BXBX NOVEL Chapter 302: Dwarf Cave Mantamia (4)
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Chapter 302: Dwarf Cave Mantamia (4)
Raphael, the Demon of Gems.
And gems were a symbol of perfection and beauty.
Because of this, Raphael also obsessed over beauty.
He desired to be perfect, and he was convinced beyond doubt that he was more beautiful than anyone in the world.
But now, that conviction was shaken.
A body with not an ounce of excess, perfectly and efficiently trained.
‘Perfect.’
And beautiful.
Perhaps even more so than himself.
Unconsciously, Raphael thought this, but he quickly regained his composure.
“No! No!”
Raphael shook his head urgently.
To admit that someone else’s beauty could surpass his own?
Absolutely not!
He must be, he must be more beautiful than anything he could think of!
“Aaaaaaah!”
Raphael clutched his head in agony.
Ketal glanced at him, perplexed.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s probably reacting to your physique.”
“My body? Hmm?”
“He’s practically the embodiment of narcissism. Your physique looks more perfect than his, so he’s reacting like that.”
Even to Ignisia’s eyes, Ketal’s physique was flawless.
Not a single flaw could be found.
The shock Raphael felt must have been tremendous.
Ketal’s face took on a peculiar expression.
“What a peculiar fellow.”
“An annoying one. He kept talking to me until I nearly died of irritation.”
“…You.”
Suddenly, Raphael stopped his frenzy.
A look of obsession appeared in his previously calm eyes.
“You are my enemy. And for intensely personal reasons, I will kill you without fail.”
Crack!
Minerals embedded in the wall shot out like arrows.
Ketal barely dodged at a speed far faster than sound by throwing his body to the side.
Raphael raised his hand violently.
A massive mineral embedded in the mine rumbled and rose, tracing a path to crush Ketal.
Ketal raised his axe.
He swung it earnestly to shatter the mineral.
The axe and the mineral collided.
Clang!
“Oh?”
Ketal’s expression shifted.
The mineral that clashed with his axe cracked but didn’t shatter.
It meant that it was sturdy enough to withstand his true strength.
And it was heavy.
Ketal’s body started to skid backward.
Gritting his teeth, Ketal twisted his axe.
Crack!
He redirected the force and let it pass.
The mineral flew behind Ketal and crashed into the ground.
As the field of vision cleared, the first thing he saw was Raphael flying toward him, wielding a jagged sword.
Clang!
The axe and sword clashed.
Ketal took a step back.
“Hmm.”
A look of admiration appeared on Ketal’s face.
Strong.
Strong enough to push him back.
This could be a good match, even against the rat.
‘And durable.’
The jagged sword remained unscathed even after clashing with Ketal’s axe.
‘Now I understand why Ignisia struggled.’
Raphael possessed the strength and the ability to freely manipulate the tough minerals that even Ketal struggled to break.
He was indeed a powerful being.
“Hahaha!”
And Raphael also realized his advantage.
Confidence surged within him instantly.
“I know you defeated Floris. But I am stronger than she is! And above all, in this place, I possess absolute power!”
This place was the largest and greatest mine in the world.
Minerals like mithril were abundant.
He was the Demon of Gems.
His power allowed him to draw out the power of any gem to its limit without any preparation.
Using the deep and heavy mysteries contained in mithril as a catalyst, he could amplify his strength, and wield adamantadium, sharper than anything else, through meticulous refining.
For him, Mantamia's mine was a place where he could draw out power beyond his limits.
“You are indeed beautiful. But not as much as I am! Still, you surpass most, so be satisfied!”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Ketal smiled.
Raphael was filled with confidence.
But inwardly, he was flustered.
Because Ketal remained unnervingly calm.
Despite being pushed back, there was no sign of crisis on his face.
‘…And what is that axe?’
Raphael wielded the world’s most precious minerals freely.
Combined with his power, it was practically an unstoppable attack.
That’s why Ignisia had to respond with offense rather than defense.
But Ketal’s axe remained intact despite repeated clashes with his powers.
Not a single nick on its edge.
This puzzled Raphael.
‘…It doesn’t seem like any mineral.’
It was strangely different, closer to something foreign.
Even as the Demon of Gems, it was something difficult to understand.
Ketal spoke without hesitation.
“You’re strong. Quite impressive, actually.”
“Thank you. Does that mean you’re conceding defeat?”
“Not at all. I acknowledge you. So, I suppose I can bring out my power.”
Vwooom.
Mystery enveloped Ketal’s body.
Raphael’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Ketal stepped forward.
The speed was on a different level than before.
Raphael, panicking, waved his hand.
Mithril rose and rushed in, the mystery within amplified it's speed and power to trace a path.
Boom!
And Ketal broke through and smashed everything in his path.
The most precious and sturdy materials in the world shattered to pieces.
Raphael was astonished by the newfound strength and speed.
“You were hiding your power!”
The axe clashed with Raphael’s sword.
Raphael’s body lurched.
His weapon would have flown out of his hand if he had been even slightly careless.
Raphael retreated in a hurry, and Ketal pursued him immediately.
Raphael was strong.
Strong enough that it would have been a good match even against the rat.
That is, the rat outside its nest.
Ketal had overcome the rat within the nest and descended into the depths of the abyss.
There was no way Raphael could be a match for him.
“Haaah!”
Raphael, who had flown backward, touched the wall.
The minerals embedded there rose with a scraping sound.
Sharpened, they soon traced a path at high speed.
They filled the space and poured down on Ketal.
Each one was made of adamantadium and mithril.
If he took them all head-on, even his mystical defense might break.
But it didn’t matter.
There was no reason to take the hits.
Ketal watched the incoming projectiles.
Mystery did more than simply strengthen his power.
It enhanced his visual perception and reflexes.
Ketal advanced forward.
Crack, crack!
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With minimal movements, he dodged and deflected.
Moving forward all the while.
Ignisia, who was watching, held her breath.
It was like walking in a storm without getting wet.
A stunning sight.
“Ahhh!”
Raphael desperately tried to bring out other means, but they were crushed as well.
Ignisia laughed in disbelief from behind.
“Wow.”
Already strong, Ketal had ascended to an even higher level by gaining his mystery.
She was no longer a match.
The fight was utterly one-sided.
Raphael’s face grew increasingly desperate.
Though he tried to maintain an elegant stance, his movements were becoming unsteady.
If things continued, Ketal would surely emerge victorious.
“Hmmm.”
But Ketal stopped his axe.
he sudden pause caught Ignisia by surprise.
“Huh? Ketal. Why did you stop? Is something wrong?”
“Perhaps. Is it alright to continue fighting? Such an intense opponent isn’t easily subdued, even by me. The mine might be ruined.”
Raphael was desperately using his powers.
As a result, the minerals in the mine were rapidly diminishing.
Many minerals had already lost their luster and were scattered lifelessly across the ground.
They needed to deal with Raphael as quickly as possible, but even Ketal found that difficult.
If Raphael focused solely on blocking and evading, he could probably withstand their attacks for days.
‘It’s not entirely impossible, but…’
Ketal narrowed his eyes.
He could bring Raphael down here and now if he unleashed a stronger power.
But the problem was that they were inside a cave.
It would all be pointless if he used his power recklessly and Mantamia collapsed.
It was a force he couldn’t fully control, so he had to be careful.
“The mine could end up completely empty. Are you okay with that?”
“…Well, uh, that would be… inconvenient.”
The Mantamia mine was a divine blessing granted to the dwarves by their god.
Minerals that could only be found here existed within, and they played a significant role in maintaining the world’s balance.
Defeating Raphael was essential, but so was protecting the mine.
“Do we really need to take him down right now? If so, I’m willing to take the risk.”
“Hmm… no, we don’t. We’ve already been delayed by over a month, so a little more won’t make a huge difference.”
“That’s perfect, then.”
Ketal said lightly.
“Let’s head back, come up with a solid plan, and return.”
“Oh, sure. Let’s do that.”
“Well then, Raphael, we’ll be back. I hope you’ll be waiting for us.”
“Ha, ha ha ha. Of course. I’ll be here anytime, waiting.”
“And until then.”
Ketal chuckled.
Raphael struggled to support his trembling body, holding onto his dignity even though no one was watching—a testament to the pride of a demon of gemstones.
* * *
When Ketal and Ignisia returned, the dwarf king, Grombir, looked surprised.
“Did… did you fail?”
“No. We can win. But there’s an issue.”
Ketal explained, and upon hearing the story, Grombir’s face fell.
“…What you say makes sense. It would be best if there’s a way to avoid it.”
The overwhelming power of their opponent left them with no other choice, but with Ketal, they could consider alternatives.
Ketal grinned brightly.
“It sounds like I’m absolutely necessary for this.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“I will help you.”
Ketal’s eyes shone.
“But I have no intention of doing charity work.”
He hadn’t come all this way just for the dwarves.
He had a clear purpose.
Grombir spoke up, as if it was only natural.
“You don’t need to worry about that part. If you help us, we will reward you with everything we have. However…”
Grombir trailed off.
He couldn’t be sure that the dwarves could grant what Ketal desired.
They couldn’t even repair the broken holy sword right now.
After a brief pause, Grombir spoke.
“Give us a day. I will consult our god.”
“That sounds good.”
Ketal smiled with satisfaction.
The dwarves led Ketal to a lodging.
Although he wanted to talk with Ignisia, she was busy tending to her wounds from the battle, so he wandered around observing the dwarves’ daily lives.
The dwarves avoided Ketal’s gaze, which gleamed with interest.
The next day, Grombir came to find him.
“Our god wishes to meet you.”
“Then let’s go at once.”
Ketal rose eagerly.
* * *
Ketal followed Grombir to an improvised temple the dwarves had constructed.
Though it was modest, it was crafted with great care, more luxurious than the huts where the dwarves resided—a building that showed their devotion to their god.
After taking his place, Grombir spoke.
“Last night, I prayed and conversed with Him. He wishes to speak directly with you.”
“Am I going to see Him in person?”
Ketal had once seen the true form of Federica.
Having had that experience, it was a reasonable question.
But Grombir looked as if he’d said something absurd.
“In person? You mean seeing His true form? That is absolutely impossible. Neither I nor the most renowned saints have ever done so.”
“I see.”
“The only one to have seen the true form of a god in this world is the Sun God’s Saintess.”
“Oh? She saw Him?”
Ketal’s eyes gleamed with interest.
Grombir nodded.
“She was born with a divine revelation, chosen from birth as the Sun God’s Saintess, closer to a true divine representative than anyone else.”
Reverence filled Grombir’s eyes as he spoke.
Even a dwarf, who usually held disdain for humans, could not help but show such respect for the Sun God’s Saintess.
Ketal’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.
‘She was indeed strong, but I didn’t realize she had such a background.’
A hint of regret came over him, wishing he’d conversed with her more.
Grombir continued speaking.
“He will speak through me, using my body.”
“An avatar. Understood.”
Ketal smiled broadly as he waited.
Grombir looked at him with a peculiar expression.
Meeting a god was something all mortal beings found daunting, no matter how strong they were.
Yet, Ketal seemed genuinely pleased, and Grombir couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of disconnect at the sight.
“…Very well. Let’s begin.”
Grombir took a breath and spoke aloud.
“Come forth, Forger of All, who shapes mountains and caresses the sea to mold waterfalls.”
The god the dwarves worshipped was a god of smithing—not simply a forger of weapons and armor but a being who molded the world itself.
“Touch the concepts of creation to birth that which is harder, sharper, and greater.”
The air quivered, and the world itself began to shift.
The dwarves outside trembled, bowing low in reverence.
Through Grombir’s body, something far greater manifested in the mortal realm.
Grombir cried out.
“O god of the dwarves! The One we worship, Hephaestus! Come to us!”
Thuuuuud!
A great presence descended onto the earth, shaking the world.
Raphael, who was resting with tea in the mine, flinched, spilling his tea in surprise.
[Uh… Wh-what the…?]
The holy sword let out a strange noise.
The trembling winds stilled as Grombir opened his eyes.
But it was no longer Grombir who stood there.
A great being had taken his place.
[It’s a pleasure to meet you, one from ‘the other side.’]
A god had shown himself on earth.
[I am Hephaestus, the Smithing God. First, let me extend my respects to you.]
Hephaestus spoke with courteous grace.
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