Chapter 37

After defeating the golem in the central ore deposit, we immediately began mining mithril.

At the ore deposit, we had the golems do the mining, and the ratmen and slimes transported the ores to one place.

According to Yurii, it seemed we had mined enough mithril to make several swords a day. Additionally, we also found abundant amounts of ordinary ores like iron, copper, and coal.

Meanwhile, on the surface, we had been working on the development of Ars Island for the past few days.

First, we cleared the ruins.

That is, we kept the ones in good condition and had the golems dismantle the collapsed ones.

The reason for clearing them was to prevent monsters like Arrowcrows from hiding or nesting in them.

We also planned to reuse the stones from the cleared ruins.

Next, we cleaned the streets and existing facilities.

The government building where we lived had become as shiny as new, thanks to the slimes absorbing the dust.

Other places like warehouses were also being cleaned up.

The armor race and ratmen guarded the golems and slimes and defeated the attacking Arrowcrows.

Additionally, the ratmen brought the rats that were still on the island.

I made twenty more rats my followers and sighed.

"…About five hundred now, I guess."

"Chu! Master Alex, thank you! I will serve you with all my heart!"

When Tia, who brought the rats, said this, the newly added ratmen also chirped in unison.

With this, the number of ratmen who were my followers exceeded one thousand five hundred.

"There are still so many…"

"Well, there might be even more!"

"Still more…?"

I exchanged glances with Elysia, who looked as if she was worried about the future.

Well, the ratmen do all sorts of things, and the island is becoming lively.

Moreover, the cost of feeding a ratman is less than one-tenth of a human, so with the large amount of ore we are mining now, it's not a problem.

Still, if we could become self-sufficient in food, that would be ideal…

The Arrowcrows are now avoiding this island, so we won't be able to get meat as we did before.

…Maybe we should bring livestock. However, we don't have enough pasture for cows, sheep, or pigs, so we can only raise chickens that lay eggs.

In that case, it's fish.

We should try to figure out a way to fish.

"Anyway, let's head back to Lobrion… I'm also worried about Yurii."

"Yes. I'll go call Selena!"

Elysia hurried to the government building to call Selena.

Then, Selena, Elysia, and I teleported to the room on the fourth floor of the Lobrion base.

Selena, looking at the streets of Lobrion from the window, seemed unable to hide her surprise.

"To travel a distance that would take several days on foot… It's really amazing."

"If we have time, I can take you to the capital. But right now, it's a bit complicated."

We can't walk around openly with so many people.

It would be troublesome if the Holy Order found us.

There might be someone who can see through my "Invisibility."

"To say I don't want to see it would be a lie, but please don't worry. I don't have any family or friends there. Serving Master Alex is the most important thing for me right now!"

Selena answered.

It's nice to hear, but it's embarrassing to be said so seriously… and with a straight face.

"Ah, thank you, Selena… Well, let's go see how Yurii and the others are doing."

As we went down the stairs, the sound of metal being hammered echoed.

When we reached the first-floor workshop, many blue-haired people were working hard at forging and crafting.

"Um, Yurii is… there she is."

Yurii was in front of the smelting furnace, sweating profusely.

Yurii, with her bluish-black hair pushed behind her ear, had a white shirt that was so soaked with sweat it was see-through, making it hard to look away. It must be very hot.

I went straight to the smelting furnace and stood next to Yurii.

"Are you melting mithril?"

"Ah, Master Alex! Yes, but it's taking a long time… Actually, if I could send magic power, it would refine much faster."

The refining and processing of mithril and other magical ores often require the assistance of someone who can use magic. Sending magic power makes it easier to change the shape of magical ores.

"Ah, that's right… Well, since we're at it, I'll teach you magic, Yurii."

"Really? But, to be honest, I'm not very good at it…"

"No, Yurii has a crest that benefits from dark and lightning magic. Even if dark magic is difficult, you should be able to use lightning magic quickly."

"Really?"

"Well, let's give it a try."

We immediately headed to the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Selena, staring at Yurii's palm, said:

"…A dark crest. I don't understand it at all, but Master Alex can?"

"It's called 'Necromancer.' It benefits from dark and lightning magic, as well as forging."

"Hmm… So Master Alex can read it?"

"From the way you say it, it seems no one in ancient times could read dark crests."

"Yes, that's right. It's said that only those who encountered demons and were taught by them could read them."

So demons can read dark crests.

Yurii said, looking uneasy:

"Forging is one thing, but I can't believe I can do magic."

Elysia nodded.

"Yurii is so clumsy."

"True, Elysia. You seem more suited to an axe than magic… Anyway, please be gentle, Master Alex."

"Sure. But it's not that difficult. First, aim for the center of that target."

I pointed to the target in the courtyard.

That's the target the blue-haired people use for archery and crossbow practice.

"Magic power is floating in the air. First, imagine gathering it in your hands…"

"Yes…"

Yurii closed her eyes tightly and pointed her hands at the target.

"Mmm… Master Alex, I don't feel anything at all."

"No, Yurii… I can tell. A huge amount of magic power is gathering."

A vast amount of magic power was gathering in Yurii's hands. If it were converted into electricity and released, it might burn the entire base to a crisp.

"Master Alex… You're being kind because I can't do it!"

It seems Yurii misunderstood that I was being considerate.

But Elysia and Selena, who noticed the flow of magic power, said:

"Be careful, Yurii."

"Yurii is clumsy in many ways."

"Selena, you don't have to say that… Anyway, the magic power is gathering, right?"

I nodded vigorously.

"Yes. But since lightning magic is powerful, let's start with water magic, which you don't benefit from. Imagine water in your head and aim at the target."

"Yes! Here goes!!"

A water ball about the size of a human head was released from Yurii's hand and hit the target.

"Wow!" Yurii exclaimed.

"Amazing! I didn't know magic could do this!"

"Lightning magic is even more powerful. Anyway, Yurii can now send magic power."

"Yes! Then I'll immediately refine the mithril!"

Yurii immediately returned to the smelting furnace and placed her hand over the container with the mithril ore.

Solid mithril began to melt rapidly.

"Wow, it's fast!"

"Your magic power is impressive."

Yurii immediately used tongs to take out the container with the melted mithril and poured it into the ingot mold.

When it cooled…

"Mithril ingot… I've never seen one this big before."

Yurii said, looking at the ingot about the size of a foot.

"It's rare to see in the market… Sometimes it's traded for the same value as the same amount of gold."

"To think we can mine this every day from now on…"

Yurii's eyes sparkled as she looked at the shining mithril ingot.

"I'll start refining more right away! Do you have any specific items in mind to make?"

"Let's see… I thought about making some kind of weapon or armor first… Hmm?"

I noticed one of the blue-haired people approaching us.

"Is something wrong?"

"Well, Master Alex, a priest from the temple came to the shop and asked if they knew where you were."

Yurii said.

"Wasn't it agreed to tell them that we returned to the capital?"

"Yes, that's what I said. But they said it was different from what Lord Lobrion said. They might go to Ars. I'm sorry."

I shook my head slightly at the bowing blue-haired person.

"Don't worry. You told them the truth. Besides… even if they go to Ars…"

Elysia and Yurii chuckled.

"They'll have a tough time… with the number of monsters there."

"Or they might not even make it alive…"

I nodded at their words.

"Well, we should be on guard in Ars just in case… But more importantly, mithril is more important."

I wasn't particularly worried and started thinking about how to use the mithril.