From noble mtl dot com.
performance (4)
“… … Right.”
I nodded my head as I heard the news of the black iron imports sent from Azran by the Kingdom Merchants.
Of course, the results were very satisfactory.
And the 4x price listed below wasn’t my concern.
Compared to the final value that this object would produce, it was literally nothing but hemostasis.
But, as always, it would be very difficult to come up with a deal that would satisfy everyone.
“Heh heh, four times… … A whopping 4 times, 60 million gold for 4,000 tons… … 60 million… … .”
“Unfortunately, the amount for transportation was not included.”
“That means.”
In the end, the light finally disappeared from the eyes of Marquis Baltaire, the Minister of Finance who fell into the swamp of the budget again.
It was the kind of eyes you would only see in a dead fish.
I looked at him and asked in a suspicious voice.
“It’s a look I often see these days. Is it fashionable?”
“… … Whoa, can that be?”
Marquis Baltaire let out a deep sigh at the meager budget and shook his head.
Still, the reason they didn’t dig deep into this one was probably because they knew why they had to buy it for four times as much.
“first of all… … Your Highness, then, are you planning to send Heukcheol to Galderd Plain as soon as it arrives?”
“It should be. Because that’s the first mineral they asked for.”
I twisted the corners of my mouth in affirmation at the Marquis’ question.
Obviously, I was the one who fulfilled the black iron spell, but that was only because of the request of the dwarves.
And, of course, I already knew why they insisted on black iron, which was not in high demand and difficult to handle.
At that moment, my gaze reached the letter sent from Galderd Plain.
A letter with a clunky handwriting and a lot of delicate pictures that don’t go well with it.
In the letter, which contained various details, the progress of developing the plains was described in detail by period.
How much mithril came out of the mine so far. And to what extent various facilities are being built, including extensions of major buildings, and so on.
But what really surprised me was the progress in building the walls.
After returning from the dispatch, it seemed that he had already completed all the basic foundations of the wall in that short time.
‘Looks like you really like the new material. Or did I have good compatibility with them?’
The guys in the previous life had never used Kaimentum. So, this was an area that even I could not have predicted.
At least within this year, I thought setting a frame was the limit… … .
It was a pleasant prediction error.
And by now, the manpower he had entrusted to Marquis Balter should have been replenished.
Indeed, at this rate, it would be tantamount to finishing the fortifications before next winter.
And the black iron they requested was a means to block the variables that followed.
‘I’m sure that’s what you guys want, right?’
All results are the day the fortification operation is in full swing.
Only then would I be sure.
The crystallization of the achievements that the Dwarves will achieve in the near future.
‘… … Then try to satisfy me.’
There is no need to rush.
It would be good to save the anticipation of that part for later.
* * *
Esteban’s winter facing the land of the northern barbarians was very bitter. This was especially true of the Galderd Plain, facing the huge mountain range that divides the continent, ‘Siltaff Grande’.
Cold air descending from the heavenly mountains. And a bladed wind blowing across the open plains.
That was to the point where even knights who could use auras stuck out their tongues.
This was true even though additional cloth was added between the armors using materials with good warmth.
However, the dwarves were not.
Dwarves did not feel the cold very much because of their unique tough skin and tolerance, much less the cold as they had already spent hundreds of years in the deep northern remote areas.
Their work continued unchanging even in the middle of winter, and it produced quite a few achievements.
“Well, are you really saying that the mine’s burial estimate has been completely revealed?”
“exactly.”
At the words of the dwarf in charge of the mine, the expression of the royal palace investigator who was dispatched all the time brightened even more.
The development of the Mithril Mine had been progressing without stopping even for a moment even after the prince left, and at the center of it was, of course, the dwarves’ tremendous speed of work.
Thanks to that, it seems that the final estimate has already been revealed.
“At the time of the first investigation, you said that it would reach at least 300 tons. What is the final estimate?”
Considering the margin of error, would it be about four hundred?
In fact, three hundred tons was a lot.
From there, even if it increases by just 1.5 times, Esteban can eat and play for 60 years without paying taxes. That was the level the royal treasury wanted.
But eventually, when the dwarf’s mouth opened, the investigator had no choice but to ask stupidly.
“Are you saying nine hundred nine hundred tons?”
“It must be certain because the clan members have checked it over and over again.”
“Oh, this can’t be… … !”
dump-!
The body of the investigator, whose legs were loosened, sat down on the floor. Contrary to the shocked investigator, the dwarf’s expression was very satisfied.
It was natural. If the amount was large, the amount promised to the clan would also increase.
Even considering the light weight of mithril compared to other metals, it was clear that a really large amount of mithril would fall on the clan.
“When the walls are completed in the near future, additional labor will be added, so at that time, you will be able to dig as much as you want.”
“… … ah? That, that’s right.”
The investigator was so shocked that he didn’t even know what the other person was talking about. The Dwarf continued talking regardless of what situation he was in.
“Then, can we keep the current amount of mining for a while?”
“Yes, oh, of course.”
“Okay. The captain says he will ask the first prince directly for details soon, so I guess I’ll just follow suit then… … Then I’m busy with work, so I’ll be gone.”
The dwarf said that and immediately put the pickaxe on his shoulder.
The Dwarves who found the nest were more sincere workers than anyone else.
Meanwhile.
Not all Dwarves were clinging to the mithril mines.
From blacksmith work to food search groups, they were developing the plains in a variety of ways. And if there is one place that is producing the most satisfactory results, it would be their main workshop, the fortress wall.
Kkong-kang-!
The friendly sound of hammers echoed across the plain. It was the sound coming from the walls that had been under construction before fall.
“hey! The bricks over there are a bit off!”
“Ah, I’ll upload it again, chief.”
“hmm! In order to easily shed the enemy’s attacks, there must be no deviation.”
“Is this enough?”
“Let’s see… … angle… … ok, that’s perfect Let’s work on it.”
It was Surt, the Dwarven leader, meticulously overseeing the work of the walls. As if proving that there shouldn’t be even an inch of deviation, he immediately caught the error like a knife if there was even the slightest difference from the design.
Likewise, those who continued the work would have gotten tired of it by then, but they were also dwarves. The desire to create an artwork that will go down in history as an ‘invincible fortress’ was something Surt could never put off.
It was like an instinct.
Surtur laughed heartily as he watched the castle wall gradually revealing its shape.
“hahahaha! At this level, even if an army of 100,000 people arrives, they won’t even be able to damage it!”
If I had been able to show this scene to Prince 1, I would have been able to see the cracks in his insensitive expression.
I’m a little sorry.
He licked his lips thinking so. That’s how confident he was.
And while he actually threw it out, Surt decided to test its power.
“Can I really fire it?”
At the mage’s complex voice to help with the test, Surt nodded confidently.
“Of course. As I said before, you can use attack magic towards the wall under construction.”
“… … Even if it collapses, I’m not responsible for anything. I just did what you told me to do.”
“Arthur. That won’t happen.”
Woo-woo-!
The magical energy that shone from the tip of the wizard’s wand took shape and shot out. A magic that only exists to completely destroy the enemy. It was an Explosion.
Since he was a fairly high-ranking person, he possessed enough magic power, so the red sphere contained explosive power that could easily knock down an ordinary stone wall.
SHE EYE!
Explosion’s waves flew off like that and hit the rough-looking stone wall.
The wizard, who predicted the wave that would follow, closed his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to see it.
but… … .
Kwagwagwang!!
“Oh, this can’t be… … !”
“hmm!”
The high-level flame magic that exploded as it touched the castle wall, was truly astonishingly extinguished, leaving only a little bit of smoke. It really didn’t do even the slightest damage.
Surtur smiled broadly as he looked at the intact castle wall.
“Heh heh heh! After all, this design is a structure that can absorb shock to the maximum! Perfect!”
Surtur smiled like that, and on the paper in his hand, the ‘Fortress of Heaven’ that was to be completed in the past was drawn as it was.
triple wall. With the Dwarf’s unique construction technology added to it, it was literally a dense fortress.
It was going exactly as planned. It is not far to create a literally invincible fortress.
“good! Next let’s try out other properties! Even if you change the distance or mix different magics in a complex way… … There are many things to try out today!”
At that moment, a dwarf hurriedly came to Surt who was about to continue the experiment.
“Very, Captain!”
“hmm? What’s going on?”
“Finally, a letter from the royal castle has arrived!”
“what?!”
At the words of the clan, Surt hurriedly ran out, forgetting about the experiment. Then, he hurriedly received the letter that had arrived and checked its contents.
Eventually, after reading the entire letter, Surtur’s expression brightened beyond expectation.
“Finally, the black iron is coming into the hands of the clan!”
Now was not the time for this.
Surtur, who suddenly came to his senses, headed somewhere. And what was there was an old book that had been passed down from generation to generation in the clan.
Surt’s hand, carefully caressing the old book, trembled slightly with emotion.
“at las.”
It was a task that I would not have dared to attempt in that barren land. It was a cursed land where all the remaining ore veins, let alone heuk iron, couldn’t find even usable ore with all their lives.
Wasn’t that why they didn’t dry up like that?
But not now.
Unlimited full manpower support. A plain that became their nest entirely. And above all, even the quantity of Heukcheol that came in with the most important Magic Stone.
The opportunity to unleash their hidden specialties finally came to them.
“… … The essence of dwarf technology.”
It’s a family’s longing that transcends an individual’s.
It was a very long wait, having endured for hundreds of years.