89. Non-Ferrous Sword (1)
89. Non-Ferrous Sword (1)
- 1 -
The next morning.
The first thing I checked was the review of those who would oversee military matters while Eve, Shue Seth, and I were away from the dungeon.
『Name — Sonia Medib』
『Job and Grade — Advanced Cursed Mage』
Sonia had decided she could now hold her own, even though she wasn't yet fully proficient with curses or elemental magic, judging from her actions during the last Copherin raid.
She probably still couldn't kill anyone, but she could at least subdue them.
『Name — Mire』
『Title/Entity Name — Delicate Skeleton Tracker』
『Name — Axe』
『Title/Entity Name — Giant Skeleton Fighter』
My advanced-class archer and warrior, both of whom had accumulated attributes and traits through my support, steady combat, and training.
It wasn't that the dungeon had no other advanced-class soldiers besides them, but there were none quite like them.
They had grown continuously based on their distinct personalities, and when together, they had reached a level where they could even hold their own against elite-grade enemies—up to a fateful standoff.
『Name — Elenore Claiamel』
『Job and Grade — Advanced Berserker』
Eleanor, who was adapting to her diminished abilities but quickly growing stronger again thanks to her exceptional innate talent, along with her relatives who were once her peers.
These young berserkers would fight desperately for their mothers, who had been showing me notably greater loyalty these days.
『Name — Munyu Jin-gyeong』
『Job and Grade — Elite Word Magic User』
Jin-gyeong, the elite mage of Copherin whose originally powerful mana as a Word Magic user had been sealed until today, with her contract now complete and the seal released.
『Name — Maria Olas』
『Job and Grade — Advanced Fighter』
And here, too, was Maria, whose abilities I planned to return today.
"...You're giving me back my abilities, Master?"
"Yes. That's right."
"Why...?"
The reason, of course, was that judging from my observations so far, I thought she had now reached a stage where she wouldn't attempt suicide or try any escape stunts.
In other words, she was gradually starting to see this place as a "resting place."
But I gave a different reason.
"To protect each other with Sonia, you should have stronger combat ability too."
"This is great, big sis!"
"Uh, uh, uhh..."
Upon hearing that from me, she simply froze up, while Sonia seemed happier about it.
It was exactly the reaction I had expected.
If, at the moment she was slowly growing accustomed to the feeling of powerlessness and the sensation of regaining herself day by day, that goal was achieved through someone else's strength—
Cheolkeok!
"It was that easy..."
"There was no need for it to be difficult. For me."
"That's... right. Master."
Even if the immediate feelings or reactions differed, anyone would feel a certain sense of emptiness.
Which direction the emptiness she was feeling now would take was a matter for later...
But the time she spent buried in those negative feelings probably wouldn't be very long.
I could tell that just from the results visible only to me.
『Attributes — Physical Strength 13(◀ 29) Technique 14(◀ 31) Endurance 12(◀ 27) Magic Power 13(◀ 30) Resistance 6(◀ 17)』
『Attributes — Physical Strength 31(◀ 14) Technique 38(◀ 19) Endurance 29(◀ 13) Magic Power 28(◀ 13) Resistance 17(◀ 6)』
The top row was the status she gained when her magic power was sealed previously, and the bottom row was the attributes she regained when that power was released and restored this time.
Among them, it was particularly noticeable, even at a glance, that her Technique had risen quite a lot.
Her magic power had degraded somewhat because it had been completely frozen so she couldn't use it at all, but her other physical abilities had also risen slightly.
'Just adapting to a weakened body must have been a great struggle, but to keep training to this degree in that state is really amazing.'
These "attributes" represented the extent to which magic power contributed to her current physical output, but the fundamental training of her body could also increase the efficiency of the magic power already granted.
And that was now reflected in the status window like this.
Of course, even without this, I couldn't help but know she had been training so intensely that it was impossible not to notice she never stopped working.
『Traits — ... 'Diligent'』
As a result of training consistently while weakened, she had gained a new trait through never ceasing her training and effort.
『Diligent — When training, the rate of attribute increase accelerates by a small random amount.』
The trait itself randomly determined whether it would activate whenever training was performed, and the amount of increase was also random within a small range.
But still, it was naturally far better than having nothing.
There was probably some contribution from this trait to her current Technique stat as well.
Teong!
I dropped the iron collar that had been restraining her neck and magic power into the shadows, then placed my hand over hers as she touched the wound on her neck.
"I know how much effort you put in."
Saak!
I gently took the hand that had been touching the wounded area, then healed the wound and scar with healing magic.
It was a trace left from intense physical activity while wearing the restraint around her neck.
"How... do you know?"
"Well, because I've been watching."
"You've been... watching."
"Of course."
Seureuk!
I answered her question with something that wasn't exactly the truth, while channeling magical power into my eyes to check the state of the mana acting on her body.
It was to calibrate the magic power that had been frozen and was now rapidly activating, before it caused any other damage to her body.
This was just to prepare for any contingencies, and at her level of experience and training, the actual probability of that happening wasn't high—
"Just as I expected. Your magic power has settled in nicely."
"Thank you."
Seeing her understand immediately, she must have also guessed what I was doing.
But Maria's attitude was unexpectedly sincere and polite.
She had bowed with her hands respectfully gathered together.
As if treating me half like a teacher or a parent.
"There's no need for such excessive formality."
"No. ...Objectively, you really are a wonderful mentor and teacher, Master."
When I connected it to Sonia's case, it was probably because even in a teacher-student relationship, the ability-users of this world rarely extended "grace" or favors.
'I can understand their position.'
In a world where abilities are common, those abilities are also assets.
When the world is in great chaos, monopolizing one's abilities might become a great sin, but now that the world had stabilized, there would be no need to give away such high-value assets as if doing charity, right?
This was likely the reason why the relationship between master and disciple in guilds had become so sensitive to profit and loss.
The difference between them and me was simply that I had more reason to bestow abilities upon others.
'Because I have to solidify the fortress around me to survive.'
So that kind of excessive courtesy from Maria was truly burdensome to me.
Frankly, I was just making people stronger in order to use them.
"I see. Now get up. I want to receive your gratitude through your service in real combat, not this excessive formality. I merely returned what was taken."
"...I'll do my best. As long as the person who comes to the dungeon isn't a blood relative of mine."
"Yes. That's a natural thing to say."
Wasn't it said that her parents were still out there?
According to a separate investigation, before they left Maria and Lemia inland and departed for the Demon Realm, the couple had been recognized as elite grade.
That was three years ago.
So now, they would have at least reached a seasoned stage of elite grade, or, if luck was on their side and their talent supported them, they would be at a stage to aim for the rank above.
'An entire family of adventurers, huh... If they're the ones who passed their talent down to these two, it wouldn't be strange if it were the latter.'
"Hoo..."
— Dalkak.
My gaze swept over the space between Maria and Mire.
Their parents were dangerous enemies who, just by appearing, could chip away slightly at the combat strength of my dungeon.
The degree of that loss would also depend on how actively Maria contributed from now on.
— Tak.
"Eve? ...Yes. It's okay."
When that time came, I would once again have to struggle between morality and practicality.
But as long as there were people who supported me like now, I could be fine... or I could become fine.
At least, there would now be no need to push everyone away or cast them out with my own hands.
Like my old life.
- 2 -
Once the review of key personnel was over, the natural next step was to inspect the army and the dungeon's condition.
Of course, the maintenance and repair of the current equipment was always being done, so there would be no problem even if we went into battle immediately.
What I needed was the equipment to use as I raised the grade of my soldiers going forward.
For that, I checked the progress of the deal I had pre-ordered from Mammon Company.
"No matter how I think about it... this is a waste of money..."
The person designated as the handler for this deal wasn't Scarlet or the Gray One, but her subordinate, Mari.
She seemed to have originally had connections in the blacksmithing trade... probably.
But this was something that could get someone scolded.
"It's not your place to judge that, Mari — Maris — Mare."
How dare she call this a waste.
I was executing the funds to arm my people and my army, whom I cherished, and finding partners to properly utilize those funds.
"Ahht...! I-I'm sorrryy...!"
Mari quickly caught the meaning of my words and hastily bowed.
Even though I had spoken quite calmly, she realized it very quickly, so she seemed perceptive.
It was a different image from what I'd been told about her.
[She is a child who isn't very reliable. She does ordinary tasks well enough... but she causes accidents. And she's a bit clueless.]
She wasn't the completely clueless person that her superior, Scarlet, had evaluated her as.
I wondered if Scarlet's standards were high, or if this girl had been hiding herself.
[This is a secret... but actually, she's Archduke Greed's illegitimate daughter.]
Remembering what Scarlet had said about her background, I guessed that she probably had a talent for hiding herself.
Otherwise, the "unpredictable gaps in ability" didn't make sense.
"Mari Maris Mare. I don't know what you want to do, but know that there will be no place for you before me."
Simply put, I was saying that whatever your goal is, if you interfere with my work or get in the way, I'll remove you somehow.
Since I heard she was a daughter that Grand Duke Mammon was paying some personal attention to, it was true that I couldn't be casually hostile to her.
'But there's also no need to be cowed by her backing.'
First of all, it was publicly stated that Mammon officially paid her no attention, and Mammon was a Grand Duke loyal to the Demon King.
He respected and cherished the demons who would succeed the Demon King in his own way, which was why he ran the trading company to support them.
"I'll keep it firmly in mind!!"
She seemed to know that too, because she only bowed her head without any pushback.
I gave her a single nod, then extended my hand toward her, and sensing that, Mari raised the list with both hands and presented it.
That brisk movement confirmed it for me.
'I don't know why she's doing it, but she really is good at keeping herself hidden.'
After giving the rigid Mari a sidelong glance, I lowered my eyes toward the documents she had handed over.
Chararak.
Written on them was a list of trading companies and artisans who had "expressed hope" to supply weapons to my dungeon.
Right now, there were only the trading companies and blacksmiths who had established routes related to general weapons based on my immediate demand, but it seemed there were still quite a few even without them.
"So word of my rapport with the Baritra Marquis Household has clearly spread."
"Ah, yes. The rumors about you, Lady Libertas, are gradually spreading... The trading company and the marquis household are only blocking bad rumors or groundless slander."
"You went through that trouble for me without my even having to say anything. I'll have to remember this."
"Everyone will consider it an honor...!"
I wasn't so sure. After all, it's just recognition from an unknown Dungeon Lord; could they really like it that much?
The reason the rumors had spread was because of Serica's impulsive decision to accompany me. The existence of the girl who was Baritra's lost child and me, who walked the surface world together with her, had become known in the Demon Realm.
Even if it was a rumor that spread without my intention...
Fame rising in the Demon Realm had its pros and cons whether it was high or low, so it didn't matter.
'The chance of other surface Dungeon Lords gaining information about me also goes up, but so does the chance of demon realm sponsors and trading companies flocking to see a "promising investment target."'
And as I've said before, I'm quite confident.
Confident that I'm a promising investment target.
If a rumor spread that I was close to Baritra, under the command of "Wrath," there was a chance it could provoke hostility from other Grand Duke factions...
But unless they were the type to walk around with their brains left at home, they wouldn't be recklessly displaying such hostility.
'Serica is, after all, just the marquis household's illegitimate daughter, and the position of heir hasn't been clearly decided yet.'
My position wasn't firmly established yet.
So even subordinates of other Grand Dukes wouldn't go so far as to pick a fight with me, turning me into an adversary or provoking Mammon Company's anger.
Unless they had ties to Scarlet's opposing faction within Mammon Company, but that was an area they would have to be careful of on their own.
"This one, and this one. This one too. Seth would be good for this."
"Understood! I'll arrange the meetings right away!"
"For now, I have to leave and handle the aftermath of that matter, so set it for about two weeks from now."
"Leave it to me!"
Mari's usual gloomy aura that always clung to her body completely vanished as she tensed up her whole frame.
I patted her shoulders a couple of times.
Having raised the stick, I now had to offer the carrot.
"Just do as I ask well. Then, I have no intention of doing something that would specifically harm you."
"I-It's an honor!!"
"No need to go that far. Getting tangled up with me is probably unpleasant for you too, isn't it?"
"That's not it! Actually, I a-admire you, Lady Libertas."
"...?"
That was unexpected.
Mari was blushing faintly.
"Okay, well... if you say so."
I looked at her with a moment of embarrassment, but in the end, I just nodded as if to say, do as you please.
I had no intention of stopping her if she decided to express goodwill on her own.
- 3 -
"Well then, I look forward to seeing you next time."
"Yes!"
As I watched Mari step back and thought about the attention that would gather along with the rumors, my thoughts quickly turned to a certain person.
To the one who had shown me rejection bordering on hostility, though I still didn't know their true intentions.
'What kind of person is the Queen of the North?'
By now, up in the north, the last queen was fighting a bloody and vicious war against other factions, and she was that hostile party's identity.
Ttak.
The map that unfolded before my eyes roughly depicted the terrain and military strength of the coniferous forest, the Queen of the North's domain.
In the highlands, there were a comparatively small number of bluish-gray Bishops and a huge number of Pawns in the same color following them, while on the other hand, there were more Bishops of a slightly deeper blue in the lowlands, and the number of Pawns was distinctly lower.
Between them, at one point in the highlands and one point in the lowlands, a King was placed for each, and around them, numerous Bishops and Pawns were stationed.
As one could easily guess, this was a War Situation Board made with magic.
An item that would reflect the movements of the battlefield in real time.
"Do the final checks. Eve. Sonia. This is the spot from which you will report to me. Report whenever there's a major change."
— Tak!
"Yes, Master!"
By the time I finished my work in the coniferous forest and came back down, the fates of the two Kings would already have been decided.