My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 26

§ 26. Elodie’s Lab (2)

Sian stood there blankly for a while.

The screen on his smartphone blinked.

After a moment, Sian regained his senses and carefully read the rest of the message.

『Kyle was definitely using dark mana.

The swordsmanship he wielded, Demon Soul Asura Sword.

That swordsmanship clearly had the power of demonic energy.

The others didn’t seem to notice, but I could tell.

Yet, Kyle wasn’t consumed by madness.

His mind wasn’t devoured.

After much deliberation, I asked Kyle about this.

Kyle simply stared at me.

A cold, chilling aura.

His gaze, filled with that aura, was directed at me.

‘Your premise is wrong.’

That’s what Kyle said.

‘Elodie, do you think dark mana is a mana that opposes nature?’

‘Isn’t it?’

Kyle didn’t answer.

He simply drew his sword slowly.

Soon, a dark blue mana enveloped Kyle’s sword.

The mana Kyle used, the power based on dark mana.

I was instantly overwhelmed by that power.

Just how strong is Kyle?

Kyle was our comrade, but we didn’t know much about him.

Charlotte seems to know something,

But even she doesn’t seem to know the full story.

But one thing is certain about Kyle.

Even if all of us were to fight Kyle,

We couldn’t defeat him.

‘Cast Absolute Barrier.’

Kyle said to me.

Absolute Barrier.

It was the ultimate magic that absolutely blocked evil forces that opposed nature.

No matter how strong Kyle was, he couldn’t break through it if it was based on dark mana.

I focused my mind and cast Absolute Barrier,

And Kyle slowly pushed his sword towards me.

And then.

Clang!

Kyle’s sword easily shattered the Absolute Barrier.

Before I could even be surprised,

Kyle’s sword was suddenly at my neck.

‘H-How?’

I couldn’t believe it.

Absolute Barrier was, as the name suggested, a magic that absolutely blocked evil forces.

No matter how strong Kyle was.

This didn’t make sense.

For this to be possible, two things had to be true.

Kyle’s power had to overwhelm my magic power.

And the power Kyle used had to be based on nature.

The first was easy to accept.

But the second…

‘Darkness is also a part of nature. It’s just mana based on the demonic attribute.’

‘That’s absurd! How can dark mana…!’

I couldn’t believe it.

Dark mana being a part of nature.

How could such evil mana…!

‘A magician trapped in fixed ideas.’

Kyle slowly opened his mouth.

‘Do you think the essence of dark mana is evil? Then let me ask you, Elodie. Is light mana good?’

‘Of course…’

I slowly nodded.

Light that illuminates all things.

Light, the source of life, clearly had the attribute of good.

And the one who wielded the power of light best was the Saintess Muriel.

You could tell just by how much the demons feared Muriel.

The proposition that light mana is good was taken for granted.

‘I’ll change the question.’

But Kyle didn’t seem to think so.

‘Those who use dark mana are evil. Then are those who use light mana not evil?’

‘……’

And this time, I couldn’t easily nod.

Dark mana takes the mind of the being as a sacrifice.

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

And thus, dark mana devours the being.

Light mana had the opposite properties of such dark mana.

Therefore, those who use light mana had to have a more restrained and good mind than anyone else.

However.

‘You’ve seen with your own eyes what the paladins and priests have done.’

The reality was not so.

Paladins and priests who practiced light mana.

They had to have a more good mind than anyone else.

But the reality was not so.

Arrogance, greed, jealousy, anger, lust, gluttony, sloth.

They committed actions according to the sins of existence without hesitation.

Was it because of a lack of training?

If so, it was impossible to explain the corruption of the cardinal whom Muriel trusted and followed the most.

No, should that be called corruption?

He used Muriel’s fame to exploit countless people.

He appeared virtuous in front,

But behind the scenes, he committed all sorts of vile acts.

The one who should have been the most frugal coveted countless wealth and treasures.

He filled his lust with the word of God.

I watched closely how much Muriel suffered when she later learned the truth.

Dark mana is evil.

Therefore, those who use dark mana are also evil.

And light mana is good.

Therefore, those who use light mana must also be good, but…

‘Evil can be anywhere.’

The truth was not so.

Light mana could become more evil than anything else.

‘Demonic energy is merely an attribute that is easily consumed by evil.’

Kyle said, looking at me.

‘Demon is just demon. It’s not evil.’

I couldn’t refute it.

I stood there as if I had been hit hard in the head.

At the same time, Kyle’s words that the premise was wrong.

I began to vaguely understand those words.

After that, I began to properly study dark mana.

And Kyle gave me a lot of help.

Especially the Demon Soul Control Method he taught me.

Kyle’s aura training method helped a lot in organizing how to refine demonic energy.

Thus, I was finally able to find a way to refine demonic energy.

Although I couldn’t follow Kyle’s aura training method.

No, I couldn’t even reach the tip of his toes.

I leave that knowledge here.』

.

.

.

After that, the method to refine demonic energy was explained in detail.

And those were.

“…Complicated.”

Honestly… I didn’t understand it well.

That’s because Elodie was a Grand Magician, the pinnacle of magicians,

Therefore, the method was explained in a way that only magicians could understand.

In short, there was only a method.

It was a method that couldn’t be done right now.

To be precise, it was an impossible method unless there was a high-level magician.

But.

“But the Demon Soul Asura Sword is a swordsmanship that handles demonic energy?”

It wasn’t that there was no way at all.

The contents written in Elodie’s record.

According to that content, the Demon Soul Asura Sword was a swordsmanship based on demonic energy.

And the Demon Soul Asura Sword was used by Kyle, the strongest Arnaize.

Until now, it was only a guess,

But now it was confirmed by Elodie’s record.

The Demon Soul Asura Sword is a swordsmanship used by Kyle.

And it was also the swordsmanship that Sian was learning now.

Elodie had found a way to purify demonic energy by referring to Kyle’s method.

No, looking at the record, it was almost copied.

Elodie even wrote that her method couldn’t even reach the tip of Kyle’s toes.

In short, Elodie’s method could be seen as a lower version.

Even so, Elodie, who used black magic comparable to the Demon King.

That means…

“Can’t I do it too?”

It didn’t matter if it wasn’t Elodie’s method.

“How do I do it?”

The problem was that he didn’t know the method…

But this wasn’t a way that there was no way at all.

No other than the method recorded by Elodie.

If you look closely at that method, you will be able to know it to some extent.

As I said, Elodie almost copied Kyle’s method.

Sian carefully examined the knowledge left by Elodie.

As expected, most of the contents that he could not understand were lined up.

But there were parts that he could understand.

And summarizing the understood part was like this.

“Accept demonic energy without rejecting it.”

Accept demonic energy without rejecting it, like a part of nature, like a part of the body.

Regarding this, Elodie constructed the mental world in parallel and so on…

“I need to know what you’re talking about.”

I didn’t understand at all.

It’s probably the way of magicians.

“Shall we try it?”

The way of the knight was to just try it.

Sian slowly lowered his gaze.

A mana stone the size of a watermelon came into Sian’s view.

No other than the huge mana stone left by the black orc.

This, which contained a strong demonic energy, was thought to be a mana stone of the highest grade or higher.

It was more than enough to do a test.

Sian slowly reached out his hand towards the mana stone.

And he focused his mind and felt the demonic energy inside.

While recalling the sword technique of the Demon Soul Asura Sword in his head.

Then.

Swoosh…

In an instant, the mana stone began to flash.

Soon, a dark black light flickered and was soon absorbed through Sian’s hand.

And.

“Huh… Ra?”

The light of the mana stone changed.

If the existing mana stone was a complete dark black light.

Now it was a dark blue color with a blue light.

And no demonic energy was felt inside.

“The demonic energy is gone…?”

He could have thought so at first glance, but Sian knew that wasn’t the case.

The contents seen in Elodie’s record.

According to that content, the demonic energy had not disappeared.

Only the demonic energy was refined by the medium.

To be precise, the medium had absorbed the power.

And that medium was…

Sian calmly closed his eyes and observed the inside of his body.

Soon, Sian could feel a strange power inside his body.

A faint but explosive power.

“Aura…?”

It was the power of aura.

Right then.

Ding!

[Demon Soul Asura Sword Initiation Progress 28.9%(+0.7%)]

With a cheerful sound, the progress rate of the Demon Soul Asura Sword increased.

That was a progress rate of 0.7%.

In terms of assignments, it was a progress rate equivalent to 7 days.

“Are you crazy?”

Sian shouted without realizing it.

#

“W-W-W-What, what, what, what, what is it?!?!?!?”

Amelia was so surprised that she couldn’t even speak properly.

That’s because of what Sian had given her now.

Something the size of a fist.

“How is it? Is this worth anything?”

That was none other than a mana stone.

“Where did you get this…?”

“What do you mean where? Of course, I got it from the mana stone mine.”

“…… Yes?”

Amelia had an expression as if she wasn’t sure if she had heard correctly.

Of course, just a while ago.

She knew that she had secured a mana stone mine by destroying the orc village.

Amelia was also at the scene.

But that was only a mana stone containing demonic energy.

But the mana stone that Sian gave her now.

This was tinged with blue light.

To be a little more precise, it was a dark blue light with a black tinge.

But there was no demonic energy felt anywhere, and even the quality was top-notch.

What this meant was one thing.

“Could this be…?”

“I refined it.”

Thud.

Amelia’s movements froze like a statue.

At the same time, Amelia’s thoughts also stopped.

A moment of silence.

“Heeeh?!?!?!?!?!?”

Amelia suddenly began to faint all over.

“What are you so surprised about?”

“I can’t help but be surprised!!”

Amelia said to Sian almost angrily.

It didn’t make sense.

The method of refining demonic energy has not been revealed so far.

Many people have repeated research on research.

Even at this moment, there were those who were researching.

No one has found a way.

Therefore, some people have concluded that it is impossible to refine demonic energy.

The reason why they are still conducting research was simple.

According to mythology, a thousand years ago.

The Grand Magician Elodie knew the method.

That means.

It wasn’t impossible.

That’s why so many mages.

Countless magicians.

Outstanding geniuses.

I have been researching the method so far.

That time has passed and it has been a thousand years.

A secret that has not been revealed for a thousand years.

Has that secret been revealed now?

No, what…

“I did refine it, but it’s harder than I thought. So I don’t think mass production is possible right now.”

“……”

Amelia didn’t know how to react to this.

Amelia stared at Sian with a dazed mind.

Really…

He was an incomprehensible person.

He seemed like a person who was crazy about money.

And if you think about the appearance of confronting the black orcs, it wasn’t.

A person who seemed to know but didn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

Common sense didn’t work for this man at all.

“…… Give it to me.”

Amelia took the mana stone from Sian.

There were a total of 5 mana stones the size of a fist.

Everyone was a top-notch mana stone.

And thanks to the disappearance of demonic energy, it seemed that it could be used as a mana stone for sure.

“What about the mana stone embedded in the black orc?”

“Ah, I’m going to sell that later. I don’t think it’s possible right now.”

Amelia slowly nodded.

The mana stone embedded in the black orc was a mana stone that might be more than the highest grade.

“Well, if such a mana stone is released on the market, people’s interest will increase rapidly. It’s not good to have attention focused on Ruben right now.”

“You’re quick-witted as expected.”

Sian nodded satisfactorily that no further explanation was needed.

“So I’m going to sell that later. I might use it in the middle. So I picked up a few of these rolling on the ground and refined them.”

“This precious thing was rolling on the ground?”

Amelia was dumbfounded.

Top-notch mana stones were rolling on the ground.

Well, the mana stones in that mana stone mine were those that had been condensing mana for at least a thousand years.

Even just rolling on the ground was beyond the category of ordinary.

Even this rolling mana stone would fetch at least 2,000 gold.

“Please sell this for now.”

“Hmm…”

But Amelia didn’t answer easily.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No. Rather than a problem… I was thinking about how to sell this.”

Amelia lowered her gaze for a moment as if she was lost in thought.

After a little time, Amelia opened her mouth.

“Ah! I have a good idea. Maybe this… can get more than 3 times?”

3 times is 6,000 gold per piece.

Combined, it was a whopping 30,000 gold.

Sian tilted his head and looked at Amelia.

“Leave it to me from now on.”

But Amelia just smiled.

#

The Charlotte Empire was divided into 5 districts based on the capital of the Empire.

The east, bordering other kingdoms, including the Dark Forest.

The west, adjacent to the coast and became a commercial hub.

The barren north, confronting barbarians.

The south, where the largest granary on the continent is located.

Finally, the center where the capital of the Empire is located.

It was divided into 5 districts like this.

And the commercial hub was naturally the western region of the Empire.

A place where various goods are constantly brought in adjacent to the coast.

It was an area where commerce could not help but develop.

However, if you ask about the best commercial city in the Empire,

Everyone chooses Lucia, located in the central region, not the west.

Lucia, the best commercial city in the Empire.

Lucia was the transportation hub connecting the entire Empire as well as the capital of the Empire.

To transport goods brought in from the west to the entire Empire, you had to pass through Lucia.

Not only the west, but also the grains obtained from the south.

Various monsters caught in the east.

Various weapons needed in the north.

All of those things had to pass through Lucia to be distributed throughout the Empire.

In short, a place where goods from all over the Empire gathered.

Lucia naturally became the best commercial city in the Empire.

So now.

“The product that came out this time… is a really precious product.”

An auction house in Lucia.

The clothes of those who are here were beyond luxurious.

And what that meant was one thing.

Those in this place were all nobles.

Even those who use power.

They were high-ranking nobles in the center who decided on the important affairs of the Empire.

As befits an auction house where such nobles are gathered, the items that come up are not something to be taken lightly.

Ordinary people can’t even dream of having.

No, they were the kind of treasures that even ordinary nobles couldn’t dare to have.

And now.

“This product is something that I have seen in almost a few years.”

Even among such precious items, another precious item came up at the auction house.

The host gestured to one side.

Then a group of people carefully brought something.

Five fist-sized stones with a dark blue light.

“The item we are introducing this time is the highest grade mana stone!”

It was none other than the highest grade mana stone.

“Highest grade mana stone? Not high grade?”

“Did the highest grade mana stone still remain?”

The nobles began to stir at the host’s cry.

Highest grade, not high grade.

That was not something that could be easily seen.

“This mana stone is not only of high quality, but it is different from ordinary mana stones. This mana stone with a dark blue light seems to contain demonic energy at first glance. But it is a strange mana stone that has no demonic properties at all.”

At the host’s words, the nobles’ gazes all turned to the mana stone.

“According to our appraiser, it may exceed the highest grade.”

The nobles nodded.

“Certainly…”

“It’s worth that much.”

The highest grade mana stone was a kind that was really hard to see.

Even in Lucia, where all the goods of the Empire gathered, it had not come out in the past few years.

Even if it comes out, it is such a small amount.

Just attaching the word highest grade made the value of scarcity unspeakable.

But it may exceed the highest grade?

The host opened his mouth with a nervous expression.

“We will start with 1,000 gold per piece.”

Then.

“2,000.”

“2,500.”

“3,000.”

The price started to soar in an instant.

“4,000.”

“4,500.”

The price had already broken through 4,000 gold.

Considering that the usual highest grade mana stone is traded at around 2,000 gold, it was more than double the price.

“5,000.”

“5,500.”

Even so, the price continued to rise.

That’s because it took at least 200 years for the mana stone to become the highest grade.

But the mana stone condensed during that period no longer existed.

People would not wait until it became the highest grade.

Therefore, it should be seen that the highest grade mana stone no longer exists on the continent.

Didn’t this seller say that it had been passed down as a heirloom for a long time?

“6,000”

“7,000”

As expected, the price was rising without knowing how to stop.

Based on many years of experience.

The host could guess that this mana stone could go up to about 10,000 if it went well.

But right then.

“20,000.”

Stunned.

The atmosphere became chilly as if cold water had been poured into the auction house.

That’s because the price of 20,000 that was just heard.

That was too much.

A price 10 times the basic transaction price.

Therefore, it was clear that this was a joke.

I don’t know what kind of crazy bastard it is,

I found the wrong place to show off.

The nobles frowned and looked in the direction where the voice came from.

And.

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

Those who confirmed the owner of the voice all froze.

A posture and expression without any disturbance.

A refined elegance that feels soft and elegant.

Isabelle Elandur.

It was because she was the mistress of the Elandur family, one of the two families that support the Empire.

Even in the nobles’ gazes, Isabelle did not show any change in expression.

And the 20,000 gold she called.

A total of 100,000 gold.

It was a truly enormous amount.

But in front of the name Elandur, it was only a small amount of money.

“20,000… 20,000 gold…! Are there, are there no more?”

The host shouted, reconfirming.

But no one called for a price higher than that.

It was because of the price, but also because they did not have the guts to take away the item chosen by Elandur.

“This mana stone is 20,000 gold. It has been sold for a total of 100,000 gold!”

The host’s cry was heard.

Isabelle nodded satisfactorily.