After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 121
Chapter 121: This is Amazing!
“Please, just stay like that on my back.”
I find myself clinging embarrassingly to Clara’s back as she seems to be concentrating on something. Well, it can’t be helped, it’s her request after all.
Apparently, metal detection magic consumes a lot of magical power. With only a C-class magical power, she needs a situation like being plugged into a mobile battery to sustain it… So in the end, I have no choice but to continue holding her tightly as she requested.
Gretel seems to have lost all her anger by now, looking at me with eyes as indifferent as if she were watching reptiles mating. Well, it’s not like I’m doing this willingly… there’s no point in making excuses. It feels really nice to be touching Clara’s soft body… I hate to admit it, but I’ve been feeling quite lively since a while ago… Honestly, I’m just a monkey, huh.
“I understand… it’s this way.”
After about fifteen minutes of walking, guided by Clara, we arrive at a large crack in the rock.
“Maria, could you widen this crack for us?”
“As you wish!”
The guard sister, who seemed to be bored, starts chanting. Although she looks like an adventurer warrior, she’s actually a ground magic user affiliated with the national army.
“Hmm!”
An old-man-like spirited shout, unsuitable for a young woman, echoes. The rock shelf in front of us explodes as if blown away, and the crack becomes wide enough for a person to enter. It’s just like setting off an explosion…
“Wow, magic is really amazing!”
“…Well, I am an A-class after all.”
The ground magic sister called Maria blushes at my compliment. Casting a lukewarm glance at us, Clara approaches the exposed rock face. Before I realize it, she’s holding some kind of ore in her left hand.
“Claudia, what’s this?”
“This is hematite, an easily usable iron ore. And this is magnetite…”
Alternating with the samples held by her entourage, Clara touches the rock surface, apparently trying to sense a “similar feeling” from within the rock. It seems that the flow of magical power differs depending on the ore… Of course, it’s a world that I don’t understand at all.
“It’s neither iron nor copper… I wanted to give iron to Lutz-sama if possible.”
Certainly, I wanted it, but if it’s not there, it’s not there. Well, lead and tin can be useful in various ways… Oh, speaking of which, drinking chilled beer from a tin mug is irresistible. Since coming to this world, I’ve only been drinking lukewarm ale, but next time I’ll ask the water magic user to make it chilled.
While thinking about such trivial matters, the testing of base metal ores is finished, and they all seem different. In that case, could it be… that gold or silver will come out? If they do, not only will the territory’s financial problems be solved, but the entire Berzenbruck Kingdom’s magical power will instantly become stronger!
Well, it didn’t turn out that smoothly. Clara alternately picks up gold and silver and tries something, but her thin eyebrows remain furrowed.
“This is strange… it’s neither gold nor silver.”
“But it’s definitely a metal, right?”
“That’s for sure, but…”
Hmm, well, in this era, not many metals are known, so maybe it’s a rare metal. Titanium and cobalt are extremely useful, but with the current equipment in this era, refining such ores is impossible.
While thinking about such things absentmindedly, Clara suddenly slips out of my arms, rushes over to Gretel, and tightly clamps the axe she was holding between her palms.
“This feeling… this is it! The metal sleeping in this mountain is this metal!”
“Huh? Does that mean it’s mithril?”
This is surprising. Mithril conducts magic well and can be stored well. It’s the best magical tool for wizards, which is why Gretel has a mithril axe.
However, mithril is not mined domestically; we rely on imports from the Poznani Kingdom. Even though they are friendly countries, mithril is still a valuable metal. Even if they treat us well, its price is high. If Gretel’s mithril axe were bought properly, it would be enough to build a mansion in the royal capital… Well, it’s not my wallet, but the account belongs to the royal family. That’s not the point, though. If such a valuable metal were to be mined in this territory, not only would the territory’s finances flourish, but the entire magical combat capability of the Berzenbruck Kingdom would be greatly enhanced. Especially for combat wizards, the quality of their tools directly affects life and death.
“Yes, there’s no mistake. Let’s crush this rock and take it back. Let’s hurry back and appraise it.”
The appraisal results were just as Clara boldly declared. The appraisal sister was so excited that she almost jumped for joy… That’s how critical the existence of mithril is for wizards.
Well, there’s no need to rush mining; the mines won’t run away. Right now, what’s more important for the prisoners’ livelihoods is how much wheat fields can be expanded before winter. I’ll have Gretel focus her efforts on that… Mining development can be quite troublesome, so let’s take it slow. If it’s going to be a mithril mine, I can’t just manage it on my own, and I’ll have to consult with Her Majesty the Queen about its operation.
But more than that, Clara, who smiles with a sense of accomplishment by my side, is adorable. She finally feels the satisfaction of helping the people with her magic and enriching the country. When she notices my gaze and looks at me, her smile turns into a radiant grin.
Yeah, with this, I guess I’ve properly completed the homework from Beatrice, right?