~Chapter 8~
“That price is quite high.”
The Duke frowned as if he finished thinking.
Nigel quickly stepped forward.
“Father, think about it. Processing one Nightshade costs 40 million mileon. Plus, billions were spent discovering and researching it. Considering future labor, processing, and production costs, it’s not even profitable for us.”
What nonsense he speaks so nicely.
‘Why is a merchant born under a lucky star so stupid?’
And why would a human Duke side with a merchant?
‘Well, if it were a real Nightshade, it’d be impressive…’
But to me, it’s just a common stone.
I even know where many are found now. I could tell if I wanted.
‘I’ll use that for a trade later.’
Even for human nobles, 50 million mileon is a lot of money.
“Haha, that’s fine. Sir Nigel, that’s a reasonable thought. If you buy ten, we can give one free as a special offer to the Duke.”
What a joke.
I barely stopped my jaw from dropping by pushing it up with my fist.
10+1? If this were genuine, you’d never say that.
How exhausting it is to make just one.
‘Shouldn’t someone have noticed something strange by now?’
But the old man kept his lips sealed with an unreadable expression.
He looked bored staring quietly at the sword, clearly uninterested.
Though quite old, his body was muscular and face still quite handsome.
But his eyes showed no life.
‘I wonder if my father is like that.’
I barely remember my original self; a vague memory at best.
His face looked ink-black.
“Then let’s buy about 20 for now and see how it goes.”
Gasps came from around.
Maybe I should help.
“But father, we already promised the merchant to buy 100…”
Wow, some sucker agreed to buy 100 stones for a huge sum.
“We need to check quality first. If it’s fine, we can buy more. Right?”
The leader acts like a leader.
Still, whether it’s 20 or 100, it’s the same sucker.
“Understood. Do you need Nightshade technicians? Processing is hard, so we can send experts to teach. Of course, it costs money…”
Why process more Nightshade? This guy’s crazy.
‘Act as childish as possible.’
I don’t want to be seen as weird or a witch.
The Inquisition might still be around.
This empire and family are said to be closest to the gods.
“Wow! Is this Nightshade?!”
Watching the conman whisper nonstop, almost hypnotizing the crowd, I quickly said with wide eyes.
It wasn’t loud, but quiet in the dining hall meant everyone heard.
All eyes turned to me.
“This isn’t your place. Stop right now…”
Nigel shouted.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a real one! I read about it in a book!”
The pronunciation was off, but hopefully understood.
“The real one contains a river of stars inside!”
Real Nightshade holds a galaxy inside the ore.
Like the night sky itself captured.
“Yes, you know well. Look carefully, it’s inside.”
The conman glanced at me and replied with a reluctant face.
True, the ore did sparkle inside, but how could that be a “river of stars,” or a galaxy?
‘If it was just star dust, maybe.’
I sighed.
I leaned close to the sword the old man held.
Nightshade shines even after processing, but there was no galaxy inside.
Now I was certain.
This was just Dark Night Ore.
That means proof is easy: it has a fatal weakness.
“But in the book, there were lots of stars! Here, just a little.”
My gloomy words met the Duke’s cold, bored gaze resting on my head.
“Child, do you want to say this is fake?”
The Duke caught my true meaning perfectly.
“No, I don’t.”
I shook my head for now.
“But it’s different from what I saw in the book! Much different!”
I kept frowning and tapping my feet anxiously.
“Fake? Father, do you really believe a mute idiot’s words?!”
Nigel hurriedly spoke to the Duke, then turned sharply to me.
“Don’t say nonsense! This ore is something we never had before. It only existed in legends.”
No, it’s been around over a thousand years.
“I’ve never seen ore this hard in my life.”
Nope, I know three more like it.
“You’re too young to argue.”
Nope, I’m a thousand years older than you.
“It’s real.”
Nope, it’s fake.
“I see… so this is real…”
I wiggled my fingers, feeling stuck.
They were too stubborn.
‘They say a stupid person with strong belief is scary.’
“Grandfather.”
I decided to change my talk partner: the most powerful human here.
“…What?”
Again.
His eyes grew sharper and blood vessels bulged.
I ignored it.
“Will you make a sword from this?”
“Yes. It’s hard enough to be useful. A normal soldier broke a steel sword after ten hits. The Duke’s sword will be stronger.”
The old man’s confident face made me think slowly.
Only one way then.
“Ah, I see. This is hard.”
I reached out and carefully pretended to touch the sword.
“Now that your curiosity is satisfied, quietly eat.”
“Yes…”
“Father, please kick that idiot out! He’s ruining the deal!”
No, you’re ruining it.
I’m helping you.
The sword is to harm or kill people, but this can’t kill.
“Sniff, the sword is bad…”
“Who’s bad, uncle…!”
I sharply turned.
I pretended to drop the sword with disappointment but secretly pressed my finger a little.
“Ow, that hurts!”
I barely held back a scream and secretly put saliva on my finger, then dabbed under my eye.
“Wah… waah!! Waaah!!”
I collapsed on the floor, rubbing my eyes and pretending to cry.
The old man dropped the sword in shock.
“Such a young one, yet stubborn! Who touches a sword carelessly?”
“Waaah! I didn’t mean to…”
I sobbed, shoulders shaking.
“Sob, sob! Waaah!!”
“But that crying sounds…”
A voice came from somewhere, and I trembled.
“Hic, ugh…”
I gave my best acting, shaking my hips to creep closer to the sword.
The Duke frowned.
Then, smoke rose from the sword near me.
His eyes grew wide in surprise.
To my shock, the sword part soaked with my blood quickly corroded and broke.
“Duke! This is…!”
“I’m watching too.”
Everyone’s eyes fixed on the sword, and I looked up.
The Duke’s face was terrifying.
Dark Night Ore was originally a decorative ore made by demons for gifts and sales, not for weapons.
It’s hard, but if blood touches it, it crumbles.
“Ah! It broke! The book said fakes do that! I’m the only one selling fakes!”
I acted the part well.
“That man is a con artist!”
I opened my eyes wide and pointed at the merchant with a finger.
