AWOOOO! AWOO!
At the entrance to Oxhorn Pass, wolf pups howled as though welcoming us inside.
My plan was simple.
There was no proper place to tie up the horses, and stopping would only waste time anyway, so I intended to leave in the evening and ride through the night.
‘It’s a two-day journey. A day and a half should be enough.’
That was my goal.
However—
“Merchant Company Head!”
“Yes?”
“The horses are completely exhausted!”
—I had no choice but to admit my mistake.
I had forgotten that although transport horses were faster than mules, their stamina could not compare.
Whew. Everblack was still full of energy, though.
“Then… shall we rest for a little while before continuing?”
“Excellent! But when will you teach me that?”
“What do you mean?”
“That thing you mentioned last time. The overhead strike and… spin… spin….”
“Spinning Strike(Rotating Strike)?”
“Yes! That!”
“…….”
Lately, Garen asked me to teach him whenever he had the chance.
Anyway, which one should I teach him first?
The Overhead Strike was powerful in a one-on-one fight, while the Spinning Strike was efficient against multiple enemies.
Of course, each had its uses depending on the situation….
‘The Overhead Strike would be better, but I’ll teach him an applied version.’
I raised my head and looked at my ‘first disciple.’
“What I’m going to teach you is very simple. You link defense directly into an attack.”
“Ooh— That is possible?!”
My first disciple’s eyes gleamed with uncomfortable intensity.
“Good. First, imagine shoving with the side that has the prosthetic arm. Bump with your shoulder—like you’re driving forward with your whole body.”
“And then?”
“Ride the recoil as it is. Once your body moves, don’t stop. Twist your waist and let the sword follow your rotation. The power must come from your body, not your arms.”
“So I should let it flow naturally?”
“Exactly.”
As expected, he understood quickly.
Teaching him was satisfying.
“Push, turn, and strike down—finish all three in a single breath.”
“Ah!”
“Push as you inhale, then strike down as you exhale. Don’t force it with your arms. Leave it to your body.”
My disciple nodded and took his stance.
“Like this?”
“Yes. Try swinging once.”
“Yes, sir!”
WHIP!, WHOOOOSH— CRAAASH—!
“What?!”
“Huh?”
My disciple and I cried out at the same time.
The rock had shattered into pieces.
A crack had also formed along the blade of Garen’s bastard sword… Damn it.
“Ah… Let’s stop resting and head up. We’ll have to replace your sword too.”
“Ha ha, if I had known this thing was so feeble, I would never have used it in the first place.”
STEP, STEP.
With a sharp CRACK as Garen’s sword split apart, our conversation ended there as well.
A cold wind blew past us.
Beneath the low-hanging dark clouds, the shadow of the stone mountain seeped into the moonlight.
***
After walking all night, my legs were nearly numb.
Then a familiar stone wall came into view.
The gatekeeper of Oxhorn Pass spotted me from afar and waved.
“Hey, human! You’re back?”
“Sir, have you been well?”
When I answered, he pushed the pulley and opened the gate.
RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE…… BOOOOOOM.
As I approached the gatekeeper, I tapped the scabbard.
“Thanks to the silversteel sword you gave me last time, I made it through safely.”
I smiled and shrugged.
I had another favor to ask him today, after all.
“Of course you did. Who could find fault with something I made?”
“Ha ha. I’ll buy a suit of armor next time too.”
“Just say the word. Who’s the fellow behind you? A northern barbarian?”
“Ah… no. He’s human.”
“Really? He might be the biggest human I’ve ever seen.”
“Right? Ordinary weapons don’t fit him at all. Could we look around your weapon shop later?”
I let my true intention show.
“Sure, but ready-made weapons will not be enough for a man that size. I’ll have to make him something from scratch.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“More importantly… do you have any wine to spare?”
“Heh heh heh, of course. Wine is the oil that keeps a forge running, is it not?”
“Ha ha ha, you certainly know how to make it sound convincing. Fine. Come by later.”
After passing through the village entrance, I climbed the stone road while exchanging idle chatter with Garen.
“Merchant Company Head! Are we going to look at equipment for me later?”
“That’s right. Your bastard sword shattered.”
“Ha ha, I’m looking forward to it! It will take time to get used to a new sword again.”
After walking for quite a while, an old sign came into view at the top of the hill.
[Dwarven Workshop Association]
‘It’s already been two months.’
My chest swelled for no particular reason.
I immediately pushed the door open.
CLACK—
The association head, wearing a monocle, welcomed me with both arms spread wide.
“Mikael! I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Yes, Association Head. Have you been well?”
Even as I greeted him, my gaze was directed elsewhere.
He held a glass of wine that looked freshly poured.
‘What is that? I don’t think it’s our wine….’
“Nothing unusual happened, did it?”
“Of course not, ha ha. Did you not finish all the wine I gave you last time?”
“I did. While you were away, the Arise Merchant Company came by and gave us some wine as a gift.”
‘…The Arise Merchant Company? They’ve extended their reach into wine too?’
Sweat formed on my forehead.
They said there was no one in the world you could trust.
They were not trying to muscle into this tiny market, were they?
“Where is the wine from?”
“I heard they even produce wine near the capital.”
The association head emptied his glass and clicked his tongue in satisfaction.
“The sunlight is weak around the capital, so the grapes probably have less sugar.”
“Have you ever been to the capital? In any case, the wine you brought tastes better.”
“…I haven’t. Thank you. Heh heh.”
Whew. I stroked my chest in relief.
“By the way, did you bring the wine we contracted for last time?”
“Of course. This time I brought three times as much as before. A full three hundred crates!”
Without realizing it, I placed subtle emphasis on ‘three hundred crates.’
Yet the association head’s expression darkened.
Was there a problem?
“Can you not get any more? Three hundred crates per quarter is far too little.”
“That’s the limit of the farm I buy from. Still, I’ll look into it one more time!”
“Is that so? Understood. Let’s inspect the goods first.”
Ah, what a relief.
It seemed to be selling far better than I had expected.
Garen and I unloaded all three hundred crates of wine.
“…….”
Only the final hurdle remained.
‘What price should I set this time?’
There was a reason I was hesitating.
The previous deal had been an exceptional transaction far outside the normal range.
I had made a huge profit because of the wartime demand, but that had only been a stroke of luck.
Things were different now.
Marcella’s wine supply would recover soon as well.
If I insisted on the previous unit price, the deal would fall through….
But I could not hand it over for next to nothing either….
“The silver per crate will be—”
“Wait, about that.”
The association head cut me off and continued.
“Our association spent a considerable amount of money expanding the warehouse this time. Could you accept twenty-five silver coins per crate?”
“Twenty-five?”
“In return, I’ll see whether I can find some other way to help you.”
The wine cost twelve silver coins per crate to purchase, and I could sell it for eighteen at the Southern Market.
Twenty-five silver coins was better than I had expected.
Contrary to how I felt, I pretended to be disappointed at least once.
“Hmm… that does put me in a difficult position….”
“Does it…?”
“But we aren’t strangers anymore, are we? I’ll give it to you at that price.”
Business was about connections.
Of course, I had only learned that recently myself.
“……What did you say we are?”
“I mean… we’re close.”
“Hmm, what a strange way to put it. In any case, thank you.”
THUD! CLINK-CLINK.
Before long, seventy-five gold coins rested in my hands.
Their heavy weight pressed against my palms.
Now it was my turn to buy.
“I’m planning to purchase something this time too.”
“Are you? Weapons or steel?”
“Marine Steel.”
“Are you planning to build a ship?”
“I’m planning to sell it to someone who does.”
Marine Steel(Maritime Steel).
It was also called Sea Steel for short.
It was a type of steel specialized for shipbuilding.
Because of its resistance to corrosion and salt, it was mainly used for hull plating and propulsion shafts.
“Is that so? In any case, you came to the right place. Wait here for a moment.”
The association head’s eyes gleamed.
It seemed I had indeed come to the right address.
THUD—
He went to the counter, brought back several lumps of steel, and arranged them in front of me.
“This one is from the Bromir Workshop, and that one is from the Eisen Workshop. Even though they are both Marine Steel, they feel different.”
“Are their compositions different?”
The corners of the association head’s mouth rose slightly.
“Ha ha, I suppose I need to start by explaining molten iron. What humans call steel is what first comes out of the furnace.”
“Right.”
“But refining that steel again is the workshop’s responsibility. The ratios of the materials differ, and each workshop cools it at a different speed. That is where a workshop’s touch comes in. Shall I give you an example?”
The association head’s eyes began to shine more and more brightly.
‘Ah, this….’
He looked ready to launch into a long speech.
I instinctively waved my hands.
“Ah, no. That’s quite all—”
“—Bromir mixes in ore powder to make it resistant to rust, while Eisen reduces the fire’s breath to soften the grain. And besides that….”
His explanation went on without end.
In the end, what he meant was that each workshop refined the steel from the furnace again in its own way.
‘If what the association head says is true… that could be a problem.’
It was not that I doubted the dwarves’ technical skill, but—
‘A “workshop’s touch” sounds nice. In reality, the quality must vary wildly.’
My head throbbed.
“It’s late today, so tomorrow I’ll visit both workshops, inspect them myself, and then buy.”
“Ha ha ha, you are not doubting us, are you?”
“Of course not. I just can’t decide which one to choose. I might even buy from both!”
“Very well, very well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
***
After leaving the association, Garen and I headed to the gatekeeper’s arms shop.
“Sir, I’m here!”
“Ah, there you are.”
The gatekeeper wiped his apron with his forearm and smirked.
“You’re here to find a weapon for that giant, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Well, have him pick up anything he likes over there. If none of them suit him, I’ll have to make something new.”
The weapons he indicated with his chin stood lined up in a row, all of them suited for men of enormous size.
Garen strode forward and picked up a two-handed axe.
“Merchant Company Head! Does this one not look good?”
“No. Two-handed axes are weapons used by northern barbarians.”
“You mean barbarians? I would not lose to those fellows in strength either!”
“Then I suppose there’s nothing more for me to teach you.”
At the implication that our master-disciple relationship would end, Garen’s shoulders drooped.
A moment later, he picked up a sword.
“Then what about this? It’s similar to the one I used before!”
“No. You’ve graduated from bastard swords now. It’s time to move on to a greatsword.”
“What? But that is somewhat heavy—”
“—One moment.”
I cautiously broached the subject with the gatekeeper.
“Can you not make a light greatsword?”
“A light one… Hmph. A lump of iron cannot become a feather.”
“Come on, you’re an artisan.”
He scratched the tip of his nose, then raised one corner of his mouth.
“Fine. Since you brought it up, let’s try. Do you have a material in mind?”
I would have liked to use the finest materials, such as mithril, adamantium, or orichalcum, but… I did not have enough money yet.
“Would silversteel not be suitable?”
“Yes, it can be made from silversteel. But it will cost you twice as much as steel—no, three times as much.”
“That’s fine. There’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Something that wraps around from the forearm of his prosthetic arm to his shoulder. It would serve as a shield, but he could also strike an opponent with his shoulder…. Could you make something like that?”
The gatekeeper’s eyes flashed.
“Hah, that is an interesting idea. You mean to use it not merely as a pauldron, but as an impact brace(impact device)?”
“Yes, exactly. Equipment that can serve as a shoulder shield while also letting him ram into an enemy with his body.”
“…It will be heavy, and it might throw off his balance.”
He stroked his beard for a moment, then chuckled.
“…Still, it sounds entertaining to make.”
Just then—
“COUGH! COUGH!”
An obviously forced cough sounded behind us.
It was Garen.
‘What is he doing now…?’
“Merchant Company Head, one moment.”
“Yes?”
Looking deeply embarrassed, he approached me and spoke in a low voice.
“If I… purchase both of them, I do not think I will have any money left.”
“Ha ha ha, don’t worry. I’m buying them.”
“What?! Truly?”
“Exactly as I said. Think of it as something only natural between master and disciple… Ah, or as an employee benefit.”
“Is that true? Thank you, Merchant Company Head!”
The gatekeeper stared at us as though he could not believe what he was seeing.
“Even if I work as quickly as possible, it will take two days.”
“All right. Then I’ll come back tomorrow.”
And with that, our first day at Oxhorn Pass came to an end.
***
AWOOOOO!!
The next morning, my eyes opened on their own at the sound of wolves howling.
‘When do those day-old pups ever sleep?’
I grumbled under my breath and sat up.
Garen had already left for the arms shop.
Apparently, they needed to take his measurements.
I headed to the association.
“I’m here.”
“So, are you planning to inspect the Eisen Workshop first?”
“Well… could I see the furnace before that?”
The association head adjusted his monocle and looked at me.
“What? Yesterday you said you wanted to inspect the workshops.”
“Ah, ha ha… about that. I wanted to take a look at the furnace too.”
I scratched my head as I answered.
There was something I needed to verify.
“Hmm. As a rule, we do not show it to outsiders.”
“Then I suppose I cannot—”
“What was it you said…? That we were not strangers? I’ll make a special exception and show you.”
A small laugh escaped me.
The old man learned quickly.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH.
We climbed a mountainside that could hardly be called a path.
“The terrain is quite steep….”
“Ha ha, we are almost there. This is the place.”
He led the way a little farther up the slope.
Halfway up the mountainside, a massive furnace was embedded between the rocks.
Red molten metal slowly flowed down inside the stone wall, while a waterwheel beside it turned at a leisurely pace and pumped in air.
The smoke quickly dispersed into the fog.
WHOOOOSH. WHOOOOSH.
As we approached the furnace, the air shimmered heavily.
“Ugh…….”
“We are not even close yet, and it is already hot, is it not? Heh heh.”
“Not at all. I’m fine.”
We lowered our bodies and slowly stepped into the gusts belched out by the flames.
As we drew closer, my ears began to ring.
And—
At last, the furnace revealed its full form before my eyes.
“Wow…….”
That was the first word to leave my mouth when I saw it.
It was so vast that it looked as though an entire mountain had been hollowed out.
Red molten metal flowed slowly down inside the stone wall, while blackened dross quietly swelled across its surface.
“This passes for now.”
“What did you say?!”
“Ah, nothing! I’m going to look around a little more. It’s fascinating!”
“Is it? Shall I explain it to you?”
“I can’t hear you!”
After suitably avoiding another of the association head’s speeches, I calmly examined the furnace.
As I looked more closely, one thing kept bothering me.
“What does that do?”
“That? It is the device that pumps in air. The waterwheel turns it and feeds the flames.”
A copper pipe was embedded in one side of the stone wall. Air was drawn through the passage, and the flames surged in response.
“But only one is working.”
“…There used to be two. The lower one became blocked long ago.”
“Why?”
“Because we stopped using it.”
“Why did you stop using it…?”
“Fewer people came to the village because of those damned wolves.”
“…….”
“So one was enough. In the end, the bellows went unused for so long that the axle seized.”
He gazed into the flames for a moment and muttered.
“There was a time when even two were not enough.”
“But I’m trading with you now. Repair it quickly.”
“Ha ha….”
“If you fed it just one more stream of air, you could expand the furnace(hearth) itself.”
“You make it sound easy. Copper costs money, and so does labor.”
“Hmm….”
“The fire remains the same… but our hammering no longer has the strength it once did.”
It was a sad story, but calculations were already running through my head.
If I could obtain steel from Oxhorn Pass, only two days away, there would be no reason to travel all the way to the northern mountains.
‘This could work.’
“Then… may I invest in it the next time I come?”
“Invest?”
“Yes. An investment.”
At that moment, the site of my first munitions factory was decided.