145. Holy Sword Restoration (1)
"To think you've built a house and such an environment inside a dungeon... And this 'Gate' teleportation magic... it's far too dangerous."
"A spell that interferes directly with the dungeon's interior to enable movement—if the Mages' Guild found out, they'd riot demanding you reveal the ritual."
Inside the Arkys Great Labyrinth, the reactions of those seeing Eunhyeon's new home ranged from shock to utter bewilderment.
Terezia, Riod's wife, who had entered the dungeon through the Gate following her husband, instantly recognized both the utility and peril of the teleportation magic Eunhyeon and Illyana had developed.
Commercially, it could drastically cut travel time and distance, allowing merchants to transport massive cargoes across vast distances in an instant—a goldmine of profit.
"You have no intention of revealing this technology to the world?"
"Of course not."
Eunhyeon nodded with an expression that said it was the most obvious thing in the world in response to Abros's question.
The Gate spell was created purely for his own convenience, and even if he permitted its disclosure, his goddesses would intervene to prevent it.
Though crafted from pure magical knowledge and technique without relying on divine authority—Eunhyeon and Illyana working together—neither wanted to unleash it upon the world and steer its course.
"It's not the sort of technology anyone could discover and replicate anyway. Recreating this Gate right now would demand enormous manpower and time. Even knowing of it, Duke, I figured you wouldn't covet it enough to try."
"I see... Well, if you have no plans to share it, then best to keep it buried entirely. It's a double-edged sword."
Militarily, its potential was immense, versatile to the point of peril—useful beyond measure, yet ripe for catastrophic misuse.
Its utility and universality were absurdly broad.
A boon of immense profit to the user, but a potential disaster if wielded by enemies. A true double-edged blade.
Hearing Abros, Terezia imagined Gates linking the dungeon to the capital Fernin, unleashing hordes of monsters within the city walls. She shuddered, grimacing at the thought.
"Are you insane, for real? Resurrection must've erased any brakes you had. Completely?"
"Eira told me you've always pulled off ridiculous stunts like this. But somehow, it feels even worse now."
"Well, personally, I flexed a bit this time."
Eunhyeon replied to the appalled stares from Anies and Riod as he took the lead, guiding the group forward.
"Anies, Alex, Lady Elenoa—with me. The rest, follow Illyana. Illyana, handle the house tour."
"Tour? We're just here to relax a bit. Let 'em wander free."
"You're just too lazy to guide them, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Got a problem?"
Eunhyeon frowned wordlessly at her brazen attitude.
"There's no valuables in the house anyway—just look around as you please. I'll head straight to the forge and prep the holy sword restoration."
"No, in that case, I'll join you. It's my family's heirloom being revived. As the head of the house, I have the duty and responsibility to witness it."
"Personally, I'm intrigued by the Armitas holy sword myself. I'll stick with you too."
Abros and Riod chose to observe Eunhyeon's restoration work.
Abros felt the heavy weight of entrusting his house's treasure; Riod, as a knight and swordsman, burned with curiosity about the blade. Watching Eunhyeon mattered more than touring the buildings.
"Terezia, come with me. I'll show you around the house."
"Yes, alright, sister."
Eunhyeon shot an incredulous look at Illyana, who grabbed Terezia's hand and dashed up the stairs to the upper floor.
"...Weren't you skipping the tour?"
"Looks like they're off for some secretive girl talk."
The prospective married man and the current one alike grimaced subtly at the two women ascending the stairs, then sighed and headed for the newly completed forge.
"Jealous... I wanna squeeze in there too..."
"You're not invited."
"Tch. Fine."
Anies, eyeing Illyana and Terezia enviously as they climbed, clicked her tongue at Eunhyeon's words and trailed after him.
Creak.
Unlocking the latch and shoving open the iron door let a gust thick with the scent of metal waft over the group.
"It's... cleaner than I expected?"
Elenoa murmured, scanning the interior.
She'd imagined a dingy, dust-choked den of grime, but Eunhyeon's forge gleamed spotless.
"It was completed and never used till now."
Eunhyeon answered her puzzlement and strode toward the forge.
"Alex, bring the holy sword and orichalcum here."
"Got it."
Alex obediently unslung the case from his back at Eunhyeon's command, handing over the coffin containing the shattered holy sword and the box of orichalcum.
Opening the lid, he gripped the worn hilt inside and lifted out the broken blade.
Its snapped edge and dulled sheen looked pathetic, scarcely evoking a holy sword's majesty—yet the faint holy power pulsing from within stubbornly proclaimed its true nature.
"Anies. Erect a sanctification barrier."
"...No clue what you're scheming, but fine, I'll do as told. You always got a plan anyway."
Though baffled by his cryptic order, Anies closed her eyes and prayed to her goddess Vesta.
God, please have mercy.
Holy Sanctuary
"...Holy magic manifests from such a half-hearted prayer?"
"Anies is a glaring exception."
Abros knew priests' prayers had to be devout and fervent for gods to heed them—especially since his own daughter was a priestess, and he'd delved deep into their ways. Seeing a blessing from Anies's perfunctory plea was less astonishing than absurdly deflating.
Riod calmly explained his comrade's eccentricity—now routine—leaving Abros speechless. He glanced at his daughter.
"......"
Elenoa said nothing, but her face brimmed with turmoil.
Holy light filled the forge, a warm, soothing aura enveloping everyone, permeating their bodies and honing them to peak condition.
"This is... like back then..."
She realized it mirrored the miracle she'd unconsciously unleashed drawing holy power from the shield Eunhyeon gave her against the serpent dragon's breath.
Confirming the sacred barrier repelling evil like demons and purifying impurities, she stared blankly, keenly feeling the gulf between her and Anies as priestesses.
Prayer sincerity? Irrelevant.
Within the sanctified forge barrier, Eunhyeon spoke.
"Maintain this sanctification barrier from now on."
"What? Till when?"
"Until the holy sword's restored."
"...How long?"
"No idea. But not within a day."
"Hey, you know this ain't easy. Erecting a barrier's one thing—sustaining an upper-tier blessing like this for over a day? Totally different league."
And sustaining it that long meant Anies couldn't sleep, periodically infusing holy power.
"That's why I brought Lady Elenoa."
"......"
Eunhyeon shifted from Anies's scowl to glance at Elenoa standing by the entrance with Abros, then back.
"Take turns with her maintaining it. How long do you think she could hold it?"
"Hmm... At least four hours? Maybe five?"
"Three-hour shifts. Teach her the knack, extend her time as she improves—you handle the pacing."
"What're you up to? You looked annoyed at first, but you're sneakily looking out for her?"
"Circumstances demand it."
Having received Vesta's direct request, he wouldn't miss a chance to hone Elenoa's priestly prowess.
Unaware the gods watched so closely before, he now suspected Vesta might still observe from the divine realm.
Doubts lingered about Elenoa's 'desire to help him,' but he shelved them for now, deciding not to dwell.
"Hmph. Well, our goddess did push me to back her hard, so not a bad opportunity."
"Thanks, then."
"Yeah, got it."
Eunhyeon ignited the forge, flames roaring to life as he awaited the heat buildup.
Orichalcum couldn't be smelted like ordinary steel or metals.
One of the continent's three rare metals—orichalcum—boasted superior hardness and durability, plus immense magic resistance.
That made it ideal for holy swords, which blocked mana entirely while channeling holy power—specialized to smite demons.
Thus, forging it required not fire or mana, but holy power.
Eunhyeon closed his eyes, envisioning the 'Vulcanus' Hammer' etched in his soul, silently praying to summon it.
Hummm.
As if granting his wish, the hammer materialized atop his palm.
To others, it might seem routine—like his usual weapon summons—but the two priestesses blanched, sensing the divine power within.
"Hey, what the hell's that hammer...?"
"Got a donation for good luck."
"Donation?"
Eunhyeon hefted the hammer, pointing it at the blazing forge. Divine power flowed from it into the flames, shifting their crimson hue.
"The flames are turning white...?"
Elenoa murmured dazedly at the pristine white sacred fire blazing within.
"Let's begin."
He tossed chunks of orichalcum into the forge to melt, channeling the molten metal through the trough into molds.
"Time to hammer it out?"
With the new blade—replacement for the broken holy sword—solidified and clamped firm on the anvil, the divine hammer crashed down with full might. A clear, ringing clang echoed deep through the forge.
Claaang!