558 - - 556. The Importance of Reading the Air

On the day we left for the castle, the butler came to pick us up in a luxurious carriage. In the luxurious carriage, we were warned in a roundabout way about our pain in the Kingdom of Beryl and given a high rank certificate of identity. When we arrived at the castle and met the king, Mel was in a temper beyond repair. We haven't even started talking yet, and I'm very worried about the future.

"Did that girl really build this?"

The king, who had been surprised to see a degraded version of Damascus ingot, asked me a question with a look of disbelief, as if he had recovered.

That's the king. He is quick to change his mind.

But in a way, it was a very rude question.

It is like saying that it is unbelievable that such a little girl built a degraded version of Damascus.

But ...... can't be called rude in this case.

When I look at Mel, he is mumbling and letting his mind wander off somewhere with a blank expression on his face. He seems to have gone through a nervous breakdown and is running away from reality.

Yeah. Even I, who know that Mel actually built it, would have thought that he was a good guy if I had seen him like this.　Was it a mistake that Mel built it?　I'm afraid I'm going to think.

No wonder the king wonders.

"...... Yes. I am sure she built it."

"...... I see."

The king's expression has not changed, but he seems to be somewhat troubled inside.

Maybe he can't take my word for it. It's hard being a powerful man.

"Hmm. How is Damascus from your point of view, Dolgem?"

The king turned to the dwarf man who was looking at him as if he were about to bite him.

"Excuse me."

Oops. ...... Though his words are polite, his body language is frightening. The moment the king called out to him, he approached with great speed and quickly picked up a degraded version of Damascus.

If it weren't for this situation, it could be misinterpreted as an attempt to steal. No, is it normal to move like that so close to the king?

...... seems like a bad idea. Somehow the knight who was waiting by the wall is standing behind the dwarf with a sword in his hand. If he makes any suspicious move, is he going to cut him down?

"Oh?　I was worried when he suddenly moved, but Yuta didn't seem to have anything to do with it.

And before you know it, part 2.

Sylphy, who was supposed to be behind me, was next to me before I knew it.

Then, perhaps reacting to Sylphy's movement, Barotta-san became very panicky and started chanting some kind of incantation.

"Oh, I think she's calling me. I'm going out for a while.

A mid-level spirit of the soil, who had been having a chitchat with Dine and the others, was heading toward Ms. Barotta with a relaxed look on her face.

It's a chain reaction like watching a pita-gola switch.　

"I'm sorry. I made a bit of a scene."

"No, I was a little surprised, but it's okay."

In a way it was funny. I guess I shouldn't have said that.

The king raises his hand lightly and the knight puts away his sword and goes back to the wall, but Ms. Barotta is still staring at him with a stern look, as if she is wary of Sylphy who moved.

The king can't feel the presence of the spirits, so he can't fully grasp the current situation. That's why Ms. Barotta is watching us with stern eyes.

What if I make a disturbing move?　Ordinary spiritists can't deal with that quickly, can they?

"Hmmm, Yuta. Actually, there is a man hiding and watching us right now, nervously holding the lever of the pit. When I give the signal, he's going to clank it."

Sylphy, it's not funny.

But I understand what you're trying to do. Maybe Ms. Barotta has the authority to set the trap.

Since she is going to meet with me, a spiritualist, it is only right that she be on the lookout for me, since she knows the movements of spirits.

Well, I don't think the pitfall will do anything to me or Mel, so I don't mind if you do, but I hope you won't be too hasty because it might make things awkward with the kings.

Oh, Dine and Belle and the others are in a great hurry to get to Ms. Barotta ...... to talk to the middle class spirits of the soil who haven't come back.

Wait a minute, the pitfall will be triggered.

The presence of the Great Spirit is said to be so great that Ms. Barotta's feelings must be getting out of hand.

Isn't she on the verge of triggering the pit?　Sylphy, please.

"I would have liked to see the pit in action, but I guess that's to be expected. Deanne, you and Belle go back to your positions and wait. If you move now, you'll get into trouble.

Sylphy, who understands the look I give her for help, stops Dine and the others from taking action.

I think it's great that Sylphy understands my feelings with her gaze, but she was going to watch the pitfalls activate if I didn't ask for help, wasn't she?

Please, don't let your curiosity take precedence in a situation like this.

And you, dwarf.

Your careless behavior almost landed me in the pit...what are you going to do about it? ...... He is oblivious to the tense situation and is examining the degraded version of Damascus as if he were devouring it.

He probably doesn't even realize that he might have been killed.

"I'm sorry. This is Dorgem, the chief royal smith, a man with a penchant for smithing and metal, and Damascus seems to be on his mind. I'm sorry, but show him."

The king himself, perhaps noticing my dumbfounded stare, introduced me to the dwarven man and explained the situation.

The man himself was so absorbed in a degraded version of Damascus that he didn't notice me at all, but I wondered if it was all right to make him apologize to the king, even if it was only lightly.

It doesn't sound okay.

I can feel the anger from the butler who came to pick me up, the knights by the wall, and the sorcerer-like people.

I'm sure they're very angry, since I'm not that perceptive.

I don't think it will be too bad since he seems to be the chief royal blacksmith, but I'm sure he'll be given a stern lecture and punished in some way.

"There is metal in the mixture, but it is not mixed.

Despite the crisis, Mr. Dolgem is absorbed in a degraded version of Damascus, mumbling to himself.

But it's true. The Damascus steel I know was supposed to have a laminated structure and whatnot, but the nomos version of Damascus seems to be clearly different.

It seems to be the Damascus steel of a fantasy world with magic and spirits.

I couldn't understand the explanation, so I'm just going to accept that it's a fantasy.

Since most things make sense to me because they are fantasy, the word "fantasy" seems to be a magic word these days.

"So dolgem. How is that degraded version of Damascus performing?"

"......"

......Mr. Dolgem is ignoring the King's words perfectly. Or perhaps it is more correct to say that he is not listening to the king's words.

An indescribable air flows in the room.

That's right. The king is being ignored. It's an outrage punishable by death.

The butler took a degraded version of Damascus from Mr. Dolgem.

Mr. Dolgem looks up with an angry expression on his face.

And then, Mr. Dolgem finally notices the cold stares from those around him.

Mr. Dolgem understands that he has done something wrong, and his expression changes to one of awkwardness.

"It's all right. We'll talk about Dolgem later. So what do you think, Dolgem?

You're not allowed to do that, but you'll tell me later.

Well, I'm sure they'll be very angry. No, I'll be happy if he's just pissed off.　

I'm sorry. First of all, this metal is definitely of Damascus origin. You are also right that it is a degraded version that is not as good as the real thing. It is not as good as rare metals such as mithril, orichalcone, adamantite, etc. in terms of performance. However, compared to other metals, it is one, three, or even three or four times better than them. It is a metal that has a lot of performance potential. ............"

At first, Mr. Dolgem bowed his head in remorse and began to explain, but he became passionate while explaining and the content became more and more technical, and he could not stop.

The sermon time was sure to be extended.

"Yuta! Are you going to leave the manufacturing of this degraded version of Damascus to the government?"

Ignoring Mr. Dorgem, who continues to talk, the king turns to us. Mr. Dolgem was stopped by the butler, and his face turned blue again.

If he could do that, he would not have ignored the king.

I am sorry for your loss.

Oops, if I am distracted by Mr. Dorgem, I will also be neglecting the king.

I don't think I'll be offended, but since I'm asking for Mel's backing, I don't want to be rude.

"It's difficult for me to entrust you with the manufacturing process since it involves the secrets of the spirit arts.

At first, I thought about throwing the whole thing to the state.

If Mel could be properly recognized as the one who developed the degraded version of Damascus, it would be a great honor and she would not be underestimated because she is a woman.

The danger would be greater than now because he would be known for his skill, but it would be much safer than if he had kept the process a secret. We may not even need the king's backing.

However, after listening to Nomos and Mel, I have given up on the idea of throwing it all away.

Even though it is not as good as the real Damascus ingot, it is said that making a degraded version of Damascus ingot is a very delicate process.

It requires a first-rate magician or detailed communication with the spirits of fire and earth.

A first-rate magician is impossible from the start.

Even if the government can provide the manpower, there is no way that I can explain to him about blacksmithing using magic.

Mel may be able to handle the blacksmithing part, but he does not know anything about magic, so it will be difficult.

And as for the spirit art, the reason why I gave up on it is because of the detailed communication with the spirits.

I was worried about it because teaching it would surely raise the stock of a spiritualist, but teaching it would be a way to use the spirits for bad things.

I love Mel as a disciple, but that doesn't mean I owe him a favor and I can't let him use the innocent floating spirits and the lower class spirits for something strange.

"Oh. I'd be interested in the secret of that too, wouldn't you?

Of course.

But I can't tell you.

Well, here's where the negotiations begin. Mr. Dorgem has kind of distracted me, but I'll get myself back on track and try to get a good result.