Chapter 217: Bronze Dragon

Vernel continued his explanation.

"It operates by inserting the entire cartridge into the weapon. Two cartridges can be loaded into the twin barrels, and when fired simultaneously, it unleashes a total of sixty mana rounds at once. It's a weapon designed entirely around overwhelming firepower."

Ferda tried to pick it up.

At first glance, its short length made it seem simple, but it was three or four times heavier than a rifle. His physical strength wasn't enough to lift it.

"It's surprisingly heavy."

"Our tests showed that the recoil is enormous, so durability is critical."

"How is it any different from a Mana Bomb?"

"It produces nearly three times the recoil of a standard rifle. At close range, it delivers tremendous impact."

Hearing that, Ferda immediately understood its intended purpose.

"It would be difficult for Tactical Infantry to use. Something this heavy would require heavily armored knights."

"Exactly."

Instead of carrying a shield and sword, they would charge in with a shield and a shotgun.

It wasn't a bad image.

If knights didn't merely serve as walking walls but became integrated into infantry tactics, their effectiveness would stand out dramatically.

"What do you think?"

Ferda asked Alberdo.

As expected of someone who loved overwhelming firepower, Alberdo picked up the weapon without the slightest hesitation.

After briefly examining it, he immediately aimed at the target and pulled the trigger.

BOOM!

A deafening roar and an immense shockwave.

Even merely standing beside him, it felt as though the impact had punched him square in the chest.

The recoil was so violent that even powerful knights would struggle to control it.

Alberdo didn't put the shotgun down.

He seemed to think about something for a moment before reaching inside his armor.

With several metallic clicks, his shoulder pauldron—its surface appearing almost melted—fell onto the ground.

THUD!

THUD!

The reason he removed it was to reduce weight.

The discarded pauldron alone was heavy enough to shake the ground, and beneath it, even his inner armor was the kind used by heavy cavalry.

Yet anyone watching him could tell.

This man had just become lighter and more agile than ever.

With his newfound agility, he swiftly grabbed fresh ammunition from the table.

He released the barrel latch and inserted two magazines into the rear of the barrels.

Reloading the shotgun in an instant, he immediately aimed at the target again.

BOOM! BOOM!

After emptying the ammunition, he released the latch.

Unable to withstand the internal pressure, the empty magazines were forced backward out of the barrels.

He slammed two fresh magazines into place.

Then fired again.

BOOM! BOOM!

Reload.

Fire.

BOOM! BOOM!

The target had long since been obliterated, yet he continued blasting the mound of earth beyond it.

Alberdo entered a trance, repeatedly loading and firing.

Watching the dazzling display, Vernel's jaw hung open.

In just ten seconds, Alberdo had fired twenty rounds before finally stopping.

But it wasn't because he wanted to.

The steel barrels had failed, unable to endure the heat and repeated impacts.

Looking at the shattered barrels, Alberdo spoke in a heavy voice.

"Can you make it stronger?"

"H-Here?"

Vernel seriously considered the question before shaking his head.

"I don't think that's possible with what we have. At your firing speed, we don't possess any material capable of enduring that."

"What if the material existed?"

"Of course we could make it if we had the material... but this shotgun is already made from the strongest steel available. There's simply nothing stronger."

Seeing Vernel admit defeat, Alberdo casually kicked his discarded pauldron toward them.

"Make it from this."

"W-What exactly is this...?"

"Frontesium."

"F-Frontesium?"

"The legendary material that was supposed to exist only in myths...?"

Not only Vernel but even Ferda couldn't hide their astonishment.

Frontesium.

The signature material of the Bronze Dragon, Frontesis.

Something that only Frontesis possessed and could create.

Since Silverwind's death, it had become even rarer, almost impossible to find.

"I heard Frontesium is almost golden in color... but this looks gray no matter how I look at it..."

"Can you do it?"

Alberdo wasted no words.

Unable to withstand the pressure, Vernel answered.

"Even if it really is Frontesium, forging it would be impossible. Frontesium is a material that no one except the Bronze Dragon Frontesis can work with. Even dwarves can't handle it unless they're master craftsmen who have been granted a true name..."

"I can."

"No matter how stubborn you are, that won't change any—"

Vernel stopped speaking.

Alberdo slung the club resting beside him over his shoulder.

"W-What are you doing?!"

Vernel screamed in shock.

Alberdo swung the club down with tremendous force.

Right onto his own pauldron.

BOOOOOOM—!

"Gah!"

"Ahhh?!"

Everyone in the area collapsed where they stood.

The shockwave spread through the earth, causing their legs to buckle under the violent tremor.

Then something astonishing happened.

The gray armor, previously marked only by ominous ripple patterns, began changing color as though it had been heated in a furnace.

For only an instant—

The very center shone unmistakably golden.

Not the soft gleam of ordinary gold, but a brilliant light that radiated incomparable hardness.

"Frontesium!"

"It's real Frontesium!"

The legendary material—something even warriors who had fought countless battlefields rarely had the chance to witness—was right before their eyes.

It was so awe-inspiring that everyone forgot both the terror of having their legs give out and Alberdo's reckless actions.

A moment later, someone rushed over at frightening speed, shouting.

It was Luri.

"Which lunatic unleashed a shockwave like this inside the fortress?!"

Luri's gaze fell upon the golden pauldron that had captured everyone's attention.

Then to the man standing beside it with a club in his hand.

Judging from the look on her face, she more or less understood what had happened.

She slowly turned toward Ferda.

"Lord Ferda... were you behind this?"

"Depending on the situation... perhaps yes, perhaps no."

Since he had no idea what had truly happened, he decided to test the waters first.

"...I'll go prepare to receive our guest."

She didn't press the matter any further, as though what had been done could no longer be undone.

Not long afterward, everyone understood what she meant.

Only a few hours later—

Beyond the outer walls of the town, something enormous rose into view.

RUMBLE...!

A massive body nearly twenty meters tall.

It had arms and wings, yet both were so short they seemed almost decorative.

At first glance it looked clumsy.

Yet no one dared underestimate it.

It was the Bronze Dragon—

Frontesis.

Alberdo had summoned Frontesis himself.

"Which damned bastard dares lay his filthy hands on my belongings?!"

His furious roar echoed across the land.

***

The Aspect of Protection and Stone—Frontesis.

He was a being closer to dwarves than to humans.

To the dwarves, he was nothing less than a god.

He had melted every ore hidden within stone, forged them with his hammer, and crafted countless treasures.

Because of that, he had even earned the title of the God of Blacksmiths.

Nearly every legendary weapon known throughout history had passed through his hands.

And among them all, those forged from Frontesium stood at the absolute pinnacle.

He treasured that reputation fiercely.

Anyone who mishandled his creations would never be forgiven.

Alberdo had exploited precisely that fact.

I heard Frontesis was famous for being a kind dragon...

Alberdo had practically yanked out one of his nose hairs.

Among the Guardian Dragons, Frontesis was known as the gentlest and most approachable, and countless humans had tried to take advantage of his personality.

Every one of them had paid the price.

Yet there was a reason he was still known as gentle.

Despite roaring in fury, he immediately shrank his body before entering through the town's outer gate, walking in at a leisurely pace.

Unlike dragons who would simply flatten everything in sight, he remained remarkably gentlemanly.

True to the dragon revered as the God of Blacksmiths, he resembled a dwarf.

At first glance, he was actually a little shorter than Ferda, though his characteristically thick dwarven build made him appear even smaller.

In any case, he waddled toward them.

As the castle's second master, Ferda knelt respectfully in greeting.

"I pay my respects to the great Aspect of Protection and Stone, Lord Frontesis."

His bronze-colored eyes were filled with killing intent.

He asked only one question.

"Was it you?"

"I don't understand what you mean."

"The one who tried to destroy my creation. Was that you?"

Frontesis glared at him in fury.

Ferda lowered his head.

"I have never been bestowed one of your creations, Lord Frontesis. How could I possibly mistreat something that belongs to you?"

"Now that I think about it... you're too scrawny for that."

Rolling his eyes, Frontesis immediately identified the true culprit.

"Yes... I knew it had to be you!"

Alberdo.

He stood silently, facing Frontesis without flinching.

Frontesis gripped the hammer hanging at his waist, tapping it against his palm.

"You barged into my home demanding that I forge armor for you. And now you've gone and tried to destroy my armor?"

"..."

"If you've got any last words, I'll hear them before I kill you."

Alberdo answered plainly.

"Forge me a weapon."

"Fine! I'll forge a sword from your spine and teach you some manners!"

Frontesis raised his hammer and charged.

"Please calm yourself, Lord Frontesis."

"Hm? Aren't you Valdrova's Attendant? You dare stand in my way? You've got quite the nerve—"

"Lady Valdrova has been waiting for you."

"V-Valdrova? Waiting... for me?"

Frontesis froze.

As though embarrassed by everything he had done moments earlier, he quietly lowered his hammer and cleared his throat.

"Ahem... Very well. Out of my boundless generosity, I'll postpone this matter for the moment."

That wasn't generosity at all.

"Would you guide me, Miss Silverwind?"

"Yes... this way, please."

Just like that, the atmosphere of life and death vanished in an instant.

Frontesis entered the castle.

***

"Oh! Valdrova!"

Frontesis hurried toward her with obvious delight.

Valdrova welcomed him with a slightly shy smile.

"It's been a long time, Frontesis."

"I was about to say exactly that... but why are you wearing that mask?"

"Well... something happened..."

"No, never mind! You don't have to explain! The important thing is that we can finally talk again!"

Holding both of Valdrova's hands, Frontesis gently kissed the backs of them.

"Luri told me you were coming. But... I wasn't sure what brought you here..."

"Oh, that? Nothing much. Some rude bastard was mishandling my creation, so I came to teach him a lesson."

"W-Who was it?"

"Obviously some insignificant human. Why are you so startled? You've never mishandled my belongings, have you? Hahaha!"

Valdrova's body stiffened ever so slightly, clearly uncomfortable.

But Frontesis noticed nothing.

Ferda decided to divert the conversation toward himself.

"I offer my apologies on behalf of Sir Alberdo. Since I will be conducting his investiture, I will take responsibility."

The instant Frontesis turned his gaze toward him, he began growling again.

"I don't want apologies! Bring me that brat's head! That's the only thing that'll calm my anger!"

Although he sounded threatening, Ferda strangely felt little pressure.

Perhaps he had simply grown too accustomed to Valdrova's overwhelming presence.

Compared to her, Frontesis felt far weaker.

Even Storeus—or Goz, the leader of Silverwind—had possessed greater presence.

Perhaps he wasn't truly that angry after all.

Instead, he resembled a middle-aged old man throwing a tantrum simply because he wanted others to respect his pride.

"Please... at least hear us out."

After repeated pleas, Frontesis finally agreed.

Ferda carefully explained everything Alberdo had done from beginning to end.

Frontesis's expression darkened further.

"So you're telling me... he really did all that just to force me into forging him a weapon?"

"That appears to be the case."

"What an insolent little bastard."

Trying to defend Alberdo half-heartedly would only make things worse.

Though clearly irritated, even Frontesis seemed unsure what to do.

Ferda noticed something that continued bothering him and cautiously spoke.

"We may have summoned you under unfortunate circumstances, Lord Frontesis, but if you would consider this a matter concerning the entire continent... may I ask one small favor?"

"What is it?"

"We will provide the forge. I ask only that you help us melt the Frontesium and forge a single weapon."

Ferda boldly made his request.

Frontesis's face turned bright red as he glared at him.

"I came here to punish that fool, and you're telling me you were in league with him all along?!"

"Not at all. If Alberdo provoked you for personal reasons, I will personally execute him. But this matter concerns a greater cause."

"A greater cause, my foot!"

"It is one step toward forging weapons capable of defeating the Demon Race. The metal you create will serve the entire Cerdes Continent."

Frontesis snorted.

"Hmph! I've heard those sweet lies from countless kings before. They all claimed it was for defeating the Demon Race, yet every last one of them used my work to satisfy their own greed! What makes you—or that fool—any different?"

"Recently, the Demon Race conquered a kingdom and placed countless innocent people under the rule of a corrupted king. After this, they will surely begin rampaging across the continent once again."

"Nonsense! The Demon Race isn't that powerful! This is nothing but another scheme to manipulate that coward Godwin! And you're no different!"

"Frontesis."

Valdrova softly called his name.

The furious dragon immediately fell silent.

His fiery temper disappeared as he quietly looked at her.

"I'll vouch for Mr. Ferda. He's one of the kindest and wisest people I know. He would never use your work for selfish purposes. Could you please forge us a weapon to defeat the Demon Race?"

"Ahem... If you're willing to guarantee him... Even so, what would be the point? Even if I forged another weapon, who would appreciate it? Who would I really be making it for?"

"I would. I know better than anyone how passionate you are... and how much you've always done for the continent."

"Valdrova..."

Color gradually returned to Frontesis's face.

He looked like a grandfather gazing fondly at his beloved granddaughter-in-law.

After looking at her for a long moment, his expression softened, and he let out a sigh.

"Damn it... What could I possibly hide from you? The truth is... there's a reason I've been so stubborn..."

He hesitated for a brief moment before speaking again.

"I can no longer work Frontesium anymore."