Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

Rygar started his morning by calming Skoll, who had been restless ever since waking up tense and battle-ready. After some time, the wolf finally settled down and accompanied Rygar to his commitments. He headed toward Godbard's forge, while the dwarves around him were already immersed in their work, as if the previous day's festivities had never happened. It was impressive how they managed to return to their routine without detoxification magic to help them.

As he walked, Rygar's thoughts wandered to the dream he'd had. It felt too real to be just a product of his mind. He didn't trust this 'Human God,' Hitogami, not in the slightest, but investigating the motives behind that vision seemed inevitable. Moreover, he needed to find a way to shield himself from these dreams, perhaps some kind of mental barrier—if such a thing even existed.

When he arrived at Godbard's forge, he found the dwarf working intensely, testing the Erathium that Rygar had negotiated with him. Upon seeing him, Godbard greeted him warmly, stepping away from his tools for a moment.

"Good to see you, lad!" said the dwarf, wiping the sweat from his brow with a cloth. "This Erathium is fascinating. You did a great job with this."

"I'm glad it's useful, Godbard. As we agreed, I hope you'll make a short sword with this first piece of ore. I've been looking for a durable secondary weapon for a while now," Rygar replied with a slight smile.

Godbard laughed. "Sure, sure, but is that the only reason you came here?"

Rygar spoke in a neutral tone. "There's another reason."

The dwarf raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"I still want to embed my sword with a magic stone. And since you said you couldn't help me with that, I thought I'd ask: who do you recommend among everyone?"

Godbard pondered for a moment and began listing several skilled blacksmiths, all dwarves, renowned for their ability to work with rare metals and magic stones. However, none of them was Brightstone—the name Hitogami had mentioned in the dream. Rygar frowned. In truth, it would be better if that were the case; he could ignore that god if this person turned out to be insignificant. He set the topic aside for the time being.

"Alright. And who's the best among them? Who's the best enchanter among the dwarves?"

Godbard's expression grew serious for a moment.

"All the ones I mentioned are among the best."

Rygar noticed the evasive tone and pressed further.

"But who's the best?"

The dwarf let out a deep sigh, showing some reluctance.

"You won't want to work with him. He may be the best, but he's also a madman. His name is Brightstone of the Deep Earth."

Rygar raised his eyebrows, intrigued. There it was—the dwarf the god had recommended. So, he was the best?

"Madman?"

"Yes. Nobody likes him around here," Godbard replied, with a faint expression of disdain. "But honestly, I won't lie: he's probably the best weapon enchanter there is—maybe in the entire world."

Rygar felt inclined to ignore this, but Godbard's words held weight.

"Where is he?"

"Outside the city. As I said, nobody likes him here."

The young warrior nodded, but his mind was already working through the possibilities. Just as Hitogami had said, the dwarf resided outside the dwarven city. Before moving on, Rygar fixed his gaze on the dwarf and asked:

"Godbard, do you know anyone named Hitogami?"

Godbard's reaction was one of pure confusion.

"Hitogami? Never heard of him. Is he some famous enchanter among humans?"

Rygar observed closely, paying attention to the dwarf's heartbeat, the hairs on his arms, and the subtle changes in his facial expression. Over time, he had honed his ability to read body language to detect lies. It wasn't foolproof, but overall, it worked well.

Godbard seemed to be telling the truth.

"He's no one," Rygar said calmly. "But if you ever hear that name or find out anything, let me know."

"Alright," Godbard replied, not giving it much thought.

With the topic closed, Godbard resumed talking about the blacksmiths. Rygar decided to follow his recommendation and set out through the city to meet them. A guard named Fortwind was assigned as his escort. As they walked, Rygar remained lost in thought, already planning his next steps in the investigation.

---

Rygar carefully held a sword, analyzing every detail as the blacksmith explained the technical limitations with a firm but patient tone.

"The problem is the size of the magic stone. If it's too large, it won't fit properly into your sword," the dwarf pointed to the narrow blade with a thick, calloused finger. "Broad swords allow more flexibility for this type of work, but ideally, it should be a mage's staff. Only they can house the enormous magic stones of Rank B beasts and above, as their purpose isn't to cut or strike."

Rygar frowned.

"So, is it impossible?"

The blacksmith shrugged, crossing his arms.

"For me, yes. But I've heard stories about Brightstone. They say he can handle this kind of thing with a technique he created, but..." He paused, scratching his beard with a look that suggested he was carefully choosing his words.

"But what?" Rygar asked, tilting his head slightly, already anticipating something unusual.

"But he's... extreme. Crazy, maybe. A true genius, but no one around here likes the way he does things."

Rygar sighed, glancing back at the sword. He had already visited every forge recommended by Godbard. He had analyzed their work, asked each blacksmith about Brightstone, and without exception, all praised him as an unrivaled enchanter. But the stories of his eccentric personality and dangerous methods were always the same.

Rygar hesitated. The fact that Hitogami had mentioned and recommended Brightstone's name only made him more suspicious. He wondered: if that self-proclaimed god hadn't brought up the dwarf, would he have sought him out anyway? Or would he simply have followed the standard recommendations?

After a long moment of silence, he finally made a decision.

"I like your swords," Rygar said, looking at the blacksmith. "But I'll visit Brightstone. If I don't like him or what he offers, I'll come back to your forge."

The dwarf gave a satisfied smile and inclined his head in appreciation.

"You're welcome here anytime, kid. I hope you find what you're looking for."

With that, Rygar left the forge accompanied by Fortwind, who walked at his side like a shadow, and Skoll, who seemed eager to leap and run around at any moment. As they made their way toward the exit of the dwarven city, Rygar used the walk to learn more about Brightstone.

"What do you know about him?" Rygar asked, glancing at the guard.

Fortwind scratched his chin before answering.

"Brightstone's always been... peculiar. I've known him since I was a kid. They say that the first time he saw magic, he became utterly fascinated. When they taught about mages' enchantments, he was way more excited than when it came to forging."

Rygar raised his eyebrows, intrigued.

"He always preferred magic over weapons or armor. And he had an obsession with magical stones and shiny minerals." Fortwind paused, shaking his head. "That's how he got the name Brightstone. But that obsession also brought problems."

"Problems?"

"He started doing crazy experiments. Constantly causing explosions and destroying nearby houses. That made the other dwarves distance themselves from him. Over time, he was completely ostracized. He was eventually exiled after destroying a sword crafted by the former God of Ore while attempting a new technique, and now no one visits him—except his son, who they say still brings him supplies now and then."

Rygar listened attentively as they walked. Brightstone's story wasn't much different from what he had expected, but the fact that the dwarf was rejected by his own kind still made him question his decision.

"How old is he?" Rygar asked.

"Over three hundred," Fortwind replied. "He was born more than a hundred years before me, so he must be around three hundred and fifty now. Few still remember him."

They continued walking along the stone trails winding through the mountains. The sunlight reflected off the rocks, and the sound of strong winds in the ridges created a tense atmosphere. The silence between them was broken only by Skoll's footsteps as the wolf ran excitedly, leaping from rock to rock.

"Skoll, stay close!" Rygar shouted. "And watch your footing!"

The wolf paused, turning to Rygar for a moment before continuing more cautiously.

After hours of walking, they finally spotted the entrance to a cave. It was a massive opening, more than seven meters tall, surrounded by stones faintly glowing with minerals. Fortwind stopped beside Rygar, pointing to the cave.

"There it is. Brightstone's home."

Rygar took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the darkness that awaited inside the cave.

"Let's go in," he said.

They moved into the cave, observing their surroundings. Rygar noticed magical items fixed to the walls, resembling lamps with magical flames inside. These lights illuminated the path with a soft orange hue, highlighting the irregularities of the damp walls. Curious, Rygar activated his magic eye, analyzing the details. He realized that the entire cave contained a surprising amount of mana in its walls. The magical lamps seemed to draw small amounts of mana from the environment to keep the flames continuously lit.

It was unlike anything he had seen before—a symbiosis between the natural environment and magic. Although it wasn't uncommon to find mana-rich locations, seeing such an efficient and constant application was intriguing. Fortwind walked calmly beside him, seemingly accustomed to the sight.

They ventured deeper into the cave, their footsteps echoing against the walls, until they arrived at a large metal door that appeared centuries old. The structure was sturdy, with various runes etched into it, faintly glowing to indicate active magic.

Fortwind stopped in front of the door and knocked firmly, producing a sound that reverberated through the corridor. Then, he shouted:

"It's me, you old lunatic! Open up already!"

For a moment, all was silent. Then, a muffled voice responded from within:

"Alright, alright, I'm coming!"

This was followed by the sound of objects falling, glass shattering, and something heavy being dragged. Rygar raised an eyebrow, while Fortwind just sighed, clearly used to the scene. After a few minutes, the door creaked open, revealing a stocky dwarf with disheveled silver hair and beard cascading down his robust frame. He looked slightly annoyed, but his eyes gleamed with curiosity as he glanced at Fortwind and then at Rygar.

"To what do I owe this visit?" asked the dwarf, his tone shifting between irritation and interest.

Rygar stepped forward, inclining his head respectfully.

"My name is Rygar Adoldia. I may have a job for you."

The dwarf crossed his arms and tilted his head, clearly intrigued.

"A job, huh? Come in, kid, and tell me what it is."

The group entered the workshop, and Rygar immediately noticed the chaos of the place. It was an incredibly spacious and well-lit area, but utterly disorganized, with tools, scrolls, blades, and magical crystals scattered everywhere. Tables were covered in unfinished projects, and forge equipment occupied much of the room. A peculiar smell filled the air, a mix of hot metal, coal, and something he couldn't immediately identify.

The dwarf watched Rygar with interest while picking up something from one of the tables, as if expecting to hear something extraordinary. Rygar remained alert, analyzing the man carefully, before asking:

"Before we discuss the job, I need to know one thing."

"What?" the dwarf asked, frowning.

Rygar met his gaze directly, his eyes reflecting caution.

"Do you know someone called Hitogami?"

The dwarf scratched his head and, completely nonchalantly, stuck a finger in his nose.

"Hitogami? Never heard of him. Why? Is that necessary to take the job?"

Rygar continued observing the man intently, activating his magic eye once again to try and detect anything unusual. He analyzed every detail: body movements, tone of voice, the mana flow around him. To his surprise, nothing raised any suspicions. Internally, he sighed in relief.

"No, it's not necessary," he said, changing the subject. But to be honest, I'm still hesitant to follow that god's advice.

"Everyone says you're the best at what you do, but I want something different this time."

The dwarf raised an eyebrow, now even more intrigued.

"And what do you have in mind?"

"I want to imbue a magic stone into my sword."

As he spoke, he drew the blue blade, its surface shimmering faintly under the workshop's light.

"Its name is—"

Before he could finish, Brightstone jumped in excitement, his eyes widening as he shouted:

"Tsukikage!"

Without hesitation, he rushed over to Rygar and carefully took the blade from his hands as if it were a sacred artifact. Rygar observed cautiously. His instincts told him the man wasn't a threat; he lacked any signs of someone accustomed to combat. However, the fact that the strange god Hitogami had recommended Brightstone kept him on edge.

Brightstone examined the sword with a gleam in his eye, turning it this way and that, inspecting every detail.

"I've made something similar before…" he said, without taking his eyes off the blade. "In fact, I have an example for you!"

Before Rygar could respond, the dwarf disappeared into an adjacent room, rummaging through the clutter. The sounds of metal being dragged and objects falling echoed through the workshop until he returned, carrying an enormous sword.

"Here it is! This is a magic sword I found in a labyrinth, and I embedded it with the magic stone of an A-Rank beast!" Brightstone announced proudly.

The weapon was impressive: a broad blade about 1.7 meters tall and 20 centimeters wide, made of shiny silver metal. Several dark magic stones were embedded along its surface, emanating a powerful aura.

Rygar took the sword with both hands. The moment he held it, he could feel the magical efficiency it provided. The blade's mana conductivity was remarkable, offering refined and powerful control. However, he knew that his affinity with Tsukikage, the sword given to him by his master, was irreplaceable. Its compatibility with his fighting style was perfect.

He swung the sword a few times, activated his magic eye, and analyzed the dwarf's craftsmanship. Every detail of its construction confirmed Brightstone's reputation. It seemed he had used some technique to split the magic stone into small gems without losing any of their power, allowing larger stones to be utilized in his creations. His skill was indeed far beyond any other blacksmith Rygar had encountered.

"Impressive." Rygar handed the sword back, now fully convinced of Brightstone's mastery.

The dwarf finally took his eyes off Tsukikage and looked at Rygar with a confident smile.

"Yes, yes. That sword will be perfect. And I already know the ideal payment for this job."

Rygar raised an eyebrow, curious.

"And what would that be?"

Brightstone crossed his arms and declared:

"Convince the dwarves to kill the White-Eyed Blue Dragon!"

Fortwind, who had been leaning against one of the walls, scoffed in frustration and exclaimed:

"Not this again, Brightstone! We've already told you that thing can't be killed! How many more are you going to send to their deaths before you understand?!"

Rygar furrowed his brow.

"White-Eyed Blue Dragon?"

Fortwind sighed and explained:

"It's a mutant blue dragon. He's been trying to hunt it down for years to get its magic stone. The argument is that it lives alone, making it one of the few blue dragons that can be hunted without attracting others. But it's not that simple. It's an S-Class mutant beast! Whatever the price, Rygar, refuse this."

Brightstone, completely ignoring Fortwind, shouted:

"Fortwind! Wait outside! I think the boy can decide for himself. After all, only a strong warrior could wield a sword like that!"

Fortwind muttered something under his breath but stayed put, arms crossed, glaring at the dwarf.

Rygar took a deep breath, carefully considering his options.

"Don't worry, Fortwind. If I decide to do this, I'll go alone and won't involve the Coal Mine Tribe."

Brightstone grinned, clearly delighted.

"Don't worry, boy! The dragon may be strong, but it's blind. It relies primarily on its hearing and sense of smell. I'll provide you with two magical items to mask both your scent and the sound around you, completely erasing your presence!"

Rygar remained silent, deep in thought. He wasn't concerned about whether he could kill the dragon. As part of his S-Class adventurer mission, he already planned to hunt blue dragons. What truly troubled him was the possibility that this was part of Hitogami's scheme, but he was beginning to think he might be overthinking it.

He analyzed the circumstances once more. Brightstone, despite his eccentricity, was genuine. His blacksmithing skills were real, and Rygar felt he would have ended up in this situation even without the god's interference. Still, he promised himself to retreat at the slightest sign of anything suspicious.

Having made his decision, he finally said:

"Very well. I accept. Where is this dragon?"