The Monster Extermination War (Part 4)
There are many different races in Rondel, just like the Europeans, Africans, and Asians on Earth—whites, blacks, and yellows.
Among the four major continents of Rondel, the Defteron continent is larger than the other three combined. Within it are the Lheinhatz Kingdom, the Brigham Empire, the Croisen Empire, the Holy Land Everhill, and others. The main races here are white and black.
Defteron has eleven nations. The Holy Land is an exception since it is a space where all races can live without discrimination. Of the remaining ten nations, seven are white nations and three are black nations.
However, the countries with the largest scale in economy, military, and population—such as the Brigham Empire, Croisen Empire, Lheinhatz Kingdom, and Lucias Kingdom—are all white nations.
This does not mean that the blacks are simply inferior to the whites in strength. The sense of movement ability and aura, mana is actually superior to that of whites.
The blacks are concentrated in the three southern nations: Walter, Paulo, and Izres.
The problem is that these three nations sharing the same culture are extremely closed-off. They highly value bloodlines and do not recognize mixed blood. Incest within four degrees of kinship is rampant.
For that reason, their birth capacity is greatly inferior to other races, causing their population to decline.
To solve this, the royal families of the three southern nations have made efforts to accept other races. But because the citizens strongly reject other races, it is not easy.
Moreover, there are not many free citizens willing to go to the three closed-off southern nations with completely different cultures and languages.
Thanks to that, the blacks live in their own world, building walls with other races.
“Hello. I am Coby Ventri.”
The reason I suddenly launched into such a long explanation about races is simple. It is because this is the first time I have faced a black person upon entering Rondel.
And it is not just any black person. I have met an extremely rare being—a half-black, half-dwarf.
“Ah, sorry. I am Adrian Lawrence of the Lheinhatz Kingdom.”
He was the technician for the holy artifact introduced by Archbishop Fred. According to Archbishop Fred, he is one of the top three technicians in the world.
I have seen dwarves before, but this is the first time I have seen a black dwarf.
One should not judge people by skin color and race, but I could not help but feel curious.
I have seen him a lot on broadcast and online news. It is amazing. I never thought I would meet such a famous person.
It seems that not only I feel curiosity toward him.
He observed me carefully. And he said something hard to ignore.
“Lord Lawrence’s robe is difficult to analyze. It seems you possess an amazing treasure.”
I wondered why he looked at me so intently, but it turned out he was interested in my equipment.
The robe he mentioned is the treasure left by Duke Lucas.
That made me show an awkward reaction to his actions.
“Ah, sorry. My curiosity as a technician makes me unable to stop staring at new equipment.”
He gave a generous laugh and scratched the back of his head while apologizing. I shrugged my shoulders.
Coby Ventri / Master Engineer
Race: Half-dwarf
Age: 98 years
Affiliation: High-level technician recruited by the Sepia Church
Talent: Technology (maximum), Empathy (high), Intelligence (medium)
Characteristics: Equipment appraisal / Acquisition of new technology
Relationship: Interested / Neutral
Status: Goodwill / Curiosity
With those stats, there is no doubt he is a remarkable person.
For the full-of-expectation Coby, I handed him the broken holy relic, the ‘Handle of the Sword of the Heavenly Tribe’.
“This?”
Did he know the value of this item?
The moment he received it, Coby swallowed dry air.
“I am guessing it is the handle of a sword with ancient holy magic. Is that correct?”
“Y-yes. You really know it well.”
As expected, he knew what it was.
I stated what I hoped from Coby.
“I want you to make this usable.”
“At this level, there is a high possibility. I have seen a similar item deep in the church. Compared to that, this is almost at its original state.”
A positive reply from a high-level technician brought a pleasant smile to my lips.
“However, would you be able to cover the blade with mithril? Orichalcum is difficult to obtain after all.”
Orichalcum is produced in Everhill, but only about 500 grams a year. The reason is that orichalcum does not come from a mine but solidifies in liquid form in the Holy Grail of the cathedral in the Holy Land.
When holy water is poured into the liquid orichalcum, it hardens white. That is the metal orichalcum that people know.
Because of that, the price of orichalcum is astronomical. Because it is considered a sacred material, it is used as material for the crowns of emperors and kings of various countries.
To make the blade orichalcum, at least one kilogram would be needed, but the price and fierce bidding competition make it difficult to obtain.
Therefore, covering the blade with orichalcum was impossible for now.
Coby blinked at my question and shook his hand with a low laugh.
“The blade is not necessary.”
“Eh?”
“Because this itself is a finished product.”
I tilted my head, not understanding. He grabbed the handle like a sword with both hands and swung it in the air.
Of course, nothing happened since it was a broken holy relic.
However, what he said next made my eyes widen.
“A sword that defeats the demon race. A sword that cuts darkness. It has many nicknames, but the most famous name might be this one. It is ‘Holy Sword’.”
“Eh?”
The sudden appearance of the Holy Sword left me dumbfounded.
“Although the shapes and functions vary, there are not many items called Holy Sword. The church currently owns three of them. It is said that there are six Holy Swords in the world. This would be the seventh.”
“What does ‘the blade is not necessary’ mean?”
He pointed to the red jewel attached to the top of the sword handle.
“If this sword is in perfect condition, a sacred light will form a sword from this holy bloodstone.”
“Like a magic sword?”
There is a magic sword popular among nobles. It is a 5-circle fire sword or energy sword engraved on an artifact and used like a ray sword in movies.
“That is completely different from something with just showy appearance. According to the literature I read, such a Holy Sword blade is equal to an aura blade, and against demon races it exerts more power. Moreover, it has high versatility to convert all energies—mana, aura, holy power, and spirit power—into blades without distinction.”
“Whew…”
Why would something so amazing be in the possession of a local viscount?
“If I had not had the opportunity to read literature related to holy relics under the blessing of the previous saint, I would have overlooked it. It is likely that even the three saints did not know its purpose. That is why it is distributed among ordinary people as just a lump of orichalcum, which I can understand.”
Of course, I could accept his words since Man Kyung did not even display it accurately, the moment it was discovered.
‘So this is what they mean by picking up money even if you are down?’
The short club I thought was perfect for patting shoulders turned out to be the treasure of treasures.
“If this works perfectly, how much would it be worth?”
Coby laughed as if what kind of question that was.
“Even a big city. Honestly, it is hard to price it.”
It would feel like learning that the ashtray I used at home was celadon.
I had truly won the lottery.
‘It feels like the heavens are helping me?’
I clenched my fist and cheered internally.
In this saintess competition, there is no corner where I might lose.
Thanks to Coby, I have developed sudden goodwill toward the blacks of the three southern nations and the dwarves of the Elysia Union, whom I have never met directly.
“Then can I proceed with the repair right away?”
“First, it seems I need the holy bloodstone and some new tools.”
The holy bloodstone is a precious gem, but it is no match for orichalcum.
I freely gave him an account.
“Oh dear, it is too much.”
“Please consider it as labor cost including material fees. Instead, if the repair is successful, I will give you double that.”
“Well, then I will not refuse. Because it is a product of such great value.”
“Good.”
A technician with a seal from the royal palace would not run off with the item, but for the sake of precaution I cast tracking magic on Coby and the Holy Sword bag.
Naturally, since it was an item, he understood my actions.
“I will give you one week. As a technician, I will do my best to fix it for the honor of my craft.”
“Please take good care of it.”
The master of Everhill, Coby, headed to his workshop with the item I handed him.
“Hehe, hehe hehe.”
Left alone, I laughed softly while thinking about what would happen after the Holy Sword was completed.
A compact design Holy Sword.
If I can form an aura blade-level blade with magic, would not it be fine to just swing a sword myself?
Or I could connect it to a magic staff and use it as a spear.
How many happy circuits I had been running.
[Adrian-nim!]
Arsia’s urgent voice rang in my head as if it were telepathy.
Recently she has been doing things separately from me. Her urgent voice was enough to make me freeze my expression upon recalling the mission I gave her.
“What happened?”
The mission I gave Arsia was secret escort of Ibril.
Without showing her appearance, maintain a certain distance, and do not intervene unless it is a real emergency.
But she came to me urgently?
She would not be saying that she needs to go to the bathroom. It could only mean something happened to Ibril.
[Ibril-nim has been kidnapped.]
“What!?”
[I appeared without any gap to knock down the party members and kidnapped Ibril-nim with spatial movement.]
“What about Lopez?”
All the party members I assigned to Ibril were genius students.
Among them, Lopez was a key figure who has been with me since the beginning of the genius school.
[Lopez is in critical condition. The other three are seriously injured, but Lopez is the most seriously injured.]
That was the only good news.
As long as he does not die, he can be saved somehow.
[I am sorry.]
“No, if you could not stop it, it means he rushed in determinedly. There is nothing you could have done.”
[I have already traced the coordinates. The location is the Ainselon territory of the Walter Kingdom.]
The Walter Kingdom is one of the three southern nations where Coby I just met is from.
But the Walter Kingdom is probably just the relay point for the criminal.
Surely they passed through there and moved to somewhere else.
“Arsia, now call the coordinates. I will go there.”
[Understood.]
Although I had taken some measures for the sake of precaution, if I was late the enemy’s measures would be removed. Rapid response was needed.
I immediately teleported to Arsia.
Soon the scenery changed and what came into my eyes was a shooting site in chaos.
It seems the kidnapping scene of Ibril has been broadcast live worldwide.
What a bold crime.
I felt very strong hostility from the invisible enemy.
“Adrian-nim!”
“L-Lord Lawrence!”
People’s gazes poured toward me. Among them, I approached Arsia who was spinning her feet in place.