I Have An SSS-Rank Service System: Hire Me For Anything!-Chapter 31: Almost Completed

The sun had barely risen when the group gathered at the forge. The first light of morning streamed through the soot-streaked windows, catching the orange glow of the furnace that Horg had already started. Dory moved among the tools, checking that every tongs, hammer, and anvil spot was in place. The smell of heated iron and coal filled the air, heavy and familiar, settling in their lungs like a rhythm they had learned to breathe with over the past six days.

Horg was already at the bellows, his back straight, muscles flexing with every push. The girls were in their spots too, tying aprons and gloves with quick, practiced movements. Even in the early hours, their motions carried the marks of repetition: precise, controlled, and faster than when they started. Dory stepped closer to the furnace, his Thermal Vision faintly highlighting the heat of the metal and the temperature of the coal.

’...Last day... only a hundred more to go...’ he thought. ’...We’ve come this far... can’t slip now...’

Liam, meanwhile, had already left with the first batch of snacks. His small handcart clattered along the cobblestone paths, carrying fresh wafers to each shop. Dory didn’t worry; Liam had become fast, confident, and convincing. By now, the villagers trusted the boy who brought the Vanguard snacks daily, and each shop he visited sold out almost immediately.

’...He’s doing his part... we just need to finish ours...’ Dory reminded himself, keeping focus on the glowing metal in front of him.

The forge moved slowly at first, as if the metal itself remembered the weight of the past days. Horg struck down, and the hammer hit the anvil with a deep, measured clang. The girls moved alongside him, guiding heavy blooms with tongs, adjusting positions, and carrying water. Every step had been refined over the week: Lola and Maya handled the hottest pulls, guiding metal from furnace to anvil, while Dano, Lila, and Lisa rotated prep work, making sure Horg never stopped for tools or water.

"Set it here!" Dory called, adjusting a bloom barely glowing at the tip.

"Now!" Lola responded, and the metal slid into place with careful precision.

Horg brought the hammer down, and the rhythm began again. It was slower than before, heavier, but deliberate. Every strike was meant to conserve energy while keeping the workflow steady.

’...This is it... last day... must keep it tight...’ Dory thought, scanning the forge.

An hour passed like that, sweat dripping down their backs, clothes sticking to their skin. Dory moved between the girls and Horg, adjusting grips, correcting angles, and keeping their movements synchronized. There was no pause, no hesitation. Every second counted, every misstep meant more effort later.

Then, with a distant clatter, the door opened, and Liam returned, pushing the handcart through the forge.

"...All sold out again," he said, breathless but smiling.

"Of course they did," Dory replied, his eyes flicking toward him. "How fast this time?"

"Faster than yesterday," Liam said, placing empty trays against the wall. "Some shops asked for double the amount for tomorrow. They... they almost ran out before I even finished talking."

Horg grunted, resting the hammer on the anvil for a moment.

"Double?" he muttered.

"That’s what they said," Liam replied. He paused, scanning the forge. "And I brought more ingredients. Enough for today’s batch."

"Good," Dory said, stepping aside to let Liam place the sacks. "We’ll need them for tonight. Right now, we focus on iron."

The rhythm in the forge resumed. Liam moved into position, handing water and tools, adjusting the tongs, and carrying the cooled ingots to the stacking area. The girls worked faster now, almost instinctively passing the blooms from furnace to anvil and then cooling racks. Horg’s hammer never stopped.

’...It’s almost done... just a hundred left...’ Dory thought, wiping sweat from his brow. ’...If we push carefully, we can finish before nightfall...’

The pace was grueling, but it was no longer chaotic. They had spent six days learning, refining, and understanding one another’s movements. Lola and Maya exchanged positions quickly when needed, guiding heavy metal with minimal effort. Dano, Lila, and Lisa rotated with the preps, making sure no bloom waited too long and that water and coal were ready. Every single action supported the next.

"Hold it steady!" Dory instructed. "Closer to the anvil... yes, that’s perfect."

Horg struck, and the clang reverberated. Sparks flew across the floor, catching in Liam’s hair as he passed by. He chuckled despite the strain.

"...I’m too tired to deliver snacks now," he muttered, but Dory ignored him, focusing on the workflow.

The last batch of metal blooms was being pulled from the furnace. Dory could see the exhaustion in every pair of eyes, but none of them slowed. The rhythm had become second nature, the forge alive with a sense of purpose. Every movement counted, every strike precise, and every action deliberate.

’...We did this before... we can do it now...’ Dory thought. ’...One week... and we’ll finish strong...’

By mid-afternoon, the pile of iron ingots had grown. The last one to be hammered was heavy, requiring Lola and Horg to maneuver it carefully, while Maya and Dano supported the movement. Lila and Lisa handled the cooling process, ensuring each ingot went onto the rack smoothly. Liam stepped in, ready to lift and stack the final pieces.

"...We did it," he said quietly, looking at the completed stack.

Dory stepped back, surveying the pile. Nine hundred ingots finished over six days, and now the last hundred would complete their goal. The system was refined, their teamwork sharp, and everyone had grown stronger and faster through repetition and shared effort.

"Good," Dory said calmly. "Tonight, we rest a little. We’ll finish the last hundred first thing tomorrow, then move onto snacks and deliveries."

Lola wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

"Finally," she said. "I thought my arms would fall off."

Maya laughed softly.

"Your arms won’t fall off. They’ll just feel like they’ve gone through a storm."

Horg grunted and shook his head.

"Storm or not... the work’s done for now. Let’s keep it clean before night."

The group moved around, tidying tools, stacking ingots, and preparing the forge for the next day. Liam checked the ingredients he had brought for the snacks, counting them carefully.

"...I’ll take these to the stalls tomorrow morning," he said. "Make sure the snacks sell out again. We’ve got a rhythm going now."

Dory nodded, watching him carefully.

"Exactly. Don’t rush. Keep the quality high. That’s what matters more than speed right now."

The girls exchanged looks, smiles mixed with fatigue. They had learned the rhythm of metal and the flow of the forge, and the week had turned them into a team that could keep pace with Horg himself. Liam had become a reliable link between production and sales, carrying the energy of their work to the villagers.

Dory adjusted his glasses, letting his eyes wander over the forge one last time before evening.

’...Tomorrow... last push... hundred ingots... snacks sold out again...’ he thought. ’...We finish strong, and it all pays off...’

The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the forge. Sparks danced in the fading light, and the rhythm of metal striking anvil carried on. Exhausted, but focused, the team prepared for the final day, knowing they were capable, knowing they had learned enough to finish what they started.