"This is iron."
"This is a stick."
"This is a pickaxe."
Clack.
Just like that, an iron pickaxe appeared on the crafting table, leaving Bard beside him completely astounded.
"How... how did you do that?"
"You could think of it as a unique form of magic I possess."
"...All right then, magic. Magic it is. If all tools can be made this way, then we can get many of our projects started quickly."
Bard accepted it immediately.
The word "magic" was like a master key. If Garrett had mentioned something about block mechanics or other concepts, he wouldn't have understood. But call it magic, and suddenly everything made sense.
With wide eyes examining the solid iron pickaxe in his hands, Bard was clearly amazed.
Although he had known for some time that Garrett could employ many kinds of magic, what he had shown before was mostly exceptional building ability, some healing potions that accelerated wound recovery, and combat skills like flight or using explosive blocks.
Now suddenly displaying a crafting ability like this, it was completely unexpected.
"If all tools in the world can be made like this, won't blacksmiths lose their livelihood?"
His mind immediately leaped far ahead.
"What would be the point of learning smithing skills?"
"There's still a point," Garrett replied. "For the residents, if they want to directly craft something, they first have to learn how to make it. Of course, some basic wooden or stone tools don't require that."
"I see. I think I understand now."
Bard nodded thoughtfully, processing what Garrett had explained.
A moment later, he caught a crucial detail.
Residents?
"Wait a moment, something doesn't add up. This magic, can the residents use it as well?"
"Indeed."
Garrett placed some materials on the ground and explained, "That's exactly why I came."
Bard had high reputation and also held a steward position in Dale, granting him high authority. Many crafting recipes were already available to him, he simply wasn't aware of it yet.
After making a quick adjustment at the Nether portal's location, Garrett took Bard to a pumpkin field and began demonstrating things step-by-step.
First was farming.
"These cubic pumpkins solve the food problem, they grow incredibly fast."
Bard spoke first. "And even in winter, the vines don't wither. This one field alone could feed all of Dale and Lake-town without anyone ever going hungry."
"Exactly. But it's still enough," Garrett said.
He placed down an ender chest, retrieved various seeds, planted them on the spot, and used bone meal to instantly mature them.
Bard was stunned.
"Not only can they grow in freezing weather, but they can mature instantly. I've only heard of such crops in ancient legends... Are those enchanted seeds?"
"You could say that."
Garrett handed Bard the seeds and said, "These seeds can mature every day on average. They're frost-resistant, season-independent, and only require water nearby."
Hearing this, Bard's heart was racing.
As someone who had truly experienced hunger and deeply understood the struggles of common folk, he knew exactly what this meant. Just one day without food could leave a person dizzy and suffering stomach-cramping pain. Often, food shortages meant civil unrest, because people driven by hunger could truly lose their reason.
The sudden surge of hope left him somewhat overwhelmed, to the point that he almost couldn't believe it.
"We can really use this?"
"Of course. Not just you, every resident can farm. Oh, right, they'll need tools…"
Garrett placed down a crafting table and began creating one tool after another. Along the way, he also explained the recipes, how to gather materials, and how to transport blocks to Bard.
After completing the basic tutorial and having Bard try out each function himself, he continued, "Alright then, you've learned how to farm and mine. Now, gather the residents and start restoring the territory."
"What?"
Bard was stunned.
"Uh, I think... I might need some time to process this..."
"My lord, I can handle that for you!"
Just as Bard was trying to recall Garrett's "magic usage tutorial," a fawning voice suddenly came from behind a building.
"Alfrid..."
Bard turned to look.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why, to be ready at all times to serve you and Lord Garrett, of course."
Alfrid approached and respectfully positioned himself before Garrett, who frowned slightly, which immediately caused Alfrid to bow deeply, not meeting his gaze.
Although Garrett couldn't say he particularly disliked the man, he also felt no fondness, or rather, he simply didn't care about him at all.
Seeing Alfrid like that, Bard could only sigh. He gestured for Alfrid to step aside and turned to Garrett to explain.
"Although this man has committed many wrongs in the past, mostly helping the Master cook the books and embezzle town property, there's no denying that as an administrator, he's quite capable. In fact, he's contributed significantly to the reconstruction efforts lately."
"A few months ago, many townsfolk were calling for him to be hanged, to pay for what he did. But... whether it was that dragon that never escaped the Lonely Mountain, or the war we just endured, they were all powerful lessons."
"I know very well that it was almost entirely thanks to you that death and destruction didn't descend upon us. I sincerely hope it never will, whether on a large or small scale."
"That's why, I gave him a chance."
Bard gestured to Alfrid, who stood rigidly behind him.
"When he was being shunned, knocked to the ground, left to lie in a corner starving for days, I told him that if he was willing to spend the rest of his life making amends, then he and even his future descendants could live here as normal residents."
"We are not like you."
"At our core, me, Alfrid, the other townspeople, we're just small, ordinary people. Regardless of methods or motives, we're simply trying to survive for what we believe in."
"But you're different... You, and people like Gandalf, you're not ordinary. You have more choices available."
He spoke earnestly.
Garrett looked at him, then suddenly smiled and said, "Mercy is a noble trait, as long as it's not wasted on your enemies."
"I trust your judgment. You handle the arrangements. But there's one thing I need to correct: Even 'small people' can do world-changing things and alter the course of history. Don't underestimate the power of so-called ordinary folk."
Upon hearing that, Bard glanced at Garrett, then at Alfrid, and finally let out a relieved breath.
"You people always leave others at a loss for words."
"You people?"
"You. And Gandalf."
"Well… yeah, he does have a way with words."
Gandalf's ability to persuade people was legendary.
As for Alfrid, though...
"He can't serve as an instructor."
Garrett pointed at the tools on the crafting table and said, "His reputation is in the negatives. He can't use any of it. Let him earn his redemption first."
"Understood."
Bard nodded.
"I'll make certain to keep a close watch on him."