Chapter 125
Sieg showed the Meteoric Iron armor set, leaving Golyn with a bewildered expression.
"My goodness, to forge armor out of such precious Meteoric Iron..."
Though Golyn spoke in disbelief, na's eyes keenly examined the armor from various angles.
"Will this suffice?"
Sieg asked, concerned.
Golyn nodded in agreement. "It's not made of pure meteor, but if melted down, it will yield just enough of what we need."
Hearing Golyn's assessment, Sieg nodded appreciatively.
'But this is going more smoothly than expected.'
The Meteoric Iron armor set, which had emerged from the random box given by the system, provided timely help to him unexpectedly.
Despite benefiting from the system, Sieg couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that events seemed to unfold as if they were foretold.
'It feels like someone is deliberately assisting me... Am I being too sensitive?'
Without a clear understanding of the system's true nature, Sieg found it difficult to be entirely content.
At that moment, while analyzing the Meteoric Iron armor, Golyn addressed Sieg.
"There is another problem left unresolved."
Na pointed to the furnace nearby.
"To refine Meteoric Iron and Orichalcum, we need to create the 'purest fire'. However, it can't be achieved with the current furnace."
"What do you mean by the purest fire? Is it something like a magic furnace?"
Sieg's question prompted Golyn to click na's tongue in disapproval.
"A magic furnace? You sound like that Gelion fellow."
"So, you know him. Gelion actually crafted that furnace to forge my sword."
Hearing that, Golyn looked bewildered.
"What? He realized that preposterous idea? What lunatic would do that!"
Sieg, who was indeed the one who had requested the furnace to be made, felt slightly self-conscious.
He shifted the topic.
"If it's not that, then what exactly is required to create the purest fire?"
Nodding, Golyn explained.
"Fire, among the four elements, is formed last. This means it comprises a complex combination of various elements. Yet, pure fire retains its primal state without any mixture of other elements."
Sieg tilted his head, contemplating Golyn's words.
'Somehow, this sounds quite similar to what Master Kaiser once said.'
While learning the Elemental Sword, Sieg had found the Energy of Water to be the most challenging, whereas mastering the Energy of Fire came more easily.
Golyn elaborated on the definition of pure fire and the intricate process needed for its creation.
Sieg, observing Golyn immersing entirely in na's explanation, approached the furnace.
And then, he summoned elemental energy and cast Energy of Fire.
Whoosh!
As Sieg infused elemental energy, the blazing flames gradually turned white, he asked Golyn.
"Is this what you referred to as the purest fire?"
Golyn stopped talking and turned towards Sieg upon hearing the question.
"You think pure fire is just conjured like that?! It requires a tremendously complex process... Oh my gosh! It really is the pure fire!"
Golyn moved na's head closer to the flames, startled, and inquired incredulously while looking between the flames and Sieg.
"D-Did you create this?"
"I tried, thinking it might work."
"Damn it, how does a human create pure fire?"
Sieg pondered on how to explain and decided on the truth.
'Master Kaiser always wanted his legacy widely known, after all.'
Extending his hand towards the furnace, the pure fire rose onto Sieg's palm.
Golyn observed in awe.
"Goodness, is this magic of some kind?"
"No, it's called Elemental Energy."
"Elemental Energy? What is that?"
"Although it'll sound unrealistic, would you believe it if I say it's the power of Hero King Kaiser?"
"K-Kaiser?"
Golyn's face twisted upon hearing Sieg's words.
Ignoring Golyn's doubtful reaction, Sieg continued speaking matter-of-factly.
"I have inherited the legacy of Hero King Kaiser. Elemental Energy is a unique power of the hero king."
"You're asking me to believe that? He's supposed to be a mythical figure."
"You saw it earlier, didn't you? My odd, sky-blue eyes."
"What? How does that represent the hero king's face? It looked like the annoying face of some elf!"
"Half-elves or elves, the vibes are quite similar."
Though initially skeptical, Golyn had no alternative but to accept Sieg's words after witnessing the fiercely burning pure fire in the furnace.
"Elemental Energy, huh? Can you possibly teach it to me?"
"Teaching it isn't the hard part, hmm... By any chance, can dwarves manipulate mana?"
"Mana? You mean magical power?"
"No, just mana itself, the source of magical power."
"Boy, how do you simply manipulate that? Isn't magical power what makes it usable?"
"Then you can't learn this."
"Damn it... Let me try anyway. Damned mana! I'll figure it out! Right now!"
Amused yet acknowledging Golyn's determination, Sieg explained how to perceive mana.
Golyn attempted to sense the mana as instructed by Sieg.
"Hmm!"
Na understood fire and metal better than anyone else, so Sieg thought at least na could handle the Elemental Energy of fire well. Yet, Golyn couldn't quite perceive the mana.
Remembering what Kaiser once stated, Sieg reflected.
'Why didn't I pass the Elemental Sword to elves? I tried, but they could sense mana well but couldn't convert it to Elemental Energy.'
In contrast, dwarves seemed unable to perceive mana while comprehending Elemental Energy.
'Now I see why no one could master the Elemental Sword for 2,000 years.'
Eventually, Golyn gave up trying to sense the mana.
"Damn it, if magical power comes from mana, why can't I grasp it!"
Golyn looked at Sieg and spoke.
"I have no choice then. You need to assist me."
"How would you like me to help?"
"I need you to act as the furnace by generating the fire."
In essence, na requested Sieg to keep the pure fire going.
"All right."
Sieg acquiesced as Golyn, despite na's eccentricity, accepted the project without hesitation.
As it was already late, they decided to commence work at dawn after a night's rest.
Interestingly, it was Sieg who prepared dinner.
From his inventory, he concocted a warm soup and soft bread to serve Golyn.
Tired of the barbarian monster meat, Golyn enjoyed the meal thoroughly.
During supper, Sieg inquired of Golyn.
"By any chance, have you previously worked with Orichalcum?"
Golyn nodded affirmatively.
"There was one time, about fifty years ago."
Drinking a mug of ale heartily, Golyn continued.
"It was during the rule of the Rubern dynasty, right before the Holy Empire, and was quite rare. Paladins—what you call Holy Knights in modern terms—favored it. There was a hammer made entirely of Orichalcum."
"An Orichalcum hammer, that sounds intriguing."
"Having enjoyed this meal, let me entertain you with an amusing tale. Back then, in Rubern, there was a supposedly artificial method to create Orichalcum."
"Really? Creating a divine metal like Orichalcum?"
"Yes, although it's speculated to be a lost holy magic now... In other circles, it was said that an alchemist used a Philosopher's Stone to alter the metal's composition."
"A Philosopher's Stone, eh? I only thought it could turn base metals into gold. I didn't know it could create Orichalcum."
"Ah, it's just a theory anyhow. Moreover, orichalcum would render gold far more accessible."
"True, that makes sense."
Downing more ale, Golyn resumed speaking.
"Regardless, with the fall of the Rubern dynasty, that secret vanished. If it survived, orichalcum could have been as widespread as Mithril despite its rarity."
"But if such method existed during Rubern's reign, shouldn't there be some Orichalcum left? I've seen Rubern dynasty items at auctions, yet none were made of Orichalcum."
Golyn slammed na's mug down emphatically.
"Exactly! It's those greedy Holy Kingdom bastards to blame!"
"Huh? Why the Holy Kingdom?"
"The pope declared Orichalcum, being divinely bestowed metal, belonged exclusively to the church. Hence, every piece of Orichalcum now is church property."
"Good grief. So, all Orichalcum items are..."
"Tucked away securely in the Holy Kingdom's treasury."
Sieg realized anew why the Holy Kingdom was a wealthy nation.
'After the fall of the Holy Empire, they hoarded every treasure. But how did Cain end up with the Hersion, an artifact of the Goddess Theia made with Orichalcum?'
As Sieg pondered, Golyn, resuming to sip the ale, narrated further.
"That Orichalcum hammer I mentioned probably also came from the Holy Kingdom. I figure the person who brought it to me was a Paladin. Judging by their remarkable aura, they seemed like an Arc Paladin, but I refrained from asking too many questions."
Sieg connected the dots in his mind through Golyn's account.
'Hmm, sounds like Felix's grandfather.'
A rogue Arc Paladin from the Holy Kingdom was a rare sight.
If Golyn's recollection fits fifty years ago, it coincides well with what Felix mentioned.
'An Orichalcum hammer from the Rubern dynasty... Could Felix's grandfather have connections to Rubern's descendants?'
Possibly, Felix's grandfather might have left something behind.
Golyn, after recounting the amusing yet pointless stories while drinking copiously, eventually fell soundly asleep, snoring.
Sieg, laying Golyn to rest, then proceeded to finalize his point distribution.
'With a decent number of points, let's expand the inventory. I wonder how far it will extend.'
With each point increasing the inventory by four slots, 100 points equated to 400 slots, maxing out at the intermediate manager's limit of 500 slots.
Having expanded his inventory, Sieg now had ample space for items.
Embarking upon this rare leisure time, he explored the system's shop, purchasing and storing necessary items.
"Phew, spent 2,000 points in no time buying this and that."
Recognizing the need for more points to unlock the 4th level of Dragon Skills, Sieg decided to refrain from further spending and accumulated points for later use.
After organizing his points, Sieg went to bed, feeling relieved.
* * *
Golyn was bustling from the crack of dawn the following day.
With the Hersion laid on the workbench, the Meteoric Iron armor set was positioned atop the furnace.
Golyn instructed Sieg.
"We'll melt down the Meteoric Iron armor using pure fire. Prepare yourself."
Sieg promptly activated the Energy of Fire, summoning the pure fire.
Whoosh!
Pure white flames blossomed within the furnace.
Golyn called out to Sieg.
"Good! We'll set the fire's intensity at level 1 now. Adjust it according to my instructions."
"Understood."
Once Golyn placed the Meteoric Iron armor in the flames, na shouted.
"10!"
Sieg modulated the fire's intensity following Golyn's directions.
Whoosh!
Sieg's keen elemental sensitivity ensured na could adjust the fire precisely to Golyn's specifications.
In the relentless inferno, the Meteoric Iron armor began to melt gradually.
"15!"
Consuming ferociously, the pure fire stripped away all but the pure Meteoric Iron essence from the armor.
After half a day of laboriously stoking the furnace, Sieg and Golyn successfully extracted the pure Meteoric Iron.
Carefully, Golyn transported the purified metal to The Hersion, settled on the workbench, pouring it out gently over the surface.
Sizzling―
The liquefied Meteoric Iron quickly absorbed into The Hersion.
Golyn shouted to Sieg.
"Keep the fire at intensity 3 until I say otherwise!"
Sieg maintained the relentless intensity of the pure fire.
Unlike merely igniting large flames, sustaining this pure fire over an extended period provided its unique form of training.
'This serves as a kind of practice too.'
While Sieg sustained the pure fire, Golyn, drenched in sweat, donned magnifying lenses, meticulously crafting the Hersion's surface layer with the melted Meteoric Iron.
Employing precise magical tools, Golyn reconnected the circuits of The Hersion where it had broken and filled in any inadequacies.
For three continuous days, Golyn poured undivided attention into crafting.
Sieg too, devoted himself entirely to maintaining the pure fire for those three days.
Eventually, on the third day, Golyn completed na's work.
"Finished!"
Golyn, looking utterly exhausted, addressed Sieg.
"Give it a try."
Sieg extended his hand toward The Hersion.
『Activating the armor of ???.』
『Restoring functionality to previously disabled features.』
『Rebooting the system.』
『Verifying the title 'Blessed by the Dragon King.'』
『Unique class 'Immortal' confirmed.』
『Converting user's temporary registration to permanent registration.』
A resonating hum filled the room!
Each joint of the Hersion opened, hovering before attaching itself to Sieg's body.
Clank, clank!
Enveloping him like a second skin, the Hersion transformed around Sieg.