Chapter 40

Translator: True Detective

Chapter 40. Cassia Custom Production

"Ori... chalcum?"

A sound of deflating air leaked from my mouth.

Mithril?

Of course, it's an excellent metal.

Because it's light, sturdy, and has high mana conductivity.

But compared to Orichalcum, it was at the level of a toy.

Even the saying 'whatever the seller calls is the price' was insufficient.

But a mine where such Orichalcum is buried?

Above all, my instinct as a Maker wriggled.

There is no artisan who can hold back with top-tier materials right in front of their eyes.

I suddenly grabbed the Imperial Princess's shoulders.

"Where is that place?"

"Uh...?"

At my sudden action, Cassia's eyes widened as if flustered.

Her face instantly flushed red.

It was understandable she was surprised since the usually calm me suddenly rushed at her.

I stared piercingly into her eyes and asked again.

"Where is the exact location of that place called Orichalcum Mine?!"

"Th... That is... It's the snowy mountain at the northernmost end of the Empire."

I let go of the shoulders I was holding and turned around.

"Let's go."

"N-Now you mean? But the soldiers are tired, and we need time to reorganize...."

"There is no time."

I cut her off firmly.

"Didn't you say it's a pity that the Mithril sword breaks?"

She looked at me for a moment, then nodded as if making a decision.

"Understood. If you say so, I will follow. All troops! March to the North!"

"Waaaaaaah!"

The soldiers, not knowing the English (the reason), just cheered saying the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Knight was stepping up for the Empire once again.

Sorry guys.

This time it's not for the Empire, but for my desire.

Of course, wouldn't the result be good for you and good for me?

We started the march towards the north without delay.

The road heading to the northern part of the Empire was long and rugged.

Above all, what tormented me was the cold digging into my bones.

"Ughhh... It's too cold...."

Even though I wore thick fur clothes, my body shivered.

Thanks to the [Grace of the Primeval Maker], I had resistance against fire, but resistance to cold was non-existent.

"Si-woo, are you alright...?"

Cassia, walking beside me, asked worriedly.

"Ah... I'm fine. It's just a bit chilly."

I tried hard to act calm and looked around.

Just in case.

I thought maybe the 'Ice Crystal Flower', the core material to cure Hong Chae-yeon's burn, might grow in a cold place like this.

I thoroughly scanned the snowy mountain that was so white it hurt my eyes, but all I saw were snow-covered rocks and dried-up trees.

"As expected, it's not here...."

Swallowing my regret, I continued the march.

How long did we walk?

Beyond the blizzard, a giant mine entrance began to appear.

And the giant shadows guarding in front of it too.

"Demons! Everyone prepare for battle!"

With Cassia's shout, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soldiers formed a formation in perfect order.

The monsters seen before our eyes were Golems made of giant rock lumps clumped together.

Purple minerals were embedded all over their bodies, emitting bizarre light.

"Orichalcum... Even the name looks expensive."

Before I had time to admire, I saw the rushing Golems.

Soldiers stabbed the bastards with spears and swords, but there was only a clear ting sound and sparks flying.

"Kuaaak!"

Rather, the soldiers bounced off from the recoil.

"Step aside!"

Cassia jumped forward.

—Clang!

But even her attack only left shallow scratches on the Golem's surface.

"Damn it...!"

While Cassia was flustered, the Golem swung its heavy fist.

I sighed and took out the [Mithril Greatsword of Blast] carried on my back.

And cast the skill.

[Skill: Item Summon]

—Vwoom!

The space behind my back shimmered, and the [Pale Moon Sword] was summoned and floated up.

I quickly scanned the option list of the Pale Moon Sword.

Normally I would have borrowed 'Low-Grade Swordsmanship', but this time was different.

To pierce that hard shell, I needed a certain single blow rather than technique.

The Keenness option was added to the attack power of the Mithril Greatsword itself.

I gripped the greatsword properly and jumped into the battlefield.

It was then.

—Clash!

Cassia's sword screamed and shattered to pieces.

She struck down dozens of times, but the sword ended up breaking against the Golem's unyielding defense.

A fist the size of a house was falling over her head, who had become defenseless.

"Your Highness!!"

The Royal Guards screamed, but the distance was too far.

Cassia closed her eyes tightly.

The moment death approached right before her nose.

"Hup!"

I kicked the ground and flew up.

Without the correction of 'Low-Grade Swordsmanship', my posture was a mess.

My waist leaned back too much, and the wrist angle holding the sword was unstable.

Anyone could see it was the shape of a beginner swinging only with strength.

But that was enough.

—Slice.

The forearm of the striking Golem dropped off with a thud like tofu being cut.

The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror.

—Boom!

The severed arm fell right before Cassia's nose, shaking the ground.

Cassia slowly opened her eyes.

What entered her eyes was my back figure blocking her front holding a giant greatsword.

"......."

Cassia looked up at me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blankly.

As the Imperial Princess of the Empire, she always stood at the vanguard.

She considered it her duty and mission to protect the soldiers and the people.

Hiding behind someone's back and being protected was something she never even imagined.

Seeing the broad back blocking the cold north wind, a sense of stability enveloped her.

It was an unfamiliar sensation.

Her heart, which always lived tense and weighed down by responsibility, beat strangely.

It was a completely different kind of trembling from the elation felt on the battlefield.

"Are you alright?"

At my blunt voice, she suddenly came to her senses.

"Th... Thank you."

She blushed and hurriedly stepped back.

I aimed the greatsword at the Golems again.

The bastards were only hard, their speed was slow.

So there was no difficulty dealing with them compared to what I thought.

I knocked down the Golems one by one like a lumberjack cutting trees.

Every time the body embedded with Orichalcum was cut off, the soldiers' cheers burst out.

Having cleared the entrance in an instant, we entered inside the mine.

Inside the mine, purple ores were shining, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

And the deepest place.

The owner of this mine was waiting there.

A giant size that looked three times that of a normal Golem.

Above all, near the bastard's heart, a brilliant light-purple ore I had never seen before was embedded, emitting dazzling light.

"Kuoarghhh!"

At the bastard's roar, stone dust fell from the cave ceiling.

But I let out a chuckle.

It was only big in size, the pattern was exactly the same.

I dodged the slow-as-molasses attacks and dug in using the mobility of the [Mithril Shoes of Gale].

—Boom!—Boom!

Every time the bastard slammed its fist down, the ground collapsed, but I was already not there.

A boring offensive and defensive battle continued.

Because it was so big, it only took some time, there was no crisis to speak of.

"Let's end this now."

I dug between the bastard's legs and slashed the back of its knee.

—Crash!

The giant body lost its balance and collapsed.

I jumped onto the chest of the falling bastard.

Holding the greatsword in reverse grip, I struck down towards the light-purple ore embedded in its heart.

—Crunch!

Along with the sound of stone breaking, the bastard's red eye ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glint extinguished.

I dug out the ore embedded in the bastard's heart.

A light-purple gem the size of a human face.

It looked much higher in purity than existing Orichalcum.

"Oh... This is quite precious?"

I smiled satisfactorily and packed the loot.

Cassia and the soldiers who followed behind couldn't close their mouths seeing the giant Golem's corpse.

I shrugged my shoulders towards them.

"Shall we upgrade our equipment a bit now?"

When the mine was cleared, I took out an iron pickaxe feeling good.

The purple minerals embedded in the walls were seducing me.

"Now, shall we make some money!"

I struck down the pickaxe with a shout.

—Clang!

But what returned was only a tingling pain flowing up my wrist.

The pickaxe blade was disastrously crumpled, and there wasn't a single scratch on the Orichalcum.

"......True. To live up to its name, there's no way it would work with mere iron."

I threw away the pickaxe without lingering attachment.

And I immediately entered the [Primeval Workshop], quickly whipped up dozens of sturdy Mithril pickaxes, and came out.

"Everyone, take these!"

I scattered the pickaxes to the soldiers and Royal Guards.

"Mine as much as you possibly can!"

At my words, the soldiers' eyes rolled back.

Holding the Mithril pickaxes, they clung to the mineral veins.

—Clang!—Clang!—Clang!

Certainly, Mithril was different.

Hard Orichalcum ores dropped off one by one.

As I was watching that sight proudly, a familiar notification sound rang.

—Ding!

I stroked my chin and chewed over the contents.

Certainly, Cassia was strong.

The problem was that there was no weapon to endure her strength.

Even a Mithril sword would become tattered after fighting once, so that says it all.

'An exclusive weapon....'

There was one skill that flashed through my mind.

[Custom Production]

It was that skill I used when making Hong Chae-yeon's burn medicine.

The problem was the method.

'It requires physical contact....'

I glanced at Cassia.

She was encouraging the soldiers and commanding the scene.

I cleared my throat and approached her.

"Princess."

"Oh, Si-woo. What is it? The ores are being mined well though."

"Not that... I have something to tell you."

I called her to a secluded place for a moment.

She followed me with an expression not knowing the English (the reason).

"Princess. I will separately make an exclusive weapon for the Princess to use."

"A weapon for me?"

Her eyes sparkled.

But I soon made a troubled expression.

"But... there is a problem."

"...What is it?"

"...Because it's an exclusive weapon for the Princess, I need to precisely know the size of your hands, the length of your arms, the movement of your muscles, etc., so um...."

As I paused, Cassia tilted her head.

"Um...?"

"...Physical contact seems inevitable."

At my words, Cassia's eyes grew round.

Her face instantly turned red like a ripe apple.

"...!"

For a strange man to lay hands on the body of the Empire's Imperial Princess.

Normally, it was a situation where she wouldn't have anything to say even if I was beheaded for lèse-majesté.

I carefully checked her reaction.

"...Will it be alright? If it's uncomfortable, I will look for another method, but the efficiency will drop a bit."

Cassia cleared her throat as if to calm her surprised heart.

"Ahem... Of course, it is fine."

She cast her gaze down and said shyly.

"Rather, to say you are making a weapon just for me, I want to ask for it from my side. Isn't it necessary work for the Empire."

Okay.

As soon as permission fell, I grabbed Cassia's right hand.

"Then excuse me."

"...Ugh!"

Her shoulder flinched.

Perhaps my suddenly touching hand was hot, she seemed surprised.

It had calluses, but it was a small and soft hand.

I shook off distracting thoughts and activated the skill.

Just like with Hong Chae-yeon, the number stopped at 2% and didn't budge.

It seemed just holding hands lacked information.

As silence lengthened, Cassia wriggled as if embarrassed.

"I... Is it done now?"

She tried to slyly pull her hand away.

I urgently squeezed her hand tightly.

"No. We still have a long way to go."

"Uh...?"

I didn't let go of the hand I was holding and slowly moved my hand up her wrist and along the upper part of her arm.

To make an exclusive weapon, I had to grasp not only the muscles of the whole arm swinging the sword but the whole body.

"Wai...!"

As my hand passed her wrist and rode up her forearm muscles, the stopped numbers began to move again.

But it was still slow.

I moved my hand a bit more boldly.

Passing the elbow, I wrapped around her upper arm.

Solid yet elastic muscles were felt on my palm.

"Ugh... How far...."

A suppressed moan leaked from Cassia's mouth.

Her face was already completely red as if it would burst.

Unable to look at me, she closed her eyes tightly and trembled faintly.

Her reaction of flinching wherever my touch reached was transmitted intact to my fingertips.

"Stay still. It's almost done."

I struggled not to lose concentration and reached my hand up to her shoulder line.