CHAPTER 174: SHATTERED BELL [2]

The maids or servants of Lavidus Hall would identify themselves while knocking on the door.

For the sake of privacy and security, it was against the rules for anyone other than maids or servants to go to another student’s room.

Despite this, if there was someone who could boldly break this rule.

It must be the upstart.

"Senior Gerhard?"

"Yes, it’s me."

Gerhard’s voice was heard from outside the door.

"What brings you here?"

"Do you want to make the Bell of Pasa with me?"

Aint, who was approaching to open the door, stopped in his tracks.

"...Pardon?"

What did he just say?

==

After returning to the Academy, Gerhard thought he couldn’t just sit still.

An eye for an eye, money for money.

Gerhard, who believed that if attacked, one must always repay in kind, Gerhard the perfectionist who couldn’t rest easy without resolving problems, couldn’t ignore a situation that had worsened beyond what the prophecy book predicted.

Anxiety constricted his heart and head, making it impossible to sleep.

After spending two sleepless nights.

Unable to bear it any longer, he went straight to the temple.

The most outstanding magical organization he knew.

"I’ve heard about the Bell of Pasa being broken, brother. It’s truly regrettable."

"If you’ve heard, then you probably know why I’ve come? I was thinking that the Dragon Faith, with its gathering of the finest mages, might have a way to repair the Bell of Pasa."

"It’s impossible."

Jayce shook his head firmly.

"The Bell of Pasa was created jointly by the first Emperor and the Dragon Faith. Strictly speaking, most of the production was done by the order, and the Emperor provided materials and mana injection, but anyway."

He continued.

"The Bell of Pasa was cast as one piece from the beginning, with various inscriptions and complex mechanisms intricately intertwined. In summary, once broken, it cannot be repaired. It would be better to make a new one."

Gerhard was disappointed. Among high-level artifacts, there were occasionally such items.

"So it’s that kind of object. Ha... if repair is impossible, then the Bell of Pasa must be completely abandoned... Wait a minute."

What did Jayce just say?

"The Dragon Faith made the Bell of Pasa?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"Then do you have the blueprints?"

"Of course. Though it’s an old document and some parts have been lost..."

At that moment, Gerhard felt as if the dense fog was lifting.

It was like a ray of light pouring into pitch-black darkness where one couldn’t see even a step ahead.

Gerhard trembled.

"...Then. If that’s the case."

Though he tried to stay calm, his voice shook.

"Yes?"

"Then if we follow those blueprints, could we make the Bell of Pasa?"

"...Hmm. Since there are blueprints, it should be possible... but to be honest, His Holiness has already checked the blueprints."

The destruction of the Bell of Pasa wasn’t simply a problem for Altriark.

In a situation where evil species were stirring, the value of the Bell of Pasa was by no means light.

The fact that evil species targeted the Bell of Pasa first indicated its great utility value.

Therefore, the Pope retrieved the blueprints that had been sleeping in the magic storehouse. And he abandoned not only restoration but also new production.

Restoration was impossible from the beginning because of the nature of the object, and as for production...

"The materials are absurd."

"What materials?"

"It requires all three major metals."

The three major metals referred to adamant, mithril, and orichalcum.

"Doesn’t the Dragon Faith have all three metals?"

"Of course we do. But in very small quantities. What’s needed for the Bell of Pasa is an amount the size of the bell itself."

Gerhard’s mouth fell open.

"Are you saying the big bell is made purely of those three metals?"

Crazy, did they use all the major metals that existed on the continent?

"According to the blueprints, yes. That’s why His Holiness gave up. Gathering that amount of the three major metals is nearly impossible."

To be exact, even if an organization like the Dragon Faith started with determination now, it would easily take a hundred years.

He had to accept it. Gathering that much of the three major metals, which were treated almost as legends, was impossible, at least in this lifetime...

’Wait a minute.’

At that moment, an assumption flashed through Gerhard’s mind.

"Then if all those metals were procured, could it be made?"

"Of course."

"And the fee?"

"It’s unlikely to happen, but if all the materials were procured, would the fee be an issue? Both His Holiness and I would rather pay to make it."

What ordinary object is this? Jayce shrugged and continued.

"Well, officially, we’d say we didn’t accept payment for the greater good. But can you procure them?"

"I can’t. Even for me, that’s impossible."

"Then why...?"

"I was hoping for a miracle."

I’ll come back again. Gerhard left the temple.

"...Maybe I can get them. Maybe I can..."

Kuuuuung...!

At that moment, Wooden’s body trembled. Its red eye light flickered anxiously.

"Please don’t dismantle your body? What nonsense are you talking about? No matter how important the bell is, I would never melt you down to extract mithril and adamant, so rest assured."

The Bell of Pasa was an object for everyone, and Wooden was Gerhard’s last card.

Unless he went mad, Gerhard had no reason to do such a thing. No matter how important the bell was, the golem was also important to him.

Koong koong?

"How to get those materials, you ask? I’m not certain yet either."

Nevertheless, there was a glimmer of possibility.

’That place where I obtained mithril.’

At the same time, the place where Aint obtained adamant.

The place where the water dragon made its nest and spirit herbs grew.

It didn’t make sense for adamant and mithril, two ores with completely different compositions and properties, to be in the same place.

Not unless someone artificially made it so.

’If that’s the case, then it’s probably...’

With high probability, it would be the first Emperor.

It occurred to him that perhaps that place was an arrangement made by the first Emperor in preparation for a future war against demons, intending to create excellent weapons.

And if that was correct, wouldn’t there be more legendary metals?

That was.

"Do you want to make the Bell of Pasa with me?"

The reason Gerhard had come to Aint.