Chương 15: The Metallurgist

It was now morning at Orevogorsk.

"And with that, the village's food problem is temporarily solved." Alicia grinned to herself as she quickly thawed four animals in front of the house of the village's dedicated [Butcher], which she visited with Moshan and Vittorio after having breakfast. The butcher's eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at the fresh carcass presented in front of him.

It was so much meat that even if Alicia didn't bring the other animals that were still frozen solid in her palace, she could tell that this would be able to feed the village many times over.

"Y-Your Grace," the butcher practically collapsed on his knees as he stared at the animals.

"You're giving this away for free?"

"It's supposed to be emergency supplies to get us through this tough winter," Alicia said, smiling a bit.

"Of course, it'll be free for everyone. No one will starve in my domain."

"The people will sing praises because of your generosity," Moshan said to Alicia.

"Though, it'll take time to process everything you have at your palace. This batch alone will take this old man and his assistants at least four days to butcher them and salt them in barrels."

"It's to be expected. We did hunt bigger animals than normal."

"No normal hunter with a sane mind will even go close to wild animals with high levels. In some ways, it's similar to fighting monsters. It's extremely dangerous." I didn't know that. Alicia turned to Vittorio. He was boredly watching the [Butcher] who was excitedly appraising the carcasses Alicia brought here. So this guy can easily feed a whole village if he wants to? I mean, if he can kill that many monsters in a dungeon…

"Your Grace, when are we going to go and meet that [Metallurgist] Lyra found?" Vittorio asked, interrupting Alicia's train of thought. His tone was somewhat wary, though.

"Do we really need to do this?"

"Do you not want to meet this renowned metallurgist?" Alicia curiously asked.

"Of course not. The man you're talking about is renowned, yes, but he also has a shady background. He's a gargoyle who originated from the distant land of Hessen, a human country south of Polonia," Vittorio answered.

"Just as the duke who made him work did so because he brought metalworking techniques from his homeland, he also brought certain dangerous ideas."

"And what are these 'ideas' that you're so annoyed of?"

"He's been involved in inciting a minor peasant revolt. He's definitely not fond of nobility. That's why, after being defeated by his former master's army, he fled here, where nobles can't find or reach him. I worry that he'll be a problem under your rule, Your Grace." Oh, so he's got those kinds of 'ideas.' Alicia didn't know much about this 'Hessen' country, but she did know that it was a country of moderate size that bordered Polonia.

That, and unlike all other countries she saw in the map, she didn't see it being marked as an 'empire' or 'kingdom.' Instead, the map she acquired in Polonia referred to the country as the Hessi Republic. She supposed if that was the case, then a blue-blooded noble vampire like her should probably be worried about a gargoyle refugee from that country who already incited a peasant revolt here… But Alicia wanted professionals to build her domain.

"I'm still interested," Alicia said.

"The fact that this man was born in human lands is already promising. Since Lyra told me that he's well-educated, he must have superior techniques compared to the [Blacksmiths] here."

"... Human magical engineering is leagues more advanced than ours, so yes," Vittorio reluctantly admitted.

"That's also why he was hired by a high noble."

"Exactly. Then it's just a matter of finding out if his talents are real, using it, and managing him well."

"You're right. He'll work to death under you and won't have time to plot against us." Vittorio suddenly had a devilish smile on his face. Whatever he was thinking, it was probably not good. Luckily, Alicia had the final say, and in her mind, all she wanted was to give this guy work if he had the skills that would bring prosperity to her domain.

That, and after hearing over and over about how cruel vampire nobles were, she thought Vittorio's concerns about him doing something in Alicia's domain was completely unfounded, so she wouldn't abuse him just so he wouldn't be able to revolt. After all, she was different. Unlike all other vampires, Alicia had the mind of a proper human being.

That, ultimately, should be enough to find common understanding with the man and prevent conflict, not that some unemployed metallurgist, however ingenious, stood a chance against her in the first place. And so, she soon met the man of the day on the east end of Orevogorsk. The man lived on the edge of the village, staying in a simple shack that seemed to have been recently built in haste. But even then, it already seemed quite durable in its design and quality, even if small.

It was probably a temporary house in Alicia's eyes. Upon arriving, Vittorio immediately shouted at the front door, declaring that Alicia, the new lord of the town, was outside and that she demanded the attention of the metallurgist. In a few seconds, a short man with two horns, gray eyes, and dirty brown hair emerged. He didn't look like how Alicia imagined a [Metallurgist] should be.

She was pretty sure that they were close to [Blacksmiths], so they should sport a more stocky and muscular build due to heavy physical labor. This man, however, seemed like he had been starving for a good while already. Then again, he is a refugee.

"... And here I thought this place wouldn't have a blueblood ruling it," the metallurgist suddenly said upon seeing her.

"What is it? Why are you people here?"

"Watch your tongue!" Vittorio snapped.

"You are not permitted to speak without Lady Alicia's permission—!" Alicia raised her hand, interrupting Vittorio's outrage. She gave him a side-eye glare because she was pretty sure she didn't order him to be hostile upon meeting this gargoyle. Luckily, Vittorio understood her message quickly and chose to shut up. Then, Alicia gave the metallurgist a friendly smile as she approached him.

"My name is Alicia. I'm the new leader of this town," Alicia said.

"I've heard that you're a skilled [Metallurgist], Maxim."

"I wouldn't call myself 'skilled,'" Maxim frowned, crossing his arms.

"I know dozens of people like me who are better in my trade where I came from."

"Regardless, you might be the person I need for an ambitious project I have. I believe you're well-versed in the new magical engineering techniques used by humans, yes? If you are, I will be thrilled to hire you. This village needs skilled professionals, and I guarantee you good compensation if you do well."

"Hmm…" Maxim considered her proposition, frowning deeply. Then, he shook his head.

"The house of the local blacksmith was the only place here that had equipment suitable for the most basic forms of metallurgy. It was burned and reduced to ashes by a wyvern." Maxim then shrugged his shoulders.

"I can't help you even if I wanted to. What can a sickly, unemployed bum without equipment achieve?" Maxim shook his head.

"Don't waste your time on me. I'm already retired." Without showing much respect to nobility, Maxim closed his door on Alicia's face. Alicia looked back at her men. Vittorio was pissed, and he looked like he was ready to commit murder. On the other hand, Moshan was nervous, wiping away sweat on his forehead using a handkerchief given by his wife. Alicia sighed.

"Sir Moshan, was what he said true?" Alicia asked.

"The local blacksmith's house is destroyed?"

"Yes, it was," Moshan said, nodding.

"The furnace and everything else are gone. Even the blacksmith died. It's why we've been struggling to maintain our tools and weapons since the wyvern attack."

"I knew this was a waste of time," Vittorio cursed, still half-fuming.

"That man is born in a different land. Even if he's Vaelrin, he's different from us. The way he treated you was so disrespectful that I believe he should be sent to the pillory at once!"

"You believe that he was intentionally rude to me?" Alicia asked.

"Yes."

"You're wrong then." Alicia looked back at Maxim's shack.

"To me, he just looked like a defeated man who gave up in life," Alicia said, frowning.

"I'm not going to let potential talent go to waste because of that." And so, Alicia approached Maxim's door and knocked again. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. What a pain. Maxim sat on his chair and stared blankly at the ceiling. I wonder if she'll kill me after that. Maxim, who was born in the former Kingdom of Hessen, wasn't what one would call an 'optimistic' man.

Born to a family of gargoyles that worked under elven nobles in Hessen, he was actually quite lucky early on. His father was a smith who specialized in creating durable, enchanted swords for his master. Later on, when Maxim's father managed to secure enough capital and the sponsorship of his master, he opened an integrated steel mill in Hessen, eventually employing hundreds of workers to operate its hot, magical, industrial-scale furnaces.

Maxim, who studied closely as his father's apprentice, alongside taking a full magical engineering course in one of the prestigious schools in Hessen, was supposed to inherit what his father built. Unfortunately, it was disrupted when the Hessi Kingdom found itself in financial trouble two decades ago, leading to its collapse when it faced a revolt of the masses. The elven royalty of the kingdom was overthrown; nobles were removed, replaced by commoner leadership.

The Vaelrin, like Maxim and his family, eventually participated in the revolt as well, simply because they hoped that the changes being made would benefit them. During that time, Maxim became a proud Hessi, a Vaelrin who believed he was a part of the nation's citizens, someone who worked diligently to pave a path for a better future for humans and Vaelrin alike. But then, Hessen later found itself invaded by all of its neighbors who wanted to restore the monarchy.

Many things happened during those grueling years, and Maxim even enlisted in the army to fight with his fellow Hessi, but the final act that forced him out was when the new republic painted all Vaelrin within its border as collaborators and traitors in bed with the old nobility and foreign invaders. In the end, Hessen turned on him.

Even when he fought with them, side-by-side, when defeats began to mount, the same people he called 'brothers' and 'sisters,' whom he remembered was once so drunk on their dreams about a better future, suddenly blamed his kind for every misfortune that befell them. He was lucky that he managed to escape the bloodbath that soon ensued After a painful journey away from the only land he called 'home,' he found himself in the so-called homeland of the Sinful Races—Vael.

With nothing but his skills and knowledge in metallurgy, Maxim vowed that he would build a new life in this land that people with horns like him called 'home.' But it was colder than Hessen. It was a backwater where peasants were poor and ignorant; feudal nobles lorded over the land with impunity; and its collapse was imminent. At first, he managed to find work under one of the local dukes, but he found himself outraged at how the bloodsucking bastard was conducting cruel magical experiments on his subjects.

And so, secretly, Maxim armed the peasants of his lord's domain, hoping to take him out and expose his vile experiments to the rest of Vael and maybe convince people to fight against vile nobles leading them to the abyss. He truly believed that Vael was worthy of salvation. But, in the end, Vael too turned on him. One of the peasants ratted him out for a few coins.

He was eventually forced to flee from the rest of the country when his plot was discovered and foiled, soon finding himself stuck in the most remote settlement in the north, Orevogorsk. Mankind and Vaelrin, he realized, were scum. Nobles and commoners, he realized, were scum too. He knew no group in this world that had any redeeming qualities, and all of them took everything Maxim had—his ideals, family, and life.

It was why, he decided, he would just lie here and waste the final years of his life admiring the beautiful scenery. There was no point working so hard for a better tomorrow when the world was full of scum, after all. It was a slothful response to hardship, but that was why he rejected that woman outside. If she kills me, it won't matter at all. Maxim shrugged, grabbing a shoddy glass of vodka he brewed on his table. He removed its cork and began downing it in one go.

He didn't know when they would knock on his door again, kick it wide open, beat him on the ground, and then hang him by day's end for offending a vampiric noble. It was best if he savored the last of the good things life offered before that. When he was done, as he had expected, the knocks returned.

"Please, I understand that you're not enthusiastic about this," Alicia shouted, her voice slightly muffled.

"But I assure you, I'll make arrangements to address the things you need to start this project!" Maxim didn't answer her.

"I promise too that I am not like the last lord you worked under. I have no wish to arrest you for something I know nothing about, so please—!" Maxim finally stood up and opened the door to meet her. He stared at her blankly, a small frown still on his face. He noticed that the woman's eyes didn't remind him at all of the nobles he dealt with. Most of all, she wasn't the type who expected her servants to drag Maxim out of his home.

No, she gently knocked on his door to convince him peacefully, the same way a normal person would. He sighed. Not again. Don't tell me I'm dealing with an idealist. Naturally, his cynical heart was extremely annoyed after realizing that. He had seen many people like her in his time in Hessen, where once, passion and ideals ran wild on the streets until the reality of the world crushed their hearts with its heavy boots.

Yet, just hearing and seeing her, he realized that she was determined to do something about this miserable village, willing to do anything to achieve that. Such a display was always admirable. Even if he was annoyed, he couldn't help but want the same thing too. To be fair, he did want prosperity and a good future for himself and everyone else once—he just gave up on it.

"Fine, I'll hear it," Maxim said.

"What is it that you want me to do?"

"I wish to start a metal industry in this village," Alicia said with pure confidence.

"I want this village to produce all kinds of tools for its prosperity. Axes, pickaxes, ploughs, hoes, sickles, hammers, you name it, I want it all produced at scale here. And naturally, that means I need high-quality steel being produced here as well."

"A tall order." Maxim resisted the urge to laugh in her face as he leaned on the side of his door and crossed his arms.

"How do you intend to do this? We are far away from active mines. Where do you source the iron, coke, limestone, and magic crystals needed to produce steel? How will we build a blast furnace to produce pig iron? How are we going to build an open-hearth furnace as well to produce proper steel afterward? I can't just build them without human technology and blueprints. What about manpower? Does this village have enough people to produce steel at scale?" A metal industry in this backwater of a village?

Please, just forget about it. Ambition is cheap if it's not feasible.

"Okay, I get it." Alicia raised her hands.

"I understand that there's a lot that needs to be done to mass-produce high-quality steel."

"Exactly. If you're really serious, just get me a house with a chimney, a hammer, and other tools, and I'll make a small furnace. I can probably produce and maintain basic tools and weapons here on my own…"

"But that's not what I'm asking for. I don't want a small-scale [Blacksmith]." The vampire crossed her arms, frowning.

"Mr. Maxim, I want a steel mill here," Alicia said.

"The type I see in human realms. It will be the foundation of my plans for Orevogorsk."

"... I already told you, it's impossible." Maxim resisted the urge to facepalm.

"Get out. I'm not interested." And with that, Maxim closed the door. People born in this backwater really have a childish view of industry. He half-expected that Alicia would knock again and force him to reconsider, but no. All he heard after closing the door on her face a second time was a set of footsteps of someone walking away. He sighed, then he returned to drinking, staring at the ceiling, and sleeping. He completely wasted his day idling away, trying to keep the cold off using his low-quality blanket.

After all, he had no purpose in life, and the noblewoman didn't return to bother him. He didn't believe she'd ever return. The next day, however, she knocked again on his door. This time, a bright smile immediately appeared on her face when Maxim opened his door. She seemed to have a basket in hand, and he could smell the fragrant scent of roasted meat. Before she could say anything though, Maxim closed the door.

Again, he thought he had offended her so much already that she'd finally snap and order her men to beat Maxim to a pulp, but no. She just peacefully left—and returned the next day. This time, she brought something different to bribe him. To Maxim's surprise, she was carrying a basket with fresh fruits. Fresh fruits! How did she even find fresh fruit of all things in this desolate, cold land?

Unfortunately, every time he saw her with such hopeful eyes, Maxim's annoyance would always flare up, and so, without saying a word again, he closed his door on the third day. The same thing happened the next day; this time, she bought liquor with her, and she even nearly managed to get a word out before Maxim closed his door again. At last, on the fourth day, when her gentle knocks returned, Maxim had enough.

"What is wrong with you?!" Maxim opened his door.

"What do you even want?"

"I've brought chocolates," Alicia beamed, completely ignoring Maxim's annoyance.

"Also, I want you to build me a steel mill."

"Why are you degrading yourself in front of an unemployed, retired bum?" Maxim facepalmed.

"Stop it. There's no point. I told you it's impossible."

"No, I truly believe you can do this, Maxim."

"And what made you think that?"

"I saw the steel mill you built. I told you, I want one in my domain." Maxim groaned. How did she visit the steel mill he built? She was literally here every day to pester him! That, and if she visited Maxim's steel mill, she must know already what he did there, so why would she still want him to work for her? She was utterly illogical. Indeed, the worst-case scenario was true. He was dealing with a delusional dreamer.

"Fine." Maxim had one last resort left.

"You want a steelworks? Then I'm going to make a draft of everything I require to build one. If you can't get me all of it during construction, then get lost."

"Okay. I'll wait." Alicia smiled further, clearly pleased that he accepted.

"Oh, and please take this. I brought this from a city called Veligrod in Polonia, and they're the best chocolates there. I hope you'll enjoy it!" Polonian chocolates? How did she keep this from rotting? Suspicious, Maxim reluctantly took the basket of sweets in her hand. Of course, it was another bribe to make him agree, but, at this point, shutting her down clearly wouldn't end her ridiculous dreams. Thus, his only option to end this debacle was by giving her the most outrageous set of requirements possible.

He closed the door, tore the last empty pages of a notebook he kept on his cabinet, and began writing everything needed for the most modern integrated steel mill, the same type his father built in Hessen itself, something beyond the steel mill he previously built in this country. He did this meticulously, angrily eating Polonian chocolates while mentally insulting the out-of-touch noblewoman outside who was so determined to waste his time.

After ten minutes, he emerged from his shack and handed the papers to Alicia. The moment her eyes saw the materials, blueprints, tools, equipment, and every component that was impossible to source in this backwater, Maxim nearly laughed at her. She probably didn't even understand half of the words on the papers. With crossed arms, he neutrally gave his advice.

"Just give up—""I'll get most of this by next week," Alicia said.

"I truly appreciate that you accepted taking this ambitious project. Thank you." Somehow, even after seeing Maxim's impossible set of requirements, she walked away from his shack, a light spring on each step she took. The damned woman was excited! Did she really think that she could just get him what he needed? Even a powerful duke of Vael ruling a much better land only managed to get materials to build a substandard steel mill. How would this new lord of a remote village manage to top that?

With an annoyed groan, he looked back at the basket of Polonian chocolates he had after closing his door. For a few seconds, his mind remained blank as he slowly realized its potential implications. … No way.