Soul of Burning Steel

"Master, this is almost my limit..."

Josai, Beppu, bedroom on the second floor.

Rin sat on the edge of the bed. He held the right hand of the silver-haired girl on the bed with both hands. He could see a silver-gray dim light flowing between their hands. He took a breath. The black-haired and golden-eyed boy frowned slightly and said softly: " The power in my sister's body is too inert, and I can't extract too much, this level is already at the limit."

"Then stop, don't force it."

Joshua stood at the door, he leaned against the wall, looked sideways towards the direction of the bed and said, "At least the situation has indeed improved, Rin, you did a good job, but be careful, don't put yourself in it."

"Um."

Responding in a low voice, Rin closed his eyes tiredly, and began to rest a little.

Joshua looked at the two masters in front of him, and couldn't help nodding. Although Ying on the bed was still sleeping, her complexion did look much better than before. At least, now she could see that her expression was slightly changing. Changes, instead of seeing only the face that seemed to be frozen like before.

As for Rin, after learning about the situation of his nominal "sister" not long ago, he took the initiative to ask if he could help, and the soldier who originally contracted for this purpose would naturally not refuse this request. However, the young man has only just successfully contracted, and he has not fought with Joshua. His level has not yet been raised, and his ability is slightly weaker, so he has not been able to do his best.

Turning his head, he looked at the red and black gemstone in his right hand. The crystal of steel isolated by the fighting spirit shone like a star. Looking at it, Joshua's eyes became serious.

"The crystallization of steel... Is the world I see brought about by the mysterious power contained in it real?"

Muttering to himself, the soldier narrowed his eyes: "Or, is that the world behind the gate of time and space? But it feels different from what I knew in the previous life..."

In any case, there is indeed a certain possibility. The depressing atmosphere and the feeling of being on the verge of destruction are indeed very similar to the post-apocalyptic world. It is almost the same as the Mycroft Continent after being invaded by the abyss in the previous life. The smell of death.

Shaking his head and not thinking about it anymore, Joshua put the gem in his hand back into his pocket, then turned to the boy and said, "Let's rest for a while, Rin, I'll introduce you to the current situation later."

- A few days later.

Beppu, second floor, communication circle.

Since the last time Nostradamus came to visit and left, Joshua asked the chief mage of the empire to set up a simple communication circle in his own Beppu. This is because the Lord's Mansion can only be rebuilt when spring comes. Finished, before that, soldiers can't always go to St. Lauren's Cathedral to borrow the church's communication circle. Not to mention it's too much trouble for the old priest Artanis, it's really inconvenient.

And now, Joshua is talking to Nostradamus.

"...The situation is like this. The method you said is indeed effective, but it is not obvious."

The soldier's voice was very calm: "And I also discovered some new information. The reason for Ying's deep sleep is the energy feedback caused by my advanced stage, which made her start advanced staged, but the strange piece of steel she carried with her The released power of stagnant steel stopped this process and stopped her advancement, I think this is probably the truth of Ying's deep sleep."

"Really? As long as the method is effective, this is really good news... As for the inexplicable power in the crystal of steel, I am ashamed to say that I don't have much information about this precious material."

Congratulations to Joshua, the old mage at the other end of the communication circle pondered for a while, and then suggested: "It's fine if it's alchemy materials, but for these precious materials for forging, I personally recommend you to ask Ask the rune dwarves in your territory, they have the most complete mineral information on this continent, and have a deep understanding of any precious material—at least better than me, a mage who doesn't know how to forge."

"indeed so."

The dwarves are rich in the world's first-class forging masters and ore identification masters. Hearing this very reasonable suggestion, the warrior couldn't help but nodded. He decided to go to the dwarf gathering area in a few days and visit the person who often wrote to His Rune Dwarf Great Forge, Moria Ironbody Senior: "Then, thank you for your opinion."

"fine."

The voice of the old mage on the other side of the communication array sounded very happy: "I am also very happy to help a young and promising young man like you."

After continuing to discuss other issues for a while, Joshua closed the communication formation, and then walked towards his study.

In the study room, the decoration is very simple. Although the soldiers are not opposed to enjoyment, they are too lazy to spend time arranging those complicated decorations. At this time, on the desk made of black pine, there is a young man with black hair and golden eyes who is concentrating He looked at the documents on the table and dealt with official duties.

This kid, Rin, is really reassuring.

Opening the door and watching this scene, Joshua couldn't help but sighed, and then sighed with emotion.

Ever since he contracted this magical young man, he has handled all the work in the past few days. For this reason, Joshua was liberated from the boring and tedious official duties, and he was able to carry out daily exercises and train other knights with peace of mind. , Cultivate your own team.

It has to be said that Rin's database is extremely rich in information, and his ability is not inferior to that of professional administrators. Therefore, he can easily handle all internal affairs in the territory without worrying about mistakes and omissions.

Not only that, this magical boy is also proficient in all kinds of strange knowledge. Even Joshua, who is a reborn time traveler, feels that he is inferior to his new housekeeper in some unpopular knowledge. The other party is almost like an encyclopedia of dolls, knowing almost everything.

Works flawlessly, can cook, is quick with business, and even takes care of the horses!

Thinking of this, the soldier couldn't help but sigh.

Just this morning, Hei in the stable became irritable for no reason, but this time Joshua didn't show up, and it was Rin who calmed him down. For this reason, the boy even made a special feed to make Hei Calm, in a sense, is simply all-rounder.

"It's so strong, Rin, why do you know so much?"

Joshua couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Didn't I say that, because the master originally had a synchronization rate of more than 60% with me, but only 50% with my sister, so all the seniors and the old lord have moved towards my memory core in advance. Infused with a lot of special knowledge, it is used to help you, master, handle your daily affairs... This is something that almost every divine machine has to do."

Shrugging, Rin sighed while looking at the document in his hand. In the past few days, he has also learned about his master's legendary experience in the past few months: "Master, after you learned the news of the old lord's death, you changed the synchronization rate because of the agitation of your mood? The change caused by the ups and downs of mood , is indeed something that cannot be avoided.”

He flipped through another document, and then reminded: "By the way, master, here is a letter from the dwarves. They said that the armor they are going to give you is almost finished. If it is possible, it will be delivered in a few days."

"Oh? Really, what a coincidence."

Joshua looked a little surprised, but then he smiled and said: "Very well, I'm planning to visit them in a few days... I don't need them to send it, I will pick it up myself, Rin, help me draft a reply letter Bar."

"Okay, master."

Going to the area where the dwarves are is not as simple as it is casually said. In fact, there are many problems that need to be solved now.

The gathering place of the dwarves is located in the southern corner of the Great Ajax Mountains, and it is also the place closest to the underground lava pool. They build houses in the underground rocks and mud, and use the energy of the magma to activate the rune equipment to forge weapons. This place is indeed in Moldavia, but it is actually not easy to get there. Even skilled travelers and adventurers need to climb several hills to find this dwarf's home, and they need to make a lot of special preparations on the way .

Moreover, since you are visiting, you must also bring gifts. For example, high-quality wine and ores with good texture are essential, and these are not easy things to carry.

Of course, preparing these things naturally does not require Joshua, the lord, to take action.

Two days later.

Everything is ready.

But just when Joshua was about to gather the team and make the final preparations before departure, he was suddenly told that Claire was coming to visit.

Joshua naturally would not refuse, he received the green-haired forest elf in the reception room.

Today, Claire Windsong is wearing a purple woolen coat. She doesn't look at all like the legendary Druid who blends with nature, but looks like the fashionable noble ladies in the imperial capital.

She looked a little tired. The soldier knew that Claire hadn't rested recently. She had been checking the soil quality on the nearby land, taking samples, and then conducting some special experiments. Originally, Joshua thought that this situation would It continued until she began to purify the earth, but she didn't expect that this elf beauty would come over today and say that she wanted to go to the gathering area of ​​the dwarves together.

"Ms. Claire, what about your purification work?"

Joshua was not euphemistic, but directly pointed out this problem: "Before spring, if the chaos pollution cannot be solved, farmers will have no way to farm. This is definitely not the original intention of your coming here."

"It's okay, it's done."

The elf druid doesn't seem to be talkative either. Hearing Joshua's question, she replied succinctly: "I have planted the seeds of the sun vine around. A special transformation has been carried out. This plant will absorb the power of the sun, then balance the surrounding environment, and purify the surrounding chaotic atmosphere... Next, it is enough to sow the seeds everywhere."

"I see."

Nodding clearly, Joshua naturally knew about the sun vine, which was originally a magic plant used to absorb the sun's rays and then purify negative energy, but he did not expect that this kind of ordinary, almost It is the cheapest magic plant that can be transformed into a good thing that can purify the power of chaos after being transformed by the great druid.

The power of magic is indeed miraculous.

Having reached this point, then there is no problem, Joshua simply agreed: "Very good, if that's the case, then you can follow our team to the gathering place of the dwarves."

Anyway, the issue of the chaotic breath has been dealt with, so it doesn't matter if you bring her along, and it's not a bad thing to have a high-level gold druid accompany you, not to mention that even if you refuse, the other party can go there by yourself, so there is no need to refuse.

"……accepted?"

After being silent for a while, Claire's expression seemed a little surprised. It didn't seem like he was pretending, but he was really surprised: "I thought I would be rejected, or talked for a long time, but I didn't expect it to be so simple..."

"Why do you think I'll say no?"

After hearing this sentence, Joshua felt a little baffled: "People's actions are free, even if you haven't completed the purification task, for you, a gold-level druid, you really want to go to the dwarf gathering area alone. What is difficult, not to mention that you have already fulfilled your duties, so why should I not agree to your request?"

"Probably because of...the expression."

Claire tilted his head slightly, and then said in a calm tone: "It seems that he always finds it difficult to speak, and he is a very vicious person."

"Expressions...Listen, Claire, I never knew elves could judge people by their appearance!"

As if choked, Joshua felt that he had to explain his image. He frowned and said in a deep voice: "Although I don't look like a good person, and I'm not very friendly, I'm actually very talkative. , most people ask me for help, and I will agree... What's the matter with your expression?!"

"..."

Covering her cheeks with her hands, the green-haired elf seemed to be snickering, but she turned her head without saying a word.

- the next day

Maybe it's because they live in the coldest place, the Northlanders are either as quick as fire or as lazy as a bear, but no matter what, under Joshua's order, all preparations have been completed.

Starfall 832, February 24th, morning.

Outside the main city, the ice field.

Twenty fully armed knights sat silently on their mounts, their waists standing straight among the flying snow. The white frost and snow covered the silver-white armor with a layer of transparent thin ice, which was wiped off. The long guns, which were shiny and shining with metallic light, were erected, appearing in an extremely neat array.

Joshua rode a tall black horse, walking back and forth in front of the knights, beside him were Rin and Clare, each riding a horse. The soldier looked at the very neat array in front of him and nodded in satisfaction.

"I won't say much else."

Using battle energy to amplify his voice, Joshua's voice broke through the gust of wind and spread across the ice field, and he said loudly: "Knights, what we are about to go to is the residence of the dwarves, the settlement of one of the greatest allies of mankind. So, at this moment, you represent the lord of Moldavia, and I, Joshua, protect the glory of mankind—so it is best for me to be cautious in everything, and it is good to maintain the current state !"

"yes!"

The knights responded loudly immediately, and the voices of twenty people answering in unison were as low and serious as thunder. They looked very excited, as if they were extremely looking forward to the upcoming gathering of dwarves.

"very good."

Joshua looked up at the gloomy sky, the snow was getting smaller and smaller, and the temperature was no longer as cold as it used to be. Most of the winter has passed, and the first day of the recovery of all things is coming soon

"Set off!"

Following his command, the knights and horses turned around together. The horseshoes trampled on the frost and kicked up snow and dust, and they galloped towards their target.

The plot of this volume is to advance the main line and expand the world view, which may not be interesting enough.