Chapter 41

Mana stones can be mined in various parts of the continent, so although they are expensive, they can still be obtained. However, refined mana stones are different.

A lump of highly refined and condensed mana from nature.

If used properly, it could turn someone who has never felt mana into a mage, with a vast array of uses that far surpasses mana stones.

Not just one, but nearly twenty refined mana stones.

Moreover, their size is not ordinary; if I were to reveal them, the mages on the continent would likely rush over with fire in their eyes.

It's not for nothing that the profession of mage is said to be a money-draining one.

In fact, selling just one of these refined mana stones would bring in a large sum of money.

"Still, it's not the time to sell them now."

The problem is that such a valuable item has never appeared on the continent before.

The refined mana stones known on the continent are mostly very small quantities found in ancient ruins.

Even those fetch hundreds of platinum coins, so imagine the price of a much larger one?

Revealing it without preparation would likely get me involved in countless incidents.

-It would just be a beautiful but useless thing.

"No, I need to think about what I can do with this."

Saying this, I looked at the golem's body lying on the ground.

A high-performance golem, the result of advanced technology.

Even if I sold these golems without the refined mana stones, they would still fetch a good price, but they are likely worth even more than the refined mana stones.

It's hard to believe that in this forsaken and cursed land, where no one wants to come, there are actually seven such unbelievable facilities hidden.

Descending the stairs at the end of the corridor, a massive hall began to come into view.

"Wow."

Surprise was evident on my face as I looked inside.

The same refined mana stone.

But its size was different.

-It's the core of the curse.

As Perserk said.

The refined mana stones I've extracted from the golems' heads so far were at most the size of a fist or slightly larger.

But the one in front of me was incomparably huge.

Standing 3 meters tall and nearly 1 meter wide, the entire massive rock was a refined mana stone.

Moreover, countless indecipherable characters were engraved on its surface.

"This would cause a headache if it were to appear in the world."

Without exaggeration, the moment it appears, many countries would likely go to war to possess this large and highly pure refined mana stone.

"If I could use the condensed mana inside, I could cast 9th Circle spells with ease."

The absurd size and precision made me laugh.

However, upon reflection, it made sense. At this size, it could have altered the climate of the entire vast territory.

The curse has been active for about five years, which is fortunate; if it hadn't been found, it could have turned this place into a living hell for decades, centuries, or even millennia.

While high-level mages can use spells to summon rain or control nature, the curse on this territory was an abnormal change that went beyond that.

Silently approaching, I placed my hand on the refined mana stone and channeled commanding mana to use the Reifix Curs magic again. A vast amount of cipher characters began to float in the air, far more than when I used it on the ground.

-It seems they put too much effort into creating something to wither just one territory.

"There must have been something valuable in this land."

While saying this, my eyes read the countless characters non-stop.

I was also worried that there might be a final guardian protecting this last hall.

Indeed, a somewhat complex mana flow could be felt from one side of the vast hall.

However, perhaps due to the passage of time, the final defense system did not seem to be active.

"Oh... it's made up of such a system."

Even with my extensive knowledge of magical theories, the arrangement was fascinating.

My sense of challenge as a mage began to rekindle.

-Can I manipulate it?

"There is some difficulty, but if I find the rule, manipulating it should be sufficient. Hmm, is this it?"

Using the Reifix Curs magic, I twisted a part of the mana arrangement, and a faint light began to envelop the surroundings.

As the unstable mana arrangement began to emit a strange light, Perserk's expression changed subtly.

However, my eyes couldn't leave the glowing characters in front of me.

Whoosh!!!

Eventually, the unstable characters began to stabilize and emit a green light.

Seeing the visibly stable state, Perserk let out a sigh of relief and looked at me.

-What did you change?

"Just that."

I smiled faintly, leaving the end of my words hanging.

"The family has lasted for years, so I just sprinkled some water. The accumulated amount turned into a heavy rain."

By now, the territory must be in chaos.

* * *

Gordon and Freeman, members of the vigilante group, were looking out over the castle from the poorly repaired watchtower, their faces lazy.

"Ah... peace is truly good."

"Uncle Freeman, why doesn't the lord eliminate the remaining goblins?"

This was a truly sweet period of leisure that had only recently begun.

Freeman laughed hollowly at Gordon's words and looked at the desolate wasteland beyond the castle.

"Boy, the lord has his reasons. Besides, all the goblins in the area have been eliminated, so what's the rush?"

At first, they didn't believe in David.

It was understandable.

The kingdom of Raun, where they lived, was dominated by the noble faction, and the oppression by the nobles had become severe.

While there were no idle nobles who would come to this remote area to cause trouble for the people, they did receive messages from those who had left for other territories in search of a better life.

They were commoners, but citizens of the kingdom, not serfs.

Moreover, while the kingdom was collapsing, it only offered tax breaks and abandoned the territory.

To them, it was just a remote territory, but to the people living here, it was their home.

For those who had lived here since the time of the old baron, Alixand, this place was their home and the place they returned to.

When the territory was dying and the kingdom had neglected it for years, a new, young lord was suddenly sent.

The wise elders said that the new lord, Prince David, had been demoted to this place after losing a power struggle.

And in such a case, the probability that he would take out his frustrations on the people was very high.

If they weren't worried, it would be a lie.

While they were worried, there was nothing they could do.

Especially during the period when goblin attacks were continuous, it was difficult to focus on other things.

Then, the goblins finally overran the castle and kidnapped the people.

At the time, the vigilante group didn't have the strength to raid the goblin village and rescue the people.

Just as everyone was giving up, he arrived.

The boy with a clean, likable smile was different from what they expected.

They thought he might be angry about the state of the territory and scold the vigilante leader. Some even said they would risk their lives to resist him if he did.

But Prince David quietly surveyed the territory and quickly realized that the goblins had invaded the interior.

His face wasn't angry.

With a calm expression, he made a bombshell announcement to the vigilante group.

He wouldn't let a single person die.

They could wield their swords in anger as much as they wanted.

And when Prince David shot an arrow into the head of the first goblin, they saw a miracle.

It was a miracle that couldn't be explained by any other means.

The holy light that flowed from his hands strengthened them and gave confidence to the vigilante members who blamed themselves for not being able to rescue the captured people.

Did the young boy understand their psychology so well?

He ignited the fire of enthusiasm in the hearts of the vigilante members who were growing weary from the continuous battles.

Now that I am the lord of this territory, we are one family. And I have no intention of letting my family die in vain.

That was what he said to the vigilante group.

The lord, Prince David, who achieved near-miraculous feats, continued to lead a small group of vigilante members to eliminate the goblins.

As if to show that the miracle he displayed was not just a fluke.

He grumbled that he wasn't a saint, but did he know?

The young lord, who had only been in the territory for a few days, had become a more trustworthy presence to the people than a god.

Even if they were accused of blasphemy, the people had no intention of changing their minds.

A being who performed miracles right before their eyes was more trustworthy than a god who only watched from afar without performing any miracles.

"Uncle Freeman."

"Hmm?"

"But, sir, even though the lord has dealt with the goblins, does this territory have a future?"

It was a question that would have made Freeman angry in the past, but he couldn't answer easily.

No one could deny that the territory was gradually dying.

The territory, which had been drying up due to years of drought, had turned most of the land into a dead zone, except for the mountain fortress where the people lived.

Even if he were a god-like figure, he couldn't do anything about the drought.

"Even if the lord were a saint, what could he do about the heavens refusing to send rain?"

"Ah... if the drought dries up this place too, will we really have to leave the territory?"

If the territory were wealthy, they could have bought water.

But the territory was poor, and the only thing they could boast about, agriculture, was being devastated by the drought.

Gordon's bitter sigh made Freeman close his eyes quietly.

Yes, this was enough for him.

No matter how excellent a person, they couldn't do anything about the years of drought and the dying land.

The effects of the drought were gradually reaching the castle, the only place where it still rained.

The plains around the castle, which had been green until last year, were gradually drying up.

Gradually, the terrifying curse was getting closer to the castle, their only home.

In fact, the signs of drought were beginning to appear inside the castle as well.