Chapter 354 - Episode 346: An Unexpected Discovery ③
Pence was the first to step into the discovered hidden room.
Holding a light-producing magic tool, he poked the floor and walls with his sword to check for traps. Once it was determined that there were no abnormalities at the entrance, Noein and the others followed.
The narrow room had shelves lining the left and right walls, making it feel even tighter than its actual area. Since it was quite cramped for everyone to enter, Yuri, who entered last, stopped near the entrance.
"What on earth is this? A staff?"
Standing at the front and entering the back of the room while illuminating the interior with the magic tool, Pence muttered in a puzzled voice.
Lined up on the shelves were, just as Pence said, things that looked like staves. There were about a dozen in total. Geometric patterns were drawn on them, and large gemstones of strange colors appeared to be embedded in the tips, along with various other modifications.
Anyone with a certain amount of historical knowledge would know what these were.
"Oh my, this is terrible..."
"...Whoa. These are magic tools for attack magic."
Clara covered her mouth in surprise, and Noein wore an expression mixed with joy and exasperation.
Both of them knew from their studies what attack magic tools looked like. Noein had even seen them firsthand during the Betumia War. Although, the closest he had seen them was after they had been smashed to pieces, slammed from the sky into the ground.
The reason Pence, who had been on the same battlefield at that time, didn't recognize the identity of the items on the shelves was likely because of the chaos of combat back then, leaving him no opportunity to closely examine even the destroyed magic tools.
"All of these are attack magic tools...?"
"...Haha, this is quite something."
Yuri was speechless, and Pence let out a bitter smile. Even if they didn't know exactly what the physical objects were, both of them understood their value.
It is said that attack magic tools were produced in small numbers during the very final days of the Zeetsgard Empire. A magic tool craftsman, hailed as a genius of the era, established the manufacturing method, but that technology was lost amidst the chaos following the empire's split, and because the production period was short, the number of existing items is extremely limited.
The key is the stone at the tip of the staff, and the color varies slightly depending on what kind of magic it fires. It is thought that some kind of processing was applied to fuse magic stones and gemstones to create a core that releases powerful magic, but that processing method is completely unknown today. This is the primary reason why attack magic tools have become products of lost technology.
It is said that there are fewer than fifty attack magic tools existing in the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. And now, over a dozen more magic tools have been discovered.
Their value—if there were just a few—would likely equal the annual income of the Archduke House of Arqvist, in other words, the national budget of the Archduchy. Of course, their power as weapons is also considerable. They are too beneficial to be easily handled.
"But can these even be used in the first place?"
"They probably can... The attack magic tools existing in the kingdom are apparently still practical even after several hundred years, whether due to the magical power of the stones at the tips or some special processing."
"Attack magic tools are not very resistant to impact, but they are said to be strong against deterioration over time. These are likely fine as well. They were in a place with no sunlight, wind, or rain, and they look pristine," Clara added to Noein's words, and everyone sighed.
There were likely a large number of functional attack magic tools right before their eyes. When a discovery is this massive, all that comes out are sighs.
"...Noein-sama, Clara-sama. Please look at this."
Matilda picked something up from the shadow of a shelf near the entrance and handed it to Noein.
It was a piece of parchment. Noein unfolded it, Clara peeked in from the side, and Pence illuminated the parchment from behind with the light magic tool.
"Clara, can you read this too?"
"This is... probably something like a note addressed to someone. I cannot read the name, but... 'We shall depart first'... or perhaps 'We are leaving.' After that... I believe it says something to the effect of 'Follow us' and 'Use these.'"
Hearing the paraphrase, Noein thought for a moment and spoke.
"I think I can vaguely imagine the circumstances."
Just then, Pence, who had been looking around while illuminating the parchment, spoke up.
"Oops, there's another piece of parchment over here. My lady, please."
Pence recovered a piece of parchment that had been tucked away as if to hide it behind a shelf at the very back of the room and handed it to Clara.
"This is..."
Having said that much, Clara fell silent.
"Clara?"
"...Probably, the manufacturing method for the 'Jet-Black Steel' mentioned in the other parchment is written here. I don't understand the blacksmithing terminology, but if I return to the mansion and translate it while cross-referencing literature, I might understand it in more detail."
As Clara looked up, Noein replied, "I see, thank you," while wearing a bitter smile.
Looking beside him, Matilda was showing a rare look of tension, and Yuri and Pence had expressions as if they were unsure how to react to the current situation.
Their heads were already full just from the attack magic tools, and now they had picked up the manufacturing method for some unknown alloy. In this narrow room, the things they had discovered were far too significant.
"For now, what should we do?"
"...Let us mobilize the Guard soldiers to recover all the parchments and magic tools. We shall transport them to the Archduke House of Arqvist while hiding them in the beds of wagons. I will strictly order the soldiers once more not to speak of the discovered items. As for the villagers of Lagara Village, including the village chief... it would be best to deceive them by saying only that some items of historical value were found. Since there may be other hidden rooms, we should continue the investigation while keeping the Guard on watch here."
"Yes, that's best. Then, let's move them out for now."
Noein, whose head was a bit tired from the succession of abnormal events, adopted Yuri's precise proposal in its entirety.
.....
It was around the time the sun was beginning to set when the transport of the magic tools and parchments was completed.
The magic tools were hidden for the time being in a semi-basement warehouse located at the furthest depths of the mansion, and the parchments were placed in the hidden safe in Noein's office. After finishing those tasks, Noein, Matilda, Clara, Yuri, and Pence entered the conference room.
"...That workshop probably wasn't just a place for making that alloy called Jet-Black Steel."
"Yes. Along with the Jet-Black Steel, it was likely a base for manufacturing attack magic tools."
"Right. Though, as expected, the manufacturing method for the magic tools wasn't left behind."
"They likely feared the possibility of the manufacturing method falling into the hands of hostile forces... The West Zeetsgard Empire must have been plagued by rebellions and arbitrary independence of local powerful clans since its founding."
"Given what the items are. Even if I were the person in charge of production, I wouldn't leave the magic tool manufacturing method on paper; I'd keep it only in my head."
Because of the nature of the discussion, the only person entering and leaving the conference room was the steward, Kimberly. While she quickly placed tea in front of everyone, Noein exchanged these words with Clara.
"So, regarding the future... for now, if possible, I want to conduct a certain amount of research before we depart for Lichthagen and summarize what to explain to His Majesty Oscar. If we hide it and it's found out later, it will lead to misunderstandings. There are about two weeks left until departure, right?"
"Yes. I have left some leeway in the schedule, so there will be no problem even if we delay by a few days."
Matilda answered Noein's question immediately.
"Thanks, Matilda. Then we have a maximum of half a month. What we need to do by then is..."
"First, it would be the confirmation of whether the attack magic tools are actually usable."
"Ah, that's right. That's the top priority. Like ordinary magic tools, they use magic stones as the driving force to operate, right?"
"Yes. There are several descriptions in the history books of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg regarding the test-firing of attack magic tools, but the magical power required for operation... probably, converted to current magic stone values, it wouldn't be less than several hundred Rebro. Per shot."
As Noein nodded to Yuri, Clara explained.
"Ahaha, we can't exactly fire them casually. But it can't be helped for the sake of confirmation. Let's try test-firing each of the twelve magic tools about once or twice."
"Where shall we do the test-firing? It's too dangerous to fire them at the military headquarters' training ground. The sound and light would be conspicuous."
"Ah, that's also a problem... Firing them in our garden is a bit much. The testing ground of the direct-managed workshop would also be dangerous."
"It's a bit odd since we've already transported them to the capital city of Noeina, but I think that ruin would be best. There were some open spaces left, and in that place, there's no worry about being seen by anyone."
Hearing Yuri's proposal, Noein raised an eyebrow slightly.
"That's an option. In that open space, even if the aim slips by chance, there's nothing to break. Let's do that... Also, we need to conduct a more detailed investigation of the ruins themselves."
"I'll supervise that and have the Guard do it. Should I have them check for the existence of hidden rooms, basements, or attics?"
"Yes, please. Could I also ask you to handle the test-firing of the magic tools?"
"Understood. Leave it to me."
With the tasks to be performed at the ruins decided, Noein turned to Clara.
"Then, there's the decryption of the parchments. Especially the one where the manufacturing method of Jet-Black Steel is written."
"If it's a text in that level of classical language, I believe I can decipher the general content if I gather materials from the mansion's study and my laboratory. I will summarize a general overview by the time of departure for Lichthagen."
Understanding what was required of her, Clara nodded.
"However, for the decryption of the Jet-Black Steel, may I also borrow Damian-san's help? Understanding the technical aspects of blacksmithing and specialized terminology is difficult for me."
"Right. If he hears about an alloy from an ancient great nation, Damian will surely be delighted to cooperate... Matilda, Damian isn't busy at the moment, is he?"
"That should be the case. The Ballista for the next export was finished a short while ago, so there are no pressing deadlines at the direct-managed workshop currently."
Matilda, who also serves as the liaison with high-ranking officials as Noein's adjutant, answered her master's question.
"Then, starting tomorrow, let's have Damian help Clara. I think that's about it for what needs to be done... As for the rest, I'll think about how to tell His Majesty Oscar. So that we can monopolize the profits from the ruins within the Archduchy."
While showing a fearless smile as if to hide today's fatigue, Noein concluded the discussion.