Chapter 101 - Slimes and the Faux Ice Sword
In the workshop bathed in the hues of twilight, Dahlia and Volf were sipping on carbonated water infused with lime.
Ivano and Fermo had just left a short while ago, taking the delivery carriage they had called for earlier.
The alcohol seemed to have deepened their camaraderie; the way they had casually dropped formalities and addressed each other by name left a distinct impression.
"Dahlia, aside from the 'fairy crystal,' are there any other rare materials you’re looking for?”
Volf posed the question while observing the solid form of the fairy crystal, something he had only seen as powder before.
The crystal on the table shimmered in iridescent colors, absorbing the orange glow of the setting sun and giving off a mysterious hue.
"The one I’ve ordered recently is black slime powder. I’m running low on it."
"Is black slime really necessary?"
"Not particularly, but it seems like it could be useful if used correctly, don’t you think?"
"Can’t other types of slime be a substitute?"
"I do use other slimes as well. Still, I’d like to research them a bit more."
When it came to slimes, four types were most commonly known.
Blue slime, red slime, green slime, and yellow slime. Each possessed weak magical attributes corresponding to their colors—water, fire, wind, and earth.
The black slime, which Volf particularly disliked, had a strong dissolving ability and was notoriously difficult to handle.
Still, Dahlia thought it might have considerable potential depending on the application.
However, one such experiment had resulted in the creation of an artificial magic sword ominously named "Dagger of the Demon King's Minion." It was clear that the direction of development required careful consideration.
"Do you fight slimes often, Volf?"
"We see them on expeditions occasionally. But unless there’s a large swarm, they’re not considered worth exterminating."
Slimes were a common sight in the hills and fields. A single slime wasn’t much of a threat, but encountering a large swarm could be terrifying.
Even seasoned adventurers were said to lose their lives if they stumbled upon a massive group.
"Speaking of rare things, have you ever seen silver slime as a material?"
"No, I haven’t. I think there just aren’t enough of them to go around."
Silver slimes were rumored to have been discovered deep within mines, but Dahlia had never seen one herself. Their properties were unknown, and they didn’t seem to be circulating as materials.
"What about mutant slimes?"
"I don’t use them much. Materials that can’t be reliably supplied can’t be used for general magical tools..."
As with many monsters, slimes had subtle variations in their traits depending on the region, including mutated types.
Mutant slimes were rare, and their low encounter rate made them unsuitable as ingredients for mass production.
In the past, slimes were known as "weapon breakers" and were considered one of the least profitable materials.
But now, they had a certain level of demand as ingredients for magical tools. Even the Adventurer Guild had started breeding slimes for this purpose.
If the opportunity arose, Dahlia thought it would be interesting to visit the guild’s slime farm.
"If there’s one I’d like to see, it’s the mythical 'white slime,' after all."
The existence of white slimes was rumored, but neither Dahlia nor anyone she knew had ever seen or heard of one.
"White slimes, huh... They’re said to have healing properties, but I’ve never seen one. Back in the academy, there were rumors they might be in the church."
"Ah, yes. That was one of the 'Seven Mysteries of the Kingdom' at the High Academy, wasn’t it?"
"Ah, the Seven Mysteries of the Kingdom. Brings back memories..."
Students often had an odd fondness for mysterious tales and ghost stories.
The Seven Mysteries of the Kingdom, a collection of such tales, was something every student at the academy heard at some point.
One of those mysteries, whispered in hushed tones, was that "the church houses white slimes capable of casting healing magic."
In reality, however, no one had ever heard of a white slime actually residing in the church.
"Do you think white slime could be infused into a sword the same way black slime can?"
Theoretically, it was possible, but as Dahlia considered the effects, she tilted her head in doubt.
"White slime is for healing, right? What purpose would there be in stabbing someone just to heal them?"
"Maybe something like torture to make a spy talk. You stab them, but they don’t die because they keep healing, and the pain just continues—don’t you think that would be effective?"
"Please stop it! That’s terrifying!"
Why did he always manage to say such horrifying things with that cheerful smile of his?
"Sorry, sorry. On a more serious note, it could work against undead creatures."
"Undead, huh... Do you think it would be more effective than a priest’s purification magic?"
"The priest would definitely be more effective. High priests, in particular, are amazing. While we’re busy swinging swords to keep them down, they can purify a whole area with just one spell."
That was certainly impressive.
And likely better for the undead creatures themselves.
"Don’t high priests ever feel scared purifying the undead?"
"Not at all. I was on guard duty for one, but they didn’t seem tense in the slightest. They even laughed, saying, 'Living humans are far scarier.'"
Such a statement from someone who could purify undead with a single spell carried undeniable weight.
"My squadmates kept joking, telling me, 'You should get purified too.'"
"Can living humans even be purified?"
"No, of course not. I was just working hard taking down monsters, but my comrades started calling me 'Demon King.'"
It was a rather pitiable story. Perhaps all his struggles and efforts were being overshadowed by his appearance.
As Dahlia thought about cheering him up, the sound of clinking ice in her glass broke the momentary silence.
"Volf, why don’t we try making a 'faux ice sword'?"
"A 'faux ice sword'?"
"It’s not exactly crafting a magic sword, more like a simple experiment. I was thinking of trying out that 'faux ice sword' we talked about when we went to the park, but this time on the blade side."
Volf’s confused expression, paired with the boyish curiosity lighting up his face, was almost amusing.
"If we place an ice magic stone in the hilt, add reflective material, and channel it toward the blade, we might be able to create an ice blade. It’ll be more about the appearance than functionality, but it could serve as a good trial."
"...That sounds fun."
Once again, the "magic sword disease" was triggered successfully, so she decided to explain in detail.
"With my magic, the cold effect would only last a short time if I relied on enchantment alone. But if we embed the ice magic stone into the hilt, it could take shape to some extent. Since we wouldn’t add any other enchantments, there won’t be any conflicting magic or resistance, so assembly shouldn’t be an issue. The downside is we might waste a dagger in the process..."
"No, I’d love to see it. An 'ice dagger' sounds incredibly cool."
His golden eyes gleamed as he looked at her, their brilliance rivaling the fairy crystal on the table.
"Alright, let’s give it a shot."
And so, once again, they embarked on a bold, unprecedented experiment, beginning the process of crafting a magic sword.
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