Chapter 24: The Prophecy of Yggdrasil

The news that mithril had been discovered spread rapidly throughout Loktersia.

However, given the location of the mithril, some coordination was necessary.

“No matter what, this is a temple, and it’s not in as terrible a state as we expected from the letter. Is there really any need to tear down the entire temple?”

“That’s right! Even if the temple was built for the sake of future generations, isn’t it still an ancient heritage of ours?”

“Wasn’t the temple built to be destroyed anyway, Elder? Whether we knock down half or all of it, it’s the same in the end.”

“Everyone, quiet!”

Standing at the center of the temple, Graham shouted at the dwarves raising their voices.

“Lord Rohan, what are your thoughts?”

Now fully believing Rohan to be the Apostle of God, Graham politely asked for his opinion.

“Hmm.”

In truth, Rohan hadn’t expected things to escalate this far, and so he hesitated.

“How about we do this, then?”

After a moment of thought, Rohan spoke up.

“The mithril here is a gift left to the descendants by Lokteum. If it’s all going to be mined eventually anyway, we should extract it all at once and store it safely. Then, we build a new temple over the true tomb.”

“Wait, do you know where the real tomb is located?”

“That’s your task to figure out. I can’t involve myself any further.”

“Huh.”

Even Rohan didn’t know the location of the true tomb.

Even after the mithril and the letter were discovered, up until the moment of his own death, he never heard news of anyone in Loktersia finding Lokteum’s true tomb.

“Well, no matter how much you’re the Apostle of God, we can’t rely on you forever. Fine! As Lord Rohan says, we’ll dismantle the temple and move the precious heritage to a safe place!”

“Agreed!”

“We’ll follow the Elder’s decision!”

Was it because it was the opinion of Rohan, the Apostle of God?

The dwarves, whose opinions had been divided, finally agreed to demolish the temple.

Graham declared that all the mithril belonged to Loktersia and would be managed strictly as public property.

With that, the meeting concluded, and Rohan approached Graham.

“Lord Graham. I have a favor to ask.”

“Yes, Lord Rohan. Please, tell me anything!”

“Could I have a little mithril?”

“Mithril, you say?”

Graham’s eyes grew wide.

“Are you looking for a souvenir, or is there another use you have in mind…?”

“I have a use for it.”

When Rohan answered with a smile, Graham nodded without hesitation.

“Of course! If not for you, Lord Rohan, we would never have discovered this mithril in my lifetime. Ah, how about we set up a special storage in the mithril vault just for you, Lord Rohan?”

“That would be more than perfect.”

It was an even better gift than he had imagined.

‘With this, Sunfire will finally be in my hands.’

Everything was falling into place.

“Oh, and do you have time this evening?”

“Is there something you wish to discuss?”

“It’s about the coal mine dispute between the Gerald Territory and Loktersia.”

“Ah.”

Graham nodded, understanding what he meant.

“Then, I’ll see you this evening.”

After explaining to Graham about the mithril he needed immediately, Rohan left the temple.

“Did the meeting go well?”

His party was waiting for him outside the temple.

“Yeah, it looks like the whole temple will be demolished. Loktersia is going to be really busy for a while.”

“Wow. This is a tremendous historical event! To think mithril actually exists! If only I could have just one taste, my life’s wish would be fulfilled…”

Demico smacked his lips as he stared at the temple.

“So, are we heading back right away?”

Retina sidled up and asked.

“Not yet. There are still things to take care of today. Once that’s done, we’ll head back right away.”

At Rohan’s words, Retina nodded.

“A shame, but it can’t be helped.”

Retina had invited him to visit the city of Silvaren in Elpirian together.

Rohan had postponed that offer for another time.

His own destiny.

Of course, he was curious.

But for now, there was no time.

“Demico.”

“Y-yes!”

Demico, who had been practically drooling at the temple, jumped in surprise at Rohan’s call.

“You haven’t forgotten the main reason we came here, have you?”

“The reason we came… that’s to find mithril, isn’t it…?”

“Good grief.”

Rohan shook his head.

To think that the lord of a territory had gotten so obsessed with mithril he lost his senses.

“The coal mine development rights. That’s why we came.”

“Ah…!”

Demico’s jaw dropped as if he’d been struck on the head with a hammer.

He had clearly forgotten.

“Tonight, we’ll wrap that up and then head to the Gerald Territory.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Demico saluted energetically, receiving his orders.

At that moment, a dwarf ran over carrying a box.

“Apostle! Lord Graham asked me to bring this to you…”

“Already…?”

It was a very heavy box.

This was the mithril Rohan had requested, saying he needed it right away.

“Alright. Let’s go deliver this to the person who’s probably waiting with their neck stretched out right about now.”

“Who is that?”

At Martin’s question, Rohan smiled and answered.

“The eccentric dwarf master, Alcon.”

---

Alcon was rubbing his hands together and pacing nervously in front of his forge.

“H-he’ll really come, right?”

Behind him, there was a sword wrapped carefully in cloth.

It was none other than ‘Sunfire.’

At first, he had made the promise half in doubt, but now, hearing the news that mithril had truly been discovered, he had been fidgeting restlessly, anxiously waiting for Rohan to arrive.

If Rohan truly brought mithril, he would become the first dwarf in Loktersia to personally own mithril.

“Hah… maybe he won’t come today… huh?”

At that moment, he spotted some unfamiliar silhouettes.

Four tall figures approaching from a distance.

Three humans and one Elpirian.

“They’re here!”

Alcon barely managed to calm his pounding heart and clutched the cloth-wrapped ‘Sunfire’ to his chest.

“You’ve been waiting, I see.”

Arriving at the forge, Rohan smiled at the sight of Alcon.

“O-of course! I’m a dwarf who always keeps his promises!”

“Haha! I know that well. I, too, am a human who keeps his word.”

At Rohan’s gesture, Martin placed the box he was carrying onto the rough table in the forge.

“As promised, here’s the mithril.”

“Is… is this really mithril?”

Alcon swallowed hard and handed ‘Sunfire’ to Rohan.

“This is the sword I promised you. I hope you use it well.”

“This is a blade crafted with your skill, Lord Alcon. I’ll treasure it for a long, long time.”

“Hoho! I’m glad you understand its worth!”

Chuckling in good spirits, Alcon went straight for the box on the table.

“So this is mithril…”

He rubbed his thick hands together and carefully opened the box.

“Whew, wow. It’s so dazzling, I can barely look at it!”

The mithril didn’t actually shine, but it was such a rare treasure that even looking at it felt almost too much.

“This is truly an ore I’ve never seen before. This incredible density, this icy coldness, this darkness that seems to swallow light!”

He picked up the mithril in both hands and began examining it.

In truth, it was only two fist-sized lumps.

But Rohan knew just how valuable even this small amount would become in the future.

‘Getting Sunfire deserves at least this much payment.’

Even if the smith didn’t know the worth of his own sword, Rohan didn’t want to devalue it.

“T-thank you. For valuing this precious item and my sword as equals!”

Alcon was deeply moved by Rohan’s gesture.

He had always been considered an oddball.

No one really acknowledged him, and even his fellow dwarves shunned him for his excessive experimental spirit.

Perhaps because of that?

He was deeply touched that Rohan recognized the true value of his work and paid such a high price.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Rohan smiled, shook his hand, and turned to go.

“Wait a moment!”

Alcon put the mithril back in the box and hurried inside the forge.

There was a rustling sound from within, then he came out holding something in his hand.

“It’s not much, but please take this. It’s a gift of gratitude.”

“What is it?”

“It’s something my grandmother left to me. It may look like an ordinary necklace, but it holds a special power. Dwarves call such things ‘artifacts.’”

“…!”

Artifact.

He’d heard the term before.

“The necklace is called ‘Phelion’s Flame.’ It’s named for the mysterious ancient fire said to reside within. While you wear it, it keeps your body warm and, sometimes, can light your way in deep darkness. Though, I haven’t actually seen it glow myself.”

“Is it really alright for me to accept such a precious thing…?”

“Of course! I can’t leave Loktersia anyway, so I have no need of it. I always thought I’d give it to someone worthy if I met them. If you’re the one who found the mithril all us dwarves have searched for in vain for so long, I’m sure the necklace will shine for you too.”

Alcon’s eyes shone brighter than ever before.

“Thank you.”

Rohan expressed his sincere gratitude.

Artifacts like this couldn’t be bought for money, and were incredibly difficult to find even with effort.

“Thank you, my friend! Or should I call you Apostle?”

“No need. Friend is enough for me.”

Rohan and Alcon shared a hearty handshake and smiled.

He was glad to have made a good friend here in Loktersia.

“Enjoy the rest of your time in Loktersia, and come visit again whenever you have the chance!”

With a broad smile, Alcon saw Rohan’s group off, and thus, the exchange of ‘Sunfire’ and mithril was complete.

That evening, Graham returned home.

“In truth, there’s a reason I brought my friend here.”

“What is it? Please, speak freely!”

“It’s about the coal mine that’s currently under dispute.”

“Ah…! You mean that?”

Graham chuckled and said,

“I’ve heard you are a prince of the Schubert Empire, Lord Rohan. The Gerald Territory is under the Empire’s rule, and I figured you must have had a reason for choosing it. Is it the mine development rights you want?”

“Exactly.”

As expected, the leader of the dwarves was sharp.

With just a word, he had grasped the whole context in an instant.

“If it’s the coal mine development rights you want, I’ll hand them over.”

“Truly?”

“Of course! Lord Rohan, you are our benefactor, having found Lord Lokteum’s legacy for us! Hahaha!”

With a hearty laugh, he fetched a piece of parchment from the room.

With smooth strokes, he quickly scrawled out a document in the imperial language, then stamped it with a large seal.

“Loktersia has more than enough coal mines, anyway. Giving up one won’t make much difference.”

The request for coal mine development rights was agreed to without hesitation.

With all the excitement over mithril, everything else seemed trivial to Graham.

“I, Graham, promise that from now on, there will be no disputes over that coal mine.”

He handed over the parchment.

With the official seal right before their eyes, Demico’s jaw dropped.

He whispered to Rohan in a quiet voice,

“D-did we really just pull off this negotiation?”

He could hardly believe it.

After all that time struggling with the issue, to receive the mining rights so easily!

“It’s fine to accept. After all, we risked our lives for this.”

At Rohan’s words, Demico nodded.

He was right.

When they first arrived here, he’d thought they were doomed.

“Are you leaving now, Lord Rohan?”

“Yes, we must return. I’m sure they’re eagerly awaiting our arrival on the other side.”

Rohan replied with a gentle smile.

They shared dinner together, drank their fill of beer, and enjoyed lively conversation late into the night.