Another World Metal Factory

Chapter 12

Illia was walking through the forest.

Humming a tune while swinging the basket in her hand, Illia was gathering mushrooms.

Having lived a nomadic life for a long time, Illia had a vast knowledge of edible plants. It was her older sister, who raised her in place of her parents whom she couldn’t even remember, who taught her everything.

Illia and her sister had lived their lives wandering from one nomadic Mazoku group to another. And what allowed them to endure that life was the food that grew in the forests and fields.

Illia was not hungry, but she was enjoying this moment of gathering mushrooms with a peaceful heart.

And so, Illia hummed a tune while gathering mushrooms under the trees.

******

The reason Illia had come all the way to the deep forest, far from the city, was because the Factory Manager and Channing had come for an outsourced project at the request of the Woodcutter’s Guild.

The Woodcutter’s Guild Leader had requested sharpening for their axes and other tools. After days of struggling with blueprints and materials at the factory, the Factory Manager finally headed to the forest to install the completed product.

“So, a woodcutter will be coming with a wagon soon. We’ll ride that outside the city walls and into the forest to install this sharpening tool.”

“We have to take it there ourselves?”

Channing asked, and the Factory Manager nodded, handing him a plastic box containing the parts.

“Of course, we have to install it. Do you think the woodcutters know how to do that? Alright, get ready. Pack the equipment too!”

“Yes, yes… But what about Illia? If both you and I go, what will she do? Leave her alone?”

The Factory Manager looked at Illia.

Illia, who was sweeping in the corner, looked up at the two when she heard her name, and the Factory Manager frowned slightly.

“That’s right…”

“Where are you going?”

Illia trotted over and asked at the Factory Manager’s murmur, and Channing replied, looking at Illia.

“To the forest outside the city walls.”

“The forest… It’s the season when mushrooms are abundant.”

After replying to Channing, Illia looked at the Factory Manager.

“Can I go with you?”

“To pick mushrooms?”

The Factory Manager asked, and Illia nodded.

“Oak mushrooms and Agungi mushrooms that grow these days are delicious. They’re good grilled or in soup.”

“Ah, oak mushrooms are delicious. I used to pick them often when I was young. My mother used to chop them finely, mix them with other vegetables, fry them in pork fat, and wrap them in thin pancakes. It was delicious.”

Channing said, licking his lips.

Seeing the two, the Factory Manager thought the mushrooms must be quite tasty and nodded, taking out a cigarette.

“Well then, Illia can come along too. You can pick mushrooms while we install this.”

“Yes!”

Illia quickly nodded, and meanwhile, the wagon sent by the Woodcutter’s Guild arrived outside the factory.

2.

While Illia was busy picking mushrooms in the forest, the Factory Manager and Channing were installing the sharpening machine they had disassembled and brought with them.

“Channing! You idiot! Tighten the bolts properly! And you still can’t tell left from right on a ratchet wrench?”

“Ugh! It’s because I have to work in this awkward position outside.”

“Well, who’s the idiot who forgot the impact drill? We’re lucky I at least brought the ratchet wrench!”

The Factory Manager shouted, and Channing tightened the loose bolt with his ratchet wrench (a wrench that rotates in only one direction) and put his protective mask back on. It was necessary because he had to weld it for further reinforcement since it would be under stress.

Since there was no electricity, they had brought an oxy-fuel welding torch.

While Channing tightened the bolts on the side, the Factory Manager was welding.

“Whoa! Factory Manager! Sparks are flying!”

“Dodge them, you idiot. If we don’t finish this quickly, we won’t be able to go back today!”

The Factory Manager continued working while talking with Channing.

“How is it going?”

A middle-aged man approached the Factory Manager and Channing. It was the Guild Leader of the Woodcutter’s Guild.

At the Guild Leader’s question, the Factory Manager lifted his protective mask, stood up, and stretched his back.

“We just need to set it up and fix it in place. Later, you should build a roof so it doesn’t get rained on. It’ll be a headache if it rusts.”

The Factory Manager and Channing grabbed the sides of the sharpening tool and lifted it up together.

The tool, slightly shorter than a person’s height, stood on the ground. After they positioned it together, Channing went to the handcart and brought back iron stakes and a hammer.

Channing inserted the iron stakes into the pre-drilled holes and lifted the giant hammer to strike the stake.

With a thud, the stake was driven in.

Only after Channing hammered it a few more times did the stake, up to its rounded head, sink into the ground.

The Factory Manager nodded as he watched Channing hammer.

“You hammer well.”

“Well, I’m a farmer’s son.”

“You said you worked on a farm, so your father was a farmer?”

At the Factory Manager’s question, Channing replied as he hammered in the next stake.

“Yes. Haven’t you heard? Didn’t I tell you? My family has been farming for generations.”

Channing swung the hammer, and the thud echoed again. Watching Channing, the Factory Manager took out a cigarette.

“You never said that. You only said you came looking for work because your farm went bankrupt. You never once talked about your family… Forget it. Just finish up quickly.”

At the Factory Manager’s words, Channing grumbled and continued hammering.

Meanwhile, the Guild Leader was looking around the installed equipment, letting out exclamations of admiration.

“It’s wonderful. It’s a very unique grindstone.”

“You pedal, and the circular grindstone rotates. You sharpen your tools against it.”

The Factory Manager replied to the Guild Leader’s words.

They had asked a stonemason to shape a large natural stone into a circle and attached it to the device with ball bearings (a type of bearing that uses balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races). This grindstone was connected to gears and a chain, so when you pedaled like a bicycle, the grindstone would rotate.

“I’ve hammered in all the stakes.”

Channing said, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and the Factory Manager threw away his cigarette butt and walked to the device, turning the pedals with his hand.

With a slight creaking sound, the grindstone started to rotate at high speed.

The Factory Manager pedaled, injecting lubricant into the moving parts, and after turning the pedals a few more times, he stood up and declared.

“It’s complete. Try sharpening something.”

The Guild Leader took out the axe he was carrying at his waist, sat down, and started pedaling. The grindstone began to rotate rapidly.

“Here’s a water bucket, so you can sharpen while wetting it with water. It will be more convenient if you rest the axe on this support while sharpening.”

Channing explained to the pedaling Guild Leader, who began to sharpen his axe while listening to the explanation. The distinctive sound of metal grinding against the grindstone echoed through the woodcutters’ lodging.

The Guild Leader, who had been sharpening his axe by turning it back and forth, stopped pedaling, stood up, and began to examine the axe.

“It’s good. The blade was sharpened easily. Thank you very much.”

“Well, I’m glad it’s good. Contact us if it breaks while you’re using it. Hey, Channing! Pack up!”

“Yes. But hasn’t Illia come back yet?”

Channing asked while packing up the tools, and the Factory Manager looked around.

“That’s right… She’ll probably be back while we’re packing. Hurry up and load it!”

“Yes.”

Channing nodded and lifted the toolbox.

3.

Illia, who had ventured deeper into the forest, started looking around for more mushrooms. Then, she went a little further in and was surprised.

A rather large mushroom was attached to a tree like a roof. At the sight of the mushroom, which was as big as herself, Illia walked under it and examined it. And she was amazed.

“Wow… This is a huge Dwarf Mushroom.”

The mushroom was a Dwarf Mushroom. It was a mushroom that dwarves liked to brew into tea and was very expensive because it was said to be good for the body.

Seeing the mushroom, Illia thought she had to take it with her no matter what and put down her basket.

“I wonder if I can get that somehow…”

Illia jumped under the mushroom. Her hand reached the mushroom, but it wasn’t enough to pull it off.

Illia thought for a moment and decided that she needed to get a stick or something and looked around. She saw something sticking out of the ground in the distance and ran towards it.

A very old-looking sword was stuck in the ground.

The blade and the decorations on the hilt, which were exposed above ground, were all red with rust, and the hilt was half broken.

Illia, thinking she could pick the mushroom with that sword, grabbed the hilt, then let go and wiped her hand on her apron.

“Ugh…”

The rotten leather and wood of the hilt came off on her hand.

Illia grimaced and picked up a branch, hitting the hilt with it. The rotten hilt crumbled and fell to the ground.

After brushing off the rotten hilt, Illia grabbed the sword again and pulled it upward with all her might.

“Heave-ho!”

Illia put all her strength into it, but the sword, stuck in the ground, wouldn’t budge.

This time, she swung the sword back and forth vigorously. She thought it might come out of the ground if she did that. However, the sword still seemed unwilling to come out, only swaying back and forth.

How much longer did she shake it with more force?

Suddenly, the sword snapped, and Illia fell on her bottom.

“Ouch…”

Illia examined the sword. The blade had broken, leaving only about 20 centimeters.

Looking at the broken sword, Illia thought this would be enough and got up, approaching the mushroom.

She stabbed the broken sword into the tree where the mushroom was attached and pushed with force. As she pushed it in properly, the mushroom fell onto Illia’s head with a thud.

“Eek!”

Illia screamed in surprise as the mushroom suddenly fell on her. She fell to the ground as the mushroom, although not terribly heavy, was still quite weighty.

Illia, who struggled to get up, looked at the mushroom. It was truly as big as herself.

Illia put the old sword on her belt and lifted the basket and the Dwarf Mushroom.

******

The Factory Manager, who was watching Channing organize the equipment while smoking, caught sight of a giant mushroom walking towards them.

At first, the Factory Manager thought he was seeing things and tilted his head, but then he noticed the clothes under the mushroom and realized it was Illia carrying the mushroom.

“It’s a Lingzhi mushroom. Where did you find such a big one?”

The Factory Manager took the mushroom from Illia’s hands, and Illia smiled brightly and said.

“It’s a Dwarf Mushroom. It’s a very expensive mushroom that dwarves love.”

“Those dwarves know what’s good. Well then, let’s sell this to Popper and make some pocket money.”

The Factory Manager said, moving the giant mushroom to the cart, and Illia shook her head.

“No. I’ll give it to you, Factory Manager. Please take it.”

“Hmm?”

The Factory Manager looked at Illia, and Illia smiled.

“It’s my small token of appreciation.”

“Hmm… Since you say so, I’ll gratefully accept it.”

The Factory Manager patted Illia’s head vigorously, and Illia smiled brightly.

“Alright, we’re all done… Whoa! What’s this strange mushroom?”

“Illia gave it to me. You idiot. Do you know how valuable this mushroom is? Just pull the cart. We need to go back to the factory.”

At the Factory Manager’s shout, Channing grumbled and started pulling the cart.

“It’s just a mushroom, no matter how good it is…”

“Oh, come on! This is… Forget it. Let’s just go back and eat.”

“I picked a lot of mushrooms, so let’s make soup when we get back.”

The three of them walked towards the wagon, chatting.