Chapter 141
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 141
While Dedolea took my Azoth Sword for a more in-depth appraisal, our group took a leisurely break in a cozy VVIP room.
I’d been so busy lately that even this brief waiting period felt like a much-needed respite. As I took a moment to admire the various artifacts decorating the room, Beatrice spoke up.
“By the way, Roen, is Miss Ciel doing alright?”
Beatrice was asking about Ciel’s health, as she had been severely injured during the last tournament. I nodded, taking a slow sip of my tea.
“She’s more than fine. Her external wounds healed long ago, and I’ve been making sure she eats well. Her Mana Hole should be even stronger than before. So, don’t worry if you see any strange articles floating around about it.”
“Ah, you saw that article too?” Yulina asked.
I gave a bitter smile. “The headline was impossible to miss. Were you the one who interviewed them?”
“N-No! I would never conduct an interview like that, I swear. I’ve been burned by the press enough myself.”
“Hmm.”
Yulina waved her hands, denying it vehemently. I decided to believe her for now. I’d already determined that the article was written by a reporter named Peluna, based on information from Ciel’s friends who had come to watch the match.
I’ll have to deal with her later.
While the piece was technically based on facts and didn’t contain outright lies, the framing of a story can change everything. Whether by bribe or by threat, I’d have to shut her up so she couldn’t write articles like that again.
I shrugged and brought the topic to a close.
“In any case, the matter with Ciel has been resolved amicably, so you can rest easy. Her injuries are fully healed, and there are no hard feelings between us.”
As the conversation about Ciel wrapped up, Trish, who was happily hugging her shopping bags, chimed in.
“By the way, Roen, where did you really get that Azoth Sword?”
“I told you, I made it.”
Seeing the skeptical looks on Yulina’s and Beatrice’s faces, I explained the process in detail.
“I used the Dwarven Gold Ingots I procured from the Aether Dungeon and the five Elemental Stones I found at the same time. I spent about a month carefully crafting it. I also received some guidance from the blacksmith, Andrei, along the way. That’s why the sword is golden, and why the Azoth alphabet is imbued with the five elemental energies. Do you believe me now?”
“Y-You really made it yourself?”
I answered the startled Yulina calmly.
“Did you think the title ‘Alchemist’ was just for show? I can make more than just an Azoth Sword; I can craft all sorts of artifacts and potions.”
I was still at a basic level, but with a little more practice, I’d be able to create most things without much difficulty. And unlike the promotion quest for [Intermediate Alchemy], where I had to craft everything by hand, stitch by stitch, I could now utilize system assistance, making the process much simpler.
After I confidently declared that I had crafted the Azoth Sword myself, Beatrice grabbed my shoulders with a serious expression.
“...If that’s true, it’s truly incredible. To think you can create an artifact of near-national treasure quality.”
I gently removed her hands and shrugged.
“That doesn’t mean I can mass-produce national treasures. That sword was purely a product of chance.”
The probability of a legendary-grade weapon emerging from an [Intermediate Alchemy] artifact crafting attempt was less than 0.5 percent. Of course, the odds increased slightly depending on the grade of the materials used. The Dwarven Gold Ingots and Elemental Stones were of exceptionally high quality, which likely raised the odds, but the expected value was still less than 5 percent.
In other words, it was crafted through sheer luck—a first-time crafting bonus or beginner’s luck.
At my explanation, Beatrice nodded slowly as if she understood.
“Hmm, I see. I suppose no one could churn out national treasures as if they were on an assembly line. But what is certain, Roen, is that you possess the talent to create such an artifact, even if by chance.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”
“...”
This time, even Yulina held her tongue. Trish, however, seemed less interested in the history of the Azoth Sword and more fixated on the fact that I had found gold ingots in a dungeon.
“But Roen, about the gold ingots. Where on earth did you get so many? You have to tell me!”
Trish kept pestering me about the source of the gold. I was getting tired of explaining, so I just brushed it off. She was being greedy, especially since she was set to make a fortune later with the carbonated water business.
“Let’s just say I have my ways. Anyway...” I turned back to Beatrice. “If you ever want something crafted, feel free to commission me. From artifacts to potions, elixirs, and remedies, I can make anything. And I guarantee total client confidentiality.”
*
A short while later, Dedolea returned to the room with the Azoth Sword, having finished his analysis in the lab. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, “This is truly astonishing. To think that you were the creator of this Azoth Sword, Roen.”
“...”
When no one else reacted, Dedolea asked me, “Do they all know?”
“I told them.”
“Ah, I see. In any case, the results of the detailed analysis are in. This Azoth Sword has been determined to have a powerful aptitude for ‘Enchantment Magic.’”
Dedolea’s subsequent analysis was no different from what I already knew—from its unique use effect to its ability to be imbued with elemental properties. Just as I was starting to lose interest, Dedolea said something that piqued my curiosity.
“And one more thing. We’ve discovered a hidden effect within this Azoth Sword.”
“A hidden effect?”
“Yes, though it’s unlikely you’ll ever have a reason to use it...” Dedolea trailed off before speaking carefully. “This Azoth Sword can also be used in ritual ceremonies. To be more precise, it is perfectly suited to be used as a ‘sacrifice’ for a ritual.”
“A sacrifice?”
“Yes. By offering this Azoth Sword as a sacrifice, the caster of the ritual temporarily gains the ability to forcibly bestow a certain ‘concept.’”
“Hmm.”
Gaining the ability to bestow a concept by sacrificing the Azoth Sword... it seemed to be a hidden function that even the system hadn't revealed to me. It was hard to believe, but a man like Dedolea wouldn't lie in front of Beatrice.
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”
With a small sigh, I committed Dedolea’s words to memory. The temporary ability to bestow a concept, gained by sacrificing a legendary-grade artifact. I couldn’t imagine what I would ever use it for, but you never know what the world might throw at you. I made sure to store the information away.
*
Time passed, and darkness fell upon the harbor.
Bwoooo—!
The grand sound of a ship’s horn echoed through Stella Harbor. Having completed passenger identity checks and finished loading its cargo, the floating ship finally set sail.
Wooooong—!
Leaving the glittering lights of Stella Harbor behind like stars in the night sky, the ship cut through the darkness. It was a mystical sight, like a great white whale swimming through a sea of stars.
When I returned to my room after a brief walk, a freshly pressed, crisp tuxedo was laid out on the bed. I’d heard there was a shipboard party for the students in the evening, and this was clearly intended for the occasion.
“Hmm.”
Unlike Altair’s practical, combat-focused suits, this was a flamboyant tuxedo made for purely aesthetic purposes. I looked it up and down and let out a small sigh.
Should I just stay in and rest?
A shipboard party would probably be nothing more than eating while listening to an orchestra. I considered just relaxing in my room, but then I thought better of it. It wasn’t often I’d get a chance to see the other students dressed up.
With that thought, I changed into the tuxedo. It was a bit stiff and didn’t fit perfectly, but I had to admit it looked good. Then again, Roen had a great frame to begin with, so most clothes looked good on him. I styled my hair with a bit of spray and finished with a touch of clean cologne.
When I stepped outside, I saw groups of excited students in tuxedos, joking around and practicing ridiculous etiquette with each other.
“Hehe, may I have this dance, my lady?”
“Of course, my good gentleman.”
“Ugh, what are you guys doing? That’s gross.”
There wasn’t much difference between the tuxedo I was wearing and the ones the other male students had on. The colors and styles varied slightly, but they were all ready-made. But the magic of fashion is that even if the clothes are the same, the person wearing them makes the difference. They say clothes make the man, but in the end, the man has to make the clothes work.
It might sound conceited, but even if we were all wearing the same outfit, I knew I looked the best.
“Hmm.”
I scratched my cheek, then left the cabin area and headed toward the deck where the party was being held.
The vast deck of the floating ship was already adorned with brilliant lights and flags of all nations. Below them were round dining tables and a lavish buffet. In the center of the deck, an orchestra was in the middle of a spectacular performance. Considering the ship’s speed, the deck should have been a chaotic mess from the wind, but thanks to the protective barrier surrounding the vessel, it was as calm and serene as the eye of a storm.
The atmosphere is incredible.
A floating ship, advancing through the dark sea under a brilliant, sprawling Milky Way, with a cool breeze blowing. Students gathered in small groups, eating, talking, dancing, or enjoying the music. Just watching it all from a distance made my heart feel full.
I watched for a moment before heading to the bar table set up by the buffet.
“A glass, please.”
“Here you are.”
The bartender slid a glass across the table toward me. It was an amber-colored liquid with a slight fizz, served in a tall glass. It looked like some kind of champagne. I offered my thanks, then tilted the glass to take a sip.
“...”
I couldn’t taste any alcohol. It seemed to be just a type of sparkling juice. It was a reasonable measure; if they let the students drink alcohol when the mood was this good, it would be impossible to control them.
I enjoyed the lemon-flavored drink as I headed toward the main stage where the party was in full swing. My gaze shifted, and I saw a crowd murmuring and gathered in one corner. Wondering if there was a celebrity, I took a closer look and saw a figure surrounded by people.
It was a female student in a simple blue dress. It was Freya, her snow-white hair tied up in a braided bun. The dress she wore wasn’t much different from what the other female students were wearing, but as I said before, a different frame makes the clothes feel different. She was always dazzlingly beautiful, but dressed up like this, her beauty shone even brighter. It was no wonder people were flocking to her.
She looks like she’s in trouble, though.
Freya was the center of everyone’s attention. Her lips were smiling, but her fidgeting hands and the uncomfortable way she stood in her high heels told the real story.
It was then that she spotted me.
“Ah, Roen!”
From within that massive crowd, Freya hurried over. It seemed she had been struggling with the attention and, upon finding an escape route in me, had fled immediately. At the very least, with me around, the annoying flies would be less likely to bother her.
Was this what they called fighting fire with fire? Indeed, many of the students who had been hovering around Freya saw me and quickly turned away.
I looked down at Freya and smiled. “It suits you well. Enjoying the popularity?”
“...Please don’t tease me. I was just thinking I shouldn’t have worn this. The heels are uncomfortable, and the waist is so tight.”
She usually insisted on comfortable clothes and shoes, so a formal dress must have been exceptionally taxing for her.
“Well, I can imagine. This suit is uncomfortable for me, too.”
If a tuxedo was uncomfortable for me, a dress must be even more so for her. But to look this good, one had to endure a certain amount of discomfort. It was probably worth it for the duration of the party.
Just as I was chatting with Freya, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
Tap, tap.
I turned around to see Ciel in a dress, offering me a polite curtsy. She held the edges of her pure white dress as she greeted me. Then, she extended a hand, inviting me to the floor.
“Lord Roen, may I have this dance?”