Early TNG Vol. 23 Chapter 4 Part 1

Full title: THE NEW GATE

Note: If you found any typos/mistakes, pls write them in the comment. Thanks.

Translator: Canon

____________________________________________

Chapter 4 - Secrets

“Didn’t expect it to stay this intact.”

Looking down at the fallen Verge Spider, Shin realized the impact hadn’t been as strong as usual. Perhaps because his body was smaller, the force behind his blows felt off.

As he tilted his head in thought, Schnee called out to him.

“Something wrong?”

“Yeah. It feels like my attacks don’t hit as hard. Think body size affects power output?”

“I would say so. It’s the same for weapons, mass will influence impact. From experience, I believe barehanded skills are also affected by the user’s physique.”

“So it’s really that, huh. I’d like to get rid of this debuff as soon as possible.”

Back in the game, an avatar’s body size rarely changed unless one intentionally altered the settings.

“I don’t mind you staying like this for a while.”

“...Right.”

Schnee’s gentle smile made it obvious she was teasing him.

“I like small Shin too. You’re adorable like this.”

“Am I, though?”

As the subject of her praise, Shin tilted his head again. Even as a joke, her perception was clearly clouded by affection.

“Hey, no fair! Stop flirting in front of us!”

“Oh my, we’ve been caught.”

Schnee chuckled as Milt approached.

Judging by the quiet surroundings, all the small spiders had already been dealt with. Tiera and the others seemed uninjured as well.

“Since we’ve collected the materials, let’s take a break. With the area boss down, we don’t have to worry about surprise attacks.”

“Wait, hold on. Doesn’t the Moon Shrine already have a monster-repelling barrier? Did we really have to come all the way out here?”

Milt voiced the question just as Shin deployed the Moon Shrine. She was familiar with multiple layers of defensive barrier skills.

“In this dungeon, the barrier doesn’t activate unless we defeat the area boss. Even then, its effect only covers the zone where that boss appeared. Besides, if we’d camped back in the first grassland, we might’ve run into another boss, something sneaky like a Gigiratis. I’d rather avoid being ambushed while resting. If the boss is the stealthy type, the dungeon might enhance its concealment, making it invisible to 【Detection】, right?”

“Ah, yeah. Those kinds are the worst.”

While the barrier wasn’t weak, it couldn’t withstand repeated blows from a level-800 monster. On top of that, barrier-type skills couldn’t self-repair once weakened—they had to be recast entirely. Doing that without knowing where the enemy was made things even riskier.

Milt, who had likely fought such unseen foes before, grimaced at the memory.

“Alright, let’s move. It’s about lunchtime. Can’t fight on an empty stomach.”

“Then let’s make something a bit more luxurious. We’ve got plenty of ingredients to work with.”

Rare ingredients, like other materials, reverted to their original state once outside the dungeon. Seeing Schnee’s eyes light up at the thought of a “challenge menu,” Milt cheered.

“Yay, Schnee’s cooking!”

Inside the Moon Shrine, everyone had some free time until the meal was ready.

Tiera offered to help with the cooking and followed Schnee into the kitchen. Kagerou lay down at the entrance, keeping close to Tiera as usual.

Meanwhile, Shin headed to the forge to prepare equipment for the party. He told the others to rest, but Retoneka asked if she could observe his smithing.

“Please, let me watch!”

“...All right.”

Shin had been wondering how to help Retoneka overcome her lingering fear of blacksmithing. Seeing her take a step forward on her own, he thought for a moment and then nodded.

When he asked if Milt and Yuzuha wanted to join, both immediately said yes—they almost always came to watch when he worked.

“Schnee probably won’t take long cooking anyway, so I’ll just do a simple test today. Want me to explain the technical side of it?”

Retoneka shook her head vigorously.

“No, just being allowed to stay here is more than enough! It would be far too presumptuous to ask for lessons in blacksmithing technique.”

If Shin were crafting weapons for himself or Schnee, there was no such thing as “simple.” Retoneka understood that, and clearly had no intention of prying into his trade secrets.

“I see. Then I’ll focus on the work. Watch carefully and learn what you can.”

“Yes!”

Retoneka nodded earnestly.

Once they reached the forge, Shin lit the furnace and began preparing the materials.

The first thing he crafted was a bow for Tiera. The core was made from a branch of the World Tree, shaped using a blade forged from a 『Drop of Erathem』.

He then melted down a small amount of the same material and brushed it over the surface—an iridescent sheen rippled across the bow, coating it in a radiant luster.

Next, he took out chimeradite, stretching and shaping it into two slender strips. Placing the processed branch between them, he layered the chimeradite on both sides. No adhesives were needed; the 『Drop of Erathem』 acted as the binding agent once he channeled mana through it.

“Now to attach the remaining parts... and string the bow.”

The finished weapon measured roughly one mel in length. Though plain in appearance, the magic emanating from it was unmistakably legend-grade or higher.

Shin then pulled out a log and activated a skill, within moments, a pile of arrow shafts materialized before him.

“Woodworking skills really do weird stuff sometimes,” Milt muttered, half in awe.

Shin grinned. “Just a timesaver. Doing it by hand would take ages.”

As he said, it was a simple time-reduction skill.

Next, he mass-produced arrowheads, then activated another production skill to automatically assemble them with feathers and nocks into completed arrows.

In the game era, every serious craftsman had such time-saving skills; it was unthinkable to craft arrows one by one manually.

“I see some different arrowhead shapes. What do they do?”

“The gray triangular ones are standard. The needle-like ones have higher penetration, and the colored ones deal elemental damage.”

“And if both the bow and arrow have elements, does that change anything?”

“If they share the same element, the damage output rises. It also stacks if your skill’s element matches the arrow. Most archers let the arrows handle the elemental load while saving MP for other skills. Switching a sword’s element on the fly isn’t that simple.”

Some dual-wielders carried swords of different elements, but an archer could swap attributes instantly mid-fight. It wasn’t a high-damage tactic, but it was excellent for probing an enemy’s weaknesses or fighting bosses whose weak points changed mid-battle.

“Hmm, sounds like dinner’s ready.”

Shin sensed Schnee approaching and decided to wrap up for now.

On the table awaited a spread far more colorful than usual: meat pies, roasted cuts of something unfamiliar, and soup brimming with vibrant ingredients.

“The meat’s white... What kind is it?” Milt asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“It’s Landshorn thigh meat,” Schnee explained. “It turns pale when cooked. Try it with the berry sauce.”

“All right, here goes—whoa, this is amazing!”

Shin tried a bite as well. The savory richness of the meat was balanced by the berry sauce’s refreshing tartness, creating an unexpectedly elegant harmony.

Every dish was not only vivid in presentation but bursting with flavor.

He nodded in quiet approval. Schnee’s cooking was always delicious, but normally had a homely, comforting simplicity; something one could eat daily without ever growing tired of it.

This meal, however, was different. It was bold, creative... a challenge taken head-on.

“It feels like something you’d serve for a celebration.”

“The ingredients have strong mana, so handling them was quite difficult. It works as a dish, but I wouldn’t call it complete yet.”

“This isn’t complete?”

Milt, who had been savoring each bite, looked up in surprise at the exchange between Shin and Schnee.

“I’m just not satisfied with it personally.”

“Ah, perfectionism from a production-type, huh? I don’t really have that sort of drive.”

“Well, you’re a combat specialist. The focus is different.”

Each field had its own points of obsession. Combat-oriented players fixated on body movement, timing of skill use, item and MP management—all in their own meticulous way.

As someone who excelled in both combat and crafting, Shin could understand both perspectives.

“Maybe I should train my production skills a bit more too. My alchemy’s not bad, at least.”

“Go for it. The more you can do, the better, and it helps in combat too. If you can find a way to enjoy it, that’s even better.”

Production skills were monotonous. Unlike martial or magical skills, they lacked flair, causing many players to quit halfway out of boredom.

“Yeah, that’s the tough part. Just endless mixing and brewing... Still, I’ll take it slow.”

“That’s the right attitude.”

Retoneka, sitting quietly beside them, listened to the exchange with a serious expression.

(I hope it helps her find a better path forward.)

With that thought, Shin took another bite of pie.

◆◆◆◆

Some time after their meal, the group gathered once again at the forge, this time with Schnee joining the spectators.

Tiera had gone outside with Kagerou to practice with her new bow and arrows.

Next up were the sub-weapons: daggers for Tiera and Milt. They were durable enough to serve for both offense and emergency defense. For that, Shin chose a chimeradite alloy rich in adamantine for extra hardness.

“You still craft unbelievably fast. The blacksmith who made my old weapon took way longer.”

“That’s just a difference in proficiency. Besides, I genuinely enjoy the process, as long as the quality stays top-tier.”

As Shin submerged Tiera’s dagger blade into liquefied 『Drop of Erathem』, he inspected the weapon’s surface closely.

Visually, it was nearly complete, but he gave it an additional polish to raise its sharpness modifier.

“Milt’s got more strength than Tiera, should I make hers slightly heavier? It’ll boost the blade’s durability too.”

“Hearing you call me strong feels strange, but sure. I’m used to rely on daggers for defense too, so the tougher the better.”

“Got it.”

He layered the adamantine over the chimeradite and struck it with his hammer.

The smaller adamantine ingot was absorbed into the chimeradite, melding into one. Within moments, the metals fused completely, forming a single, denser block—the darker hue a sign of the increased adamantine ratio.

Heating it again, Shin continued hammering with steady rhythm.

All the while, he could feel Retoneka’s gaze fixed intently on him. She’d said her hands still trembled when holding a hammer, but simply watching and standing in the forge caused her no distress.

Once the dagger blade was finished, he once again dipped it into liquefied 『Drop of Erathem』 and polished it lightly for sharper performance.

“All right, next is your main weapon, Milt. 『Ordgand』, right?”

“Yeah. We don’t know what kind of debuffs we’ll face later, so I’d rather not take chances with an unfamiliar weapon.”

“Agreed. I’ve seen people get cocky and switch weapons just for variety, only to lose to enemies they could normally beat.”

Back during the game, some players had brought blacksmiths along to test prototype weapons in dungeons. But even if the weapon type was the same, its individual specs or balance could still differ; small discrepancies that sometimes cost players their lives.

“Easier when there’s no need for adjustment.”

Once a piece of gear was crafted, Shin’s data allowed him to reproduce it easily as long as he had the materials.

After finishing Schnee’s dagger 『Blue Moon』, it was finally time for his own weapon.

“Now, for mine...”

Shin had always switched weapons depending on the situation, so unlike the others, no single “go-to” choice came to mind immediately.

Seeing him hesitate, Milt spoke up.

“What about 『True Moon』?”

“That would work, but... using it here without fixing the original feels wrong somehow.”

“So it’s a matter of pride, huh?”

“Pretty much. It’s a small thing, but it still bugs me.”

He tried summoning the broken 『True Moon』 from his Item Box, but the card wasn’t there.

“What the...?”

“What’s wrong?”

“The card for the broken 『True Moon』 isn’t in my Item Box.”

Equipment in a destroyed state was normally treated as a material item. He hadn’t removed it, so its absence made no sense.

Deciding this wasn’t a topic for Retoneka’s ears, Shin contacted Schnee via 【Mind Chat】.

“(It’s a special case. Maybe it couldn’t be recreated?)”

“(Could be. Technically, it doesn’t exist in the game’s system right now.)”

So the Item Box can’t reproduce something outside the original game’s parameters.

“Well, this isn’t the time to fuss over personal quirks. I’ll just remake 『True Moon』 here. It’s the weapon I’m most familiar with, it’ll feel natural in my hands.”

He took out the chimeradite and placed it into the furnace.

A sense of nostalgia washed over him as he raised the hammer.

When the work was done, 『True Moon』 gleamed with the same brilliance it had when he fought Origin, the final boss of the death game.

After attaching the guard and hilt, the red glow of the blade seemed to shine even more intensely.

“Fits perfectly in my hand.”

Despite how long it had been since he last wielded it, the sword felt as if he’d used it only yesterday.

Marveling at the strange familiarity, Shin began preparations for the final project: Retoneka’s weapon.

This time, he avoided crafting anything too high-grade; instead, he selected several balanced options that she could test for usability.

He completed them quickly, converted them into cards, and handed them to her.

“Now that we’re done with weapons, it’s time to move on to equipment: armor and accessories. Gauntlets and greaves are practically an extension of weapons, so their crafting method’s the same. But for everything else... we’re past the realm of technique. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’ll even be useful as a reference.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Our current party mainly uses cloth and leather armor. Unlike metal gear, which is forged from raw material, these are built by assembling pre-shaped parts. It’s not like blacksmithing, where you mold everything from scratch.”

They had plenty of cloth and leather left in stock, already registered to the shortcut system. With the materials ready, all Shin needed to do was activate the crafting skill.

In midair, the fabric cut itself into shape, threads weaving through on their own as the armor took form; it was a mesmerizing sight.

Still, it was questionable whether such a process could be called “technical.”

It was like watching a sped-up montage of someone sewing by hand, except the materials moved and stitched themselves automatically. Only someone who had actually crafted the same item, in this case Shin, could truly understand the motions involved.

If Retoneka could visualize the process correctly, though, it would serve as valuable study.

“You’ll let me see?”

“Sure. I can’t promise it’ll be instructive, but if you’re fine with that.”

“Of course. Please do.”

Encouraged by her determination, Shin activated the skill.

Materials emerged from his Item Box and floated in the air.

The fabric began cutting itself to shape, threads gliding like strands of light. Without a needle, they passed seamlessly through the cloth, stitching with fluid precision.

Even the decorative embroidery appeared perfectly replicated—the result, Schnee’s armor: a maid outfit woven from Moonlight Silver.

When Shin lightly touched the floating outfit, it drifted down into his arms, as if its strength had faded.

“No issues so far. Schnee, try equipping it.”

“Understood.”

As she accepted it, the maid outfit began to glow faintly. The bunny suit she was currently wearing shone in response.

A few seconds later, the maid outfit dissolved into light and was absorbed by the bunny suit. When the light faded, her appearance remained the same.

“How is it?”

“No problems. It doesn’t change how I look, but it feels... more present somehow. As if the fabric’s denser.”

“Good. Let’s wrap up the rest, then.”

Shin proceeded to craft the remaining armor using the same method.

Once the armor sets were done, he moved on to accessories.

Since that required techniques closer to engraving or alchemy rather than smithing, he decided to pause for now. Four hours had already passed since lunch.

When Milt pointed that out, she sounded astonished.

“Four hours? No way! I totally lost track of time watching you.”

“Well, even if weapon crafting’s fast, it’s not instant. Honestly, I’m surprised none of you got bored. Visually speaking, two-thirds of it was just me hammering metal.”

Shin himself didn’t find it particularly fascinating, but apparently the others disagreed.

Schnee and Milt said the steady rhythm, heat, and sound drew them in; the atmosphere of creation itself.

Retoneka, in particular, had been completely absorbed.

“No, it was incredible. The heat of the forge, the timing of the quenching, the force and speed of each strike... I learned so much. I could’ve watched forever.”

Gone was the timid girl afraid to hold a hammer. Her eyes now sparkled with inspiration.

Seeing that, Shin quietly exhaled in relief.

The joy of creation still lived within her. If she could overcome her fear of wielding a hammer, her path would open again.

“Let me rest for a bit. Oh, and everyone, make sure to test your new weapons later.”

After handing out the carded weapons, Shin returned to his room.

On the way, he stopped by a supply box inside the Moon Shrine to restock materials.

“All right... since things are looking up, maybe I should let her experience working with rarer materials too.”

Here in the dungeon, he could afford to fail. Even if he used up precious metals like orichalcum or adamantine, they’d reset afterward.

Yet as he considered that, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

Retoneka was a member of the Black Faction, someone who forged weapons to help others. Resolving her trauma was surely the right thing to do.

But what if the knowledge he gave her one day led to another tragedy?

Shin, who still remembered Earth’s history, knew all too well that technological advancement often came hand in hand with suffering.

The equipment itself was never evil, but the existence of powerful tools sometimes caused calamity.

“No, no... what am I thinking? It’s not that big of a deal.”

Why was his mind wandering into pessimism?

No one could answer that. Perhaps fatigue was warping his thoughts.

As he pondered, Shin sensed Schnee approaching his room.

A knock sounded soon after, and he called for her to enter.

“Did something go wrong with the weapon?”

“No, nothing like that. Quite the opposite, it feels so natural I almost can’t believe it’s new.”

So that wasn’t it. Before he could guess further, Schnee spoke again.

“Shin, are you troubled by something?”

“Troubled? Well... yeah, you could call it that. Was it that obvious?”

“It’s about Retoneka, isn’t it? I had a feeling you were concerned about her. There wasn’t a clear sign, more... intuition.”

“Heh, can’t hide anything from you. Yeah, you’re right. I just started wondering if what I’m doing is truly right. It’s late to think about it now, I know. But at first, I only worried whether my actions were actually helping her, so I guess your intuition picked up on that.”

Shin told Schnee about Retoneka’s struggle with blacksmithing.

“My concern now is whether helping her refine her craft will really be a good thing. I don’t want her talent to go to waste, but is that truly for her sake, or just for mine? I started thinking I might be doing it out of some idealistic notion about what’s best for her or for this world.”

Given the state of the world, Retoneka’s skill was far too valuable to discard.

But should he be the one to push her toward it? Was that truly right?

He remembered the days of the death game, how he’d fought not because he wanted to, but because he could.

It was necessary at the time, yes. But was it something only he could have done?

Maybe not. Others might’ve cleared it eventually, given enough time.

It was the same now. Retoneka’s craftsmanship could save many lives, but did that justify forcing her back into it if she didn’t wish to continue?

“That decision isn’t yours to make, Shin. It's hers.”

Schnee sat down beside him on the bed and leaned gently against his shoulder.

“You think so?”

“I know so. No matter how strong we are, or how needed we seem, the choice to act—or not—belongs to each of us. That’s something I learned myself.”

Her voice carried a calm warmth. As Shin’s support character, Schnee was among the strongest beings in this world.

Yet power alone didn’t dictate purpose. Strength could protect, but it could also oppress and destroy.

She had chosen to use hers for good, not because she had to, but because she wanted to be someone Shin could be proud of when he returned.

She could have waited in silence forever, yet she chose to act. That choice had saved countless lives, earning her fame and respect across the land.

People could advise or encourage, but ultimately, the path one walked was one’s own.

“If Retoneka loses sight of her path, all you can do is help her see again. Show her there are other routes, other ways forward. That’s enough.”

“...Yeah. Thanks, Schnee. I feel lighter already.”

Once again, Shin realized how much she supported him.

He decided, with renewed resolve, that he would finish her wedding ring soon; his own way of showing gratitude.

Conveniently, within this dungeon he could test the rare metal armadite without worrying about wasting it.

He began planning his next steps... until Schnee suddenly lifted him onto her lap.

“Schnee?”

“For now, just think about me.”

Because of his reduced size, she enveloped him from behind. Her warmth pressed close, soft shapes resting against him.

Her voice brushed his ear from a slightly higher angle than usual, each breath tickling his hair.

Her body was warm—warmer than usual—and he knew it wasn’t just his imagination.

Shin scanned the surroundings. Everyone else was outside. Schnee had probably chosen her timing deliberately.

Shin shelved thoughts of the ring for now and simply let her hold him until she was satisfied.

𑁋

Next→