My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 21

§ 21 – Mana Stone Mine (1)

Amelia’s eyes widened, as if they might burst.

The look of astonishment revealed the depth of her shock.

Mana Stone.

As the name implied, it was a stone containing mana.

In essence, it was simply a stone imbued with magical energy.

However, because of the ‘mana’ element, its potential uses were virtually limitless.

Mages, for example, would be driven to frenzy by it.

It was used not only to create magical tools,

but also to conduct various experiments in place of their own mana,

and even to increase their total mana capacity.

Consequently, Mana Stones also aided knights in their aura training.

Alchemy was no exception.

They were essential when making potions.

And when refining various metals.

Mana Stones were almost a necessity.

Even in architecture, they were invaluable.

Buildings incorporating Mana Stones possessed a completely different level of durability compared to ordinary structures.

And the mana within could power convenient functions.

Using the mana to warm or cool the entire building,

remove dampness,

heat and cool water, and so on.

It could provide all the conveniences necessary for comfortable living.

Of course, utilizing all those functions required an immense amount of Mana Stones,

which would cause the price to skyrocket, making it impractical to use them all.

Even the prestigious Elantur Marquisate of the Empire couldn’t afford to use all of those functions.

And it wasn’t just architecture.

Mana Stones were essential for equipment production as well.

Simply put, they were used everywhere.

Mana Stones were incredibly valuable, so much so that it was easier to list where they weren’t used.

That’s why Cyan knew about Mana Stones.

However.

“Mana Stone? This is a Mana Stone?”

What Grayson had handed him seemed a bit strange to be considered a Mana Stone.

First of all, Mana Stones usually had a blue tint.

But the stone in front of him was black.

The feeling of magical energy was similar,

but it was different from the Mana Stones Cyan knew.

“I-It’s definitely a Mana Stone.”

Nevertheless, Amelia was certain.

“Mana Stones usually have a blue tint, don’t they? But this…”

“Usually, yes. But Mana Stones don’t necessarily have to be blue.”

As the daughter of the Brahe Merchant Guild and having seen countless items while traveling the Empire,

Amelia had surely seen tens of thousands of Mana Stones.

“More precisely, it depends on the nature of the mana contained within the Mana Stone. The color varies depending on that nature.”

The nature of the mana contained within the Mana Stone?

“Ah.”

Only then did Cyan nod.

Mana Stones were literally stones containing mana.

These Mana Stones formed naturally in specific terrains,

condensed over decades in places saturated with mana.

Therefore, the mana contained within Mana Stones was essentially the mana of nature.

The mana of nature, full of life and vitality.

That light was blue.

But.

“This Mana Stone contains mana other than natural mana.”

“That’s right.”

Amelia slowly nodded.

And it was obvious what that mana was without her having to say it.

Magi [dark magical energy].

It was the dark mana that drove the magical beasts dwelling in the Forest of Darkness into a frenzy.

That’s why the Mana Stone Grayson held had a black light.

And the more mana surrounding the Mana Stone,

and the longer the condensation period,

the higher the quality of the Mana Stone.

They were divided into the lowest, low, medium, high, and highest grades.

However, most of the Mana Stones traded were ‘lowest to low’ grade.

Medium grade Mana Stones were rare.

High grade ones were almost nonexistent.

This was because they weren’t given time to condense to a high grade.

When Mana Stones were discovered, they were mined completely.

And since the market price for a lowest grade Mana Stone was about 30 gold each,

and one lowest grade Mana Stone could be traded for an amount that could feed a family of four for a month, there was no way Mana Stones would be left behind.

But now.

“This is… high grade! No. At this rate, it’s the highest grade!”

This black Mana Stone was the highest grade.

This place, where Ruben was located, was none other than the Forest of Darkness.

A forbidden area untouched by human hands for over a thousand years.

To put it simply, this Mana Stone had been condensing the surrounding mana for at least a thousand years.

Wait, does that mean…?

“Grayson. When you found this stone, were there many others like it around?”

Grayson nodded at Cyan’s question.

“Yes. There were quite a few of these stones around that area.”

“A Mana Stone vein…”

Amelia muttered at Grayson’s answer.

A Mana Stone vein.

The price of one highest grade Mana Stone could easily fetch thousands of gold.

But there was a pile of these Mana Stones?

‘Sitting on a pile of money is only a matter of time!!!’

Cyan’s eyes widened.

Then the territory would develop in an instant.

In Mobile Lord’s 【Territory Facilities】 section.

All he had to do was spend money on all those facilities!

But.

“Um…”

For some reason, Grayson’s reaction was a bit strange.

Grayson looked embarrassed.

“Is there a problem?”

At Cyan’s question, Grayson nodded.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“I found this stone while scouting Ruben’s movements.”

Grayson was scouting around Ruben under Cyan’s orders.

And thanks to Cyan and the soldiers wiping out the goblin hordes, he was able to go to places he hadn’t been able to go before.

“I discovered that the orcs’ movements were unusual there.”

“I know that.”

Cyan nodded.

Grayson had reported it.

Grayson nodded once and continued.

“After that, I continued to monitor the orcs’ movements. And… I found this stone.”

Grayson stopped talking after that.

Cyan tilted his head.

So what’s the problem—.

Ah.

Cyan slowly opened his mouth.

“Does that mean the orcs…?”

Grayson answered with a dark expression.

“An orc village is located in the Mana Stone vein.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Cyan nod.

“Did you check how many are there?”

“I couldn’t check in detail. But I estimated there were at least thousands.”

Grayson cautiously added that he thought there were about 3,000.

3,000 orcs.

This was not a problem that could be easily dismissed.

Of course, the concept of farming [easy experience and loot] couldn’t be applied.

In the first place, orcs were on a different level from goblins.

Especially if they were magical beasts dwelling in the Forest of Darkness.

With Ruben’s current strength, they couldn’t handle 3,000 orcs.

Far from handling them, if they attacked Ruben, it would be the end.

In other words, the Mana Stone was nothing more than a pipe dream.

And.

“By the way, this Mana Stone. It probably doesn’t have as much commercial value as you think.”

Amelia’s voice broke the silence.

“No commercial value?”

“Yes.”

Amelia pointed to the Mana Stone Grayson was holding and said.

“This Mana Stone contains Magi.”

A Mana Stone that had been condensing Magi in the Forest of Darkness for at least a thousand years.

And Magi referred to dark mana.

Dark mana takes the heart of existence as a sacrifice.

Commonly joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, hate, desire.

It grows by burning these seven emotions.

The more intensely the heart boils, the faster the dark mana accumulates,

and the higher the level, the faster the heart turns to ashes and disappears.

That’s how dark mana devours existence.

The characteristic of the magical beasts dwelling in the Forest of Darkness, OverDrive [a state of heightened aggression and power fueled by dark mana].

You could see what happens to the magical beasts due to that OverDrive.

Those who are possessed by dark mana become madmen with no heart.

“Mana Stones containing such mana… have much less value.”

Amelia shook her head regretfully and continued.

“If you could refine the Magi, it would be incredibly valuable…”

For a long time, many magi scholars

and geniuses among wizards rushed to study it,

“Unfortunately, the method of refining Magi has not yet been discovered.”

No one has ever discovered the secret.

“It’s really a shame, but I think it’s best to give up on this.”

Well, even if it was the Forest of Darkness, where people’s footsteps had not reached.

It didn’t make sense that there was a highest grade Mana Stone and no one knew about it.

This place, Ruben, was the Elantur Marquisate’s direct territory.

Perhaps Elantur had discovered it a long time ago, but thought it was useless and left it unattended.

In other words, it wasn’t even a pretty picture.

It was just a faded picture.

To be exact.

Ding!

A cheerful notification sound rang from Cyan’s chest.

『[Territory Quest] – ‘A surefire strategy that even Sun Tzu would admire, a preemptive strike!’

▶You have wiped out the goblin hordes that threatened Ruben!

You’ve also made a decent amount of money.

Now, only light will fill Ruben’s future!

…That’s what you thought, right?

Surely not.

It can’t be that easy, can it?

This is the Necromancy Territory, Ruben!

The Forest of Darkness, where magical beasts overflow and seethe!

There are so many magical beasts that would treat goblins as ‘nothing.’』

The threat to Ruben isn’t over yet!

No, it could be said it’s just beginning!

As expected!

An Orc settlement has taken root near the Ruben estate!

And their numbers are a whopping… 3,000?!??!

What should we do! Auto it!!

What do you mean, what should we do!

Of course, we have to drive out the Orc settlement!

If we leave them alone, they’ll raid Ruben, won’t they?

You’re not just going to sit back and take it, are you?

A preemptive strike is essential!

Even Sun Tzu, who wrote ‘The Art of War,’ would have evaluated this preemptive strategy like this!

‘Historically, all rulers of the world have struck first.’

Are you still hesitating!

What are you hesitating about!

Launch a preemptive strike right now and repel the Orc settlement!』

.

.

“······”

Cyan was at a loss for words.

‘Seriously.’

He couldn’t get used to these quests.

“What are you looking at all of a sudden?”

“Ah, it’s nothing much.”

Amelia asked, but Cyan brushed it off.

Then, he calmly checked the contents of the quest.

The gist was simple.

Drive out the Orc settlement threatening Ruben.

However, Cyan’s eyes were drawn more to the reward than the quest’s content.

The word ‘laboratory’ was enough to understand its purpose.

The problem was the ‘Elodie’s’ attached to the front.

‘Elodie, if it’s…’

Cyan knew that name.

He couldn’t not know it.

To be precise, it was more accurate to say that no one on the continent didn’t know that name.

The Great Mage Elodie.

She was one of the six Arnaizes [heroes who saved the world] who saved the world a thousand years ago.

#

“Let’s talk about this issue later.”

Cyan sent Amelia and Grayson back.

Then, he was left alone to ponder.

The black Mana Stone in his hand.

A Mana Stone boasting the highest quality, imbued with demonic energy for thousands of years.

If he could sell it, it was only a matter of time before he’d be rolling in money.

“Hmm…”

Cyan took out his smartphone again.

Then, he checked the contents of the quest once more.

To be exact, the quest’s reward, .

Unless he was an idiot.

He knew that it was the laboratory of the Great Mage Elodie.

Elodie was a mage who had mastered all magic, befitting the title of Great Mage.

Thus, she was given the title of ‘Mado-sa’ [a mage who transcends typical limitations], surpassing the realm of a typical mage.

According to myths, even the dragons, the masters of magic,

gave way to Elodie.

And ‘all magic’ that Elodie had mastered naturally included black magic as well.

Black magic, based on the mana of darkness.

It was said that her level of black magic was comparable to that of the Demon King.

Even so, she didn’t become a madwoman,

and left her name in the continent’s history as an Arnaiz.

Some say.

Elodie knew how to control the mana of darkness. Or so they say.

However, Elodie was now gone.

She had died long ago from old age.

But the knowledge she possessed had no lifespan.

Numerous mages coveted her knowledge, but no one could find it.

Because it was too old and had been lost.

It had become knowledge that could never be known now.

But.

“······”

The artifact left behind by the Arnaiz, the smartphone.

The knowledge left behind by Elodie might be recorded here.

No, it definitely would be recorded.

“It’s worth a try.”

Cyan was able to come to a conclusion right away.

Then, the only problem left was one.

Cyan checked the quest content on his smartphone once more.

“Seriously. ‘A preemptive strike is essential.’ And who is Sun Tzu again?”

Cyan burst into laughter without realizing it.

Because it was an artifact left behind by the Arnaiz, but it was so… frivolous.

But even if it was frivolous.

The contents of the quest could not be ignored.

The 3,000 Orc army looming over Ruben.

With Ruben’s current strength, they couldn’t stop that army.

Even if they expanded the defense facilities, it would be difficult this time.

That’s why, even if it wasn’t because of Elodie’s laboratory.

Before the Orcs attacked, it was necessary to strike first… that is, to deal with that settlement first.

The problem was.

“How do I wipe out the Orc settlement?”

There wasn’t really a way.

“I wonder what’s available in the estate facilities of Mobile Lord.”

He also had plenty of money.

Cyan rummaged through the 【Estate Facilities】 section.

But.

“There’s nothing…”

There were no suitable facilities.

They were all related to defense facilities or infrastructure.

The statement that you can research technologies needed for the development of the estate through the laboratory.

It seemed that other facilities would open up as he developed the estate.

“Hmm…”

Cyan’s worries deepened.

How much time had passed?

Ding!

《Daily quests have been reset.》

《Growth buff time has expired.》

In an instant, a notification sound rang, and a window popped up saying that the quest had been reset.

“Has the time already come to this?”

He raised his head and looked at the sky.

The sun was already setting, and it was getting dark.

It seemed that his worries had taken longer than he thought.

“I should watch the ad in advance.”

It was an ad that could give him a growth buff.

Since it was a 1-hour ad, it was convenient to watch it in advance.

Of course, if he wasn’t going to train right now, it was just a waste of time.

But the growth buff was a buff for the quest.

And the quest had to be completed within a day anyway.

It didn’t matter whether the buff was left or not after a day.

In short, it was convenient to watch it whenever he had time.

Cyan pressed the ‘▷’ button without much hesitation.

Click.

.

.

《You, do you perhaps want to commit sexual assault?》

“Wh-what are you saying?”

Cyan shouted without realizing it.

That’s because of the voice that came out as soon as he played the ad.

Was that really a sane thing to say?

And looking at the content, it was obvious what kind of item they were advertising.

Were there adult ads too?

“No, even if it’s an adult ad…”

That’s not an adult ad, it’s a crime ad.

Was the artifact crazy?

Cyan even had that thought for a moment.

But whether it knew Cyan’s feelings or not.

The ad kept spouting those words.

《Right? Right? You’re itching to commit sexual assault right now, aren’t you?》

《Haha! You can’t help it either!》

《Now, for you, we’ve prepared something amazing, though it’s not that great!》

And the item that appeared on the changed screen.

Tada!

《Singijeon (神機箭)! [Korean multiple rocket launcher]》

It was a giant cart…? Or something.

“Huh?”

Cyan tilted his head without realizing it.

To commit sexual assault with that…?.

As expected, the ad kept spouting those words.

《A fire terror weapon that brutally destroys enemy structures and concentrated targets!》

《An amazing weapon that transcendent artisans couldn’t help but smack their knees at after seeing it!》

《Was it because they saw this radiant weapon that their artisan spirit was unleashed?》

《Transcendent artisans gathered together to improve it, and its convenience and destructive power were maximized!》

《200 shots fired in rapid succession!》

《Then the enemies go boom boom boom!》

《It’s truly a ‘castle’ assaulting weapon that mercilessly ‘rapes’ the castle!》

Then, sparks flew from the Singijeon,

and countless arrows poured down like a shower beyond the screen.

And.

콰콰콰콰쾅!!! [Sound of explosions]

“Crazy.”

Scorched earth.

The entire area was turned into scorched earth.

《Are you at a huge numerical disadvantage?》

《Do you need to capture an impregnable castle?》

《20,000 gold is enough!》

《Use this tremendous firepower to mercilessly assault the castle!》

.

.

Ding!

《When you’re stuck, try spending money!》

.

.

“······”

It’s been a long time since he’s been this dumbfounded.

“······ Was that ‘sexual assault’ that sexual assault?”

Cyan wondered if this was really an artifact left behind by the Arnaiz.