Chapter 23: Spellcasters
"Can this be made?"
Rhodes stared at the carpenter while pointing at the drawing.
The carpenter felt slightly intimidated under the lord's gaze and stammered nervously.
"Y-yes… it should be possible."
Rhodes turned toward Hamo.
"This plowshare needs an iron outer layer. Can you make it?"
"Yes, my lord."
Hamo nodded confidently.
"It should take about two days."
Ever since taking on apprentices, Hamo had grown noticeably more confident in his work.
"Good. Stop all other work and forge this curved plow first," Rhodes ordered decisively.
At that moment, Otto stepped forward, looking worried.
"My lord… is this really a plow? We don't have enough oxen."
Frostleaf Town only had six oxen, and all of them were already used for pulling carts.
"It doesn't have to be pulled by oxen."
Rhodes placed his hands on his hips and looked at Otto.
"People can pull it too. Four people can take turns."
The curved plow Rhodes had designed used a wooden frame reinforced with iron. The plowshare itself weighed only around five pounds, light enough to be pulled by human strength.
A lighter plowshare did not mean shallow plowing. As long as the person pulling and the person guiding the plow adjusted the angle properly, the blade could still cut deep into the soil.
Of course, this would make the pullers more tired.
And the land could not be untouched wilderness; fields filled with stones would cause problems.
These were lessons Rhodes remembered from his previous life.
Otto seemed only half convinced, but she nodded anyway.
Ignoring further objections, Hamo immediately began preparing materials for the plowshare.
The lord's words were orders. His job was simply to carry them out.
Rhodes returned to forging Durant's one-handed sword.
The next morning, he inspected the fermentation pits to check the fertilizer progress.
Then he returned to forging.
Hamo worked quickly. By the afternoon, he had already completed the plowshare.
The carpenter required three days to finish the entire curved plow.
Once it was completed, Rhodes personally went to the fields to demonstrate how to use it.
"A curved plow requires two people," Rhodes explained.
"One person pulls the plow. The other guides it."
"The puller can use this rope or tie it around the waist."
"If one person gets tired, pass a wooden pole through the rope. Two people can carry the pole together and pull."
"The puller must keep a steady pace. Bend slightly and walk in a straight line."
"The person behind simply holds the plow steady. If the soil is hard, adjust the angle so the blade digs deeper."
Rhodes demonstrated the process step by step.
Then his expression turned serious.
"Before plowing, clear all stones from the field."
He raised a finger in warning.
"If you hit a rock or anything hard, lift the plow immediately."
"If someone breaks the plow through carelessness, I'll whip them."
"Yes, my lord!"
The farmers responded in unison.
"There's nothing else to it," Rhodes continued.
"Just watch the parts carefully—especially the wedges. Make sure nothing loosens."
He relaxed his tone and waved his hand.
"Alright. Take turns trying it."
Meanwhile, the Hamo and the carpenter continued producing more curved plows.
Once the farmers learned the technique, additional plows would gradually be added.
The people of Frostleaf Town rarely used plows before, and many were not particularly clever.
But necessity sharpened the mind.
With Lord Rhodes—the dragon slayer himself—standing nearby watching them, everyone concentrated intensely.
After a full day of practice, most had learned the method.
Rhodes returned to the blacksmith's workshop and continued forging Durant's sword.
Just as he finished the final strike, Durant returned from the border town.
Under the Blacksmith's Workshop
"Try your new sword."
Rhodes casually tossed the freshly forged weapon toward Durant.
"It weighs about the same as your old one, but test it to be sure."
The sword Rhodes had forged was a standard knight's one-handed blade.
The total length measured around ninety centimeters, with a weight of roughly three and a half kilograms.
It allowed Durant to swing quickly with one hand while maintaining strong cutting power.
Because the blade carried an armor-piercing enchantment, Rhodes had made it slightly wider to improve its slashing ability.
"Thank you for your gift."
After examining the weapon, Durant suddenly straightened.
He placed his feet together, set his right fist against his left chest, and bowed in a perfect knight's salute.
"I pledge eternal loyalty and will cut down every thorn that obstructs your will."
Durant had wanted to say those words for a long time.
Receiving this sword felt like a formal recognition from Rhodes.
Rhodes nodded firmly.
"And the enemy's armor."
For a moment, the two men held each other's gaze.
Both saw the same thing in the other's eyes—determination.
Then Rhodes suddenly laughed.
"So… where's my book?"
"I have it."
Durant untied a bag from his horse and handed it over.
"Three books. Ninety silver coins in total."
"So expensive?"
Rhodes's eyes widened.
Ninety silver coins could buy almost six ordinary longswords.
Durant looked embarrassed.
"My apologies, my lord. I'm not very good at bargaining. I may have revealed how badly we needed them."
"It's fine. I don't blame you."
Books were luxury goods, especially illustrated ones like these.
A clever merchant would always raise the price when he sensed desperation.
"What's the name of the merchant?" Rhodes asked casually.
"If these books are useless, I'll go smash his shop."
"Corliss Goldsand."
Rhodes paused.
"Wait… Lawrence's brother?"
"Judging by his age and appearance, that seems likely," Durant replied.
"I didn't ask directly."
"Then it must be him."
Rhodes grabbed the bag.
"Let's go back to the manor and test them."
"If they're useless, I'll give Lawrence a few lashes just to vent my frustration."
Durant smiled. He knew Rhodes was joking.
"My lord… what is the name of this sword?"
Rhodes sighed.
"Why are you just like Renn?"
It seemed his subordinates cared deeply about such formalities.
Even Rhodes's own weapon was still simply called the Steel Greatsword.
"This one doesn't have a name yet," Rhodes said.
"You'll have to choose one yourself."
"Yes, my lord."
Durant followed behind him while thinking deeply.
After a moment, he said,
"Then… perhaps it should be called Cut Through Thorns."
Rhodes felt the phrase sounded strangely familiar, though he couldn't recall why.
Suddenly, Durant spoke again.
"My lord, there are also some rumors from the border town that you should hear."
Rhodes immediately sensed the seriousness in his tone.
He stopped walking and turned.
"Go on."
"The first concerns Razorfen Downs."
"The lord from the Red Griffin family was killed. His body was thrown into the wilderness and torn apart by steppe wolves. Nothing remains."
Rhodes frowned.
"Some say the native tribes and the beastmen cooperated in the attack," Durant continued.
"But the rumor hasn't been confirmed."
The news made Rhodes think carefully.
Razor Plains lay beyond Ice Peak Valley, not far from Blackpine Ridge.
The valley formed a triangular barrier—wide in the west and narrow in the east—wedged between the two territories.
At some points, the straight-line distance between the lands was barely thirty li.
A cavalry rider could cross it in two hours.
Even on foot, it was only half a day.
The two territories were essentially neighbors.
The native tribes were not the real concern.
The beastmen were.
"What's the Red Griffin family's reaction?" Rhodes asked.
"Nothing yet," Durant replied.
"But the news has already spread throughout the border town. They will hear about it soon."
Even slow messengers could carry word back in two weeks.
If the Red Griffin family responded, their forces would likely pass through Blackpine Ridge.
Rhodes might even be able to collect some tolls.
"Here's what we'll do," Rhodes said after thinking.
"Select three guards. Have Renn choose two hunters."
"They'll form a patrol team."
"They can hunt while watching the wasteland."
"If they discover anything unusual, they are not to act."
"Return immediately and report."
"Yes, my lord."
Durant nodded.
"That's all the news from the wasteland."
He hesitated before continuing.
"There's one more thing."
"I heard it by chance."
Durant lowered his voice.
"There appear to be spellcasters in the border town."
(End of Chapter)