Chapter 90 - I Want to Speak (6)

We had planned to stop by the Magic Tower first, but the situation had changed.

I immediately accompanied them to the Temple. Awkwardness be damned, I had to see what happened to my dragon corpse!

"This is..."

As a result, what was shown to me were numerous scale fragments and horns.

"Even though it is one-fourth, the Magic Tower and the Lord coveted the dragon's eyes and flesh, so we mainly took the horns and scales."

The Archmage explained the reason why there were only horns and scales.

That didn't really matter. I didn't know what use the eyes or flesh had, but if I was going to craft a weapon, this was better. The Archmage seemed to have distributed it with that in mind as well.

However, the problem that occurred was...

"The color changed?"

"It became transparent..."

The dragon corpse I had dragged to the surface originally had a muddy color overall. It meant anyone who saw it would think of 'pollution', 'corruption', and 'impurity'.

But the things I faced now, just like the two dumplings said, had changed color and were somewhat transparent. Of course, it didn't mean they were transparent like glass, but rather that the color was that clear.

"It looks like a color I've seen somewhere before..."

"It looks like the Sea Dragon's original color."

"Ah! Exactly! The Archmage's words are right. Unlike the dragon we killed, the Sea Dragon that helped us had this kind of pretty color."

"It definitely seems like that was the case... But why did it suddenly change to that state out of nowhere?"

"That... I have no guesses yet. We'll have to investigate."

The clear color, like a jewel, was indeed incomparably beautiful. But I didn't know why the color had changed while in storage, nor why it had to change to such a fine color of all things.

The dark blue color at least had black as a base so it was tolerable, but this vivid blue doesn't suit me at all!

"Still, it's a relief. I imagined someone had stolen it or it got ruined or something."

"Do you think the Temple would store it carelessly!"

No, it's not a relief. The color palette doesn't match. The color doesn't match.

Uttering an unspeakable despair inwardly, I vacantly reached out and touched a scale. SSSS. Smoke rose as if my hand had touched hydrochloric acid, and my hand began to burn.

"...!"

I hurriedly pulled my hand away. Thanks to the glove, my fingers were fine, but a faint burn mark had already formed on a part of my palm.

"What the!"

"Are you alright?!"

Withdrawing my injured hand, I glared at the scale. The scale that had burned my hand was perfectly fine, merely emitting a faint, steam-like smoke.

"What in the world is this..."

It seemed that even the Archmage, known as the Great Sage, hadn't anticipated this situation. She widened her sky-blue eyes and approached me.

"Could it be?"

She looked back and forth between the wound on my hand and the scales, then abruptly picked up a piece of the scale. It was a reckless act done without hesitation even after seeing my hand burn.

"Archmage!"

"Eek, Sir Mage?!"

However, her hand was perfectly fine. The blue scale simply rested obediently within her white fur.

"You try touching it for a moment too. If my guess is correct, you won't get injured."

"Y-Yes..."

At the Archmage's request, DeB touched it as well. Perhaps a little scared, he only tapped it with his index finger, but the thing we expected didn't happen.

Having gained confidence, he properly received the scale fragment and fumbled with it.

"It's fine...?"

"What on earth is going on? Why is it only to the Demon Knight..."

The Inquisitor, who touched the scale last, was also fine. In the end, it meant I was the only one who got burned.

I was emotionally hurt. Why only me...?

"It seems it's because of demonic energy."

The Archmage consoled me. Having seemingly finished her deduction in that short moment, her words flowed smoothly.

"To primeval beasts like the Sea Dragon, impurity is basically poison. Thus, they have the power to reject impurity. Much like divine power."

"Wait, does that mean..."

"However, the dragon we killed was in a corrupted state due to that impurity. That must be why there was no particular reaction when the Demon Knight touched it."

Raising her hand to briefly silence DeB, the Archmage continued her final deduction.

"But... what if the impurity residing in the corpse was slowly purified while the Temple stored it, and it thereby regained the power to reject impurity? If that's the case, it roughly explains both why the scales regained their original color and why only the Demon Knight took damage."

There was no special evidence, but it was a guess that fit the circumstances perfectly. Even though it meant I had suddenly been rejected by my own material item.

"... So that was it. I understand."

Wait a minute. What happens if this is the case? If the material item is incompatible with me... wouldn't a weapon or item made from this material also be incompatible with me?

"... I've also made contact with the uncorrupted Sea Dragon. If it has the power to reject impurity, why was I fine back then?"

I clung to an unlikely possibility. Sure, if the color didn't match, I could just paint over it, but if the item itself was completely incompatible with me, wouldn't it be utterly useless?

I wanted to prevent that at all costs. I wanted to use equipment made from dragon scales!

"I assume that's because the Sea Dragon tolerated you. It's the same context as how you don't get injured when you make contact with the Inquisitor right now."

However, the truth the Archmage thrust at me was harsh.

"However, in the case of a byproduct, it has no brain to operate its power. Therefore, it constantly expels its power... and that must be why you suffered a burn."

The analogy was so spot-on that I couldn't even make the excuse that I didn't understand.

After listening to all of the Archmage's words, I looked down at the scales with a heavy heart. The color didn't match, and using them would only deal damage to me. Sorrow surged up like a tide.

To think that after suffering like a dog, all I got was a material item I couldn't even use. To think that what I earned after suffering for the past month was a material I couldn't use!!

"I-I'm sorry, Demon Knight. If only I hadn't suggested we leave it at the Temple..."

"It's not the Inquisitor's fault. Who could have known something like this would happen."

Kimchi Dumpling cautiously gauged my reaction. Perhaps thinking similarly, DeB didn't easily open his mouth either. That made me even more sorrowful.

It truly sank in that my precious material was gone for good.

"..."

No, no. Even a mouse hole gets sunlight eventually. Wouldn't this actually be an opportunity? If it's incompatible with me, that means it's incompatible with demons too.

If I use this well, couldn't I make a weapon effective at catching demons? If I just use a different material for the sword hilt, I'd be able to hold it too! It's not like I'd ever really touch the blade anyway!

Hope briefly sparked in me at the thought that came to mind. In short, it was the hope to ditch the armor and just make one weapon.

"If I made a weapon out of this, do you think it would be effective against demons?"

"... It certainly would be."

Then let's just make one! Let's just make one sword! The blue color can just be covered up with paint!

"However... um, if you're planning to use it, wouldn't it be a bit difficult?"

Why?!

"Even putting everything else aside, the moment you put your power into it, there's a high chance it will explode due to repulsion."

... God is dead!!

* * *

The Inquisitor fidgeted, overwhelmed by surging guilt and apologies. She could have entrusted it to the Adventurer's Guild, but she was the one who suggested leaving it at the Temple under the pretext of security.

But to think that would become poison and create this situation.

At this point, it seemed like it would have been better if it had been stolen. At least that could be retrieved, but this couldn't be undone.

"If we research it further... we might be able to artificially corrupt it."

"...! Is such a thing possible?"

"It wouldn't be difficult."

Intentionally creating impurity and corrupting it. She reflexively frowned, then relaxed her expression as she saw the Demon Knight silently looking down at the scales.

Impurity was definitely something that had to be purified... Corruption was absolutely something that should never be forgiven, but...

In the first place, the owner of that dragon corpse was the Demon Knight. She couldn't stop him from making it usable for himself.

That was especially true since that impurity and corruption wouldn't be used to harm others, but rather for him to use to save others.

Her physiological repulsion truly couldn't be helped, though.

"I suppose the no—ble Priest doesn't like it?"

"I-I didn't say that...! I was just a little reluctant that such a method existed...!"

She hadn't even said anything, so why was that smartass picking a fight again!

She clenched her teeth and glared at the Thief. The sword that the Demon Knight had reportedly given him dangled at his waist. That was even more annoying!

She didn't really know the reason either... but anyway, ever since he bragged to her about being acknowledged by the Demon Knight, she felt like dying of annoyance just looking at his face.

"You...!"

Just then, the Archmage gasped in shock. The Inquisitor, who had been arguing right and wrong with the smartass, turned her head by conditioned reflex.

SSSS.

The Demon Knight was gripping the scale again, braving the burns.

"Sir!"

"Demon Knight!"

"Are you crazy?"

They called out urgently, but the Demon Knight didn't put the scale down. Instead, he drew up mana into his hand. The demonic energy that normally lingered only in his right arm mixed with the mana and flowed down his left arm.

SSSSSS.

The conflict between the scale and the surging black aura intensified.

BANG!

In the end, the scale fragment shattered into pieces and ricocheted in all directions.

His fingers were melted red, and his glove was visibly riddled with holes.

"I can't use this."

It was a severe injury just by looking at it, but the Demon Knight's expression was serene. Rather, he stared dryly at the ricocheted scales, seeming to calculate something.

"T-There was no need to test it in such a reckless manner. Give me your hand."

"Not yet."

With his injured hand, he grabbed another scale, not the one that had bounced away.

"Sir!!"

"Y-Your hand will get hurt!"

"Catch."

Fortunately, the Demon Knight didn't hold it for long. Instead, the scale that left his hand flew through the air and landed safely in her hand.

"Try infusing it with divine power."

"Pardon?"

The Demon Knight's request was somewhat out of the blue, but the Inquisitor followed his words without realizing it. Because there were mostly urgent situations whenever the Demon Knight gave her instructions, it was an act done unconsciously.

"...!"

The divine power she infused erupted with a brighter light than expected.

This was on a level comparable to a shield or mace forged from star metal. It was suitable for divine power. No, it even seemed to amplify it.

Even though the actual amount of energy it accepted was a bit small.

"How is it."

"Um, it seems the divine power is being amplified."

The Inquisitor conveyed that impression exactly without leaving out a single word. The Demon Knight, who still hadn't offered his hand to the Archmage, listened quietly before reaching out to the other side.

It was toward the smartass.

"Ah!"

The Thief pondered for a moment looking at the hand extended to him, then drew the sword hanging at his waist and handed it over.

"Um, Sir. You should heal your wound."

For the first time, she wanted to agree with the Thief's words, but the Demon Knight was the same as always. He calmly took the sword with his left arm and infused mana into it.

The transferred mana coalesced on the sword, but it didn't give off any feeling of becoming particularly stronger.

"... Is that side more efficient."

After a small mutter, the sword returned to the Thief. The next thing grabbed was the dagger the Demon Knight carried hanging inside his clothes.

CLANG!

Wrapped in mana, the dagger that struck the scale broke. In exchange, the scale also cracked, but not to the point of splitting.

The broken dagger was tossed onto the floor.

"Make it into armor. Then it should be useful."

"Pardon?"

The Inquisitor fell into a brief confusion upon hearing the Demon Knight's words. She understood that he had tested something, but for his conclusion to be crafting armor.

Being out of the blue was one thing, but she wondered if it was even possible. It was questionable if there was enough quantity, and even if it was made, the Demon Knight wouldn't be able to use it anyway.

Because he... harbored impurity in his body.

"... You, don't tell me?"

However, unlike her, the Archmage seemed to have realized something. The Inquisitor hurriedly asked her with a glance.

The Demon Knight's line of thought always transcended her imagination, so she couldn't figure out his intentions on her own.

"Are you planning to hand it over to the Inquisitor?"

Not that hearing someone else's deduction meant she could immediately understand it, though.

* * *

Suppressing the urge to cry, I looked down at my left hand. If I insisted on continuing to handle that thing with my hand in this state, I would just be an idiot.

["Make it into armor. Then it should be useful."]

So what else could I do. I had no choice but to hand it over to someone who could use it better than me.

["Are you planning to hand it over to the Inquisitor?"]

"Pardon? Y-You mean you're giving it to me?!"

Looking at Kimchi Dumpling, whose reaction was even better than Meat Dumpling's, I mentally recited the lyrics to a song of sorrow.

Even so, my bitter stomach didn't easily feel better. Unlike with DeB, where there was the alternative of just making another one with the materials left on the mainland, it was probably because I didn't have that option right now.

"W-Why."

But using that as an excuse to stubbornly insist on using it myself would be an even more foolish act.

I wouldn't be able to utilize a weapon made from that at 100%. Not being able to channel skills or mana into it meant exactly that.

On the other hand, the Inquisitor had incredibly good synergy with it. The fact that it amplified her power said it all.

This was a material that had to go to the Inquisitor.

"... Are you really planning to give it to her."

Well, who else would I give it to.

It was just proven that even if I went so far as to corrupt it and use it myself, I wouldn't get the same efficiency as the Inquisitor.

I recalled the moment I infused mana into the sword handed to me by DeB. The sword smoothly accepted the mana, but it didn't go as far as amplifying it.

It meant the efficiency was overwhelmingly in the Inquisitor's favor.

Of course, there was also the option of using it myself even if the efficiency dropped. But would my concept really welcome artificial corruption?

"If you drape it over your pathetically weak body, it will at least be less of a hindrance."

Furthermore, I... let's be honest. At the point where I sliced up a dragon with a normal iron sword, weapons were meaningless to me.

When killing a mob with 10 HP, whether you deal 10 damage or 100 damage, the result is the same, isn't it. Still aiming for a stat upgrade despite that was just a gamer's desire.

However, the Inquisitor was different. She was someone who occasionally walked around without her armor because of its weight.

Since she was the type who relied on stable endurance rather than explosive DPS like me, it couldn't be anything but a fatal penalty.

But this material was lighter than iron. If we made armor out of this, instances of her taking it off would decrease. Naturally, the penalty caused by her equipment would be lessened as well.

Seeing the damage it dealt, if the Inquisitor wore this, it would also be much easier for her to subdue me when I go berserk...

With all this, it was indeed right to make the investment.

"You..."

"D-Demon Knight..."

"Sir Knight..."

It was right, but...

"I understand. If that is your will, I must respect it."

"Th-Thank you! I-I'm not sure if it's okay for me to receive something like this, but I'll work even harder!"

"You're surprisingly generous, Sir."

... I wouldn't reverse my decision, but I still feel so wronged!

My dragon scale sword!!