I’ve had a question lingering in my mind for quite some time. Exactly what is my scale made of? It’s obviously made from the metal that comes out of my body. That much is self-evident.
But what I’m curious about isn’t this simple explanation. What exactly is this metal that comes from my body? That’s what I want to know.
Inside my body, it’s stored as magical energy, but outside, I can materialize it at will. How exactly does this process work? And could anyone even replicate something similar?
This has always been on my mind. After spending a week chewing and absorbing metals, then extracting them again, I still don’t have an answer. To be honest, I don’t even fully understand how regular digestion works, so how could I possibly grasp the digestion of metals?
However, there was one thing I did come to realize.
This metal is composed of the same substance as my bones. My scales and armor are also made of this metal. Essentially, all this time, I’ve been fighting while encased in my own skeletal structure.
It sounds terrifying when put that way, but looking at it from another angle, it means my body contains such materials. Thinking about it this way makes me feel secure. I also began to understand why my Breath technique was so destructive. By compressing all my magic and metal into a single point before firing it, it only makes sense that it would be powerful.
Now, I can effortlessly extract black ingots while pondering these thoughts. At first, it required all my concentration just to gather the metal and magic into one spot.
Today, I should probably stop here. The slight dizziness indicates that my magic is almost depleted, along with the metal inside me. When I first thought about making armor, I didn’t think twice and used nearly all the metal in my body, much like when I unleash my Breath.
That’s why it turned out incredibly durable. Even without magical reinforcement, it managed to withstand two powerful attacks. Of course, since I didn’t expend everything like during a Breath, my physical endurance remained somewhat intact.
“Then I’ll leave this here… Female Akashi asked for just one piece. Sigh, I don’t want to give it, but she threatened to withdraw her help if I didn’t.”
By the time I regained focus after concentrating all night, the distant crowing of a rooster could already be heard. In one corner of the room lay the high-purity black ingots I had extracted.
What should I call these metals? When receiving metals from the Soleone forge, many of them ended with “-lite.”
Hmm. Should I call it Alterraite? Since it’s metal derived from Alterra. Perhaps my name was chosen the same way—just picking something vaguely related to earth without much thought…
…Hmm. That witch might have done it that way. Still, I should be thankful she didn’t number me as 1 or 2. It’s good to see I can now joke about things like this.
I set out with the intention of avenging my mother, yet who would have guessed she was my enemy? I’ll need to meet my father and assess him properly.
If we can communicate, perhaps we can resolve things verbally… but if not, one of us will have to d*e.
On the way to the cathedral, people occasionally recognized me and called out “Holy Swordsman!” though I brushed them off as it was too bothersome. I headed toward the cathedral where Myungho was located.
People may find it strange, but it’s none of their business. Besides, I’m not on good terms with that goddess anyway, nor do I have any reason to socialize with random humans after just meeting them.
As I entered the familiar alleyway, I tossed the black metal back and forth, now quite accustomed to it. It’s peaceful here with no people around.
Though there are drug addicts instead. They’re preferable to those with clear heads since they’re easier to deal with. There’s no one protecting them either, so I can beat them up without repercussions. Plus, they lack a conscience, selling and buying drugs even in a place created to launch a total assault on the Demon Tribe.
The ones visible right now are just the addicts lying around. But by focusing on vibrations, I can easily detect others hastily hiding in other alleys and the rhythmic vibrations coming from underground.
This seed of evil must eventually be eradicated, though not today. As a warning, I created a tiny crack in the ground that reached underground before leaving the alley.
“Oh, Holy Swordsman. You’ve arrived. The Hero is still asleep. The archer in your group coughed a moment ago…”
Yuna is truly dedicated. She usually sleeps late, yet wakes up early to take care of Akashi.
“How is his white-haired state now?”
“Thanks to the dragon bl**d provided by Lady Alterra, his physical condition has rapidly improved, but consciousness hasn’t returned yet. We’ve taken all possible measures, so now we can only wait and trust.”
That’s right. Even after feeding him my bl**d, there seems to be little improvement. Yuna must be suffering mentally. She was so excited when I offered to feed him my bl**d that she hugged me tightly, but even that proved ineffective.
He looked like he was dying. Really.
“Is that so? I even fed him my bl**d, yet he still lies there. Annoying fellow.”
“That’s harsh, isn’t it? Considering how hard he’s trying to return to his body, even if you account for that, it’s rather cruel of you to say.”
As I was chatting briefly with the priest at the entrance, an annoying yet weak voice came from behind. There was only one person with such vibrations and tone.
“Why are you here so early today?”
Akashi has this knack for ruining moods just by showing up. Akashia stood calmly, expressionless, addressing me.
“I merely came to check on his condition at the request of the one currently bedridden. Also, I had something to ask you separately. You usually come here early in the morning, don’t you? Let’s cut the small talk. Did you bring the item I requested?”
“Here.”
I casually threw the Alterraite to Akashia. Attempting to catch it with one hand, Akashia failed to handle its weight, lost balance, and fell on her buttocks.
I guess I’ll just call it a black ingot. The internal resistance is ridiculous. Akashia looked bewildered, holding the heavy black ingot with both hands and staring at me.
“Now I understand why you couldn’t handle the excessive weight. I wasn’t expecting this lump to be so heavy.”
“You’re not frail like me. So, what was it you wanted to ask?”
“I was just about to figure that out. I intended to ask if there was any weight-reduction magic applied to the armor since I couldn’t comprehend how you could fight wearing such heavy gear, but apparently, you rely solely on physical strength…”
“Usually, when the body is weak, the mind suffers. So let me ask you something. Is that feasible?”
When we met before, you grilled me about the power of the dragon I possess. You asked if I could fire my Breath in short bursts.
Considering the destructive power of the Breath, even short bursts should suffice. The current Breath consumes too many resources and is excessively destructive.
“Shouldn’t you have tried that yourself? Yes, it seems possible. You mentioned that when firing or preparing to fire the Breath, the metal and magic clearly concentrate near your heart, correct?”
Since I didn’t want to try it myself, I asked you beforehand if it seemed doable. Knowing you’d have a prepared response, I ignored it and simply nodded.
“To summarize, it should be possible. When you extract metal from your body, you can control how much, right? So, there’s no difference with the Breath. What’s with that look? Are you questioning whether that’s all there is? Allow me to clarify one thing. No one in the world understands the principle of the Breath—not even my original form. It’s something you need to figure out yourself. Do you understand?”
Not helpful at all. I replied affirmatively, excused myself to the nun, and entered the church.
“…Ahem, Alterra? Excuse me? Could you help me with this? It’s heavy!”
“Can’t you use magic?”
“That’s precisely what I said! This thing is filled with magical energy, yet it resists magic, rendering spells ineffective!”
So Akashia is just like Akashi after all. Extending my magic, I pulled the ingot from Akashia toward me. It doesn’t seem to resist magic at all when I observe it closely.
But it really does. While it can’t block ice spikes, fireballs, or magic beams, it apparently blocks enchantments like confusion or paralysis.
I didn’t understand the difference, so I shrugged it off.
“…Phew, it’s heavy. I’ll rest a bit. You go ahead and do your thing. Whether you lewdly smile at or secretly touch the sleeping lover… though, since this is a place consecrated to the Goddess, int*rcourse is—”
Instantly gathering pebbles scattered on the floor into a small dust cloud, I fired it directly at Akashia’s forehead.
With a “kch” sound, she clutched her forehead as I left for Myungho’s assigned room.
There are things to say and things better left unsaid.
