Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Gran Cappadocia (3)
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It was a material the blacksmith had never seen in over three hundred years of forging. Ronan stroked Sita and smiled.
"This is the shell from the egg she hatched out of."
"Pya."
Sita rubbed her face against Ronan's hand. Doron's eyes widened.
"The eggshell? You mean this is...?"
Doron began inspecting the eggshell as if entranced. He examined it with a magnifying glass, turning it this way and that, thrust it into the furnace, placed it on the anvil and hammered it, and even sprinkled unidentified reagents on it. Finally, he let out an exclamation.
"This is incredible. Hardness, weight, rigidity... all perfect! If I alloy it properly with Brancar wrought iron... this could be the greatest masterpiece of my forging life. Are you sure I can use this?"
"Of course. I brought it just in case, and it worked out great."
Doron snorted excitedly. He grabbed Ronan's hand and shook it vigorously up and down.
"Thank you. I'll make you the finest weapon for sure. Come back in three months."
"Got it... Wait, three months?"
Ronan frowned. That was far too long, even at the longest estimate. He needed a weapon as soon as possible to attend Naviroje's classes.
"Yes, three months. I wish I could do it faster, but I can't. I just tested its heat resistance, and it barely showed signs of melting even with top-grade coking coal. And I'm almost out of coking coal right now."
Doron pointed to the cubic furnace. Around it rolled five or six red, round lumps. They were coking coal used to melt heat-resistant ores.
"I have a backlog of commissions from other customers too. Sorry, but you'll have to wait."
Doron scratched his head with the hammer handle. Marya, who had been listening quietly, widened her eyes.
"Wait, Grandpa. Coking coal?"
"Hm? Yes, coking coal."
"...I think I can get some for you?"
"What? What do you mean? I heard circulation has stopped across the capital due to an earthquake in Drumkus, the main production site."
That was why the dwarves had been frantically scooping lava. They couldn't stop work entirely, so they had to melt special ores with lava heat instead. Marya nodded.
"Right. There was an earthquake. But our merchant group visited Drumkus right before that."
"Y-You mean..."
"Yes. We still have a full cartload left. We're holding it until prices rise more... Would you like to buy it?"
"Of course! How much? How much?! Didikan! Bring the safe!"
Doron shouted, tossing his hammer aside. His eyes sparkled through the beard covering his face. As startled Didikan moved to go,
"Wait. No money, Grandpa. Can I take something else instead?"
"Something else? What...?"
"These weapons here. They're all such high quality overall, I'd love to sell them through our group."
"These practice pieces? Sure. If you give me usable coking coal right away, take as many as you want."
"No, we can't do that. Better to write a proper contract."
Marya smiled brightly and pulled paper and pen from her bosom. She drafted the contract in elegant handwriting, explaining the terms point by point to Doron.
"So... we're valuing each lump of coking coal at this amount. Weapons by type..."
"Eh, I won't understand even if you explain. Just take what you want and leave the coal."
"No. What if someone cheats you? Let me explain again."
It took over an hour to finish the contract. Marya smiled in satisfaction and tucked it away. Doron grumbled, rubbing his nearsighted eyes. Seeing this, Ronan chuckled.
"You're something else. Trying to do business in this situation."
"Heh, basics for becoming the top merchant. This deal could really expand our group."
"You didn't rip off the old mole who's lived like a gopher for centuries, right?"
"Hey! What do you take the next Karabel Group leader for?"
Given her future self and her father Duon Karabel's philosophy, it seemed unlikely. Ronan thought again how smart it was to befriend her in Marvas.
Anyway, getting the weapons faster was good. Ronan handed Didikan the Grancia promissory note.
"Put all three shares under Schlieffen of Grancia."
"You sure? The amount might be hefty."
"This'll snap him to attention. The Empire's Rising Star drooling over a girl..."
Didikan snickered as he wrote up the transaction. Doron would forge weapons for Ronan, Asel, and Marya, with payment from House Grancia. Asel hesitated before speaking.
"Um... I haven't decided what weapon to get yet..."
Asel hadn't even gotten a quote. Doron, who had been fixated on the eggshell, finally looked up.
"Oh, right. You're here too. A mage? What attribute do you handle?"
"T-Telekinesis..."
"Rare talent. Precision is key there. Can you cast without a staff?"
"Y-Yes... for now."
Doron urged Asel to demonstrate. After hesitating, Asel extended his hand and chanted.
About twenty weapons of various types floated in a line in the air. Asel manipulated them like chess pieces, moving them around. Doron nodded.
"Hm... not bad at all. How long have you been learning magic? Feels like early training from Delphi or a magic tower. Am I right, old timer?"
"N-No... it's been about six months since I started..."
"...What?"
Doron's face hardened. He grilled Asel on his background.
"You must have had a teacher. Who taught you?"
"Uh... I followed books."
"Ha! Books!"
Doron snorted. He had Asel try more spells.
"L-Like this?"
"Yes. Can you move them individually?"
Asel had a few slips from being used to staffs, but overall did excellently. Doron laughed heartily.
"Fun, this is fun. First kids like you I've seen."
He bent over, wheezing for a while. Straightening up, his expression turned serious as he stroked his beard.
"Asel, was it? When you get the chance, visit the Twilight Magic Tower where Lord Rorhon is."
"Lord Rorhon...?"
Asel knew the name. Taught in Phileon's first Magic Department class. Humanity's first 9th-circle mage. A transcendent who had lived centuries beyond mortal limits.
'The wizard geezer.'
Ronan knew him too. The one who sealed one of the three giants during the Descent. Though using his own soul as catalyst was the issue. Asel asked in a trembling voice.
"C-Could I meet Lord Rorhon...?"
"Not sure. I've only met him twice myself. Anyway, visit the Twilight Tower once."
Doron patted Asel's back approvingly.
"Your weapon needs discussion with the other old timers. Mages' gear requires finer tuning. There's a specialist for that."
"Then, Elder, if we get the coking coal now, how long?"
"Hm... two weeks at most."
Ronan nodded. Two weeks was decent. He could fill the time otherwise.
"We'll look forward to it, Elder."
"Safe travels. Thanks for reigniting this old heart."
With that, the group left the smithy. Didikan saw them to the exit. As they boarded the lift, Ronan heard a strange sound.
-Rumble...!
Ronan looked around. Asel and Marya hadn't heard. He poked Didikan's side.
"What's that noise?"
"Hm? Oh, you heard? Sharp ears."
"Yeah. From deep inside..."
"Don't worry. New tunnel they're digging inside. Mining on the side, you know."
Ronan narrowed his eyes. It felt off for mere digging. Sita stared toward the sound too. Didikan laughed.
"Happens often. Dwarves knead rock like dough, so no worries."
"...If you say so."
Ronan nodded reluctantly. Didikan shook hands with each.
"Was fun, friends. Visit Gran Cappadocia anytime, find me. Tell my brother hi."
"Brother?"
"Yeah, Phileon's Gidokan is my bro. Say the little one's happy smithing. He worries too much."
Ronan easily pictured Gidokan. One of his interviewers and Hunting Techniques instructor. Ronan smirked.
"Will do."
The group rode the lift to the surface. Each held a temporary weapon from Doron's forge.
Marya had the greatsword she'd swung, Asel a wand smaller than his old staff, Ronan a long sword with a white blade. Plain in look and material, but far superior to his old black iron sword.
Leaving the old smithy, intense sunlight poured over them. Seeing people stroll under the blue sky, their time in Gran Cappadocia felt like a dream.
"Pya!"
Sita soared up eagerly. The three humans and one creature returned to Phileon after enjoying their outing.
The weekend and following week passed smoothly.
Ronan made efficient use of his time. In the gym filling empty slots, he often ran into familiar faces.
"Hahaha! You come every time, Junior Ronan! As expected of second seat persistence!"
"Ah, you're here again, Braum senior. Nothing else to do. Oh, how's the greatsword?"
"No worries, junior! Fixed it right after entrance ceremony duel! It's 130kg now!!"
"Impressive."
"By the way, Instructor Naviroje keeps asking about you. Something up?"
"Uh... play dumb. I'll visit soon."
Nights, he read dorm books or reviewed note subjects. Unlike entrance exams, choosing wanted classes made it engaging.
"Hm. That workbook really was boring. Reading's not bad?"
Ronan propped feet on desk, perusing books. Imperial History, Western Travels, Why Did the Baron's Wife Give Max a Steak?, etc...
Some fun, some not. But learning new info without moving was joy itself. On third week's Monday, he took Sita to Professor Were-lion Baren Phanasir.
"O... Ohhh! Th-That child is...!"
"Took longer than expected. Long time, Baren."
Baren's class hadn't started due to personal reasons. First chat since enrolling. Baren's mane bristled visibly meeting Sita's eyes.
"Ah, sit. Tea coming. Doing well? Congrats on second seat!"
"Take it slow. Not running."
Ronan sat on sofa. Baren served treats at lightning speed. Pouring tea, arranging cookies, eyes fixed on Sita.
"Pya?"
Sita sat on table, gazing at Baren with bright eyes. Suddenly, Baren pulled a handkerchief, wiping his eyes.
"...Truly, truly beautiful. Name?"
"Sita."
"Yes, Sita."
Baren cautiously extended a hand before her eyes. Sita blinked, then rubbed her face on his finger.
"Pyaa~"
"...!"
Ronan deliberately raised his teacup to eye level. Not a great sight: 3m+ were-lion streaming tears. Then, Marfez sleeping atop Baren's chair approached slowly.
-Pii?
"Well, well, more feathers. Doing good?"
Blue plumage now bushy like underbrush. Ronan waved; Marfez toddled over. Sita's eyes widened.
"Ppi??"
-Piieee?
Marfez reacted too. No one first. Sita flew, Marfez ran; meeting, they preened each other's feathers eagerly. Seeing the happy family reunion, Baren muttered deeply.
"Sniff, is there no way to preserve this moment eternally...?"
"Yeah. Sorry to ruin mood, Baren. Any idea what influenced her?"
Ronan pointed at Sita. Baren sniffed, stood, rummaged desk, laid three papers on table.
"Sorry. Seeing her as Marfez's child overwhelmed me... Sniff, best guesses are these three."
Papers showed detailed illustrations of fantasy species or monsters. Ronan tilted head.
"Black Dragon Orsego... What're the others? That one's human?"
Left: Black Dragon Orsego. Demon dragon defeated by Empire, relocated to far western plateau. Ronan knew from fairy tales Iril read in childhood.
Problem: unknown other two. Center: human male in ornate uniform. Right: pink glow like sea urchin.
Baren spoke, eyes still on Marfez and Sita.
"Center: Warsaw bloodline vampire. Right: Atia Fairy. One wields blood magic, other heals wounds."