Chapter 102

102.

*

“Do we need to create a sealing sword?”

“Yes. Whether it’s capturing a dragon or resealing it, more options are better, aren’t they? I heard Nia is in charge of forging the sealing sword.”

“Now I know why you suddenly came. So you did ask me… Hmm. Myna told you, didn’t she?”

Nia’s gaze shifted to the corner of the workshop.

There in the corner, a pink-haired priest with her head bowed. Myna was gripping a seven-pointed star pendant tightly, her eyes closed.

Her ears, visible between her disheveled strands of hair, were flushed red.

“Your face is red. Are you feeling overheated?”

“No… It’s not that. It’s not a fever. I’m deep in thought, praying devoutly.”

“…?”

Puzzled by my vague response, Nia tilted her head and stood up from her chair.

She shuffled over to the fridge, rummaged around, then returned with three oak goblets.

A smooth motion without any hindrance.

Compared to the clutter that used to spill out when she turned around, the workshop was remarkably clean now.

Rani apparently visited the workshop from time to time to practice magic, and thanks to her, the place was much tidier.

There was no longer any trace of the garbage dump I’d seen during my first visit.

If anything, it now felt like an old laboratory.

‘Now that I think about it, Rani always seemed upset when we talked about the workshop.’

I remembered her squirrel-like angry face as she muttered harsh words.

Always something about it being like a filthy pigsty.

“The same as last time. Apple juice.”

“Thank you. I’ll deliver it to Lady Myna.”

Shaking my head to clear it of thoughts, I then took the cool drink and walked over to Myna, who was in the corner.

“It’s an apple-based drink. Please have some when you feel like it.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

Myna accepted the glass with her head bowed, her voice as quiet as a mosquito’s.

‘She’s still embarrassed, I see.’

This was during our conversation about the sealing sword.

Myna said she didn’t know the whereabouts of the mage.

By mage, she referred to Nia, who was sequestered in the Hyewol Palace’s subspace. I carried a magic ring that connected directly to Nia’s workshop.

Considering this wasn’t something to be postponed and, as far as I knew, Nia wasn’t busy being holed up in her workshop.

Also, our discussion in the audience chamber was wrapping up around the same time, in the midst of a bright afternoon.

So I showed Myna the magic ring to move to the workshop.

‘Lady Myna, are you already sending someone over?’ she had asked.

Wearing two engagement rings.

And it had only been a little while since I married the Empress.

Upon muttering that, Myna’s eyes had suddenly lit up, and she clutched my hand.

She then immediately launched into a tirade about the possibility of not only having two brides but a third one as well.

The union between a saint and a saintess is, after all, the will of the gods, or so she said.

From a political standpoint, she argued that the combination of the imperial palace and the cathedral could become a powerful force, insisting on a very positive evaluation.

After finally calming her down, who was quite excited, I explained the ring’s ability…

…And she remained in that state all the way to the workshop.

‘Marriage.’

It’s not even been six months since I became husband and wife with Iris.

If I consider the strengthening of royal authority through future matrimonial alliances…

…Though there’s still a possibility I might not take another wife, even so…

‘Six months is still very early.’

‘Master must be rushing to the capital.’

Not to mention, my firstborn hasn’t even come along yet.

Because of the increasing workload, we haven’t even consummated the marriage.

‘…This feels uneasy.’

With a small sigh, I turned my attention back to Nia.

“In any case, as I mentioned, I intend to retrieve the sealing sword before heading to the North.”

“Retrieve it. You’re going to the front lines yourself?”

“I’m the only one in Altain capable of handling dragons right now.”

True, I could entrust this to my Master, who’s still recovering from his injuries. But he is, after all, the real transcendent one.

So right after the war ended, I immediately sent a letter to Ruben.

However, the reply came back faster than expected, stating it wasn’t possible.

It seems Pardey sent the reply, mentioning that my Master had already left Ruben around the time I clashed with the Holy Liberation Army.

With his body almost fully recovered and after meeting an old acquaintance, he left.

‘How inconvenient.’

The situation is that there is no transcendent one around to handle dragons.

Objectively, I’m currently the strongest person in Altain.

“Hmm. Your balance is quite stable. Is that why you’ve become a mana manifestor?”

“That’s correct.”

“That’s quite something… Well, congratulations. Since it hasn’t been fully unified, continue drinking tea. Just reduce it to once a day. Are the leaves all gone? I’ll prepare three months’ worth for you to take back.”

Nia quickly rummaged through the storehouse and presented a bundle of red flower petals.

After politely expressing gratitude upon receiving it, she calmly spoke.

“As for the sealing sword… To cut to the chase, it can be made. It’ll take about a week.”

“It won’t take long.”

“Since I already made a mold beforehand. The materials should be available at the Great Cathedral. Normally, three days would be enough.”

Wait, didn’t she just say it’ll take a week?

Looking at me curiously, Nia shrugged.

“It needs to be assembled during the full moon. Luckily, the full moon is in four days.”

After briefly explaining that, she lightly flicked her index finger.

Swish. Clunk.

A thick book slipped out of the bookshelf and landed in front of her.

She flipped through the pages, stopping about halfway, then resumed her explanation.

“For convenience, we call it a sealing sword, but in reality, it has no sealing function.”

“What?”

A sealing sword without a seal? Is this a wordplay?

Fortunately, the questions swirling in my mind were quickly resolved.

“The sealing sword fuses the characteristics of the sun and the moon. Individually, they’re fine, but if forcibly combined, they scatter mana.”

Scatter mana.

I instantly understood why it’s called a “sealing sword” there.

The monstrosities are clumps of contaminated mana.

Take the black rain, for instance.

These peculiar entities can be seen as conglomerations of mana with crude will attached.

If a sealing sword is thrust into such a clump of mana…

‘You could say its very existence is dispersed, so calling it sealing is appropriate.’

Strictly speaking, “destruction” would be more accurate, but for these monsters, “sealing” is suitable.

The beast within carries the core of mana.

An infinite producer of tainted mana, enhancing surrounding monstrosities—the dragon’s heart that father and the expedition team pierced with a sealing sword.

The infinite creation of mana, countered by the sword’s infinite scattering of mana.

Due to the clash of these two forces, the dragon was rendered inactive and buried deep in the north until the sealing sword’s efficacy dwindled and the balance was disrupted.

“Originally, to create a sealing sword, a relic infused with the moon’s power is required. We would need to request this from the Lunar Order’s saintess, but since no saintess has appeared yet, we had to resort to some tricks, and thus, the seal dissolved prematurely.”

“So, it seems the expected seal duration was shorter.”

“Oh, are you feeling better now? Exactly as Myna said. The trick was ultimately a trick.”

Nia nodded in agreement with Myna, who had by now regained her composure.

‘The saintess of the Lunar Order.’

Since the saintess of the Lunar Order passed away over a hundred years ago, none has appeared yet.

‘But I do know who she is.’

The main headquarters of the Lunar Order is located in Sylvester.

A core religion within the Sylvester Empire where the main story takes place, naturally, it frequently intertwines with the protagonist’s story.

The saintess of the Lunar Order was originally supposed to be discovered and protected by the protagonist, Theodore.

‘Her name was Ismay, if I recall.’

According to the descriptions, she is around twelve years old.

Her standout features are her black hair and heterochromatic eyes, and when the saintess’s power manifests, her hair takes on a silvery hue.

At Myna’s request following her divine revelation, an episode begins where they search for the saintess.

Myna hasn’t received any divine revelation. This could mean Ismay hasn’t yet been chosen as the saintess, or her whereabouts are unknown.

The reappearance of a saintess after a hundred years is no ordinary event.

If rumors of Ismay started to spread, Western Continent wouldn’t remain so peaceful.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to resort to tricks again. The problem is that the seal duration will be short.”

“Nine years… It lasted around nine years.”

“Too short. Too short. You mean we have to repeat this every nine years?”

“That’s not something to worry about.”

At my assertion, both Nia and Myna turned their heads.

Curiosity filled their expressions.

Smiling faintly, I answered their questions.

“It will suffice with the sealing procedure. This time, I will destroy the dragon.”

The expedition team from nine years ago had perished heroically after completing the dragon’s sealing.

But I am different.

I can penetrate the vast sea of abnormal beings, pierce with the sealing sword, weaken the creature, and still have the strength to return.

“Lady Myna. So I require your assistance.”

“Me? Me?”

“Yes. Let’s head to the north together. Don’t worry about the monsters. I’ll ensure your safety.”

“…Wheez!”

We cannot move around with someone who isn’t fully capable.

A being who can survive in the most extreme conditions.

I should at least bring someone with the capability of a mana manifestor or someone of equivalent power.

Myna, a saintess who serves the Goddess of the Sun and possesses the miracle of healing, would certainly be a strong asset in the freezing cold lands.

When I grasped both her hands to prevent her refusal, her pink eyes began to quiver.

Her face turned tomato red as she fidgeted, and eventually, after some hesitation, she gently nodded.

‘Great. We’ve secured the buffer.’

I had used most of my miracles during the battle in the Rude Plains.

Now, my ability is limited to small-scale healing. So, having a saintess who can perform miracles alongside me will provide a reliable support system.

Additionally, enhancing our combat ability through blessings is possible, which would positively impact the northern front’s fighting strength and morale.

Rejoicing internally as I nodded, Nia’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“I’ll come along too.”

“…?”

With an unconcerned expression, Nia continued.

“I mentioned we’re going to survey the uncharted territories, right? There’s no place where the flow of mana is more tumultuous than the north. With Cain here, it’s safe enough—so it works out well.”

Even if it’s a mage… having one join the party will be welcome.

“Also, the weather conditions in the north. There’s something that’s been on my mind. Anyway, I’m pretty useful in combat, right?”

Speaking confidently, Nia produced flames from her hands.

The heat from the mana flames crackled unmistakably in the air.

“…I put my trust in you.”

“Alright. Just trust me. I’ll make sure to bring some useful items.”

“Yes. We’ll move after the sealing sword is completed. I’ll handle a few tasks before we go.”

After discussing travel routes and plans with the two, as the time got late, we agreed to proceed later and exited the workshop.

And I received some coffee beans as a gift from Myna before returning late to the audience chamber…

“…Smell of a woman.”

The Iris nestled in my arms lifted her head.

“Cain. Explain.”

Her violet eyes shone softly in the darkness.

Our gazes met, her emotionless eyes locking with mine.