The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

While listening to the rhythm of the horse’s hooves, Sheila and I swayed in the carriage.

Even as a member of the Salvatore family—the empire’s highest-ranking nobility—there was nothing I could do about the swaying of the carriage.

By previous life standards, this world’s civilization level was considerably inferior.

If I continued being shaken for another hour, even my well-trained ass would start to feel pain.

When that happened, I would use divine prayer to heal the pain and discomfort.

Carriage travel was just this repetition.

“Excited. Excited.“

Across from me as I enjoyed reading, Sheila, who was looking out the window, let out strange sound effects.

I briefly shifted my gaze from the page.

“You look happy, Sheila.”

At my question, she met my gaze and nodded.

“Of course! I’ve hardly ever left the imperial capital. Faced with a mine I’ve only seen in documents, I can’t hide my excitement.”

“I didn’t know you were a mine enthusiast. It wasn’t in the official information either.”

“Official?”

“Never mind. More importantly, how is it? Are you really that excited about a mine?”

“Mm, excited. Strictly speaking, I have business with the ore that can be mined there.”

“Ore?”

What was the ore that could be mined at the mine where the dragon had taken residence…

Unfortunately, since I had no interest in ore, I hadn’t investigated.

While feeling slightly frustrated, Sheila provided the answer.

“Mana ore. It’s precious ore that can only be mined from a very small part of the mine.”

“Mana ore… ah, come to think of it, there was such an item.”

I recalled my previous life’s memories.

When this world was a game, there had indeed been an item called “mana ore” as Sheila mentioned.

As she showed interest, mana ore was a special stone imbued with magic power.

Using that stone as a base for alchemy produced “mana material.”

It was a masterpiece where high-density mana had its quality further enhanced through alchemy.

There was talk that by consuming it, one could gain magic power.

…However, what was important here was the method of obtaining mana ore, the manufacturing method of mana material, and its effects.

First, the method of obtaining mana ore. This was another tedious task.

You’d run endlessly at locations where ore-type items could be gathered until mana ore dropped.

Since it was a natural drop item, a gathering game would begin where you’d eternally run memorized routes.

On top of that, the acquisition rate was extremely low.

Its rarity was maximum rank, which made no sense. In terms of probability, it was questionable whether it was even one percent.

After clearing all the spawn positions on the map, you’d wait for respawn, so it was truly uninteresting.

What awaited beyond that ordeal was—alchemy.

This was one of the supernatural abilities humans were born with, the same as the basic abilities called aura, divine prayer, magic, curses, and summoning.

It had the highest rarity value among all abilities and was, incredibly, a power that even players couldn’t possess.

In other words, you had to take the mana ore you’d desperately collected to someone who could use alchemy.

This was again troublesome, with quests and conditions just to reach the alchemist’s location… just remembering it now made me feel sick. I wanted to vomit.

But the biggest problem was at the end.

That was the effect of mana material.

Mana material was a convenient item that boosted the target’s total magic power through oral consumption—or so you’d think, but for some reason in the game it was treated as equipment.

The problem with this was that there were plenty of equipment pieces superior to mana material.

So much so that any player capable of making mana material would already have equipment of that caliber.

At the time, many high-level players who didn’t know this… including rankers like myself, got so heated that we sent protest messages to the management.

It was ultimately garbage after all.

That’s why I had completely forgotten about it. The existence of that useless waste.

“Luka should know the value of mana material. Aren’t you interested?”

“Not at all. That junk is a waste to even make.”

Your current equipment definitely has better performance. I can guarantee it.

“Hmm. Even so, my interest doesn’t fade. I’m curious about what it looks like too.”

“Mana material is—”

“Be quiet!”

“Mmph!”

Just when I was about to tell her what it looked like, my mouth was covered by Sheila’s hand.

Sheila’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Keep it secret until I see the real thing!”