Volume 10 Chapter 10 (2/2)

”So, [Awakening] really is the key, isn't it? If so, then it shouldn't be strange to find that new metal now.”

”Mhm. But at this point, all we can do is hope we'll find some.”

Several hundred golems, each one carrying the new surveying tool, were thoroughly searching the [Mine] room.

To simplify things a bit, Rorono operated her tablet in order for another device to project a map into the air.

Each area that has been thoroughly searched but not yielded results were marked with an X. If an area were to have the new metal, it would be marked with an ✓.

Sadly, there have been nothing but X's on the map so far.

Understandably frustrated at the results, Rorono was biting her thumbnail.

As expected, it wasn't long before I undid my [Awakening] and returned to my usual form.

And then, two hours passed.

About 80% of the map was now littered with X's. Both Rorono and I were about to resign ourselves to the prospect of failure.

Just then though, Rorono's eyes became wide open.

From the vast amounts of data that she was quickly analyzing, she picked a set sent by a certain golem and enlarged it.

And then, she smiled.

”There's no mistaking it, this reaction, it's the same as the metal that's in the evolved three knights! Father, we found it! We finally found it! Our experiment's a success!”

Rorono, overcome with emotions, hugged me and even called me father instead of master.

”…that's great news. You really did a great job, Rorono. And for that, I think you deserve a reward.”

”I'm so glad. I'm really so glad.”

Rorono was on the verge of tears.

Now that she was relieved and relaxed though, the strength from her body left her.

Thankfully, I managed to catch her before she fell to the ground. But supporting her like that made her glow bright red.

In the meantime, the other golems kept sending the data they gathered.

It wasn't long before the map was complete.

There were countless of X's and only 1 ✓.

In this vast and great [Mine] room, the new magic metal was in only one small location. As to be expected, it was a hard-to-find metal.

”Master, I've received a message from the golems. They say they've finished digging up the new metal.”

”Then, please tell them to bring it here. I want to see it.”

”Mhm, I'll make them go here right away.”

The ground rumbled as a Mithril Golem carrying the magic metal approached. When it arrived, it then carefully presented the metal before us.

Being whitish gold, it was of a curious hue.

Its surface was absurdly smooth, but more importantly, an amazing amount of magic power could be felt from it.

I then lifted it up. For its size, it was extremely light. And when I lightly hit it, a solid sound was made.

Lightweight, receptive to magic power, durable, magic resistant, all of these excellent qualities were present in this dream-like metal.

”Master, this chunk weighs about 2 kilograms. It seems that, despite how vast the [Mine] is, we can only get this much in a day.”

”Which is not nearly enough to make a golem.”

”Mhm, so I'm going to use this to make a weapon instead. This should be enough to make at least one.”

Due to their size, she would need a lot more to make a golem. If we save a month's worth, maybe then we would have enough.

”…as you know, master, once the reset happens tomorrow, the deposits of the [Mine] will go back to normal”

”Uh-huh”

At the risk of sounding obvious, if I and my power levels were to go back as my normal self, the amount and kind of metals we could mine were going to go back to normal as well.

”Considering what I will use them for—like testing, repair, and manufacturing of —I want to have at least 10 kilograms of this new metal. For that reason, I have a favor to ask you, master: I want you to do your work here for one week starting tomorrow. The omens for a reset could only be picked up a minute before it happens, and even if I do contact you as quickly as possible, I fear you still wouldn't make it here in time.”

I needed about 30 seconds to enter my [Awakening] state.

Moreover, since each dungeon room was in a separate dimension, we couldn't use radio frequency devices to communicate between rooms.

And so, a minute just wasn't enough for me to arrive in time, especially if I was in the middle of something.

”For Avalon's sake, I'll indulge your request.”

”Thank you, master! I love you!”

Rorono's eyes were sparkling.

She was like a child who was given a new toy. But then again, I couldn't blame her. All the possible things she could do and make with the metal must have excited her.

”By the way, what are we calling this new metal? No one else knows of a magic metal that exceeds orichalcum, it seems. Because of that, it doesn't have a name.”

It was possible that no one else but me has ever acquired this metal.

…well, it's nearly impossible to obtain, after all.

First of all, a Demon Lord needed to have three S rank monsters, who could level up and have leveled up a lot, as their [Monsters of the Covenant]. Just having 3 S rank monsters was difficult enough for most Demon Lords.

Next, they needed to have access to [Awakening] to increase their strength further. And then, since there was no Demon Lord that could always be in [Awakening], they needed to time its activation to the reset of their [Mine]. Even if they get lucky enough, they would still have to find where the mysterious metal appeared in the [Mine] before the next reset, lest they do it all over again.

”If it can only be found in Avalon, then let's call it Avalon Jewel. Also, it has a lot of interesting special characteristics. It's a metal, yet it's more like a magic stone. …Hence, a jewel”

”A jewel, huh? Well, considering how rare they are, I'd say jewel is quite right.”

It was a good name.

Avalon Jewel. I look forward to all the wonderful and new trump cards that will be made from it.

”I should now bring the Avalon Jewel back to my workshop and do some research. Knowing that there's some spare, I can now do experiments to the evolved three knights that I wasn't able to before.”

Visibly excited, Rorono then put the Avalon Jewel into a backpack.

She had worked an absurd amount for at least the last couple of days, and yet here she was, ready to go again. She really loves researching, doesn't she?

I couldn't help but smile wryly.

”Before that, why don't we grab a bite? We didn't notice it, but it's already dark. I for one could eat. Why don't you join me? I mean, it's been a while since the we—just you and I—ate out. So, how about it? Let's go?”

”Mhm. It'd make me happy to be alone with you for a bit longer.”

And so, Rorono and I linked arms.

I'm so glad she accepted. I would be so depressed if she said she would rather do her research. This might be wishful thinking, but I hope this means that she loves me as much as she loves doing research.

Even if it was just a little, I wanted to make my hardworking daughter happier and less tired.

If I remember correctly, that shop served some delicious and first-class shrimps. Alright, we'll go there and eat as much of her favorite as we can!