Chapter 50

Chapter Twenty-Four The Central Workshop

With a mindset full of curiosity about this new world, I followed Duke and Pasifale in a horned carriage to the Central Workshop.

Then we got off.

“Miss Sylviega, welcome to the Central Workshop. Here we have the best steel swords and the strongest armor in the world. All knights above the rank of Captain in the Holy Church use armor and weapons provided by the Central Workshop.”

In my imagination, the Central Workshop would be a medium-sized smithy with various facilities for metallurgy. There would be a group of bare-chested, bearded men… perhaps even dwarves that almost every Western fantasy novel features. They would be sweating profusely, guarding the furnaces, continuously blowing air into the tuyeres with bellows, or striking metal on an anvil with hammers, making “ding-dong” sounds.

But when I stood before it, looking at those towering blast furnaces, my petite figure was overshadowed by their huge shadows. Only then did I realize, this is indeed another world—

Even without gunpowder, they could develop metallurgy to such an extent. Although I didn’t understand much, I could see that mass production on this scale was certainly feasible.

“How is it, Pepé? Our workshop is impressive, right?”

Beside me, Pasifale noticed me spacing out and immediately showed a proud smile, exuding an annoyingly smug vibe like a child showing off a toy. I couldn’t help but find it amusing.

How could someone so grown-up still act so childish? It’s not easy.

And who said “our” workshop…

“Nonsense! Pasifale, how many times do I have to tell you? Watch your words! What do you mean ‘our’ workshop? The Central Workshop is the result of centuries of painstaking efforts by the Valen Empire, involving countless generations of hard work…”

“The Duke has taken over ownership of the workshop, hasn’t he? Isn’t it ours now!”

“Pasifale, this is your final warning.”

“All right, old man, I get it. You’re just worried they might have some ideas—”

“Shut up!”

Not paying attention to what they were saying, I curiously looked at the large buildings nearby, which emitted thick smoke, unsure if they were workshops or furnaces. I couldn’t help but silently marvel at human greatness in my heart.

The owner of this great workshop, the younger brother of the Emperor of the Valen Empire, who could almost be considered the most powerful merchant in the world, was currently scolding his son in front of me.

Holding a bitten piece of Captain Gray, I followed the Duke into the workshop. The snow underfoot had mostly melted, and the alternating cold and hot air constantly hit my face, while I could faintly smell the special scent of molten metal.

Occasionally, tiny bits of slag would fall onto my skirt, leaving light traces when brushed away.

“Achoo—”

After sneezing, I rubbed my sore nose and suddenly felt a bit regretful.

This place was dirty and hot, and the air wasn’t good either. Why did I come here to mess around? I should have stayed in the castle and taken a nap instead.

Carlos went to the parish today and didn’t come with us. Thinking about this, I felt a bit angry. That damn man definitely knew what the Central Workshop was like. He knew I don’t like dirty environments, yet he didn’t warn me and snuck off alone.

It’s too hateful. I need to think of a way to beat him up in the next couple of days.

To adjust my suddenly deteriorating mood, I focused on the frequent workshop hunters. These people almost all wore leather armor, with wide cloaks, and at most, they would have protective plating on their shoulders, knees, and chest.

(Translation continues…)

—

Please note that the last sentence was cut off in the original text, so the translation reflects that as well.

Submissive, we walked for half a day but didn’t see a single person wearing light armor or chainmail.

I gently bit my fingernail, feeling very puzzled by this situation. Logically, the Central Workshop shouldn’t be so stingy as to not provide decent armor for their hunters, which was clearly impossible. But why then were there no armored people?

How could these hunters possibly defeat those knights fully armed in that case?

… Stop guessing. A good child should ask when they don’t understand.

“Why don’t they wear armor?”

“You mean the Suntel army? They all use cunning weapons. Cunning weapons require high flexibility of the body, and heavy armor is inherently contradictory to that. Wearing those would greatly reduce the advantage of the weapon. In combat, one must wait for the right moment and strike to kill, I’ve always trained them this way.”

“Even if the enemy is wearing armor, it doesn’t matter?”

Duke Scarrige laughed at this.

“Hahaha! Miss Silvija, do you know why cunning weapons are the true core technology of the Central Workshop?”

I shook my head.

“That’s because the basic material used to forge them isn’t iron or steel, but a special crystal. This crystal has excellent plasticity and its hardness and toughness far exceed that of steel. Made into blades, they can easily pierce through armor. In other words, the heavier the enemy’s armor, the easier it is for the user of the cunning weapon to win. Do you understand? The most impressive thing about the Central Workshop isn’t designing these powerful weapons, but the technique of smelting crystals, which can only be achieved here. Cunning weapons will never be publicly sold.”

As the duke spoke, craftsmen passing by would respectfully bow to him, and I saw genuine respect in their eyes. Clearly, Duke Scarrige held a very high position in their hearts, unlike an ordinary ruler.

“This side is the metallurgical industry, the most core area of the Central Workshop. The silver armor that young Carlos often wears is made here, but none of these suits you. There are many girls’ clothes sold on the west side of the workshop, all the latest fashion styles, and the quality is also guaranteed. Would Miss Silvija like to take a look?”

The duke spoke to me as if he were talking to a child, and I looked at him expressionlessly, inwardly sneering.

Hmph, does he really think I would be moved by such shallow external things?

But speaking of which, the Central Workshop even has girls’ clothing. It seems they can make anything. I originally thought it was just a place for weightlifting… Are those clothes really beautiful?

Well… Although I’m not very willing, since the duke personally invited me, it wouldn’t be too bad to go take a look. It would be a favor to him.

Just as I was about to speak, a gentle breeze blew, carrying furnace ashes floating in the air, straight towards me.

I was startled and immediately closed my eyes and mouth tightly. After the wind passed, I quickly wiped my cheeks with my sleeve, then combed my hair. Suddenly, I remembered that I still had the Captain Gray in my other hand, which I hadn’t finished eating yet.

I hurriedly looked down, and saw that it was already covered with fine ash.

“…”

My mood suddenly became very bad. I frowned, pinching the doughnut in my hand with my thumb and index finger, hesitating whether to cut off the part with dust, pretending nothing happened and finishing it, but my inner dignity wouldn’t allow me to do so. Just as I was hesitating—

“Oh, the doughnut got dusty. What a pity, throw it away.” Percival snatched Captain Gray from my hand, and casually threw it on the ground in front of my shocked gaze.