Chapter 120: Alloy (3)
o1k9HdLMost people know dwarves as a race that loves alcohol and minerals.6YSaeRx
oxYBut that’s only half true.DLM
u6LJHAll dwarves adored alcohol.gbF
FiOCMinerals, not necessarily.GWx
5BoXZMIt was simply that their innate physical characteristics and bodily capabilities gave them extraordinary potential for any work related to minerals.PZX
QtMAThat caused dwarven society to naturally evolve around mining.39YFgZ
R0fAnd the speed of that development was unmatched.VNpbK
OAlOk8While the other races were still in the Stone Age or the Neolithic Age, the dwarves had already surpassed the Bronze Age and reached the Iron Age on their own.ic9LXZ1
XSemRThere were even those who claimed that dwarves had greatly influenced the development of the other races.6Tsu0af
IsRmCTAs time passed, dwarves stopped outpacing the rest of civilization on their own.T01TB
bNLHowever, the impact they made during that era was so great that, even now, the image of dwarves as “the race of alcohol and minerals” still existed.LHzZO
L3vi8Z“Oooh…! Oooohhh…!”QlWMk
JlSdkAnd Gares, the registered gallery user known as DwarfPassingBy, fit that stereotype perfectly.yWL0W3
xwD8NA dwarf who didn’t merely enjoy alcohol.0H8
XbqECHe loved it.TCs1hf0
rX7DoMyAnd he also possessed extensive knowledge of metallurgy.Fn57
kdhGVAAt that moment, that dwarf couldn’t stop exclaiming in admiration as he looked at the sword in his hands.qBIsMw
bE6bcIShaaaaaa—HKk
IFyBlack-violet stars shone within a green galaxy.tetOFv
B8Xwb8TIt was a poetic description.G2x
UqqBut it fit the sword Gares was holding perfectly.jO1s11M
GoXn26sOriginally, it had been a dull gray.UXwCVv3
cSLGv19But at some point, it had begun radiating light.H20
Nci‘…It’s the most beautiful sword I’ve seen in my entire life!’ZhVr
SLXHcOGares was a dwarf who specialized in metallurgy.kTLL8fe
XM4MpKBecause of that, he possessed extensive knowledge regarding weapon quality and performance.jp3UNs
7UuXAlthough his obsession with alcohol made him less skilled than other craftsmen, his eyes remained sharp.0Mi
6yuNA5The mithril and orichalcum alloy created by Grills.g1Q
Of7UB0And the sword forged from that alloy.3YhT
mN0It was, without a doubt, the finest sword he had ever seen.Z6KMav
4MMIlby‘It still has some imperfections…’CzYRSB4
WBPTo be honest, setting the materials aside, the sword itself was fairly close to mass production.lrHyL9
3E4VANormally, when crafting delicate tools like swords, which must properly transmit applied force, molds are not used.CJo
qmGRbA practical and beautiful sword is only born when a blacksmith personally forges it.mU4hSRc
h3WwThat was why the sword’s level of craftsmanship couldn’t be considered especially high.mhDSK3
WDUdBut the materials were so absurdly good that they compensated for all its shortcomings.8GRIz
qWOBIt was already difficult enough to find a tool made entirely of mithril.tWpB
idrVAnd this one even contained orichalcum.Rj152EU
kADxfThe creation Gares held had stolen his soul.8NQEh
exN‘And it hasn’t even been infused with much mana. What kind of efficiency does this thing have?’r1wYL
u9OThe reason the sword displayed such beautiful colors was mana.dKHOZZa
o7V26Yet it shone like a galaxy even with a minimal amount.OMizK
83jA combination of mithril already saturated with mana from the beginning and orichalcum with an extremely high affinity for mana.AbqiNU
kbarHGHe had known from the start that it would be difficult to fail.RYQjHxw
Zyf0IvBut he had never imagined such an extraordinary sword would be born.gSVX
cRdP9D‘This isn’t the time for this. I have to sharpen the blade.’hjvW
jP9Gares came back to his senses while admiring the sword.1Ms
ccPckWhy had Grills handed him this weapon?njw
BdS9oREIt certainly wasn’t a gift.ypM7H3
jtJHAIt was to test the alloy’s performance.wCGE7rN
c1ehc3eAnd to sharpen the blade.pnX3
2xiFrGTHe had already confirmed its performance.VvB
Bc4M0Now it was time to sharpen it.Erl7
J02288‘To think he can make something like this practically without limit…’7YC
EcGxQqAs he worked on the edge, Gares reflected.TIytPLp
I1kNWhat would happen if the existence of this sword were revealed to the world?MDw9
5vRtcAIt wouldn’t merely cause a stir.YcTYTwU
zaOCrowds would try to take it by force.YEgij
BtLItA sword made entirely of mithril would already cause a scandal.f2iBuUq
xxE0LKvAnd this one even contained orichalcum.6wzz
PVPQxn‘Not even the legendary swords were this impressive. Not even the holy swords.’ZDz
up2X0jxThe Hero’s Holy Sword.mkbigd
pBCbZJKRevolution.fkgvLC
PATIt was blessed by Aris and contained divine power.l5VH1K
HwIE4But its material was merely steel.ueJo
SFHQvO‘Perhaps the sword HeavenlyDemon claims to possess could compare somewhat.’DFqC
SvxThe sword forged from ten-thousand-year black steel.z6Ou
IfcdOA material considered one of the supreme minerals.PGL
oOS8nFFar rarer than the three legendary minerals: mithril, orichalcum, and adamantite.jmwCd
Wt5If HeavenlyDemon wasn’t exaggerating, it might be able to compete a little.sTxt
syvawXiBecause a sword made from pure mithril alone was already insane.8aYfJAQ
MAP‘From what I can tell, he plans to give this sword to HeavenlyDemon…’qR196
t3KGares abruptly stopped sharpening.a62pXoG
SZ1BxHis face darkened.yDrExbU
NVpPhYWas it really alright to give such a sword to someone else?J28vY
FJ1QhOf course, the rightful owner was Grills.4ii
N9gZ3dHe had no right to decide.eZofVuj
ZauK3RBut he was still uneasy.d8BNq
25OoFHow would the world react when it discovered the existence of this sword?wWjiClG
AQzWas it really a good idea to give it to HeavenlyDemon, someone who spent all day posting things in the gallery from her room?UWvOEBB
uBdmT5rIt was a serious concern.GzAOTnr
NFj‘Though, if she possesses a sword made of ten-thousand-year black steel, she must be someone quite important…’Eiay4
g0wAAfter worrying for a moment, Gares decided to focus on his work.5k4Z
VgkHe completely finished sharpening the blade.wH560W
QsTThen he personally crafted the hilt.qgvV9V
C7uW7VAnd thus, a mithril-orichalcum alloy sword crafted by the hands of a master dwarf was completed.h4v15
tY1‘What should this alloy be called?’gB3
dUSIt was an alloy that had never existed before.rRM9
gQVbEven the name was a problem.uJMRml5
sdJOnly Grills could manufacture it.ODXf
9gRIBecause of that, Gares nodded.7j4tR
ULs59IBoth the alloy’s name and the sword’s name should be chosen by Grills.aGDnOnO
DjsShhk—7OXrA0
G6PFKMTo test the edge, he cut through a stack of sheets of paper.uRL
ZqH1With only the slightest contact, the paper split apart effortlessly.cWLaHo
nXu1ZMF‘Since it’s made entirely of mithril, it’s also incredibly light.’4hW
wrG2XwLight.0Lai
kUwHyMore powerful than a steel sword.nNfd8
5zyQi7kExtraordinary mana efficiency.iERjN
Cf7And it even glowed when infused with mana.bKB0
28PF0JW‘If we’re talking purely about performance, it looks more like a holy sword than an actual holy sword.’f4W
pJcAfter that nearly blasphemous thought, Gares immediately sent Grills a message.osvcpgX
BDJAZ[DwarfPassingBy: Hey. I’ve finished sharpening it. I also added the hilt, so you can pick it up.]UrAH4
TqBBSsl[WildGrills: Thanks, thanks. Perfect timing. I just got back after catching a crab.]4rWYVL
pABcNgD[DwarfPassingBy: No need to send it to me right now. I’ll eat it tonight.]WyPbC
yGYFWE[WildGrills: Ok.]hvby
p1e[DwarfPassingBy: By the way, are you giving it to someone else?]CG0w
pLAsHbz[WildGrills: Yes. I plan to give it to HeavenlyDemon. She gave me a sword. It’s only natural that I repay her.]ZQJkNP
rXkcZMGares was about to reply.Gwp
3oknrQABut he stopped.z9n
sprNIt seemed Grills had already made up his mind.mshA
6KWpThere was no point trying to persuade him.RtryPu
2cdBesides, Grills lived in the Four Seasons Forest.5jgRJu
kTeEven if both the sword and its creator were revealed, nobody could harm him.r2v8KV
DaSh8Who would willingly enter the Four Seasons Forest just to obtain that alloy?U32O8Vl
sYp1And even if they got it, they would never make it back out.wPNfu
DcojOnly Grills could do that.4dsa
xrUvDCs‘Please, let HeavenlyDemon not post anything stupid…’Cey
7FrLately she had been posting less because she was busy with her moderator duties.4IGObQA
CPRBut before that, she had been famous for flooding the gallery with useless posts.1a8FmU
eYHGHoping the sword’s existence would remain hidden for as long as possible, Gares sent another message.3HHMtuK
gET[DwarfPassingBy: Are you planning to give them to other people too?]DqZBT
Pyqsn[WildGrills: I don’t know. Maybe I’ll only make weapons for myself. Though it depends on whether any interesting trades show up.]9AOO
Kuq2[DwarfPassingBy: Try to be careful. That sword is too good. Blood could be spilled over it.]Jf2ASm
EMclap[WildGrills: Is it really that good?]wHvBJe
WB2[DwarfPassingBy: Yes. It’s that good. We’re talking about a mithril-orichalcum alloy. ;;]ndzxF
nL5DNfH[WildGrills: There’s so much of it around me that I don’t even know how valuable it is.]756
qcHy[DwarfPassingBy: Holy shit lmao.]5yT
aPA8LIt was absurd.yAQ
XBFBut it was also an undeniable fact.QygNnCi
UvYGKBGares let out a disbelieving laugh.Zu2
qNFOnly Grills could give an answer like that.NABON
qq5zUsDWhenever he heard something like this, he felt a strange sensation.ZeUOJ
OoKNNZ[WildGrills: Ah, right. I’m going to make another sword and a dagger. Could you sharpen them too? And if you’re feeling lazy, at least put hilts on them.]VCave
aWoXt[DwarfPassingBy: Yeah, that’s easy. But I have one condition.]ILemW
3f3[WildGrills: What is it? A crab?]eyK
EjUu8Ts[DwarfPassingBy: Nah. I’ll give you an ingot mold, so make me one out of that alloy. I want to keep it as a souvenir.]j5O
dj9Jh[WildGrills: Ok. Understood.]nRnyYek
jc3z8Pw[DwarfPassingBy: Ah, and one more thing. What are you going to call the alloy and the sword?]NuQORu5
mnbm[WildGrills: I’ll let HeavenlyDemon name the sword herself. As for the alloy, no idea. Mithrilcon?]rAm9
1ljkng[DwarfPassingBy: That’s such a lazy name, damn it. ;; Though it’s not bad.]BJUVyD
py0JBh[WildGrills: lol.]Ffv
XvkccMithrilcon.KIjI
wZ4It was an incredibly lazy name, but it worked.CjF
i6p8LIt wasn’t anything official, so it didn’t matter what it was called.4d2wW
cpj76A[WildGrills: Anyway, thanks for all the help. I’ll give you the crab tonight.]J3o97a0
YPSeT[DwarfPassingBy: Ok. But make sure you forge that ingot.]asi9rPE
Cfq0K[WildGrills: I’ll do it right away. I’ll send it along with the sword and the dagger.]LQat
RdrXBH[WildGrills: By the way, does the ingot need to be quenched too?]6jF
u6V7ZTb[DwarfPassingBy: Nah. Just let it cool.]VhAthqV
hGfwThe conversation ended there.OX5SP
iyINHThe dwarf had probably gone back to work.Jvv2w
kAxAs he closed the chat with Grills, Gares thought.Sux
4kLuM‘What if this bastard finds adamantite someday?’eTlh6E
fNuJThe terrifying part was that the odds seemed quite high.EZPYdIN
e9zNr***tU2
xaCpWi Seolak.3PwRG
liaDKThe Demonic Strategist of the Heavenly Demon Sect and a registered gallery user under the name SmartMind.6OU
TLfHis days were extremely busy.VONHAd7
3DEfWAfter all, he carried the title of Demonic Strategist and had countless responsibilities.Pt0cZ
wuxpEspecially lately, after the atrocities committed by the Holy Kingdom of Eldorado had come to light, he barely had any time to rest.77AUg
zSRzRelations between Zhongyuan and Eldorado were relatively neutral.jS5
NEL6g0But it was different with other countries.GcOZYFm
4raMany had been affected, directly or indirectly, by the Immortal King’s incident.wLfcy0
dEJtWhile they were trapped in conflicts, this side had to prepare plans.FRUq0
Ga6To further strengthen the influence of the Demonic Sect.KY3GG
02NMkKRThat was Wi Seolak’s primary duty.zsZH
Qb7NCStep. Step. Step.otATVV
7HqAlthough he was already so busy that he seemed to need two bodies, Wi Seolak was still following a certain woman.T2aonK
TNgwTNarrow shoulders.iiO17f
tDvHair tied into a single ponytail.nVrHcv
lVDmBlack robes filled with dignity.mMS
nZUAnd in her hands rested a dull silver-colored sword.yp4cMfJ
jGySwH‘Why did she come outside?’thI27dK
PW9c2At that moment, Wi Seolak was following HeavenlyDemon, Yoo Sowol.FcO
cspd8As always, he had been summoned in the middle of his work.rskU5
6ZBiFrom the moment he received the call, he had felt a strong sense of unease.YbwzdJd
Kryq3And the destination they were heading toward didn’t seem ordinary either.aZprhI
VJ6E6UMoreover, she was carrying a sword he had never seen before.wY4OGOR
mHOThe blade was one thing, but even its shape made it seem low quality.Hh0
Ui32HIn fact, a sword made by an ordinary blacksmith looked better.YoX
iIdKE‘Who gave her that sword? Don’t tell me it was Grills?’7x7abHq
8XDHe couldn’t imagine any other explanation.bcZt
wM3emWi Seolak opened the gallery.Aqk6qTA
kv8ZThe only messages posted by Grills were the two most recent ones—the one from the morning and the one he had just uploaded.cgqqZ
mlaM‘Mithrilcon…’Nn3Do
O3g4An alloy created by mixing mithril and orichalcum using an improvised furnace.3t7YKP
hB69mmThat was the topic of the post.ZXPGIb
5CcPAnd naturally, the reactions were explosive.sepKeLB
Rm5A mithril and orichalcum alloy.Wz9dQ7H
aYqaIt was something capable of turning the world upside down.cfP
RHPIF9E‘Could that sword be it?’V75EGAv
0Rq0LxtThanks to his brilliant intellect, Wi Seolak reached a conclusion.6fxavs
lAMTThe sword Yoo Sowol was carrying had been made from that alloy.bcA
FGYPnBiNormally, he would never have considered such an absurd hypothesis.AEI
aEDfpBut he had read Grills’ post.rnQAr8t
yBjGfAnd it clearly explained that he had received molds and tools from a dwarf.dGCP
a8MaThat he had forged a sword for HeavenlyDemon.Djdo
VYdgJAnd that he planned to keep the rest for himself.dskZ
rIT6d“…Oh Heaven.”TRZQ
7wb“Speak.”4mbF9
dydyY“May I ask why you brought me with you?”Y9yUz7
X3ezHxIf she only wanted to test the sword’s performance, she could have done it alone.jMa
eqjBut Yoo Sowol had brought him along.mi5
sHZSurely it wasn’t to reveal her identity as a registered user.SHNd9A0
g74JThere had to be another reason.b8Vgag
sklccYoo Sowol replied with complete indifference.JzyLq
XbMXbqX“Recently, my benefactor gifted me a sword. However, he asked me to give it a name.”wcY9
xXEF“A name…?”YU3f
n7wul“That’s right. I don’t have much talent for naming things. So I thought it would be better if you did it.”bFQb
5mOrGAH“…”10Ldak
70gOAc9She had summoned an extremely busy person just to name a sword.mskt3
cgqieJnWi Seolak looked at her with an expression of disbelief.Gpa
grA1qBut who was Yoo Sowol?zgwLV
fhm6O7AAn existence who observed the world not through her own eyes, but from the perspective of heaven.Du6ko
x5ck0“You look dissatisfied.”6E17Mm
zMkIK“That is not the case.”LkvzEz
Vqnft“What an obvious lie.”vgYZluC
mtMHa1“My apologies.”7vQsF
uBz“At least you know how to apologize quickly.”Yu7FN
potrfYoo Sowol dismissed his disrespect without concern.RQ67rs
d08p9OJust as Wi Seolak finally breathed a sigh of relief inwardly,7ieve
L9qshe stopped.1oxVvv
OzS“Hmm? Oh Heaven. This place is…”9euBM
eQzSBju“This location will do.”K4oQeC
NU8kThe place where Yoo Sowol stopped was a cliff.wYS78I
ROlfA strange place where only a single enormous tree grew.Tv1D8
5FIAWcKBehind it stretched endless mountain ranges.XPX
brw7It was a magnificent view.JavrLk
YV4q‘W-what the hell?GLJ
gaSdzWeren’t we inside a building just a moment ago?’AA51Pvo
jFQKIgWi Seolak could not hide his confusion.Txod
L9JMXEven though he was the Demonic Strategist, he was still a martial artist.gKtA6J9
Kc9IHis level was high enough to perceive any flow of energy.TB5IIn
JScCj6And yet, by the time he regained his senses, they were standing on a cliff.qUx
Irld5nIt felt like teleportation.xZ1aM7w
2kF6While he was still confused, Yoo Sowol slowly raised her sword.sZchn
AUfUZlWi Seolak watched her back.ubky
RYJFShaaaaaa—Seq4
7MZD6V“A… green galaxy…?”hs4KgNK
CNbWhen Yoo Sowol infused energy into the sword, it began to glow.rPo3SfN
bCv0qv8The surface of the blade seemed to contain an entire green galaxy.BIVLaUo
wVuKIts beauty was overwhelming.YuUYez3
eg4M1mOBut Yoo Sowol only observed it briefly.Mdzvxg
PYviThen she continued moving.7BVmN
rE1Her arm slowly rose toward the sky.iV9Z85S
vXE5And then—mAgwiY2
tbWW2Slash.ZFumvy
g1t9She gently brought it down.CHq08h
ZlRqIt wasn’t even a slash.5imyNw
2GTLIt simply descended.MCMGiGO
uygcSo softly that only the sound of the wind being parted could be heard.AbUNekY
7uwAs though she were painting a picture.NIfUBZR
hxFuHDuAn elegant motion.mhou
D0zCraaaack—qLqg
boxBut its consequences were anything but elegant.Syd
dSrQzThe enormous tree towering toward the heavens split into two.PlxPcZa
01pZPoAnd slowly began separating.bt4zd
VXjL2The sword had not even touched it.rhKU
l7smAnd yet the tree had been divided.9SE5
4A0‘As I thought…’P1jJQv
MY90dWi Seolak swallowed.hRO
3V3hHe had suspected it already.tgjvU
kVgzEBut Yoo Sowol had become far stronger than before.NJcfw
xJ2UWith power like that, the glory of the Demonic Sect was guaranteed.10TmeNv
6QbYWfr“Hmm.”B1yQF
W2wazpHowever, Yoo Sowol herself seemed dissatisfied.0ezd
IfaO7QShe looked at the sword and muttered.qMA
perg“It is not a particularly good sword.”VkFDR2
axVKUl“Huh? What do you mean by that…?”j6xJ
77lww“A sword only deserves to be called a sword when it cuts what you wish to cut.”EugJ
zbAHI“…?”8P1NY
GmVAmid those incomprehensible words, Wi Seolak felt a strange sensation.Htv
ciMxIBeyond the split tree.16Yqg
PbTVysThe scenery looked odd.GvnbgnT
NfeThe first thing he noticed was the clouds.KB22V
lLKAH6pWhat should have been a single mass was displaced.0G5
udYjQAnd not only the clouds.rR2
2NFThere was a thin line running across the sky itself.prARx
4n6EzEverything on either side of that line was misaligned.wUEio2z
urFWIH“…”6QAED1
ZztVuThe sky.LaDWsrl
FXJThe very sky humanity was meant to gaze upon with reverence.txthn
1ODVHad been split in two.tm6hAcH
6ep0pWith a single movement.DOtOLr
GWxIt could not even be called a slash.iVW
OyP8EPYet that strike had divided the heavens.9AS3K
PTSfsac“If I am not careful, this will become a sword that causes rivers of blood.”6E002ml
oWE“…”svEpKW
4HJOm“Then, can you think of a name?”Zv5ig
LAD1epFor a long time, Wi Seolak was unable to answer.6V4h0
qAW***04u
zNIepeMeanwhile, in the Four Seasons Forest.Y8AAWhP
qxPN7WShaaaaaa—Zp03f9W
uZYQqq“Oh.”tgob
mDjHGrills let out a sound of admiration as he looked at the new sword he had just forged.i5D9
aDt“A glowing sword?jyDuKpm
3gjsbIt looks awesome.”sffL
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!