[T.L: punisher87]
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Only the eyes of the three people, Fire, Hammer, and Anvil, bulged out as if they were about to pop out.
"You can heal Vailam!?"
"Is that really true?"
"You didn't know? In our Vamel alliance, there is a device called the Chaos Purifier. It can almost perfectly purify the chaos corruption that hasn't transformed the body."
[Pipi, Pi...]
Vailam made a groaning sound and sank back into the water. Even briefly pulling his body out of the water seemed difficult for him.
"There aren't absolutely no variables. We've never tested whether the device works perfectly against monsters, and their size is so enormous."
Encountering a case where the chaos was not reinforced but eroded was something new.
"Young Patriarch, please help! If you do, we will do anything."
"If I help?"
As Jin interrupted and asked, the officers twitched and glanced at each other.
"...Creating a masterpiece for the Young Patriarch."
It may sound simple, but it wasn't. It meant that all the world's greatest blacksmiths (except for Picon) would come forward to create just one sword.
"Leave that to Lord Picon. Do you think there's just a casual relationship between me and Lord Picon?"
Of course, even if the officers combined their strength, they couldn't compare to Picon.
"That's not it."
[It's a very special relationship. If it weren't for the Young Patriarch, I would still be hiding inside that empty body.]
"Cough! Then, what do you want?"
"I don't want anything in particular."
"Nothing? Then why did you mention it?"
"It was you who spoke as if you were going to give something, not me. I just thought of extending my goodwill. However..."
"However?"
"If you really want to repay me, how about joining the Vamel alliance?"
"Do you demand an exclusive contract?"
"I know that the Association is a neutral force that doesn't get involved in worldly affairs. But now is not the time when you can afford not to pay attention. If you are a person with abilities, you must stand on one side or the other. That's why the Hidden Palace and Nameless abandoned their long traditions and gathered under the banner of the Vamel Alliance."
The Association has never been affiliated with any faction since its founding.
The eyes of the officers became serious. However, that serious atmosphere was not born out of discomfort or concern about the proposal.
"...If that's the problem, wasn't the answer already decided when Lord Picon came to us?"
"As you can see, Lord Picon is an absolute existence for us. It's not just a symbolic story. Now he has become a real god of the blacksmiths. Lord Picon's will is our will."
"Just like Lord Picon is already on the side of the Young Patriarch, it's natural for us to join the alliance, isn't it?"
"It's true that the answers are quite satisfying, but you accepted it too quickly."
"We were also mentally prepared to some extent. We are not completely indifferent to how the world is going."
"If we have to choose one side anyway, it was our conclusion that it should be Runcandel or the Vamel alliance rather than the Zipfel. Since the blacksmiths seem to fit better with knights than mages."
With a sly smile, Fire extended his hand to Jin.
"I'll rely on you from now on. It's true that the decision has been made, but I wasn't in a state where I felt particularly good about it."
"Is that why you were being impolite when I arrived?"
"That's how we've always been. Anyway, now that we have met the Young Patriarch in person, I think it's not so bad."
"Not just not so bad, but a day when you think you are lucky to choose me will come."
Jin smiled and shook hands with Fire. Now that they had become a family, it was a gesture using familiar terms.
[Looks good. Well, since the conversation seems to be over, let's quickly go and help that Vailam. As I heard, without that guy, both the Association and the Vamel alliance will face a lot of obstacles in the future.]
The physical transformation could happen immediately if they were unlucky, so they had to hurry. Shortly after arriving on the island, Jin had already seized control of the Association, but there was no time to bask in joy.
"I will go to Tikan to get the Purifier. Taking Vailam to Tikan seems impossible. Lady Syris, let's go."
They immediately headed for Tikan on Mort. Fortunately, since Mort's condition had improved significantly after the Evil God War, there were no major problems with consecutive long-distance teleportations.
"Young master? Have you already returned?"
"Yes, Gilly. Everything went very well."
"Oh, as expected of our Lord!"
"Jet, bring the Chaos Purifier. We have to go back."
While Jet was getting the purifier, Jin explained the situation to his comrades. It was so simple that it didn't need much summarizing.
"This time, Sir Hedo will come with us. We'll need your tremendous strength."
"Of course."
Fortunately, Sandra had already left with Bale for a walk, so she didn't cause a fuss about joining as well.
[Boong...]
When they arrived back on the island, Mort collapsed and struggled to catch his breath.
"You've arrived!"
As they descended underground and placed the Purifier, the officers looked at it with mixed feelings. It wasn't that they doubted its performance, but they couldn't envision this small device being able to handle Vailam's massive body.
"Fire, blow the horn again to call Vailam."
As the horn sounded, Vailam responded much slower than before and emerged injured on the surface. Hedo jumped into the sea and tied a rope around Vailam's body, while Syris manifested her Myriad Ice ability to create a large ice floor for Hedo to step on.
"Jin, pull!"
Hedo pushed from below, and Jin pulled with all his might. They were attempting to extract the massive creature solely using brute force.
Swoosh!
After a moment, Vailam was pulled out as if plucked from the depths.
"Oh, Vailam!"
"Snap out of it!"
The officers held Vailam tightly and trembled with relief, but from Jin's perspective, his condition wasn't too bad, fortunately.
"It's at the initial stage of corruption. If we do well, it might be purified within a few days... or even today if the Purifier works properly on monster."
They attached the Purifier's cords to various parts of Vailam's body. Soon, the device vibrated, and a murky energy began to be absorbed into the cords.
Every five minutes, Jin and Hedo would immerse Vailam back into the water. As his energy weakened, he couldn't stay above water for long.
The arduous purification process continued until midnight.
[This creature, so fiercely revered by Runcandel's young patriarch and the world's strongest in terms of strength, is likely the first of its kind.]
Even if it took not just a day but even a month, it was worth it. The benefits gained were almost immeasurable, and Vailam, like the Association, became an integral part of the alliance.
As the final traces of corruption seeped out, Vailam's skin glistened.
The transformed Vailam, no longer resembling a moldy creature, exuded a beauty that could be compared to an unknown, shining white whale.
"...If this is a monster, then what was wrong with those creatures that rolled in the Black Sea?"
Even Hedo, who boasted of experiencing the most monsters in the world, had never seen such a unique creature.
"Well, who knows?"
Peep, peep, peep! Peep, peep!
Vailam, now energized, emitted a pleasant cry. Its wriggling and body-beating movements were unmistakably expressions of gratitude.
[You, my benefactor, I shall repay your kindness!]
During the treatment, Jin overheard that Vailam had learned human speech from the blacksmiths. Jin chuckled at Vailam's impressive words.
The blacksmiths shed many tears. They conveyed various words to Vailam and burst into tears.
"Continue to gather the marine steel by traversing the seas and deliver them to the blacksmiths."
[Understood, but something is lacking!]
"Do you know where the Sword Emperor's territory is?"
[I do!]
"How many days would it take to swim there?"
[Three days.]
"In a state where you can carry a full load of marine steel?"
[Still three days.]
"How much can you carry?"
[About my own weight!]
"Isn't that difficult?"
[Piece of cake. Peep-peep-peep. Light stroll!]
Clap, clap. Jin found himself involuntarily clapping his hands.
If Vailam could swim to the Sword Emperor's territory and back in a week, carrying a load of refined marine steel each time...
Steel shortage would be out of the question. There was no need to consider cost-cutting measures. Even if steel was poured randomly into battleship production, there would still be an excess.
Not only would Vailam transport the steel, but also the Empire's steel reserves, minimizing the risk of exposure to enemies due to the underwater transportation.
[If that's what I need to do, can I?]
"Yes. Let me know when you're ready, and you can start helping from then."
[Okay! I'm hungry. I'm going to eat!]
Splash!
Vailam dove into the sea, splashing seawater over the blacksmiths. They seemed pleased despite being drenched.
"Vailam has never broken a promise. So, young patriarch..."
"The Association is the same."
"Judging from what Vailam said, it seems like the young patriarch wants to produce a fleet."
"That's correct."
"If you provide us with the design blueprint, we will send the necessary parts in the exact shape you need. We will send them for simple processing on-site."
The Association was not only skilled in swords but also unmatched in metalworking in any field.
The Vamel alliance had acquired the key materials and exclusive blacksmiths for fleet production, while the Association had rescued their friends and regained access to the infinite marine steel. The group took a moment to celebrate with a bottle of alcohol, toasting to their success. Everyone had a lot of work ahead of them.
"We'll take our leave now. From now on, Lord Picon will reside here."
[Of course. When you leave, please make sure to send my hammer and supplies. Sword of Hedo and 7th flagbearer is almost complete, so I'll let you know when it's done.]
As they prepared to board the Mort, Vailam leaped through the water, bidding them farewell.
Along with a warm heart, the faces of those who had not yet returned came to mind.
'Now, I must go find my elder sister Luntia and Ms. Luet.'
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