Chapter 141 : Chapter 141

Chapter 141

The Arden Mine was more vibrant than before.

It was because wandering Dwarves who heard rumors from afar had begun to settle there.

As a result, the number of people in the mine had increased significantly compared to before, and their specialized skills had greatly improved productivity.

‘His Majesty’s decision is heading in a good direction.’

Simon had allocated a portion of the territory to the migrated Dwarves, supporting their settlement.

There was also active exchange with Eurasia’s craftsmen, and the steel produced at the Arden Mine was shining even more brightly.

Killian had visited the center of this change with Almadin.

“I heard about it from Yulian, but seeing it with my own eyes, the progress is unbelievable.”

The Arden Mine was no longer a simple mining site but had transformed into a place where a new foundation for life was being formed.

Those who gathered here were no longer wandering vagrants.

“The atmosphere of the mountain range is the same as before. It’s good.”

Almadin showed a cheerful reaction.

He had joined the Annihilation Squad before the banquet, so it had been less than two months since he left the mountain range, yet his expression was as if he were visiting after several years.

“Oh. It’s not Yulian today, but brother Killian, right?”

Just then, a few passing warriors recognized them.

“Almadin is with you too.”

“Hey, Almadin. You’re starting to look quite the knight now, huh?”

“Brother Killian, please take good care of our foolish brother.”

Some spoke in the ancient Dwarven language, but there was no problem understanding their words.

“Hahaha. You fools, I am the Great Warrior of the clan, acknowledged by brother Killian.”

Almadin’s voice grew louder, perhaps because he was happy to visit his hometown.

“Almadin, use the title ‘Captain’ when we’re outside.”

“Haha. Captain, I understand.”

“With honorifics.”

“I understand-yo!”

“……”

The surrounding Dwarves burst into laughter at Almadin’s awkward continental speech.

‘I should probably conduct human cultural education along with language education.’

The atmosphere among the Dwarves was similar to that of a mercenary corps, so it would be good to have an exchange match with the Yellow Knight Order.

While Almadin asked for Pyrope’s location, Killian scanned the Dwarf warriors.

Their average was from 1-star to 3-star.

There were also those who had reached 4-star or 5-star.

‘Using magic tools, they are individuals who handle mana that is, on average, about 1-star higher than their actual level.’

To carry out the Annihilation Squad’s missions, one needed to be at least at the 5-star level.

‘If things go well, I could bring in about five more Dwarves under Almadin.’

With that many, they could form a platoon and even conduct independent operations.

Considering the previous relationship that was preoccupied with trading Arden steel, this was a giant leap forward.

‘We’ve now become indispensable to each other.’

As he was thinking that, Almadin, who had confirmed Pyrope’s whereabouts, approached him.

“He said he’s in the workshop.”

“Honorifics.”

“Ah. He said, he is in the workshop, sir. Father has been pouring all his efforts into repairing the Captain’s sword for several months, sir.”

“Is that so. It wouldn’t be good to crowd him. You wait here.”

“I understand-yo, Captain!”

“……”

“I will wait here-yo! Captain!!”

He seemed to be under some great misunderstanding.

Paying it no mind, I headed to Pyrope’s workshop.

Clang. Clank.

The sound of a hammer, no different from any other day.

Warm sunlight shone faintly through the smithy’s window, and the air was filled with the heavy smell of iron and scorching heat.

Pyrope was carefully examining the sword placed before him.

‘Was he in the middle of work?’

It must be the sentiment of all craftsmen to hate being disturbed when engrossed in their work.

Killian enveloped himself in mana and erased his presence.

Pyrope’s gaze remained fixed on the sword.

Having gone through numerous battles, it was scratched here and there, and the once-sharp blade was worn and dull.

‘It looks like an Aether. Is it Yulian’s?’

As if trying to feel the traces of time, Pyrope’s fingers slowly stroked the blade.

“Hmm.”

After quietly examining the sword, he nodded his head.

Grasping the steel handle firmly, he moved the sword toward the smithy’s furnace.

A yellowish flame was burning fiercely inside the furnace.

When he blew air into the furnace using an old pump, the flames soared even hotter.

“……”

The Dwarf’s focused eyes watched the blade as it turned red-hot and reflected the light.

“Umm.”

Judging that it had reached the right temperature, he took the sword out of the furnace and placed it on the anvil on the workbench.

“Hoo.”

Lifting the heavy hammer with his right hand, he caught his breath for a moment.

Jade-colored Mana enveloped his body.

His muscles contracted tightly.

CLANG!

The descending hammer made a threatening sound.

Clang. Clang.

Sparks flew with the sound of metal clashing.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

His hand movements were gentle yet full of power.

As if he had forgotten he was even handling iron, as if he were a guide helping the metal find its form naturally.

Clang. Claaang. Clang. Claaang.

He continued to strike the blade, riding a steady rhythm.

How much time had passed?

To check the forged blade, Pyrope put down the hammer and slowly lifted the sword.

“Huuuum.”

The blade sparkled as if it had been reborn.

He submerged the sword in water.

Chiiiiii.

He watched the water slowly emit steam as it cooled the intense heat.

“……”

He looked into the cooled blade for a moment.

“I should stop here for today.”

With a nod, he set the sword down.

Only then did Killian, who had been watching, release his concealment.

“That was a magnificent work process.”

“What the. When did you get here?”

Pyrope asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“Well. I wonder how many hours have passed.”

Five hours? Maybe even six hours had passed.

“I heard you were having a hard time with the repairs?”

“A hard time? Who? Me?”

Pyrope snorted and shook his head.

As if Killian had greatly misunderstood his words.

“Here.”

Pyrope rummaged through his workshop and handed over the Aether, sheathed in its scabbard.

“What on earth have you been cutting with that thing?”

“What would a knight cut.”

Pyrope shook his head as if he had asked something obvious.

“I’ve reinforced both the sword and the scabbard. I doubled the mana storage capacity of the Aether and the scabbard, and increased their strength by more than double.”

“Oh. That’s impressive.”

He said it calmly, but I knew that it wasn't something just anyone could do.

‘On the Eastern Continent, only Pyrope would be capable of this.’

A Dwarf who had lived for over 200 years and wielded 7-star mana.

He would play a huge role in Eurasia achieving its grand design.

“This is the last time.”

“……?”

“If it breaks one more time, no further repairs will be possible. You know the danger, don’t you?”

“……”

Killian used the Aether by drawing out its properties beyond its limits.

“For the Aether to be damaged to this extent, you must have tried to cut something that would surely strain your Mana Heart as well.”

At this rate, neither the Aether nor his Mana Heart would be safe.

The Old Dwarf warned in a low voice.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Did you call me here just to tell me that?”

“Well, I had to say this kind of thing to your face. And.”

“……?”

“Let’s have a drink for old time’s sake.”

“……”

“Hmph. What’s with that face? Do you think repairing a sword of that caliber is an easy task? As payment for being cooped up in this workshop for months, I need to hear some stories about how the world is turning.”

“Hmm. Now that you put it that way, I feel a little sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, tell me some interesting stories.”

He walked to a corner of the workshop for a moment and returned with a bottle of Drakka in each hand.

A drinking session was set up in an instant.

“Right. There’s quite a bit of surprising news.”

“I’ve watched over Eurasia’s golden age too. I wouldn’t be surprised even if you guys declared an all-out war on the Empire.”

Gulp, gulp.

By the time Pyrope had sufficiently moistened his throat with Drakka.

“Have you ever seen a Dragon?”

“They went extinct, didn’t they?”

“Yeah. I thought so too, but it turns out they didn’t.”

Killian told him about Hazard.

It was to request the equipment he would use in the future.

“Wha, what…… Are you serious……?!!”

“I’m telling you. He seems to be a mix of Black and Green.”

“Huh… How could this be. Why was a Dragon’s Egg in Cornelia’s Secret Repository……”

“How should I know.”

At the news that the extinct Dragons were alive, the Old Dwarf had a dazed expression.

“It’s still too early to be surprised.”

“What else… Are you guys going to war with the Empire?”

“I beheaded the prince who came as an envoy. With this, an all-out war has become unavoidable.”

“……”

Pyrope’s mouth fell open, and he was at a loss for words.

***

When I returned with the sword, the capital still seemed busy with preparations for war with the Empire.

‘For Eurasia, it’s better to be tense rather than complacent.’

Eurasia had a preeminent knight named Simon Eurasia, but no matter how great he was, there was a limit to the roles a king could handle alone.

Having the strongest knight as king was a source of pride, but conversely, if the king fell, everything would end.

On the other hand, the forces hostile to Eurasia possessed numerous superhumans.

‘They will not fall easily.’

That was the difference between Eurasia, which had just begun to take the form of a nation, and the numerous feudal states that followed the Empire.

‘I’ll have to make maximum use of not only Hennessy and Absinthe’s information networks but also the Holy Nation’s.’

While I was working, Haman came to see me.

“You have returned, Your Highness.”

“I’ve been too engrossed in paperwork lately. How about some stamina training for the first time in a while?”

“What a harsh thing to say.”

Haman quickly changed the subject.

“The Head Apothecary is looking for you.”

“The Head Apothecary?”

“Yes. He seemed serious.”

Come to think of it, Loen was decocting the medicinal ingredient-like item the Saintess had given her a while ago.

‘She said a potion unlike any before might be born if it succeeds. Did it fail?’

With a sense of doubt, Killian headed for the Head Apothecary's Office.

As he entered the room, Loen, with a dark expression, closed the door.

“If it’s about the recent medicinal ingredient, it’s fine. It wasn’t in the plan anyway……”

“No. The potion was successfully created.”

“……?”

“I was able to extract divine power in the form of energy. The Saintess gave me an interesting item.”

If true, then a remarkable potion had been completed.

Of course, those who wielded mana couldn't take divine power, but if used on priests instead, it could raise their level by a whole rank.

‘If this goes well, I could start a new deal with the Saintess or the Pope with this…’

It was when I was thinking that.

“It was my fault.”

“What do you mean.”

With a deep sigh, Loen continued.

“Hazard ate it.”

“……!!”

Shwiiik.

Loen pulled aside the curtain that had been drawn on one side of the room.

A curtain engraved with soundproofing magic to prevent noise from leaking out.

Beyond it lay the ailing Hazard.

[Kkeu-eung-]

His Polymorph had been undone, and red spots were sprouting on his body of mixed black and green scales.

“I fell asleep for a moment after successfully making the potion. But Hazard just……”

It was an obvious story.

Loen usually took care of Hazard, and Hazard had always enjoyed the bizarre act of chewing up the recovery potions she made, bottle and all.

“This foolish thing……”

[Kkyaeng-]

Hazard made a dying sound.

A Dragon, with a Dragon Heart optimized for accepting mana, had consumed a potion that enhances divine power.

It wouldn't be strange if a reflux phenomenon occurred immediately.

“What should I do?”

“The divine power has likely already mixed into the Dragon Heart. The most certain method is to wash it out with an item that has an even higher blend ratio.”

“Is there such a medicinal ingredient?”

“There is. Though it’s not certain……”

Loen bit her lip.

Unlike her usual self, she seemed unsure.

“What is it.”

“Nectar.”

“……”

“It is an item said to be passed down in the forest where fairies reside. The problem is that it’s only recorded in literature, and its actual existence has not been confirmed……. In any case, if we can obtain that item, I can make a recovery potion.”

Loen, who was checking Hazard’s pulse, said with a stiff face.

“One month. If I can’t make the recovery potion within that time.”

Loen’s mouth opened as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Hazard will die.”

“……”

Elvenheim, the kingdom of the fairies.

The moment Killian’s next destination was decided.