A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Rumble!⁠⁠

The‍ ground shook slightly‌⁠‍ with a wave⁠ of energy, and‍⁠ the protruding rocks‍ pushed out the‍ mithril deposits that⁠‍ were deeply embedded.‍

It‍ consumed a lot‌ of mana, but it was a method that required‌ neither miners nor‌‍‍ extraction equipment.

Only‍ those versed in‌⁠ earth magic could‍ do it, and‍‍ that was one‍‌ of the many reasons Fernan had‍‌ chosen the earth‌⁠ attribute.

“It’s‌ more than I expected.”

Seeing⁠ the bluish-green minerals⁠⁠‍ that filled his‌‍ field of vision,⁠ Fernan could barely‍⁠⁠ contain a smile⁠⁠‌ that threatened to⁠‍ burst out.

In⁠ the book of‍⁠ prophecies, Gardner Alfenparsen‌⁠ had mentioned that‌‍ there would be⁠ about five kilos‌ of mithril. To‍‌ be honest, Fernan‍‌ thought it was‍ an exaggeration, and that even with⁠‍⁠ half of that‍ he’d be satisfied.‍ But it was‍ quite the opposite.‍

‘This‍‌ is paradise…!’

What was visible on‌ the surface already amounted to about‌‍ five kilos. But‍⁠ by digging with‌‌‌ magic, he found‌⁠ much more.

Approximately⁠ twenty kilos. That⁠ amount had enough⁠ value to buy‍ a small country.⁠

─!⁠‌

──!‌‍

At‌‍ the falling of⁠⁠ stones, Fernan raised‍⁠ a rock barrier.‌ The tremors and‌ shaking intensified over‍‌⁠ time.

“What⁠‌ a way to‌‌ fight…”

Thanks‌⁠ to that fight,‌‍⁠ a thick wall‌‍ had collapsed, and⁠‍⁠ the mithril had‌ been exposed.

From⁠ the sea dragon’s⁠ location to here‍ was quite a distance.

In‍‍⁠ addition, a wall⁠ more than two‌ meters thick separated⁠‌ them.

Fernan⁠ had pierced it‍ with earth magic⁠ and then restored⁠ it, but Aint didn’t have that‌ option.

If‍ he had managed⁠ to break it‍‍ and still find⁠ the mithril, then‍ it must have been a high-level battle, not just⁠ a skirmish.

“Don’t‍‍‍ tell me he’s‍ going to lose‌ here…”

Although‌ Aint was stronger‌ than in the⁠‌ version of the‍‌ book of prophecies‍⁠‍ thanks to the⁠‌ elixir, Fernan couldn’t‌‍‌ help but feel uneasy remembering that⁠⁠ he had defeated‍ Berian by himself.‍⁠‌

[Shaaaaa!‌

The‍ sea dragon’s breath‌ hit several areas‌‌ of the cave.‌‌ Crash. Rubble collapsed‍‍ everywhere, but it‍‍ was nothing more than a last‌⁠‍ desperate attempt.

Beyond⁠⁠ the collapsed terrain‍ opened a bottomless‍‌ abyss. Even for‌‍‌ a sea dragon,‍‌ falling from that‍⁠ height wasn’t something‍ one could easily‍‌‌ recover from.

“S-Saved!”⁠

— You were lucky. That the terrain⁠ collapsed… You better‌‍ get out of‍ here before that‍⁠‍ beast regains consciousness⁠‌ and climbs back‍⁠ up.

Wait.‍

Gardner‌‌ suddenly stopped.

— What is that?

“What?”

— There. Don’t you‍ see that bluish⁠ glow?

Right‌⁠‌ behind the place‌‍ where the sea‍‌‍ dragon had been‌ sleeping, between a half-collapsed wall, a faint bluish light⁠ filtered through.

Aint,⁠ who had just‌ carefully picked the⁠‍ spiritual herb, cautiously‍ approached.

“…This‍‍ is…”

— Mithril! It’s a mithril vein!]

Fernan⁠⁠ held his head,‍ throbbing from the pressure, and nodded.‌

“So‍‌ it wasn’t that⁠‌ he won by‍ skill.”

In⁠‌ that case, he⁠ had nothing to⁠⁠ worry about. Everything‍ fit naturally.

“Of‌⁠ course, it was⁠‌ obvious he wouldn’t‌ be able to‍ win alone.”

Berian,‌‌ with the power of a demon,‍⁠‍ had been a weakling. Even if⁠⁠ Aint had awakened‍‌ and managed to defeat him, the‍‌ result was nothing‍ to brag about.‍‌⁠

“…I‌ need to hurry.”‍⁠‍

Soon,‍ the sea dragon’s‌ attacks would begin‌ to hit the⁠ wall and it⁠‍ would collapse. He⁠ had to extract⁠⁠‌ all the mithril⁠ before that happened.⁠‌

“Well,⁠‍ at least I don’t have to erase the traces⁠ of extraction.”

After‌ all, the battlefield‍ would be a complete mess. And‍‌‍ if someone could‌ notice the traces‌ of mining amid⁠ that chaos, they⁠ weren’t a knight—they‍⁠ were a professional⁠ miner.

Fernan‌‌‍ picked up the‍ pace.

***

“Hah,‍ hah…!”

Aint‍‌‌ was breathing heavily.‍ He was drenched‌⁠ in sweat, and small cuts covered⁠ his skin.

Right‌‌ in front of‌‌ him stretched a darkness so deep‍ that the bottom‍ couldn’t be seen.⁠‌

It⁠‍ was the abyss⁠‌ that had swallowed the sea dragon⁠ when the terrain‍‌ collapsed.

“…Do‌⁠ you think it’s‌ dead?”

— Seems pretty deep… I don’t think it can climb‌‍ up easily.

The‌‍‍ problem was that‌‌ not only had⁠⁠ the sea dragon‍‍ fallen with the‌ collapse. Aint, luckily,⁠‌ had managed to‌ shelter in a side cave, but the impact had⁠ left him with⁠‍ some injuries.

“If⁠ only there hadn’t⁠⁠ been an earthquake…!”‌

— It might not‌‌‍ have been an⁠‌ earthquake, but the⁠ result of the‍‍‌ battle. After all,‌⁠ it’s a cave.⁠

“…It’s‍‍ pretty high.”

— Who would’ve thought⁠ there’d be such‌‍ a space underground.‍‌ Not even His⁠‌ Majesty the former‌⁠‌ Emperor would’ve suspected⁠ it.

“Do‍‍ you think I can climb up?”‌⁠

Aint‍⁠⁠ murmured as he‌ looked up toward a faint light‌‌‌ that seemed quite⁠ far away.

— Of course you have to climb.‍ Or do you⁠‍‍ plan to stay‍ here and starve?⁠⁠⁠

“Obviously‌ not.”

It⁠‌‌ was a dangerous‌‍ place where one‌‌ wrong step could‌‌ cause a fall,⁠‌ but it didn’t‍ seem impossible to‌⁠ climb. If he⁠ used his aura‍⁠⁠ to dig his⁠‌ fingers into the‌⁠ wall as he‌‌ climbed, even if⁠‍ slow, he should‍ be able to⁠ do it.

— First recover with‌‍ a potion, then⁠‌ climb, pick the‍‍ spiritual herb, and‌ get out of‌ here. We don’t‌‍‌ know when that⁠ sea dragon might‌‍ climb back up…⁠‍ wait a moment.‌⁠

“What‍ is it? Don’t‌‍‌ tell me the sea dragon…?”

Aint,‌‍ worried, expanded his⁠ senses, but didn’t‍ detect the monster’s presence.

— No, it’s not‍‌ that. Look over there.

There⁠⁠ was a small⁠‍‍ hole within the‍ hollow where he‍‍ was. It was‍ so narrow that‌‍ Aint had to‌ crouch, but the⁠ inside seemed to⁠ gradually widen.

“Is there something inside?”‌⁠

— Probably. It gives⁠‌‍ me a strange‌‍ feeling.

With⁠ those words, Aint‍ forced himself in.‌ At first he‌ crawled, then crouched,⁠‍ and finally was⁠‍‍ able to stand.‍

At‍ the end, a small chamber was‌⁠‍ revealed. And there—‍

— There it is!‌

“I‌ don’t see any‌‍ spiritual herb.”

— You care about the herb right⁠‍ now?!

— Don’t you see‌ that?!

What‍‌ was in front‌⁠ of him was⁠ a mineral that⁠‍‌ emitted a soft glow. A color‌‌ similar to steel,‍‌ but with a more varied hue.‍

“What’s‌ that?”

— That’s adamantite.

“Adamantite?‍ What is that…‌‌ Ada… mantite?”

Aint⁠⁠ was speechless. Although⁠ he didn’t know⁠ much about minerals,⁠⁠ he did know⁠‍ the three metallic‌ legends.

The‌⁠ mana-blessed metal, Mithril.‌

The‌ hardest substance in‍ the world, Adamant,‌⁠⁠

And‍ Orichalcum, also called‌‍‌ floating stone due‍ to its tendency‌ to rise.

The‌ three were materials that couldn’t be‌‍ obtained, no matter⁠ how much money‍‍ you had.

“Is‍‌ it really adamantite?”‌

— A knight should recognize it just by looking! You⁠‍ should know how‌‍‍ to identify the⁠ best metal for‍ your weapons and⁠ armor!

— This sword I inhabit was also forged with a mix of adamantite⁠ and mithril, the⁠‍ best.

“That’s‌ not the point⁠ right now!”

— Well, true. Extract⁠ it! Get it⁠‍ all out immediately!‍⁠

With‍ a determined face,⁠ Aint wrapped his‍⁠ sword in aura‍‌ and struck the‌‌ adamantite.

Clang!‌⁠⁠

The‌⁠ tremendous recoil dispersed his aura, and‍ his face twisted‌ from the impact.⁠⁠‍

“…This‍ isn’t going to‍‍ work.”

— What are you‍ doing?

“Wasn’t‍‌ that the way?”‍‍

— Are you trying⁠ to break adamantite⁠‍ head-on with your‍⁠ pathetic aura?

— Collapse the earth‌ around it. That’s⁠‌‌ how you extract‌ adamantite.

“Ah,⁠ I see.”

But‌‍ even the ground‍ around the adamantite was quite solid,‍⁠ so it wasn’t⁠ easy.

— Of course. Adamantite affects everything around it.

“This‌ won’t be quick.‍‍ And if the sea dragon comes‍ back…”

— Adamantite is one‍‍⁠ of the most‍ expensive minerals in⁠ the world. With‍‍ this, you’ll never‌ have to worry‍‌ about money again.⁠⁠

“I’ll‌‌ risk my life and get it‌ all out. But…‍ can I use‍⁠ it myself?”

— If you have⁠‌ the capability. Even among dwarves, only⁠ certain artisans can‍ forge adamantite.

— Those artisans are‍‍ very rare. Finding‌ one is already⁠ difficult, and getting⁠ them to take your request is⁠⁠ another problem.

— And most importantly,‍ the cost of the commission will⁠‌ be astronomical. Impossible to cover for⁠‍ someone like you.⁠‍‌

“That’s‌ also true…”

A shadow of disappointment‍ crossed Aint’s eyes.‌‍⁠ Having a sword‍‍ or armor made‍‍ with the hardest⁠ substance in the‌⁠ world… He’d be‍ lying if he⁠‌‌ said he had‌‌ never dreamed of it as a knight.

“But‌ if I gave‌ part of the‍‍ adamantite as payment…”‌‌

— More importantly.

Gardner‍⁠ interrupted Aint.

— Neither you nor‌ Armian have the‌‍ strength to protect‌‍ this adamantite now.‍

— You already lost the throne and⁠‌ many other things.‍⁠ What makes you‌ think this won’t‍ be taken from‍‌ you too?

“…”‍‍

Aint‌⁠‌ couldn’t refute that.⁠ He knew it⁠ better than anyone.‌‌⁠

“Then…‌‍ who can I sell it to?‌⁠‍ I can’t just‍‌‍ give it to⁠ anyone like that…”‍⁠

— What are you‍⁠ thinking?

Gardner‌‍ replied incredulously.

— You have a wealthy man right‍‍‌ at your fingertips.‌⁠‍

— If you want⁠⁠ armor, make him‍ an offer.

***‌⁠

“Well?‌⁠‌ Did you manage‌⁠ to get what‍⁠⁠ you wanted?”

Jace‍⁠‍ greeted Fernan with‍‌⁠ a mocking smile⁠ as he suddenly⁠ emerged from the‍‍ ground.

“Everything‌⁠‍ in order?”

“Some⁠⁠‌ monsters got riled⁠‍ up and we⁠ had a bit of a scuffle‌⁠ with some students‌ nearby. Nothing that‌ required an assistant’s‌ intervention, in my‍⁠ opinion.”

“Glad‍‍‍ to hear it.”⁠

“Is‍ everything finished?”

“For‌ now.”

At⁠ that, Jace retrieved‌‍ his duplicate, who‍⁠ had been standing‍ guard atop a tree.

“So‍‌ much for staying pinned to one‍‍ spot.”

“It’s⁠‌ only been a day.”

“And‌ I was already‌‌‍ going crazy from staying still so⁠ long!”

“So‌‍‌ the contract is over too?”

Jace‌‌ asked Fernan, who‌ only gave him⁠ an evasive smile.‍

“I‍ did what you‌‌‌ asked, and you paid for it.”‌

“Yes.⁠⁠⁠ Good job.”

“But‍ tell me, just⁠‌ out of curiosity… what kind of‍ elixir is it?⁠ What makes it⁠ so special that‌‌‌ you’d go to⁠⁠ such lengths to‍ get it?”

Fernan⁠‍‍ didn’t answer. He⁠ just looked at‌ him in silence.‌ Under that gaze,‌ Jace shook his‍‍‌ head.

“Of course you wouldn’t‌ tell me. Well‍‍⁠ then, take care,‍‍ instructor. If you‍ need anything in⁠ the future, you know where to⁠⁠‍ find me.”

Jace‌ disappeared laughing. Fernan‌‍ climbed up to⁠⁠‍ his usual assistant spot, high up in the tree.⁠‍

“Everything‌‍ turned out better⁠⁠ than I expected.”⁠‌

He’d⁠ secured a large‍‌ amount of mithril,‍ and Aint hadn’t‌‌ discovered him.

‘Will this amount be⁠⁠ enough?’

Though‍ it was 20⁠ kg, mithril was⁠⁠‌ so light that its volume was‌ equivalent to that‍ of an entire⁠ house. Quantity wouldn’t‍ be a problem.⁠⁠

‘The⁠‌ problem will be‌ finding the right‍ mineral.’

Mithril‍ was known for⁠‌⁠ its high mana⁠ absorption and conduction,‍ so much so‍⁠ that it was‍ said to be⁠‍ blessed by mana.‍

But‌‍ it didn’t shine⁠⁠ on its own.‍‌⁠ It needed to⁠⁠⁠ be alloyed with‍‍‌ another metal to‌‍ multiply its effectiveness.⁠⁠ Obviously, he couldn’t‍ use any low-quality‍ stone.

“I’ll have to spend‌‍‍ all my money to get the‍ material.”

If he used all‍ his contacts and⁠⁠ family influence, maybe he could find‌ a few minerals that were worth‌ it.

“Adamantite…‌ or at least‍‍ black iron, and‍‍ it’d be perfect…”‍

But‍ those minerals weren’t⁠ things you could⁠‍‍ get with money.

‘Anyway,⁠ the job’s done.‌ I just have⁠⁠ to fulfill my‌ assistant duties for a while, and⁠‍ then—’

Boom!‌

Bang!

Kiieeehk!‍‍

Grrr,‌ grrr!

Explosions,‌ roars, beast howls,‍ screams, and a strong stench of‌‌‌ monsters pulled him‌‌‍ out of his⁠ focus.

Fernan‍ sat up. In‍⁠ the distance, a horde of dozens of hell hounds‍ was chasing a single student.

“Help!⁠‌ Please help me!”‍

Her‌⁠ armor was in‍ tatters, dried blood‍‍ crusting all over⁠‌ her body, and she screamed in desperation.

She‍‌ was a student‌ who had run into a horde‌ of monsters she‍‌ couldn’t handle. For‍‌ such cases, instructors⁠ and assistants were‍‍⁠ stationed throughout the⁠ area to supervise‌⁠ and protect.

But‍ Fernan did nothing.‍‍‍

The‌‍ girl ran, screamed,‍ circled the tree‌‌ where he was‍⁠ again and again.‍

“Ah,⁠⁠ please!”

Finally,‍‍ she shouted in‌⁠ anger.

“Aren’t you going to⁠ help me even‌‍‍ a little?”

“Should‌‍ I?”

“Aren’t‌‍⁠ assistants supposed to‍‌‍ help students when⁠ they’re in danger?!”⁠

“Sure,‍⁠ if you were‌ in danger.”

Fernan⁠‌⁠ leaned on his⁠ elbow and tapped⁠ the tree.

“But‍‍ tell me, can⁠ an elf in‌⁠ the forest really‌‌⁠ be in danger‌ from a pack‍‌ of hell hounds?”‍

“…Tch.”‍‌

The orange-haired elf, Aria,⁠⁠‌ clicked her tongue. She leapt nimbly‍ and landed beside‍‌ Fernan.

The‌ hell hounds, having⁠‍ lost sight of‍‌ her, rammed into‍ the tree.

Boom!‌⁠‍

“Stop‌ messing around and⁠ get rid of⁠‍ them. They’re going to bring the‍ tree down.”

“How⁠‍ about giving me‌ a hand, instructor?”‌

“So‌ all that about‍ elves loving trees‌ and the forest‍‌ was just talk,⁠‍ huh?”

In‍ the end, Aria‍ cast her magic. Dozens of wind⁠⁠ blades fell like‌ a storm upon⁠‌ the hell hounds.‍

Slash! Slash! Slash!

She‍‍ didn’t take them all out, but‌⁠ several were seriously⁠ injured and retreated.‍‌ The attack was‌⁠ so fast that‌‌ the pack scattered⁠⁠ in disarray.

“Were⁠‌ you looking for‍⁠ me?”

“Coincidence.”‍

“Then⁠ leave.”

“…I‌‌ was looking for⁠ you.”

“And⁠ why?”

“Because I got curious.”‍‌

Curious?

Fernan‍⁠ looked at her‍‌ warily, and Aria⁠ nodded.

“As⁠⁠ far as I know, second-years don’t⁠ usually act as⁠‌ temporary assistants.”

“They⁠‌‍ just don’t want⁠ to. It’s not‌ that they can’t.”‍

“Exactly.⁠⁠ Everyone avoids it‍ because it doesn’t‌‍‌ benefit them, so‍ I’m curious why‌‌⁠ you’re doing it.”‌

Fernan⁠‍⁠ understood just from‌⁠ the curiosity in‌ her eyes.

“Your‌ father… Marquis Fredien‌ sent you? Wanted‌ you to approach⁠‍ one of the‍‍‍ elector prince houses‌ and become their‍ friend?”

“…That‌ obvious? I thought‍‌ I played it off pretty well.”

Aria‍ didn’t deny it.‌‌⁠

“Pretty⁠⁠ obvious.”

“I‍ won’t deny it.‌⁠ So, are we⁠‍‍ friends?”

“No.”‌

“Why‍‍‍ not?”

“Because‌ I’m older than⁠⁠‌ you.”

Even⁠ if she was‌‍⁠ an elf, there‍‍‌ wasn’t much difference⁠‍ from humans. She⁠‌‌ only had pointed‍ ears and a special affinity with⁠‌ forests or spirits.‌

“Then will you accept‍ me as your⁠‌‍ senior?”

“Not⁠⁠‌ thrilled about it⁠ either.”

“I’m‌⁠ the heir to⁠‍‌ one of the elector prince houses,‌ you know?”

“Weren’t‌⁠‍ you flirting with‌‍⁠ Aint?”

“Do you think an‌ elf can live⁠ off just meat? I eat fruit‍‍ too, now and⁠‍‌ then. In the‍ end, I’ll be friends with all⁠‍ six elector princes⁠ anyway, so it⁠⁠ doesn’t matter.”

Just from that conversation,‍‍ Fernan understood her‍ character. A shameless⁠ bold girl.

“I‍ haven’t even thought about who to‌‍ sell the mineral‌‌ to…”

At⁠ that moment—

───────!!‌⁠

A deafening roar echoed⁠⁠ in the distance, like it was‌ about to tear‍ eardrums apart.
It was a roar.

The⁠⁠‌ fury of a dragon whose lair‌ was destroyed and‍‍ whose treasure was‌‌ stolen.

“…This⁠ is insane.”

Fernan‌ swallowed hard as‍‌‌ the sea dragon‍‍ appeared, expelling all⁠‍ the water from⁠ the lake around‍‌ it.

‘Don’t⁠ tell me Aint…‍⁠ died?’

Something had gone very wrong.

“A‌‌ sea dragon? What’s‌‌ that doing here…?‍⁠ Wait, when—?”

Aria‍ blinked in astonishment.‌