Magnus here, I once created a creature that was almost like a god. You could practically call it as something similar to my child. It was a creature fused with the energies of the void and my own essence. It was an extremely powerful and nigh unstoppable creature and I let it loose in the world as an experiment.... Not the best choice... I watched it for a while but eventually I left it alone and it disappeared. What was it called again? Hmmm I got it, it's called Keter. They're a ten piece set. I created more but Keter was undoubtedly the strongest with absurd abilities that would make the strongest heroes and demon kings look puny.  I wonder what became of it. 

*Clang*

In this mortal world and many other worlds, we true gods created metals that came from basic elements.

*Clang*

Through constant fusion and mixing, we've created many powerful metals that is malleable, like gold, and metals that are almost unbreakable, like adamant. 

*Clang*

If we created all metals from the same material, then that means that if mortals were smart enough, they could one day replicate our process. 

*Clang*

And that's exactly my plan.

*Clang*

We gods allowed all the worlds to be malleable. 

*Clang*

And I will take advantage of that. 

*Clang*

If given enough time,  I can eventually recreate the process through hard work and mortal ingenuity mixed with a little divine intervention.

*Clang*

The sound of metal being shaped by a sturdy hammer resounds all over the room. 

*Clang*

My hammer used to feel so heavy but after the amount of constant practice, it has become lighter. 

I have to admit my body power has been slowly increasing throughout the whole time I've been here. 

Body Power: 50 (30+20) (↑17)

With the increase of my body power, my level rose. 

Ability Level: 4 (↑1)

I've decided not to use magic during my stay in the mortal world. I want to hone my combat skills and learn more things that I would've never wanted to know during my time as a god. 

It seems stupid of me but I will focus on the things that I don't have. 

After all, I already know everything there is to know about magic.

And if it comes down to it, I'll use magic when I truly need it.

"You should at least increase your magic power."

I hear Absolution's last request. When I told her about my original idea, she was incensed. 

"For what?"

"What if your enemy can teleport?"

"If my enemy can use teleport now, I doubt I'd last a second."

"What if a future friend or ally dies?"

"Resurrection magic is the realm of gods and even if I start generating mana now,  I doubt I'd reach that point easily."

"But magic is extremely potent and flexible!"

"That's the point! I already know how to cast every spell at their best form. Even if I cast an elementary level spell, its skill level would at least be [Divine] or if I take my time perfecting it, it'll even reach [Ultimate] which gives me an extremely unfair advantage over everyone. What I wanted was a fair start not an overwhelmingly easy start."

"But isn't the knowledge you carry already a cheat?"

"Yes that's why starting today, I will limit my usage of magic. I will not use magic for combat. Maybe for blacksmithing and enchanting but not combat."

Absolution sighs and gives up trying to convince me. 

"Your will is my command oh great lord of magic. "

Absolution says in a very drawn out voice. 

I ignore her and focus on my work. 

I continue hammering the hot metal.

This work takes a lot of stress on the body yet the more I'm getting closer to the end I feel more refreshed. 

I notice that the metal is starting to cool and reheat it again to make the metal flexible then continue hammering it. 

I've been drawing the sword for hours now while ignoring my setting fatigue. 

Eventually I finish its form and I finally have the looks of an actual blade.

The metal I used is steel but I'm not satisfied with it and that's why I plan on changing it. 

I start on the process of strengthening the metal through annealing. 

Stolen novel; please report.

I repeat it over and over and use [God's Eye] to ascertain the metal's structure.

Once I'm satisfied with it's flexibility and sturdiness I start to spin the wheatstone.

Slowly I touch the hot metal on the spining wheatstone and the sound of metal being grinded fills my ears.

I continue the process, molding and slowly forming the sword.

"You learned quick Magnus."

I ignore Absolution as I give my full attention on the sword. 

Currently it's steel but if I manage perfect this, I'll be able to permanently change its composition. 

The sword is almost done.

"Magnus how will you make the alchemical circles permanent?"

I asked myself that as well but I realized that normally, it is an impossible task but due to the generous loopholes I created for the magic system, I might be able to make a permanent alchemical circle. 

"Magnus? Hello?"

"Shhhh, I'm focusing"

Absolution rolls her eyes and she floats away. 

Eventually the sword finishes and I inspect it.

I slide a piece of wood against he blade to check its sharpness and start to smoothen it out.

Once done, I hold the blade aloft and check if anything is wrong.

"It looks amazing Magnus."

"Yes... I'm done but-"

[Heavy Slash]! 

I immediately swing the blade towards a training dummy in the room. 

The training dummy is immediately cut in half but I notice that the sword was nicked.

Frowning, I go towards the back of the room and open a wooden closet.

"Another failure?" Absolution asks.

I put the sword in the closet filled with dozens of other steel swords.

"Yep." 

I close it and contemplate on my mistake this time. 

For the past week, I've been doing this over and over. I've been constantly experimenting and while Darius is still forcing me to make worthless items like daggers, I've already been at this stage. 

I have tried dozens of ways to incorporate alchemical circles and while some of them worked amazingly none of them are permanent and the sword eventually return to its non magical state. 

I start checking off a list in my mind.

"So out of a possible thousand solutions, I've already done 80+ and I haven't found the proper one yet."

Absolution tilts her head.

"What do you mean Magnus?"

"Oh... Sorry, I've already made a few thousand solutions to this problem but I've been checking off the ones that don't work. After all, this is a new field I'm trying to make."

"What? I thought you were in the dark?"

I take a surprised look at Absolution and can't help but laugh.

"Why did you suddenly think that?"

"Well... it's because you don't look like you're taking anything seriously except when you almost died."

I stare at Absolution... She's not wrong.

"I guess, you're right. But I am serious, this is just how I deal with everything."

Absolution sighs. 

"Well, will you start on the new sword then? We're almost out of metals again, this might be your last before we need to ask for more."

I shiver a little, remembering Darius' face when he found out I was literally chewing through his supply.

"I don't want to get hit again so I'll put the last sword off for now. Let's go out to get some fresh air."

"Finally" Absolution releases a sigh of relief since she's been stuck in here with me for literal hours.

I check my eyes to see if they're still covered and notice that they're 

I exit the blacksmithing room and traverse the large building's hallways. I greet the people I meet and weirdly enough, there's a lot of gazes that seem to contain anger and hate.

Absolution already entered my mind and she seems to dislike the people around me.

'Magnus these people are being rude.'

'Ignore them. I don't know why but these people are too inconsequential for me too worry about.'

I immediately exit the building but not before I inform the guards that I will be taking a walk. 

The last time I went out without informing Darius, it caused me a few dozen punches.

Once the guards were notified, I left the building and started to wander Barkenvall.

"You stupid kids! Give me back that rock!" I hear a familiar voice and see Pep running like a madman chasing a bunch of kids that were laughing and carrying a smooth rock.

The kids pass by me and Pep notices me.

"Magnus? Yer here? I thought you'd be hammering away like some idiot." 

Chuckling, I nod towards Pep.

"I needed some air. I think I spent too much time being hit by Darius."

Pep laughs and slaps his knee.

"I knew you'd break! Anyway where ya goin?"

I shrug.

"No place really. I just want to explore."

"Well don't stray too far! I ain't there to help you!"

I give thanks to Pep and leave him be.

I start walking towards the town gate.

'Magnus, a presence seems to be following you.'

'Leave it be, the child has taken the liberty to watch me for the past week. I haven't shown any dangerous aspects to him and unless he starts to endanger us, we will leave him be.'

'You noticed him?'

I nod.

'Why didn't you tell me?'

Chuckling, I tell her with nonchalance. 'Well it was just a curious child.'

'You're too proud Magnus. Don't forget that while you're a mortal, you're susceptible to a dagger in the dark.'

Absolution's words ring true and I apologize.

Once I reach the town gate, I see Bosen, the guard that stopped us a week ago. I've met up with him a couple of times due to me going out every once in a while to get a breath of fresh air.

"Magnus? Are you going out?"

"Yeah Bosen, I just needed some fresh air."

"Ummm Magnus you don't have a weapon. It's dangerous to go outside without any form of protection."

"Don't worry, I can protect myself"

Bosen doesn't looks convinced but he lets me go out.

I go towards the path and once I'm far away from the town, I immediately turn left and enter the forest near the path.

I walk calmly as I retrace my steps.

Eventually through careful movement and proper avoidance of dangerous animals, I reach a clearing in the forest.

'Magnus since you're not going to fully use magic, how will you raise your physical stat and skills? You don't have a talented body after all'

'Well I do have an idea. It is risky though.'

'What is it?'

'I can use my knowledge of chemical alchemy to quicken my growth.'

'Won't that slow down your future?'

'Well it might, If I was any simple alchemist. The reason why medicines slow down growth is due to the impurities imperfect medicines have. In my case, I'm sure I can make medicines that are at least Divine level.'

'Hmmm if that's the case, wouldn't it be easier if you just constantly drank medicines?'

'While chemical alchemy will help my stats increase exponentially, it will not help my skills or my abilities to grow. That means the way I'll swing a sword will be the same when I'm a higher levelled individual.'

Absolution appears besides me and sits on my shoulder with her tiny tiny body.

'That is true... Shall I research for suitable medicine that can be used for body strengthening?'

'You-'

I immediately turn around preparing to fight if needed.

'Magnus?'

'... Sorry, I thought I felt someone behind me.'

I continue walking deeper into the forest.

'You should look for common ones. I doubt any rare and blessed herbs will appear in a place like this.'

Absolution nods and asks me another question.

'Since you're already planning for the future, what is your goal with smithing?'

'I want to make my own weapons.'

'I see but why are you insistent on making a new weapon? It's not a problem to settle for a normal quality weapon for now.'

I pass by some trees and notice that some of the branches hang lower than normal.

... Weird.

'Well it's because I want a good and strong weapon. I also want to learn skills that I would've never learned as a god.'

Absolution nods.

While walking, I start noticing a lot more weird situations.

There is an extremely scant amount of animals appearing within my [God Senses]. That means that at least a 10 kilometer radius around me is... extremely scant...

Only extremely powerful creatures that can mask their presence can escape from my [God Senses] so that means, that all the creatures here are either gone or dead. Or... someone else is here with me scaring everything off.

I don't have a weapon with me...

This might be bad.

I sense a creature running towards with me with full speed.

I look behind me and glare at a bushy tree with a prepared stance.

*rustle*

A bush nearby the tree starts to move and I prepare to attack.

Suddenly a creature rushes out and I imbue my hand with [Heavy Slash] but I stopped midway.

... It's a rabbit... 

I let my hand down but I keep my guard up.

I give the rabbit a small treat from my pockets and I continue on my way.