Chapter 416 – Fragments of Stars

As expected… the banquet turned out to be quite lavish and lively.

In addition to dishes with yogurt sauce, various elaborate items were served – things like minced meat and cheese stuffed in pastry, eggplant stuffed with meat, along with fresh fruits.

“Mmm… This is delicious,” Grace remarked.

Grace seemed to be studying the seasoning and preparation methods as she tasted each dish served. Perhaps her cooking repertoire would expand after returning home.

“Finding it useful as reference?”

“Yes. This time we’ve brought back ingredients from Halvaronis as well, so there’s plenty to research. Lady Marie has also been experimenting with various things for me.”

Grace appeared to be in high spirits.

“Well… I suppose. Making sauces has some similarities to potion-making, so experimenting with different proportions can be quite enjoyable.”

When Rosemary was brought into the conversation, she gave a small nod before taking out her feather fan and turning her face toward the dancers as if averting her gaze. Seeing this, Marlene also smiled cheerfully.

“I can cook to some extent as well, since I used to prepare meals for soldiers at our positions. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions,” said Princess Elham.

“Thank you, Your Highness Elham.”

“Baharzard cuisine… might become popular in Termwills.”

“Hmm. Perhaps I should spread Silvatoria’s cooking in Verdgar too…”

“In that case, I shall assist.”

“That’s right. Since there wasn’t much to do living in the Tower, I became quite particular about cooking.”

In response to Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana’s words, Old Sigmund and Valentina replied.

“That sounds wonderful… Being able to enjoy various cuisines in Verdgar.”

Auria closed her eyes and nodded.

…Indeed. From my perspective as well, I have various expectations for the future, including research and development using the ingredients we brought back.

As for Forset and the others – this was probably their first time eating cuisine from outside Halvaronis, but they seemed to be enjoying it.

“Delicious!” came Marceska’s honest reaction.

“It is, isn’t it, Lord Forset?”

“Yes, indeed. This is my first time trying cuisine from the outside world too…”

And as for Sigritta… the fact that she was silently bringing food to her mouth suggested she shared the same opinion as Sion and the others.

Somehow, she seemed focused on eating together with Sheila. Both of them were getting seconds at the same time. They were two people who somehow shared similar energy levels.

Although Sion and the others could function with just magical power replenishment, apparently they could also consume food orally like this.

The cheerful music being played. The applause for the dancers who appeared to be enjoying themselves… While the banquet when we came to Mernpios had a strong element of boosting morale before deployment, this time you could sense an atmosphere where everyone had let their guard down and was simply enjoying themselves.

“――Was it really that spectacular?”

“Indeed, it was magnificent. The intersecting gleams of magical power in the air, the fireballs illuminating the dim darkness with pale light…!”

“His Majesty’s flash was also splendid. Just like this, as he passed by that scoundrel Kahar who tried to ambush him.”

The military officers who had participated in Kahar’s subjugation were explaining the battle at the castle fortress with gestures and movements. They seemed to be enjoying the banquet with this as drinking conversation.

“Hmm. With Kahar and his followers captured in one fell swoop, the country should stabilize. We’ll be able to address matters that had been postponed until now.”

“My, my. That’s wonderful news.”

“Indeed, absolutely.”

The civil officials also had pleased expressions. With the remnants who had become bandits captured, security costs along the highways could be reduced, and with Kahar – the most hated enemy for Duobelis’s followers – gone, we could expect stabilization effects on public order from that aspect as well. Since those who had been headaches in their work had been dealt with, well, it’s only natural they’d be in high spirits.

“Well, if I were to implement misrule, it would give the cult power again. I must tighten my discipline going forward.”

Overhearing such exchanges among the civil officials, King Farid smiled while sipping from his wine cup. King Farid also appeared quite relaxed. He was nestled close to Queen Sheriti, enjoying the food and music while at ease.

“Ah, that’s right. I meant to talk about this when you returned, but I had forgotten.”

King Farid looked up as if noticing something and turned his gaze toward me.

“What is it?”

“Well. I too thought I should give Theodore some token of gratitude, but even after looking through the treasure room, there were few items that seemed like they would please you all… or rather, few things that seemed useful.”

…Rewards, I suppose. Due to wasteful spending by previous generations and its compensation, Baharzard’s financial situation doesn’t seem good, but for the royal family’s dignity, they probably can’t give nothing either.

“Well, even with limited options, I did find some reasonable items after rummaging through the treasure room. A fragment of a star… no, it’s a lump of metal, but it’s quite a difficult piece. According to records, not only could it not be melted in ordinary furnaces, but even mithril tools were completely ineffective against it. Frankly, it would just sit unused with us… but I thought perhaps you all might be able to do something with it. What do you think?”

“That… sounds interesting.”

“Right? There isn’t much of it, but I thought if it could be processed, it might be useful.”

King Farid grinned. That certainly… seemed more valuable than gold, silver, treasures, or ordinary weapons and armor.

“Here it is.”

After the banquet ended, I was shown the said metal lump stored in the treasure room.

At first glance, it looked like copper or brass… or perhaps gold in color… but the reason it appeared to shine gold was probably because the metal itself was faintly enveloped in light. The metal itself was white… no, perhaps with a slight reddish tint.

Light with a wavering quality rose from the metal lump like an aura. Even without looking through a monocle, I could tell it contained powerful magical energy.

“It looks like steam is rising from it… but it doesn’t have any heat. It’s cool to the touch,” said Irmhild.

No heat source reaction.

“…Orichalcum,” Claudia said quietly, closing her eyes.

Orichalcum… This is my first time seeing the real thing. In BFO, there was an announcement from the developers that this material would be the prize for the next event… but in the end, I never got to see it. I was actually looking forward to it quite a bit. I never thought I’d see it here and now.

“Orichalcum――. So this is it?”

Being a legendary metal… its name value is the same in this world too. King Farid widened his eyes in surprise.

“It’s also called living metal, you know. It’s not just about durability. The metal is said to understand the user’s intentions and comprehend its role, changing its properties accordingly. It should only be produced in minute quantities from the moon… so I wonder how it came to be on the ground?”

“Regarding this, it’s said to have been found by the tribe that became the ancestors of the Baharzard royal family. The legend remains. That a star fell from the sky, they say. When the ancestors went to look, they found it had fallen in the center of a hole it made in the wilderness.”

Then… it fell from the moon to the ground? Or perhaps from satellite orbit? If it’s true that orichalcum isn’t produced on the ground… if it came from the moon, that would match Baharzard’s legend.

“Lady Claudia, do you also know how to process it?” Ashley asked.

When questioned by Ashley, Claudia closed her eyes and shook her head slightly.

“I don’t know the details. But… I’ve heard it cannot be processed without a purpose. They say that only when the blacksmith faces the orichalcum and strikes it while convincing it, can it first be processed.”

“So the part about understanding intentions… is the same when a blacksmith processes it?”

“Probably, that’s how it works.”

“I see. That’s why past Baharzard couldn’t process it. Not only did they not know the method, but they lacked a purpose worthy of convincing it. Including Kahar and his followers, successive kings apparently had their eyes on this and tried various methods. It’s ironic that despite developing metallurgical technology, they couldn’t lay a hand on this crucial thing,” said King Farid.

The comment about lacking reason probably referred mainly to kings and dignitaries during the chaotic period. King Farid had a wry smile on his face, but he returned to a calm expression and continued.

“Of course, the same applies to current Baharzard. Now that Kahar and his followers have already been defeated, I don’t believe there’s any place in our country that needs this metal.”

“Such a precious thing――”

As I began to speak, King Farid shook his head.

“No. That’s precisely why I’m entrusting it to our country’s benefactors. Moreover, if the demons were to accomplish their goals, the flames of war would reach our country as well. While this is just my personal view, there’s no other suitable place to use this metal. If you all cannot handle it, then there’s probably no one anywhere who can. And… if returning something that was on the moon to the Moon Folk, then that could be said to be the proper way.”

“…Understood. I’ll make sure to use it carefully.”

“Ah. Please do so.”

When I bowed, King Farid nodded cheerfully.

Orichalcum, huh… I’ve obtained something substantial in yet another unexpected place… Now then, how should I process it, and how should I make use of it?