Chapter 250: 253

Chapter 253 - Steel-making

"Payne, do you have some time?"

"Ars-sama, how may I help you?"

"Haha, I just wanted to ask something, but first, how are you settling into your job at Barcania?"

"... That... The work here is quite different from what I did in Uruk, so there is a large part of me that is confused."

"Maybe so. But I'm glad that you are a guy who can also do civil service. Barcania really needed someone like that."

"Here in Barca, you often have a division between civilian and military officers. Normally, such leaders would have to perform territorial duties while fighting on the battlefield in times of emergency, so they should be able to do both."

"Well, we must be special. We have a chronic shortage of labor, and we have women working for us if they are willing, so the fact that there's a division between top brass isn't that big of a deal."

"That, too, surprised me. I see that Kyle-sama and the rest of the Reed family have been bestowing their magic on women as well. It seems to be going very well even though it is an odd way to make do."

"I see. I'm sure those that participated in carrying out those procedures for the development on Barca would be happy to hear that."

"So, what is it that you wish to ask me?"

"Yes. I actually wanted to ask you about iron because there were mountains with mines in the former Uruk Territory where you could extract it, right?"

"That is true. There is also a mine in a region that Barca has taken over. Do you need iron, by any chance?"

"I do. Barca has never had a stable source of iron until now. If we can get it, I would be eager to have it."

"But doesn't Barca already have the [Hardened] bricks? Those things are already stronger than most metals."

"I suppose, but [Hardened] bricks are difficult to work with. Iron can be used for many more things than bricks can."

"Certainly, yes. I can say for certain that iron would be useful to make large quantities of things, rather than strong and durable items. Iron might also be superior in the sense that you can process it easier."

"That's what I mean. And here's the problem. Do you know much about steelmaking? What do you think of this iron sword I have here?"

"This sword? Please allow me to inspect this for a moment.... hmmm... this is iron with a slightly different pattern. I have never seen one such as this before. I would think this is pretty... unique, maybe?"

"Actually, this iron sword was made using some special techniques to handle the iron, and it is quite strong. Enough so that I would say it would not be scratched against a normal iron sword."

"I see. The fact that the manufacturing method is special means that the iron itself in the sword is not special. Does that mean that this can be mass-produced as long as there is a supply of the metal?"

"You are indeed very perceptive. That's exactly what I mean. Barca is thinking of starting a new industry. For that purpose, I want to know exactly how much iron is being produced in the mines of the former Uruk Territory. Will you check that out for me, Payne?"

"I understand. Leave it to me, Ars-sama."

　Payne joined Barca during the Battle of Uruk.

　I had him do various jobs for me here.

He was quite capable, being able to do almost anything I assigned to him. Thus, I put him in a position where he could perform a variety of tasks for me, such as domestic affairs.

　I was talking to such a Payne while showing him the iron sword.

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　The sword I showed him was a very ordinary sword made of iron.

　However, Payne saw at a glance that it was a work of art.

　And there was no doubt about it.

　It did not have the special abilities of a magic sword, but it had a sharpness that far surpassed that of existing metallic swords.

　In fact, this is one of the weapons that Gran made.

　The iron was forged in the newly created Blast Furnace, which is capable of producing ultra-high temperatures.

　The advantage of being able to produce temperatures that could not be reached in conventional furnaces was not limited to the forging of flaming ore.

　It was the same when processing iron.

　In other words, this sword was a sword that had been successfully created by using the Blast Furnace, a furnace that had never been used before.

　The surface of the sword was smooth and shiny like a mirror, with a somewhat speckled pattern.

　I don't know much about it, but the sword's blade looks like Damascus steel.

　In other words, if the previous swords were "iron swords," the one Gran created this time could be called a "steel sword."

　There is something that I have been concerned about, but have not been able to do.

　It was the improvement of Barca Army's equipment.

　In a normal battle, nobles and knights mobilize the local population to form an army when necessary.

　For this reason, knights and others had good equipment, but the peasants who were mobilized brought their own weapons.

　Those who had their own weapons were fine, but those who did not have satisfactory weapons sometimes brought farming tools as weapons.

　Therefore, even within the army, the weapons carried by everyone were different.

　The Barca Army was a little different in this respect.

　Instead of gathering people as needed, it was a standing army and always had a certain number of soldiers.

　And we also had weapons for these soldiers.

　However, the weapons were not all good.

　If possible, I would liked to have had better weapons.

　That was my wish.

　The fact that we are now able to create steel swords, something that had never been done before in this world, might just be the right opportunity.

　I could also make further use of the new furnace that had been created using the phantom ore, flame ore.

　Thus, Barca decided to start a new steel-making business to produce steel and wealth.

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