Chapter 39: The Fourth Guardian (2)

Vellerin’s lips moved wordlessly for a while, as if she was at a loss for words.

“Why are you… using the Seondo… like this…?”

With a look of confusion, she kept checking the Seondo I had been using as Arkeron’s temporary core.

I glanced over at Arkeron’s makeshift Energy Core as well.

Vuuuuum!

The Seondo glowed red.

Energy tubes were plugged in all over it.

Its shell was already shriveled, probably from heavy use.

‘Pretty crude, honestly.’

Now I understood why Vellerin looked so bewildered.

“If I hadn’t done it this way, I thought it might stop working altogether.”

“Ah!”

She nodded at my words.

Her surprise was brief, and she quickly seemed to grasp the situation.

“Ahem, it’s okay. I’ll fix it!”

Vellerin clenched her fists and struck a fighting pose.

“Good. I’m counting on you. If you need anything, just say so. Should I bring you another Seondo if it bears new fruit?”

“No! The Seondo is fine. I think if I inscribe the Mana Elasticity Restoration Spell on this Seondo, it’ll be enough as an energy source.”

Oh, that’s good.

“Um, and I’ll need some metal to remake the Energy Core.”

“Metal?”

“Yes! Orichalcum would be the most efficient!”

Orichalcum?

Was she talking about the legendary metal of the gods?

“Ah! You don’t… have any Orichalcum…?”

“No. I don’t have anything like that.”

“T-Then… Adamantium, which is Arkeron’s main component right now, would be fine too! If not, Mithril would work as well.”

“I don’t have either of those.”

“Huh?”

Vellerin blinked at my answer.

She looked at me like, “How could a Rare Dragon Lair not have those?”

Even with that look… I’d never even seen Adamantium, and Mithril was a ridiculously expensive mineral.

“There’s lots in the Mineral Room!”

At that moment, Dania fluttered over and said.

“Mineral Room?”

“Yeah! Mineral Room! There’s a ton!”

Oh…

I glanced around.

Maybe it meant one of those tunnels.

Was there really a room filled with Orichalcum, Adamantium, and Mithril?

‘Wow.’

If that were true…

Rather than raising and selling spirit herbs with all this effort, once the Mineral Room opened, I could probably earn coins much faster by selling those minerals.

After all, even just Mithril fetched an astronomical price.

Most SSS-rank equipment, which sold for hundreds of billions, was usually crafted from Mithril.

But now, there was not only Mithril, but also Adamantium and even Orichalcum, which were on a whole other level. I couldn’t even imagine their value.

‘Well, that’s for later.’

I hesitated for a moment, then called out to Chuchu.

“Chuchu, bring me a Nagattara Scale.”

“Chu!!”

Chuchu scampered over at my words.

It reached into its belly pouch and pulled out a shimmering golden scale.

“Will this work?”

“Ah! A Nagattara Scale is good too. It’s actually more efficient than you’d think for an Energy Core!”

“Great. I’ll leave it to you.”

Perfect.

Somehow, I had a feeling the Nagattara Scale would make for a decent result.

“Starting the work now!”

Vellerin took the Nagattara Scale and moved to one side.

But… there was no blacksmithing equipment. How was she planning to work?

My question was quickly answered.

Fwaaash!

Vellerin fiddled with the pendant around her neck.

A hammer radiating pure white light appeared in her hand.

“Please separate the Seondo for a moment.”

[Keron…]

I disconnected the Seondo from Arkeron’s temporary core.

Pshhhhhh

[Entering temporary inactive state.]

Arkeron shifted into standby mode.

Vellerin immediately raised her hammer and began striking the Nagattara Scale.

Dong, tang, dong, tang!

Each time Vellerin brought down the hammer, a clear, ringing sound echoed out.

“Go, Vellerin!”

“Popo!”

“Chuuuu!”

We cheered her on in quiet voices from behind.

After a short while—

KWA-AAAAAAAANG!!

A brilliant light burst from the Nagattara Scale Vellerin was hammering.

“It’s done!”

Vellerin beamed as she held out her handiwork with both hands.

The new Energy Core, encased in Nagattara Scale, shone like a living chunk of gold.

“Oh…!”

“Popo!”

“Chuuuuu!”

Wow! It’s beautiful!

We all gasped in awe.

The surface of the Energy Core was wrapped in Nagattara Scales, each one forming delicate curves, as if sculpted by a master artisan.

When it caught the light, faint magic seemed to flow across its surface, and tiny golden lightning sparks flickered around the core.

“I’ll install it now!”

She bounced over to where Arkeron was standing still.

She opened the core hatch and inserted the Energy Core.

Ziiiiiiiiing.

[Energy Core connection confirmed. Restarting.]

Golden radiance began to swirl around Arkeron’s body.

KWA-AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The light became a storm of magic power, enveloping Arkeron.

I could clearly see the immense mana surging around Arkeron.

‘So this is the magic of a level 250 being…!’

It was enough to give me goosebumps.

Until now, the magic Arkeron had shown was probably less than a tenth of his original power.

Kiiing. Clack, clack.

Flash!

[Arkeron. Normal operation restored.]

Arkeron’s voice rang out, clearer than ever.

Countless Magic Circuit Spells lit up across his Adamantium armor.

[Allow me to introduce myself once more. Mana-powered Golem, Arkeron.]

Kiiing! Clack.

Arkeron smoothly knelt on one knee in a formal bow.

It was the unmistakable sign of Arkeron’s perfect revival.

Damn.

I whistled inwardly at the sight.

‘Vellerin’s got skills.’

I’d never seen a dwarf, but I was certain—she was an even more capable blacksmith than any dwarf.

“Great job.”

Rustle, rustle.

I patted Vellerin’s head.

“Hehe. Thank you, Master.”

She flashed a bright smile, clearly happy with my praise.

“I fixed Arkeron!”

Dania fluttered her wings with joy.

Popo and Chuchu also bounced around Arkeron excitedly.

“Alright. Let’s have a party today.”

A party? Yay!!

“Popo!”

“Chuuuu!!”

@GUUUUUUUUU!

They all cheered at my words.

With Vellerin as our newest companion—

And Arkeron fully restored—

If we don’t have a party on a day like this, when would we?

***

When Dania hatched from her egg, a rainbow-colored light burst forth.

That light swept through not only the Elatrias around the lair, but stretched out to places far beyond.

As a result—

Aaaah!

[A great being has been born…!

[Glory! Bestow your blessing upon us under the dragon’s wings!』

Countless intelligent races and monsters marveled and celebrated Dania’s birth.

But—

There were those who bared their fangs at Dania’s arrival.

“Shiiik-shik-shik—”

A dragonkin with golden scales.

A monster.

Nagattara.

The male Nagattara, who had lost his mate, secretly sought out another being.

[You… know where… the Hatchling’s lair… is…?]

Its form was the very embodiment of a Grim Reaper from nightmares, shrouded in black smoke and mist, its true shape unclear, drifting in the darkness.

That being was none other than .

“Shiiik-shik-shik—.”

Nagattara had been unable to approach the lair last time due to interference from the Elatrias.

But the faint aura that had seeped out from between the Elatrium was unmistakably the presence of a <Dragon Hatchling>.

And in that place, he realized his mate had been killed.

Shiiik!

He wanted revenge, but his own power was not enough.

So he made up his mind.

Beings of another order.

Entities that even those at the limits of growth, those knocking at the door of transcendence, avoided.

All that was known about them was that they wandered, seeking traces of dragons.

So—

Nagattara braved his fear.

Among those otherworldly existences, he sought out the least terrifying one.

[Guide… me…]

“Shiiik, shiiik~!”

Nagattara bowed his head.

With this being—

He could tear through the protection of the Elatrium.

Splash, splash!

***

Mandrians wept as they watched Mandragoras tossed into boiling water.

@GUUUUUUUUUU—

(I’ll remember you.)

Each had produced two or three seeds before ceasing to move.

They would become the daily sustenance for the lair’s residents.

Delicious smell!! Hungry!!

The aroma was so good even Dania whined for food.

Nagattara meat + Clearwater grass Herb Soup + Mandragora.

No matter how many times I had this combination, I never got tired of it.

‘It’s a shame the Nagattara meat is almost gone.’

Would another Nagattara show up somewhere?

I smacked my lips, checking the dwindling supply of Nagattara meat.

“Popo!”

While the Nagattara meat and Mandragora boiled, Popo was busy cultivating the earth.

‘Huh?’

But I noticed something different from before.

‘The mana flowing from the ground…’

The vitality was much richer than before.

‘What’s going on?’

I scooped up a handful of the freshly-tilled soil, puzzled.

Then a message from the system flashed through my mind.

『Guardian <Popo> has reached level 110, awakening more of Gagia’s power.』

So this is what it meant for Gagia’s power to awaken further?

‘She’s supposed to be the goddess of earth and nature.’

What exactly was the relationship between Popo and Gagia?

No matter how I looked at it, Popo didn’t seem to be just a slime infused with Gagia’s power.

“Popo!”

As I was lost in thought, Popo hopped over with a ^_^ smile.

When I glanced behind Popo, I saw it had already turned all the old soil into newly empowered earth.

“Wow, Popo, you worked hard.”

“Popo!”

I patted Popo’s head.

I had a strong feeling that crops and spirit herbs grown in this soil would be even more potent from now on.

“Chuchuchu!”

This time, Chuchu ran up to me.

She pointed at the Seondo Tree.

“Oh…!”

The Seondo Tree.

At last, the Seondo fruit hanging from its branch had fully absorbed the effects of .

Now, if a seed sprouted from that Seondo, the number of Seondo Trees could increase.

Nice.

Ever since Vellerin joined us, things that had been stuck started flowing smoothly again.

“Alright! Let’s all eat first!”

『Hungry!! Feed me!!』

“Popo!”

“Chuuuuu!”

“Wow, this smells amazing.”

@GUUUUUUUU!

Everyone cheered at my words.

Dania, Popo, and Chuchu each got their own bowl as usual.

“Vellerin, should I leave the meat out for you?”

“No! Please put it in!”

“Oh…? Uh, okay.”

Huh. I thought elves didn’t eat meat.

So she’s a carnivorous elf…

“Thank you for the meal!!”

She really ate it.

And with great gusto.

Wow.

She was so different from the elf image I had in my head, but seeing her eat so heartily made me smile.

@GUUUUUU—!

“You want some too?”

@GUUUUU!!

“Uh… sure. Here you go.”

I ladled out a bowl of broth for the Mandrian as well.

Then—

Splash!

He dunked his roots right into the soup.

Like he was taking a half-bath.

‘Heh.’

The more I watched, the more fascinating that guy seemed.

“What about Arkeron…?”

Wait.

Where was Arkeron?

I looked around and saw Arkeron standing by the lair wall.

What’s he doing there?

Just as I was about to call out to him—

Arkeron’s voice rang out, low and metallic.

[Intruder detected. Combat mode activating.』

Vrrrm.

Arkeron’s eyes glowed red, and the Energy Core’s mana roared with power.

[All access is blocked. Eliminating the enemy for the protection of the lair.』

With those words—

Ziiiiiiiiing!

Space warped open before Arkeron, and in an instant, he was sucked inside.