Another World Metal Factory

Chapter 15

It was an early afternoon at the factory, no different from usual.

Richel, who brought lunch, set down the bread and soup and sat on a chair.

“There’s a lot of meat in it today.”

“Oh! What’s the occasion?”

Channing smiled brightly at Richel’s words and accepted the plate, and Richel handed the plate to the Factory Manager.

“We decided to make new salted meat this time. So I put all the leftovers in.””Ah… Salted meat soup?”

Channing looked at the soup with a slightly sullen tone. The Factory Manager also looked at the bowl he received. Inside the bowl was a thick, reddish soup.

“Even if it’s salted meat, it’s pretty good because it’s boiled with a lot of spices and vegetables. Most importantly, the stuff we always eat is a mix of salted and fresh meat, right?”

“It’s really delicious. It doesn’t smell weird and it’s not too salty.”

Illia said while eating the soup, and the Factory Manager also scooped up a large spoonful of soup. The thick soup and large chunks of meat were lifted and brought straight to the Factory Manager’s mouth.

The slightly spicy taste and the sweetness of the vegetables blended together for a surprisingly decent taste.

“The thickness is quite nice. If you add more chili powder, it would be like kimchi jjigae.”

“Is that kimchi the pickled vegetables you always eat, Factory Manager-nim?”

“Yeah, that. It’s delicious when you make jjigae like this.”

Illia, who was next to him, asked at the Factory Manager’s muttering, and the Factory Manager nodded and said.

The spiciness of the spices was a little different from the spiciness of chili peppers, but the Factory Manager thought it was quite similar.

Richel, who was listening to the conversation between the Factory Manager and Illia, also joined in.

“Ah, that red vegetable we had last time when we grilled meat, that’s kimchi, right? My mom was quite curious about it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. My dad said it was quite delicious when he grilled meat and ate it with kimchi, and my mom got really mad at him. She said he ate all the delicious food by himself.”

The Factory Manager burst into laughter at Richel’s words.

“You’re right. Next time, I should invite your mom too.””That sounds good.”

While the Factory Manager and Richel were talking, Channing shoved the rest of the soup into his mouth, wiped the plate with bread, and got up from his seat.

“What?! You’re already done?”Richel asked in surprise, and Channing nodded and lifted his glass of water.

“Yeah. I have to take the stakes to Mr. Popper. He said he needs them today for delivery, so I need to finish them up and bring them over quickly.”

“Why does that guy make you go instead of coming himself or sending his kid?”

At the Factory Manager’s grumbling, Channing took a large gulp of water and smiled.

“Well, it’s a chance to get some fresh air. I’ll be back.”

“Hey, you’re trying to sneak off somewhere! You punk! Just deliver that and come right back!”

Channing headed to the workshop, and the Factory Manager shouted at his back.

“Ugh. How can he be so slippery…”

“That’s just Channing. He’s always been like that.”

Richel said with a laugh at the Factory Manager’s grumbling, and Illia sighed while tearing the bread.

“I overheard him talking with Kelper-oppa the other day, and he said he was going to greet the new apprentice at some shop.”

“What the… Greet? He’s just going to use that as an excuse to have a drink in the evening.”

The Factory Manager clicked his tongue at Illia’s words, and Richel thought for a moment, then nodded and opened her mouth.

“Ah! I think I know who it is. I heard there’s a new apprentice at the leather workshop. But she’s 14, so she can’t drink, can she?”

“When have they ever cared about that? They just didn’t have an excuse. It’s not good for a young kid to be influenced by bad things…”

The Factory Manager said so and scooped up the soup again.

******

After lunch break, Richel was chatting with Illia, and the Factory Manager stretched and went out the back door to light a cigarette.

As the Factory Manager lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply, someone’s gaze caught his eye.

The person who met the Factory Manager’s gaze cautiously entered the backyard, and the Factory Manager, seeing them, hurriedly threw his cigarette to the ground and rubbed it out with his foot.

“Wh… What brings you here?””Ah, hello. Is there someone named Channing working here?””Channing? He is, but… he’s out right now… Would you like to come in and wait?”The visitor smiled and nodded.

“Yes. Then, I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

The visitor walked forward, and the Factory Manager opened the back door and stepped aside to let them in. Illia and Richel glanced at the visitor.

The pretty elf girl, who sat on the chair opposite the Factory Manager, leaned back in her chair with a smile, oblivious to their gazes.

The elf girl, with her long blonde hair neatly tied up, revealing her white neckline, sipped the cocoa in the paper cup held in her white, slender hands.

“It’s delicious. This is the first time I’ve had this kind of tea. It’s so sweet.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

The Factory Manager replied to the elf girl’s words and took a sip of his coffee.

It was the Factory Manager who had instructed them to bring her cocoa instead of coffee, like Illia was drinking. The reason he said that was because her belly was quite swollen.

He thought that a cup of coffee mix wouldn’t be bad even for a pregnant woman, but caffeinated drinks could still be harmful, so it was a consideration from the Factory Manager.

Richel combed Illia’s hair and glanced at the two.

“A pregnant elf girl who came looking for Channing. What in the world could it be?”

“Maybe a lover he left behind in his hometown? To come all the way here looking for Channing-oppa.”

“Kyaa! Is that true? When did that guy get involved with such a pretty girl?”

Richel and Illia whispered and let their imaginations run wild.

While the gossip between the two continued to grow, the main character, Channing, still hadn’t arrived.

After finishing her cocoa, the elf girl put down the paper cup and opened her mouth.

“It seems Channing has gone far.”

“He just went to the dwarf blacksmith’s shop up ahead. He’s late. He’ll be here soon, so please wait.”

“I must have come too suddenly. You must be working.”

“I’m not that busy anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

The Factory Manager talked with the elf girl and glanced at the clock.

The Factory Manager felt a bit awkward because Channing wasn’t coming back even though it was about time he should have.

“Where the hell is that punk…”

The Factory Manager muttered and glanced at the elf girl.

He felt awkward talking to a young lady. Moreover, the Factory Manager was also curious about her identity.

The appearance of a pregnant elf girl, and one who was the same race as Channing, who came looking for him, was a very intriguing subject.

Therefore, the Factory Manager was also waiting for Channing to come back quickly.

At that moment.

“I’m back. Ugh. I’m late because I had to listen to Mr. Popper’s nagging. It’s good that there are a lot of orders for iron stakes, but he always complains when I deliver them. I was going to see the new apprentice’s face…”

Channing entered, grumbling as he opened the door.

Channing stopped talking and moving when he saw the elf girl sitting on the chair.

While Channing stood frozen in surprise, the girl smiled and got up from her chair and approached him.

“Oh my. Nice to see you. You’re finally here? It’s hard to see your face.”

“Uh… uh… Hello… Charlie-noona.”

“Sister-in-law! How long are you going to think of me as the girl next door? It’s been two years since we got married.”

The girl, who reached out and patted Channing’s head, who was so surprised he couldn’t speak properly, grabbed his hand and started talking.

“Come visit home sometime. I had to hear from someone else that the farm you were working at went bankrupt, and that you’re working at some strange workshop!”

“Like it’s something to brag about… By the way, you’re pregnant?”

“Yes. It’s going to be born soon. You didn’t hear the news? You’re slow on the uptake.”

Channing looked at Charlie’s belly as if to change the subject, and Charlie stroked her belly with a charming smile.

Seeing Charlie stroking her belly with a bright smile, Channing gave an awkward smile.

“See? You haven’t been in touch so much that you didn’t even know I was pregnant. You’re going to be an uncle soon.”

“No… well… More importantly, where’s my brother? Where did he go, leaving his pregnant wife behind?”

“He went to Mr. Kellif’s shop to sell pumpkins. Well, I was on my way to Aunt Wallia’s and thought of you, so I stopped by.”

Channing scratched his head awkwardly and looked away. He seemed embarrassed for some reason. He coughed and looked back at Charlie, opening his mouth.

“How are Father and Mother? Are they doing well?”

“They’re still healthy. Both Father and Mother. They’re nagging you for not coming back, even though the farm work is busy. So, is the work manageable?”

“It’s manageable. The Factory Manager-nim over there is a good person… and Illia is like a little sister, so she’s cute… so yeah.”At Channing’s explanation, Charlie smiled and looked at the Factory Manager and Illia, and Illia smiled awkwardly.

Charlie approached Illia and patted her head with a smile.

“Please take good care of him. He’s not very reliable.”

“Yes, I know that too.”

Illia replied to Charlie’s words, and they both burst into laughter.

“Indeed! He’s always been like that. Well, please take good care of him.”

Charlie also looked at Richel, who was next to her.

“Miss, please take good care of Channing too.”

“Yes, well, we’ve known each other since we were young.”

“Ah, you’ve known each other for a long time. I guess we’ll meet as family next time.”Richel, at Charlie’s words, who spoke with a smile, looked at Charlie and Channing alternately for a moment, not understanding, and then burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! You seem to have misunderstood, but Channing and I are not in that kind of relationship.”

“Oh my, did I make a mistake?”

“Yes, I’m just the restaurant owner’s daughter. I came to deliver lunch. It’s true that I’ve known Channing for a long time.””You’re talking nonsense again! You’ve been jumping to conclusions since forever!”

Channing also retorted at Richel’s words, and Charlie laughed and looked at Richel and Channing. Then, she looked at Channing and opened her mouth.

“No, I just thought you two looked good together. She’s a pretty girl. Isn’t she your type? Her breasts are also big…”

“Ah, stop it! You’re talking nonsense!”

Channing covered Charlie’s mouth and shouted, and Richel burst into laughter, holding her stomach.

“Hahahaha! Channing! Am I your type?””Hey… Richel, you should go home! Lunch break is over!”

At Channing’s shout, Richel giggled and whispered to Illia, and Illia also whispered with a laugh.

While Channing grumbled with his lips pouted, Charlie smiled and looked at Channing, Richel, and Illia.

After the commotion subsided, Charlie opened her mouth again.

“Well, I’m glad you’re doing well. By the way, this is a blacksmith’s workshop, right? Can I ask you for something?”

“Huh? Uh, tell me.”

“I’m thinking of making a new sickle. Channer is complaining that the old one doesn’t cut well. Can you make it for me?”

“Of course! The tools made in our factory are famous for their durability! Just tell me when you’ll come to pick it up!”

Unlike usual, Channing stepped forward and spoke, and Charlie smiled and replied.

“Bring it to me. Channing, you have to bring it yourself.”

“Ah? What?!”

“You have to. It’s a promise. Then, I’m sorry for taking up your time. I’ll be going now.”

Charlie forced it on Channing, said goodbye, and went outside, and Channing, flustered by the sudden event, stared blankly at the door.