Chapter 120
Interaction with the United States was a golden opportunity for Bahamut to access a vast supply of ores imported from the U.S.
Both the United States and the Balhut Cult were seeking a new form of Bahamut Coins, distinct from the existing ones.
Realizing the coin’s popularity, Bahamut began his research.
Once Bahamut confirmed that the Balhut Cult’s primary enemy was the undead, he imported a massive quantity of silver through the U.S. Using magic and refining techniques, he created something entirely new:
“This is True Silver.”
“Is this… what you’ve been developing?”
Bahamut called it True Silver.
Having finally completed a prototype, he invited Special Ambassador Steven to showcase the creation.
Initially, Steven appeared disappointed, seeing what seemed like nothing more than a silver ingot.
“Well, to put it simply, you could call it Mithril.”
“M-Mithril!?”
Hearing Bahamut’s explanation, Steven’s eyes widened.
As a fantasy enthusiast, Steven was well-acquainted with the legendary Mithril—a mystical ore frequently appearing in countless fantasy works, leaving an indelible impression on readers.
A material once confined to imagination was now a reality.
“To be precise, I transformed ordinary silver into Mithril using magical methods. From an Awakened perspective, it would involve skills like Alchemy or Magic Craft to achieve this transformation.”
“Wow, Mithril! How could we not recognize that name? But why did you initially introduce it as True Silver?”
“Well, wasn’t there an issue with copyright for the term ‘Mithril’?”
“Ah, I see.”
Bahamut was wary of copyright.
After all, the Balhut Cult and Bahamut Himself had reaped substantial profits from copyright protections.
To avoid any potential disputes, Bahamut opted to name the material True Silver instead of Mithril.
“There’s no copyright on Korean names.”
“Ah, is that so?”
In reality, the term “Mithril” was not registered as a trademark in Korean script, meaning its use would pose no legal issues. Many fantasy novels employed similar strategies, altering spellings to bypass copyright restrictions.
Moreover, who would dare demand copyright fees from the mighty Bahamut?
“Furthermore, Mithril doesn’t exist in reality. Even if someone demanded royalties…”
Steven pondered the absurdity of someone traveling to the Korean Peninsula to demand copyright fees from Bahamut.
‘Isn’t that impossible?’
Even notorious copyright enforcers would likely handle Bahamut with the utmost care, treating him like a cherished ally rather than an adversary.
And even if disputes arose, simply changing the spelling would render any claim moot.
Ultimately, Mithril was no longer just a brand but a newly born material, making copyright concerns irrelevant.
“So, Lord Bahamut has named this ingot Mithril, meaning it must have exceptional properties.”
“For starters, it never tarnishes. It’s as malleable as copper and boasts a glass-like sheen. While these properties are interesting, the true value lies elsewhere.”
What mattered most was not its appearance but the functional results of forging weapons from this Mithril.
“This material’s forged products surpass steel in strength, are incredibly lightweight, and exhibit superior performance. Most notably, they carry an anti-evil effect, granting them unique power against malevolent entities.”
Steven immediately inquired if undead were considered part of this “malevolent entities” category, to which Bahamut nodded.
“Yes. Experiments confirmed that it’s lethal to undead. When tested on a ghost-like banshee spotted in the East Sea, the contact resulted in instant annihilation. Its effectiveness is guaranteed.”
“Now I understand. Thank you for clarifying.”
Steven could already envision the immense interest Mithril would garner, especially in America.
At present, the strongest magical weapon is the Bahamut Round, and it is said that Mithril is an effective material for defending against it.
Steven, knowing the critical role Bahamut Rounds play in this apocalyptic era, swallowed nervously as he gazed at the Mithril.
How many monsters had fallen to that single round!
Even the numerous named entities that had posed a significant threat to humanity were powerless against it, utterly annihilated—a fact Steven was well aware of.
‘This could even counteract Bahamut Rounds that villains have smuggled during lapses in oversight!’
Without much further thought, Steven concluded that this material could effectively address America’s own nuisance: the villains.
While Bahamut Rounds served as humanity’s strongest weapon against its enemies, they also proved devastatingly effective against humanity itself—a reality demonstrated by the Balhut Cult.
Villains knew this all too well and had begun smuggling civilian-distributed Bahamut Rounds, creating a rising social problem.
How many heroes had been wounded or subdued by the smuggled Bahamut Rounds circulating among villains?
“Even under the strongest firepower, with over ten rounds striking it, Mithril itself remained largely unscathed. It was the areas not covered by Mithril that failed to hold.”
“That’s truly excellent news! What about weapons made from Mithril?”
This performance was personally certified by Bahamut.
Ecstatic, Steven cheered and expressed his pure delight, simultaneously showing great interest in Mithril-crafted weapons.
While armor is vital, the most critical need is for powerful weapons to confront monsters.
“It’s too light. Weapons made purely of Mithril aren’t suitable. It needs to be alloyed with other metals for optimal performance.”
“That’s unfortunate, but you’re saying it can be used as a weapon.”
“Yes, it can be used as a weapon.”
While its lightness was a downside requiring it to be alloyed for effective use, it was undeniable that it could still be utilized for weapons.
Given Mithril’s proven performance in armor, what kind of capabilities would Mithril-crafted weapons exhibit? Steven was already overwhelmed with excitement.
“With so many advantages, humanity can take a huge step forward! But… what are its drawbacks?”
Steven, understanding that every strength comes with a trade-off, asked this question knowingly.
If it had overwhelming advantages, it would undoubtedly have its share of shortcomings.
“…Well, our craftsmen can’t craft anything with it.”
“Pardon?”
“In short, we can’t use Mithril to produce anything.”
And the flaw Bahamut revealed was… that Mithril couldn’t be used for crafting.
It was a paradox.
What about the tests proudly mentioned earlier? Where did those results come from?
“Wait a moment. Didn’t you say earlier that Mithril armor was tested?”
“Yes, it was tested. On the armor I personally crafted.”
Because it was armor made by Bahamut’s own hands.
Hearing this, Steven, trembling with disbelief, looked at Bahamut.
“I see. So, it wasn’t made by Balhut Cult craftsmen but directly by the God Bahamut. Is that correct?”
“That’s right. It appears to have a simple level restriction. According to an Analyze skill user, only craftsmen who reach level 30 or higher can work with Mithril. Otherwise, their level isn’t sufficient to assess or manipulate it.”
A level restriction on a material?
A restriction of level 30—a level humanity had yet to achieve—left Steven dumbfounded, sighing with exasperation.
“…It seems useless for now.”
“That’s your conclusion?”
“Yes. Even in the U.S., we have no one who has reached level 30. For craftsmen to reach level 30 is a significant challenge. While it’s possible to level up through crafting skills, it will take considerable time.”
Globally, no Awakened had yet reached level 30.
Even reaching level 20 was rare, with such individuals holding positions of leadership in their respective nations. Within the Balhut Cult, only three people had reached level 20, with one more at Ulsan Airport, making a total of four.
Including Kim Suho from Seoul, who was officially level 20, there were only five individuals across the Korean Peninsula.
“In the U.S., we have only four in the military and ten civilian heroes at level 20.”
The situation in the U.S. was no different, with only 14 individuals officially above level 20.
Raising levels itself was an arduous task, and with the new year approaching, there were only a select few globally who had surpassed level 20.
In this context, a level 30 restriction seemed far-fetched.
“But I heard you made armor earlier. Could I see it?”
“Sure, why not.”
Even if the material was currently unusable, Steven saw value in understanding its potential for humanity’s future.
Bahamut, without hesitation, showcased the armor he had crafted.
The armor was not made solely from mithril.
To make it easier for the wearer to move, it incorporated fabric woven from spider silk obtained from mutant spider zombies, and even leather imported from American monsters was generously used to craft it as a light armor.
The pauldrons protecting the shoulders, the chest plate, and the guards for the hands and feet were made of mithril for maximum safety.
On the mithril-protected areas, the symbol of the dragon, representing the Balhut Cult, was engraved.
Under the bright lights, the armor exuded a subtle bluish glow from the mithril, making it appear more like a ceremonial armor used for national events or formal occasions rather than practical battle gear.
“…It’s truly beautiful. I was already prepared, but such a beautiful and magnificent armor! Even though I’m not a glutton, I can’t help but be tempted!”
“How is it?”
The design had already passed with flying colors.
Without needing to deliberate over efficiency, the moment it became clear that the armor could effectively defend against Bahamut Rounds, it was evident that this was the sturdiest protective gear currently in existence.
Style and efficiency. An armor that encompassed both…!
“As an Awakener, I must wear this! If given as a gift to someone, it would undoubtedly be a precious treasure. It should be designated as a national treasure… No, since it was made by the Dragon God himself, it’s already akin to a national treasure.”
“Haha. I’m glad you value it so highly.”
Steven openly expressed his desire to wear the armor immediately.
For someone who had restrained his desires to a certain extent as a diplomat, this was an unusual display.
Bahamut, however, simply considered it as typical diplomatic rhetoric.
“I’m not joking. I mean it.”
‘Is he serious?’
Realizing it wasn’t just a courteous remark but a genuine statement, Bahamut looked at Steven with a slightly taken-aback expression.
Despite the look, Steven continued to gaze at the mithril armor with a longing expression, unabashedly revealing his desire.
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