Volume 4 Chapter 3.4

Volume 4 Chapter 3.4

Translator: Reflet

Editor: Weasalopes

「And my master does not seek immediate assistance on all fronts. Currently, people are discussing the making of prototype smelting forges, so he simply wishes for a bit of assistance, or at the very least tacit consent for the project.」

「I know. Crest Cave is a head-scratching problem for our country. If this plan goes well, then even if Crest Cave does not return from a dungeon, our production will not have to drop, and even if it returns to its original form, magic steel ore and mythril ore will be immediately be oversupplied, and the products will not have enough supply. Either way, our country has nothing but profit. Also, even if we fail in the process, we only have one smelting furnace. Contribution from our side would hardly cost us.」

The ministers of finance and technology nodded, affirming the king’s words. They were already contributing a large budget to researching and developing new smelting furnaces with new excavation machinery. Another country introducing new technology (albeit from the unknown continent) was something to be welcomed, not something to be evaded. No matter the outcome, no one here thought such funding would go to waste.

So it was something else that the king saw as problematic.

「What I am concerned about is whether or not we can trust Azuma Workshop.」

「Would it not suffice to say they have the support of my master as well as Darl’s Queen Mishaela herself?」

「Well, I am a man of prejudice. Unless I see them directly, I cannot determine if they are to be trusted or not.」

As the king of a country, he surely could not just trust someone based on the evaluation of another large country, even on the same level.

「I do not mind if you wish to make a new type of smelting furnace. If it will give us technological feedback, we will of course gladly accept. However, I will not have them interfering in our affairs because of that.」

「Your concerns are most valid, but if they intended that, the group would have tried to start something back when they defeated Barold.」

「You see, I am a coward. I cannot seem to erase the suspicion that they might gain influence and do as they please after digging into the center of the three great western countries.」

「I also have yet to meet them, so I cannot display enough evidence to clear your doubts. Therefore, at the very least, I ask that you permit this smelting furnace idea. Also, no matter the outcome, I ask that you do not pin anything on them.」

「I know. Our country is always supporting the development of smelting furnaces alongside new prototypes. Even I and the citizens of this country are not so shameless as to punish the introductions of items from other countries.」

Andrew bowed deeply at the king’s words. Things would have likely been different had this not concerned iron and had Crest Cave not isolated. Then again, had Crest Cave’s mines not turned into an isolated dimension dungeon, then Hiroshi would never have even considered making the new smelting furnace variant, and Andrew would never have needed to persuade the Forre king in a situation like this.

「Still, if it were to go well, how many years ahead would this innovative technology bring us?」

「Somewhere around ten years, I would imagine.」

The minister of technology answered the king’s query. Unfortunately, these past ten years had not yielded anything as auspicious as a technological revolution, but even so, the quality of manufactured goods, the amount of time for refining, and the amount they could refine at once had all comparatively increased several times since the country had stopped breakthroughs. Still, when you looked at the amount of investment in research and development and the output, you couldn’t help but feel that Forre wasn’t getting much out of it.

「Assuming this plan of yours takes off, what sort of merit does it bring your kingdom?」

「If the supply of magic steel goes up, the amount our country can buy will increase as a matter of course. Once that happens, the casualties from large monster raids will decrease, enabling us to focus more effort on securing trade routes, food supply, and other increases in production. This would also potentially become a great merit for your kingdom as well.」

「And you do not consider that we might try and invade your country with the increased production of magic steel equipment?」

「It is very laudable of you to say such a thing. If a war were to erupt between my country and yours, the increased miasms would invite a dragon lord down from Spirit Spire Mountain. His Majesty is not so optimistic to think we can handle dragon lord talons or breath with mere magic steel aromor.」

「Right, very true. Besides, if our Melkuod or Daites were to clash with your Sir Felnock or Sir Douga, imagine how much destruction it would cause. Every soldier in my country is regarded on average to have the most proficiency out of the three kingdoms, but even with magic steel swords/spears on regular soldiers, we are not so decrepit to think they would even inflict a single scratch on Sir Felnock or Sir Douga.」

Bringing up the case of the heroes from both kingdoms, King Forre expressed how meaningless fighting would be. Possessing powerful, wide-range attacks that might as well be used for targeting entire armies, these heroes were the kind that could easily hunt wyverns or cerberus. If such heroes were to clash on the battlefield without holding anything back, just one shockwave from the first attack was enough to render any regular soldier unable to battle.

「At any rate, I am currently unsure as to if we should get involved as a country. First we can follow the system and give out subsidies, but anything further will be after we observe some.」

「Of course, that is not a problem.」

「Then please convey what we just discussed to King Regnas. You may leave.」

「Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for having me.」

The king motioned for him to be on his way, and Andrew bowed before leaving the audience room. Inwardly relieved that things had mostly gone as the king of Farlane had predicted, he also felt slightly saddened that this country might be weakened by them as well.

Seeing that Andrew had gone out, the king of Forre spoke in a heavy tone.

「So, what do you think?」

「I do not think there is much of a need to be cautious with his workshop. After all, there is hardly any merit to encroach into our country with all the fetters that accompany it.」

The king of Forre raised an eyebrow at how confident the minister was. This appeared to be a fairly unexpected opinion.

「And your basis for this?」

「From what I hear, they can take on not only wyverns single-handedly, but even garvarenjia, and in addition to their battle prowess, they also appear to have the technological prowess for making comfortable settlements (even more so than what we have) with the ingredients gleaned from the monsters. With those two elements, they would be a lot better off not dealing with the troubles that accompany nobility, instead opting to seclude themselves far into the reaches of the Great Southern Forest or Spirit Spire Mountain, where they can live much more freely.」

「I do not think that is particularly sound evidence…?」

「The other conviction is just as the envoy from earlier mentioned: Farlane will be safe regardless of what happens. With all that power backing them up in addition to thwarting Katarina’s revolt, the workshop has proven themselves. If they wanted to, they could easily fake outward appearances while taking over Farlane behind the scenes and taking it easy.」

「Although I do hear that Wulls holds them in high regard?」

「I hear it isn’t much different than giving a valued merchant preferential treatment. In fact, in terms of achievements and prestige as a country, I think it might even be an admirable thing to do.」