C759
Only the eyes of the three people—Fire, Hammer, and Anvil—stood out as if they were about to pop out.
"Can you cure Vailam?"
"Is that really true?"
"Did you not know? In our Vamel Alliance, there is a device called the Chaos Purifier. It can almost perfectly purify the chaos corruption that hasn’t transformed the body."
[Pipih, Pih…]
Vailam let out a groan and sank back into the water.
Even briefly lifting his body out of the water seemed difficult for him.
"There is absolutely no variable. We have never tested if the device works perfectly on monsters, and its size is enormous."
Encountering a case where chaos was eroding rather than reinforcing was something new."Young Patriarch, please help us! If you do, we will do anything."
"If I help?"
When Jin interrupted and asked, the officials flinched and looked at each other.
"...Creating a masterpiece for the Young Patriarch."
It might seem simple, but it wasn’t. It meant that all the best blacksmiths in the world (except for Picon) would come together to create a single sword.
"Leave that to Picon-nim. Do you think there is a casual relationship between Picon-nim and me?"
Of course, even if the officials combined their strength, they couldn't compare to Picon.
"That’s not it."
[It’s a very special relationship. If it weren’t for the Young Patriarch, I would still be hidden inside that empty body.]
"Cough! Then, what do you want?"
"I don’t want anything in particular."
"Nothing? Then why did you mention it?"
"You were the one who spoke as if you were going to give something, not me. I just thought of extending my goodwill. However..."
"However?"
"If you really want to reward me, how about joining the Vamel Alliance?"
"Are you demanding an exclusive contract?"
"I know the Association is a neutral force that doesn’t get involved in worldly matters. But now is not the time to turn a blind eye. If you are a person with abilities, you must take a side. That’s why the Hidden Palace and Nameless abandoned their long traditions and gathered under the banner of the Vamel Alliance."
The Association had never affiliated with any faction since its founding.
The officials' eyes became serious. However, that serious atmosphere did not arise from discomfort or concern about the proposal.
"...If that’s the issue, wasn’t the answer already decided when Lord Picon came to us?"
"As you can see, Picon-nim is an absolute existence to us. It’s not just a symbolic story. Now he has become a true god of blacksmiths. Lord Picon’s will is our will."
"Just as Picon-nim is already on the side of the Young Patriarch, it’s natural for us to join the alliance, right?"
"It’s true that the answers are quite satisfactory, but you accepted it too quickly."
"We were also somewhat mentally prepared. We are not completely indifferent to how the world is going."
"If we have to choose a side anyway, our conclusion was that it should be Runcandel or the Vamel Alliance rather than the Zipple. Since blacksmiths seem to fit better with knights than with magicians."
With a sly smile, Fire extended his hand to Jin.
"I’ll trust you from now on. It’s true the decision is made, but I wasn’t in a state where I felt particularly good."
"Is that why you were being rude when I arrived?"
"That’s how we’ve always been. Anyway, now that we’ve met the Young Patriarch in person, I think it’s not so bad."
"Not only is it not so bad, but there will come a day when you’ll think you were lucky to have chosen me."
Jin smiled and shook Fire’s hand. Now that they had become family, it was a gesture with familiar terms.
[It looks good. Well, since the conversation seems to be over, let’s quickly go help that Vailam. From what I’ve heard, without that guy, both the Association and the Vamel Alliance will face many obstacles in the future.]
Physical transformation could occur immediately if they were unlucky, so they had to hurry.
Shortly after arriving on the island, Jin had already taken control of the Association, but there was no time to revel in the joy.
"I’ll go to Tikan to get the Purifier. Taking Vailam to Tikan seems impossible. Lady Syris, let’s go."
They immediately headed to Tikan with Mort.
Fortunately, since Mort’s condition had significantly improved after the War of the Evil God, there were no major problems with consecutive long-distance teleportations.
"Young Master? You’re back already?"
"Yes, Gilly. Everything went very well."
"Oh, as expected of our Sir!"
"Jet, bring the Chaos Purifier. We need to go back."
While Jet brought the purifier, Jin explained the situation to his comrades.
It was so simple that it didn’t need much summarizing.
"This time, Hedo will come with us. We’ll need his tremendous strength."
"Of course."
Fortunately, Sandra had already gone for a walk with Bale, so there was no fuss about joining as well.
[Boong…]
When they arrived back on the island, Mort collapsed and struggled to catch his breath.
"You’re here!"
As they descended underground and set up the Purifier, the officials looked at it with mixed feelings.
It’s not that they doubted its performance, but they couldn’t imagine that the small device could handle Vailam’s enormous body.
"Fire, blow the horn again to call Vailam."
At the sound of the horn, Vailam responded much more slowly than before and surfaced, wounded.
Hedo jumped into the sea and tied a rope around Vailam’s body, while Syris manifested her Myriad Ice ability to create a large ice floor for Hedo to stand on.
"Jin, pull!"
Hedo pushed from below, and Jin pulled with all his might. They were trying to extract the enormous creature using only brute strength.
Swoosh!
After a moment, Vailam was pulled out as if ripped from the depths.
"Oh, Vailam!"
"Get out of there!"
The officials held onto Vailam tightly and trembled with relief, but from Jin’s perspective, his condition wasn’t too bad, fortunately.
"He’s in the early stage of corruption. If we do it right, he could be purified in a few days... or even today if the Purifier works well with the monster."
They connected the Purifier’s cords to various parts of Vailam’s body.
Soon, the device vibrated, and a murky energy began to be absorbed by the cords.
Every five minutes, Jin and Hedo would immerse Vailam back into the water. As his energy weakened, he couldn’t stay out of the water for long.
The arduous purification process continued until midnight.
[This creature, so fiercely revered by the young patriarch of Runcandel and the strongest in the world in terms of strength, is probably the first of its kind.]
Even if it took not just a day, but even a month, it was worth it.
The benefits gained were almost immeasurable, and Vailam, just like the Association, would become an integral part of the alliance.
As the last traces of corruption filtered out, Vailam’s skin gleamed.
The transformed Vailam, who no longer looked like a mossy creature, radiated a beauty that could be compared to that of a white whale, unknown and brilliant.
"...If this is a monster, then what about those creatures that rolled around in the Black Sea?"
Even Hedo, who prided himself on having experienced the most monsters in the world, had never seen such a singular creature.
"Well, who knows?"
Piph, piph, piph! Piph, piph!
Vailam, now full of energy, let out a pleasant cry.
His contorting and pulsating movements were unmistakable expressions of gratitude.
[You, my benefactor, I will repay your kindness!]
During the treatment, Jin heard that Vailam had learned human speech from the blacksmiths.
Jin laughed at Vailam’s impressive words.
The blacksmiths shed many tears.
They conveyed various words to Vailam and broke down in tears.
"Keep gathering marine steel by sailing the seas and deliver it to the blacksmiths."
[Understood, but something is missing!]
"Do you know where the Sword Emperor’s territory is?"
[I do!]
"How many days would it take you to swim there?"
"Three days."
"In a state where you can carry a full load of marine steel?"
"Still three days."
"How much can you carry?"
"Almost my own weight!"
"Isn’t it difficult?"
"A piece of cake. Piph-piph-piph. A light stroll!"
Clap, clap.
Jin found himself clapping involuntarily.
If Vailam could swim to the Sword Emperor’s territory and back in a week, carrying a full load of refined marine steel each time...
The steel shortage would be a thing of the past.
There would be no need to consider cost-reduction measures.
Even if steel were poured randomly into battleship production, there would still be an excess.
Not only would Vailam transport the steel, but also the Empire’s steel reserves, minimizing the risk of exposure to enemies due to underwater transport.
[If that’s what I have to do, may I?]
"Yes. Let me know when you’re ready, and you can start helping from then on."
[Alright! I’m hungry. I’m going to eat!]
Splash!
Vailam plunged into the sea, splashing seawater over the blacksmiths. They seemed pleased despite being soaked.
"Vailam has never broken a promise. So, Young Patriarch..."
"The Association is the same."
"Judging by what Vailam said, it seems the Young Patriarch wants to produce a fleet."
"That’s correct."
"If you provide us with the design blueprint, we’ll send you the necessary parts in the exact shape you need. We’ll send them for simple on-site processing."
The Association wasn’t just expert in swords; they were also unrivaled in metalwork in any field.
The Vamel Alliance had secured the key materials and exclusive blacksmiths for fleet production, while the Association had rescued their friends and regained access to infinite marine steel.
The group took a moment to celebrate with a bottle of alcohol, toasting to their success.
Everyone had a lot of work ahead.
"We will bid farewell now. From now on, Lord Picon will reside here."
[Of course. When you leave, please make sure to send my hammer and provisions. Hedo’s sword and the Seventh Flagbearer are almost finished, so I’ll let you know when they’re ready.]
As they prepared to board Mort, Vailam leaped through the water, bidding them farewell.
Along with a warm heart, the faces of those who had not yet returned came to mind.
'Now, I must go find my Elder Sister Luntia and Miss Lueth.'
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