Chapter 41

Translator: True Detective

Chapter 41. Rapier (1)

As soon as the number 100% popped up, I hurriedly pulled my hand away.

Her body temperature and soft touch remaining on my fingertips were vivid.

As the hot touch wrapping her disappeared, Cassia's tightly closed eyes fluttered and slowly began to open.

Her face was flushed red as if it would burst, and showed no sign of calming down.

Her subtly opened purple eyes were moist as if she would cry any moment.

I cleared my throat and asked carefully.

"...Are you alright?"

Cassia avoided my gaze and hurriedly tidied her clothes.

She tried to act as if nothing happened, but she couldn't hide her trembling voice.

"O... Of course! Why wouldn't I be! Isn't all this for the Empire and to make my weapon...!"

Anyone could see she didn't look fine at all.

When I stared with a suspicious look, she fanned her reddened cheeks with her hand and hurriedly changed the subject.

"...More importantly! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Is it finished now...?"

As if answering her question, a system notification window popped up before my eyes.

—Ding!

...

"Rapier?"

I nodded.

Certainly, the movement she showed on the battlefield was a style of digging in at fast speeds rather than pressing down with force.

If it's a sleek rapier specialized for thrusting rather than slashing, it would be able to draw out her potential 100 percent.

The problem was the materials.

To endure her strength, hardness is important, but above all, an elasticity that doesn't break was essential.

—Ding!

Scanning the material list, my eyes sparkled.

[Pure Orichalcum] is solved since I got it from catching the 18th Floor boss.

But the second material was familiar.

I rummaged through the inventory and checked the loot I packed after defeating the Orichalcum Golems.

"Ah... So this is used here."

After catching the Golems, I packed the sticky and tough substance stuck between the rock lumps just in case, but to think it would be a core material.

The most important materials were secured.

The problem was the remaining sub-materials.

I asked Cassia if they had the recipe materials.

"Princess, by any chance, are there these materials in the Imperial Palace?"

Hearing the names of the materials, Cassia seemed unsure about a few.

"Orichalcum and the remnant are what you obtained... Ebony Wood and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Crystal Carapace, huh... I think we'll only know if we go back to the Imperial Palace and look for them."

But having just started mining Orichalcum ore, it felt a bit much to return immediately.

As I hesitated, the Captain of the Royal Guards, who had been watching the situation from afar, approached and bowed deeply.

"I accidentally heard that you must return to the Imperial Palace now, Your Highness the Princess. Please leave the clean-up here to me."

He continued speaking.

"I will take responsibility and manage the defense of the mine, mining management, and the command of the remaining troops. So please do not worry and go ahead."

Cassia stared into the Captain's eyes as if pondering for a moment.

She soon nodded and said.

"Understood. From now on, I delegate all authority to manage this mine to you, Sir. It is a place the future of the Empire depends on, so please guard it without negligence."

"I will obey your command! Please return safely."

The Captain of the Royal Guards answered with a disciplined salute.

Leaving such reliable reinforcements behind, we hurriedly turned our steps back to the Imperial Palace.

Somehow, the soldiers were left at the mine, and Cassia and I ended up moving just the two of us.

The weather in the northern Empire was fickle.

The sky, which was calm just a moment ago, quickly darkened, and a fierce blizzard began to blow.

In the white world where it was hard to distinguish an inch ahead, Cassia staggered.

"Ah...!"

Slipping on the icy road, she lost her balance and fell.

I reflexively reached out to grab her arm, but I was a step late.

She fell on her butt and sat down in the cold snow.

I quickly approached, reached out my hand, and asked.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Cassia raised her head and looked up at me.

Her gaze fixed on my extended hand.

Instantly, what happened just a moment ago flashed through her mind like lightning.

That hot touch of my hand trailing up her arm and shoulder to make her weapon.

It was freezing weather with a blizzard blowing, but a strangely hot heat rose from her body.

Her face burned so hot she couldn't bear it.

'Wh... What kind of disgraceful behavior is this.'

But she couldn't just sit in the snow forever.

It was also weird to get up alone without holding that hand.

She tried to calm her pounding heart and muttered quietly.

"It can't be helped... Yes, the snowy road is slippery...."

She hesitatingly grabbed my hand.

At the warmth of my hand transmitted through the glove, her shoulder flinched.

I put strength and pulled her up to stand.

"Be careful. A lot of snow piled up so it's slippery."

Confirming she caught her balance, I let go of the hand I was holding.

And then I took the lead and walked through the blizzard.

Left behind, Cassia blankly looked down at her own hand.

As the warmth that was touching just a moment ago disappeared, an unknown emptiness rushed in.

As if regretful, she wrapped her hand with her other hand and stared blankly at his retreating back.

Even in the white blizzard, she could hardly take her eyes off his back figure leading reliably.

After many twists and turns, as soon as we arrived at the Imperial Palace, Cassia immediately looked for the Chamberlain.

She handed the material list I wrote down to the Chamberlain.

"Check if the items on this list are in the Imperial warehouse. It is very urgent."

"Understood, Your Highness the Princess."

At the Chamberlain's instruction, soldiers and officials moved busily.

They searched the warehouse records and opened dusty boxes one by one.

Such anxious time passed.

How long had it been, urgent footsteps were heard from the end of the hallway.

"Your Highness! I found them!"

The Chamberlain came running, panting, carrying two old and antique boxes.

Fine dust had settled on the boxes, showing the traces of time.

"Searching the collection list left by His late Majesty the Emperor, there were exactly matching ones!"

The Chamberlain carefully set the boxes on the table and opened the lids.

As the boxes opened with a creak, inside them, the materials I was looking for boasted their noble figures.

Unable to hold back my admiration, I picked up the materials one by one.

First was a piece of wood black as pitch.

Next, I checked a giant carapace shining transparently.

"Perfect...."

I couldn't hide the smile spreading on my lips.

The condition of the materials was top-notch.

With Orichalcum and these materials, an Epic grade was a given, and if done well, I could aim for Unique or even higher.

I rolled up my sleeves and looked at Cassia.

Seeing my eyes full of confidence, Cassia also made an expression swollen with anticipation.

"The materials are all gathered. I will start right away. I'll be back."

I received the materials, greeted Cassia, and activated the skill.

As space shimmered and I went inside, the familiar heat wrapped my face.

This time the feeling was different.

To her who trusted me completely, and to her shoulders bearing the destiny of the declining Empire, I wanted to lend strength even if just a little.

The greed to hand her the best weapon welled up from deep in my heart.

I took a deep breath and picked up the tongs.

My eyes turned fierce.

"Guide, we go without mistakes this time."