Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki
Episode XVI: Blast Furnaces
"You've come a lot"
I smiled and asked Asur, a blue-haired girl, the head of Erin, the commercial city of the Kingdom of Corinne, to shake hands.
She looks a lot like she did in response.
"Yeah, the ceremony of the heads of the allies. Whatever you put down, I'm in."
"It's a boulder, ma'am, and I can't believe you're devoting yourself to the person who waved you!
"What are you talking about? Do you want to get paid less again?
"Hi-no, I'm kidding. That's it, that, I'm talking about your job. I'm talking about a headhunting failure."
"That's enough. And this to you."
Asur takes out the envelope and leaves it with me. The judgment of the Kingdom of Corinne is pressed on paper of unthinkable quality in this era.
I took out the letter that was inside.
"Have you read the common language?
"No problem."
Since empires and the Kingdom of Corinne were originally single nations, languages and letters are almost identical.
For this reason, what is used in these two countries is widely used as a common language. Generally speaking, being able to read letters means being able to read a common language.
What was stated was that Elsier would be officially recognised as a country by the Kingdom of Corinne and would have national traffic. Be polite, autographed by the King of the Kingdom of Corinne.
If this were a forgery, it would be such a felony that all the necks involved in the circulation of this letter would fly physically.
"You're a boulder. Dear Asur, I didn't know it would really happen."
Normally, Asur is killed.
To say that we will bond with Elsier is synonymous with hostility to the Empire. Being hostile to the Empire would mean turning it to the enemy even to its supporters.
If a representative of a city decides to do this arbitrarily, they deserve to be killed. Even I can only respond resolutely if I say that one day Klao, the chief deputy, suddenly declared war on the neighbouring country.
"Your father is sweet to me. It makes me nervous that there will be a sweet king in this country."
"And I'm here. Lady, you threatened me at the end of the day."
"I hope you don't say bad things about people. That's a negotiation."
"If you don't admit it, Erin, when you told me you were taking me to Elsier's asylum, I thought you were dead."
He's alive now.
"I killed a dozen assassins last week. Everyone's mouth was stiff, and the client didn't throw up, but maybe, the client, the lady's brothers and sisters. Because my skin is rough due to lack of sleep!
"Those people are cowardly, so I can't help it. I gave you something in return, and I paid the price, and I wonder what you're unhappy with."
"Isn't there something about the lady alive?
"Well, now and then, that's a good thing to say."
"You made it that much stronger!
I accidentally made my voice rough. What made Asur do that?
And why do you swear allegiance to Asur? Asur lives so impotently there's nothing more to it than a grudge.
The value of individuals with brave level power is very high. Even if you can't just kill all of the soldiers, if you want to, you can just let them go in alone and take the king's neck.
That is why the Empire is in no case letting the brave refrain beside the Emperor.
Negotiations are significantly disadvantaged simply because they do not have brave men, and those who possess brave men do not easily wage war against each other. Because brave men can bump into each other and lose their own brave men. Then it will be destroyed by a country that holds other brave men.
Paradoxically, it is possible that there are no brave level human beings other than those in the Kingdom of Corinne than Asur has been able to be so impotent so far.
For example, there should be any solicitation under the condition of breaking. I can't help but wonder if you are purposefully accompanied by such a troublesome woman threatening to reduce her salary.
They're holding orphan sisters hostage? Impossible. If such a palpable thing is a weakness, the hostiles of Asur are grabbing it and threatening it.
"Master Cyril, did you just stare at me and possibly fall in love with me? Well, I'm afraid of my beauty to take the groom's heart away on his wedding day. I'm afraid of the woman Aura who can. Ugh, but I'm sorry. I like the way it looks, but Cyril can't do it physiologically."
"No, I don't mean to be hairy."
What do you care? I was depressed by what they said I couldn't do physiologically.
From the first time I think about it, I've had a bad impression of me, and I've been getting all sorts of ramblings since then. Maybe there's a reason.
"Well, suppose they're the heads of the allies. Be careful what you say."
"Ma'am, I'm sorry. It's true."
"Are you doing this on purpose? Mr. Cyril, I used a somewhat forceful hand, but it's not something you care about. Originally, the empire of human supremacy and the kingdom of Corinne, which lists multiracial coexistence, were sinister, only because they were necessary to create the country I aspire to. I kept my promise."
The words that followed were not spoken but conveyed enough.
"Of course, I'll keep my word, too. A proper iron production method and workshop drawings were prepared. Guarantee maximum efficiency to the extent that it can also be achieved with industrial technologies to the extent of Erin. When the wedding is over, I'll go to Erin and coach Asur's prepared staff for three days, and then three days a month for support."
It designs a preliminary blast furnace, adjacent to the workshop what should be called its miniature version. It's better to demonstrate it, and I made it with the power of Queiro by deciding I needed my own demonstration experiment.
In Erin, Asur also chose a blast furnace when he said that there was a mine nearby and that iron ore was more readily available than sand iron.
"That would help. The staff I have prepared is excellent. I will soon absorb your guidance."
"That helps"
And you're going to get over the technology I taught you.
Erin is vibrant and new things are made one after another. That's a natural idea. We have to be vigilant.
"You don't doubt it."
"Are the contents of that envelope really out in various foreign countries?
"That's right."
"I don't believe you're a bad liar. You're not that stupid."
Elsier uses spies sneaking into Bell Elsier in reverse to gather fragments of information from various foreign countries. It is unlikely that the boulder will contain any information at all that the Kingdom of Corinne has had national relations with Elsier, even though it does not go as far as detailed information.
"Thank you. I'm glad you said that. And then you stop that salutation. I consider myself in a reciprocal position. If you keep doing that, I'm gonna have to keep it that way, too."
"Excuse me. I'll let you speak in an easy tone in the future"
That's easier for me, too.
"Hey, something to celebrate."
"I'm in awe, lady."
He brought some crates from the carriage and opened them on the spot to show them to me.
The contents are blue magnetic ceramics, clear and vibrant pales where the soul is sucked. Now, that's a terribly natural color. At first glance, I can tell it's a business. It would be worth one castle in this vessel.
"It's a common gift, but it's a couple tea bowls. I just have four for your daughter-in-law and one for your sister."
"Thank you. I'll take care of it."
"What, are you going to use it? Decorate with care."
"Ugh, tools only make sense when you use them. Any work of art."
I agree with that, too. Tools only shine when used.
"The wedding opens at lunchtime, we still have time, so let's take you to the steelmaking workshop made of prototypes. You'd be more comfortable seeing the Asurs actually make iron, wouldn't you?
"Let me sweeten your words.... And you, you built one workshop just to demonstrate?
"I usually use magic to make them, so I was anxious to give them the drawings without an empirical test."
The properties of Queiro, a dwarf, are complete control of soil and minerals. If it is made of brick or metal, even the drawings are perfect, it can be made by manipulating the metals dissolved in the magic of earth and flames.
"... Hey, Mr. Cyril. Don't bother giving me the drawings, maybe you should build a workshop in Erin?
"If the workshop is going to last forever, I will. I'll save you three days of coaching."
That said, I don't want to use [circle regression] on enemy land. It consumes most of its magic, and beyond the limit of once every twelve hours, it is more likely to die if it is attacked from scratch after calling Queiro. I want to always have insurance.
"Well, that was a stupid question. It's harder to know how to build a workshop than to get one."
"I'm glad you understand."
"... but I'd rather have one as soon as possible for now"
"Think about the tariff thing, if you promise to permanently repeal it"
I decided to stick with Asur's terms and make him give up.
"Unfortunately, you should have conditioned yourself to this first."
Asur raised her hands and laughed in the pose of lifting her.
◇
He then guided me to the blast furnace for iron production, which I built next to the old workshop I use for storage, and demonstrated iron production using iron ore and lime.
The blast furnace is mainly made of fire-resistant bricks, with long chimneys.
In the meantime, I showed it to the point of flowing iron into the mold and making swords in casting. It's just a matter of removing impurities while melting iron ore and putting the melted iron in the mold.
It doesn't take long just to light the fire and put each ingredient in the mouth where you can put lime and iron ore.
Coal itself had been found in this day and age, and I had seen it in Erin, so I used coal as fuel. A small amount of burning stone was sent out to Loreu, who sent him to buy out food for Cage Castle.
Not even charcoal can do it, but it's too inefficient and risks turning all the surrounding mountains into vulture mountains like empires.
"You're so easy to get an iron sword"
"Ma'am, that's amazing. Even the copper sword is taking more difficult steps."
"I wonder how many ideas are in this furnace to make it easy"
"If you read the material, you'll see."
"But you have coal, right? It'll cost you a lot of money. Besides, this black smoke, Erin, is going to burn because it's coal, and it looks bad for you. Could it be charcoal or something?
"I can't, but it turns out cheaper to let you go digging for coal, and if you're a tree, you need too much, and because of it, a good mountain near Erin won't be able to bald and receive the blessings of the forest in no time"
"Well, that doesn't work. It's inexpensive somewhere, and then Erin doesn't get dirty, not like coal. I wonder if we have that kind of fuel."
"There's nothing like that. Workshops are recommended to be built on the outskirts of Erin"
Still, this blast furnace takes care to remove dust with filters without drooling out smoke wherever possible.
But there are limits. Unless you use magic to make iron that doesn't affect your surroundings at all. The only way is to burn coal and scatter black dust or cut down trees in large quantities.
Brother Cyril, it's time for Cleo to dress up.
There appeared Yukino, a silver fire fox. I'm wearing the made-up clothes I designed as usual. However, he wore cute hair decorations unlike usual. You must be stylish because it's one day my wedding.
"Yukino, thank you for coming to get me. I'll be there in a little while."
"Yeah, come quick"
As Yukino stood next to me, he pulled my sleeve. I almost unconsciously stroke her head and narrow my eyes as I waved my tail.
"Mr. Cyril, my sweet sister just came to call, and I'm sorry, but could you just demonstrate it again?"
"I don't mind that, but unfortunately I ran out of coal stock now... I'll just have to substitute it with charcoal. That'll take some time, okay?
"Yeah, fine."
"Then I'll get some charcoal. Just give me a minute."
I left the scene behind.
◇
Back at the blast furnace, there was a fire in the furnace.
"How could there be fire? No way, Yukino!?
"Brother Cyril, if you want to see it made, Yukino will do it. Yukino doesn't need coal, and it's much faster. Now Brother Cyril is ready for the wedding."
Yukino had begun to make iron by throwing iron ore and lime into their respective inlets and igniting flames with his own magic, not coal.
Yukino saw and remembered my work in this blast furnace, so let's not flow. It's a trick.
Yukino's flames burned up with more heat than coal, melting iron in an instant, and the blast furnace gave full play to its function to take a glance at the impurities. Its melted iron is poured into the template.
I wanted to hold my head. This is my mistake.
I shouldn't have left Yukino alone.
"Wow. This will cost little and Erin won't get dirty"
Asur sent his more inspiring gaze to both the blast furnace and Yukino than ever before.
"Brother Cyril, it's over. Shall we?"
"Wait a minute. Yukino, I'll just talk to you a little more."
I calm down and open my mouth slowly.
"Asur, I know what you're thinking, but I will never allow that"
"What do you mean you won't allow it?
"It's about harnessing the power of the Firefox. I'll tell you what, steadily supplying as much firepower as the blast furnace needs has a particularly strong power. Gold and silver firefox, this kid and his wife Ku can only do it, and I'm not gonna let you two go."
"That's conditional on being alone, isn't it? You can take turns with just a few of them."
Sure, we could burn the flames for three of us, and after an hour, we could take a way to replace them with the next three.
Besides, if you prepare a large number of fire demon stones, even if it's not a fire fox, it's possible for a normal person.
"Don't look scared, it's nothing I'm not trying to force myself to grab. However, if you have a child who wants to live in Erin, you might as well solicit her and get her a job."
"The Firefoxes can't live in a normal city. Sooner or later, you're bound to be unhappy. Making weird temptations is something I won't condone."
"That's your assumption. I live happily ever after in Erin, and I'll protect you."
"Asur has power, and the water elite itself is a minor in the first place. If we are to lay our hands on the people of Elsier, there will be no cooperative relationship."
"That's terrible. Let me recognize it as a country, and I can't believe it's antiquated."
"Still. Even if it's a war with the Kingdom of Corinne, I won't admit it."
"Okay. Something that doesn't want to turn you against your enemies instead of something that even coal and charcoal can substitute for. I won't solicit you from me."
"Let's believe that word"
At least, Asur is not the type to break promises flat. You can trust me first.
◇
I had Klao help me get dressed in a room at the village chief's house.
Apparently, there is a courtesy that is passed down from generation to generation to the village of Elf, something of the right origin that my father also used, because he cannot be worn by himself structurally. With bright green and black based clothing, I don't even know what the material is.
I've never even seen such a substance in my past. However, what I can tell is that the material is alive.
Klao even sized it to fit my body.
What scares me is that you must have never measured my body before. It fits so perfectly that there is no more. And no matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like you've been forced to size it. It even looks brand new.
How obsessive and gutsy did you finish this garment?
"Master Cyril, you look great. Every night since I heard that this Lady Klao, Cyril, was getting married, it was worth the effort all night."
"Thank you. Klao, Klao has always helped me. I have to thank you someday."
"No, it's outrageous. Cyril has taught us so much, thank you, etc."
"That's not how it works. We have to reward those who work hard for it. This is my job as head, too."
Elsier has a lot of brain muscle, except for Klao, who can be entrusted with the task of using his head, Lucier and Khu, plus Lela, Khu's master. I avoid putting my daughter-in-law in a key position because I'm going to make a fool of myself. If Lucier or Cu sins, I will forgive them.
And I asked Lela to assist me with Klao a few times, but she says no every time. I can feel the depth of my thoughts and knowledge when I talk to her, and I really want her power and I haven't given up.
"Then could you please give me an applied edition of Cyril's teaching as a thank you, which is branded as a basic edition in the chief's understanding of what I received. Then there must be an applied edition."
"Sure, I was gonna make it, but that's not a reward for Klao, is it?
"No, it's a reward. How many graduates to fill the hole in your heart in between while Master Cyril is out to the Empire"
Klao started to go down to the dungeon. I sigh.
If you're going to say that much, I'll prepare an applied edition. It was originally meant to be made. If my knowledge helps at all, there's no reason to worry.
It'll also be a sign after I'm gone.
"Klao, you told me after the wedding that I was leaving for Erin and then going to the Empire. I was gonna go directly to the Empire, but I'm gonna write up an applied part in the carriage to Erin, and I'm gonna go back to Elsier once, put that down, and then I'm gonna go to the Empire."
"Dear Cyril, thank you. Take the trouble to reschedule Master Cyril for me. I will wait for Cyril to return to the applied edition that Cyril leaves behind."
Klao weeps and sees me.
I laughed bitterly and decided to change the subject. Klao won't leave me forever if I stay like this.
"I wonder if Lucier and Kuw are ready"
Lucier and Kuw are dressed in separate rooms.
The two wedding dresses haven't been shown to me because of the secret to the day. I'm so excited. If you can, I want to make the most of that even at night.
"It's been prepared a long time early, so it'll be fine. Master Cyril is abnormal. I can't believe you're working till these days."
'Cause you're the head.'
I don't have much chance of Asur and the others coming all the way over here, and I can't hold them for very long. I really wanted to finish my inspection before the ceremony.
"And, Master Cyril, there's something I've been thinking about."
"What is it?
"Master Cyril smells good, doesn't he?"
It's been a long time since I really felt in danger.
Why, it's called Loreu and a good Klao, how many Elsier men are different?