

I ran my fingers lightly across the surface, searching for flaws.

None.

The blade was coming to life, its curve forming under my hands. Too much force and I'd ruin its balance. Too little, and it would lack strength.

The heat had done its work. Now came the tempering. I reached for the clay mixture, spreading it carefully along the blade. Thicker along the spine, thinner at the edge. This would decide its final nature of being flexible yet unyielding, sharp yet durable. Every blade had a soul, according to Hephaestus, and this one was nearly ready to wake.

I lowered it into the quenching water. The steel hissed, steam rising. This was the moment of truth. Too fast, and it would shatter. Too slow, and it would lose its edge.

I watched and listened, knowing the timing instinctively. When I pulled it free, the Hamon, the faint, wavy line along the blade, gleamed under the forge light, proof of a perfect temper.

I ran a thumb along the edge. It bit back, sharp and deadly. A small nod of satisfaction. The hardest part was done, but it wasn't over. Polishing, sharpening, mounting, every step needed the same patience, the same respect. I set the sword down with care, exhaling. My very first properly forged sword.

"Well, you got yourself one fine blade there," said Hephaestus. She picked up the sword and swung it a few times.

"The balance is good; it does not have micro-fractures. It is a good blade to have," she added. She placed the blade back on the table.

"Does that mean I passed the test you set out for me?" I asked. A week ago, I asked Hephaestus if I could see her eye since I wanted to analyse it, but she said no, at least at first. She then stated that if I could pass five of her tests in the next five weeks, she would allow me a glimpse.

So, I trained hard and even neglected to go to the dungeon in the past week. Curiosity seems to be my biggest flaw. Probably since what I am curious about are things that were not shown in the shows.

"Yes, you passed the test for this week. Four more times, and you get to see what is underneath my patch," said Hephaestus. She touched her eye patch as she spoke.

"Oh! By the way, I made us lunch," I told her. I took out the food I prepared this morning and spread it on the table. The moment I opened it, the fragrance caused Hephaestus' stomach to growl.

"Y-You made this?" asked Hephaestus. She was about to drool at the scent alone. Seeing her like this, I found her very cute.

"Yup! I grew up in a house with seven sisters, who happen to all have a different palette. I needed to learn to cook so that I could placate their irritation during the time of the month," I said Hephaestus.

"Anyway, go on and have a taste. I hope the taste is to your liking," I said. I saw her pick up a lunch box, take a spoon, and put some food in her mouth. The moment it touched her tongue, she had a look of ecstasy. She took another spoonful, then another, then another. She did not stop until the food in her lunch box was empty.

"That was the most delicious food I have ever eaten," said Hephaestus. She took a napkin and wiped her mouth.

"You have a great talent for cooking, and any woman would be lucky to get you," said Hephaestus. I then saw a hint of sourness on her face as she spoke. I then also saw how she placed a hand on her eye patch.

"Alright, since we are done with today's lesson, you may leave. I'll be seeing you tomorrow," said Hephaestus. She left her office and went to another room.

Seeing her drool over the food, I found her very cute, but the moment I saw the sourness in her expression when she touched her eye patch, it hurt my heart. I may not have planned to whoo her at first, but now, I want to.