Takarakuji de 40-oku Atattandakedo Isekai ni Ijuu Suru

After breakfast.

Ichigo had introduced Barletta to everyone when he gathered the Istels in his room.

Barletta looks nervous and is holding her hand hard on her knees.

"Starting today, I'm going to ask her to join me in the work. I'm going to ask her to help me focus on the codification of artisans and the development of equipment."

"Is this development instruction? Can she design?

One good snorts at Zirconia, who asks while watching Barletta.

Zirconia had heard from Isaac that Barletta wanted to see him, but he had not yet spoken because his reply was pending.

I have also received reports about my personality and abilities, but even if I wanted to see him, it was because of the decision that I would prefer to receive a referral from Ichigo first.

"You can. You can pull drawings, and you have a proven track record of redesigning the lumber mill. My hands are pretty clever, and I'm better than anything else."

"What!? Oh, that's not true! I still have to tell Mr. Kazra all about it..."

"No, no, isn't it true? If the job doesn't seem possible, I'll think about it again. So why don't you just do it?

"Yes, sir"

"... when it comes to craftsmanship, is it okay for you to follow me?

When the two were interacting like that, Reese pinched her mouth.

"Oh, I guess that's good. I'll take care of it, all right?

"Yeah, let me handle it. Mr. Barletta, let's work together."

"Yes!"

"So, I don't know what to start with, but I'm going to have an artisan build me a machine called an ore crusher that Mr. Barletta invented for me."

"Ore crusher...... is it a machine that crushes ore?

One good snorts at Narson for asking intriguing questions.

"Yeah. It's a machine that waves down a hammer on a stone pedestal installed on the ground, in conjunction with the movement of a water wheel. I think it's going to be a lot easier because you don't have to crush the ore with manpower like you've done before"

When Ichigo said so, he spread the drawings he had received from Barletta onto the table.

The drawing depicts a picture of a machine with a gavel that moves vertically in conjunction with the rotation of an axis extending from a water wheel.

A simple mechanism whereby the hammer is lifted upwards when the projection attached to the axis rotates and falls on the stone pedestal with gravity when the projection comes off.

Crushed ore will be recovered using tools like bear hands, so accidents such as accidental crushing of hands and feet will also be difficult.

"Speaking of which, how much ore is mined? Are you getting better?

"Yes, thanks to the hand pressing pump, the drainage is now working well, so some mining is increasing. It didn't increase as dramatically as I thought it would... well, like this or something."

"Hmm. Does that mean the results are good for once?

"Right. The amount of mining has increased considerably, so I think it should be called good. We are also preparing to re-mine the closed mines, so I was wondering if there would be more mining if that started."

Manual pumps take a lot of work to make, so the production is quite small, but the numbers are starting to align little by little.

Priority was given to mines and open areas from the finished edge, showing no amount of performance.

To prevent theft, I put on security at four or six o'clock and remove it after a day of work, so the cost of labor is high.

"And I have another consultation in relation to the mine. It's about developing new metals to replace bronze."

"New metal, is it?

"Yeah, metal called iron, stronger and cheaper than bronze. Perhaps, but Barbell has already developed iron"

To a good word, the complexion of Narson and Zirconia changed.

Because the information I've heard more about the depletion of tin and the increase in timber production in Barbell came to my mind.

"A metal called iron is so inexpensive that it is not comparable to copper or tin. In the light of information such as tin depletion and military reform, I wonder, first and foremost, whether we have definitely succeeded in developing iron"

"Is that metal called iron easy to process?

"It's hard to compare to bronze. Iron is harder and harder to melt than bronze, so processing technology is also advanced."

"Inexpensive means easier to mine than copper or tin?

"Exactly. The reserves don't go as far as they are, so they can be easily procured. Now, in the northwestern mountainous areas, there is also a large iron mine."

"Oh, my God, I didn't know such a mineral vein was in the territory...... is there a large mineral vein in Barbell as well?

"I don't know about that, but given the amount of timber production that was in the dossier, I'm pretty sure there's a mineral vein there too"

Hearing the explanation, Narson's expression became more rude.

"Hmm... does it also mean that using iron instead of bronze makes it possible to pay for all the soldier's equipment? I never dreamed Barbell was developing anything like that."

"It's not that it's definitive. But I'm pretty sure we've developed iron in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps four years ago, we discovered iron, and we thought the establishment of technology was two to a year and a half ago..."

"Let's start mining iron this one right away. Do you know where the mine is?

From the side to the zirconia with his mouth pinched, Ichigo nods.

"I don't know where I am familiar with it, but Mr. Barletta has discovered the mineral vein. So the guide goes to her..."

"Okay. Barretta, I'm putting Isaac on, so can you take the mining crew to the mine?

"Yes."

"I'm sorry I'm in a hurry, but I was wondering if you could get ready soon. I want you to leave this afternoon. And I want to check the map, so can you follow me for a second?

"Yes!

Following the risen zirconia, Barletta also takes her seat in a hurry.

"What, you don't have to be so hasty"

When Ichigo spoke to Zirconia, already on her way to the door, she looked back with a rugged look.

"No, there is no moment's respite, either, if you mean you've already been crossed by Barbell. We must begin iron mining as soon as possible."

"Then I'll be with you..."

"We'll just check the location of the mine veins and give them mining instructions, so they'll be fine alone. Besides, I hope Mr. Kazura can get ready to process iron."

"Right...... right. Okay."

"I'm sorry I said I couldn't. Nice to meet you"

Zirconia said so, leaving the room with Valletta.

"Kind of that girl, you're busy early coming to the mansion...... what's wrong?

He has a difficult face. For one thing, Reese tilts her neck.

"No, I thought I was going to build the furnace alone."

"I'll help you, too. Besides, if you're short on manpower, you can collect as much as you want."

"That's not what I'm talking about, Mr. Barletta said he's already built a furnace in the village. So you just have to ask her how to make it."

"Don't Lord Kazura know how to make it?

Narson, who was listening to the two of them, says in surprise.

"No, I know how to build it, but I'm worried that I can do it well because I've never actually built it. I heard that Barletta has built and used furnaces in the village, so I thought it would be fine if I asked her."

"What, that girl, don't ask Kazura, she built it herself?

"Yeah."

"Isn't that amazing?

"I honestly think it's pretty amazing"

……

"What's wrong?

I notice Narson thinking with a difficult face, and Ichigo speaks up.

"No, it's nothing. If she's actually built a furnace, how about keeping the ingredients in place by the time she gets back? They'll be back in a few days, and I was wondering if it would be too late to work on it."

"Right, shall we? Use special heat-resistant bricks for production, so be sure to get ready."

Thus, while Barletta was away, Ichigo and the others were to prepare for iron production.

Meanwhile, Barletta and Zirconia, who moved to the office, looked at the map of the mountainous area alongside the two of them.

Barletta fingers the river that extends from the village of Grisea and crawls his fingers to the point where the iron ore vein is located.

"All the rock skin around here is an iron ore vein, with crushed iron ore grazing along the river. You don't have to scrape the rock skin to do the mining, but if you collect what's falling, it should be quite a lot."

"This whole neighborhood is... quite big. You found this place a lot."

"If you're a hunter in the village, I showed you a sample of the ore to show you where I recognize you. I don't think I could find it alone."

"Hmm... you have quite a distance from the village to this place. Did you go on foot?

"Uh... yes"

I noticed Barletta hesitating to answer for a moment and Zirconia smiles all the time.

"I've heard that you guys have the power of blessing, so you don't have to hide it. You ran to the mountains, didn't you?

"Yes, sir"

"How long did it take?

"... I think it was about half a day"

In fact, in about an hour and a half, we are in the mine vein, but Barletta answered quite deludedly.

Zirconia raises her eyebrows slightly, as she was surprised.

"That's amazing. It's like I went on a lata. I've also been given a pill by Mr. Kazura called Aeyou Drink, and I wonder if it feels like that tireless condition lasts forever?

"Yes, that's the way it is"

"Then you'll be fine without running all the time. Convinced."

Zirconia giggles back in mild condition.

Barletta was relieved inside, not particularly how she went in and asked questions.

"But I'm sorry you came to the mansion and let me go away early. If you want to come home, you can come back when you're done."

"Yes, thank you. And then... there's something I'd like to tell you about Zirconia..."

When Barletta said so, Zirconia gave her a decent look.

"What do you want to talk about?... Oh, the interview Isaac was talking about?

"Yes, if you don't mind, I'd like a moment."

"Yeah, I don't mind. Where should I go?"

"Now, in my room..."

Barletta took Zirconia out of the room as she put the map back on the shelf.

As Baretta entered her room, she removed several bundles of paper from the crate she had left in the corner of the room.

Spread it on the table of provisions and peek in with the zirconia.

"Is this... a bow blueprint? It's in some unusual shape."

"Yes, it's a bow named Crossbow"

The spread paper was a blueprint for a mechanical bow called a crossbow.

Notes are written all over the drawings, describing the range and characteristics.

Zirconia stared at the drawing and turned it and looked at the second one.

There, a crossbow broken down into three parts was depicted.

"Do you assemble and use it?

"That's right. Make it for each area and assemble and use it when you actually use it. If you are using it and something goes wrong, you can deal with it by replacing parts."

Barletta's designed crossbow was an assembled one with an emphasis on productivity.

The site is divided into three parts: a bow portion, a torso portion, and a handlebar portion.

The jointed parts can be secured with a hook-shaped hook, and metal bars and hammers can be easily disassembled to replace or maintain the parts.

The bow portion was shaped to greatly distort to improve power and range, greatly increasing pull.

It is roughly the same structure as the one used in China around the fifth century BC.

"Explain to me what kind of weapon? And what's the difference from a regular bow?

"It is a weapon that uses the shiatsu and repulsive force of the plate for power, fixing a thick arrow called a bolt to the pedestal and firing an arrow with a string, just like a bow. Training is easy and powerful and anyone can handle it right away. However, compared to the bow, it takes longer to prepare for shooting, so I can't get a streak of shooting."

"Hmmm...... do you have any in kind?

"Yes. I'll show you now."

When Barletta left the table, she walked over to the object wearing a cloth at the wall of the room and put the cloth on.

The ones that came out are crossbows and arrows in the assembled state.

When Baretta came back with them in her hand, she put them on the table.

"This is the crossbow. It's a little heavy, but a very powerful weapon."

Zirconia looked shivering as she held the crossbow with both hands.

"That's a lot bigger...... how do you use it?

"Put your foot on this wheel and then pull the string up to this stopper and put the arrow on it. Then pull this trigger and an arrow will be fired. Here's how to hold it, aim..."

Barletta attaches her own hand to the zirconia hand with the crossbow and teaches her how to use it.

The crossbow had an iron sight (concave-shaped aimer) that diverted a stop to hook the string, so that you could target it more or less.

Zirconia put his foot on the metal ring attached to the tip of the crossbow, asking Barletta how to use it.

I glanced slightly as I pulled the string, but pulled the string straight up to the stopper.

"It's going to take a lot of time to keep an eye on the arrow. Then you'll be hit by enemy archers and stone throwers in less than a few shots."

"You can cover there with soldiers. We'll put the soldiers in pairs and shoot at Changbanko."

That's what Baretta said, when she took out the ballpoint pen, she started painting on the edge of the drawing.

Draw three circles vertically, pulling the arrow from the rearmost circle and pointing it in front of the leading circle.

"Once the first person has fired, the last person will come forward and fire. In the meantime, the first shooter will keep an eye on the arrow."

"You mean shoot me in the bunko instead and lose the gap?

"That's right. It's a tactic of war that keeps the troops moving forward one by one while continuing to fire uninterrupted. Crossbow arrows are so powerful that if you're a little bit or softly armored, you'll penetrate them."

When Barletta took the iron arrow out of the arrow barrel, she handed it to Zirconia.

The arrows are cast and everything from arrows to patterns is made of iron.

Barletta again turned to the crate in the corner of the room and took a thick plate out of it and stood it against the wall.

"I see. But there are so many parts that it's hard to make."

"That's not true. Wooden parts are easy to manufacture because they are separated by parts, and other parts are designed to be made if melted iron is poured into the mold. Mass production is possible while not having to be an arms maker to manufacture and repair"

To the words, Zirconia turned her attention to Valletta.

"Infantry becomes a murder weapon."

When Barletta said so, she received a crossbow from Zirconia to keep an eye on the arrow.

Set a target on the raised plate and squeeze the trigger with your index finger.

A sharp noise sounded and an iron arrow was ejected, poking deep into the plate.

Zirconia glanced back at Barletta as she glanced at the stabbed plate of arrows.

"By talking, you mean teaching us how to make these weapons?

"Yes, the crossbow I just showed you is a personal portable weapon, but it also designs some large offensive weapons for multiple people. We should need a ton of these powerful weapons for the war against Barbell, which could resume within four years"

"... within four years, or"

Barletta nods at the zirconia crushing all over her.

"Mr. Kazra told me that Barbell might be in contact with Clayrats and that Clayrats would probably betray him. And if it does, it's going to be irrevocable if we don't get ready in a hurry."

"I got the story. So, Mr. Kazra taught you how to make this weapon?

"Yes, not directly though"

"Is Mr. Kazra aware of teaching us this?

"... no, we haven't talked yet"

"Don't tell Mr. Kazra, so be it. Can you tell me why?

……

Baretta relaxed for a little while and kept her mouth shut, but when she raised her face, she opened it.

"The numerous weapons depicted in these drawings are all powerful things that are not yet in this world. If it were to actually be used, it would surely take a lot of lives. So..."

"Instead of him, you teach us technology of your own accord, so that he doesn't suffer from the guilt of murder?

……

Zirconia shook her head at Barletta, who snorted.

The fact that Barletta would be thinking of such a thing was somewhat imaginable from the glance she had pointed at the good in the good room earlier and the look on her face when she expanded the drawings in this room.

Though it was just unexpected that he had high technical skills so far.

"I'm sorry, but I can't get on with that story."

"Huh?"

Zirconia walked over to the board and put an arrow on the gripping plate with both hands.

Twist and twist the arrows, forcing them to pull through.

"If we were to produce this in earnest, we would sooner or later get into Mr. Kazra's ears. What are you going to explain to him when that happens? Now that you've taught me how to make it, would you like me to explain to Mr. Kazra that I was fortunate enough to make a lot of it in silence?

"... as long as you produce somewhere else so Mr. Kazra doesn't notice. We can also produce in the village of Gricea, provided we have the materials and personnel."

"You're right. For hiding from him and producing weapons, then what? When the war resumes, all of a sudden you start using weapons in front of him? Even if we can defeat Barbell, we're still going to betray him for doing so much?

……

"Sure, you might be able to diminish your guilt about his killing, but I think you're going to insult and hurt him more than that. Very disagreeable."

"... Still, I am"

Zirconia slowly walked over to Barletta, who was nagging again.

Take that hand, let him hold the arrow he had and wrap it gently with both hands.

Barletta looked up at Zirconia with a bewildered look.

"Just calm down."

To the words, Barletta stared at Zirconia.

Zirconia also stares straight into Valletta's eyes.

"He's so sweet, but he's not the kind of guy you think he is. Someone who can properly prioritize what's important. I think so."

……

Zirconia put a little effort into the hand she was holding in return for Baretta staring with her emotionally unreadable eyes.

"I'm not making you out of the way. Things have priorities. You know that, don't you?

"... Yes"

"Then stop imitating it like it moves on its own. Me and Nalson, of course, Mr. Kazra, 'cause I'll ask you properly if I can talk to you."

"Yes."

"... you really get it?

Barletta snorted firmly at Zirconia, asking much.

"Yes, I understand. I apologize for the unsolicited imitation."

"I don't care if you apologize to me... well, that's fine if you understand"

Zirconia smiled, releasing Barletta's hand.

"Isaac tells me that you are very good at drawing and that you can do a lot of other things. I'm counting on you, good luck."

"Yes."

"And if you come up with anything, make more and more suggestions. Don't hesitate."

"Yes, thank you"

"Then I'll be back. Be prepared to leave."

"Okay."

Zirconia grinned bitterly at Valletta, who had gone quiet, stroking her head once before leaving the room.

Barletta drops it off and drops her eyes on her own hand holding the arrow.

"… I am calm"

Like I told myself, so crushed.