Blacksmith Shop

Nord had intended to take it easy for the past few days, but he had never expected the system to issue him a quest the day after he returned to Tami Village.

Construction Quest: Blacksmith Shop

Quest Description: Blacksmithing was an extremely important profession. Since ancient times, blacksmiths had produced outstanding people. A Blacksmith Shop was vital to the development of a territory. Whether for military supplies or civilian use, it was indispensable. Please build a Blacksmith Shop in your territory.

Quest Reward: One blacksmith

Thus, Nord could only arrange for Abel to build a Blacksmith Shop according to the blueprints provided by the system. However, Nord did not go out these past few days. Instead, he lazed around in the manor and left everything concerning the Blacksmith Shop to Steward Abel.

Other than training each day, he spent his time playing with Cindy. His days were carefree and comfortable. Abel was also highly efficient and quickly recruited quite a few servants. Following Nord's requirements, they were mostly elderly or disabled hunters. There was not much work to do at the manor anyway, so these people were more than enough.

Abel also found Nord a maid. She was the daughter of one of the manor's servants. After her father became disabled, the father and daughter had relied on one another for survival. Once Abel learned of their circumstances, he brought them both back to the manor.

Nord had initially resisted having a maid. After all, the very thought of such a profession made him feel somewhat embarrassed. Yet after he met her, he accepted Abel's kindness.

Nord's maid was named Beryl. She was only fifteen this year and barely reached one and a half meters tall. Her skin was dark, and she was thin and frail. What left the deepest impression on Nord were her eyes. He did not know how to describe them; they were as pure as a fawn's. The timid expression she wore when she saw Nord stirred his sympathy. He had originally intended to refuse her.

But when he thought of Beryl's family circumstances, Nord kept her. He could do everything himself anyway, and the manor was not short on food. The first task Nord gave Beryl was to look after Cindy.

What Nord had not expected was that the little girl was exceptionally attentive and took excellent care of Cindy. Nord could feel that Cindy liked Beryl very much. She now ran off every day to sleep with Beryl, which made Nord a little jealous. Fortunately, Cindy had not forgotten Nord. No matter what he did during the day, Cindy followed at his feet.

At noon that day, as usual, Nord sat in the study, drinking plain water and bathing in the sunlight streaming through the window. In his hands was the plan he had come up with over the past few days.

The most important thing was to finish building the Blacksmith Shop first. Up to now, the equipment for Nord's guards was still incomplete, which greatly affected the unit's combat strength. However, Nord had already arranged for Abel to build it a few days ago. It would probably be finished today.

Then there was the Fur Workshop. He could first use the salt and linen cloth he had on hand to trade with Distant Mountain Stronghold for animal furs. After processing them, they could become one of Tami Village's products for external trade.

There was also the Brick Workshop. Bricks made from earth were far more convenient than quarrying stone from the mountains, and they did not need to be polished. Their uniform shape would not only make construction easier, but also save a great deal of time.

With bricks, Nord could begin his grand road-building plan. As someone born in an infrastructure powerhouse, Nord understood the importance of roads all too well. Whether it was building an internal road to Distant Mountain Stronghold or an external trade route, both were essential.

As for buildings like the Carpenter's Workshop and Herbal Workshop, they would have to be constructed gradually once development reached a certain point. Roads had to be taken one step at a time; taking strides that were too large could easily tear something...

That was all he could think of for the moment. Nord leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and mentally looked over the plan for anything he might have missed.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door. Cindy, who had been resting on Nord's lap, immediately became alert. She raised her head and tilted her ears toward the sounds outside. Before long, the study door quietly opened. When Cindy saw who had entered, she relaxed and lowered her little head again.

"Is that Beryl?"

Nord did not open his eyes, because Beryl had been the only one entering the study these past few days. Although Nord had not asked Beryl to serve him, whenever she had nothing to do, the stubborn little girl would run to the study and wait for his orders. Nord had tried persuading her several times without success, so he stopped bothering.

"Lord Nord, it is me. The village's Blacksmith Shop has been completed. Following your instructions, I have already sent the villagers home."

Nord opened his eyes, surprise shining in them. He patted Cindy and rose to his feet.

"So quickly? Then take me there now."

With that, Nord hurried out the door.

The Blacksmith Shop was located northeast of the village, some distance from the farmland. It was also a stretch of flat ground, but there were too many stones in the soil for it to be suitable for cultivation, so it had always been left abandoned. Nord had taken a liking to this place at first glance. Unless something unexpected happened, the other workshops would be built here in the future as well.

When he arrived in front of the Blacksmith Shop, Nord was actually a little disappointed. It was merely an ordinary little wooden house, as unremarkable as the other wooden houses in the village. That was why the villagers had been able to build it so quickly. Not only had building the manor trained them, but the simple structure of the wooden house was also a factor.

There was one difference, though: two large furnaces stood before the door, piled from mud and stones. They used the stove-building techniques from rural areas in Nord's previous life, something Nord had not seen in this world.

Nord could not see anything special about this Blacksmith Shop, so he opened the System Panel to see how the blacksmith from the Blacksmith Shop was supposed to be summoned.

Quest completed. Distributing reward.

Nord looked around. There was no thunder and lightning, no dazzling radiance. Other than a gust of mountain wind, nothing had changed. Just as Nord was trying to recall how Abel had appeared back then, the door of the Blacksmith Shop suddenly opened before him.

A burly man walked out. He stood nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a face full of beard. The muscles on his thick arms bulged with veins, making him look immensely powerful. When he spoke, his voice was like thunder.

"Lord Nord, I am the blacksmith Hansen. I am willing to serve you."

Nord looked the big man over twice. He felt that if it came down to strength, even Ryman might not be Hansen's match. Ryman was extremely sturdy compared to ordinary people, but Hansen was probably beyond the realm of ordinary people altogether. Unfortunately, Nord could not send Hansen into battle. Otherwise, Ryman's position might not be secure. At that thought, a smile appeared on Nord's lips. He shook his head, no longer dwelling on who was stronger between Ryman and Hansen, then remembered the equipment and asked Hansen.

"Hansen, it is a pleasure to meet you. You really are incredibly strong. I would like to forge some equipment as soon as possible. Can you do that?"

"Lord Nord, I do not have any pig iron or ore here. If you need equipment, you can purchase finished products from the Blacksmith Shop. If you can obtain Iron Ore or pig iron, I can forge them for you. That would cost much less. However, if you want to forge large quantities, I alone will not be enough. You will need to assign me some assistants, and I will teach them how to forge."

Nord nodded. He had actually expected this situation. He found the Blacksmith Shop panel in the System Panel, and when he opened it and saw the prices, Nord could not help but curse.

Machete: 20 Gold Thaler

Chainmail: 50 Gold Thaler

...

I will pay more attention to typos in the future, so please rest assured. Also, the recommendation results have been pretty good these past few days. Many new friends have come to the comments section and offered plenty of suggestions, which I will take seriously. Finally, my usual request for recommendation votes, bookmarks, rewards, and investment.