We finally arrived in Norderis, the capital of the Nothredam Kingdom. Ever since the bandit attack and the emergency teleportation incident, Princess Laura had insisted that we all rest at her family's residence. Not the main palace, though—more like a private royal family mansion located a bit south of the city center of Norderis. The building was large, its walls covered in white bricks with dull golden ornaments, and in the yard grew wild rose bushes that looked like they hadn't been properly cared for. But compared to sleeping in a rundown inn, this place felt like a five-star hotel.
That morning, I opened the door to Charles' room. Sunlight streamed in through the half-opened large window. Charles was still lying on the big bed draped with a thin canopy, his breathing calm and steady. But he still hadn't regained consciousness.
After making sure the blanket covered him properly, I stepped out of the room and closed the door gently. I hadn't walked far when I nearly bumped into someone in the hallway.
"Oh!"
"Sorry, Akira. I didn't see you," said Min Ji, who looked like she had just finished reading something—probably a book or the daily report.
"Ah, no, sorry. Good morning, Min Ji."
She responded with a slight nod and her usual gentle smile. Her long hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and that day she was wearing a casual royal outfit—a white tunic embroidered with blue patterns and a leather belt. Still looked graceful despite its simplicity.
"You just came from Charles' room?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. He still hasn't woken up, but he looks a lot better than yesterday."
"That's good news." Min Ji let out a relieved breath.
We stood in silence for a moment before I finally said, "By the way, Min Ji… I was thinking of heading out for a bit."
"Heading out?" She looked a little surprised.
"Yeah. I thought... instead of just sitting around waiting for Charles to wake up, I might as well explore the city. Who knows, maybe I'll find a job or something useful to do."
I chuckled softly, scratching my head.
"'Cause, you know… I can't keep relying on others. I should at least be able to stand on my own two feet in this world."
Min Ji looked at me for a moment, then her smile softened.
"That's a good intention. Do you want me to come with you?"
I stared at her, a bit surprised that she offered first. But of course, I nodded immediately.
"If you don't mind, I'd really like that."
"All right, let's go," she said with a cheerful smile.
As soon as we stepped outside the gate, the wind greeted my face. Cool. Almost cold, like a morning breeze in the mountains. The temperature felt a lot like Sapporo in winter. I pulled my wool jacket tighter around my body while glancing up at the sky—a pale blue, with thin clouds drifting slowly.
"The air here's pretty cold, huh," I murmured.
"This city is located at the northern edge of the continent," replied Min Ji, walking beside me. "Even in summer, it's never really hot—just warm at best."
I nodded slowly, gazing at the city gradually unfolding before me.
For a kingdom's capital, Norderis was relatively small. Even compared to the port cities I'd seen in Japan, Korea, or the Philippines, this place felt more like a provincial town than a seat of government. The buildings were simple, mostly made of gray stone and aged wood, with steep roofs covered in dark, mossy tiles.
No towering spires. No grand palace rising in the distance. Even the royal family's residence was hidden behind stone walls and creeping vines, far less flashy than what I had imagined from fantasy stories.
The atmosphere of the city... was calm. Almost quiet.
There wasn't much bustle—just a few locals moving goods from carts to shops, or selling produce from surrounding villages. A couple of kids ran around near a fountain, laughing as they carried cloth dolls and dry bread.
And the most striking thing...
"There aren't many soldiers patrolling here, huh?" I asked quietly, glancing left and right.
Min Ji gave a slight nod. "That's true. Norderis isn't a military city. Most of the royal army is stationed in outer forts or on the western borders."
"So if this city were attacked directly, it'd be in trouble."
"Well, there's not much incentive for other kingdoms to invade us. We don't have many natural resources. So we're fairly relaxed—and our relations with Heden and the Demon Kingdom are stable," Min Ji replied calmly.
We continued walking down the main street—only about seven meters wide. On either side were a bakery, a small blacksmith shop, and an old bookstore whose windows were lined with cobwebs.
For some reason, I started to feel... at home.
"Looks like there's something interesting on the east side of town. Look, a market and a blacksmith," I said, pointing to the city map posted on an old notice board.
Min Ji smiled. "You're right. By the way, that blacksmith is the most well-known one here. Want me to take you there?"
I nodded, and we headed toward the eastern side of the city.
As we walked leisurely, Min Ji turned to me.
"Akira," she said gently, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"I'm curious… before you came to this world, what were you doing? I mean, your job, or your life in Japan."
I looked ahead for a moment, then answered while still walking.
"At the time, I was in university. A graduate student in Tokyo. I was pursuing a Master's degree in science and technology."
"A Master's?" Min Ji raised her eyebrows. "So you already finished your undergrad too?"
"Yup. Graduated at 21, went straight into my Master's."
She looked at me with wide eyes, then gave a small smile. "I'm a student too, but still in undergrad. Fifth semester, majoring in Asian Language and Culture Studies in Seoul."
We kept walking, passing an old woman selling apples on the roadside. In the distance, smoke from the blacksmith's forge began to appear.
Suddenly, Min Ji glanced at me again, looking thoughtful.
"Uh… if you're in grad school already, how old are you?"
I answered casually, "Twenty-two."
Min Ji slowed her pace immediately. She stared at me, surprised.
"Twenty… two?!"
I looked at her, confused. "Yeah. Why?"
She bit her lower lip briefly, then lowered her head slightly while looking at the ground.
"That means… you're four years younger than me."
I nearly choked on air. "Seriously?! You're twenty-six?!"
Min Ji smiled shyly, her cheeks turning a bit red. "Yeah. I started university a bit late. I wasn't a great student in school, so I didn't get a scholarship. I had to work first before I could enroll."
"Pursuing a Master's at twenty-two... your brain must be sharp," she sighed.
Finally, we arrived at our destination.
"This is the place," said Min Ji, glancing toward the workshop.
Out in the front yard, a few burly men were hauling crude iron bars from a cart into the storage shed. Their arms were muscular and glistening with sweat, their work clothes stained with soot and ash. A few apprentices darted around carrying hammers or buckets of cooling water.
The sound of roaring flames from inside the forge rang clearly, mixing with the rhythmic clanging of metal struck by skilled hands.
"I heard the blacksmith here once made weapons for knights and heroes who fought the Demon Kingdom to the south," Min Ji whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the sound of steel. "The master was a former metallurgy expert from Helvetia's Magic Academy, who moved to Nothredam after retirement."
We stepped closer to the main door, the heat from inside already noticeable before we even opened it.
And for some reason… my heart started beating faster.
Maybe because this place wasn't just a workshop. It was a place where metal was forged into strength. And maybe—a place where progress in this world could begin.
As the heavy wooden door opened, a wave of heat blasted out, carrying the scent of hot iron and charcoal smoke. Inside, the scene was busier than I'd imagined. The wide room was filled with the sound of hammers ringing, sparks flying from forged metal, and the hustle of workers moving with focused determination.
In the middle of it all stood an old, short man—so short he barely reached my waist. His bald head shone, with a long white beard flowing down to his belly, and his muscular frame was wrapped in a leather apron stained with black marks. Despite his clear age, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and his voice boomed as he barked instructions.
"Put the iron bars on the west side! Hey, you! Don't mix cooking metal with weapon metal!"
he shouted, pointing at a panicked worker who quickly nodded and rushed off.
The old man—clearly the owner of the forge—kept a sharp eye on his workers. But after one final order, he turned and spotted us standing at the door.
His piercing gaze softened instantly.
"Ho… hooo! Look who's here," he muttered, striding toward us with short but firm steps.
"Min Ji! It's been ages since you've stepped foot in here!"
Min Ji smiled brightly and gave a slight respectful bow. "Sorry, Grandpa Boris. I've been a bit busy these past few months."
"You're always busy. But alive and well, that's what matters." Grandpa Boris—so he was called—chuckled, then turned his gaze to me. His eyes narrowed, inspecting me from head to toe.
"And who's this skinny lad beside you? Your boyfriend?" he asked teasingly, making both me and Min Ji flush red.
"No!" we said in unison.
Min Ji quickly added, "He's my friend. His name is Akira. He's from Heden."
"Akira? That's a strange name for someone from Heden," said Grandpa Boris.
"Hmm… soft hands. Not a laborer. But your eyes… they have curiosity. Not lazy eyes." He grinned with approval, then turned toward the workshop and shouted.
"GARETH! Get over here! Bring some water for our guests!"
From behind a pile of metal, a young man with a nervous expression and messy brown hair emerged. He wore a ragged apron and large round safety goggles that covered nearly half his face. When he heard his name, he almost tripped over a hammer on the ground.
"Y-Yes! Right away, Grandpa!" he called, hurrying to the corner of the forge to prepare two wooden cups of water from a large jug.
"I can't stay with you long—still got work to oversee. If you've got questions, ask my grandson," said Grandpa Boris as he left us.
We both sat at a guest table in the lower right corner near the entrance. Two cups of cold water and a plate of hard candies were served.
"Please, help yourselves. These are Grandpa's favorite sweets," said Gareth, standing awkwardly by the table with a worn cloth in hand. "He says they make your tongue forget the taste of fire."
I took one and tasted it. It was a mix of ginger and honey, with a cooling aftertaste. "Pretty good," I muttered, surprised.
Min Ji smiled, then looked at Gareth. "So you're Grandpa Boris's right-hand man now? Last time I came, you were still an apprentice who kept melting swords from wrong temperatures."
Gareth laughed awkwardly, his cheeks flushing. "Don't bring that up, Min Ji… that's ancient history. I'm Grandpa's trusted assistant now."
Min Ji chuckled and sipped her water. "Glad to see you're still passionate, Gar. This place needs people like you."
"And you?" Gareth looked at me, a bit unsure. "Are you Min Ji's friend?"
"That's right. My name's Sawamura Akira. Nice to meet you." I extended a hand to shake.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Gareth Silvith. Um, should I call you Akira or Sawamura?"
"Just Akira is fine." Well, there's no formal rule here to use the family name first unless it's formal.
"By the way, Min Ji... it's kind of rare for you to drop by. You usually just pass messages through the guards or don't stop in at all."
Min Ji turned and smiled casually. "I just happened to be free today. I was showing Akira around the city. He was recently transferred to Norderis, so I figured... why not take him to see some interesting places?"
"Oh, I see…" Gareth nodded in understanding, though his expression showed growing curiosity. "I thought maybe you had some important business or something."
But before Min Ji could respond, I leaned forward, placing my empty wooden cup on the table, and spoke up.
"Actually... I do have a specific purpose," I said seriously.
Min Ji immediately turned to me, her eyebrows slightly raised. "A specific purpose?"
I nodded firmly. "I want to build something. A science project. And I need this workshop's help."
Gareth looked surprised and intrigued. "A project? Like what? And… what's science?"
I took a slow breath and smiled faintly. "I want to make a mechanical clock. A timepiece that can show the time automatically, using gears and springs."
Min Ji turned her body toward me. "A clock? You mean… a mechanical one? That moves on its own?"
I snapped my fingers. "Exactly."
Meanwhile, Gareth just stared at me with a confused expression. "Uh... do you mean... a sundial? The one with a stick and a shadow?"
I chuckled. "No, not that one. A mechanical clock runs on a spring or a pendulum and can keep ticking on its own. It doesn't need sunlight."
Gareth furrowed his brow, clearly struggling to picture it. "But... isn't that magic? If something moves on its own... you'd need movement magic to make that happen."
I shook my head. "It can be done with mechanical techniques. Gears, springs, and a motion-regulating system. No magic involved at all."
Min Ji was still looking at me with wide, surprised eyes. "You're serious? You can actually make a clock like that?"
"I know the structure and design. I'll bring a sketch tomorrow," I replied confidently.
Min Ji sighed, then gave a small smile while crossing her arms. "You're really insane, you know that, Akira?"
Gareth let out a soft laugh, though he still looked half puzzled. "Okay... I won't promise I'll understand it right away, but... I'll ask Grandpa for help too, maybe he'll get it. All right, I'll wait for your sketch tomorrow, Akira."
I nodded enthusiastically. "Deal. I'll prepare the first draft tonight."
In a room filled with the hum of hot metal, the idea of a clock—a simple device in my world—suddenly sounded like a revolutionary invention.
As I grinned wide, imagining the blueprint in my head, Min Ji just shook her head slowly. "Welcome to Norderis, mad genius."