After I finished listening to the voice of [Full Assist], I looked around again.
The countdown on the monitor in front of me displayed "85:04."
Iris, Lily, Leticia, Surara, Tidal ── everyone had a look of uncertainty on their faces.
What should we do with the time we have left? Perhaps they were at a standstill, unable to come up with an answer.
I told them.
"Even if we return to Fort Port now, we will not be able to evacuate the residents in time. We need to find a way to stop the volcano from erupting. …Tidal, you know a lot about these ruins, don't you?"
"Yes. I lived here for a while. I know most of these ruins."
"Then tell me. Are there any items left in these ruins for the [Transmigrator]?
"Hmm."
Tidal kept his eyes down for a while and thought for a while before answering.
"There is a treasure room in the deepest part of the ruins that only [Transmigrator] can enter. Perhaps we should try to go there."
"I understand. Please lead the way."
"Yes. Then follow me."
Tidal led us out of the room.
We went down a nearby staircase to the back of the ruins and found a small door at the end of the passage.
In the center of the door was a handle.
"This is the treasure room. There seems to be a special barrier inside, so even my [Thousand-Mile Sleep] cannot see what's inside. But, according to the records of the ruins, the door opens in response to the [Transmigrator]."
"…I can feel the presence of the sacred beyond the door, though it is faint."
Lily said quietly, right next to me.
"Perhaps there is a third sacred treasure here."
The sacred treasure is the weapon that contains the power of Warden, the God of War.
The first two are in my possession.
I wonder if the last one… the unmarked holy spear, is lying on the other side of the door.
Let's go inside for now.
As I touched the door handle with both hands, I heard [Full Assist]'s voice.
Kou Kousaka is in possession of a [Transmigrator].
Since you meet the requirements, the treasure room will be unlocked.
A clanging sound echoed, and the door automatically opened to the back.
Beyond it was a small room.
In the center of the room was a horizontal pedestal on which a battered spear rested.
The spear was covered in rust and broken into three pieces.
"Is this the unmarked holy spear?"
"…Yes."
The expression on Lily's face was one of astonishment as she nodded her head in agreement.
"But I never thought it would look like this…"
"Lily-chan, maybe it's too soon to give up."
Iris said and looked at the unmarked holy spear.
"Hey, Kou. That Gram you're using was also broken when you first found it, wasn't it?"
"…Yeah."
I close my eyes and think back to that time.
In the beginning, Gram, which was stored in the underground city of Aunen, was split in two in the middle, and the blade and handle were rusted. However, by restoring it with [Creation], it regained its original form.
The same thing may be possible this time.
"Let's try using [Creation]."
I muttered, and Iris nodded.
"Yes. I think it's worth a try."
"Alright."
I stepped forward and touched the shattered spear with my right hand.
Then ── a recipe popped into my mind.
Shattered Spear (top) + Shattered Spear (middle) + Shattered Spear (bottom) + Dragon God's Shield → Holy Dragon Spear Fimbul
Hmm?
It seems that the Dragon God's shield is also used as a material.
What is produced by this recipe is not a restored unmarked holy spear but a completely different weapon.
What in the world is going on?
In response to my question, [Full Assist] added more information.
It seems that the unmarked holy spear has little of the power of the God of War left in it, and it is impossible to repair it as it is.
Therefore, it seems that [Creation] will fuse the Dragon God's shield and rebuild it as a new sacred treasure with the power of the Dragon God in it. The effect is that it would contain the power of ice.
If that's the case, then it would be useful to stop the volcano.
I would like to create it with [Creation] right away, but the material is a problem here.
The Dragon God's Shield is a treasure of the Dragon-folk, and the Holy Spear is a sacred treasure of the God of War religion.
Neither of them is something I can use as material on my own judgment.
"Iris, Lily, can I have a word? Actually…"
I briefly explained the recipe to them and asked if I could use the shield and the holy spear as materials.
Their reply was as follows.
"I don't mind. It is to save many people. I am sure the Dragon God will agree with me."
"I am of the same opinion. If you think it is necessary, please use it as a material for [Creation]."
"…I understand. I'll use it then."
I answered that and immediately started using [Creation].
I received the Dragon God's shield from Iris and placed it near the shattered Holy Spear.
I held up my right hand and thought of activating the skill.
"──[Creation]!"
And with a snap.
A dazzling flash of light burst forth.
"What great divinity…!"
Lily gulped.
The light passed, and then a large spear with a bluish-white tip was born.
The Holy Dragon Spear Fimbul: A sacred weapon that contains the power of the Dragon God. It has been greatly enhanced by Kou Kousaka's [Creation] and can freeze all things in the vicinity. It can only be used by those who possess the [Dragon God's Shrine Maiden].
Granted effects:"True Dragon God's Barrier EX""Dragon God's Blessing EX""Absolute Freeze EX".
…Oh.
All of the granted effects are EXs.
The shield and the holy spear, there is no doubt that they are two sacred weapons fused into one.
The"True Dragon God's Barrier EX"is a higher level compatible version of the" Dragon God's Barrier EX"found in the Dragon God's Shield and the strength of the barriers and the range of their effects have been improved overall.
The"Dragon God's Blessing EX"improves the user's physical and magical abilities. It is a simple but important effect.
And"Absolute Freeze EX", which is activated by putting magic power into the spear.
The effect is to "manipulate ice and snow at will and freeze the target," and it has a fairly wide range of uses.
It can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as freezing an enemy who had been stabbed with it, causing a blizzard to freeze the surrounding area, or completely stopping molecular motion by depriving it of heat energy… I see.
If used properly, it might even be able to stop an eruption.
I turned to Iris and told her.
"It seems that only [Dragon God's Shrine Maiden] can handle the spear. Iris, can I leave this to you?"
"…Me?"
Iris pointed to herself with her right hand and blinked repeatedly.
Her crimson eyes are wide open.
It seems that my words were very unexpected.
But after a while, she came back to her senses and nodded.
"I understand. It's a big responsibility, isn't it?"
"Yes, please."
I said and took a step backward.
Iris stepped forward and picked up the spear, Fimbul, in place of me.
The tip of the spear glowed softly.
"You think you can use it?"
"…Yes."
Iris replied, looking at the spear intently.
"I can feel something like the will of the spear. …It seems to be very motivated, and I think it will probably work."
Fimbul's tip shone strongly in response to these words.
That's pretty dependable.
As I nodded to myself, I felt a small, wobbly tremor beneath my feet.
The ceiling was crumbling down as grains of sand.
"This is disturbing…"
"I have a bad feeling about this…"
Leticia muttered as she brushed the grains of sand from her hair and clothes.
"I'm wondering how much time we have left, so why don't we go back upstairs for a while?"
"Yes, let's do that."
I nodded and left the treasury with everyone in tow. We walked up the stairs and returned to the monitor room.
The countdown on the screen was "42:15."
From the time we left this room to the time we returned, only about 10 minutes had actually elapsed. And yet the remaining time had dropped to less than half, probably because the situation was growing more unstable.
"We'll test the power of the spear first and see if it works. Is that all right?"
"Of course. Let's do everything we can."
Iris gripped the spear tightly.
"Hey, hey, Master-san."
I looked down at my feet and saw Surara there.
Looking straight up at me, he said in a quiet voice.
"Can I stay here? …I might be able to buy you more time if I adjust the control device. It would help you too, Master-san."
"…But, it's dangerous."
If an eruption were to occur, there is no telling what would happen to the ruins. Instead of collapsing due to earthquakes, magma could come pouring in.
"I'll be fine! Yes, I'm absolutely sure."
But Surara said in a strong tone of voice.
"I believe Master-san will stop the volcano."
"I'll stay, too."
It was Tidal who said this.
"I can hardly use my power as a calamity right now. Even if I go with you to the volcano, I will only be able to leave more of the old man's stuff behind. I'd rather be here adjusting the controls than there. …If push comes to shove, I'll take Surara-chan with me and run away. Don't worry about that."
"…I understand."
I thought about it for a moment and nodded.
"Surara, Tidal. I'll leave the control devices to you. But if you feel it's dangerous, you must evacuate the ruins immediately."
"Yay! Thank you, Master-san!"
"Umu! I think I have a good grasp of when it's time to retreat. Don't worry about us. Kakakaka!"
Tidal stretched out his chest dependably and laughed in a jovial voice.
Then he tightens his expression and turns to me.
"As I said before, Fort Port is my hometown. …My friends and family have long since passed away, but their grandchildren are alive and well. Watching them grow up is one of the few things I look forward to."
Tidal's face was full of the gentle kindness that is typical of an old man as he said this.
He did not look like a world-destroying calamity.
"Please protect the city of Fort Port and the people who live there. I beg you."
And Tidal bowed deeply, profoundly.
I nodded and said in a clear tone.
"Leave it to me. I will stop the eruption."