story_hpsts_1_1

Vulcan!

*sniff* *sniff*

I smell honey biscuits!

Yes, I just baked some.

Wow!

One for Vulcan, one for me! One for Matterhorn, one for me! One for Lava, one for me...

Here's another batch of weapons that need repairs, Vulcan.

Go play by yourself for a while, Kay. I have some work to get to.

Okay!

We've taken care of the ones that just need honing or oiling, but there are a few that are above our pay grade.

Alright, I'll take a look at them.

It's been disassembled. Everything's here: Originium circuit, crossbow frame, and other miscellaneous parts.

Regular maintenance and testing are complete; the hard part's with a modification.

The user is a sniper, but he wants to add a built-in shield.

Like the round shield I designed? It only protects the user, but it's portable and can be carried on the belt.

The integrated Originium circuit can boost the user's Arts, or even be used as a weapon itself.

But adding it to a crossbow adds dead weight while compromising integrity. That's why I was thinking about rejecting the application.

Don't worry, leave it to me.

The recently developed elastic parts, as well as the ultra-thin ones developed by Blemishine, may come in useful.

We'll leave it to you then.

There's a lot to do today...

We have a bunch of weapons coming in for repair and maintenance.

Looks like they went through the grinder out there.

Look at this crack. The user would've been severely injured without the shield there. See how many arrowheads got caught in it?

Here's Operator Matterhorn's shield too.

Talk about a deep crack... was he trying to dig a tunnel with it?

Seems like it'll need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

I'll disassemble it. Check the integrity of the individual parts.

Is something the matter?

Oh, n-no, it's just that this is my first chance to work with you, so I'm a bit nervous...

The veterans of the Engineering Department talk about you a lot. I'll do my best!

Well, good luck.

I'll find some steel.

Hibiscus's staff, Fang's lance, Beagle's shield, Kroos's crossbow...

Their weapons have a tendency to take a beating.

These are what they used when they first came to Rhodes Island. These are the ones that I've modified. Can you tell the difference?

Rhodes Island operators have to work in a variety of environments, which demands a high degree of versatility from their equipment.

Understood!

It's also important to take into account each operator's personality and individual needs. The craftsman's intentions must never supplant the user's needs.

Like the accessories that Kroos hangs here?

Yes.

Many operators are very attached to their weapons, and we must be extremely attentive to this in our work.

The better we know the user, the better we can fulfill their requests.

Alright, this batch of weapons is done.

May they serve their operators well.

Excuse me, Vulcan, are you there?

Yes, come in. The door's unlocked.

Hello. I would like to commission a new shield.

This is the one that I've been using. It's gone through a lot of repairs, and it's getting less and less effective in combat. It's time I replaced it.

This one? I've worked on it many times.

Yes, I brought it with me from Kjerag.

It was made with steel that could withstand the extremely low temperatures there.

Away from Kjerag, however, it no longer performs at the same level.

Yes, you mentioned that before, but I didn't want to replace it.

With the crack from this latest operation, though, I can see that it's reached its limit.

We ran into a pack of enraged needleflies, and their poisons have seeped into the crack.

It's going to be difficult to clean out the poison and needlefly pieces in order to repair it.

Even a layman like me can see how complicated it is.

So... I guess this is the end of the road for this shield; there's no way to get it back to peak form.

Let me see.

Needlefly poisons, and pieces from their mouthparts... definitely a headache.

The size of the crack has also warped the structure in the back.

The internal cracks are visible to the naked eye... what on earth have you guys been doing?

And this is after you were able to evade some blows, it looks like... Otherwise, the shield would have already shattered, by the looks of the bite marks.

So what do you plan to do with it once you get a new one?

Retired equipment is typically sent to storage, either to be used in training or dismantled into parts that can be reused.

Those with special significance are stored separately, or returned to their owners.

I...

This shield was forged by the smiths of House Silverash, passed down to me from my grandfather to my father, both bodyguards to the family.

It's a symbol of our vow to give our lives in battle, a vow I took when I received it from my father.

It's also a symbol of my duty to protect Lady Ensia, as commanded by my lord.

That's why I really appreciate the efforts you've put towards repairing it.

But I fear there's been too much damage this time.

Perhaps it would be better to clean it up and keep it for remembrance, while we craft a new shield for battle.

Making a new one is easy. We have the materials, the knowhow, and I have experience fixing your shield.

But I want to ask you a question.

If it could be fixed, and not just as good as new, but even better, would you rather have it as a keepsake, or continue to use it?

Stop worrying about the how.

You came here and told me the story behind it, what it means to you.

I can tell you care a lot about it.

Caring won't fix a broken shield.

You haven't even asked if I could fix it.

...That's impossible.

I never said that.

But...

Think it over. About what to give up on, and what to keep. Then you make your decision.

That's what a lot of operators do when they come to me.

Let's talk, Matterhorn.

I spoke to a girl by the name of Rockrock. Do you know her? She's from Victoria, and she's only been here at HQ a few times, but she left a deep impression on me.

No... Why do you bring her up?

She's an interesting girl. A little like myself.

She was born in an old industrial district, and she feels strongly about everything there. She made everything on her herself.

She liked my machines, but she insists on only using things she's made with her own hands.

...Like how you light the furnace and beat iron into ingots every day?

Exactly.

Is there any point to it? Not really.

The machines here can create ingots faster than I can. Rockrock understands that what she makes isn't necessarily better than what's available on the market.

But you both insist on doing it anyway...

Yes, because there's meaning behind it. It's part of my roots as a blacksmith.

Rockrock insists on using what she made herself because, even though she doesn't reject the new, she feels that her roots are still in that old industrial district.

As for you, no matter how comfortable you are at Rhodes Island, part of you will always be on the snow-covered mountains of Kjerag. You'll always remember the teachings of your father and grandfather.

I'm asking you, not as a blacksmith but as a friend, to let me continue repairing the shield.

Leave it to me. I'm sure you will be happy with the result.

Vulcan wasn't at the meeting just now, was she? I was working with her a few days ago, but I haven't seen her in the workshop lately.

She's looking for a new type of metal to repair Matterhorn's shield.

His shield?

But wasn't it heavily corroded by poison? I couldn't get that stuff off, no matter how hard I tried.

I thought he'd give up on it?

Yes, but I had a chat with him, and apparently Vulcan told him she could fix it.

Seriously?

You're new here, so you probably don't know that it used to be just her repairing everyone's weapons before we got more people in the department.

I even heard that she once forged a legendary weapon, which shook heaven and earth when it left the forge!

It made all of Rhodes Island tremble... possibly a little exaggerated, of course, but she definitely lives up to her code name.

Oh, how I want to bear witness to her work...

Is she in the workshop? Can I go watch after I finish my work?

Nope, she went out to hunt for ore after assigning my duties.

She's probably digging around in a cave somewhere.

Careful, girl! A big monster lives in that hole. No one dares get close to it.

Trust me, plenty of folks have come looking for gold or treasure, but very few have returned.

And with a leg like that! You're walking into a death trap.

Just keep your distance, sir.

*sigh* Young folks these days.

Phew...

Here. Not far from the projected position.

Environment and scale are within projections.

The terrain may present some difficulties, but the bait and sedative are ready.

Kjerag steel is forged in a way that makes it stronger in a cold environment. It will take the perfect replacement to repair it.

A few years ago, I found a small piece of crystal on an Originium slug. It had absorbed the slug's secretions, making it extremely strong.

The well is about 300m deep. My gear checks out.

...I think I got something!

Good, they're all out cold.

Don't worry, this won't hurt... all I need is some of these crystals...

Oh no, there's another nest in back!

Completed deposit and strength testing under different temperatures.

Layering looks like it can work well. Layering steel with materials that have high tensile strength helps keep the weapon together during impact.

I need to think about quenching time and temperature, however.

I tried a partial quenching a couple of days ago, and the metal shattered.

More precise temperature control is required.

I'll need to remove this shelf to make room in the workshop.

Columbia really does make fine machines.

...Let's start.

Highlight composition ratios, oxygen levels...

Setting temperature and time based on this...

Adjust the angle... increase temperature... initialize...

Alright, that's close to maximum!

There we go!

*cough* A new forging method—

Test successful.

Vulcan? What are you doing here?

Good morning, Instructor Dobermann.

Can I use the training facilities to test this shield?

Of course.

Should I grab a trainee or two to help you out? Practicing with a veteran will do them some good.

Even better, thanks.

Ready, Instructor!

That's not enough. Don't hold anything back. Throw everything you have at the shield.

Don't worry about injuring me.

Instructor...?

Do it. Vulcan is a lot stronger than you are, and she's forged this shield using a new method.

Yes, ma'am!

*pant*... *pant*...

Well?

Can I ask you to give it a try yourself, Instructor Dobermann?

Sure.

Ready!

Go!

Nice shield!

C-Closure! Excuse me...

What's up?

Did... did Vulcan really make a weapon that made Rhodes Island tremble?

Who told you that?

Two weeks later...

Whew—

All done.

And right on schedule.

There's time for one more round of tests before the deadline.

Excuse me, Vulcan, are you there?

Come in, please.

I've fixed your shield.

I...

Sorry, Vulcan, I didn't think you would actually pull it off...

Try it.

It... it really is my shield!

You really made it good as new!

Yes. I used a new forging method, and found a mineral with the right tensile strength to supplement the steel.

It's not quite as cold-resistant as the original, but the layered structure allows it to maintain adequate strength even in extreme conditions.

It's every bit as strong as it was. I didn't do anything with the shape, but I've added some Originium circuits in the back. They're automatically triggered and don't require the user to be skilled with Arts.

Don't test it here, though; do it with the equipment at the training grounds.

I...

I never thought... I didn't think it was possible, but you...

In just two weeks?

Two weeks was plenty.

I didn't know... When you went on a field trip a few days ago, I thought it was going to get delayed...

Thank you so much, Vulcan.

This is my job, after all.

I do this to help operators fix their weapons, meet their needs, and allow the equipment to perform at its best.

Each person's armament means something different to its owner.

As a craftsman, I strive to deliver the best results.

That's all.