NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 11
Let whoever has never been carried away by praise cast the first stone at me.
“Truly magnificent work, I say!”
“Is it really?”
The sole owner of the village’s forge, Smith Master—a pit-dwelling Tunnel Dweller who sometimes seemed almost dwarven—praised me, and I felt bashful, scratching my cheek.
“And yet, to craft a complete set in such a short time span…”
As the master sighed in awe, arrayed before him on a wooden counter was the complete set of wooden molds I had created. Twenty-five intricate pieces designed for a board game, each corresponding to a different character in the popular “Military Drill Chess” game in the Threefold Empire of Rain and its surrounding regions. This game is a variant of chess where players vie for control over the Emperor and Crown Prince on a 12×12 grid board.
While the individual movements of the pieces resemble traditional chess, the game’s defining feature is the strategic freedom it offers: only the Emperor and Crown Prince are fixed roles. Players can freely choose twenty-eight additional pieces from a pool of twenty-five types, setting up thirty pieces per side in the first four rows on the board. The game thus takes on a card-game-like appearance, weaving complex tactics into its gameplay, making it a deeply intricate and highly popular game.
Despite its complexity, the game has a relatively simple summary of special rules and piece movements, which made it a favorite pastime in the Threefold Empire and its satellite nations, where literacy rates are relatively high.
Players build their armies by freely arranging pieces—adjusting for power disparity between a single all-powerful piece akin to a rook to twelve smaller ones akin to pawns—and because there’s no “one-size-fits-all” optimal solution, even the Long-lived Species, known for their centuries-spanning lifetimes, are said to be passionately absorbed into the competition. The game’s popularity here was unmatched.
Given its appeal, the demand for game pieces was equally high.
Since the game requires twenty-five varieties of pieces, and a total of 140 pieces for a single side, quantities naturally needed to be mass-produced. Though cheaper wooden boards with shorthand markings were available, the three-dimensional pieces crafted to reflect noble positions for the upper classes could cost as much as an entire fiefdom.
What I had accomplished over the summer, aged twelve and working part-time, was creating a complete set of wooden molds for these intricate pieces.
“Remarkable though this may be, you really finished this in just one summer…?”
The diminutive Smith Master, barely reaching my waist, examined a piece depicting the Emperor with a look of deep admiration. It portrayed a middle-aged man standing proudly under a flag, modeled after the famed Emperor who had, over a hundred and twenty years ago, repelled an invasion from coalition forces alongside the young Crown Prince, retaining his legendary status ever since.
While gazing at the flag sculpted to emulate its movement in the wind, Smith Master stroked his voluminous beard—a source of pride for his race—with evident approval.
“This is one of my prouder works—it’s modeled after the iconic Emperor of the Black Banner I saw in a portrait at Manor Hall.”
“Indeed, with the Emperor’s popularity, the Emperor-and-Crown-Prince pieces modeled after the Black Banner Emperor and the Silver Crown Prince are bound to sell well.”
Even if they can’t fetch an entire fiefdom, well-crafted pieces can trade for respectable prices—players often come in to buy individual pieces they fancy. Thus, pieces modeled after the popular royal families and emperors of various countries see especially high demand. Knowing this, I had invested all my efforts into my work.
The larger pieces are about as tall as an index finger, while the smaller ones resemble a little finger. Each fits perfectly on the squares of the large board set up in the assembly hall, with the bases included. Sculpting the more impressive poses while ensuring they fit neatly in place was quite challenging.
“So, what do you think, Master Smith? Is it…?”
“Hmm… aye, good work indeed.”
When I inquired after he had examined each piece of the set, Master Smith, seeming to have reached a verdict, nodded and crossed his arms…
“I’ll craft you a full suit of armor.”
“Thank you so much!!”
He graciously assured me of my reward with a nod.
“I wasn’t sure you’d actually finish, and if you did, I thought it’d take at least half a year—but you’ve done well, truly.”
“Thank you…!”
Being recognized for my work was, of course, heartwarming—but the prospect of receiving the ordered armor as payment for it, fulfilling a desire I had, was even more thrilling.
“Right then, let’s take your measurements. You Humans, you’re still growing, yeah? I’ll make sure it’s adjustable accordingly.”
Leaping off his chair at the counter and cracking his shoulders in preparation, Master Smith led me into the workshop where I was overcome by the joy of a month’s hard work paying off.
It all started this summer, when I decided, just before turning twelve, that I needed to take action.
I needed money, badly.
For an adventurer, a full set of equipment and weapons is indispensable. Unfortunately, in this world, gear such as armor and weapons is astonishingly expensive. To give you an idea, even the most basic set of undergarments, cotton armor, and a hardened leather corselet might cost as much as our family’s monthly budget.
Of course, that makes sense. Producing such items requires large quantities of hardened leather, metal rivets, metal plates—none of which come cheap. Having grown up understanding tabletop role-playing games, I found this world’s economy doesn’t align with their simplified cost systems. A sword worth a couple of nights at an inn? That’s not how this world rolls—it’s not exactly gentle on adventurers.
Back home, weapons and armors could be bought with money a child might save up, the cost justified by a system encouraging adventurous pursuits. Here, however, even a copper sword can be a significant investment.
Naturally, as the fourth son, there was no way I could beg for such extravagance. Our family had just gone into fiscal tightening after funding the construction of a separate house for my older brother and his wife. With formal wedding plans for next year, the financial strain was evident even for someone like me who’d been well-loved and indulged within the family. There wasn’t room for extravagant spending on armor at all.
Thus, self-funding was my only option.
I wasn’t stupid enough to explore ruins unarmed, nor were raw materials cheap enough to justify hastily learning a blacksmith’s craft. But I had a skill I could leverage. Working wood under the pretense of preparing for eventual independence—or perhaps justifying it to myself—I’d honed my woodworking skills enough to reach “mastery,” and, through my understanding of carving, had refined my “artistic sense” enough to craft detailed pieces like chess pawns. Earning money this way wasn’t an issue.
Setting aside my internal justification, I decided to present Smith Master with a sample pawn. He was impressed with its quality and offered to commission a complete set of molds for the Military Drill Chess game in exchange for a full suit of armor—a proposal too good to turn down.
While crafting twenty-five unique chess piece models, designing and carving each piece was no small feat—but the thought of my very own armor kept my spirits high. With my usual work on hold, it was easy to dedicate all available time. Though working alongside Margit’s constant supervision did cause some neck strain, she kindly offered a massage afterward—though, let us remain respectful, yes?—which smoothed things over nicely.
Driven by both a fantasy enthusiast’s passion for owning armor and the practical urgency of my impending need to leave home in a year or two, I completed the pieces at a speed unmatched in my experience.
And now, my measurements have begun for the armor of my dreams.
“Hmm, you there, your torso seems like it’ll grow quite a bit more.”
While measuring various parts of my body with a tape measure, Master Smith lightly grasped my shoulder and made this observation. Indeed, my growth potential was relatively high, and I estimated I might grow up to around 180 centimeters.
“How do you know?”
“Back in the day, I worked in a forge at Innenstadt to the west where I handled roughneck adventurers and mercenaries. After watching many youngsters mature from novices into veterans, you can tell just by touch.”
While measuring my shoulder width and arm lengths, Master Smith recorded notes and nodded approvingly. Innenstadt, as I recalled, was the large city located along the river to the west of our village—a city with a population numbering in the tens of thousands. It was the place where my father would sell crops to cover the family’s annual tribute. My older brother had ridden with merchant caravans there to learn the trade, though, regrettably, I had never been.
Still, if this master had worked in such a major city, what brought him here?
“You’ve clearly trained as a swordfighter… though it’s slightly unbalanced toward your back and chest muscles. Perhaps you train with a shortbow?”
“Ah, you have a keen eye!”
It was indeed impressive that you could tell from a touch alone. Margit has also been teaching me how to handle the shortbow alongside swordsmanship training.
Even though I had experienced the incredible event of receiving a ring from the aging Sorcerer, my adventures still lacked the next step—distance combat capability. Thinking through this lack of options, I remembered that my childhood friend was a hunter and asked if he could teach me. Fortunately, he agreed without hesitation and has been training me during our spare time.
As a result, various bow skills and, as a bonus, skills related to forest and mountain stealth and tracking have been unlocked. All incredibly useful for a wandering adventurer—none of this is wasted effort, definitely not. I haven’t been dodging the decreased proficiency rates in my skills—training has helped me recover much of it. Yes, indeed it has.
“Ah, so a shortbow… but I specialize in swords and armor, not bows. Sorry, but even if you were to bring me something, I wouldn’t take it on as a job.”
“Really?”
“While I, as the master, can craft everything from metal plates, swords, and spearheads, bows are outside my jurisdiction. Not all weapons are within the purview of a blacksmith.”
I had always assumed that village blacksmiths were jacks-of-all-trades—crafting anything from armor to weapons and even ranged tools. But apparently, this world works differently. During our casual chat while taking my measurements, I learned that Master Smith belonged to a guild of fellow forge workers in Innenstadt. Through this guild, he received the official license to practice as a blacksmith, which came with restrictions on what items he could craft.
This policy was implemented by the state to prevent the loss of advanced smelting and forging techniques to foreign lands. Though it seemed strict at first, I understood that the risk of lost knowledge impacting military capability justified it. So, in a way, being a blacksmith was akin to holding a “national certification.” The local blacksmiths crafting nails and tools occupied a surprisingly prestigious position within society, something I had never considered—thanks to Mr. Lambert’s education, I wouldn’t have been stuck wondering where to acquire my armor.
“So, swords then?”
“Everything the militia wears comes straight from my forge.”
When he offered to craft another complete set if I wanted, I was surprised. But creating combat-worthy weapons for anyone outside official authorization is regulated, with each sword having a mandated minimum price set by the Lord to maintain law and order.
That makes sense. Easily-accessible weapons could lead to bandit groups forming or other dangerous consequences. Clearly, even in this fantastical world, not everything fits the romanticized fantasy.
Moreover, learning that each sword came with a serial number and a certificate of authenticity left me perplexed, comparing it to modern firearms. However, as Master Smith explained: “If it can kill a man, then naturally it must be handled with utmost caution.” Indeed, a valid point.
“Seems like these strict regulations are only hereabouts. Elsewhere, it’s a bit more lenient.”
Once the measurements were done, Master Smith folded his notes, sat on a short desk he uses for design purposes, and pulled out a thin fiber paper—commonplace enough now, though still less refined than the parchment used for long-term records.
“Let’s see, I’ve got quite a few orders for nails and buckets lined up…” Counting on his fingers, Smith Master murmured about schedules—recalling something about the family home my brother had commissioned.
“By spring, surely?”
About six months. Though it seems reasonable for a fully customized set, having never requested armor—let alone knowing anyone who has—I can’t really gauge the proper timeline. Besides, I’m already uncertain about the pricing of the chess pieces I created, so this is probably fine given it’s within the confines of a small fiefdom. With Tunnel Dwellers known for their long lifespans—up to three hundred years—maintaining appropriate decorum is wise. Thus, without raising any objections, I bowed respectfully, expressing my gratitude.
【Tips】 Tunnel Dwellers: A species characterized by statures less than half of a human’s height. Possessing metallic skeletal compositions and crimson blood coursing through their veins, they originate from mountainous regions rich in mineral veins. Known for their superior strength, heat tolerance, and darkvision, they’re easily identified—male figures with robust builds and full beards, while females have cherubic faces and fuller frames compared to other races.
At twelve, I transition into adolescence, gradually preparing to venture off on adventures. The game pricing, though often omitted in many role-playing games for convenience, offers a chance to delve deeply into realism here. The setup of Military Drill Chess will have further significance later, so its elaborate nature now may not be wasted.