Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Song of Iron (2)

#25

The sky of the Steel District was blue.

Even though noon had passed the heat was still raging.

Bran spoke to a peddler pulling a stall.

“One bottle of orange please. A clear one.”

“Here receive it. Seven silver coins.”

“My fist does not recognize people elder. I’ll give you just one chance to recover the mistake.”

“······Sorry. Just give one coin.”

Lowering his gaze slightly the peddler held out the bottle containing orange liquid.

Tat! Snatching the bottle as if snatching Bran turned back and muttered.

“Pathetic things. Anyway if the outsider vibe shows they try to rip off first.”

It was a type that exists everywhere where tourists flock.

Trying to sell at seven times not even double. Just fall and crack your forehead.

“Anyway arrived. My memory is still usable.”

About thirty minutes were consumed until arriving at the Steel District.

Because the structure of the city matched what he saw in the game finding the way was not difficult.

It might sound arrogant but he had confidence to arrive at the destination even wearing a blindfold.

As long as he doesn’t encounter things like the Iron Bull that received assassination instruction,

“Still doing that? Anyway.”

“B-Bran too··· uup.”

Kale could not answer in time and covered his mouth.

Because Bran crossed the city in a straight line while doing all sorts of parkour.

He succeeded in dramatically shortening the time, but the human rights of the one slung over the shoulder were not guaranteed.

“Huk, too much··· not even listening to my words···.”

“Stop the exaggeration and raise your head. I came to a place with good scenery to show you.”

“Uung···?”

It was a place on the hill where the Steel District was visible at a glance.

The moment Kale raised his face covered in tears, the scenery symbolizing Valkeros unfolded before his eyes.

“······Amazing.”

The tears stopped.

A large-scale industrial complex was formed across the plain with its back to the Red Mountains.

Steel mills and forges, precision processing plants that manufacture golem parts.

The industrial facilities revealed like a giant’s bones boasted a majesty not inferior to modern industrial complexes.

“There, come quickly!”

“J-journeyman! Let’s go together!”

“Yes. You mean a hundred thousand training longswords? Not ten thousand, make a hundred thousand by next week··· just fucked.”

“Miners working in the Red Mountains keep going missing. Worrying.”

Blacksmiths and their assistants, miners, tourists from other places were busily wandering the streets.

The atmosphere was clearly different from the Wrought Iron District which is a neighborhood that only sleeps.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of striking iron was heard from all sides.

Dozens of industrial magic golems mixed in the crowd were busily carrying materials.

“Drive with your mind sharp. Some crazy guy caused an accident in the Wrought Iron District.”

“Muuuu.”

The Iron Bull that tried to kill Leodorn was also frequently visible.

The giant carts they pulled were filled with iron ore mined from the mines of the Red Mountains.

Literally the city of fire and steel!

Bran poked Kale’s side.

“How is it. Awesome.”

“Uung. Really···.”

“We have to go further inside. Before going drink this all the way.”

Bran held out the potion he bought from the peddler earlier to Kale.

“What is this?”

“Heat resistance potion. From now we’re going deep inside, ordinarily you can’t endure without drinking that.”

“But why only one bottle··· b-by any chance was Bran drinking it?”

Kale asked carefully. The appearance of glancing at the bottle mouth was detestable.

Bran shook his head.

“No. I’ll try to endure.”

There was a need to train himself as if breathing.

Especially in cases riding a physical build like himself.

All actions of enduring or overcoming are directly connected to the growth of stats.

Anyway look at this guy.

Tak! Bran punched Kale’s head.

“Ack! Why hit?!”

“Because a man being clean is annoying. Are you some young lady?”

“Th-that meaning I asked was not··· anyway I’ll drink well!”

Gulp gulp. Kale hurriedly downed the potion.

The two began to walk along the main road.

On the way they each bought a backpack and carried it on their backs. They can’t carry the sack forever.

“Anyway really wide... I think it’s the widest road I’ve seen while living.”

Looking around Kale admired.

The main road incomparably wide and long compared to the Wrought Iron District was one of the arteries of the empire.

At the end of the distant road one high tower was rising.

“Is that the Steel Tower?”

“Right. The second masterpiece made by the legendary blacksmith Valkeros.”

Even from afar the majesty was considerable.

The symbol of great industry. However a tower holding a dark secret.

It was different from the destination going now, but a place that must be visited later.

“Second? What is the first?”

“It will come out soon. This way.”

“Uat!”

Bran grabbed Kale’s wrist and sharply changed direction.

It was a path leading to the industrial complex in earnest.

Smoke was rising over countless chimneys.

“Damn. Definitely getting hotter.”

Bran held the neck area of the shirt and flapped it.

Sweat flows in streams. As they moved steps inward the temperature was rising.

Thinking of what is inside there it is a natural thing.

The sound of blacksmiths hammering was gradually getting louder.

“Hiiik. Are you okay Bran? Your face is red like an apple···!”

“Not okay.”

“A-as expected···? Just in case I left it so will you drink this?”

Kale shook the potion bottle.

About 30 percent was still left and sloshing.

When Bran shook his head, Kale muttered while pouting his lips.

“···Just drink it. I didn’t even put my mouth much.”

Somehow there was a sign of regretting.

The heart of taking care is admirable but it could not be so.

Originally the path of training is harsh.

Walking about thirty more minutes a crater whose diameter reached hundreds of meters revealed itself.

The heat warming the Steel District was rising from below there.

Hwaaaaak!

The hot wind that surged from under the feet flipped the two people’s bangs.

“Kwaak! Hot!”

“Keum···!”

It was heat that even Kale who drank the heat resistance potion was horrified by.

Bran raised his hand and pointed below.

“That is the heart of Valkeros the Dragon Heart Furnace.”

In the exact center of the crater one mechanical device larger than an average building was blazing.

Its shape resembled a heart. Tens of thousands of heat lines sending flames were extending centered on the mechanical device.

“The first masterpiece of Valkeros I mentioned earlier. A device that supplies heat to the entire city beyond the Steel District, and it has never gone out once since it was made.”

“A-amazing··· but if it’s the Dragon Heart Furnace is it really made with a dragon’s heart?”

“Because it’s not that it’s a more amazing item. Valkeros made the mechanical device inspired by the heart of an ancient dragon. It can be said to be an item at the forefront of mortal technology.”

The Dragon Heart Furnace sends the heat it created to the entire Steel District like a real heart.

Because the closer to the Dragon Heart Furnace the hotter flames can be supplied, the forges of renowned blacksmiths were all located along the edge of the crater.

“Hehe, as expected Beudum your weapon is the best. There is value in coming to this hell of fire!”

“Hehe, you have an eye for seeing. This unique wave pattern can only be seen in this forge.”

“Not for nothing this year’s blacksmith! Hahaha!”

Even quite a lot of people were going back and forth to the forges while chattering.

People who came to obtain good weapons even while drinking expensive resistance potions.

In a forge where people were particularly flocking some dwarf was surrounded by the crowd while boasting about his work.

“Wow. There are so many people. Is that person the one who makes the best?”

“No. No way.”

Bran clicked his tongue.

Even in the neighborhood of artisans there are braggarts. He knew well the fact that a true skilled artisan never reveals his appearance in front of others.

“All dog eyes. The artisan we have to meet is below there.”

“Uum··· so··· under that crater?”

“Exactly. Your sense has improved Kale.”

Bran smiled and patted his head.

Looking well an old staircase was installed along the inner wall of the crater.

Despair settled on Kale’s face.

“Lady Rawiena···.”

Because of Bran he could not scream for conscience’s sake.

The two went down the crater over almost ten minutes.

Thud···! Thud···!

The operating sound of the Dragon Heart Furnace reminiscent of a dragon’s pulse was ringing out in a slow beat.

Because of the heat wave that burst out regularly it was difficult to open the eyes.

“B-Bran? You’re alive right?”

“······.”

Kale asked but Bran could not answer.

The moment he opened his mouth it seemed the heat would burn the insides.

If he had not raised attribute resistance and Mental Power, Endurance he would have run out crying long ago.

『You are continuously overcoming a harsh environment. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The growth speed of Endurance increases slightly!』

The spec rise due to Weed’s Tenacity was the only consolation.

Endurance is always right. As expected men are stamina.

Advancing forward like that, some stone building came into the two people’s vision.

“Found···! That··· is the forge!”

“T-to build a building in a place like that!”

Kale was astonished.

The old forge was built in a position not even a hundred steps away from the Dragon Heart Furnace.

Every time the Dragon Heart Furnace pulsed the building also vibrated together.

On the stone door that was all breaking “Song of Iron” was written as the trade name.

Entering the forge Bran wiped his face.

“Haaaa··· damn. I feel like I can live now.”

“Heek··· heek··· uung, definitely.”

Here was also insanely hot but better than outside.

Kale also caught his breath along. The interior of the forge took the appearance of a typical forge.

Tools including hammers and anvils were scattered, and a brazier directly connected to the Dragon Heart Furnace was rising upright.

Hundreds of weapons and armor presumed to be practice works were scattered everywhere.

Then.

“Who has come?”

“Hik.”

An unfamiliar voice was heard from inside the forge.

A delicate tone unlike an artisan.

The two turned their heads at the same time.

The voice was coming from the room inside the corridor, precisely from beyond the partition made of iron plates.

“If you want the weapon you intend to use yourself come closer, if not get out.”

“···Yes?”

“I can tell without looking. You also came instead after receiving the master’s request right? For merchants or politicians who don’t even know how to hold a sword properly.”

It was a tone like an AI secretary with wrong coding.

Just as he was about to ask back what that means.

Slaaaash!

The iron plate serving as a partition split in half and a slender man revealed himself.

“Will you go out only after tasting the bitter taste in the end?”

“Hieeeek?!”

Kale was horrified.

In the man’s left hand a sharp longsword was gripped.

A famous sword. An edge that seemed it would cut even water was flowing along the silver surface.

The man who charged with a strange kiai swung the sword diagonally.

“Kiyop!”

“This is a bit much.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

Even though it was a situation he expected it was dumbfounding.

Drawing a dagger from his pants he rushed forward.

Kaaang!

As sword and sword met a sharp metallic sound rang out.

“Nice to meet you. Bilmoris.”

“Um···! Not bad.”

The man called Bilmoris retreated as if bounced.

Instead of answering Bran’s greeting, he admired while looking at his own hand that was whining.

“Good resonance! Judging by the height of the sword a swordsman with small stature but equipped with basics. Especially the strong strength standing out compared to the physique, you have sufficient qualification to become my customer!”

“An accurate evaluation. To the point of giving goosebumps.”

He stood facing him after putting the dagger in.

It was Bilmoris’s specialty, and a ritual that a person who came to request a weapon from him experiences once.

“Please forgive the rudeness. If I don’t do this miscellaneous things cling persistently.”

“I understand. The one who came together is not a combatant so please omit the test.”

“Aha, I thought the presence was too gentle somehow.”

Bilmoris nodded.

Kale was completely dumbfounded while watching the two’s conversation.

What is all that talk? Resonance? Test?

However, even in that confusion there was something that caught the gaze.

“Fairy···!”

Kale’s eyes widened.

He noticed only now. Bilmoris’s ears were long like grass leaves.

Although the form was distorted due to burns it maintained the form enough to notice his race.

An unimaginable combination.

Human or dwarf maybe but a fairy blacksmith?

Moreover that was not the only strange point.

The fairy Bilmoris said.

“Yes. I cannot see the front. The so-called blind.”

“Huk.”

Kale gasped.

It was just as he was looking at the man’s eyes.

They were clearly open but the focus did not match.

The pupils tinged green like a bush had completely lost light and were turbidly sunk.

“I am a sailor lured by the siren’s song, a traveler who put his hand into a snake den to pick up gold coins. As the price of being enchanted by the beauty of cold iron I lost the light. But thanks to that I obtained the hottest fire of the dragon in my hand.”

“It means he lost his sight because he worked near the fire for too long. The dragon’s fire refers to the Dragon Heart Furnace.”

“Hehe, a clear explanation. You got it exactly right.”

Hearing Bran’s commentary Bilmoris snapped his fingers.

Even when seeing beyond the monitor, he was a character full of personality.

‘How fortunate to have fallen at a time when he is still alive.’

Bilmoris Adeline.

A blacksmith who easily ranks in the top five in the world of Return Road.

Ordinary blacksmiths rank dwarves as the best, but the mad obsession of giving up even sight and the unique sense of fairies placed him in the position of an irreplaceable artisan.

Bilmoris tilted his head.

“But were we acquaintances? You treated me too familiarly so I forgot.”

“Actually we’ve never met. Still I know at least that you are the most outstanding blacksmith in the Steel District.”

“The most outstanding blacksmith··· I’m curious on what basis you say that. Honestly there are not many customers who come looking for me. Since the most people flock to Beudum’s forge, isn’t he the most outstanding blacksmith?”

It was a voice mixed with laughter.

If Beudum it was the dwarf with excellent showmanship seen earlier.

From here is important.

Clearing his throat, Bran recited the lines he had prepared.

“But Beudum’s weapons have no soul.”

“······What did you just say?”

“They had no soul. I saw his equipment on the way coming anyway but it did not meet expectations. Just flashy and somehow...”

“Damn it, that’s exactly it!!”

Bilmoris stood up abruptly.

Putting the sword down he grabbed both of Bran’s shoulders.

“The swords that shorty made are just iron rods! A kid who should make farm tools··· ah, of course I’m not disparaging the category of farm tools. That is also the farmers’ noble war tool. Anyway that child Beudum absolutely does not have the skill to act arrogantly as a weapon artisan!”

“Dwarf average what. Cool your anger.”

“Ooh, who are you who suddenly came and made me this happy?”

“The introduction is late. My name is Bran. The friend next to me is Kale.”

Bran introduced himself and at the same time opened the chest received from Leodorn.

And he handed one ore called Numerite to Bilmoris.

“I came because I want to make a weapon with this. To you the best blacksmith in Valkeros.”

“W-wait. This touch and weight is surely···.”

Bilmoris dragged out the end of his words.

The eyes that could not see the front were widening as if they would pop out.

After stroking the lump of stone a few times he shouted again.

“I-is it real? Is what I’m touching now Numerite?”

“Yes. It is.”

“My god. How does a young human like you have this?!”

It seemed a rare experience even for Bilmoris who had lived hundreds of years.

It is not unreasonable.

Because Numerite was an ore that rare.

A unique material that Bran had only seen twice so far.

Unlike other items that can be obtained through effort and knowledge it could only be eaten if “luck” was purely good.

The effect as a single material is mass change.

A miracle metal that can become light as a feather or heavy as rebar depending on the user’s skill.

‘The function most needed for the current me. I can only say the luck was unbelievably good.’

If everything loaded on Leodorn’s wagon was Numerite, he would be able to not only return to the White Silver Pine Merchant Group but even aim for the position of the next merchant group lord.

Bran humbly shook his head.

“Just the luck was good.”

“It is not a material that can be obtained simply because luck was good··· no, no. That kind of thing is not important!”

Bilmoris pounded his chest.

“Trust me. Entrust it to this Bilmoris Adelian. I will create a work that is not ashamed of the great Dragon Heart Furnace.”

“I trust. Of course.”

“I am only grateful. This, I’m worried about what catalyst to weave the Numerite with.”

Catalyst meant the sub-material used in high-grade equipment.

Not only minerals but various substances could be used, and there were even mad blacksmiths who put living creatures as catalysts.

Even if made under exactly the same conditions the effect of the weapon changed in myriad ways depending on what catalyst was used.

If using a salamander’s tongue as catalyst a flame damage option attaches, if using eternal snow flower as catalyst a cold damage option attaches, and so on.

Bran raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, I brought the catalyst too.”

“Yes?”

Bran took out a small sack from the backpack as if he had been waiting.

The sack that was all worn and torn was the one he had carried since looting Blackstone Fortress.

Rummaging the sack he took out one bottle made of metal and held it out.

“Use this. In some ways it’s more precious than Numerite.”

“Haha, the joke is severe. Of course there are materials like that, but ordinarily···”

“It’s Harmeno’s sap. Extracted from the deepest part of the trunk.”

“······Yes?”

“That Three Dragon Tree Harmeno right. Fairies call it the dragon that wraps the earth?”

The laughter disappeared from Bilmoris’s face.

Ah, Harmeno. The tree that gives without reserve.