115. Diamond Mine(2)

Even though the original work said Evangeline received divine revelation and taught the perfect method for cutting diamonds, who actually did the cutting according to those instructions?

Though the name wasn’t mentioned, it must have been Boyer, the most skilled blacksmith in the North.

“My lady, about the stone you gave me.”

“Have you finished cutting it?”

“Not yet, but please listen. No matter how I strike it…… it won’t cut!”

Despite expressing his difficulty, Boyer’s face looked full of joy. He was a born blacksmith, excited to encounter a new mineral.

“Ah. That’s because diamond is said to be the hardest substance in the world.”

“Pardon?”

“The quartz…… ah, never mind. The mineral I entrusted to you is actually not quartz but an ore called diamond, and diamond can only be cut by another diamond.”

“You’ve already named it? Hmm, diamond. Somehow it’s a good name that rolls off the tongue. Even though I’m hearing it for the first time.”

That’s because it’s already its original name.

Ah, come to think of it, I think I heard that it splits well if you align the grain correctly. Would telling him this help a bit?

After I told him everything I knew, the expert seemed to get the idea and disappeared, saying he would try it.

And a little while later, I heard unexpected news from Darius.

“Boyer asked to borrow your sword?”

“Yes. He said he wanted to test something for the diamond you named.”

Surely he doesn’t think that the hereditary sword of the Grand Duke’s family can cut diamonds? I told him diamonds can only be cut with other diamonds!

“And you gave it to him?”

“Yes. If it’s the diligent Boyer, he must have his reasons. And anyway, he said he’s already finished with what he needed to borrow it for.”

Darius mentioned that Boyer was scheduled to visit the castle today and suggested I join him in meeting Boyer.

* * *

“My lady, as you instructed, I’ve cut the diamond.”

When Boyer opened the box containing the diamond, light filled the room. Just as the novel had described.

“This amazing brilliance and transparency. It’s exactly what I expected. Indeed, a beautiful diamond was trapped inside that ‘quartz.’ Well done, Boyer.”

“My lady……”

Boyer, who must have spent days agonizing over a mineral he was handling for the first time, looked proud at my smile.

Nicola Graus, who had been criticizing me for wasting money on useless things, gaped at this amazing transformation.

Nicola Graus cleaned his glasses and looked into the box again. The brilliant light emitted by the diamond was so dazzling it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

“Is this really that quartz from before?”

“What do you think, Nicola? Do you still think I was talking nonsense and throwing money into the air?”

“My lady, where will you invest next? Should I raise more funds? What percentage of return do you expect from this?”

The money ghost immediately recognized the value of the cut diamond. This gem, which had shed its dull rough exterior to shine brightly, would soon set a new trend in high society. And that would all translate into money.

Nicola now looked ready to approve anything I proposed without question, even if I said I was going to make soybean paste with red beans.

‘Soybean paste? I’ve never heard of such food. But since it’s Lady Anette’s project, it will surely succeed. Just like last time.’

That’s what he seemed to be thinking.

But I was happier than anyone.

‘Diamonds! They’re diamonds! Enough diamonds to wear on both hands and still have some left over!’

Yes.

The truth is, I was the one most anxious about whether those stones were really diamonds!

‘Aaack! If this had failed, I would have been crying and searching for the missing female lead! Saying, ‘Evangeline, someone as incompetent as me can’t even follow in the footsteps of a saintess female lead like you!”

I’m relieved. Even without Evangeline, the story is progressing according to the original work.

I’m relieved. I can continue to stay by Darius’s side.

Boyer had accomplished one more thing.

“Your Grace, here is the sword you entrusted to me. Please draw it.”

At his words, Darius pulled the sword from its scabbard, and the blade brilliantly reflected the sunlight streaming through the window.

“This is……”

“My lady, remember when you once told me that the fire spirit protects my forge?”

Everyone in the room had their attention captured by Darius’s sword. Even to the eyes of someone ignorant about swords, it was clearly a masterpiece with an unapproachable beauty.

“Diamond surface treatment?”

I muttered inadvertently in surprise.

“As expected, you recognize it, my lady.”

Boyer nodded without surprise.

‘Wait, I never mentioned this as something Anette’s mother told me? I didn’t expect this either!’

“While cutting away generously to make the diamond sparkle more, I suddenly had a thought, as if the fire spirit guarding my forge whispered to me. If this is the hardest substance in the world, one that can only be broken by itself, it would also help in tempering a sword.”

The result was that sword in Darius’s hand.

“I added the mithril we recently acquired to the sword Your Grace has been using, and then applied the diamond technique to it.”

Boyer added confidently.

“Despite adding everything, the weight became lighter than the original sword. That’s thanks to mithril, called the silver of the gods.”

When Darius drew the sword in a straight line from top to bottom, a heavy sound was heard.

Since the sword had become lighter, it wasn’t a sound caused by weight.

“It channels power better than before.”

Darius gave an assessment that would be more satisfying than any praise for the sword.

“You’ve truly done well, Boyer.”

‘Ah.’

Something I had momentarily forgotten came to mind as I watched the scene.

‘The sword for defeating the demon king.’

The first day I attended a meeting with Darius at Castle Inkheart.

The thought I had upon hearing about the backward level of northern blacksmithing.

‘At this rate, when will they ever forge the orichalcum needed for the final battle?’

Not only orichalcum, even the level of ordinary iron forging lagged behind the capital’s blacksmiths…… or so I thought just the other day.

Now they could not only work with mithril but also process diamonds.

“I stake my name on this. This sword is my greatest masterpiece.”

“Indeed, unless it’s made of the mythical orichalcum, no other sword could compare to this one.”

“Haha, just as I confidently declare I’ve created the ultimate sword, Your Grace gives me a new goal! Orichalcum…… I think that will be the final challenge I must overcome.”

The owner of the ‘Final Forge’ who would refine Darius’s sword before the demon king subjugation.

Though not specifically named in the original work, he was described as the most skilled blacksmith in the North, so it must undoubtedly be Boyer.

Moreover, in the original work, he used all his techniques to maintain Darius’s sword each time.

He also boasted to Darius that he would master the technique of handling the legendary orichalcum, asking him to visit before battle.

Because of this, Darius specifically stopped by Boyer’s forge before facing the demon king.

‘The Final Forge.’

A nickname given because it was the last forge Darius visited before subjugating the demon king.

Since it appeared in the original work, Boyer will succeed in handling orichalcum. However, it also meant that the glorious orichalcum sword would be wielded when it was time to defeat the demon king.

‘Boyer is already on the verge of handling orichalcum. Yet we haven’t even begun to mention the demon king subjugation.’

How far has the original work progressed?

Weren’t items in novels or games supposed to be given when needed for plot progression?

Of course, being well-prepared in advance is always good, but something felt unsettling.

I glanced over Darius’s sword with its flowing blade light.

The light of the sword, forged with the craftsman’s utmost skill, sparkled as cold as ice.

That sword in Darius’s hand was both beautiful and frightening.

“Anette.”

Darius, who had been examining it with a bright face, put the sword back in its scabbard and called me.

“Eek!”

He grabbed my waist, lifted me up, and spun me around several times while holding me in his arms with an excited face. My vision whirled.

“When I heard it was your mother’s dowry, I really wanted to return it to you.”

Why, why is he like this? It’s not even really my mother’s dowry anyway.

“No matter how much it cost, no matter if others saw it as trash, I didn’t care. As long as I could see Anette’s happy face.”

Boyer, who hadn’t left yet, saw us and playfully pretended to cover his eyes, saying “Oh my!” That mischievous old man!

“This time I really wanted to give a gift just for Anette.”

“Yes, yes. You already bought it for me. Thank you for listening to me, okay? So please put me down now.”

Darius lowered me and pressed his forehead against mine. Could a swordsman be that happy about obtaining a fine sword? His face was filled with joy that wouldn’t easily subside.

“But this time too, it turns out Anette ended up giving me a gift.”

No, should I say it was a more complex emotion than joy? He seemed happy, but also somewhat upset at the same time.

“Next time, for sure. I’ll return all the joy I’ve received from you combined.”

Your face alone is enough.

I almost said that without realizing it.

The joy of a swordsman who obtained a good sword, gratitude toward me for providing it, and a firm determination to repay me next time. He expressed all those emotions so honestly that I found him utterly lovable and let go of all my worries.

Whether it’s a diamond-polished sword or an orichalcum sword, what does it matter? His sun-like bright smile shines the brightest and stirs strong waves in my heart.