Blacksmithing Is Child’s Play for a Dark Mage - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 30
“Ah, forgive me. This is a prototype I’ve been working on recently. It’s something like a charm, you see. People with weak willpower tend to have… difficulty with it.”
Tay picked up the object and spoke with casual ease.
Partin gasped for breath, his lungs heaving.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead in rivulets.
Just a glimpse—and it had done this to him!
‘What in the hells is that thing?’
In truth, it was something called the Madness Skull Ornament, crafted by Tay using his Madness Tinker ability.
The effect was simple enough.
It induced madness in anyone who gazed upon it.
But then again.
Its potency was on the level of Mental Erosion at moderate-to-severe intensity!
That was why Tay had quickly slipped it back into his robes.
Wheeze, wheeze, wheeze!
Partin’s complexion finally began to improve.
Had he stared at it any longer, he might well have lost his mind entirely.
Originally, it was meant to be displayed in a glass case—a Magical Tool designed to deter thieves and intruders when he was away from home.
He’d crafted it mainly for times when the house would be empty.
But as always, it came with one minor drawback: it inflicted madness on its creator as well.
Of course, since Madness Tinker came with the Madness Accumulation skill, this posed no problem whatsoever.
‘Heh. Not bad at all.’
Tay felt a quiet satisfaction bloom in his chest.
He hadn’t made any direct threats.
He hadn’t attacked with Black Magic.
He had simply shown the man something he’d created.
And yet Partin would certainly have understood the message.
This Black Mage was someone who could craft such objects.
And what would happen if such an object were quietly placed in his own bedroom?
“Now then, Tax Collector Partin.”
Tay smiled. It was a gentle smile, the kind that seemed almost virtuous.
But behind that smile, the one-eyed imp assistant stood with folded arms, while Dialogue perched on his shoulder, clicking and whirring as it blinked its mechanical eyes.
“This year’s tax: four hundred Goldmanta Gold Coins. What do you think? I realize it may seem like a modest sum, but how many people in the Harundel Slums pay four hundred gold coins in taxes?”
This was the truth.
In the slums, four hundred gold coins was an absolutely staggering amount.
Most of the common folk dwelling there couldn’t scrape together even a single coin, let alone four hundred.
From Partin’s perspective, his fifteen percent cut meant sixty gold coins flowing into his own coffers.
For a single tax collection, this alone was an enormous sum by his standards!
Of course, measured against Tay’s actual income, it was absurdly low—barely a pittance.
“And furthermore.”
Tay added one more incentive.
“From now on, every year—so long as I remain in this district—I guarantee four hundred gold coins. Stable income, wouldn’t you say?”
……
Partin fell silent.
His mind spun through the calculation.
Could he squeeze more taxes out of this Black Mage?
It was impossible.
The Silver Shield was backing him, the man was a Black Mage capable of crafting bizarre objects like this, and he traveled with an imp of no small consequence.
If Partin tried to take more by force, he would invite disaster upon himself.
On the other hand, if he accepted the four hundred coins?
He would be collecting the highest single tax payment in the entire Harundel Slums—an impressive figure to report to the administrative office.
And hadn’t the man promised it would be guaranteed every year?
‘Hmm… not a bad deal. Besides… this bastard reeks of danger.’
Partin swallowed hard.
And then.
He made his decision.
“……Very well. Four hundred Goldmanta Gold Coins for this year’s tax. I accept.”
“A wise decision, indeed.”
Tay beamed.
He then placed a heavy purse of coins—prepared in advance—onto the table with a solid thud.
Partin picked up the purse and began counting the coins.
His hand trembled slightly as he counted, but the weight of the gold coins steadied his mind.
Money was always right, after all.
“I’ll write you a receipt.”
“Please do.”
While Partin dipped ink to parchment and drafted the receipt, Glashalavolias whispered from within Tay’s shadow.
-Cunning, contractor. Less than one percent of actual income in taxes.
-Paying minimal taxes is just how things work.
-How things work?
-Like the universal law of our world.
-Ah…… the human race truly is……
Tax avoidance so egregious that even demons would shake their heads.
Well, it wasn’t so much avoidance as outright evasion, technically speaking.
But it was legal, regardless!
The tax collector had agreed to it!
“Here. Your tax payment certificate for the year.”
Partin handed over the parchment as he spoke.
The way his formal register had settled completely suggested he now recognized Tay as his equal or superior.
“Thank you, Partin. I hope we can maintain a good relationship going forward.”
“……Indeed. I hope so as well.”
Partin tucked the purse of coins into his robes and rose from his seat.
Just before he reached the door.
He paused and turned back.
“Your name is Tay?”
“Yes.”
“……I look forward to working with you.”
Formal address had entered his speech.
The tax collector, previously so imperious, had lowered his guard completely.
Once Partin left and the door closed.
Tay leaned back deeply into his chair and exhaled.
“Phew…… that was tense.”
“Remarkable, Master! Your technique for cutting taxes seems even more terrifying than Black Magic!”
Dialogue clicked and rattled on his shoulder in admiration.
“High praise indeed.”
“Ha-ha! As expected of you, Master!”
Then Ace emerged fully from the shadows and spoke.
“Human society is truly fascinating. In demon society, we would simply tear the soul from such a person.”
“That sounds more frightening, doesn’t it?”
“Not at all. Taxes are far more terrifying. A soul is taken once and it’s over, but taxes come every year.”
“……You have a point.”
Tay carefully folded the tax certificate and tucked it into his robes.
The tax issue for this year was now resolved.
‘Next comes leveling up.’
Tay’s eyes gleamed.
He’d earned money, settled taxes, and hired protection.
Now it was time to grow stronger.
* * *
Harundel Slums.
The second floor of a shabby tavern in an alleyway after sunset.
“So how much is that black mage bastard making?”
A broad-shouldered man with his feet on the table asked the question.
Kaisel, the guild master of the thief guild Black Finger.
A 2nd Class mage and an Aura Beginner-ranked swordsman—a versatile figure by any measure.
Rising from the slums, he’d clawed his way up through crime from the very bottom.
“Thousands of gold coins a month, sir. He makes Magical Tools called Bone Spears and sells them—they fly off the shelves, apparently.”
Litts, the information officer and Kaisel’s subordinate, reported. A thin man with ratlike features.
“In gold coins?”
“Goldmanta Gold Coins, sir.”
“Hm.”
Kaisel clicked his tongue.
Thousands of gold coins a month.
It’s more money than my entire guild could earn in a year.
“The Silver Shield has taken a protection contract, which is a concern… but they haven’t fully deployed yet.”
“Haven’t yet? When will they arrive?”
“I’m not certain… but it shouldn’t be long.”
“What forces does he have?”
“A handful of slaves at home, and several dozen Skeleton Soldiers.”
“Skeleton Soldiers?”
Kaisel let out a derisive snort.
The lowest-tier Undead. A single decent swordsman could handle four of them without breaking a sweat.
“We hit him at night. With Desh joining us, we’ll have two mages and ten swordsmen — that should be more than enough, shouldn’t it?”
Desh was a recruit they’d brought in this time. A Black Mage and 2nd Class.
Kaisel himself was a 2nd Class mage, and now with another 2nd Class Black Mage added to the roster.
This was plenty of firepower to run things in the slums.
“What’s this Black Mage’s rank?”
“1st Class.”
“1st Class?”
Kaisel’s lips curled upward.
A mere 1st Class Black Mage earning thousands of gold coins a month?
That was ridiculous.
It was practically asking to be robbed.
“What’s the house layout?”
“It’s a Stone Wall House on the outer edge of the slums — the so-called ‘cursed house.’ There are two entrances, front and back. The wall is low enough to scale easily.”
“Good. We hit both gates simultaneously. Divide the swordsmen five to each side to handle the Skeleton Soldiers, and Desh and I will take care of the Black Mage.”
“When should we strike?”
“Tonight. Get the crew together.”
Kaisel drained his cheap wine and laughed.
“One month’s haul and we can live off it for a year.”
Thousands upon thousands of gold coins.
The mere thought of it made his mouth water.
* * *
At that very moment.
Tay was at home, absorbed in his research.
Specifically, research into item crafting.
True, with enough money he could simply buy what he needed, but he had his reasons for making things himself.
He wanted to see if the Madness Tinker ability might synergize with it.
The Madness Tinker seemed to have the same class progression as Black Magic — with each odd level, he could craft new items and create increasingly powerful ones.
And if it synergized with Black Magic…
…he might be able to create something truly exceptional.
With that thought in mind, he was deliberating before launching into serious research.
For now, he was reading texts on Black Magic item crafting.
After all, he needed to know the theory before he could build anything.
The Hunter System existed, but it didn’t teach him everything — not the practical know-how or the recipes.
“I’ve heard that carving a Black Magic Power condensation circle improves production efficiency.”
Rant spoke up from beside him as she read over his shoulder.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I learned it long ago.”
A former noblewoman, now a twelve-year-old slave girl — the knowledge that came from her mouth shouldn’t have been possible, but Tay had grown accustomed to it long since.
“You really do know a lot…”
That was when it happened.
—A Skeleton Soldier has been destroyed.
Tay’s words died in his throat.
A message notification: one Skeleton Soldier had been destroyed.
It was the one standing guard along the western wall.
“Rant.”
“Yes. I felt it too. Intruders.”
A dark crimson light flickered across Rant’s eyes.
Black Magic Power was stirring.
Nearly at the same instant, chaos erupted outside.
Clang! Crash!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out as Skeleton Soldiers clashed with the intruders.
“Graaaah.”
“Ahhhhh!”
And screams echoed through the air.
‘Tsk, tsk. Riffraff have wandered in.’
Tay’s Undead skeleton was a heavy-built one.
Thanks to layering multiple bones to increase its frame, it possessed strength and weight several times greater than an ordinary skeleton.
And with heavy armor strapped on, it was not to be compared with the typical flimsy Undead skeletons.
Strong enough to shatter an orc’s skull in direct combat!
Beyond that.
The skeletons standing guard in the house had been armed with new weapons.
Flails!
In the local tongue, a weapon called a flail—metal weights attached to chains and hung from a wooden shaft in multiples.
A blunt-force weapon that strikes across a fairly wide range with each swing.
Easy to handle, capable of dealing area damage, and possessing tremendous power.
Bones shatter easily under a flail’s blow.
The Halberd was good enough, but it was too long a polearm for close-quarters fighting inside the Stone Wall House, so it was swapped for this.
For tight melee combat, this was far more effective.
A Black Mage becomes a blacksmith all too easily
Author |
Automaton G
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Samyang C&C
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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