The Runesmith

"It's coming along nicely."

"That it is," Bernir agreed.

"Feeling a bit weak in the knees, boss?"

Roland hesitated for a moment before admitting

“I... yeah."

"No need to hide it,"

Bernir laughed while looking at Roland. Both of them shared a laugh as they stood outside the house, gazing at the new construction site. The foundation for the new dormitory was making good progress. It wouldn't be long before the structure was completed, and within a month or even a few weeks, the children from the orphanage would likely be running around the premises.

This also meant that Elodia and all the children would soon be moving in. Roland wasn't certain if Elodia would choose to stay in the dormitory initially, but that didn't matter. Being within walking distance would suffice for a start, and they could consider sharing their living quarters when the time felt right. It was an unusual arrangement, but he wasn't doing it solely for her, it brought him peace of mind to have her behind well protected walls.

Fortunately, financial concerns were no longer an issue. After reconciling with the Dwarven Union, he was earning multiple times more money than before. Arthur had been quite generous, and sales at his runic store were on the rise. He had also secured a lucrative contract with the union for runic batteries that only he could modify.

Roland realized that Brylvia couldn't simply replicate the runic structures without understanding how they worked. The Dwarven craftsmen heavily relied on ancient schematics, more so than he had initially thought. Even if she could examine the runic structures, she lacked the ability to decipher the underlying principles of the runic operating system. It seemed that his class possessed certain Rune Mage-like elements that regular Runesmiths did not.

Roland's method of learning how to construct runic structures had been evidently unconventional. After delving into all the scriptures and knowledge Brylvia had to offer, he was confident that he had surpassed the average Runesmith in this regard. However, his expertise was limited to runic structures and not the art of craftsmanship itself. When it came to building physical components, the other smiths were superior to him. It was evident that they had received years of traditional training and apprenticeship in the production of physical items.

“Soon you will be a married man, better enjoy your freedom until it’s too late!”

“Too late? Too late for what?”

“Many things! I can’t even leave the house without her complaining! I haven’t been able to drink in the house in weeks!”

“Isn’t that a good thing? I don’t think you should be getting drunk with a newborn around?”

“What is life without drinking? This is torture…”

Bernir let out an irritated murmur, and Roland raised an eyebrow in response. Reflecting on it, Roland realized that his assistant had been spending more time in the workshop than usual. Before, Bernir would take his breaks and swiftly leave when possible. But now, he sometimes lingered, even opting to stay for a drink. It appeared that he wasn't particularly eager to return to his own place where he couldn't maintain his previous habits.

“Don’t be like that, you need to make some sacrifices for your family, that is a given.”

“I know…”

While Roland was making an effort to behave like a responsible adult, he also recognized that it might not be as straightforward as he had initially thought. Maintaining his relationship would likely require some compromises, especially if they weren't planning to have children of their own while the orphans were still young. This was a matter he would have to address in the future, but for now, there were a few matters around his compound that needed his attention.

“Master Bernir…”

“Jorg? What is it?”

As the two were talking, Jorg the stonemason slowly walked up to them. The boy usually remained quiet and was the assistant to his assistant.

“Well it’s…”

“Common, speak up!”

“It’s about Master Rastix…”

“Rastix? What did that bas… I mean what did he do now?”

While the boy struggled to explain himself, stuttering slightly, Roland shifted his gaze into the distance. Rastix Zelbebanin was his latest recruit, a decision that didn't typically happen without careful consideration. Rastix was a Master Alchemist with whom he had signed a contract. One of the stipulations of their agreement was that Rastix was supposed to have his own laboratory constructed. This process was currently underway and seemed to be the current problem.

“I’ll tend to it, watch over the dorm construction.”

“You sure boss? I could just go there and talk some sense into him?”

“You’ll just start fighting again, It’s better if I’ll do it.”

“Aye, have it your way then. Good luck.”

One of the challenges with Rastix's character was his treatment of people. He considered Roland to be an equal due to Roland having a class similar to that of a Master Runesmith. When interacting with Roland, Rastix would treat him with respect. However, when encountering someone like Bernir, who was just a regular blacksmith, he would not show the same level of respect. Instead, he would attempt to boss around Roland's assistant and treat him as a lesser member of the group. This behavior, of course, did not sit well with Roland.

“I told you to be careful with that, if you break it you’re paying for it!

Upon arriving at the construction site, Roland discovered the small gnome in the midst of shouting at the workers. He appeared to be reprimanding some of them who were in the process of carrying his belongings into a sizable building that resembled a large stable. The structure was primarily constructed from glass and served as a greenhouse, intended to house a variety of plants and herbs essential for alchemy. Its design, featuring a wooden frame, made it relatively simple to assemble, and it was the only completed structure on the site.

Roland approached Rastix with caution, mentally bracing himself for whatever might transpire. As he drew nearer, he couldn't help but overhear Rastix's harsh words directed at the workers. They were ferrying various items, including seeds and potted plants, some of which Roland didn't recognize. While his understanding of alchemy was still limited, he understood that a structure like this greenhouse was a necessity if they wanted to conduct research in a more discreet manner. Otherwise, they would be forced to rely continually on merchants and individuals from the Alchemist Guild, an organization that had previously deemed Rastix unsuitable for membership.

"Careful, you buffoons! That flask contains a rare solvent worth more than your miserable lives!"

‘He doesn’t play around…’

The workers, clearly unaccustomed to this level of scrutiny, appeared flustered and anxious. It was only natural, considering they were surrounded by peculiar-looking golemic creations and within the territory of the city's Knight Commander. In their minds, their very lives could be at risk if they somehow offended a member of the staff. Roland cleared his throat to capture Rastix's attention. The gnome turned around abruptly, his bushy eyebrows furrowed.

"Ah, Master Wayland! You're just in time to witness the incompetence of these oafs! Can you believe they almost dropped my precious supplies?"

Roland took a moment to regain his composure. He knew he had to be diplomatic. While he didn’t like that Rasitx was using those words, he also needed to present himself as a proper Knight.

"Rastix, remember that these workers were supplied to us by the City Lord. They are more used to handling heavy equipment instead of delicate plants, I’m sure they're doing their best."

The gnome Alchemist crossed his arms, wearing an unimpressed expression. It was a stark departure from the meek behavior he had exhibited inside the deep dungeon. It seemed that this individual adapted his personality to suit his surroundings. With an authority figure by his side, he transformed into something of a snob. As long as he performed his job effectively, Roland didn't mind his eccentric behavior all that much. However, if he ever harmed other individuals in any way, he would be held accountable and face consequences.

"Best, you say? I expect nothing but perfection, especially in the construction of my laboratory. Alchemy requires precision, and I won't tolerate any mistakes."

Roland sighed inwardly. He had anticipated this attitude from Rastix, but he couldn't let it disrupt the progress of the project.

"I understand your concerns, Master Rastix, but we must work together on this. These workers are skilled in their own right, and with a bit of patience and guidance, they can meet your standards.”

"Very well, Master Wayland. I'll try to be patient, but you must ensure they don't mishandle my equipment. I can't afford any delays!”

"I'll speak to the foreman and make sure they're more careful.”

“I’ll leave it to you then!”

As he turned to walk away, Roland cast a thoughtful gaze toward the area where the gnome was setting up his workspace. It was strategically positioned at a considerable distance from the dormitory where the orphans would be living. Additionally, a substantial wall would be erected to separate the two sites. Roland couldn't have children running around in a place that had the potential to produce toxic fumes and explosions, so he was taking precautions to ensure their safety. Even a mana shield would be created to block any potential hazardous gas spills from leaking out.

The greenhouse was just one method of cultivating herbs and other plants, as a similar structure was being constructed underground. Not all plants required direct sunlight, as it could be somewhat replicated with runic lamps. The majority of the laboratory would be situated underground, eventually linked to his own workshop through a tunnel. Naturally, he planned to erect multiple protective walls to shield himself from potential explosions and corrosive effects. Some might argue that he was being overly cautious and that the costs were too high. However, Roland firmly believed that there was no such thing as spending too much to ensure safety.

“I must apologize for the behavior of Master Rastix, he is a bit eccentric in that regard…”

Roland met with the foreman who proved to be very understanding. They worked for various rich merchants and even nobles who sometimes liked to throw out some insults.

“That’s fine, Master Wayland, this isn’t my first time working with these types! I’ll tell my boys to be extra careful.”

“Thank you, please keep up the good work.”

With the construction site issue temporarily resolved, Roland headed back to his home. There were other matters he needed to address beyond the gnome Alchemist. Upon arriving, he was greeted by a yawning muscleman and a shorter, more petite half-elven lady.

"Sorry for the delay, had a minor issue to take care of..."

"Wayland? At last! Do you have it with you?"

It was, of course, Armand and Lobelia, the two siblings who had gathered at the entrance of his home to receive some gifts from their soon-to-be brother-in-law. Roland had promised to provide them with specially crafted runic weapons once they attained their Tier 3 class as a form of a gift. While he was giving these items for free, there was an implicit cost underlying the transaction, their loyalty and trust.

“No, they are down in the workshop, come follow me.”

Normally, Roland was not fond of allowing people into his workshop, but Armand and Lobelia had earned his trust. He had no reason to believe they would steal his items or leak information to external parties. Nevertheless, this didn't mean he would grant them unrestricted access to every part of his underground workshop. Following the encounter with the Lich and the partial destruction of the underground area, he had made several improvements to enhance security.

Roland recognized that in the future, he might need to bring others into his home. Now that he had resolved his issues with the Dwarven Union, perhaps even the Chief herself would visit him one of these days. It wasn't always practical to send out prototypes when it was easier to showcase them within the confines of his workshop.

To address this issue, Roland had made the decision to construct the new workshop with a specific purpose in mind. He organized everything into different levels where only he had unrestricted access. Not even his wife would be granted entry to some of the more hazardous testing areas. Soon, the trio arrived at a secluded spot with no apparent features. Before Armand and Lobelia could inquire further, the ground in front of them began to shift, and a rectangular metal platform rose up from the ground.

"Huh?"

"Don't worry, this is just an elevator and the new entrance to my workshop. Remember where it is so you can use it."

Roland provided an explanation as the elevator door opened, revealing a recreation of an elevator from his old world. On the side, there was a panel with buttons and a scanner that people could access. Currently, he used his own mana to activate it through his unique pattern. However, in the future, the cards he had given them would serve as keys. Even if these cards were stolen, others would be unable to use them because he had implemented a handshake mechanism between the user's mana and the card. If someone other than the owner attempted to use it, the runic structure would detect an inconsistency and prevent access.

“What’s an elevator?”

Armand asked while Lobelia shook her head and responded instead of Roland.

“It’s obviously this rectangular metallic thing!”

Roland smiled slightly at Lobelia's description.

"That's right. It's something like a magical platform that moves up and down. Step on it, and it will take you to the workshop below."

Armand and Lobelia exchanged curious glances before cautiously stepping onto the elevator platform. Roland followed suit, and as soon as they were all aboard, he pressed a button on the control panel labeled ‘Workshop.’ With a gentle hum, the elevator doors closed and it descended smoothly into the earth. Which made the siblings gasped out in amazement. They could clearly feel the movement through their well trained bodies but couldn’t really explain the experience.

As the elevator reached its destination, the door slid open, revealing the entrance to Roland's underground workshop, or at least a portion of it. The elevator was, in reality, a dummy entrance that only granted access to carefully selected areas Roland had chosen. If someone wished to reach other sections of the workshop, they would have to enter through the primary entrance at his home.

“This is…”

“Something wrong?”

“No… I just imagined, something more?”

Armand expressed his thoughts as they arrived in a spacious area with relatively little to see. It was yet another testing facility where Roland, along with Bernir, conducted experiments with runic machinery. Anything that had seemed too intriguing had been removed beforehand, leaving only a select few special items behind. Lobelia's keen eyes quickly spotted one of them, and her excitement was palpable as she sprinted toward a nearby display table.

“It’s just like I imagined! You really got the dimensions right.”

Lobelia's eyes were fixed on the beautifully crafted longbow displayed on the table. It was an exquisite piece of workmanship, with intricate runic patterns etched along its limbs and a shimmering aura of magic surrounding it.

“It’s lighter than I expected, and these arrows…”

“The tips are made from red mithril and the shafts from the leftover bark that the bow was made from. They work just like the previous ones, just use them correctly and the magical effect will activate.”

He had created a few smart arrows that when pressed in the right spots could be enhanced with an elemental spell. It gave Lobelia some wiggle room when facing off against enemies resistant to piercing damage.

“Hey, what about me? You didn’t forget about it, right?”

“I wish I could… Here, it’s right there…”

Roland pointed toward a set of gauntlets slightly to the side. They bore a resemblance to the set he had previously given Armand. These gauntlets were adorned with intricate runes and had a deep ruby-red hue. However, there was a distinction between these gauntlets and the ones Roland used. The most noticeable difference was that they didn't fully cover a person's hands.

War Monks, who employed their fists and fingers as their primary weapons, only needed equipment to safeguard their forearms and the upper portions of their fists. These gauntlets served both as offensive and defensive weapons. The red mithril forearm protection was adept at catching blades and ensnaring them between the spiky protrusions. With proper technique, a pugilist could even snap a caught blade in half.

“Well then, gear up. There are some tricks to these that I need to explain and also…”

Roland looked at Armand who was quickly trying to put the custom gauntlets on. On the table, in addition to this weapon, lay another piece of equipment, a harness that if it functioned correctly, could potentially address Armand's most significant weakness. However, to get it tested they would need to perform some tests which could cause some unforeseen consequences…