Episode 115: The Trial of Iron (1)
Malta led Demian to the workshop within the main compound.
True to the reputation of the Holy Order, known for its blacksmithing, the workshop was enormous.
Members of the order were tirelessly hauling iron and coal, and the sound of metal being hammered echoed from all directions. Flames roared from the forges scattered throughout.
It was almost the size of a small city, befitting a place that supported a massive organization like the Holy Order.
“Over here!”
Malta guided Demian to a secluded corner of the workshop.
“This is where you’ll face the Trial of Iron!”
Demian looked at Malta, puzzled.
The area was empty, save for a large iron plate on the floor.
“Don’t judge by appearances,” Malta said with a smirk, gripping a hammer from his belt. It was a forging hammer, used for shaping metal.
With a light tap of the hammer, the center of the iron plate began to open slowly.
Demian peered down into the opening. Below was a vast chamber filled with old, rusted weapons.
“The Trial of Iron is a test devised by our ancestors when they first joined the Holy Order,” Malta explained.
“You’ve heard that we dwarves can hear the voice of metal, right?”
It wasn’t just a myth that dwarves were renowned for their blacksmithing skills.
They possessed innate craftsmanship and unique abilities that other races lacked, one of which was hearing the voice of metal.
Of course, it wasn’t as if they could hear actual thoughts. It meant they could discern the purity, nature, and condition of metals.
“Our ancestors believed that a truly great knight should have the instinct to choose good metal, even if they couldn’t hear its voice like we do.”
Other knights might have scoffed at such an idea, but it wasn’t entirely baseless.
In reality, knights with exceptional talent could instinctively recognize a good weapon.
It wasn’t a special ability, just an uncanny knack.
The fascinating part was how often that instinct proved accurate.
“That chamber is filled with weapons discarded by blacksmiths during practice. They’re all essentially scrap… except for one weapon made of rare metal.”
Demian looked down at the chamber. Everything was covered in a deep red rust, making it impossible to distinguish by appearance.
“When you enter, the mechanism will activate, and the door will close. To open it again, you must find the weapon made of rare metal and insert it into that slot over there.”
Malta pointed to a sizable hole in the wall.
“Then the mechanism will activate again, the door will open, and you’ll have passed the trial.”
Demian gazed at the pile of scrap and asked, “Is there a time limit?”
“No, it’s unlimited.”
“Sounds easy.”
“Easy? Hahaha, that’s why rookies are hopeless.”
Malta chuckled with a knowing smile.
“Over a thousand knights have attempted the Trial of Iron to earn the legendary sword. But do you know what happened? They ended up trapped in there all day, eventually giving up and begging to be let out!”
It seemed Malta was certain Demian wouldn’t succeed.
“Be careful, though. The rusted blades below are dangerous. Some have even pierced their feet…”
“There it is.”
Demian suddenly spoke up. Malta frowned.
“What are you talking about? What’s where…?”
“Isn’t it that one?”
Demian pointed to a dagger lying in the corner.
It looked just as rusted and worn as the other weapons, but Demian recognized it. That was the weapon made of rare metal Malta had mentioned.
”…What?”
Malta turned to Demian, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“What, what…? How…?”
A knight with exceptional talent could recognize a great weapon. That applied to Demian as well.
However, even for Demian, finding a weapon made of rare metal among so many was no easy task.
So he used another ability.
In a past life, Demian had encountered a master known as the Weapon Master.
True to the title, this individual wielded a variety of weapons.
The pinnacle of the Weapon Master’s skill was called “The Love of All Weapons.”
Reaching this level allowed one to communicate with weapons and even amplify their abilities.
Thanks to “The Love of All Weapons,” Demian had immediately identified the weapon made of rare metal.
“What are you talking about? It can’t be that easy to find. Stop joking and look more carefully.”
Malta was sweating profusely.
Demian smirked. He was certain, thanks to “The Love of All Weapons.”
“Then I’ll go get it.”
“Wait! Hold on! Hey!”
Demian leaped into the chamber, landing safely among the rusted blades.
“Damn it! This is cheating! Cheating!”
Malta’s voice echoed from above, but Demian ignored it.
As soon as Demian landed, the entire chamber began to move.
The opening he had jumped through was sealed by something, plunging the chamber into darkness. Then, a light source appeared from the ceiling, illuminating the chamber.
-Hey! How about we negotiate? I’ll give you the best of the mid-tier sacred swords!
Malta’s desperate voice came from outside.
-If you don’t like mid-tier, I’ll offer a top-tier sacred sword! Just please, give up…!
Ignoring Malta’s pleas, Demian approached the dagger.
He grasped it and moved toward the slot in the wall.
“Is this really where it goes?”
The dagger seemed too small for the slot, but after a moment’s hesitation, Demian inserted it.
Click.
With a sound of something locking into place, the mechanism began to operate.
“Looks like the legendary sword is mine.”
Even Demian couldn’t resist the allure of a treasure like the legendary sword. He smiled in satisfaction, congratulating himself.
Then it happened.
His wrist, holding the dagger, grew hot, as if it had been burned.
Startled, Demian looked at his wrist. The tattoo of Erebus was emitting a dark shadow.
“What is this…?”
Suddenly, the entire chamber shook. A harsh sound filled the air as the walls began to rotate.
“Is this part of the Trial of Iron?”
It was possible, but his instincts said otherwise.
If it were the Trial of Iron, Erebus wouldn’t have reacted.
Moreover, Malta’s voice from outside confirmed Demian’s suspicion.
-What is this? The mechanism is acting strangely! I’ve never heard of it having this function!
Something was clearly amiss.
Demian immediately heightened his senses, sharpening them to prepare for any unforeseen danger.
Gradually, the vibrations ceased. Then, the wall opposite him opened wide.
Beyond the wall was another space. Demian headed toward it.
Inside, stone walls and floors came into view.
The entire space was covered with intricate magical circles. Demian examined them closely.
“Why is there a place like this beneath the main compound?”
The magical circles on the walls were designed to seal and conceal something within.
They were incredibly complex and precise, suggesting they were meant to seal something of great importance.
Suddenly, Demian’s gaze stopped. In a corner, a corpse was seated.
“What is that…?”
The corpse had been there so long it had turned into a mummy. The skin and flesh were discolored, and the lips had receded, exposing all the teeth.
But what truly shocked Demian wasn’t the mummy itself.
It was the piece of metal embedded in the mummy’s chest.
The metal shard was quite large, with edges sharpened on both sides. It looked like the broken tip of a greatsword.
Seeing it, Demian murmured in disbelief.
“Erebus…”
A fragment of the cursed sword Erebus lay before him.
Erebus.
A mysterious cursed sword of unknown origin.
The Holy Order had classified Erebus fragments as the highest level of danger, issuing orders to seal any discovered fragments.
In a past life, Dorgo had spared no effort or resources to restore Erebus.
He reclaimed the fragments sealed by the Holy Order and searched for those hidden across the continent.
Despite his efforts, he only managed to restore about 70%.
“To think there was a fragment here…”
And the fragment before him was one Dorgo had never found, as far as Demian knew.
He was certain. After Demian had conquered the main compound, Dorgo had discovered two fragments. None looked like this one.
“How could this be? A fragment of Erebus hidden beneath the workshop?”
Given Malta’s reaction, it was likely that even the craftsmen above were unaware of the fragment’s true nature.
”…No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure it out.”
It was a mystery without an answer.
Demian approached the mummy to retrieve the fragment.
Suddenly, a violent wave emanated from the fragment.
The stone debris and dust on the floor disintegrated upon contact with the wave.
It was one of Erebus’s powers: corrosion.
A regular person would likely have perished just by coming into contact with the waves.
But Demian was someone who had earned Erebus’s recognition. The corrosive energy emanating from the shard had no effect on him.
Demian approached the mummy, reaching out to grasp the shard embedded in its chest.
In that instant, the mummy’s hand shot out, gripping Demian’s wrist.