Chapter 50: A Brief Interlude (Iron Town)
A notice had been issued in advance. However, its content was something no one knew, something no one had ever seen before. As a result, the townsfolk were thrown into a state of near panic upon witnessing it.
“W-What is that…?”
“Is that a dragon!?”
It appeared with a low, rumbling sound. The noise resembled the buzzing of insect wings, yet it was far larger, heavier, and resonated deep within their chests. In the distant sky, it appeared as a small dot, slowly but surely approaching.
“Is it… small?”
“The sound is incredible!”
The people murmured among themselves, gazing up at the creature soaring above. They had been informed that there would be no mining operations today, and thus, most of the residents had gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the rumored flying ship, the Paraiso. Initially, some had commented on its size, thinking it smaller than expected, but as it circled and gradually descended, silence fell over the crowd.
The creature, known as the Bird that Carries the Dead (Albatross), was a massive flying machine measuring 35 meters in length and 45 meters in wingspan. With such a colossal form flying overhead, instinctual fear gripped the hearts of the townsfolk.
With a sound like thunder, the Albatross circled around Iron Town.
“I heard there are Wyverns in the northern mountains… They say they’re bigger than houses…”
“Bigger than a house…? But that thing is… bigger than a furnace…”
The Albatross passed overhead. Attached to its enormous wings were large, round objects that produced a deafening noise. It moved faster than any horse. While its speed had been hard to gauge from high above, its proximity made it all too clear.
“Wow… That thing must be protecting our town, right…?”
A whisper floated through the crowd.
Yes, it was said that the Paraiso had sent forth the Albatross to save Iron Town. If that were true, then this gigantic bird was indeed a reliable Guardian.
“So this is the Guardian…!”
“The Guardian…! Whoa, oh… the Guardian…!”
What began as a small murmur soon swelled into a great wave of excitement. The townsfolk raised their hands and cheered loudly for the circling Albatross. Their raucous celebration continued until the Albatross flew away, disappearing beyond the horizon.
The first cargo delivered consisted of a vast array of weapons and armor. Quality long swords, chainmail, helmets, breastplates, and greaves—all complete sets of armor. Alongside them were intricately designed bows and perfectly crafted quivers of arrows.
Once the guards were equipped, the next shipment included tools. Sturdy, well-formed pickaxes and other mining equipment, as well as handcarts, wheelbarrows, lamps, chairs, and various small items.
Initially hesitant to use the beautifully polished items, which resembled those of nobility, the townsfolk quickly began to embrace them upon learning that the iron ore they had mined was the raw material. They soon discovered that these tools had been crafted by the Paraiso, sparking a sudden Paraiso craze throughout Iron Town.
Images of the captains who had landed in Port Town of Terek were also brought in, along with news that all the crew members were beautiful girls adorned with beast parts. The name Paraiso swept through Iron Town like wildfire.
While weapons, armor, and mining tools were the top priority, a selection of luxury goods was also included. Among these, the most popular were the tools made by Paraiso. Everyday items like cooking utensils and various games became highly sought after. Despite the town being filled with rugged men, decorative items surprisingly sold quite well. However, the most coveted items were undoubtedly the portraits of the Paraiso crew.
It was akin to an idol craze.
The portraits were hand-painted by artists, with no two being the same. Since they could not be drawn without permission, each artist had to obtain consent for every single piece, often requiring the models to pose. Consequently, only one or two portraits could be transported per trade. There were times when the portraits did not arrive in time and were absent from the shipment. This led to a surge in high-priced reselling of the portraits.
However, the absolute amount of currency in Iron Town, and indeed in Port Town of Terek, was limited. After the high-priced reselling, owning a portrait became a status symbol. The town’s influential figures began to collect them, displaying them prominently on their walls.
Yet, if too many portraits were hoarded, it would inevitably lead to dissatisfaction. While a few portraits might be acceptable, collecting dozens would soon seem excessive. True fans might be content, but some were merely gathering them for show.
Eventually, the portraits began to circulate again in the market, treated like a form of credit note. Collecting them required a fair amount of money, and with the overall scarcity of currency, there was a limit to how high prices could soar. People began to trade them for other portraits or even for the rare Paraiso-crafted tools.
Had there been an ample supply of currency, it might have triggered an economic collapse akin to a bubble. Fortunately, the limited circulation of money prevented such a disaster, allowing the portraits to function as a form of currency in their own right, averting an unforeseen calamity.
“That’s quite a well-made cart…”
As they loaded the mined iron ore, the men began to chat.
“I hear this was made by Paraiso. …Whoa. Look at those wheels; they’re impressive. The axles are made of iron, too.”
“Iron? So, does that mean it’s made from the ore we dug up?”
“Yeah, it could be. Look how slender it is, yet it doesn’t budge even with this load. The iron we used to make back home wouldn’t hold up like this.”
“Right? I was worried it might break.”
Having finished loading the iron ore onto the cart, the men raised their voices. The two-horse cart began to rumble and scrape against the ground as it set off.
“I heard they’re leveling the roads with crushed stone. I just heard that more than half of it is already done.”
“Really…? I don’t quite get it, but is it easier to travel on than dirt roads?”
“Yeah, they say it’s on a whole different level. It doesn’t sink, and best of all, it doesn’t turn muddy when it rains. It sounds like a dream, but it should reach us soon.”
“Ah, not having to deal with mud when it rains is nice.”
“The mining roads are better now since they’re pulling wood, but… it used to be terrible.”
After they began mining iron ore for Paraiso, the first thing they were taught was road maintenance. Just laying down wood improved transportation efficiency dramatically. Though wooden paths would break easily, they were also simple to replace.
Moreover, it seemed that once the road to Port Town of Terek was completed, they would also tidy up the area around the mines.
“Paraiso is amazing. I’ve heard all the crew are beauties; I’d love to see them at least once.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen their portraits, and they were stunning.”
The men chatted excitedly as they awaited the next cart. Loading was grueling work, so they had designated break times, a practice introduced by Paraiso.
“Recently, my wife has started praying to Paraiso before going to bed.”
“Well, I can’t say I blame her.”
“Our earnings have stabilized, so I’d like to bring my wife over soon.”
“More women are coming, right? I heard the refugees have a lot of women and children.”
“I wouldn’t mind if they had kids; I’d welcome them to my home.”
“Getting a bit greedy, aren’t we?”
“Haha, no denying it! Maybe I should start praying to Paraiso before bed too!”
The toast in Iron Town became “To Paraiso!” from that time onward. The townsfolk understood that the source of their prosperity and safety was brought about by Paraiso.
Thus, when the true intervention from Paraiso began, and colossal machines (Golems) that none had ever seen or heard of appeared one after another, they were met with cheers.
Everyone welcomed Paraiso with open hearts.