Chapter 73: Gears for Fun
"Urgh..."
A soft groan escaped Edgar’s lips when he felt something heavy leaning over him, making him slide to the edge of the sofa.
His eyes groggily opened and turned to his side, where all he saw was a head of silky white hair.
’Hera...?’
A confused look appeared over his face as he tried to make heads or tails of the situation.
’What is she doing here?’
His confusion lasted for a long second before he let out a deep sigh.
It seemed that somewhere along the way, she had apparently fallen asleep while sitting beside him and had gradually slumped over until she was leaning against his shoulder.
’Does she not have any fear?’ Edgar thought, glancing at her. ’I am a man after all...’
He closed his eyes and let her be like that for a while.
Edgar could more or less understand what was going on inside her mind.
After losing everything, the girl was trying to find a pillar of support, someone she could trust.
’...She is just a young girl with a broken spirit.’
Giving her some time to relax, Edgar gently moved his body aside.
He placed his hand on her cheek and slowly made her body fall onto the sofa.
"...Mm..."
The girl subconsciously tried to hold onto him, but he didn’t let her.
Tucking her clothes properly, Edgar slowly stepped back and walked toward the door.
Just then, he found the maid standing to the side without making any sound.
’...Were you ready to protect her in case something happened?’ Edgar wondered, looking at her.
Lady Reeba bowed her head as if thanking him.
Edgar didn’t say anything and just walked out of his previous house.
’Seriously, I need to get my house back...’
He let out a sigh and looked around the Fortress, which was functioning magnificently even without his supervision.
The first floor of the ⟨Agricultural House⟩ was now brimming with different types of plants.
Many of those plants were showing signs of maturity and budding flowers.
Edgar couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.
’Looks like Harbin knows what he’s doing.’
The old farmer had divided the fields exactly as instructed.
Each section was neatly organized, with potatoes occupying one area.
Beans climbed wooden stakes in another.
Rows of onions, garlic, radishes, and medicinal herbs stretched across the remaining plots.
After making sure everything was good on his own personal farm, he moved toward the Smithing House.
The work of Andrew and the others had been completed in one day.
They had already brought in all the corpses and fed them to the ⟨Tower of Souls⟩.
Right now, they were helping the artisans’ group by bringing wet wooden vines from the jungle.
Edgar finally reached the house, which was far from most residences.
Sir Steven was already hard at work inside the newly built Smithing House.
The old blacksmith hadn’t wasted any time and had already started working.
Smoke steadily rose from the chimney while sparks occasionally burst from the open doorway.
’He’s even more addicted to blacksmithing than I thought.’
Edgar walked inside and reached the inner room, which was filled with new items and a large furnace.
When Sir Steven noticed Edgar, he took off his leather apron and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Why the hell do you need so many gears?" he asked, annoyed. "It’s really hard to make them, you know."
Edgar’s eyes lit up as he asked, "Have you created any?"
The old man nodded, walked toward the side table, and picked up a tray.
"Here," he said, placing it infront of him. "All the prototypes."
Edgar picked up one of the gears and turned it between his fingers.
The teeth were evenly spaced, and the edges were incredibly smooth.
’Beautiful.’
Even someone who knew nothing about blacksmithing could tell the craftsmanship was exceptional.
Edgar put it down and looked at the old man standing beside him.
Before he could speak, the old man started. "Why are you emitting warmth?"
Edgar tilted his head. "Am I really?"
"Yes," he replied. "It feels really nice being around you."
"....."
He opened his mouth before closing it again.
’I don’t want to hear it from an old man...’
He decided to change the topic before it could get awkward.
"How long will it take to complete all of the gears I asked for?" he asked with genuine expectation in his voice.
The old blacksmith snorted. "Around a week if I don’t die."
Edgar chuckled and leaned back against the table beside him. "Hm, I should be able to refine my work by then."
The old man once again looked at him with interest.
"I have never seen anyone use more than two gears," he said. "What do you need so many of them for?"
Edgar thought for a moment, his eyes staring at the ceiling.
"I know of a place where people make the biggest explosion humanly possible and use it to boil water."
He cherished the way the old man’s face turned into genuine bafflement.
Steven asked doubtfully, "You are going to use all those gears to boil water?"
"No." Edgar shook his head. "I am going to create a machine that works with boiled water."
"Hah! Do I look like an idiot?" the old man replied as if offended. "How would that work?"
"You will know in a week," Edgar replied, patting his shoulder. "So, get to work, old man."
Sir Steven swatted Edgar’s hand away with an annoyed look.
"Hmph. If boiled water could move a machine, we’d have built one hundreds of years ago."
Edgar only chuckled and walked out of the Smithing House.
He wasn’t in the mood or in a position to explain pistons, cylinders, or pressure valves.
’It’s better to show him what it can actually do.’
Edgar hummed happily as he looked up at the sky.
The murky grey-black fog had thinned down, giving way to the Eternal Night.
People who had been working in different fields began to move back to their houses, happier than before.
Edgar looked around the place before walking upstairs onto the patrol path.
Sir Gordon was resting, so there were only those under him guarding the place.
Edgar recognized one of them. He was the youngest, with a mole on his right cheek.
"Wavin, right?" Edgar said, making the young boy flinch.
"Y-yes, my lord," he said with a deep bow. "How can I help you?"
Edgar shifted his gaze outside the Fortress Wall and asked, "How are things here?"
"They are... good." The boy replied, pausing briefly.
Edgar turned his head to look at him. "Is there something bothering you?"
The young boy hesitated for a long while before nodding.
"I think..." His words came out in a low hush. "I think we are under the watch of an abnormal Nightmare."