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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The next day, Ed and his companions attended the meeting to address the dwindling emerald mana stone reserves.
The chief mining officer detailed the problem, and experts from various fields began brainstorming solutions.
“Let’s try the first proposal.”
They proposed several plans and tested them one by one.
But as expected, all of them failed.
If the solution were that simple, the dwarves would have found it already.
“This isn’t easy.”
The second, third, and fourth proposals also failed.
Unforeseen variables kept throwing off their calculations.
“Wait a minute.”
A thought struck Ed. He asked when the emerald mana stones were first discovered.
The chief mining officer replied that it was 20 years ago, in the very cave Dagran had found…the one affected by the “magical anomaly,” where the terrain only materialized at certain times.
That anomaly had led to Dagran being branded a liar.
“…I think I know the secret.”
Ed gathered everyone and explained his realization.
“This cave was undiscovered by any dwarf until Dagran found it 47 years ago. But he was labeled a liar because the cave was affected by a magical anomaly, its terrain only accessible at specific times.”
Ed reminded everyone of the injustice Dagran had suffered because of that anomaly. Then, he presented his key point.
“But now? Anyone can enter the cave easily because it’s no longer affected by the magical anomaly.”
Elena’s jaw slowly dropped. A look of realization dawned on her face.
“Isn’t it strange? I heard this cave had an immense deposit of emerald mana stones, but they’re depleting much faster than we’re mining them. Why is that?”
“…The magical anomaly.”
“Yes. The only difference is that the cave is no longer affected by it.”
Everyone nodded. The reasoning was sound.
“Let’s revise our plan.”
They began adjusting their approach, referencing past testimonies to recreate the magical anomaly.
Charlotte studied the cave’s properties and relayed her findings to Ed, who then consulted with Elena.
They reached a conclusion.
“There must be a magical inscription inside the cave.”
For the cave to be affected by the magical anomaly, a magical inscription had to be present, one that channeled external mana throughout the cave.
They began searching.
Days passed. Everyone worked tirelessly, and finally…
“H-Here it is!”
They found it. A magical inscription within the cave.
“This is…”
Elena’s jaw dropped again as her eyes traced the intricate, geometric patterns of the ancient inscription.
It was the magic of the Black Empire, the lost techniques thought to have vanished with its destruction thousands of years ago.
“I think I’ve found a way!”
Elena was a genius with magical inscriptions.
While no one else could decipher the ancient script, she could reinterpret it in modern terms.
She began unraveling the secrets of the cave, understanding the inscriptions and their effects.
“…I… I think I’ve realized something too.”
Listening to Elena, Charlotte had an epiphany.
She understood how to create an environment conducive to the natural generation of emerald mana stones.
Having spent years cultivating her garden and creating miniature ecosystems, she possessed an intuitive understanding that transcended words.
“Let’s begin.”
They worked together to recreate the magical anomaly, and finally, they succeeded.
The cave, once free from the anomaly, was once again under its influence.
“Just as expected.”
As anticipated, emerald mana stones began to generate naturally.
“Edgar Fix, you truly are the Blacksmith of Salvation.”
Ed had completed all his missions.
He had uncovered the truth about Dagran and Reina, restored relations between the Dwarven Allied Kingdom and the Empire, and secured a strong alliance by providing tangible benefits to the dwarves.
Everything had gone according to plan.
“The dwarves’ weapons will no longer be ‘smuggled’ to other kingdoms. I promise!”
The dwarven king vowed to stop the illegal weapon trade.
While it wasn’t technically smuggling, but rather open sales, he pledged to cease such practices as a gesture of goodwill towards the Empire.
“And we’ll provide emerald mana stones to the Empire at the lowest price.”
They also had secured a steady supply of a rare resource at a bargain.
Moreover, the king promised to provide Ed with as many stones as he needed, free of charge.
It was a tremendous boon.
“Hahaha! You are friends of the dwarves! Enjoy yourselves tonight! The warehouse is open!”
Having achieved such remarkable diplomatic success, Ed and his companions spent their last night celebrating without a care in the world.
Charlotte, with her straightened hair and no glasses, drew everyone’s attention.
However, her request to learn how to dance from Ed earned her sharp glares from Isabella and Enya.
But Charlotte remained undeterred.
Wearing the rough diamond Ed had given her as a necklace, she felt invincible.
‘I’m the first person Ed gave a necklace to!’
She bolstered her confidence with such rationalizations.
“…Your Majesty.”
Amidst the revelry, Clarice approached the dwarven king.
“Do you know where my uncle is?”
She inquired about Altarion’s whereabouts.
“Altarion? He left about two months ago.”
As expected, he was gone and had returned to Eldar, the elven kingdom.
She had joined the delegation after hearing that her uncle was recently staying in the dwarven kingdom, but it seems the news had reached her too late.
‘…It can’t be helped.’
Clarice walked away, dejected.
It seemed her reunion with her mother would have to wait.
There would be other opportunities.
“I-Is this wrong? Haha…”
In a corner of the banquet hall, Ed and Charlotte awkwardly attempted to dance.
Neither had any experience, and their movements were more comical than graceful.
Isabella and Enya hovered nearby, eager to correct their clumsy steps and teach them “proper” noble dances.
“Ed!”
Elena intervened, earning glares from Isabella and Enya, who seemed determined to eliminate any further competition.
Elena chuckled and approached Ed.
“Why are they so hostile? Anyway, I have good news.”
Elena led Ed aside.
“I just reported our success to the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes.”
“They’re preparing a tremendous reward! Especially for you.”
“Really? What kind of reward?”
“I don’t know the details yet.”
“You’re getting my hopes up.”
“You should be excited. Sephi… Sephilia guaranteed it would be jaw-dropping.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
A tremendous reward from the Imperial Palace.
Ed didn’t know what it was, but he smiled.
After all, who would refuse a reward?
“My, my. Why is my student so exceptional?”
“…Pardon?”
“You orchestrated the entire success in the Dwarven Allied Kingdom. I’m supposed to be your mentor, but you’re making me look bad.”
“Haha… I just got lucky.”
“Don’t be so modest.”
Elena chuckled and took a sip of her cocktail, placing the empty glass in a nearby receptacle.
“Enjoy the rest of the party. I have something to do.”
“…Is there something else left to do?”
“Just some personal research. Don’t worry about it.”
Elena left the banquet hall, loosening the tight party dress and tying her hair back with a ribbon. Having made her appearance, she was free to pursue her own interests.
It was time to study the ancient inscription.
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Late at night, Elena fell asleep while studying the ancient inscription.
She tossed and turned, plagued by a recurring nightmare.
The Empire in ruins.
The sky ablaze, the land choked with smoke. Corpses littered the streets, the stench of putrefaction filling the air.
Thousands of demonic wings darkened the sun.
And then…
【Kill the last savior.】
The primordial evil, the master of all the demons, the architect of this apocalypse, issued its command.
Kill the last savior.
-Whoosh!
Thousands of demons swarmed her.
She fought back desperately, unleashing her magic, but she was overwhelmed, forced to her knees.
Defeated.
【This is the end. Die.】
And that was it. Excruciating pain, blood blurring her vision. Her head spun and her body collapsed.
Consciousness fading.
Darkness engulfing her.
Everything faded away.
Her senses shutting down.
The desolate landscape, the stench of death, the demonic roars – all gone.
Her senses numbed.
The world became a silent, odorless void.
———Flash!
Suddenly, a single point of light in the darkness.
A small rectangle floating in the void.
Words appeared on the rectangle, written in the language of the Empire.
[Do you wish to reset all memories and start over? (Y/N)]
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[T/N: Ayo….wtf??]
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WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Me when I got to chapter end.