Ch.17Bonanza

Clatter… Clatter…

In a prominent metropolis boasting a population of 10 million, mineral experts invited from Fahrenheit carefully gathered magnetite sand, filtering it through various strange tools, boiling it, smelting it, and beginning to inspect its quality.

This investigation team, composed entirely of dwarves, exuded an atmosphere suggesting they would bury anyone who carelessly approached them in magnetite sand. Because of this, Amurtat’s civil servants hadn’t dared to utter a word during the examination process that had already continued for a week.

“Um… It’s been a week already… Shouldn’t we be getting some kind of report by now?”

“Just wait quietly. You don’t even know the difference between sand and iron.”

“But they’re getting paid regularly!”

The investigators from Fahrenheit had already stayed in Amurtat for a week, and it was only after nearly ten days that they summoned the city’s officials.

When about ten officials gathered in the room under the supervisor, a short dwarf sat in a chair and showed them a glass bottle containing a piece of magnetite sand.

“This is ordinary magnetite sand.”

Then, he pulled out another glass bottle from his chest, which contained two pieces of magnetite sand that were noticeably larger compared to the other one.

“And this is the magnetite sand that comes from your mountains.”

At those words, the officials’ faces brightened. Such a clear difference surely meant it was economically viable.

“I apologize for taking ten days, but it couldn’t be helped because the vein is so deep.”

“What do you mean?”

“This magnetite is being generated deep underground. It’s regenerating, albeit very slowly. You’ll be able to mine this magnetite for at least 100 million years.”

This wasn’t just a figure of speech. In this world where supernatural events occur daily and demons occasionally tear through dimensions, what was so special about a regenerating vein?

However, the fact that this vein had formed right next to the city was indeed something special.

“100 million years!”

“You’re quite lucky. There seems to be something like a core nucleus there, perhaps a iron dragon’s nest… Anyway, congratulations. Not only is the quality good and the magnetite content abundant, but now you know it won’t run dry.”

Regardless of the reason, upon learning they could conduct sustainable mining, Amurtat’s officials rejoiced like children.

They were overjoyed because this Amurtat, which had no notable specialty products, now had something that wouldn’t lose to other cities—no, rather, something other cities would envy.

“Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!”

“No need for thanks. If you’re truly grateful, give us a discount when trading with our city later.”

After saying that, the leader of the dwarf investigation team opened the door and left.

The reason he didn’t pull it open was because his short stature prevented him from reaching the handle.

*

“Your Majesty. Please rejoice. After bringing in experts to confirm, it is indeed magnetite sand!”

“Ohhh..!”

“And prepare to be amazed! We’ve discovered that the magnetite sand in the northern mountains is ‘abundant’ and ‘high-quality’!”

“Ohhhh!!!”

I couldn’t help but feel pure joy.

To explain my happiness, one must first understand the concept of veins in Polistory. Ordinary veins don’t have grand modifiers attached to them, but when positive characteristics are present, modifiers like those above are added.

Based on the explanation, the magnetite sand in the northern mountains had two traits: ‘abundance’ and ‘high quality’, both of which were excellent characteristics with nothing to discard.

First, ‘abundance’ was a trait that doubled production without question, while ‘high quality’ was a trait that reduced the amount of raw materials needed for iron and steel production by half.

To elaborate, ‘abundance’ increased the output of raw materials like iron ore and magnetite sand, while ‘high quality’ increased the amount of produced goods like ‘iron’ and ‘steel’.

And since traits that could pump up both raw materials and produced goods had appeared, it could be described in one word as a ‘bonanza’.

“Ha! It seems the angels are blessing this Amurtat.”

Even by simple calculation, with twice the output and twice the production, it amounted to a fourfold increase in production. This was the kind of luck that could get you banned from a community for a year.

If I could obtain a fragment of the core nucleus, I resolved to acquire the northern mountains even if it meant giving up the western forest.

“Begin mining development immediately. Provide all necessary manpower and materials.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will implement it promptly.”

Most importantly, iron was a resource attractive to any faction.

As its nickname “the rice of industry” suggests, iron was a metal that could create everything from legendary weapons to household pots.

“Advisor!”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“It seems the angels aren’t ready to take you yet. Such a miracle has occurred.”

“Hahaha!”

The advisor laughed heartily. He laughed so hard that the deep wrinkles on his face were almost invisible.

He was now quite elderly, and it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any time. If he were to die while laughing like that, people would remember it as a good death.

But the advisor was still alive, which meant he could still work.

“Get to work! My storehouses will only be filled abundantly if you suffer!”

For the first time in a very long while, I took out a whip and began to drive the scribes who were moving parchments.

*

Crack! Boom!

Swish swish!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Hurry! The master wants to see the mine completed as soon as possible!”

Logging operations were underway in the northern mountains.

The northern mountains were far from the plains where Amurtat was located, and since they weren’t within the range of the core nucleus, there was the inconvenience of having to transport materials directly like this. But considering the hot iron that would soon be extracted from this inconvenience, each drop of sweat shed could be considered valuable.

The mine for extracting the vein, the smeltery for refining the minerals extracted from the mine, and the charcoal workshops to supply fuel to the smeltery were all being built simultaneously. Although construction was very slow, the scale was so large that it could create thousands of jobs.

It seemed like it would be easy to build with the materials prepared in advance… but something unexpected became a stumbling block.

It was stone.

Naturally, stone can withstand fire, but wood cannot. We were paying the price for neglecting quality while focusing on scale growth. We were hastily bribing merchant guilds to buy high-quality rocks for ironmaking, but these damn merchants seemed to have caught on and were subtly trying to raise prices while feigning ignorance.

After catching a few who were too obvious in their schemes and filleting them alive, those who tried to manipulate prices disappeared, but fundamentally, creating a quarry that could regularly obtain rocks was the best choice in the long term.

And if that was the thought, it should naturally be put into action.

Slap! Slap!

“Aaaagh!”

“Move, you slugs! Work! Work, I say! Labor is the best painkiller! Those who whine about pain are just being crafty!”

“There’s no rest until we reach the bedrock layer! If you don’t find the bedrock layer by the end of today, know that you’ll keep digging until you do!”

My race was Caucasoid with prominent supraorbital ridges, but my heart was that of a Korean addicted to the “hurry hurry” mentality, suffering from an illness where I couldn’t enjoy kimchi fried rice without kimchi.

And in this world, there was nothing and no one that could restrict my power as a monarch.

So… naturally, forcing 24-hour labor without pay, rest, or meals for the sake of speed was ‘common sense’, right?

“Huff… huff…”

Thud!

“What? Dead already? Dying after just 38 hours, what a weakling.”

“You devil bastards! How can you say that when you haven’t let us sleep for even an hour?”

“If you can speak, you can hear your voice, right? If you have time to talk, work!”

Slap! Slap!

“Aaaaargh!”

“I really enjoy tormenting lower-class workers like you! Lord Tiberius!! I love youuuu!!!!”

Revolution? If they started one, I’d just kill them all.

Mass deaths? So what, if they died, other workers would fill their places.

What? Wages? You dare to covet petty material desires when given the opportunity to serve me? What? You’re hungry? Just endure it, can’t you? What? You’re extremely sleepy? For someone like you, a nine-tailed whip will periodically provide an awakening effect from behind, so don’t worry!

And so, with spirited screams, the night in Amurtat came to an end.

It was summer.