Cyan's gaze fixed deeper into the cave.
A faint blue glow of mana seeped out from a pitch-black mass.
The direction he was looking at—
…was adamantite.
"So this is it… the reason I came here."
"…Though I ended up gaining far more than I expected."
A faint smirk curled on Cyan's lips.
Stepping closer, he placed his hand against the black ore.
Instantly, the molecular structure of adamantite unfolded within his mind.
"…Success."
"I finally obtained one of the finest materials in this world."
"…Now that I think about it, this life as a noble is even harsher than my past life as a commoner."
Cyan's thoughts drifted.
"Back then… I saved a dwarf from a group of greedy ogres, and he gifted me an adamantite sword."
"…Talk about protagonist luck."
A hint of envy flickered across his face—toward the character he once played.
"…Still, none of this was in vain."
Without hesitation, Cyan began forming a single adamantite atom at the tip of his finger.
With his mana fully restored, the process went smoothly.
"…Done."
"A microscopic adamantite emitter… right at my fingertip."
He focused, observing its properties.
"Damage output ×2.9… mana consumption reduced by ×1.3…"
"…Not only does it enhance my power, it also improves my defense—by transferring electrical flow from orichalcum to adamantite."
"I can't hold back… I need to test this."
In an instant, a mid-tier lightning spell burst forth.
A streak of blue light tore through a massive boulder ahead, shattering it completely.
"…What?"
"Why is it blue?"
"…That color… it's the same as the Saint-grade lightning earlier."
"So even my lightning attribute has changed…"
"…That's way too conspicuous. I'd better avoid using it in public."
Cyan turned back toward the adamantite.
"…Leaving this here would be a waste."
"I should mine it."
Grabbing the pickaxe, he quickly extracted the ore before making his way out of the cave.
"…The anomalies around the cave are gone."
He then dispelled the atomic modification on his feet, returning them to normal.
A surge of energy flowed back into his body.
"…Finally out of that frog-like state."
"…But this is new. The mana I used for atomic manipulation… it actually returned to me."
"The mana I used on lightning atoms earlier completely dissipated."
"…Maybe because it was part of my own body, I could reclaim it…"
"…Or perhaps it's an effect of my talent."
"…Still, I haven't felt any side effects yet—but that doesn't mean I'm safe."
"…Though I don't have the strength to deal with it right now anyway."
"…Dawn is coming. I should hurry."
With that, Cyan headed straight for the forge.
As he stepped inside, a short, muscular figure immediately turned toward him.
It was Baron.
The old blacksmith froze in shock.
"Young Master… what are you doing here at this hour?"
"I came to ask you to forge something."
As he spoke, Cyan held up the black ore radiating mana.
"…What?! That's—adamantite?!"
"Why would I lie about something like that? I want you to make me a sword."
"My lord, I wouldn't dare question you—but… why a sword?"
"Just do it. You don't need to know everything."
…Baron's confusion was understandable.
Before dawn, a young mage noble showing up with a rare ore—asking for a sword instead of a staff.
Still—
Adamantite isn't ideal for a staff core anyway. Monster cores are far superior.
It's usable—but I won't settle for something mediocre.
On the other hand… an adamantite sword is top-tier.
And it'll give me more versatility in combat.
As for a staff… I'll find a proper mana core later—and a body from an ancient tree.
The ancient tree in Taylor Village… that's my target.
As for a powerful lightning core… I'll deal with that later.
"Very well!" Baron said with renewed enthusiasm. "I'll forge you a top-grade sword!"
"But this ore is too much for just one weapon. Would you like anything else?"
"Make me a pair of gauntlets. If you have any ore with stealth properties, engrave it into them."
"Understood, Young Master!"
With that settled, Cyan left the forge and quickly returned to the manor.
"…I'm exhausted. I need some sleep."
Less than ten minutes later—
The door creaked open.
A maid stepped in softly.
"Young Master Cyan, wake up. It's morning."
"…Aaahh… already morning…?"
Cyan slowly sat up, completely drained—dark circles under his eyes like a panda.
"Did you have a nightmare? You don't look well at all," Sitri asked.
"I just didn't sleep well."
…No kidding.
I'll eat breakfast… then go back to 'pretending' to sleep like usual.
Though this time… I'll actually be sleeping.
With that thought, Cyan finished washing up and eating—
Before returning to the most "important" task of his day:
Pretending to sleep.