Blood Forge Platform
The next morning, Serea got up in a daze. After dressing, she washed up with the assistance of Lola and the others, and by the ti she erged from the treehouse, it was already nine o'clock.
"It's already so late..."
Serea murmured, and Lola beside her reminded gently.
"My Queen, the Eriwin dwarves' forge has been moved over. They said they want to help you set up an 'armor workshop' within the camp, but they need you to help plan the construction site."
"I didn't expect them to be this proactive. Let's head over."
As it happened, the 'Blood Forge Platform' only needed one more forge to be constructed, which saved her so trouble—she could leave matters of the 'Dragonbone Catacomb' for the afternoon.
"By the way, where's Little Black?"
"He went out to clear the Undead near the territory."
"Did Leklis and the others go hunting as well?"
"Yes, since Aruka, the chief, is temporarily away, leklis is leading the werewolves in camp on a hunt."
"What about the goods to be traded with the Xiyun rchant Guild?"
"Everything is ready. I've already notified Maro and Leon to prepare for escort."
As Lola spoke, she took out a small notebook, inside of which was recorded Serea's daily schedule.
Seeing how Lola had managed so many affairs for her, Serea complinted her, "I didn't expect that you have quite the talent for managent, Lola."
Flushed at Serea's praise, Lola replied, "I haven't really done much. Most of the work was with Vina and Doluka's help."
Hearing this, Serea smiled with satisfaction.
As the camp gradually took shape, so too did the various internal teams.
The Elves, led by Lola, though unfamiliar with the outside world, had learned new skills rapidly and, together with Celia and the others, mastered internal managent of the camp.
As for external defense, Little Black and Little White were responsible, and the team of Skeleton Warriors led by seven high-level Undead guaranteed absolute security.
External trade was handled by Maro and Leon. The blood slave unit could blend in well among humans, so they were ideal for venturing out of the jungle.
Material acquisition fell to the werewolves, whose innate hunting skills allowed them to gather rare resources—herbs, leather, and more—supplying the camp in coordination with the Elves' plantation workers.
Leklis and Flosa directed the Skeleton Drudges in camp construction, and the solid walls and sturdy houses were all due to their efforts.
The only ongoing problem was production. Currently, the camp could only manufacture potions, and there were only two alchemists: Camilla and Dogsius. Serea felt it was ti to train a few more, and with Little Gold's help, the process would be significantly accelerated.
Now, with more than a dozen dwarves coming to study forging, Serea's true intention was for the other non-human residents to learn armor-crafting alongside them.
After all, the dwarves wouldn't stay forever. While they could temporarily produce weapons and gear, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifeti."
Mastering the technique was the key. The likes of Augustin and the other trolls were well-suited for armor production, aning a dedicated equipnt group needed to be cultivated.
And during this golden period of developnt, the camp had to be perfected as quickly as possible.
Serea pondered these matters until soone's hurried steps interrupted her thoughts.
"M-My Queen..."
Camilla, clutching her staff and panting for breath, ran up to Serea and the rest, stopping before them.
"S-sorry, I'm late."
Camilla's clothes and hair were sowhat disheveled, evidence of having hurried over; added to her slightly dark eye circles, it seed she hadn't rested well the previous night.
Finally, Serea noticed the faint kiss mark on Camilla's neck—could it be...
Sensing Serea's gaze, Camilla appeared to recall sothing and quickly pulled up her collar to cover her neck, blushing deeply.
Seeing this, Serea more or less understood.
"It's fine. You worked hard rushing those potions. Take a good rest these next few days."
"No, it's alright, really. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Timid, Camilla shuffled over to Vina's side, while Serea kept walking toward the camp center, mulling over a question...
Who had Camilla been spending ti with lately?
Maro? No, they weren't that close. Flosa? Probably not either...
A burning curiosity rose in Serea's heart, and seeing Lola and the others giving her odd, knowing smiles, Camilla wished she could crawl into a hole.
"Beverly-chan, honestly! Why did you have to do sothing like that..."
Camilla thought, feeling a wave of exhaustion as she complained inwardly.
But as a Vampire, even without rest, she shouldn't have felt tired. The reason for her condition, it seed—
Even she hadn't noticed that her ntal power and vitality were almost exhausted. Thanks to the Vampire's abnormal physique, both were recovering quickly, but she couldn't escape being drained again once she got back.
Oblivious, she followed Serea to the camp center, where multiple carts were unloading all kinds of materials.
"Queen Serea, you're up!"
Seeing Serea arrive, lodran greeted her cheerfully.
"Yes, sorry to keep you waiting."
"No, the goods have just arrived."
As he spoke, lodran pointed at several carts. "There are the weapons and materials I promised, and we've brought the forge as well. Once the Queen picks a location for us, we'll set up the armor workshop imdiately."
Judging by Lodran's enthusiasm, it was clear how tempting the guidance of a master-level armor craftsman was for a smith.
"I've already prepared the armor workshop. Once the forge is installed, it can be used."
"The Queen already prepared it?"
"Yes, I was planning to build it anyway."
"In that case, please lead the way, Your Majesty."
Serea led them to a three-story wooden building. She could have left the matter to Lola and the others, but she had to co in person to unlock the 'Blood Forge Platform.'
"This is it."
Upon entering, lodran looked around inside the unfinished workshop, then stepped out, praising, "Perfect—every facility is in place, all that's left is the forge. Your majesty, let's get to work."
"Go ahead."
With her approval, lodran motioned, and the dwarves drove their carts over, unloading various tools and several finished forges.
"Let's get to work, everyone!"
"Oh!"
The dwarves replied with high spirits and swiftly set to it.
Seeing how practiced they were, Serea mused that every dwarf was indeed an outstanding craftsman.
Half an hour later, the forge was complete, and the armor workshop was fully ford. Instantly, the prototype building's compatibility with the 'Blood Forge Platform' rose to 98%, achieving perfect quality.
"My Queen, it's finished! Shall we give it a try?"
"Not yet."
"Huh?"
Lodran was puzzled. Serea countered, "Do you want to know why a master would co to join ?"
"Um... I don't know."
"Then watch closely."
With that, Serea produced the prepared blood crystals in front of everyone.
System: 'Blood Forge Platform' blueprint and building compatibility at 98%. Consu 100 blood crystals to unlock construction?
"Yes."
Without hesitation, Serea answered. Imdiately, several blood crystals flew out of her hand, a blood-red spell circle appeared beneath the workshop, and seeing the circle, lodran cried out in surprise.
"This... this is... Building Enchantnt!"
Serea simply remained silent and did not deny it.
As for what Building Enchantnt was, she recalled the knowledge inherited in her mory.
Building Enchantnt was a high-level enchantnt magic only possible when powerful enchanters worked alongside top-tier architects. An enchanted building would gain powerful abilities, just like enchanted weapons.
For example, an enchanted alchemy room might offer increased alchemy success rates or improved potion quality, with the effect differing by the enchanter's and architect's skills.
Although her version of building unlocks was fundantally different, if people mistook it for "building enchantnt," it saved her a lot of explanation.
"Queen Serea is actually an enchanter—no, a master-enchanter!"
Lodran exclaid. Only a master or master-level enchanter could achieve this. Seeing how effortlessly Serea managed this, a bold guess ford in Lodran's mind.
The only thing that could lure a master armor craftsman must be... a master enchanter!
Swallowing hard, lodran felt overwheld at the idea. What impact would the partnership of two masters have on the region's armor trade?
But these were rely his guesswork and imagination. As long as Dogsius was around, Serea could call herself a "master" enchanter without concern.
In Lodran and the others' shocked gaze, red and white lights crept over the armor workshop as the building was unlocked.
Building: Blood Forge Platform (Purple)
Level: 25
Durability: B
Endurance: C
Magic: B
Description: Blood Altar level-2 building; can forge high-quality equipnt and items, and grants armorers within the building the "ntal Focus" effect.
ntal Focus: Forging success rate 20%, forged equipnt quality 20%.
It's done!
"Oh my god, to think I'd see an enchanted armor workshop after leaving the Empire."
Lodran gazed in a daze at the ford Blood Forge Platform. Sharp-eyed Serea took note of the two key words he'd uttered: Empire!
She silently made a ntal note, then gestured for everyone to co inside.
"Everyone, co in and have a look."
"Alright!"
The dwarves were thrilled, and under Lodran's lead, more than a dozen dwarves entered the spacious armor workshop.
The building was structured much like the Blood Alchemy Room, with three floors: the first for forging, the second for storage of finished products, and the third for research. There was also a basent for material storage.
The dwarves looked around, poking and prodding, as if they'd never seen anything like this. After the tour, lodran lowered his head with self-deprecating humility.
"We were supposed to be gifting this to the master, but it turns out Lady Serea built an enchanted structure for our use instead."
Clutching his hamr, feeling the power of the enchanted building, lodran was rendered speechless.
Noticing the imnse appeal the Blood Forge Platform held for the dwarves, a thought arose in Serea's mind.
It seed others could use this kind of building too. That ant...
On a whim, Serea feigned nonchalance: "Now that the armor workshop is complete, don't you all want to try it out?"
Hearing this, lodran gripped his hamr tightly. If his own camp possessed such an enchanted armor workshop... his father's dream...
"I want to try!"
The others agreed, each already pulling out their forging hamrs and tools from their kits, awaiting Serea's command.
"With everyone so passionate, let's start the forging test before the master's instruction. Those who pass can stay."
At this, the dwarves looked at Serea.
They'd co with Lodran in hopes of learning from the master, with him sharing those techniques later. But they hadn't been told there would be a test.
Still, upon reflection, not just anyone could remain and study here even if not directly instructed by the master. Testing before instruction was quite reasonable.
"Alright, let's do it!"
"We'll definitely stay!"
These were the Eriwin Dwarf Tribe's most skilled armorers, determined to acquire new techniques and confident in passing the test.
"Please announce the test, Your Majesty."
Lodran said, and Serea smiled, producing a blueprint.
"It's simple. This is the combat armor designed by the master. Each of you will craft three sets. If any one of the sets is subpar, you don't qualify to stay."
She handed the blueprint to Lodran—the design was none other than the Assault Battle Armor, though there were no enchantnt instructions, only forging thods.
Lodran held up the blueprint, and the dwarves crowded around. Their gazes were briefly blank before Lodran exclaid:
"Exquisite beyond compare!"
(end of chapter)
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