The materials were piled in front of the smelting furnace.
Two copper knives and one axe had been placed there, a basket was filled with tin ore, and charcoal was stacked like a mountain. I lined the materials up in a row so the people could see them and confirm each one.
Ding!
『Bronze Smelting Started』
→ Required Materials: copper, tin
→ Recommended Ratio: copper 90% + tin 10%
→ Estimated Time Required: 4 hours
The people stood around the smelting furnace and watched with bated breath. Tension filled the air, no one spoke, and only breathing could be heard. Everyone could feel that a historic moment was approaching.
"First, we need to smelt the tin."
I placed tin ore into the crucible. I put the black stones in one by one, and fist-sized stones filled the crucible.
I picked up a piece of tin ore. It was heavy. Far heavier than an ordinary stone. That was because metal was inside it. Silver specks could be seen here and there on its black surface. They were traces of tin.
I put them into the crucible one by one. One, two, three. I put in ten pieces, and the crucible was almost full.
"Inside this black stone, silver metal is hidden. If we melt it with fire, it will come out."
I explained to the people.
"Truly?"
Running Deer asked in surprise.
"There is metal inside this stone?"
"Yes. It looks like stone, but it is actually metal. If we melt it with hot fire, it will reveal its true form."
I nodded.
"Fascinating."
Solid Rock exclaimed in admiration. He picked up a piece of tin ore and examined it.
"To think metal is inside this heavy stone. It is hard to believe."
"When I first heard it as well, it was difficult to believe."
Fierce Eyes said.
"But if you say so, Chieftain, then it must be true."
"You will see soon."
I said with a smile.
"Now, let us begin."
I placed the crucible inside the smelting furnace.
I gripped the tongs with both hands and slowly pushed it inward. It settled in the center of the smelting furnace. Its position was important. It had to be in the center to receive heat evenly.
"Why are you placing it in the center?"
Running Deer asked.
"To receive heat evenly, it has to be in the center. If it is at the edge, only one side grows hot. Then it will not melt evenly."
I explained.
"Ah, I see!"
I filled it with charcoal and lit the fire. I piled charcoal around the crucible and surrounded it on all sides. The crucible was completely buried in charcoal. It was oak charcoal. The finest charcoal, hard and long-burning. Hot Hands had made it himself.
Hot Hands lit the fire, and the flames began to rise. He brought a small ember to the charcoal, and the charcoal began to burn slowly. It heated red.
"Blow the bellows!"
I gave the order.
Running Deer and Fierce Eyes pressed the bellows in turns.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
As air entered, the fire blazed up. Wind was pushed into the flames, and the flames grew larger. The charcoal glowed brighter. From red to orange.
The wind from the bellows entered the lower part of the smelting furnace, and the air passed between the charcoal as it rose upward. It was a perfect airflow. It was working exactly as designed.
"With all your strength! Harder!"
I encouraged them.
Running Deer pressed the bellows with all his strength. His face grew red. The muscles of his arms swelled, and sweat ran down his forehead. He bit his lip and poured in his strength.
"Is it hard?"
Solid Rock asked.
"I'm fine!"
Running Deer answered through gritted teeth.
"This much is nothing!"
"Do not overdo it."
I said worriedly.
"If you are tired, switch out."
"I am still fine, Chieftain!"
The flames, which had been red at first, passed through orange and turned yellow, growing brighter and brighter. A yellow close to the color of lemons. The temperature was rising.
Ding!
『Smelting Furnace Temperature Rising』
→ Current Temperature: 800 degrees
→ Tin Melting Point Reached!
"The temperature is enough!"
I shouted.
"Maintain this state! It cannot be too strong, and it cannot be too weak! Exactly this much!"
"Understood!"
Running Deer answered.
"I will maintain exactly this much!"
As time passed, the ore inside the crucible began to change. The black stones slowly melted down. First, the surface began to shine and took on a luster, as though it were sweating. Then the edges began to melt and turned into liquid.
Silver liquid flowed out from between the stones. More and more melted, the shapes of the stones collapsed, and the liquid increased. The stone fragments disappeared one by one and melted into the liquid. Silver liquid gathered at the bottom of the crucible.
"It is melting!"
A man shouted.
"It is truly melting!"
The people murmured.
"It is melting!"
Hot Hands shouted. He checked while looking into the smelting furnace.
"The stone is turning into water!"
"I cannot believe it!"
Solid Rock exclaimed in admiration.
"The stone is truly melting!"
"Not yet."
I shook my head.
"It has to melt more. It must become fully liquid. Until not a single piece of stone remains."
"Understood!"
The bellows work continued. When Running Deer grew tired, Fierce Eyes switched in, and when Fierce Eyes grew tired, Solid Rock switched in. The three pressed the bellows in turns. Without rest, without stopping.
Sweat poured like rain, and their arms looked ready to burst, but no one complained. The warriors' faces were covered in sweat, and their clothes were soaked through, but their eyes did not waver.
While one person pressed the bellows, another rested while drinking water. The third massaged his arms. The rotation time was precise. About every ten minutes. That was because if they worked too long, they would grow exhausted and make mistakes.
"Keep going!"
A woman shouted.
"Just a little more!"
"You are doing well!"
Another person cheered.
"Bronze will come soon!"
The people encouraged them.
How much time passed? Silver liquid gathered inside the crucible. The gleaming silver liquid pooled at the bottom of the crucible and glittered like mercury. It reflected the light. The surface rippled slightly. It was because of the heat. Steam rose.
Ding!
『Tin Smelting Complete』
→ Purity: Good
→ Amount: Sufficient
"That is tin."
I tilted the crucible slightly with the tongs and showed it to the people.
"Ohhh...."
The people exclaimed, their eyes fixed on the silver liquid.
"That came out of a stone?"
A man asked in surprise.
"I cannot believe it! It shines silver!"
Another man exclaimed.
"It is beautiful...."
A woman murmured.
"Now we need to melt the copper."
I placed the copper tools into another crucible. Two knives and one axe. They were precious property of the tribe, treasures passed down through generations.
I picked up a copper knife. It was heavy. The blade was dull and useless. But it held great meaning. It was a knife Father had passed down, one he had inherited from Grandfather. It had been passed down through three generations. But now, it had to be born anew.
"Are you truly going to melt that?"
A man asked in surprise.
"You are going to melt those?"
Running Deer asked with a shocked expression. He looked at the copper knife with regret.
"That was handed down by your father, Chieftain...."
"Do you not find it wasteful?"
Fierce Eyes asked.
"If it were me, I would not be able to melt it."
"It is ceremonial anyway. It cannot be used in combat."
I spoke calmly.
"But...."
"If we turn it into bronze, it will become a real weapon."
I spoke firmly.
"A knife that bends is not a weapon. It is an ornament. But bronze is different. It becomes a weapon that can truly fight."
"Ah...."
The people nodded, and they knew I was right.
"Believe me."
I raised the copper knife.
"This knife will be reborn. Stronger and sharper."
"Understood, Chieftain."
Solid Rock lowered his head.
"I will believe in you, Chieftain."
I placed the crucible inside the smelting furnace. The bellows work began again.
Copper had a higher melting point than tin. Therefore, it needed a longer time and a stronger fire. More charcoal was needed, and the bellows had to be blown for a longer period.
"This time will be harder."
I spoke to the warriors.
"You will have to blow longer and harder. Are you ready?"
"Yes!"
"We are ready!"
"Anytime!"
Ding!
『Smelting Furnace Temperature Rising』
→ Current Temperature: 1,000 degrees
→ Copper Melting Point Approaching…
"Keep going! Do not stop!"
I shouted.
"Is it hard?"
I asked Fierce Eyes. His face was pale.
"A little...."
Fierce Eyes said as sweat poured from him. His arms were trembling.
"Is it very hard?"
Solid Rock asked worriedly.
"No, I am fine...."
"Switch out. Rest."
I ordered.
"Do not overdo it."
"I am fine!"
Fierce Eyes stubbornly insisted.
"I can do a little more!"
"That is an order."
I spoke firmly.
"If you collapse, the work will be delayed. What you need to do now is rest. That way, you can help again later."
"But...."
"Listen to the Chieftain."
Solid Rock pushed Fierce Eyes back.
"Rest. It is an order."
Reluctantly, Fierce Eyes withdrew. Another warrior took his place, and Swift Wind stepped forward.
"I will do it!"
Ding!
『Smelting Furnace Temperature Rising』
→ Current Temperature: 1,100 degrees
→ Copper Melting Begun!
At last, the copper melted.
Red liquid rippled inside the crucible. It was red and hot like lava, far brighter in color than tin. It rippled as if alive.
Red light spread from inside the crucible, and heat struck my face. It was bright enough to make me narrow my eyes.
"It melted!"
Running Deer shouted.
"The copper melted!"
"It is red!"
Solid Rock exclaimed in admiration.
"It truly melted!"
The people cheered.