Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Adamantium
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Somehow, the situation got sorted out.
Everyone believed that Bellatrix and I had just coincidentally ended up in that position, and aside from Ruin trying to kill me at the end, there were no further issues.
"…Then, we'll take our leave."
With a farewell, Ariana and I stepped out through the door.
Ruin said he had business with Cerea.
So, Ariana and I slipped out alone.
The misunderstanding was cleared up, but an awkward silence hung between us.
More precisely…
'Is she really okay…?'
Ariana's demeanor was different from usual, and it was scaring me into silence.
A blank expression with no emotion showing.
But unlike her face, the halo above her head had been spinning rapidly since earlier.
'She's really pissed off, huh…'
In times like this, I should probably break the ice myself, even if it's scary.
"Saintess—"
"Is."
"Yes."
Shot down immediately.
"Do you hear people calling you oblivious a lot?"
"Pardon?"
I'd never heard that before…
Then, scenes flashed through my mind.
"Is must be pretty oblivious…"
"When will Stella… no, we can't expect Is to notice something like that."
"Even if he's oblivious, won't he figure it out soon?"
"For the first time in my nun life, I'm tempted to curse… it'd be great if he'd just notice…"
"…Come to think of it, the nuns at the cathedral have called me oblivious when looking at me. And unfortunately… I still don't know why."
Am I not pretty quick on the uptake?
I was the first to notice when Stella Nun twisted her ankle and hid it, and took action. I noticed when she hid her cold, and approached her to comfort her whenever she seemed sad somewhere.
That makes me pretty perceptive, right?
"…"
"Saintess?"
But why was Ariana looking at me with eyes full of pity?
Even her halo above her head had calmed down—it seemed genuine.
"…It might be tough, but I'll try hard."
Suddenly the mood shifted, and Ariana clenched her fists with determination.
Well… that's good, I guess?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "…Thus, in consideration of your merit in slaying the sacrificial offering that the cultists intended to use to seize the city of Solaria—which handled most of magitech engineering—I shall bestow upon you a new suit of armor and shield to replace your broken ones."
A few days later.
Ariana and I, representing the group that had gone north, had an audience with the Emperor.
He read the parchment from the Chancellor, then personally praised us.
Especially for me, who'd dealt with the sacrificial offering, he even offered to provide a suit of armor and shield.
"Chancellor."
"Yes, Sir Is. The one who will handle your equipment is Meister Smith Thorn."
"!!"
Meister is a title given to the seven greatest artisans among the dwarves, the race that comes to mind first when thinking of blacksmiths in this world.
That was all I knew, but with a name like Smith, his skill was guaranteed 100—no, 200 percent.
"Thank you!"
'I don't have much greed for gear…'
Still, having entered a game world, I wanted to use high-grade equipment.
Truth be told, the armor I always wore was only B-rank in the game, and my shield and shotel were the same.
And even that was special because I was the Saintess's direct Holy Knight.
'Well, I've held out pretty well with it.'
But getting good gear now—good is good, right?
After receiving a promise of equipment I hadn't even dreamed of, Ariana was granted permission to borrow one treasure from the Imperial Treasury's Third Vault.
'Different from the original story… but a good change.'
The Imperial Treasury is divided into the First, Second, and Third Vaults, with lower numbers holding better treasures.
But the Third Vault wasn't to be dismissed; even among its items, things like a water bottle that endlessly produces water, a core of a high-grade spirit, or a staff made from a world tree branch weren't anything to scoff at.
"Thank you. May the Goddess's grace be with you."
After expressing our gratitude, we left the audience chamber.
"That's great, Is. The Holy Kingdom has no ties to the dwarven lands, so our knights' armor lags behind the Empire's. This is a chance for you to get some solid gear."
"Honestly, I'm a bit excited."
Commissioning Meisters usually costs a fortune in fees and rare materials, but the Empire was covering it all.
'There are restrictions… but this is plenty.'
They even offered a shotel despite mine being fine—I could use the old one as backup.
With eager anticipation, I followed the attendants to the guest quarters to meet the Meister.
"You the brat I'm supposed to make gear for?"
"…Pardon?"
He picked a fight right from the start.
Despite being only about 120 cm tall, his muscles were thicker than mine.
Plus the bushy red beard and eyepatch over his left eye.
He certainly looked the part for a Smith.
It was my first time seeing a dwarf up close—fascinating, but realizing this guy was picking on me soured the mood.
Smith clicked his tongue at my glare and turned away.
"Tch, you humans these days don't know how to cherish gear. And you're one of the Goddess's dogs, to boot?"
"Dog of the gods" was a slur for clergy.
"!!"
Even scum avoided using it, yet this Meister said it to my face.
"Hey!"
Naturally, Ariana, watching from the side, wouldn't stand for it.
"Hm? The Saintess, eh."
"Apologize to Is!"
"What'd you say?"
"Is didn't misuse his gear—he fought hard even with inadequate equipment!"
"…Hah."
Smith snorted at the furious, shouting Ariana.
"Reduced to getting help from the Goddess's most faithful bitch after becoming her dog—truly pathetic—"
-Shing!
"Hm?!"
In the blink of an eye, my shotel was at Smith's throat.
"You insulting me is fine, but I can't let you insult the Saintess. Mind your words."
I could tolerate insults to myself, but not to Ariana.
Smith looked up at me in surprise.
Soon, the corner of his mouth lifted.
"Hah, thought you were a boring type, but you're just hiding a fiery temper? Well now…"
His gaze shifted to Ariana, who wore a similarly shocked expression.
"The leash… is her, huh?"
"Pardon?"
"No, never mind."
He pushed my shotel away with his index finger.
At that point, I sheathed it.
"Heh, good, good. Proven you're no spineless pushover."
Unlike before, Smith smiled in satisfaction.
He extended his hand to me.
"Smith Thorn, holding the fourth seat among the Seven Meisters of the Dwarven Kingdom Dunhalla. Sorry for the rudeness earlier."
I shook his hand.
"Is Adonis. The Saintess's direct Holy Knight. Since it seemed sincere, I'll let it slide."
If it had been fake, Meister or not, I'd have smashed him—but it was genuine, so I forgave him.
"For a guy like you… I think I know what material to use."
"Pardon?"
"Got a sample right here. Take a look."
He waved at the attendants, who struggled to bring over a box like a ring case and handed it to him.
Unlike them, he lifted it effortlessly.
He opened it and showed us the contents.
A metal gleaming with a brilliant white light.
"This is a metal called adamantium."
"Adamantium…"
Isn't that the strongest metal?
As if confirming my thought, Smith nodded and explained.
"Adamantium is the strongest metal in this world. And it's rare too. Even our dwarven mines can't produce it—only those pointy-eared elves have it."
"…And you're going to make my gear from this?"
"Yeah. Just got a small amount recently."
"How?"
"Got one elf friend—the only one. She offered a trade with this, so I took it."
"Whoa…"
What perfect timing?
But…
"Is it okay to use it on my gear?"
"Fine by me. Been itching to forge something with adamantium. Quantity's limited, so just the shotel and shield."
"That's amazing enough!"
"But there's a usage condition."
"Pardon? What's that?"
"You need a pure body."
"Huh?"
What the hell?
"No sexual experience."
"…"
So that's what the "ada" in adamantium meant.
"Just keep that, and you're good… As a Holy Knight, you'll manage. Worth a shot."
"…Thank you, thank you!"
Yeah, keeping my ada intact is easy.
If using the ultimate gear requires virginity, I could stay virgin till 30.
'Not like there's anyone to do it with anyway…'
"In return, one personal favor?"
"Pardon? Oh, sure, what is it?"
"My friend who gave me this is at the Magic Tower. While I'm crafting, could you deliver this letter?"
"Ah, that…"
Caught off guard, I glanced at Ariana.
Our eyes met, and she smiled softly.
"It's fine. We're heading to the Magic Tower anyway."
And so, our next destination was set: the Magic Tower.