The Fourth Guardian (2)
Bellerin stammered, her lips moving wordlessly several times as if at a loss for words.
"The Seondo... why are you using it like...
She checked the Seondo serving as Archeron's temporary core over and over, her face full of bewilderment.
I glanced at Archeron's makeshift energy core too.
Woooong!
The Seondo glowed red.
Energy tubes were plugged into it here and there.
The shell was all wrinkled, like it'd already been drained of most of its energy.
'It's pretty crude.'
I could see why Bellerin looked so shocked.
"If we hadn't done something right away, it felt like it'd shut down completely."
"Ah!"
She nodded at my words.
Her surprise was brief; she quickly grasped the situation.
"Right, that's fine! I'll fix it up!"
Bellerin clenched her fists and struck a fighting pose.
"Good. I'm counting on you. Let me know if you need anything. If a new Seondo ripens, should I bring it over?"
"No! The Seondo's okay. Engraving a mana elastic restoration rune on it should be enough for the energy source."
Oh. Nice.
"Um, and I need metal to remake the energy core."
"Metal?"
"Yes! Oriharcon would be the most efficient!"
......?
Oriharcon?
Was she talking about that legendary metal of the gods?
"Ah! N-no Oriharcon...?"
"Yeah, don't have any."
"Th-then... Adamantium, the main material in Archeron right now, would work! Or Mithril if that's no good."
"Don't have either."
"Pardon?"
Bellerin blinked at me in disbelief.
Her face screamed, Why wouldn't the Dragon's Lair have that?
Even with that look... I'd never even heard of Adamantium, and Mithril was insanely expensive.
『Lots in the Mineral Room!』
That's when Dania flapped over and chimed in.
"Mineral Room?"
『Yeah! Mineral Room! Tons!』
Uh...
My vision spun.
She must mean one of those passages.
A room piled with Oriharcon, Adamantium, and Mithril?
Whoa.
If that's true...
Selling minerals from the Mineral Room later would net coins way faster than struggling to grow and sell spirit herbs now.
Mithril alone fetched absurd prices.
SSS-grade gear sold for billions was usually Mithril-based.
And if it had higher-tier stuff like Adamantium or Oriharcon too...
The value was beyond imagination.
'But that's for later anyway.'
I thought for a moment, then called Chuchu.
"Chuchu, pull out the Nagatara scales."
"Chu!!"
Chuchu scampered over at my words.
He plunged both hands into his belly pouch and pulled out scales scattering golden light.
"Will these work?"
"Ah! Nagatara scales are great too. Surprisingly efficient for an energy core!"
"Perfect. Get right on it."
Sweet.
I had a feeling Nagatara scales would paint a nice picture.
"Starting the work!"
Bellerin took the Nagatara scales and moved to one side.
But how's she gonna work without blacksmith gear?
My question was answered quick.
Fwaaah!
She fiddled with the pendant around her neck.
A hammer scattering pure white light appeared.
"Please detach the Seondo for a bit."
『Keron...』
Archeron detached the Seondo from his temporary core.
Pssshhh!
『Entering temporary inactive state.』
Archeron switched to standby.
Bellerin grabbed the hammer and started pounding the Nagatara scales.
Dong, dang, dong, dang!
Each swing rang out clear and resonant.
『You got this, Bellerin!』
"Popo!"
"Chuuu!"
We cheered her on softly from behind.
Moments later.
Kwaaaaa!!
Brilliant radiance burst from the Nagatara scales she'd been hammering.
"Done!"
Bellerin beamed, holding out the result in both hands.
The new energy core, wrapped in Nagatara scales, gleamed like a living lump of gold.
"Oh...!"
"Popo!"
"Chuuu!"
『Whoa! So pretty!』
We all gasped in unison.
The core's surface formed delicate curves from the scales, each one intricately carved like fine craftsmanship.
Tiny golden lightning sparks flickered around it whenever it emitted light, as if mana flowed beneath.
"Installing it!"
She hopped over to the stationary Archeron.
Opened the core slot and slotted in the energy core.
Ziiiiiing.
『Energy core integration confirmed. Restarting.』
Golden radiance bloomed over Archeron's body.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
The glow became a mana storm enveloping him.
I could clearly see the massive mana surging around Archeron.
'This is the mana of a level 250 being...!'
Goosebumps prickled my skin.
His mana output so far had been less than a tenth of this.
Kiiing. Clank, clank.
Flash!
『Archeron. Normal operation complete.』
His voice rang clearer than ever.
Countless mana circuit runes floated over his Adamantium plating.
『Greetings once more. I am the mana-driven golem, Archeron.』
Kiiing! Clank.
He naturally dropped to one knee in salute.
This signaled Archeron's perfect revival.
Damn.
I whistled inwardly at the sight.
'Bellerin’s got skills.'
I hadn't seen dwarves, but she seemed better than any.
"Good work."
Pat, pat.
I stroked Bellerin's head.
"Hehe. Thank you, Master."
She smiled brightly at the praise.
『Fixed Archeron!』
Dania flapped her wings happily.
Popo and Chuchu bounced around Archeron too.
"Alright. Party time today."
『Party? Yay!!』
"Popo!"
"Chuuu!!"
Geueo-eoeo!
They cheered at my words.
With new family member Bellerin joining...
And Archeron fully repaired...
When else to party if not today?
The iridescent glow that poured out when Dania hatched from her egg.
It didn't just sweep through the Elatria around the lair—it stretched far beyond.
As a result...
『Aaaah!』
『A great being has been born...!』
『Glory! Grant us your blessing under the dragon's wings!』
Countless intelligent races and monsters blessed Dania's birth in awe.
But...
Some bared their fangs at her birth too.
"Shhhik, shh-shhik—."
A dragonkin monster with golden scales.
Nagatara.
The male who'd lost his mate slithered secretly to another being.
『Hatchling... lair... I know where...?』
Its form embodied the grim reaper and nightmare shapes outright.
Shrouded in black smoke and fog-like aura, its true body unclear, floating ethereally in the darkness—this was the Shadow Reaper.
"Shhhik— shh-shhik—."
Last time, Elatria interference kept Nagatara from even nearing the lair.
But the faint aura leaking from Elatrium was definitely the Dragon Hatchling stirring things up.
And he'd realized his mate was killed there.
Shhhik!
He craved revenge, but lacked the power alone.
So he resolved himself.
Otherworldly beings.
Ones even those at growth's limit, knocking on transcendence, avoided.
All that was known: they wandered seeking dragon traces.
Thus...
Nagatara braved his fear.
Heading to the least terrifying among those otherworldly ones.
『Guide... us....』
"Shhhik, shhhik—!"
Nagatara bowed his head.
This one could tear through Elatrium's defenses.
Plop, plop!
Mandrian groaned watching Mandragoras tossed into the boiling pot.
Geueo-eoeoeo—
(I'll remember you.)
These ones spat out 2 and 3 seeds each before going still.
They became daily sustenance for the lair's masters.
『Smells sooo good!! I'm starving!!』
The aroma was so mouthwatering even Dania whined.
Nagatara meat + Cheongmyeongsu grass leaves water + Mandragora.
This combo never got old no matter how many times.
'Too bad the Nagatara meat's running low.'
Wonder if another Nagatara would show up.
I smacked my lips, checking the dwindling Nagatara meat.
"Popo!"
While Popo boiled the Nagatara meat and Mandragoras, it diligently tilled the soil.
'Huh?'
But I noticed something different.
'The mana flowing from the ground...'
The concentration of life energy was way higher than before.
'What's this?'
I grabbed some soil from the freshly tilled earth, puzzled.
Then a system message flashed in my mind.
Guardian Popo has reached Lv 110. Gaia's power awakens further.
Did "Gaia's power awakening further" mean this?
'Earth and nature goddess, right?'
What exactly was Popo's connection to Gaia?
My gut said it wasn't just a slime blessed by her power.
"Popo!"
As I fiddled with the soil lost in thought, Popo hopped over with a ∩_∩ smile, bouncing happily.
Glancing behind, it'd already reworked all the old soil with its new power.
"Aigoo, our Popo worked hard."
"Popo!"
I patted Popo's head.
This felt like crops and spirit herbs planted there would get boosted effects from now on.
"Chu chu chu!"
Now Chuchu ran up to me.
I looked at him quizzically.
He pointed at the Seondo tree.
"Oh...!"
The Seondo tree.
Finally, the effect of Breath of the Seed fully applied to the ripening Seondo.
Now if seeds came from that Seondo, I could grow more trees.
Nice.
Things were flowing smoothly since Bellerin joined—like a dam breaking.
"Alright! Everyone, time to eat!"
『I'm starving!! Gimme food—!!』
"Popo!"
"Chuuu!"
"Whoa, this smells amazing."
Geueo-eoeo!
They cheered at my words.
I portioned out one bowl each for Dania, Popo, and Chuchu like last time.
"Bellerin, want the meat out?"
"No! Keep it in, please!"
"Eh...? Uh, sure."
What? Thought elves didn't eat meat.
Meat-eating elf...
"Itadakimasu!!"
She really dug in.
And ate like a champ.
Whoa.
Shattered my elf image a bit, but seeing her eat heartily brought a smile.
Geueo-eoeo—!
"You want some too?"
Geueo-eoeo!!
"Uh... here."
I ladled a bowl of broth for Mandrian.
Then...
Plop!
It dunked in roots-first.
Like taking a half-bath.
Haha.
This guy's full of surprises.
"Archeron..."
Huh.
Where'd Archeron go?
Looking around, he stood by the lair wall.
What's he doing there?
The moment I went to call him...
Archeron's low, metallic voice echoed.
『Intruder detected. Activating combat mode.』
Grrrrr.
His eyes glowed red, and rough mana exhaust roared from the energy core.
『Blocking all access. Eliminating threat to protect the lair.』
With that...
Ziiiiiing!
Space tore open before Archeron, sucking him in instantly.