Chapter 17: The Long Road to the Imperial Capital – 36
“The items obtained from the Dungeon are fundamentally owned by the party that discovered them, so there’s no obligation to present them to the Imperial Family just because they’re newly discovered materials.”
The next day, upon returning to the Dwarf Village and consulting with Lady Dorozitte about the handling of the Abyss Metal Sphere, I received this response.
“From what I gathered from Mariane’s appraisal, it seems like something humans can’t process. In the end, it’s just a heavy sphere. While it certainly has high rarity, wouldn’t offering it just add weight to the treasury? It would be better for a hero to make effective use of it.”
With that encouragement, I headed straight to see the Village Chief, Mr. Lianos.
“Ah, Souji! What brings you here so suddenly?”
“Actually, it’s about this…”
“What in the world is this…? It looks like metal, but…”
“Yes, it appears to be a metal called Abyss Metal. According to the appraisal, it’s a special metal that can’t be processed at all, and it’s actually heavier than Dark Metal.”
“That’s quite a troublesome metal, indeed. So, what do you want to do with it?”
“It’s about the mace I’m having made…”
“Wait, wait! Are you suggesting we use this as a weight inside?”
“That’s correct.”
“Goodness! I’ve never even heard of Abyss Metal! So, it’s a completely newly discovered material, and you want to use it as a weight? How extravagant!”
“It seems to be a metal that won’t be useful for anything else.”
At that, Mr. Lianos laughed heartily, slapping my back.
“Heroes really do think of the most outrageous things! Well, it’s our job to create something that meets, no, exceeds the customer’s wishes. I’ll gladly take on the task!”
And thus, it was confirmed that my weapon would become an unprecedented super weapon.
I sold the large quantity of metal ingots obtained from the Dungeon at the Dwarf Village guild, but due to their overwhelming number, they were piled up in front of the guild. Seeing this, the dwarves began another drinking spree.
The monsters in the mining Dungeon are perfect for training skills, so I plan to enter several more times, but I hope we won’t have a feast every time.
Four days later, our weapons were completed.
I heard that the crafting of my weapon had been quite a challenge, requiring the temporary hiring of several strong adventurers from the dwarves.
Regardless, we now stood in the workshop of Village Chief Lianos.
“First, here are the gauntlets. The ones for the front line are made entirely of Orichalcum, while the ones for the back line are crafted from Mithril for lightweight handling. Both received a ‘ +2’ rating from appraisal, so they should be quite good.”
Laid out on the table were five pairs of heavy gauntlets gleaming in a pale gold, and four pairs of bluish-silver gauntlets.
Each was designed differently according to its intended use. For instance, mine was made thick for defense and could also be used for striking. The ones for Larni and Mariane were slender and easy to handle, while those for Karma and Sakurahime were a middle ground.
On the other hand, the Mithril ones were lightweight and slender, designed for the back line. They seemed to be crafted for delicate tasks, showcasing the artisan’s skill.
“And here is the Orichalcum longsword. The appraisal revealed it to be named ‘Purple Wolf.’ It boasts the effects of ‘Herculean Strength +3,’ ‘Slash +3,’ and ‘Honshin +3.’ Without a doubt, it’s one of the finest pieces I’ve forged.”
“This is incredible! Just holding it makes me feel empowered!”
Larni couldn’t contain herself and grasped the sword, her eyes sparkling. The name ‘Purple Wolf’ suits her perfectly, given her purple hair.
“And over here is the Orichalcum naginata. The entire handle is made of Orichalcum, making it easy for women to wield. It’s named ‘Blizzard,’ and it has the effects of ‘Slash +3,’ ‘Honshin +3,’ and ‘Sword Acceleration +3.’ This too is of the highest quality.”
“I feel this magnificent weapon may be too much for me… but I shall strive to become a worthy user of ‘Blizzard!'”
Sakurahime held the naginata with both hands, making a serious declaration. If I were to comment that ‘Sakurahime’ and ‘Blizzard’ together evoke the image of ‘Cherry Blossom Blizzard,’ I might receive a cold stare.
“And this here is your mace, Souji. Thanks to embedding the Abyss Metal Sphere at the tip, it has become a terrifying weapon that even ten strong adventurers can barely move.”
Resting directly on the floor was a massive mace, nearly two meters long.
While the grip was slightly thinner than the previous ones, it grew thicker towards the tip, ultimately resembling a utility pole. At the end, a polyhedron with a diameter of about 70 to 80 centimeters sat as the hammerhead.
Of course, the entire weapon was made of solid Orichalcum, its pale golden sheen beautiful yet exuding an unusual presence.
“The appraisal named it ‘That Which Equalizes All Things.’ It has ‘Adamantine Strength +5’ and ‘Super Impact +5,’ two high-level skills, and it’s an extraordinary piece. Though, the most astonishing aspect is its weight.”
As he stroked his beard, Mr. Lianos glanced at me, seemingly urging me to “give it a try.”
I gripped the handle of the mace, with its profound name. As expected from a master craftsman, it was remarkably easy to hold despite its thickness.
I concentrated my strength. Indeed, it was heavy. Just by appearance, it looked heavy, but I felt it was about ten times heavier than it appeared.
I planted my feet firmly and lifted it in one go. Strangely, once I lifted it, it felt slightly lighter. Perhaps it was due to the excellent weight balance; I couldn’t help but admire the craftsmanship.
“To lift a mace that ten strong dwarves can barely carry with one hand… what kind of strength do you possess?”
Mr. Lianos stared at me with wide eyes, stroking his beard repeatedly. Some of the apprentices nearby had their jaws dropped in astonishment.
I swung it a few times, and instead of a ‘whoosh,’ a deep ‘whoom’ echoed each time. I could feel the terrifying destructive power concentrated at its tip, sending chills down my spine.
“This mace is incredibly easy to grip and swing. It’s overwhelming to think about the level of skill that has gone into it.”
“I’m glad you understand. However, for us, witnessing that mace being wielded would be enough to make our souls soar. If you swing that mace with all your might, I fear even a castle would crumble in a single blow.”
While I had previously managed to crack a castle wall with ‘Shockwave,’ I was curious about what would happen if I unleashed a full-powered ‘Shockwave’ with this mace. However, I worried that testing it in the Dungeon might endanger my party members.
“By the way, could you try holding that shield at the same time? It’s designed to balance when both are held together.”
“Understood.”
I summoned the Immovable Fortress Wall and held it with both hands. Both weapons were of extraordinary size, but by using my whole body to swing them, they didn’t interfere with each other. This was something I could manage with practice.
After swinging the mace several times, I indeed found it easier to maneuver than when holding just the mace. It should require double the strength, yet it felt more natural, showcasing the brilliance of balance. The path of weaponry is far deeper than a novice can measure.
“It certainly feels easier to move when holding both. You’ve done a splendid job.”
“Ha ha! I knew it! A true weapon craftsman must think that far ahead! But still, I’d love to see you wield that mace and shield against monsters.”
“It’s a shame I can’t show you. I’ll do my best to ensure the rumors reach your ears, Master.”
Perhaps due to my excitement over the new weapon, I said something rather out of character.
At that moment, Freinir turned her sparkling eyes toward me.
“Souji-sama, your current appearance is truly that of the god Thor. The great feat of restoring order to this chaotic world can only be achieved by you.”
“No, Frei, I’m just strong, that’s all…”
“That strength is what makes you wonderful, Souji-sama. I am grateful to the God Archulum for allowing me to walk alongside you.”
Freinir began to pray toward me. As her entire being began to glow softly with the ‘Divine Spirit’ skill, I felt a strange sense of dread, as if some peculiar rumors might spread. Mr. Lianos and the apprentices were left speechless, murmuring “Oh…”
Seeing this, Larni stepped in with a chuckle, trying to halt Freinir.
“Freir, if you keep this up, Souji might really become a god!”
“I believe Souji-sama is already a god.”
“But if he’s a god, he can’t get married, you know?”
“Uh… well, that’s…”
Freinir suddenly faltered, glancing at me with trepidation, but I had no idea how to respond.
“Ah, well… I might consider marriage in the future, so being treated like a god could be troublesome…”
I tried to steer the conversation away from the god topic with vague words, and Larni unexpectedly winked and gave me a thumbs-up. I noticed Sfenia and Shizuna were also looking at me with intense gazes, realizing too late that my words had been careless.
“…Well, it’s not something that’s happening soon. Anyway, Frei, I’m just an ordinary human on the inside. I appreciate your feelings, but I’d like you to treat me normally.”
“Souji-sama… I understand. If that’s what you wish, I shall comply. However, I want to witness your journey until the very end. Please allow me that.”
“Of course. I want to see how you will grow in the future as well.”
I patted Freinir’s head to smooth things over.
The atmosphere turned a bit strange at the end, but we had significantly boosted our party’s strength.
With ‘Soul’s Guidance’ now at an A-rank party level, I felt there were few who could match us. However, the true test would be seeing the adventurers gathered at the Imperial Capital’s martial arts tournament.
First, we would return to the city of Zanzagilium to greet Marquis Zanzagir, and then we would finally head to the Imperial Capital.
But before that, I wanted to test the power of ‘That Which Equalizes All Things.’ Such things always stir the soul, no matter how old one gets.