Chapter 30

After leaving the blacksmith's, I decided to make a quick trip back to the direction of the mansion as planned.

As soon as the horse started running, Sequoia, who was riding behind me, let out a "hmm" and poked my back lightly.

"Your face looks unusual?"

"Guess it showed on my face, huh?"

I was trying not to show it, but as expected of Sequoia, his observational skills are different.

He doesn’t miss even the slightest changes.

"I did have some good results, but I’m worried I might have meddled too much with Garam and the others."

"What are you saying? You did have some results, right? You sent Tohru to the (planned site for the central square), didn’t you?"

"Oh, right. Honestly, I was thinking they might be going overboard again, so I went to the blacksmith’s to ask them to make something that could help with the construction."

"…You weren’t wrong about that."

"Huh?"

"Tohru was making a model. Garam was making tools with mithril and blue metal. They always started doing something else once their work was done."

"Really?"

"Yes. Garam was making carpentry tools, which turned out to be useful for the bridge and the waterway."

I underestimated them. I underestimated Garam and the others' sense of responsibility.

But, I don’t think that’s the case. Sequoia is just being considerate of me.

Garam and Tohru do have the sense to know what’s a priority.

Still, I thought it would be better to check in at the blacksmith’s, but I ended up giving them instructions they already knew.

I was worried I might have meddled unnecessarily and caused trouble.

"Yeah, you’re right. No point in worrying about it."

"Would they be the type to worry about such trivial matters? You and they have that level of trust, don’t you?"

"Yeah. Sorry for worrying over nothing, Sequoia."

"That’s not how you apologize, is it?"

"Thanks, Sequoia."

"Sure! When we arrive, a pat on the head would be nice."

"Is that a reward?"

"You’d flinch if I said it to your face, wouldn’t you? Anyway, you said you had some results at first, right? What were they?"

He clearly changed the subject.

But, it’s just right. It’s something I wanted to ask him about anyway.

"It’s about mithril and blue metal. I’ve never dealt with magical metals before."

"Isn’t it that you can’t understand them with science?"

"Exactly. But I think it’s inefficient to treat science as science and magic as magic. We have a sage here who is an expert and researcher in magic."

"Flattery won’t get you anything… but a kiss might be okay."

"I don’t need that. Just a light one. Can you tell me about mithril and blue metal, and the basics of magical metals before we arrive?"

"You’re no fun. Fine, listen carefully. The fusion of science and magic is very interesting."

He rested his chin on my shoulder, which I thought wouldn’t be good on a moving horse, but this is a fox girl, and she’s skilled.

He didn’t even seem to bite his tongue while talking.

Magical metals are the fusion of mana and metal.

Mana is the same as magical power, a type of energy that all living beings in this world contain.

Mana is a part of our daily lives, used in magical items like lanterns and in the form of magic.

Even a dragon’s breath is said to be the conversion of internal mana into fire.

Getting back to the topic, magical metals gain different properties when mana fuses with metal.

"Understood so far?"

"More or less. So, when mana fuses with regular metal, it gains different properties. Can you give me some examples?"

"There are three well-known magical metals: mithril, blue metal, and orichalcum."

"Ah, orichalcum is an undiscovered metal, right?"

"There are others besides these three, but among them, orichalcum is the rarest and most valuable."

"Interesting. So, magical metals are the fusion of magical power and metal. Does that mean mithril is silver? And similarly, blue metal and orichalcum?"

"Good guess. Mithril is silver fused with magical power. Blue metal is iron. Orichalcum is gold."

Wow. Mithril was just a guess.

In fantasy worlds, mithril is often called silver, so I just guessed.

I’m starting to understand magical metals a bit more.

"Can I ask about mithril as an example? I need to do some experiments and verifications, but I want to know more about it."

"Of course. What do you want to know?"

"Since Garam was processing it, can it be handled in the same furnace as iron?"

"Yes. The handling is similar to the original metal. It melts at a similar temperature."

"That’s good to know. But wait. Silver doesn’t exist in the soil by itself, right? Is it the same for mithril?"

"No. Mithril exists as mithril on its own. In that sense, it’s closer to a type of gemstone."

"That makes refining it easier. And it’s sharper than steel, right? Despite being silver, that’s impressive."

"Yes. Mithril is lighter and harder than iron, and it even has resistance to magic."

"That’s strange."

Silver being lighter than iron is impossible.

Silver has a density of around 10, while iron is around 7.8.

So, silver is heavier than iron.

Ah, this is all due to magic. Silver is harder than iron because of the magical effect.

The magical effect is incredible. This will be a great subject for experiments.

For example, comparing iron and blue metal with hydrochloric acid.

"What’s strange?"

"I think it’s just a lack of knowledge about magic. I need to investigate it scientifically."

"Science! That sounds interesting. Can I join you?"

"For the investigation of magical metals, I can’t proceed without Sequoia. I’ll need your help with the experiments."

"Understood."

I can’t see his face, but I bet he’s grinning. He might even be drooling.

And he’s rubbing his cheek against my back.

N-no way. The moisture I feel on my back…

Oh, just in time. The construction site is in sight.

"Alright, we’re almost there."

I shook my body to dislodge him and pointed ahead.

"O-Oh, what if I fall?"

"I know you won’t fall."

"Ugh. If I do fall, will you catch me…?"

"Probably, I’d grab your neck and fall with you."

"Ugh!"

While exchanging these playful jibes, I slowed down the horse.

If you enjoyed this, I’d be very happy if you could bookmark and rate it!