CH 200

“So why, please go and investigate the Golden Dragon’s Nest.” (Kevin)

“That was sudden.”

That was the first thing he said to me when I entered that room first thing in the morning after being summoned by the Clan Master for the first time in a while.

I feel like we’ve had this kind of exchange before.

“I was originally going to ask you to go, but the duke requested me to have your party join us.” (Kevin)

“Our party?”

“You’re working with Cyrus right now, right?” (Kevin)

“Yes… but please explain it in detail.”

The following is what Clan Master told me.

The Golden Dragon flew out of its nest for the first time in decades, and the duke and he discussed how to deal with it.

After lengthy discussions with all parties concerned, it was decided that the Clan and the Duke’s Family would conduct a joint top-secret investigation of the Golden Dragon’s Nest.

The road to the Golden Dragon’s Nest is secret, so they had to carefully select members we could trust.

The first thing that came to mind when I heard this story was, “Why me?”

“Why me? I think there are more qualified people than a newcomer like me for such a sensitive request…”

Normally speaking, there was no way they would entrust such an important mission to a newcomer. I have a bit of a bad feeling about it…

“You met my old man, didn’t you? In the dwarf village.” (Kevin)

“Well, that’s right.”

I met him, I mean, I was living with Borok-san for about a month.

“The road to the Golden Dragon’s Nest is near the dwarves’ village. It’s been kept secret for a long time because of the Death Cave and other dangerous places there.” (Kevin)

“Of course, it is.”

“Then, you appeared in such a place.” (Kevin)

“…”

I’m starting to understand what he’s trying to say.

Well, I’m right, it’s strange…

“And you’ve also got my old man’s recommendation and your skill with restorative magic that saved my old man’s life. When I consider all of those things together, you’re the right person for the job.” (Kevin)

“I see…”

“Well, I don’t know who you are, but if my old man says you’re okay, you’re okay.” (Kevin)

“…”

Hmmm, maybe I was being too wary from the beginning?

Is this because it was all written in Borok-san’s letter, or is it all right because Borok-san took care of everything within that letter? Should I be grateful to Borok-san as it is not a dead-end secret development for the time being? It’s a difficult place to be in.

“The departure is in two days, so get ready. If you have any questions, ask Mimi. I’m sure you understand, but this mission is top secret.” (Kevin)

“I understand.”

With that, I left the Clan Master’s room.

“Excuse me, can you make an attribute weapon?”

“Oh, hey there you are.” (Ulke)

The first thing that came to mind when I was thinking about preparations for exploring the Golden Dragon’s Nest was the creation of Attribute Arms.

There may be other more important preparations, but watching the knights practice, I wanted to try my hand at Magical Arms and Attribute Arms too.

As for Magical Arms, I don’t have enough money and I don’t know where I can get them, but as for Attribute Arms, I have the materials and can have them made for 10 gold coins. I have some money now because I just received a bounty from the duke. So, I immediately went to the blacksmith store, but the dwarven master told me to ask Grandma Ulke’s store directly. He said that Attribute Arms are made by alchemists, so if you have the finished materials, it is quicker to ask an alchemist.

“I need you to make it by tomorrow using this weapon and a D-rank Dark Crystal, is that okay?”

“This is another rare material you have brought with you. Well, I can make it in no time, but it will cost eight gold coins.” (Ulke)

It is cheaper than I thought. I guess the two gold coins are like a commission taken when you go through a blacksmith.

I took the gold coins out of the cloth bag I use as a wallet and laid them out on the counter.

After picking it up, Grandma Ulke started preparing.

“Listen, when you make a weapon into an attribute weapon, it means that you fuse the attribute to the weapon. Once you put an attribute on a weapon, you can never take it off again.” (Ulke)

“Yes, I understand.”

Is there something that could make you want to add or remove attributes? …Well, I may regret it if I get an A-rank Magic Crystal after attaching the attribute to a precious high-quality sword with a B-rank Magic Crystal. Thinking about it, is it a waste to use a D-rank magic crystal to attach the attribute? Should I at least make it with C-rank magic crystals? But I don’t know when I can get such a thing, and I don’t have the money. So this is all I can do for now.

While I was thinking about this, Grandma Ulke picked up the Dark Magic Crystal and pressed it against the blade. Then, just as I had seen before, a reddish-purple string came out from the tip of Grandma Ulke’s finger, entangled with the dagger and the magic crystal, and the magic crystal sank into the dagger.

The Dark Crystal Short Sword shines with a dark glow.

“This is amazing. The D-rank Magic Crystal is so etherized, I never thought that the Magic Crystal is compatible with the magic power in this weapon.” (Ulke)

“Etherized?”

“Yes, that’s right. This is a fusion of arms and attributes. The more compatible the material is with magic and the more concentrated the Magic Crystal is, the more etherized it becomes. I have heard they said that an Attribute Arm made with the best materials and the best Magic Crystals becomes completely etherized and ceases to have a physical existence.” (Ulke)

“Its physical existence is gone?”

The story is getting into an area that is too difficult to understand.

Does “cease to exist physically” mean that it ceases to be an entity? Does it mean that it ceases to be a thing that exists? No. It’s a piece of equipment, right? Isn’t it no different from the transparent clothes worn by some naked emperor?

But it certainly seems as if the transparency of the dark crystal dagger has increased. The color hasn’t faded, but it’s as if its presence has diminished. Does this mean that it no longer has a physical presence?

“Here, take it.” (Ulke)

“Oh, thank you!”

I pick up the Dark Crystal Short Sword on the counter table. Then, a pale black aura-like thing wrapped to the sword.

Is this dark attribute magic power? I feel that the atmosphere is similar to that of Dalita-san’s sword that I saw the other day. It looks like a normal sword, but when a person holds it, it has a colored aura.

I was very curious, so I touched the blade of the sword fearfully. But nothing happened.

“Ah, you can see the magical power. There is no real harm to the magical power that covers the sword. The magical power is not magic. Magic is not magic. For example, if you touch a Fire Attribute Arms, you won’t get burned. If it had such an effect, you wouldn’t be able to turn your armor into Arms with that trait.” (Ulke)

“Of course… That’s right!”

Oh yeah. So, I guess this black aura is invisible to others.

The only people who can see it are those who have eyes that can see magic power. To the average person, Attribute Arms and the ordinary equipment look almost the same.

“But don’t worry, its ability as a weapon has been improved.” (Ulke)

“Yes!”

I thanked Grandma Ulke and left the store.

Now I want to try this attribute weapon right away! I’ve got to go… but right now I need to prepare more things than that.

Head to the market and buy more dried meat and preserved foods.

This time I’ll just replenish emergency food and salt, and keep the grape wine low. At the worst, I have enough water to last me for a while, and I know the party will provide food.

“And what else do I need…”

Is there anything? I don’t think we need anything else, since I already have bought most of the things I need for camping in Rankfurt.

“I don’t think I need anything else. Alright! Let’s go for a trial slash!”

I go out through the south gate and head for the nearby forest.

There were still several adventurers cutting the grass, so I moved to an area where there was no sign of people while checking the surroundings with Magi Location.

After checking my surroundings visually as well, I pulled out the dagger at my waist and let the magic flow through me.

The Dark Crystal Short Sword, which was surrounded by a pale dark aura, gradually took on a black aura.

“Hmmm……”

As I recall, when I used it before it became an attribute weapon, it was clothed in a reddish-black color of magic power, but this time it is clothed in a deep black color.

“Is this the darkness attribute’s magic power?”

I am not sure if it is converted to dark attribute magic power or not, or how that works, but it seemed to automatically become dark attribute magic power when magic power flowed through it because it was converted to an attribute weapon. Certainly, this would make it difficult to use magic other than that attribute.

“Light, illuminate my way, [Light Source].”

I tried to invoke [Light Source] on the tip of the Dark Crystal Short Sword.

“…?”

However, the moment the magic power reached the grip of the dagger, it stopped and the magic did not activate. As I recall, before it was converted into an Attribute Arms, it was difficult to use and could barely activate the spell, but this time it seems that it cannot even be activated.

Next, I take out the Orichalcum ring from the magic bag and put it on.

“Darkness, take hold [Weight Reduction].”

At first, I tried using the Darkness attribute [Weight Reduction] from the tip of my sword against a nearby rock, and it seemed to trigger more easily than when I had used it before.

“I see.”

This seems to have become a weapon completely dedicated to the Darkness Attribute. I think it is the most incompatible and unrelated weapon for me, to say the least. …Why did I make such a thing? It was also 8 gold coins. No, it’s simply because I got interested in it. This can’t be helped.

I regained my composure and poured magic power into the Dark Crystal Short Sword. Then, facing a tree about 10 cm in length, I swung it out from the side.

With a light cracking sound, the tree fell to the ground with a thud.

“Yes, the power has certainly increased.”

This is proof of the fact that how it cut wood is certainly more powerful than ever before, it is possible to cut it without any resistance.

I think it’s a good thing that I made an Attribute Arms. It has definitely increased my strength.