Chapter 147

“Dominic says he knows a method for casting a metal comparable to adamantium!”
“He even claims it can be mass-produced easily—enough to fully equip an army of ten thousand soldiers!”

The conversation between Lucian and Dominic quickly spread across the entire North.
It was far too shocking to dismiss as mere merchants’ nonsense.

What kind of metal is adamantium?
Is it not the king of metals—so extraordinarily hard that mining and casting it require immense time and cost?
Because of how difficult it is to extract, adamantium’s annual output never exceeds a fixed limit, regardless of how much ore a mine may hold.

And yet, a metal comparable to adamantium could supposedly be mass-produced as easily as pulling crops from a field.

“That’s insane. Has this Dominic fellow gone senile in his old age?”
“There’s a limit to exaggeration. A casting method for a metal comparable to adamantium, really?”
“Still, if it’s true, wouldn’t it be a discovery that turns the entire continent upside down?”
“But Dominic isn’t exactly some minor merchant—he doesn’t seem like the type to fabricate outright lies.”

In an instant, the eyes of the entire North turned toward Asagrim.
If, by any chance, Dominic’s words were true, it was not something that could be taken lightly.
After all, Lucian had already brought an enormous number of giants from beyond the snowfields.

Even if they were armed in an ordinary way, they would already become a terrifying fighting force—but to equip them with arms on the level of adamantium gear?
That would no longer be an exaggeration to say they’d possess enough power to conquer the entire North.

Conversely, it also meant that whichever lord succeeded in recruiting Dominic could make that power his own.

“He may have incurred the duke’s wrath, but if he delivers the promised quantity, he’ll be released soon enough.”
 “At that point, we have to approach him faster than anyone else and bring him over to our side.”
 “If only we can get our hands on a method to produce a metal equal to adamantium…!”

While the northern lords watched Asagrim with schemes of their own, Lucian showed no outward reaction.
He merely tended to the tribesmen who had settled in Asagrim and waited quietly until the promised date with Dominic arrived.
Of course, he kept a close eye on the movements of the surrounding lords, so he could easily see through what they were all thinking.

“I can practically hear the sound of them drooling from here. They’re all in such a hurry, even though it hasn’t been proven whether what he said is true.”
“That may be so, but… what do you plan to do if Dominic truly brings a metal comparable to adamantium?”
“Why? Worried he might be forgiven?”
“On the contrary, I’m worried Your Highness might ignore his usefulness and kill him.”

Hans spoke with a serious expression as he looked at Lucian.

“Your Highness, if he truly keeps his promise, there’s no need for you to concern yourself over me. I may be of humble birth, but I understand that for the sake of a greater cause, minor matters should sometimes be overlooked.”
“So you’re asking me to forgive Dominic if he really brings such a metal?”
“Your Highness already has leverage over him. More than anyone else, you’ve secured the chance to take him under your command first. Please don’t let such an opportunity slip away just because of someone insignificant like me.”

At Hans’s heartfelt advice, Lucian let out a bitter smile.
He was pleased by the unclouded loyalty of his retainer, yet at the same time felt regret that Hans seemed to undervalue himself so much.
To think he would place a mere merchant like Dominic above himself—someone not even a true talent.

“I understand what you’re saying. But that won’t happen. He won’t be able to keep the promise he made to me.”
“From what I’ve heard, the Dominic Trading Company is already transporting black, lustrous metal ingots this way…”

“Just because someone confidently presents a result doesn’t mean that result is necessarily the real thing.”
“How can you be so certain?”

Hans found it hard to understand Lucian’s confidence.
Wasn’t this the Dominic Trading Company, one of the continent’s most renowned merchant houses?
It wasn’t as though they lacked ability—yet Lucian didn’t seem to harbor even the slightest expectation.

Toward the doubt-filled Hans, Lucian spoke with a faint smile.

“I think I have a rough idea of what kind of metal he’s going to bring.”
“…What?”

“Since it’s come to this, let me tell you something interesting.”

As Hans leaned in, Lucian whispered softly into his ear.

“The metal he’s so proudly bringing will turn into dust in less than ten minutes.”
“…What?”

On the day they had agreed to unveil the metal ingots, Dominic appeared before Lucian with a confident expression.
He then carefully presented one of the many black, lustrous ingots he had brought with him.

“Your Highness, here is the ‘metal rivaling adamantium’ that I promised you earlier.”
“Hm.”

Lucian accepted the black, glossy metal ingot with an indifferent expression.
Aside from its black color, it looked no different from an ordinary steel ingot.

“It’s an alloy called Tenebrium. I cannot disclose the method of manufacture or the precise ratios, but it most certainly possesses strength comparable to adamantium.”
“The name certainly sounds impressive. Did you also bring equipment made from this metal?”
“Of course.”

When Dominic clapped his hands, workers brought forward several items from the rear.
There was a breastplate, a sword, and a spear, all bearing the same dark hue as the Tenebrium.

Lucian briefly examined the items that had been brought, then turned his head to the side.

“Hugo. Test it.”

“Yes.”

Hugo stepped forward without hesitation and drew his sword.
He reinforced his body with mana, then swung with all his might at the breastplate set up beside him.
It was a blow strong enough that, if it were an ordinary breastplate, it would have been cleaved clean through—even without using a sword technique.

Clang!

Instead, the sword struck the breastplate and bounced back with a loud, ringing sound.
Even Hugo, who had swung the blade himself, was taken aback by the unexpected hardness of the armor.

As everyone stared at the breastplate in stunned disbelief, Dominic spoke with a deep smile.

“I told you, did I not? Strength comparable to adamantium. Unless you strike it with a metal of equal strength, an ordinary sword won’t leave so much as a scratch.”
“Hugo. This time, use the sword that the master of the Dominic Trading Company brought.”
“Ah—yes!”

Ignoring Dominic’s explanation, Lucian issued another order to Hugo.
Though wearing a bewildered expression, Hugo carried out the command faithfully.

It was the exact same force as before—the moment the black blade struck the breastplate.

Crack.

“Gah!”

A gasp escaped from those nearby as they saw the blade embedded halfway into the breastplate.
This was a result that could never occur unless the two metals were of roughly equal strength.

Having proven the strength of Tenebrium, Dominic bowed his head with a composed expression.

“If you wish, you may conduct as many further tests as you like.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Its strength is impressive. I can’t say whether it truly rivals adamantium, but it would be fair to call it at least the next best thing.”
“Hearing Your Highness say so…”
“However.”

Lucian cut Dominic off and tapped the Tenebrium ingot lightly.

“To my eyes, it seems to have one serious flaw. Master Dominic—are you hiding something from me?”

At Lucian’s sharp gaze, Dominic flinched involuntarily.
Could it be that he knew something about Tenebrium?

No, that can’t be.

Dominic immediately rejected the thought that had crossed his mind.
He alone knew the method for producing Tenebrium.
At most, three others had known—but all three had already departed for the afterlife.

He’s testing me. Pretending to have noticed a hidden secret, trying to shake me up.

For a noble who was young—almost childish—he was fairly impressive, but he was still far from enough to truly shake Dominic.
After all, Dominic had lived through this sort of psychological warfare so many times he was sick of it.

Having become convinced of Lucian’s intent, Dominic shook his head with a righteous expression.

“How could I possibly hide a defect in my goods from Your Highness? Moreover, Tenebrium is the very item with which I seek forgiveness for my sins. To tamper with such a thing would be no different from staining my own soul.”
“Is that so?”

At Dominic’s words, utterly devoid of shame, Lucian let out a small chuckle and gave an order to one of the servants.

“Bring a large bowl filled with saltwater. It must be big enough to fully submerge this breastplate.”

At the word saltwater, Dominic felt a chill as if icicles had been driven into his spine.
Of all things, why saltwater?

Only then did Dominic realize that something was terribly wrong, and he stammered as he tried to speak.

“Y-Your Highness—”
“Silence.”

Lucian cut him off sharply, clearly having no intention of listening to excuses.
While Dominic could only gape in silence, a large basin filled with saltwater was prepared.

“It’s ready, Your Highness.”
“Submerge the breastplate in the saltwater.”
“W-What? Ah—yes!”

Startled by the sudden command, the servants nevertheless immersed the breastplate in the saltwater.
The onlookers all tilted their heads in confusion as they watched.
Metals were known to be vulnerable to salt—but only when exposed to it over a long period of time.

Just lightly immersing metal in saltwater shouldn’t cause anything to happen—so what in the world was he doing?
Fortunately, the spectators’ confusion at Lucian’s strange behavior was soon resolved.

Crackle.

“H–Huh?”
“The armor is crumbling!”

As someone cried out, the breastplate began to crumble bit by bit within the saltwater.
It was hard to believe this was the same material as the breastplate that had just blocked a knight’s sword.
In less than ten minutes, the breastplate completely disintegrated and dispersed into the saltwater.

“Put the other equipment in as well.”
“Yes!”

The servants began placing each piece of equipment Dominic had brought into the saltwater.
Just like the breastplate, every item crumbled laughably easily simply from being submerged.
After watching all the equipment fall apart, a mocking voice escaped Lucian’s lips.

“It melts quite well. And this is supposed to be a metal that rivals adamantium?”
“Y-Your Highness…!”

Deathly pale, Dominic trembled violently and pressed his forehead to the floor.
When it became clear they wouldn’t be getting an explanation from Dominic, the people’s gazes naturally turned toward Lucian.

“Your Highness, what exactly is going on?”
“Black magic.”
“Black magic?”
“Among black magics, there are spells that absorb vitality and then infuse it into other objects or living beings to temporarily strengthen them. He used such a spell.”

“No, that’s not true!”

A scream burst from Dominic’s mouth.

He had certainly used magic.
It was a spell from the Metal School that drew geomantic energy from the earth and transferred it into another ore.
Ore infused with geomantic energy increased in strength in proportion to the amount injected, but after a certain period of time, it reverted to its original strength.
It was no more than that kind of magic—yet Lucian was calling it black magic that drained life force!

“I–It is magic, but it’s not black magic! Why—why would I ever use black magic…!”
“I’m the one who’d like to know. Why did you dabble in black magic, knowing full well how vile black mages are?”
“Your Highness!”

Just as Dominic was about to protest his innocence again, he froze upon seeing the smile forming at the corner of Lucian’s lips.
Why was Lucian so convinced that he had used black magic?
Even without resorting to black magic, there were countless spells capable of producing a similar effect, if only temporarily.

Could it be…?

What if the accusation of black magic wasn’t born of a misunderstanding?
What if Lucian knew it was ordinary magic, yet was deliberately framing him as a black mage?

As that thought crossed his mind, Dominic felt a chill run through his entire body.

I’ve been played.