Chapter 180: Dawnveil crest

Zane leaned back slightly, eyes half-closed, a faint smirk tugging at the edge of his lips.

I know a way to make this even more interesting…

Much more interesting.

His gaze drifted—not outward, but inward—following the lingering mana signature he had sensed ever since stepping into Gravundar.

From his explanation… and the nature of that mana…

And as Grom said, the problem is obvious.

The Heart of the Deep Forge wasn’t flawed in concept. Far from it. The principle was sound, elegant even. Infinite production through cyclical mana compression and release, mimicking the planet’s own core.

The flaw lay in containment.

In this world, Zane mused, there are only a few realistic solutions.

A super-hard metal capable of withstanding endless pressure—mythril, or something in that category.

Or—

A medium that doesn’t resist pressure… but adapts to it.

A flexible, shape-retaining substance. Something that could flow under stress, redistribute force, then return to stability. A liquid that behaved like metal when needed… and like liquid when it wasn’t.

Zane’s smirk deepened almost imperceptibly.

Given this world’s technological advancement magical availability … the second option is far more likely.

And suddenly, a certain thin, pale dwarf with mud-pink hair came to mind.

That’s what you’re really doing, Dren.

You’re trying to create a liquid metal.

A material that could endure infinite mana pressure without shattering. A vessel that wouldn’t break—because it would never truly be rigid.

But Zane’s thoughts didn’t stop there.

Because even if Dren succeeded…

Even if he actually managed to create such a substance…

It wouldn’t be enough.

Liquid metal alone wouldn’t solve the final problem.

He would still need control.

Something that could force that liquid to solidify or liquefy at will. Instantly. Reliably. Without lag.

A catalyst.

Zane’s fingers twitched faintly.

And that…

I already have.

His eyes opened fully now, sharp and amused, as though the pieces of a puzzle had finally clicked into place.

This is going to be fun.

Zane tilted his head slightly, eyes still on Grom—but his words were aimed far deeper than the room.

Hear this well, Dren.

He spoke aloud, voice casual, almost lazy.

“Hmm… let’s talk about the Heart of the Forge later.”

The air shifted.

Mira blinked. “Later…?”

Zane turned toward her, smile easy.

“For now, I wanted to ask you something else.”

He tapped the table lightly.

“About that S-rank artifact I gave you to analyze.”

—

Far away, in a hidden lab buried beneath layers of metal and stone, Dren’s pupils shrank.

S-rank…?

His focus snapped fully onto the mana-transmission globe. Zane’s voice echoed with unnatural clarity, as if spoken right beside his ear.

An S-rank artifact?

—

Back in Grom’s office, the dwarf stiffened.

“…You have an S-rank artifact?” Grom asked, eyes widening despite himself.

Zane nodded lightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Mm. Picked it up in a dungeon.”

Mira straightened at once.

“Oh! That one—I analyzed it quite thoroughly.”

She turned, rummaging through the oversized bag slung over her back. Metal clinked, enchanted tools shifted, and then she pulled out a sleek black box.

With a careful motion, she opened it.

Inside lay the delicate silver brooch shaped like a crescent sun. The milky-white gem at its center glowed softly, releasing a calm, luminous mana that spread through the room like dawn light.

Grom inhaled sharply.

“That mana density…” he muttered. “Even among S-rank artifacts, this is exceptional.”

Mira closed her eyes for a second, trying—unsuccessfully—to look composed. A moment later, her usual bubbly smile broke through.

“From my analysis,” she said, voice bright with pride,

“this artifact embodies renewal and clarity.”

She gestured lightly, mana diagrams briefly forming in the air.

“It purifies lingering harm, stabilizes mental states, and shields the bearer from despair. It naturally attunes to light-based energy and amplifies spiritual calm around its user.”

She puffed her chest out slightly.

“I even gave it a proper name.”

She looked at Zane, eyes shining.

“Dawnveil Crest.”

Zane’s expression softened for a brief instant. He raised his thumb.

“Approved,” he said. “Nice name, Mira.”

Her smile widened instantly.

Then Zane leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting.

“So,” he asked lightly,

“did you find out what it actually does?”

—

In the dark lab, Dren’s breathing slowed.

His fingers tightened against the edge of the table.

Yes, he thought, eyes burning.

Tell me.

Mira continued, her tone turning more focused as she slipped fully into researcher mode.

“I found that the artifact possesses an active skill,” she said. “The user can solidify light itself, shaping it into a thin but extremely durable barrier. It’s flexible in form—plates, arcs, even partial domes—but the thinner it is, the stronger it becomes.”

She paused, then added, a little impressed despite herself.

“It’s primarily light-aligned, but there’s an unusual interaction built into it. When exposed to dark or shadow-based energy, instead of being eroded, the artifact absorbs it and refines it—using it to further strengthen the light construct.”

Grom let out a low whistle. “Absorbing dark attributes to reinforce light… that’s no ordinary design.”

Mira nodded and went on, counting on her fingers now.

“It also converts the user’s movement into bursts of shimmering light, allowing short-range teleportation—up to around twenty meters. The mana consumption scales with distance, but the efficiency is extremely high.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding,

“And it has a healing function. It can restore the user and nearby allies, though the healing seems tied to the user’s emotional state. The calmer the mind, the more effective the restoration.”

Her shoulders dropped slightly.

“…As for any deeper or hidden functions, I couldn’t uncover them. No matter what method I used, it felt like the artifact was… holding something back.”

Grom folded his arms, nodding slowly.

“As expected of an S-rank artifact. Even identifying its surface functions is an achievement. The abilities alone already place it among the top tier.”

Zane listened quietly, expression relaxed, eyes unreadable.

“Quite good,” he said at last.

His fingers tapped once against the table.

Inside his mind, however, his thoughts moved far faster.

Solidified light. Shadow absorption. Emotional synchronization…

A defensive core, a mobility engine, and a stabilizer—all wrapped into one.

He glanced, just for a fraction of a second, toward the direction of Grom—toward where he knew a certain pair of ears were listening.

And you heard all of that too, didn’t you?

The faintest curve of amusement touched Zane’s lips.

Good.

Mira’s smile slowly faded as she closed the box again. She held it out with both hands, a little reluctantly.

“Here, Zane…” she said softly. “I’m sorry. If I’d had more time, maybe I could’ve uncovered more of its functions.”

Zane waved it off immediately, a relaxed smile on his face.

“No, no. You keep it.”

Mira blinked. “Eh?”

“Keep it for research,” he continued. “You’ll find more eventually. When you do, just tell me.”

For a moment she simply stared at him—then her eyes lit up like stars.

“R-really?! I can keep it?!”

She hugged the box to her chest as if it might vanish.

“Thank you, Zane!!”

Grom let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

“She’s an adult on paper,” he muttered, “but inside she’s still a kid.”

Mira laughed sheepishly. “Ehehe…”

Grom straightened, his tone turning formal.

“Enough for today. Both of you should rest. Tomorrow is your guest lecture.”

He motioned, and a guard stepped forward.

“Show them to their rooms.”

Then he looked at Mira.

“You go ahead. I need to speak with Zane.”

Mira hesitated, glancing between them, then nodded.

“Alright. Don’t stay up too late, Master.”

She followed the guard out, the door closing softly behind her.

Silence settled in the office.

Grom didn’t speak immediately. His jaw tightened, shoulders stiff, as if he were holding something back. Then—he turned sharply to Zane, anger finally breaking through.

“Now.”

Zane’s voice cut in calmly, the single word heavy with intent.

“Grom said, voice low and sharp, “what the hell is your plan?”

Zane remained calm, hands in his pockets.

“You said we’d ambush them. That we’d deal with Vassel.” Grom’s eyes burned.

“But what is this? We’re

Sitting and letting things play out like nothing’s wrong.”

Zane’s gaze met his evenly.

“I’ve got it handled.”

Grom scoffed. “That’s not an answer.”

Zane leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping.

“You know many unwanted guest is going to attack Mira tonight.”

Grom’s eyes widened.

“…What?”

And with that, the room seemed to grow heavier—as if the night itself had begun to listen.

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