It wasn’t long before everyone that was joining in my conquest I had assembled. I had requested that my stronger followers carry some materials to me as well, from the caverns back in Greyston as well as some material from the Mivtic kingdom’s vault.

  “Here’s all of the stuff you requested boss!” Mordred yelled out as he dropped a large bag of various materials, with the orcs following suit. “Any reason you asked for all this?”

  “I figured it was time me and my henchmen were to get an upgrade is all.” I answered, as I took the time to look through the materials.

  Upon closer inspection, they mostly got additional [Iron] and [Copper]. Good for anything metal I cook up. There were even the [Magic Steel] weapons and [Mithril] gear that I had acquired from my enemies back then. I could use the materials in them to help with my craft. Though the [Mithril] would require more of my Mana to use. There was even some [Leather] premade from the various beasts that they hunted for my convenience.

  Now was the matter of what to make with these materials. If only I could do more varieties, but I need to make do with these for now. Maybe I’ll find some new ones when we expand.

  I pondered on what I would make, stumped on my limited options until I glanced at Paimoth and got an idea. “Paimoth…. How knowledgeable are you with different types of spells?”

  The Shadow moth’s wings fluttered in excitement as his eyes glowed brighter. “Ah yes Master Vladimir! I have quite the selection, is there anything you had in mind?”

  Taking the time to think of some possible ideas, I decided to whisper my list of spells I would need close to where I would assume his ear would be in that mess of shadows in his head. My butler nodded in understanding. I instructed him to simply gather the Mana and not to cast it and he did as I told him.

  I started by trying to experiment with a clump of [Iron] and tried to gather the Mana Paimoth had produced with my [Material Forge]. I had started to guess that since I was able to freely use the skill with my [Basic Elemental Magic] it must mean that Mana itself must count as nonliving material. My guess started to be proven right as the Mana gathered by Paimoth had started to reshape at my command and mix with the [Iron].

  “Good, looks like it works. That means….” I started to say, before I started to murmur to myself.

  Without a second of hesitation, I started to go deep in crafting, using my [Material Forge] with Paimoth’s help with his different spells. All the while the rest of my followers just watch me at work. Mordred in particular seemed a bit anxious, as if he wanted to jump right in and help me out but held back as if he remembered the punishment I had given him when he thought it was a good idea to train the weaker minions.

  It took a lot longer than I would have liked. With all of the gear I was trying to forge, it was a game of maintaining my Mana pool with the risk of running dry and blanking out again. It was a lot to keep up with, but I managed to stay conscious the entire time. In comparison, Paimoth looked no worse for wear which I figured was the case with his higher Mana control.

  In the end, I was successful and managed to make the new gear.

  For Mordred, I had borrowed both his [Tomahawk] and imbued it with the conjured Mana with the spell to have them returned to its user similar to a boomerang. I also provided him with a [Strengthening Belt] which help boost his [Health] and [Strength] a bit. Not much considering who I’m referring to about, but it looks good on him. Especially since I started to add my own personal insignia. ~

  I thought it was about time I made an insignia, making it easier for all to know my dominance. I had decided to design it with the outline looking like a kobold’s foot while the design making it look more like a purple and red crown.

  Mordred seems to like it at least as I see him admiring it while raising his fists in excitement.

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  Damian, I had thought some [Iron Gauntlets] and [Iron Greaves] would suit him best with his fighting style. I had them design so that he still had free movement with his limbs with the help of some [Leather] as well as making them fingerless so as to allow him to still utilize his claws. Of course, I gave the added benefit of making sure they wouldn’t clash with his overall aesthetic with his robe for greater mobility.

  He took the gear with his usual stoicism with little expression, though I know him enough by now to guess what he was REALLY thinking. I was reluctant to provide him with the last piece for him, but I knew it was necessary if I was going to get full use out of his abilities.

  I took his bear hands as I placed the object before taking as much distance as I could before he glanced at it.

  When he saw what I handed to him, his eyes widened in surprise. In his claw was a small wooden doll made in the image of me with an iron ring around the horn with a hook making it more like a glorified key ring so that he could keep it on him at all times. I began to explain some of its features while keeping my distance.

  I had fitted it with some enchantments like the ability to resize so that he could make it small and portable or larger so that he can get some comfort from it. I even added some extra durability enhancement so that even he wouldn’t break it as easily.

  The bear adventurer looked like he was already advancing to give me a hug, but I called him out before he could get the chance! “Use the doll! Use the doll!”

  He did as I said and tried to resize the doll before giving it a small hug. The moment he did the mask of stoicism he insists on using melted away as he stood in place in what looked like pure bliss for him.

  I took a sigh of relief. Finally, something to satiate that bear’s affections….

  Moving on I presented V with a [Leather Storage Bag]. It was not easy, on top of the fact that Paimoth had difficulty in producing magic similar to my [Dimensional Box] for a wider range of storage, I had to make it large enough to give it enough space for V to carry all sorts of items.

  It’s not particularly large, I would say it was enough size to carry the same as 10 duffel bags. But it should be enough for V’s use. With their skillset, being able to carry large amounts of items on hand would fit perfectly for them. Of course I made sure they were of the right size too.

  It fitted comfortably on their shoulders, and they seemed to like it well enough. I even got them a nice brown flat cap. There wasn’t anything special, it was something I picked up when I was shopping at Greyston in my adventurer’s persona and thought it would look good on them.

  “Yay! Thanks for the gifts, Mr. Vlad!!” They happily cheered.

  I ended up having to skip both Zeph and Vash as each of them are still hard at work with the duties I gave them. Zeph with his reconnaissance and Vash with protecting the Mivtic kingdom. I’d have to give them their gears at a later date.

  Since I had just recently promoted Jordan, I didn’t have time to properly think of the items that would suit him. So, I decided just to simply forge some simple kitchen tools which I had fitted with a belt that he could easily wear. I also added a nice leather hat that looks like the types of hats you expect a chef to wear. I had it dyed dark red both for helping him stand out more as well as to also make it easier to hide any possible blood stains on it.

  He seemed to be fascinated by its design and already was fitting it on his head. Glad to see he liked it.

  Then at last was Paimoth.

  “Ah, there is no need to gift someone as lowly as your butler Master Vladimir.” He tried to reject but I refused.

  The problem was that it felt like cheating if I used his own Mana to craft him something so instead, I opted for something else. One of the things I had requested my followers bring was the [Monster Gem Locator] that used to belong to the Mivtic Kingdom’s Knight Commander. Upon closer look, it was a simple gem secured together with a simple silver chain long enough to be worked as a necklace. Considering how well he wanted to keep it hidden it made sense.

  Using my stock of [Silver] I fitted it around the gem as well as reinforcing the chain with the same material and even had it all shine brightly by removing the impurities the same way I learned back at the blacksmith’s shop. Overall, it was remade into the shape of a pocket watch and a fanciful one at that if I do say so myself.

  I gave it to my butler whose shadowy hands were shaking when he took it before he clenched it close to the area where his chest would be before placing it on pocket I fitted on his shirt. Suffice to say I believed he liked it.

  As for me, I decided to create a [Mithril Chainmail] to wear underneath the shirt section of my [Garments of the Night]. It was simple enough to do even with the added Mana needed to work with [Mithril] so I didn’t use up all of my Mana by the time I was done. Then I took the two swords I had kept inside my [Dimensional Box]. I deconstructed them both into raw materials and stored what I needed back before using one of the left-over handles to forge a sword made out of the [Magic Steel] and making a [Magic Steel Short Sword] before putting it back on my storage.

  With me and my henchmen fitted, it was finally time for an expansion. ~

  “Watch out world! Cause I’m taking over and making you all mine! Veehahahahaha!!~”