The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 98: Crafting the Engraved Rifle

The crafting of a firearm differs from other weapons. The barrel is the most critical component. If made improperly, it can easily burst and be damaged during use.

The bullet is propelled by the explosive force of gunpowder inside the chamber. Continuous use generates high temperatures, and overheated metal causes a drop in material strength.

Compared to the previously made "Silver Purification Blade," the difficulty of this firearm increased another level. Fortunately, with final exams over and the holiday period now underway, Sylutia had plenty of time to complete it.

She first experimented with low-grade materials to make the barrel. Only after becoming skilled did she switch to the materials provided by Sienna.

"Black Demon Copper," huh. Sylutia was slightly surprised when she received the materials. This was a rare Fourth Tier metallic material, even rarer than Mithril. Although its performance might not necessarily surpass Mithril, it was far too troublesome to produce. It was said that it could only be formed in a special secret realm within the Shadow World, requiring multiple metals to be fused together using Black Demon Flames over a long period of smelting.

Even after obtaining it, a large amount of impurities had to be removed, leaving only a small usable portion.

Although it was only "Fourth Tier," this Sienna was no simple person to be able to produce such a rare material. Sylutia was even surprised that she would entrust this material to her.

To familiarize herself with the characteristics of Black Demon Copper, she spent an additional two days. In total, it took her nearly five days just to finish processing the barrel.

After the first phase was completed, Sylutia looked at the heavy black barrel in her hands, set it aside, and began crafting the stock and other components.

The current Mage Alliance had not yet developed automatic rifles. This firearm was a breech-loading rifled gun that required reloading after each shot. Compared to the automatic rifles in Sylutia's memory, this old-style rifle had a slower firing rate. But precisely because it was slower, it allowed the bullet to be enhanced by enchantments inscribed inside the barrel after being loaded, increasing its power.After completing the other parts, the next step was the enchantment inscription work. With previous experience, Sylutia was much more proficient this time. She quickly inscribed the required Rune enchantments inside and outside the barrel.

Finally came the most difficult enchantment: "Lock." Sylutia examined the barrel, took out three transparent gemstones, carefully polished them, inscribed extremely fine Runes inside, and then installed the three gemstones onto the aiming device above the barrel, aligning them in a straight line.

When this "Engraved Rifle" was activated by its user, the Lock effect within these three gemstones would focus into a single point at a distance, allowing the operator to sense it and make slight trajectory adjustments to the bullet.

To achieve this effect, after inscribing the enchantments on the gemstones, Sylutia spent another four days test-firing and adjusting until its accuracy reached the limit she could currently achieve. Only then did she stop.

This should be acceptable, Sylutia thought as she looked at the rifle held by her Magic Hands. She gently set it down, checked the wear on its internal components again, and made fine adjustments.

Thus, the entire "Engraved Rifle" took her nearly two weeks to complete.

Phew, it took much longer than expected, the young woman mused. But it felt good because during this process, she had solved many problems and accumulated a lot of experience. And upon completion, she even gained a "color" she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Steel Rust Gray": 12 portions. A color condensed after forging steel, machinery, and firearms.

A type of metallic color, carrying concepts like "gunpowder," "forging," "corrosion," and "dullness."

Sylutia raised her hand. The newly condensed color appeared before her eyes, showing the delicate gray-cast quality of metal. Upon closer inspection, a hint of rust-red faintly embedded within it could be seen. It was a remarkably substantial color.

She stored the color into the Picture Book and re-examined her work. This rifle was about one meter long. The stock was carved with a rose pattern according to Sienna's requirements. The barrel featured elegant lines that perfectly combined the hardness of steel with the softness of curved patterns. The whole thing was as beautiful as a work of art.

It was time to deliver it. Sylutia placed it into a box, commanded the Magic Hands to carry it, and headed to the counter of the Task Hall.

"Sienna is back." The receptionist smiled and greeted her, then accepted the long box Sylutia handed over.

"One moment, please. I'll find someone to appraise and verify it right away."

Sylutia found a bench in the hall and sat down. Before she knew it, she leaned against the backrest and fell asleep.

During this period, she had been fully immersed in crafting and completing this piece. The focus she had maintained throughout finally relaxed upon completion, and the suppressed fatigue began to surge.

She didn't know how long it had been when the receptionist walked over and gently shook her awake.

"Wake up. The appraisal is done."

Ah, it's done. Sylutia sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked at the certificate the receptionist handed her.

[Engraved Rifle]

Inscribed with Lock, Explosion, Impact, Stability, Armor-Piercing — five enchantments. Adjusted to optimal condition. Precision and handling are flawless. Rated as Fourth Tier, Perfect.

"Congratulations, Hedra. You're already an expert in this field." What she called an "expert" usually referred to mages specializing in Fifth Tier enchantment forging.

"Thank you, but I'm still far from being that kind of expert." She still had so much to learn, and the Secret Arts she currently mastered were not abundant enough.

"Hehe. Although modesty is a good thing, you should believe in yourself sometimes. I've been working here for a long time, and you're the first one to achieve this as an apprentice. Others, even the geniuses of Tetis College, usually only manage to create a Fourth Tier item after becoming a Third Tier Official Mage."

The receptionist led Sylutia to the counter to sign and fill out some forms, then told her to come back tomorrow afternoon to collect her payment.

"Sienna will also be here by then. You can formally hand over the task."

"Alright, I understand." Sylutia was about to head back to rest and sleep, but then remembered something else and turned back.

"Can you tell me where I can buy a large amount of 'Moongrass'?"

"Well..." The receptionist thought for a moment, trying to recall.

"The academy does provide some, but that's only for experimental purposes, not for bulk sale. If you want to buy it, you'll have to go to the 'Windrunner Guild' outside. It's a guild from the Harp Flower Union. They have a shipping route to the Second Continent. Many Elven products come through that route."

"Wait a minute. I thought the Second Continent was to the west of the Fourth Continent. Why is the main trading port in the east, at the Harp Flower Union?"

"That's because the clouds and air currents in the west are chaotic and unsuitable for airship travel. Plus, there are many highly dangerous cloud beasts in the Misty Cloud Sea. So the route doesn't go straight across. Instead, it detours a certain distance and lands on the eastern side of the continent."

"The general location of the Second Continent is to the north-northwest of the Fourth Continent. If you're flying from above, the detour to the east isn't that troublesome." She added.

The seven continents are arranged by altitude. The First Continent is the highest, closest to the Court, while the Fourth Continent is in the middle, neither high nor low. If this were the early Eighth Epoch, when the Silver Moon Dragon still existed, the Fourth Continent would have ranked second in height, just behind the First Continent.

As the Six Law Dragons successively fell or vanished, the Fairies' status rose once again. The continent where the Elves and Fairies resided was elevated to the Second Continent, second only to the First Continent favored by the Corona Dragon.

"I see." Sylutia now understood why the Harp Flower Union had such prosperous and wealthy trade.