Arifureta: From Whelp to Dragonlord

Part 48: Kuzuji, the Youngling Slayer

At the adventurers' guild, the heretic duo had learned of a new world-threatening crisis. However, they tried to brush it off, focusing on their immediate goal: repairing the great barrier.

Shizuku guided them to a heavily guarded area, where numerous soldiers were stationed. As Hajime and Keiji approached, the guards eyed them with suspicion, but the moment they saw Shizuku by Keiji's side, their expressions softened.

Thanks to Shizuku's presence, they were easily allowed through and entered a chamber built from white marble-like stone. At its center stood a large, broken artifact resting atop a magic formation. The cylindrical object, normally about two meters long, had been shattered, with fragments scattered around the room.

Several craftsmen hovered nearby, groaning in frustration as they stared at the damage. They were likely the ones attempting to repair the great barrier, but their efforts seemed to have reached a dead end.

"Oya? If it isn't Shizuku-dono. What brings you here?"

A man in his sixties, sporting a thick mustache and radiating a seasoned craftsman's aura, addressed Shizuku. His name was Worupen, and it was clear he recognized her.

"Hello, Worupen-san," Shizuku greeted. "I'm just acting as a guide today. I've brought a Synergist who might be able to repair the great barrier."

"What? Is it that boy over there?"

Worupen eyed Hajime skeptically. The idea that someone so young could fix an artifact from the Age of Gods was hard to swallow, especially for someone like Worupen, head Synergist of the Heiligh Kingdom. The task had already proven difficult even for him, an expert with decades of experience. His doubts were clear in his gaze, but he held his tongue out of respect for Shizuku.

Hajime, unfazed by the scrutiny, calmly stepped forward. Without saying a word, he walked past Worupen and the other craftsmen, placing his hand on the broken artifact. Activating his "Mineral Appraisal," he began to analyze its composition.

"Heh, I see... this should hold up just fine," Hajime muttered to himself.

Worupen snorted in disbelief. "What could a boy like you possibly know?"

Before Hajime could respond, Keiji stepped in, shooting the older man a glare. "He probably knows a lot more than you, old man."

"Keiji!" Shizuku admonished.

"What? I'm not just gonna stand here and let my friend get talked down," Keiji defended.

Hajime, however, remained focused, unbothered by the exchange. "It's fine, Keiji. Doesn't bother me," he said, his attention fully on the task. He began to understand the complex mechanism of the barrier, recognizing how it had safeguarded the kingdom for centuries against foreign enemies.

Despite Worupen's dismissive attitude, Hajime began his work. Red sparks flickered from his hand as he activated "Transmutation," seamlessly fusing the broken pieces of the artifact back together. His movements were swift and precise, and the speed with which he restored the wreckage left not only Worupen but also his subordinates speechless.

Shizuku, witnessing Hajime's transmutation at full force for the first time, was mesmerized by the red sparks dancing in the white marble space. "How beautiful..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes glued to the captivating display.

Hajime, having completed the repairs on the Age of Gods artifact in mere seconds, began channeling his magic into it, activating the great barrier. The cylindrical relic shot a beam of light into the sky, signaling its revival. Moments later, a soldier burst into the room, breathlessly reporting that the third barrier had been restored.