Chapter 6

"Let's not keep you waiting. Here's the second part.

'The Mainz iron mine is only producing crystal because it's being ravaged by a monster that eats crystal, right?'

It was phrased as a question, but in reality, it was just a confirmation of facts.

His straightforward way of speaking drew looks of astonishment from the dwarf chieftain Miranda and the dwarves around her.

The evil god had granted the crystal-eating monster, a subspecies of the rust-eating monster, the ability to sustain itself, just like the rust-eating monster.

The rust-eating monster turns the surrounding iron into rust and eats it, while the crystal-eating monster turns the surrounding iron into crystal and eats it.

Alongside the rust-eating monster, it is a nightmare for the dwarves.

"Where did you hear that...?"

"I asked the gods."

Among the divine spells used by priests like Alcia, who serve the gods, there are several that allow one to pray to their deity and receive active revelations or divine guidance.

While some preparation is necessary, it's no problem for Alcia, who has the qualifications of an archbishop.

"Also, a bit further ahead, there's a place where coal can be mined. Recently, a group of giants has settled there."

He had confirmed this from above when he arrived in Mainz yesterday.

"Hmm. So, it's not that you didn't pay the taxes, but that you couldn't pay them..."

By the time they realized the crystal-eating monster, it was probably too late. And there was no way they could deal with a group of giants.

The dwarves were speechless, overwhelmed by shock, anger, and humiliation.

"From now on, it won't be like that."

To prevent Valtrude from being driven by self-reproach and to ease the anxiety of the town's residents, Yuto spoke in a bright voice.

"The existence of the crystal-eating monster isn't all bad."

"What do you mean? What do you want us dwarves to do with the crystal? Make jewelry? Or grind it into powder for pigments?"

In response to Chieftain Miranda's words, Yuto shook his head silently.

"If it were just crystal, that would be about all we could do with it."

"What do you mean?"

"This is something I borrowed from Vainamainen..."

"Vainamainen, you mean the great sage?"

Yuto regretted mentioning Vainamainen's name, seeing the chieftain's surprise. The surrounding dwarves were also overwhelmed by the name.

The atmosphere needed to be changed.

Yuto took out a bluish-black iron ore from his infinite storage bag and rolled it with a loud thud.

Sure enough, the dwarves, known for their expertise in mining, all turned their attention to the unknown ore.

"This is called glass iron. It's a rare ore that forms naturally when crystal and iron mix."

"Glass iron...?"

Yuto almost laughed at the chieftain's constant state of surprise.

Thanks to Valtrude, who remained expressionless beside him, he managed to hold back his laughter and continued his explanation while holding up the glass iron for everyone to see.

"We'll take care of the crystal-eating monster. The problem is what to do with the glass iron afterward."

"That too..."

"I asked the gods."

Why he could assert that the mine would start producing glass iron was a natural question, and Yuto answered it succinctly.

It was blunt, but at the same time, it wasn't unusual for adventurers called heroes in Bluevales.

"But, glass iron..."

Perhaps because they hadn't seen the actual ore, the chieftain and the surrounding dwarves' reactions were somewhat dull.

"I've only heard the name, so I don't know how to handle it..."

"I see..."

To Yuto, the idea that mixing crystal and iron would create a different ore seemed like pure fantasy.

It seemed different from the silicon steel he had researched in the Multiverse Encyclopedia. Well, in a world where magic silver and adamantium exist, it wasn't surprising.

But the dwarves were also confused.

"According to Vainamainen, it has a high affinity with magic, but I don't know its properties or details."

Yuto's irresponsible statement was accompanied by a mischievous smile, like a child about to play a prank. It was hard to believe he was the steward of a noble family.

"Researching its properties and forging it will be the job of those who stay in Mainz."

"But, that means..."

Yuto preemptively cut off the chieftain's words again.

He rummaged through the infinite storage bag by his side and took out a bag of gold. Of course, it wasn't just one.

When he opened the bag, the gold coins shone brightly.

"There are five thousand gold coins."

It was said so casually that it was hard to believe it was equivalent to fifty million yen in Japanese currency.

"You can use it as you see fit. However, the deadline is three months. If there are no results, the Mainz mine will be closed."

If that happened, the mining town of Mainz itself would be dismantled, and the residents would have to relocate somewhere else.

He hinted at this and pushed for a decision.

"But, I can't make such a big decision alone. We need to discuss it with everyone..."

A good chieftain who wasn't swayed by the gold.

However, they couldn't afford to be leisurely. Just as Yuto was about to add more, Valtrude spoke up from the side.

"Do you mean a discussion with everyone here?"

Chieftain Miranda slowly nodded.

"Yuto, I'll take care of this."

Saying that, Valtrude also reached into her infinite storage bag. This time, a barrel of alcohol appeared.

She placed it to the side and raised her voice confidently.

"Dwarves are known to be heavy drinkers. How about a challenge?"

It was something she had prepared as a small gift. Yuto was also surprised by this unexpected turn of events.

"I'll drink with you, and if I lose, I want you to follow the chieftain's policy."

"Do you mean to agree with the lord...?"

Toldek, the leader of the migrant dwarves, asked timidly.

"Following the chieftain's policy and agreeing with our plan are the same thing."

Valtrude said this confidently.

Inspired by her, the surrounding dwarves began to speak up.

"Are you trying to get us drunk with just one barrel of alcohol?"

"Of course not. I have no intention of being impolite."

More barrels of alcohol appeared from the infinite storage bag.

The dwarves were surprised, their eyes widening.

"Who goes first?"

Valtrude smiled challengingly, as if heading into battle.

She was truly beautiful and noble.

After the discussion with the chieftain—which was essentially just a confirmation of conditions—Yuto returned to the great hall and saw his master, slightly tipsy and exuding an indescribable charm.

While maintaining a calm demeanor on the surface, he moved toward the slightly tipsy Valtrude with a slightly wider gait.

"This side is taken care of."

"Yeah, it's obvious, isn't it?"

The sight of the dwarf soldiers sprawled out in a dreamlike state was in his field of vision, but he deliberately pushed it out of his mind. He didn't want to believe that all the dwarves were lying unconscious like a mountain of corpses.

"The exploration of the dwarf queen's legacy. We were talking about that while drinking, and before we knew it, it turned out like this."

"O-oh..."

Valtrude was probably trying to say that the dwarves had passed out on their own.

He understood what she meant.

But it was too much to ask him to believe it.

"This side is also going well."

So, Yuto changed the subject to his own report.

The discussion with Chieftain Miranda went smoothly, or rather, there were no other options.

He promised to provide as much information as possible about glass iron through Vainamainen, and they quickly agreed to research it.

"But, I've never heard of glass iron. What kind of metal is it?"

"I don't know much about it either, but it's said to combine the properties of iron and crystal and has a high affinity with magic. If processed properly, it could allow mages to equip metal shields and armor."

Mages, who are typically weak in physical strength, prefer robes because shields and armor, regardless of material, can interfere with the channeling of magic and spellcasting.

The exact mechanism is unknown, but glass iron is said to mitigate this interference...

"Um. I don't understand. Iron and crystal are different things, right?"

"It's okay. I'm not an expert either."

He was just a high school student.

However, he proposed the processing of glass iron with a good chance of success.

"I see. Then, we should get to work."

Valtrude stood up, her movements showing no signs of the alcohol's effects. The only difference was a slight flush on her cheeks, which only emphasized her beauty.

"But, you drank quite a bit."

It was hard to imagine from her appearance, but Valtrude could drink.

She was a bottomless pit.

While she usually preferred eating over drinking, once she started, she could drink endlessly. Yuto had even doubted the common sense of the fantasy world, wondering if her stomach was connected to another dimension.

"Is that normal?"

Seeing Valtrude answer calmly, Yuto gave up on further questioning.

"So, let's take care of the crystal-eating monster and the giants in the mine."

"That's fine, but the crystal-eating monster..."

Eliminating the monsters was a condition set by the chieftain, but Valtrude, unusually, showed reluctance. Her gaze fell on the demon-slaying sword and magic silver armor.

For adventurers, their equipment is as important as their lives.

The crystal-eating monster, no matter how many there were, could be dispatched by Valtrude as easily as swatting a fly, but the risk to her equipment made her hesitant.

Yuto had anticipated Valtrude's reaction and explained while heading for the exit of the chieftain's residence.

"I'll take care of the crystal-eating monster. Val, you handle the giants."

"Um..."

At that moment, Toldek spoke up hesitantly.

Yuto, who hadn't expected any dwarves to still be conscious, almost exclaimed in surprise but held back to maintain his dignity.

"Can I come along?"

"Sure. Let's go together."

Yuto agreed easily, almost too easily, inviting accusations of making a hasty promise.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"A knight's word is his bond."

Valtrude also took on the phrase she had learned from Yuto.

In fact, he had intended to ask someone for directions.

"First, can you show us the way to the mine?"

"Y-Yes."

Toldek hurriedly stepped forward and led them toward the western side of the town.

"Um... My mother, the chieftain, and everyone know that you found the queen's legacy and are grateful for it."

"That's a different matter. I've come to understand that recently."

Judgments must be made based on interests and losses, not likes and dislikes or good and evil.

In other words, politics.

"It's not a world for me."

"You're right, but try to put on a good front."

"I can't lie."

While having this heartwarming conversation, they walked for about an hour.

They arrived at the entrance of the mine around noon.

While crystal does have some value, it doesn't stimulate the dwarves' interests as much as iron. The mine looked desolate at first glance.

"So, what exactly are you going to do?"

"Basically, we just need to use weapons that aren't made of metal."

He was prepared for this.

He took out a spellbook from his pocket, tore out eight pages, and released them into the air. The pages of the spellbook stopped at knee height and began to emit a faint light.

The light gradually grew stronger.

"Summon Celestial Lions."

The blinding light lasted only a moment.

When it faded, eight golden lions appeared.

"Ah!"

"Hmm. They're quite cute."

The lions were about five meters long, a bit larger than a typical lion. Having such beasts, especially in a group, by their side was a natural reaction for Toldek. He might have never seen a lion before.

However, the lions waited for orders, looking at Yuto without moving. Their eyes glowed with intelligence, confirming this.

Of course, they were not just beasts.

"Summon Celestial Lions" is a spell that summons lions sanctified by the heavens, said to live in the celestial wilderness.

"Eliminate the monsters in that mine."

Roaring in response to Yuto's command, the lions began to move slowly.

"..."

Toldek was speechless with shock. His mind was probably blank.

"Yuto, I've never seen this spell before."

"That's right. It's an eighth-level spell, but since the enemies we've been fighting recently are beyond the norm, even Celestial Lions would be a hindrance. It also conflicts with the number limit for 'Teleportation,' so it's been shelved due to poor usability. But it can be incredibly useful in certain situations. Choosing the right spell for the right situation is the true value of a mage."

"Um..."

"Don't worry. They'll return to the celestial wilderness in three hours."

"O-Okay..."

He preemptively explained that they wouldn't go feral and settle there, but Toldek still seemed unsure.

He probably wanted to say that wasn't the issue, but it would just take time to get used to.

"Let's go clean up the giants now."

"R-Right now!?"

"Um? Yes."

"Right. I haven't done any work. I just drank."

"No, that was helpful. Besides, being able to drink that much is a skill in itself."

"Ugh... That's because you don't drink, Yuto. Calling me a bottomless pit is because of that."

"Anyway, I'm a high school student, so I can't drink... Let's get the job done quickly."

He didn't want to be called out for bickering with a dwarf he had just met.

Yuto tore out pages from the spellbook and cast the "Long-Distance Flight" spell on the three of them.

"Whoa!"

Toldek let out a bewildered cry at the sudden sensation of floating.

"Here, grab on."

Feeling like he was watching his younger self, Yuto smiled and extended his hand.

The rough, sturdy feel of a craftsman's hand.

"Ah, thank you."

Tentatively floating in the air, the reality of flying through the sky began to sink in. Despite it being his first time, the sense of anticipation in Toldek seemed to outweigh the fear.

"Alright. Let's go wipe out the group of giants."

"Wh-What!?"

Toldek's scream trailed behind them.

"Just watch. I'll take care of everything."

Flying beside him, Valtrude promised to let him relax as if she were on a grand ship.

And indeed, that's exactly what happened.

They arrived at the coal mine where the giants had settled in less than an hour.

Below them, a primitive settlement spread out.

A group of Mountain Giants, about ten meters tall, were roasting livestock they had stolen from nearby areas. The sound of their singing, or rather, their grating noise, carried faintly on the wind.

If negotiation had been possible, Yuto would have tried that first.

However, in Bluevales, there exist creatures that have the favor of evil gods and embody evil. They are mortal enemies to humans and other beings that embody good or balance.

Coexistence through compromise is impossible. Those giants, while eating livestock, would just as easily devour humans or dwarves if they so desired.

Born evil, they cannot be reformed.

It was a difficult fact for Yuto, born on Earth, to accept, but the Mountain Giants below were enemies to be eliminated, just like goblins or kobolds.

"Seismic Shock."

In the sky, Yuto cast the spell from a height where the giants wouldn't notice. "Seismic Shock" is an eighth-level spell that causes an earthquake in a certain area.

The giants below were clearly confused by the sudden event. Some had even fallen over.

Their attention was entirely focused on the shaking ground, and they showed no signs of noticing the figures above them.

Under normal circumstances, there would be no reason to be concerned about an attack from above.

"Then, I'll be off."

Valtrude fell like she was going for a casual stroll.

The holy knight, like a warrior maiden, swung her demon-slaying sword and cleanly decapitated a giant.

The giant's head, larger than Valtrude, hit the ground, followed by its body collapsing with a thud.

"Amazing..."

Toldek, who had watched the entire scene, swallowed hard, his voice a mix of fear and admiration.

"Indeed, that's not something I can imitate."

Yuto, who had intended to support but saw it was unnecessary, reacted to Toldek's comment, just like Toldek.

"No, no, no, no."

Shaking his head vigorously, he strongly disagreed.

"Even Amakusa-sama is amazing, isn't she?"

He had somehow started addressing her with the honorific "sama."

"Well... I guess so?"

He had intended to deny it, but it was impossible to do so in good conscience.

Unable to come up with a clever response, he shifted his gaze to the battlefield.

But the rest was just a repetition of the same thing.

Some giants tried to fight back with clubs and stones, but they swung wildly without any luck.

It didn't take Valtrude long to eliminate over a dozen giants.

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