Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Underground Furnace

[Underground Furnace Bastion]

Descending down the metallic stairs.

In an instance, the heat from the air, over 50℃, hits you in the face.

Lava flows in large amounts in the furnace area, a scale that couldn’t be matched by the smithing district of a grand manor. It was beyond comparison.

The amount of lava flowing here could be categorized as a river.

About a hundred black iron pillars sprouted from the base of the lava pool, connecting to the top of the furnace, supporting the underground area.

Ping ping ping….

The sound of hammering metal echoed through the air.

There were roughly ten thousand muscular blacksmiths, outlined sharply against their leather aprons, forging metal on their anvils.

From the moment Han Dong stepped in, he was taken aback by the scale of the [Underground Furnace Bastion].

He couldn’t see where the flow of lava ended, and the black iron pillars extended endlessly into the distance.

Despite being born from a cell scientist, Han Dong could fathom the amount of effort it took to build such an underground furnace bastion. This great masterpiece.

This furnace seemed to be a significant organ for the Holy City

“This scale… It feels like the furnace area is bigger than the school boundaries. Also, many of the blacksmiths here aren’t apprentice knights, right?”

Winry explained:

“Yes! You’re right, Deputy Captain. The furnace isn’t entirely under the jurisdiction of the school; in fact, it takes up almost half of the area of the [Second Layer].

Apart from being our learning area as blacksmith apprentices, it is also an essential military base for the Holy City.

All the blacksmiths who have acquired a ‘Blacksmith Qualification Certificate’ will come to the underground furnace to contribute their skills to the Holy City.

All the Holy City’s self-made equipment originates from this place.”

“I see… Is your smithy far from here, Winry?”

“Not at all, it’s within the area overseen by the school.

Considering Master’s influence, I was able to get a private blacksmith workshop.

After all, most of the people doing this job are men, and there are always those who come to harass me. Although I could send them flying with a single punch, it still disrupts my learning.

Having my own room allows me to avoid these kinds of interference.”

“Makes sense”

Winry was quite pleasant to look at, even above-average.

Even though muscles aren’t precisely fascinating, she still possessed curves.

In terms of maturity, Winry wasn’t lacking at all. Han Dong could see that Winry had bandaged her upper body to diminish her ‘characteristic’ and lessen the body’s ‘burden’ during the forging process.

In a place where the ratio of men to women is 5000:1, it would be strange not to be harassed.

Han Dong used the ‘Bird Beak Doctor Outfit’ to conceal himself, so as to avoid unnecessary troubles.

However, as he followed Winry along, he still felt many hostile gazes directed at him.

It was as if Han Dong was a college student who knew a girl studying in physics or machinery and had gone to her class to chat intimately during class hours. He should know exactly what Han Dong was feeling right now.

He felt like any of these muscular men might pounce on at any moment — Men on men.

Han Dong was on guard the whole time, feeling as if a major battle was imminent.

Before long, they arrived at the blacksmith shop belonging to Winry.

The construction, shaped like an arc, occupies about twenty square meters…. The exterior was made from metal seals and iron nails, and the room incorporated a symbolic metallic pipe.

One had to use a long key accompanied by a hydraulic valve to open the door.

The moment the iron door opened, a wave of heat washed over them.

Due to the furnace inside, the temperature in Winry’s workshop was close to 70℃.

If not for the Crowman outfit that insulated temperatures, Han Dong himself wouldn’t be able to withstand the scorching heat. Most of the plague within him would have deactivated.

“Winry… you live here every day?”

“Yes. Master doesn’t allow me to stay in the dorm, and the hammering and learning tasks are heavy every day… Living here also saves time.”

Ordinary students couldn’t possibly withstand such extreme conditions.

Moreover, as Winry’s room, it didn’t have other typical girl decorations… Instead, there were plenty of shields and weapons hanging on the walls.

Her bed was in the corner, an iron bed frame without any soft padding.

Remembering Winry’s unique background (when she was still a baby, her father handed her to her current master, probably started assisting her in the smithy when she was five).

Gazing at Winry’s innocent and lovely smile, Han Dong felt an emotional stir.

“Winry.”

“Deputy Captain?”

“Has your master ever mentioned when he plans to let you go to Fate Space?”

As soon as this was mentioned, Winry immediately looked somewhat embarrassed.

“Um… Actually, I originally planned to talk to the Deputy Captain about this. My Master told me to participate in the next Fate Space, which is a month from now.

I wonder, Deputy Captain… do you have any spare time?”

“It’s perfect.”

Winry was initially a little confused about the meaning of ‘perfect.’ After a moment, she was so excited that she immediately hugged Han Dong.

“Crack…”

In just a gentle hug, Han Dong felt his shoulder blade seemed dislocated.

“Sorry…..”

“It’s alright.” Han Dong immediately used fungi to assist and restore the dislocated bones.

“Um… Deputy Captain, who else is in our team?”

“It’s not confirmed yet. I’ll ask some old friends.

If they can’t make it, I’ll contact Captain Abe, or ask Mia to join us.

It’s best to form a four-person team.”

“Okay… as long as Deputy Captain arranges it, I’ll do my best to help.”

Winry bowed 90 degrees immediately, with even a few tears welling up in her eyes.

Because of her Master’s decision, Winry hadn’t officially been to [Fate Space] and was naturally timid. Over time, she had developed fear, and even terror of the Fate Space full of evil spirits.

Now, knowing that Han Dong could guide her through the first ‘experience,’ the fears swirling within Winry’s heart were greatly reduced.

“Right! Let’s talk about Deputy Captain’s equipment first!”

“No rush…”

Han Dong suddenly opened his ‘Little Demon Eye’.

He thoroughly checked every corner of the blacksmith shop to ensure there was no one eavesdropping. Then, he asked today’s second, and the most important question he wanted to ask Winry.

“Winry, do you remember the Crowman?”

“Of course I do!”

Han Dong handed Winry a detailed data page regarding the ‘Crowman’, “Could you design and forge a piece of equipment that fits the body of a Crowman based on its features? Whether it’s external, embedded, or exoskeletal equipment.”

“Crowman… I don’t have experience in this area, so I need to study it carefully… But, if it’s Deputy Captain’s order, I’ll do my best to accomplish it.”

“Hmm, try to imagine what would be the best equipment for a Crowman… If I think it’s good, I may try mass production.”

Just at this moment.

A hot breath escaped from the door gap.

Someone was coming… It seemed; they were quite furious.