Chapter 219 - Chapter 218: Yaroibarov's Resolve
The second day of the second month, the first week.
A plain far removed from Modesse Forest.
The place where the performance test of the prototype weapon made of "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]" was conducted previously.
Gaginn-Gingaking-Ginginn-Ginginn-Ginginn-Gaginn!
Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa were exchanging blows at a terrifying speed.
It was so fast that even those accustomed to combat could not follow them with their eyes.
The unceasing metallic sound was so loud it made one want to plug their ears.
In fact, everyone actually watching was plugging their ears.
Only Mika was watching without plugging his ears, calmly manifesting "Hellish Ears [Big Ear]".
Among the people watching the duel with stunned expressions, only Kaerya was looking with a difficult face.
Those present were the three members of Kaerya's party and Trys.
And then, the members of the Rare Metal Research Team.
"Here I come, that far."
When Mika raised his hand and called out, the metallic sound echoing until then stopped.
Seeing the noise cease, everyone's faces relaxed with relief.
"I did hear the story, though..."
"You monsters... both of you."
Salomrassa and Gaeras muttered as if in a trance.
"How was it?"
Mika spoke to Yaroibarov, who was wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"It's good. The fact that it won't break even if I swing it for real is enough to be grateful for."
At Yaroibarov's comment, Mika gave a bitter smile.
Apparently, Yaroibarov sometimes broke the Halberd if he swung it for real.
Well, considering the weight and centrifugal force, the load on the tip must be considerable.
It wouldn't be surprising if the blade or the handle broke, but it shouldn't break that easily.
Normally...
"How about you, Ozendorwa-san?"
"Yes, very good. It is a wonderful finish."
Ozendorwa also seemed very satisfied.
If so, Mika, who was giving the gift, would be delighted.
The weapons given to both were heavily [Enchanted].
[Lightweight], [Hardening], and [Toughness] were the basic set, but for the two's weapons, [Hardening] and [Toughness] were applied strongly.
Otherwise, they would break.
Furthermore, as buffs, [Agility Enhancement], [Stamina Enhancement], [Endurance Enhancement], [Sharpness Enhancement], and so on, were piled on high.
The enhancement ratios seemed to differ by preference, but the materials for the [Enchantment] cost three hundred million Rats for both of them combined.
Apparently, the material market has been completely messed up.
Materials that could be bought for around a thousand Rats until now seem to have jumped to three to five thousand Rats.
Materials that were ten thousand Rats have exceeded one hundred thousand Rats.
They must surely be hated by all the smiths and armorers in the country.
While thinking such things, Mika also put on his bracelet.
This was a bracelet containing new ideas.
Rather than a prototype, it was more like the first mass-produced unit.
If it functions normally, he intended to take it back as is.
By the way, the materials for the [Enchantment] for this one cost four hundred million Rats.
He had bought too much of a single material at once, causing an outrageous price surge.
It wasn't enough just within the Kingdom of Ektrem, so he also ordered from the Trade Alliance and the Seven Duchies Federation.
Sorry about that.
"Well then, now for the main event."
Saying that, Mika walked toward Yaroibarov and the others holding a dull Short Sword.
This Short Sword was also made of pure "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]".
However, the blade was flattened.
Because Mika had not yet started on weapon development.
For now, he had prepared a dull Short Sword with only the basic set [Enchanted] so it wouldn't break even if Mika swung it with all his might.
"Here you come, you bastard."
"Really, nothing like last time will happen."
"Well now, how about it?"
As Mika advanced with a smug grin, Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa began to show ferocious smiles.
The three of them—Mika, Yaroibarov, and Ozendorwa—glared at each other with smiles.
Everyone in the gallery must surely be seeing sound effects like "Gogogogogogogo...!"
"Well, let's go for real to the extent that the opponent doesn't die. Since there is [Heal], most things will be cured."
As long as they don't die.
When Mika said this with an air of ease, Yaroibarov's temples twitched.
"Try it out, you!"
Taking Yaroibarov's voice as a signal, Mika moved away once.
Moving over a hundred meters in an instant, Mika charged at the two of them at once.
Mika passed between Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa, taking their backs in an instant.
But the two reacted immediately and dodged.
To be able to see this speed, the two of them are incredible.
Mika deliberately moved to a position sandwiched between the two, raining the Short Sword down on Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa on the left and right.
Gagigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigigiginnn!!!
He was just attacking alternately, but with the super-high-speed barrage, it would look to ordinary people like he was attacking simultaneously.
Or rather, can they even see it?
"Damn it, aaaaaaaah!!!"
"Kuh!"
The two standing on Mika's left and right were enduring with difficulty despite their suffering.
Mika spun at high speed between the two, weaving in slashes, diagonal cuts, upward cuts, and relentlessly continuing the barrage.
(Yes. Good.)
Mika was satisfied with the bracelet's performance.
This time, he further strengthened the effect of the bracelet's [Endurance Enhancement] and set [Physical Enhancement] to forty-five times.
Last time, he only applied [Endurance Enhancement], but this time there was another trick.
That was the wind attribute [Enchantment].
Mika had explained the principle of Sonic Boom to Adelriese.
That a Sonic Boom occurs when exceeding the speed of sound.
Mika judged this Sonic Boom to be "in the way."
Long-range attacks with Sonic Boom are a fairly standard attack method, but Mika already has several long-range attacks.
He didn't need such a thing now.
Rather, the Sonic Boom that damages the surroundings just by moving at high speed would narrow Mika's options.
So, he decided to eliminate the Sonic Boom.
Strictly speaking, it was occurring in a very narrow range, but he was using the wind attribute to calm that air movement.
This allowed Mika to exceed the speed of sound without hesitation.
Due to the effect of calming air movement, even with such movements, he scattered no Sonic Boom to the surroundings at all and could breathe.
It felt a bit heavy on the air movement and slightly suffocating, but being able to breathe was enough.
Normally, breathing properly would be impossible with such movements.
"Gu!?"
Ozendorwa could not withstand Mika's Short Sword, and it struck his upper arm.
(Sorry. I'll fix it immediately and use [Heal].)
With Ozendorwa out of the fight, Mika concentrated his attacks on Yaroibarov.
Mika moved at high speed around Yaroibarov, launching attacks from all directions.
"Gu, ku...!"
As the attacks concentrated, Yaroibarov also began to struggle desperately.
"U, O, ORIIYAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A flash from Yaroibarov aiming for a mutual kill.
But Mika easily dodged that attack and grabbed the handle of the Halberd.
Then, he pressed the Short Sword against his throat.
"That's it."
When Mika smiled brightly, Yaroibarov's body began to turn red.
Ah, is he angry?
Mika used [Heal] on Ozendorwa, then on Yaroibarov, and finally on himself.
"Adelriese-san! I passed!"
Mika sent a thumbs-up to Adelriese, and Adelriese returned it.
But only these two could afford to be so carefree.
The gallery fell silent at Mika, who had overwhelmed both Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa simultaneously.
"............Why can you do such [Physical Enhancement]?"
Amidst the silence, Salomrassa questioned Mika's [Physical Enhancement].
His complexion was so pale it could be called deathly.
(Salomrassa is a Mage, so a casual excuse won't work.)
As a senior Mage, he possessed knowledge of [Physical Enhancement] and such.
Thinking logically, he would notice something was wrong.
No matter how abundant the mana, this shouldn't cause mana exhaustion.
(Though, I must keep [Absorb] a secret.)
So, he ignored it.
"Your movements are truly too fast; beyond this point, my perception likely cannot catch up. Will increasing intelligence allow me to perceive even higher speeds?"
"Even more!?"
At Mika's proposal, Yaroibarov, listening from the side, let out a strange sound.
Completion of the Handmade, Legendary Weapon.
With the performance test finished, Mika presented weapons made of pure "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]" to Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa as they were.
By the way, there was still room for [Enchantment] on the two's weapons, and it seemed they would consider that in the future.
I recommend swords wreathed in fire or Halberds that create tornadoes when spun, you know?
However, even at this late stage, the two began saying, "Is it really okay to receive this?"
"Really, an object that exists is already dangerous. I'm worried about anyone other than the two of you being able to wield it."
He persuaded them.
It was a reason everyone could accept.
Thus, Kaerya's party and Trys declined the weapons, deeming them too dangerous.
It seems that after watching the performance test of Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa, they concluded they could not master them themselves.
It was definitely not my fault.
So, it was decided that items for buffs like the bracelet Mika held, and weapons and armor with lowered purity, would be sufficient.
And so, a small meeting was held right there.
The agenda was the distribution route for "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]".
"For now, we have somehow succeeded in spreading misinformation. We have also suppressed inquiries from the country, but I think it's only a matter of time."
Gaeras, who had requested the Information Broker Guild to spread false information as Mika's proxy, reported.
In reality, Gaeras had been tasked with instructing other proxies.
"It's troublesome because the monk keeps hiding in the back. Just announce it already."
Hearing Gaeras's report, Yaroibarov said to Mika with a bewildered expression.
"Mika-chan is of that age. There is also the position of a student. Normally, one is in a position to be protected by the country, but that makes one weak to the country. I understand wanting to avoid being exposed."
At Trys's opinion, Salomrassa also nodded.
His father crossed his arms, making a difficult face.
"However, honestly, hiding any longer isn't realistic, is it? We should take the next step assuming we will be exposed."
"The existence of the Alchemist can already be said to be exposed. Well, by the time negotiations were initiated, the country must have already assumed that."
"Ugh..."
At Ozendorwa's words, Mika held his breath.
Was that too hasty?
But the inquiries into the distribution route were getting severe, and I was never at ease about when we'd be exposed.
"The disguise that the Trade Alliance is the source must also have been seen through by now."
When Gaeras said that, everyone looked at Mika with troubled expressions.
Feeling the gazes from everyone, Mika made a sulky expression.
(...Well, I guess I have no choice but to spill the beans.)
If the country found out, in the worst case, Mika's freedom would be completely gone.
He would just become a chicken that produced rare metals, a convenient tool for Salvage from the Magic Bag.
Mika pressed his lips together and looked down.
Seeing Mika like that, Adelriese sighed.
"There's no helping it..."
Saying that, Adelriese smiled at Mika and then cast her gaze toward the three members of the Magic Tool Research Team.
Receiving Adelriese's gaze, the three nodded hesitantly.
"We will manage somehow. You don't need to worry about anything, boy."
"Manage... What are you going to do?"
Mika asked, sensing the unusual atmosphere of Adelriese and the others.
But Adelriese shook her head.
"You don't need to know. Like they say, a snake's path is for snakes."
Saying that, Adelriese began to prepare to leave.
Overcome by an indescribable anxiety, Mika tried to stop Adelriese.
But Gaeras stopped such Mika.
In the meantime, Adelriese and the others finished preparing to leave.
"We will contact you. Until then, we will be away."
Saying only that, the Magic Tool Research Team left.
Mika watched their backs, filled with anxiety.
That day ended with a dispersal as it was.
But Mika called out to Gaeras and asked him to make time.
Naturally, what he wanted to ask was about Adelriese just now.
What exactly was Adelriese planning to do?
Gaeras seemed to have some idea, so he decided to talk in a place where no one else was around.
And so, they arrived at a dilapidated house in District 3.
Gaeras, sitting opposite the table, had a troubled expression.
"I'll say this first. Even if Gaeras doesn't tell me, I will find out no matter how much money I scatter. I'll use other information brokers or whatever."
When Mika declared that, Gaeras closed his eyes and thought for a moment.
Then, he let out a sigh and looked at Mika.
"What do you want to know?"
"What Adelriese-san is planning to do. You have some idea, right?"
"Probably... well, that's about it."
When Mika prompted him with his gaze, Gaeras sighed again.
"They run the Mogli Magic Tool Shop, don't they?"
"I heard that."
"If so, I think they relied on 'Soiree'."
"Soiree?"
"Soiree".
After preface-ing that Gaeras only knew it by rumor, he explained.
The pinnacle of the underworld rooted in the Kingdom of Ektrem.
Guilds and groups of those who cannot do business openly, such as Assassin Guilds and Thieves' Guilds, gather there, and it seems they adjust things so that useless conflicts do not occur among those living in the shadows.
The Information Broker Guild is actually said to belong to this Soiree.
According to Gaeras,
"There is a department that obtains information through improper methods."
That was what he said.
It seems the Information Broker Guild is also divided into public and private sides.
"An information organization that doesn't understand the affairs of the back side would be useless, wouldn't it?"
Gaeras said that, but even belonging to the same Information Broker Guild, one does not know what the back side is doing.
Gaeras hears a little about the affairs of the back side, but he cannot know the deepest depths.
It is rumored that only the Guild Master grasps both completely.
Also, some parts of slave traders and brothels have formed their own unions and belong to this Soiree.
Or rather, it seems they are under their umbrella.
"You mean they intend to leak my information to such a place?"
In any form, if Adelriese and the others spoke of "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]", one could easily trace it back to Mika from there.
"They probably won't do something so direct. Probably, they will consult with the boss of their affiliated place."
Not speaking at the Soiree gathering, but consulting with those who can participate in the Soiree.
Through that person, they would likely work on the Soiree.
"This time, the topic is the topic, so they will probably demand to know the identity of the Alchemist. However, Adelriese won't accept that. If that happens..."
"Send over 'Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]'?"
"Something like that. Since it is such an item, no amount of money offered can match the actual goods. There is a possibility they will mention the high-purity 'Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]' as a bargaining chip."
"That's fine, but can that person really be trusted?"
When Mika asked that, Gaeras gave a bitter smile.
"No one trusts such people. The fools who trusted them are in the ground. Only the cautious survive."
If one trusted them carelessly, they would just be stripped bare and finished off.
It seems to be a transaction with such a party.
"They cannot be trusted, but they are sharp regarding profit and keep their mouths shut. And surprisingly, they know their place. They know well that greed destroys the self. They probably see such people often."
To Mika, they seemed like the type of people he absolutely did not want to get involved with.
Well, perhaps they could not survive otherwise.
In a gathering of Soiree, where veterans of the sea and mountains gathered.
"As long as one is careful, it is not a bad option. It is far more reliable than us scratching our heads with our limited wisdom. The boss will also consider it profitable to have someone connected to the legendary Alchemist nearby."
"Indeed..."
Mika leaned back against the chair, his face falling.
By insisting that Mika did not want to reveal his true identity, he had forced Adelriese and the others to bear no small risk.
While worrying about that, Gaeras spoke to him.
"Boy."
Called by Gaeras, Mika lifted his face slightly.
Seeing Mika's state, Gaeras gave a bitter smile.
"You don't need to make such a face, boy."
"But..."
"No one thinks of pushing the risk onto just you, boy. Yaroibarov-san says you should announce it, but he says that knowing the country will lock you up and use you to generate 'Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]' until you are worn out."
"He says that knowing that? That's a bit terrible, isn't it?"
"It's not that terrible."
Saying that, Gaeras laughed.
"With that in mind, if the country really does come and do that, they will charge in to rescue you. Just like they charged into the Great Cathedral."
"Hah...?"
Charge in? Where?
There is even a possibility of being imprisoned in the Royal Castle.
"Because you try to hide, Yaroibarov-san cannot help you. If you came out openly, Yaroibarov-san could also boldly step into negotiations. With a Halberd in hand. Even if the King is the opponent."
Does he intend to wage war against the country alone!
At Gaeras's prediction, Mika was left speechless.
"Please trust everyone more, boy."
Spoken gently by Gaeras like that, Mika hung his head and covered his face with both hands.
"............I'm sorry."
And so, he muttered quietly.