Chapter 269. National Treasure (2)
The royal forge, filled with the latest equipment.
In this place where crimson flames raged, only one craftsman moved about busily.
Fwoooosh.
Enduring the heat that seemed to burn even down to the bone, he melted the orichalcum ingot and poured it into a pre-prepared mold, creating two metal rods of different lengths.
The specialized tongs attached to his empty shoulder replaced the right arm he had lost.
Grabbing one rod, he swung his single arm with all his might.
Clang! The hammer, treated with Deins steel, one of the highest-grade metals, rang out through the forge.
Bang, bang, bang bang!
It took hundreds of strikes before the rod even began to deform.
The accumulating shock on his body was almost unbearable.
Grinding his teeth, Linus shouted out cries close to screams again and again before the first hammering session was finished.
Immediately, he focused on lengthening it to the point it could form the circle of a ring.
It wasn't an alloy, but orichalcum in its raw state, so hard it made him curse aloud. After breaking about three machines in the process, the foundation was finally complete.
"Grrraaaaaaaahhh!"
Applying heat, fixing the rod in place, and pulling one side with all his strength.
His muscles and veins swelled as if they would burst at any moment. If he hadn't been a disciple of a dwarven master craftsman, it would have been natural to give up long ago.
'This is why joint work is necessary…!'
Muttering, Linus's hands moved.
Following the royal blueprint spread at his side, the accessory gradually began to take form.
After nearly thirteen days without sleep, he finally succeeded in creating the ring.
Even adding in the magical processing detailed in the blueprint.
"..."
His eyes were sunken.
It was a fatigue no sleep could erase.
But he could not collapse just yet.
Smack! Linus slapped both his cheeks hard, then prepared the hexagonal ruby from Mount Dahil.
And also, that which would be implanted into the ruby.
Gulp. Linus swallowed his saliva.
"…To think I would see something like this in my lifetime."
A seal encased within a transparent crystal.
Shaped after a sharp shield, it was the symbol of the Kingdom of Estiria.
It radiated a magical yet alien aura.
Completely different from runes. That was no artificially formed power.
It was clearly something above even an Orb. Despite all the materials he had encountered until now, he had never seen anything greater than this.
Surely, only metal of 100% purity at the highest grade could withstand it.
"Huuuuhh——"
Linus exhaled deeply.
Placing the crystal into a fixture, he then took out a small vial.
Inside was none other than the blood of the Royal Family of Estiria.
Unsealing it, he tilted it. When the red blood seeped into the grooves engraved in the crystal, the sealing device began to unravel in a chain reaction.
Fwaaaash.
For the first time in over a hundred years, the seal was exposed to open air.
Carefully, he picked it up with tongs and moved it before the ruby.
The next step was familiar. Though of a different kind, just like with runes, it was simply a matter of implanting the seal into the gem.
Fortunately, there was no risk of collapse even if he failed.
As long as he had time and stamina, there was no limit to the attempts he could make.
But aligning the ruby and the seal was incomparably more difficult than with normal runes.
If he slipped, it would bounce away and he'd have to start over again.
So he had no choice but to pour his entire being into it. Just as he always had.
Drip. Drip.
Hot beads of sweat streamed down.
Though his eyes stung, Linus didn't flinch. The concentration that had reached its limit dulled his pain to nothing.
He did not waver, even in time fragmented into countless pieces.
Even after several failures, it was the same. That craftsmanship was closer to a kind of madness.
And beyond that, this was an important moment for Linus.
Even if all he was doing was reproducing something according to a blueprint, even if it didn't take as long as in Orient… it was self-evident that this was the greatest work of his life as a craftsman.
The adversity and hardship of this moment would, in the end, become his blood and flesh.
"…!"
At last, he succeeded in implanting the seal.
Linus's eyes flashed as he immediately brought the ring and set it in place.
He slowly aligned the ruby toward the ring's Center. Even to the naked eye, the specifications were flawless.
Click.
At last, the two fused together.
At the same time, an unprecedented current stirred.
There was no explosion, no storm. Instead, the royal seal implanted into the ruby glowed with a 'violet' light.
He didn't need anyone to confirm it. There was no doubt.
Here and now, the national treasure of Estiria had been revived.
"It's done…!"
Linus smiled in exaltation.
Then his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness instantly.
It had been about twenty days since he entered the royal forge.
His ninth sleep came only after four nights of staying awake.
***
Dinner time.
At the table, where luxurious dishes were being laid out one after another, suddenly appeared a familiar one-armed man. With a weary look, he devoured the food in front of him without restraint.
Karans, not to be outdone, toyed with his fork from across the table. Empty plates piled up at one side.
Well, be that as it may.
"Linus, why are you here?"
"Mm?"
Linus looked at Verden.
Chewing on steak and salad, he swallowed it down, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and drained his drink with a heavy sigh.
"Haaah, I received a new commission, one I couldn't possibly refuse. And I've just recently completed it."
"What commission?"
"Well…"
Linus's eyes flicked to the side.
There sat Calia, slicing her meat in silence, exuding the air of a noble.
"I can't tell you, I was ordered not to disclose."
"..."
"Ah, but as expected of the royal chefs, the food here is absolutely delicious!"
Avoiding his gaze, Linus buried himself in the food.
Verden narrowed his eyes in thought.
For Linus, a magic item craftsman, to have received a commission naturally meant he was creating something. And for him to be in the royal castle meant his client was a member of the Royal Family.
Finally, Linus was glancing nervously at Calia, that is, of the Marquisate of Esperanza.
'Which means…'
At that moment, Perne whispered from beside him.
"Sir, that man is the Oesu, Linus Voltimoog, right? We've been tracking him through information since the beginning of the year, but seeing him in person like this feels different."
Verden looked at Perne silently.
"What is it?"
"What was that title just now?"
"I heard he received an honorary count title. Since he's a noble now, I thought I should call him Sir… should I just switch back to the usual?"
"That would be better."
"Yes, Sir Asher!"
Verden didn't care for titles.
Still, suddenly being called 'Sir' by someone familiar to him was oddly unpleasant.
It seemed Perne wasn't used to it either, looking more comfortable now.
"Anyway, what about the information I asked for?"
"Before we came here, I organized everything and placed it on your desk, Sir Asher. Since the Royal Family lent us an airship, it was very convenient."
Perne shrugged with a smile.
Her attitude of retrieving whatever information he wanted without asking why. She remained the information dealer devoted solely to Verden.
After finishing his meal, he stood.
Along with the information Perne had gathered, he had just come up with a few methods to transfer his funds in Roafra.
Now, he intended to run through countless scenarios, turning them over in his head, and calculate carefully just how feasible they were.
"Asher,"
At that moment, Calia approached.
Her face was tense, different from usual.
"There's something I need to tell you, could you come out to the terrace tonight?"
Did she have something important to discuss?
From the context, he could guess what it might be.
"All right."
"Mm, thank you."
Calia gave a small nod.
Then she went straight to her room. Karans, who had been watching the two, moved toward Verden.
"Brother, I also…"
"Karans, even if you have something to say, be mindful enough to put it off until later."
Perne grabbed Karans by the wrist.
The handsome elf's face twisted harshly.
"What did you just babble? Be mindful?"
"If you've got time, finish telling me that story about the spirit you left out last time. Blue, could you help me?"
Perne dragged Karans down the corridor. Blue sparkled and assisted at her side.
Was it because of the spirit, or had some bond formed between human and guardian elf?
Even as he spat out rough curses, Karans did not resist fiercely, letting himself be pulled along.
'A curious sight.'
Verden turned his back.
Leaving the dining hall, he strolled down the corridor.
Soon, night came.
***
The terrace of Eznoren Castle.
Resting his elbows on the railing, Verden lifted his head.
From the heart of the vast darkness, the full moon's light shone brightly upon him, countless starlights adorned the skies around.
A clear winter sky at the start of the season, without a single cloud.
Sensing a presence, Verden shifted his gaze.
Calia had just stepped onto the terrace, clad in her usual light armor, dyed in deep, dark red.
"So you were already here. My apologies for making you wait. It must have been boring."
"I haven't been here long. It wasn't boring."
"Is that so? Well… tonight's sky is especially beautiful."
Calia came closer and stood beside Verden.
As their words ceased, silence settled in.
It was quiet, but not lonely at all.
Calia, pretending to gaze at the scenery, glanced sideways, hesitating, while Verden simply waited in silence.
How much time passed, who could say.
At last, Calia spoke.
"Asher, do you know why I called you here?"
"Most likely for the payment."
Silis's promised third reward.
Calia gave a small laugh.
"As expected, you're quick-witted."
She took out a small box from her bosom.
A jewel box, white in base, adorned harmoniously with pure gold.
"As you guessed, I've come to deliver your reward. In other words, I was entrusted with bringing you the third payment."
She slowly opened the jewel box.
A silver ring, set with a hexagonal red ruby, revealed itself.
From the gem's center, the symbol of the Kingdom of Estiria rippled faintly with violet light.
"This is…"
"My father said this was obtained by the founding king of Estiria, back when he built the kingdom, after slaying a special entity that occupied the center of the eastern continent."
Calia spoke of legend.
Over two hundred years ago.
The army clashed with a special entity, and war broke out.
Overwhelming power claimed countless soldiers' lives. Corpses piled into mountains, blood flowed as rivers.
But their sacrifice was not in vain.
At last, a high-ranking noble leading the forces struck down the creature with his shattered shield. Standing atop the monster's corpse, he declared victory.
At that moment, a mist seeped out from the slain being, wrapping around the noble.
They thought it was a final act of malice, but it was not.
An unprecedented energy dwelled in the noble's ring, engraved with his family crest. Then, the noble gained the power that the monster had wielded.
The birth of a new artifact.
"That noble, who gained a vast land, established the Kingdom of Estiria. The seal on the ring became the Royal Family's symbol. Since it's a legend passed down, I can't say it's without embellishment… but this much is real."
Calia extended the jewel box.
"They call it Raindia. The national treasure of the kingdom, holding infinite space."
"Space…?"
"Would you like to see for yourself?"
Calia urged.
Verden's blue eyes shone as he activated his mana circuits.
★ Raindia.
⦁ Soul Engraving
⦁ Subspace
An engraved artifact bound to its owner.
Not exactly the same as the Demon King's Ainber, but undeniably of the same tier.
'To bestow a freely controlled space upon the wielder…'
It was similar to spatial storage found in other artifacts.
But for its functions to be entirely transplanted into the owner, that was something he had never encountered.
Verden struggled to hide his shock.
"Even if it's payment…"
"My father said you would respond like that. He told me to persuade you thus: the national treasure Raindia is both the origin and the bloody history of the Royal Family of Estiria."
Raindia had been passed down through the kings of Estiria.
But around a hundred years ago, before succession was complete, the king died suddenly.
The royal heirs then went to war over the treasure. The belief was strong that he who held Raindia was the true king.
A storm of blood swept Estiria.
Yet the outcome was unexpected.
Because those who fought most fiercely perished or lost power, the youngest prince, once disregarded, ascended the throne.
The new king's heart was devastated.
His brothers, once close, had slain each other in tragedy…
Thus, he resolved to dismantle and seal Raindia forever.
So that never again would a national treasure replace the throne, never again would such calamity arise.
But in the end, something even worse occurred.
"For that reason, we will not inherit the blood of the past. From now, we will lead Estiria in a wholly new direction. But leaving the treasure sealed away would be a waste. So my father told me to tell you this—do not hesitate, take it."
"..."
Verden fixed his gaze on Raindia.
'So this is the conclusion Marquis Esperanza and Silis reached.'
It was both recognition of his deeds for the kingdom, and a pledge to build a new Estiria, different from before.
No matter their resolve, transferring ownership of a national treasure must have been a heavy decision.
Verden intended to respect that choice.
He carefully reached out his hand.
But Calia gently pulled hers back.
"It wouldn't suit for you to put it on yourself. So stay still."
Placing the jewel box upon the railing,
Calia picked up Raindia, inhaled softly.
She had no intention of ending the chance her father gave her by merely delivering the treasure.
Gently, she reached out.
"…You said you'll be leaving soon, for your goal, your dream."
Calia grasped Verden's right hand.
She felt the calluses forged by training, despite him being a mage. A hand much like her own, which had gripped a sword all her life.
Slowly, Raindia slid onto Verden's index finger. The mismatched size adjusted automatically by magical processing.
"They say, when you wear this ring, your dream will come true."
It suited him well.
Calia lifted her gaze.
Her crimson eyes met his blue ones.
"Asher, will you someday return to the Kingdom of Estiria?"
"…I don't know."
It was the truth.
He could not know what the future would bring.
The path Verden chose was such that he could not promise lightly.
Yet Calia smiled faintly.
For it was enough that he hadn't said he'd never return. Or perhaps, before he came, she would seek him first.
For now, just the possibility of meeting again someday was enough.
Still, this much she wanted a certain answer to.
"If we meet again, someday,"
Calia pressed his hand more firmly,her fingertips softly pushing down upon Verden's right hand.
"Will you tell me your real name?"
The name Asher had become so familiar, yet Verden had never shown a hint that it was an alias.
Until now, the only ones he hadn't fooled were transcendents.
But Calia was convinced.
Perhaps it was just intuition. Sometimes human senses pierced the essence, regardless of reason.
Verden did not deny it.
Instead, he left her with one promise.
"I will."
The night deepened.
The noble moonlight illuminated the two of them.
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