Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1917: Divine energy product (5)

"You kept something this fascinating hidden from me all this time?" The Dwarven King demanded with an irritated growl.

I met his gaze with a slight smirk before replying, "Well, I'm sharing it with you at this very moment, am I not?"

He continued to glare at me, though I was well aware his fury wasn't genuine.

This was merely the playful bickering shared between family members, and as brothers-in-law, we had that bond.

Nevertheless, I felt the need to clarify, "I wasn't even certain if the concept would be successful. To be honest, the idea wouldn't have even crossed my mind if it weren't for that cooking competition."

Hearing my words, the Dwarven King’s expression shifted to one of gravity as he turned his attention toward the shimmering armaments laid out before us.

Once the second stage of the smithing tournament concluded, every weapon forged by the contestants was collected and delivered to me. Since the host had provided all the raw materials, the smiths didn't object; their primary goal was simply to showcase their craftsmanship to the world.

They understood from the start that these blades and spears would not remain in their possession after the round.

The Dwarven King scanned the collection before reaching out to grab a specific piece.

"You certainly have a sharp eye," I remarked as he lifted the weapon.

With a smirk full of pride, the Dwarven King countered, "Just who do you think you're talking to?"

His confidence was well-founded. Among dwarves, the throne is earned by the most masterful craftsman. Naturally, he possessed the innate ability to identify which weapon boasted the superior quality.

His lack of hesitation in choosing that particular one proved his vision was peerless.

This was true even though he was unable to perceive the divine energy flowing within the metal.

"How exactly do you plan to test this?" the Dwarven King suddenly inquired.

"Is there any other way?" I responded, my smile widening slightly.

The Dwarven King arched an eyebrow, but his confusion vanished as he saw who was approaching. Instead, he narrowed his eyes at the figure being escorted by the royal guards.

This wasn't his first encounter with her, as she had already been presented to all the leaders within the racial alliance.

The council had previously deliberated at length regarding her status and how she should be handled.

After observing Dorothy for a moment, the Dwarven King asked, "Are you positive this is safe? Does she have full control over her abilities?"

"If a crisis arises, I'll be right here to handle it, won't I?"

The Dwarven King looked at me skeptically at first, but his face eventually softened.

It was a testament to the absolute trust he placed in me—a trust I had earned through my actions.

When it came to managing corruption energy, there truly was no one more capable than myself.

With the preparations complete, Dorothy was summoned to the front to manifest several corruption energy monsters.

We had already set up multiple arrays designed to imprison these creatures until we were ready for combat, yet they appeared significantly more hostile than previous iterations.

They seemed to have grown in power as well.

My eyes narrowed as I watched her summon the beasts.

"It feels as though she is undergoing a slow transformation... as if she is refining the corruption energy into something of her own..."

I eventually pushed the thought aside, recalling what Nox had told me earlier.

The truth would reveal itself in time.

Until that day arrived, patience was my only option.

Klein was the one who volunteered to test the weapon against the corruption energy monster.

Taking the spear from the Dwarven King, he walked toward one of the cages containing a beast. Before entering, he turned back and gave a firm nod, signaling his commitment to the task.

He stepped into the enclosure, and the corruption energy monster fixated on him instantly.

The moment it registered his presence, it lunged forward with the intent to tear him limb from limb.

Klein reacted instantly, thrusting the spear toward the creature. Though he was primarily a swordsman, his mastery over the spear was sufficient for him to wield it with absolute poise.

As the spear's point collided with a claw formed from corruption energy, a bizarre cry erupted from the monster.

It was a sound we had never encountered before, yet its meaning was unmistakable.

Pure terror.

The spear had clearly inflicted a serious wound, forcing the creature to retreat. This was unprecedented, as these monsters usually showed no signs of physical trauma when struck by conventional means.

While they typically avoided direct conflict because they were the antithesis of life, they had never displayed such agony or cowardice before.

"Did you alter the summoning method?" I felt compelled to ask Dorothy.

She shook her head simply and replied, "No, this one is identical to all the others I have called forth."

If her summoning hadn't changed, then the variable was the spear Klein held...

Having experienced the pain of the spear's bite, the corruption energy monster became wary. It no longer threw itself forward with the reckless abandonment typical of its kind.

Klein struggled to land another hit as the monster kept its distance, until its predatory instincts finally overcame its caution.

Once it lost its composure, Klein easily baited it into his striking range and drove the spear home.

"I see. It focuses the power," I muttered the moment the spear pierced deep into the monster's hide.