I, Who Came From the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Again Today - Volume 2 Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Central Workshop

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With a mindset of being new and curious about everything in this different world, I followed the Duke and Parsifal in a carriage to the Central Workshop.

Then we got off the carriage.

“Miss Sylvia, welcome to the Central Workshop. Here we have the world’s finest steel swords and most durable armor. All knights of commander rank and above in the Holy Church have their armor and weapons provided by the Central Workshop.”

In my imagination, the Central Workshop should have been a blacksmith shop that wasn’t too big but not too small either, filled with various metallurgy facilities, and a group of bare-chested, scruffy uncles… perhaps even dwarves that appear in almost every Western fantasy novel, sweating profusely while standing by the furnace, constantly blowing air into the inlet with bellows, or holding hammers making “ding-dong” sounds as they strike the metal on the anvil.

But when I stood before it, looking at those blast furnaces that seemed to reach into the sky, my petite body engulfed in their enormous shadows, I suddenly realized, this truly is a different world after all——

Even though gunpowder hasn’t appeared yet, they’ve managed to develop metallurgy technology to this level. Although I don’t understand much about these things, I can see that mass production wouldn’t be a problem at this scale.

“How about it, Peipei? Our workshop is impressive, right?”

Seeing me in a daze, Parsifal immediately showed a proud smile, his whole body radiating that annoying childish attitude of showing off toys. I couldn’t help but find it amusing.

How can someone still be so childish at his age? Not easy indeed.

Also, who said it’s “our” workshop…

“Nonsense! Parsifal, how many times have I told you to watch your words! What do you mean ‘our workshop’? The Central Workshop is the product of the Valen Empire’s century of nationwide effort and careful management, with generations of people’s hard work and dedication…”

“Big brother has already taken over the workshop’s ownership, so isn’t it ours now?”

“Parsifal, this is my final warning.”

“Alright, old man, I understand, you’re just worried about what they might think——”

“Shut up!”

Not paying attention to what they were saying, I curiously looked at those large buildings or furnaces in the distance belching thick smoke, silently marveling at human greatness.

And the owner of this great workshop, the Valen Empire Emperor’s own brother, perhaps the world’s most powerful merchant, was now before me scolding his son.

Holding a twice-bitten Captain Grey in my hand, I followed the Duke into the workshop. The accumulated snow on the ground had mostly melted away, and alternating hot and cold air continuously struck my cheeks. I could faintly smell the unique scent of melting metal.

Small bits of molten ash occasionally fell on my dress, leaving faint marks when brushed away.

“Achoo——”

After a small sneeze, I rubbed my uncomfortable nose, suddenly feeling somewhat regretful.

It’s dirty and hot here, and the air isn’t very good. Why did I bother coming here for nothing? I should have just taken a nap in the castle.

Carlos went to the parish today and didn’t come with us. Thinking about this made me angry, that stupid man must have known what the Central Workshop was like, and knowing I wouldn’t like this dirty environment, he deliberately snuck away without warning me.

Too hateful, I’ll have to find a way to beat him up in the next couple of days.

To adjust my suddenly worsened mood, I focused my attention on the Workshop Hunters who were frequently coming and going. These people almost all wore leather armor with large coats, with metal protection only on their shoulders, knees, and chest areas. After walking around for half a day, I hadn’t seen anyone wearing light armor or chain mail.

I gently bit my fingernail, feeling confused about this situation. Logically, the Central Workshop shouldn’t be so stingy as to not properly make a set of armor for their hunters, that’s obviously impossible, but why was no one wearing any?

How could these hunters fight against fully armed knights in case of a mechanical battle?

…What am I overthinking for? Good children should just ask when they don’t understand.

“Why don’t they, wear armor?”

“You mean the Shanter army? They all use exotic weapons. Exotic weapons require high body flexibility, which contradicts heavy armor in itself. Wearing those would greatly reduce the weapons’ advantages. In battle, they focus on waiting for opportunities and delivering fatal strikes, that’s how I’ve always trained them.”

“Even if, the enemy wears armor, it’s fine?”

Duke Scalliger laughed at my words.

“Haha! Miss Sylvia, do you know why exotic weapons are the Central Workshop’s true core technology?”

I shook my head.

“That’s because their basic material for forging isn’t iron or steel, but a special crystal. This crystal has good plasticity, with hardness and toughness far superior to steel, and when made into blades can easily penetrate armor. In other words, the more cumbersome the armor of exotic weapon users’ enemies, the easier they will win, understand? The most impressive thing about the Central Workshop isn’t designing these powerful weapons, but the technology to smelt crystals, which can only be achieved here, and exotic weapons will never be publicly sold.”

As the Duke spoke, passing craftsmen would respectfully bow when they saw him. I could see genuine respect in these people’s eyes. Obviously, Duke Scalliger held a very high position in their hearts, unlike a typical administrator.

“This side is the metallurgical industry, also the core area of the Central Workshop. That silver armor Carlos often wears comes from here, but these aren’t suitable for you. The workshop’s west side has many girls’ accessories for sale, all the latest fashionable styles and very good quality. Would Miss Sylvia like to go take a look?”

The Duke spoke to me in an obvious tone of coaxing a child. I looked at him expressionlessly, but laughed inwardly.

Hmph, do they really think I’ll be moved by such superficial material things?

But come to think of it, the Central Workshop even has girls’ accessories? Looks like they really can make anything here. I originally thought it was just a place for working with iron… are those clothes really pretty?

Hmm… although I’m not very willing, since the Duke personally invited me, it wouldn’t be impossible to take a look, just to give him face.

Just as I was about to speak, a gentle breeze swept up, carrying those slowly floating furnace ashes, and blew them all towards me.

My heart jumped, and I immediately closed my eyes and mouth. After the wind passed, I quickly wiped my cheeks with my sleeve and brushed my hair a few times, then suddenly remembered I was still holding the unfinished Captain Grey in my other hand.

Hurriedly looking down, it was already covered in fine ash.

“……”

My mood immediately became very bad. I frowned tightly, pinching the donut between my thumb and index finger, hesitating whether to pinch off the parts with ash and pretend nothing happened to finish eating it, but my inner dignity wouldn’t allow me to actually do so. Just as I was struggling——

“Ah, the donut got dirty with ash. What a shame, throw it away.” Parsifal suddenly snatched the Captain Grey from my hand, and to my shock, casually threw it on the ground.