Chapter 55

"Still, why did the master leave such a wonderful new weapon idea untouched...?"

"That guy is stubborn and old-fashioned. Even when I showed him the design, he barely looked at it. And when I explained it to him, he said, 'A bow is something a bowman hits with his body, what do you know, you who have never been a soldier?' Even though he himself has never fought..."

When Noein asked, Damian grumbled.

"Still, you were allowed to make a prototype once, right?"

"Indeed, I was allowed to make it... but everything from the shape of the parts to how to attach them was a trial and error. The prototype didn't shoot straight, lacked power, and was useless."

"I see. But such problems can be solved by repeated prototyping and improvement, right?"

"Exactly! That's how development works, right? But the master, after seeing just one prototype, said, 'See, I told you it wouldn't work. Stop dreaming and focus on your training...' That stubborn old man."

Seeing Damian's open resentment towards the master, Noein smiled wryly.

The master of this workshop, being a veteran, is a skilled blacksmith, but perhaps due to the conservative atmosphere of the northern part of the kingdom, he has a stubborn craftsman's attitude.

His compatibility with someone like Damian, who is young, ambitious, and has a flexible mind, is probably the worst.

The master ignored Damian's excellent design, seemingly stubbornly thinking that 'a young and inexperienced craftsman developing something is presumptuous.'

"Well, the master probably has his own philosophy as a craftsman."

"Hmph, such a worthless philosophy wouldn't even feed pigs."

"Haha... But I felt great potential in your design. And after hearing your detailed explanation, I think this weapon has the potential to reach a practical level."

When Noein said this, Damian's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward eagerly.

"Really! So, you...?"

"Yes. I would like to invite you to my domain. I will provide you with a workshop and a development budget. Of course, you will also handle jobs like repairing iron products, but I think you will have enough time to devote to development."

"I don't mind! Until now, I wasn't even allowed to develop. To be allowed to develop and receive a budget is like a dream! Yes! Yes!"

While Damian jumped with joy, Noein asked Matilda to call the master.

When the master heard that Noein was taking Damian, he was quite surprised.

"Are you really going to take this guy!? Such a young... such an impolite fool?"

"But I heard he is a skilled blacksmith?"

"Well, he is indeed more skilled and experienced than most young blacksmiths... Ha, if he is welcomed to your domain, will there be no more orders for us!?"

The master, fearing that he would lose business to Damian, said this in a flustered manner.

"No, I think we will still place orders for new farming tools, tools, and weapons here for a while. I will have Damian handle repairs and other tasks in our domain."

It would be unreasonable to assign all the blacksmith work in the growing Alcquist domain to Damian alone. It would be better for the entire domain and for Noein if Damian focused on development rather than being tied up in such tasks.

When Noein explained this, the master sighed in relief, knowing that he would not lose major orders.

...

Just one week after the discussion at the workshop in Retvik, Damian, who had immediately resigned from the workshop, moved to Noein's capital, Noeina.

The amount of moving goods, including the crossbow prototype he had made before, his tools, and the iron he bought with the initial development funds from Noein, was considerable. He even hired a cart and driver for this move.

"Lord Noein! Sorry for the delay. I was held up with handing over the workshop tasks and gathering materials for development."

"No, I think you came quite early... Anyway, I'm glad you made it safely. Still, you have a lot of luggage, don't you?"

"Well, since I got the environment and funds to focus on development, I ended up buying a lot of materials and tools!"

"I see. I'm glad you're enthusiastic."

Noein changed his tone to address Damian, who would become a resident of the Alcquist domain, as a lord.

"Then, let's go to the workshop right away!"

"Wait a moment, first I'll show you the room where you'll be staying. Let's go to the manor."

Noein answered with a wry smile to Damian, who was eager to get started.

Damian was welcomed as a temporary squire and given a private room in Noein's manor.

If he successfully develops and mass-produces the crossbow and performs well as a blacksmith, Noein planned to formally welcome him as a technical squire.

Noein personally guided Damian to his private room in the manor and explained the locations of the squire's office, dining room, and bath. He also introduced the three maids who worked in the manor.

"So, if you need anything, just tell Mary, Kimberly, or Rosetta. That's about it for now, right?"

"Then, Lord Noein, where is the workshop I'll be using!?"

"The workshop is on the southwest side by the river. There's a small gate in the wooden fence surrounding the capital Noeina for access to the river, so you can go through there—"

"Southwest, right!? I can go through the gate, right!? Thank you! I'm off!"

"Wait, a moment—"

Before Noein could say anything, Damian had already rushed out of the manor's front door.

"This new squire is more energetic than I am, Lord Noein!"

"Lord Noein, to ignore your call like that, is his head okay?"

"It's going to be lively with more interesting people around the manor~"

The bright and energetic Mary, the serious Kimberly, and the easygoing Rosetta each expressed their thoughts on the new resident.

"He may seem like that, but he is an excellent craftsman..."

"Still, he seems to lack manners as both a subordinate and a citizen. Should I teach him his place?"

When Noein felt disrespected, Matilda would get angry. She seemed to have some thoughts about Damian as well.

"No, his behavior is a sign of his enthusiasm as a craftsman. While he is a bit overzealous... as long as he doesn't cause trouble for others, it's fine for him to be as he is."

In the books Noein read during his childhood, many talented and skilled people had strong personalities.

If he could show results as a craftsman in exchange for his behavior, Noein had no complaints.

"Still, at this rate, he might forget to eat and sleep while focusing on development... Mary, Kimberly, Rosetta, can you keep an eye on whether he returns at night to eat and sleep?"

"Leave it to me!"

"We will keep a close eye on him."

"It would be bad if he ruins his health~"

The maids responded in their own unique ways to Noein's request.