A Relic and a Decision

Through a series of questions and answers, Big Ange and Noren finally reached an understanding as the clouds dispersed and the midday sun shone brightest. Noren now knew everything.

She sat down on the abandoned clay brick kiln, crossing her right leg over her left, elbow propped on her thigh, chin resting on her palm. She watched Henry feed firewood one by one into the black-gray kiln.

The pressure of her thighs accentuated her curves, even through the thick fur-lined leather pants. She fell into deep thought.

‘Extreme heat melts iron ore into molten iron, and the result is cast iron. But I remember cast iron is pig iron, right? Which has higher carbon content, pig iron or wrought iron?’

‘Tsk! It’s been too long since I transmigrated—I’ve forgotten everything!’ She pinched the bridge of her nose, a worried expression on her face. ‘Every day it’s either hunting or fighting and training. All the chemistry I learned has been returned to the chemistry teacher…’

‘But I remember that pig iron can’t be used directly; there’s something else to do afterward, right?’

She couldn’t quite recall. Medieval metallurgy used small shaft furnaces to produce sponge iron, which was then forged and compressed into wrought iron.

The blacksmith father would reheat the wrought iron in charcoal, layering it with charcoal for carburization, increasing the carbon content to approach alloy steel. But it was difficult. Many medieval blacksmiths lacked the skill, and their products were often just wrought iron swords.

The relic “sword” and Svein’s “+VLBERH+T” inscribed sword seemed different from wrought iron swords—they were tough with wavy patterns, probably steel swords.

‘Alas, I’m not confident. Steelmaking technology isn’t that simple. These little wizards are too restless. Why can’t they just stick to folding and forging wrought iron for me?’

Noren glanced at Big Ange. After hearing his arguments, she felt this was a bottomless pit, and success was far from guaranteed.

“Hey, Ange!” she called out. “Why don’t you just smelt an iron billet and forge it into wrought iron? I’ll give you an extra year. Didn’t you just mention blast furnaces specifically for smelting iron billets?”

Big Ange replied, “But we don’t have a complete grasp of that kind of furnace.”

Noren twirled her blonde hair around her finger, hesitating.

Should she stick with the more reliable traditional methods, or go with innovative research that could produce results quickly but whose equipment might malfunction?

The sunk cost so far was five pounds of silver. Continuing might increase the sunk cost, but could also yield a weapon beyond its time.

‘Forget it, I’ll increase the investment,’ she gritted her teeth. Thinking: ‘Anyway, they’ve already softened that “wolf bone” relic with potions into a material. I might as well use the “fox bone” I just got. You can’t trap a child without bait… That proverb is bad—it reminds me of when I was taken by a wolf.’

Next moment, Noren reached into her chest and pulled out a long, thick, white object. She threw it to Ange.

“Catch!”

“What? Sigh—Ow!” Big Ange was hit on the head by the bone and fell flat on his butt.

A large lump swelled on his head, making his already massive head look even bigger.

When he saw what had fallen to the ground, his eyes widened. “A relic? Another one?”

He exclaimed to Noren, “Where did you get this?”

“Snatched it from a dog’s mouth,” Noren replied truthfully.

“Good heavens…” Big Ange gently stroked the hard object with his small hand. “This quality surpasses the previous bone. It’s close to ‘epic’ quality.”

He looked at Noren with undisguised greed in his eyes. “Are you giving it to me?”

The dwarf hugged the bone and rubbed it against his cheek, as tenderly as a eunuch caressing his own genitals.

Noren grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him, using the cold to sober him up. “You wish! Use it as material and add it to the weapon!”

“Nooo~” Big Ange wailed. “What a waste! This relic’s quality could even be used in a grand shamanic ritual. With this relic as a base, one could receive multiple blessings without side effects.”

“It’s mine, so I decide,” Noren said. She had no interest in grand shamanic rituals; all that mystical nonsense was beyond her.

“Can I at least study it carefully before you acid-treat it into material? I’ve never encountered an ‘epic’ quality relic in my life~”

“Suit yourself.”

“Yay!”

Noren turned to Little Hard, who was nearby. “Aren’t you interested in relics?”

Little Hard countered, “Can you eat it?”

Noren realized she had asked a pointless question. An addict only cares about one thing.

Ignoring Big Ange, who was shouting and jumping around, she walked behind Henry.

Looking down at the burly man who was seriously chiseling stone and setting it aside for the next firing, she asked, “Do you need someone to take over your work?”

She thought Henry had the potential to become a strong warrior; wasting his time with these two little wizards was overkill.

Henry’s hoarse voice replied, “The thing I’m best at is breaking stones. I used to work at the quarry in ‘Hradec,’ earning one silver coin a week. I didn’t like it much, but it was a job that paid.”

“You don’t have to break stones here. I’ll find someone to replace you. You can go to the village and be a village guard!”

Henry coughed from the smoke, stood up, and turned around. “But I don’t know how to be a good guard.”

“It’s as simple as breaking stones.”

“Like breaking the heads of those who disobey?”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Noren looked at him speechlessly. “Who taught you that? You definitely can’t just kill people. Many matters need my judgment before they can be executed.”

“Oh,” Henry scratched his head. “Halfdan said that the guards in ‘Hradec’ directly smash the heads of people they don’t like. I thought the village guards in Ostrava were the same…”

Noren ground her teeth in annoyance. “This Halfdan! Instead of teaching Henry the valor of the Norse, he teaches him…”

Well, all Norse were like that. She was used to it.

“Anyway, once I find someone to replace you, you go back to the village. Halfdan and Witz are also coming from ‘Hradec.'”

“Ah~” Henry looked reluctant. “Then I’d rather stay here.”

“Why?” Noren tilted her head, puzzled.

“If I go back, I’ll get beaten.”

“Who will beat you?”

“Halfdan and Witz.”

Noren’s teeth ached even more. She smiled, but her smile twitched. “It’s okay. I promise they won’t beat you.”

Because she would give those two idiots a thorough thrashing first!

“That’s good then…” Henry patted his chest.

With that settled, Noren left.

Half a moment later, she returned to the leveled ground. Looking at the three people’s puzzled expressions, she felt a bit embarrassed.

“Um… someone come show me the way.” She scratched her cheek awkwardly.