The Nebula’s Civilization

Hwee-Kyung’s eyebrows twitched.

She hadn’t lost all hope yet.

“What do you mean you don’t think it’s going to work? You need to tell me clearly whether you can or can’t do it.”

The blacksmith solemnly declared, “I can’t.”

“You said you could do it.”

“I said I could probably do it. It would have been better if you asked for sure.”

Hwee-Kyung realized that she couldn’t remove the blacksmith shop from Automation until the problem was solved. It didn’t matter to her if the blacksmith shop was removed after the problem was solved.

“So what’s the problem?”

“You shape iron by heating it up and hammering it while it’s hot. But it’s really hard to forge this iron. If other kinds of iron only require ten strikes, this one requires thirty to forty.”

“It is iron. However, the type of iron depends on where it is from. It’ll likely make a good tool if it is hammered and shaped well, since the quality is good. I also want it done.”

“So? Does your pride as a professional blacksmith not compel you to heat it up and try again?”

The blacksmith pointed at the pouch and shook his head.

“That’s much too hard.”

“...Okay. Let’s think of another way. Can’t you just melt it? What do you think? Melt all of it and put it in a mold for it to harden in the shape we want.”

The blacksmith pursed his lips.

“I’ve already tried that. I actually knew what would happen before I even tried. If iron that has been cooled gets melted again, it turns into a different kind of iron.”

“How come? It’s just melting and hardening again.”

“Well, I’m not sure myself. That's just how it is. Didn’t I tell you before that the properties of iron differ depending on where it comes from? Some iron becomes harder every time it is melted and cooled again. That’s usually the case with soft iron. But not that one. I don’t know what the problem is, but that one breaks easily if it’s melted in the bloomery and hardens again.”

The bloomery was heated using charcoal. In the process, carbon entered the bloomery and got mixed into the iron melted inside. Soft iron with low carbon content became harder with more carbon added into the mix, while iron with already high carbon content would turn into hard but fragile iron.

Hwee-Kyung sighed.

“Then what can we do?”

Thud! Suddenly, there was a sound of something collapsing in the blacksmith shop, and someone ran out.

“It’s possible! Lord!”

“Who is this?”

“This is my son.”

Hwee-Kyung looked at the blacksmith’s son. He was taller and wider than his father, and his arms were strongly-built, with visible veins, the result of lots of tempering.

“It’s possible?”

“Yes. Look at this.”

The blacksmith’s son showed her two pieces of iron. They looked the same to Hwee-Kyung.

“Do you see this?”

“I’m looking.”

“No, the one on the right.”

Hwee-Kyung took a closer look and saw marks left by a hammer.

“It is a very hard iron. The best I’ve ever dealt with. This would make really good farming tools. Or I guess the Lizardmen would prefer weapons.”

“...Is that so?”

“Father has become weak since he’s getting old, so he’s given up sooner. Just leave it to us.”

Hwee-Kyung looked at the blacksmith’s face. She could feel residue heat from his work beside the bloomery. His clothes were so drenched in sweat it looked like he had gone for a swim. His eyes also seemed very tired.

“How long do you think it’ll take to make a spearhead?”

“Half a day should be enough!”

In order to produce sufficient strength in a low-quality wrought iron, the iron would have to be stretched and folded to combine it with oxygen. And it would take a lot more time to go through the same process with iron that was already hard.

But Hwee-Kyung didn’t express her feelings.

“...Don’t you think it’s a good idea for you to rest first?”

“I’m okay, lord.”

“Shouldn’t you take it easy if you’re still going to work?”

“Charcoal is used to heat the bloomery, so work needs to be done while it is hot.”

“Has the bloomery cooled down now?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll give what you just said a proper consideration, so go rest for a bit.”

“Thank you, lord!”

The blacksmith looked in the direction his son had disappeared into and worriedly asked, “Are you really going to consider my son’s words?”

“No.”

“Thank you.”

Hwee-Kyung sighed.

“I know you’re not exaggerating the hardship. But the problem remains.”

The blacksmith scratched his neck.

“...Look, I told you before it’s not impossible. It’s just a problem of inefficiency. If I keep striking the iron, it will eventually find its shape.”

“So what? Now you’re going to work your butt off?”

The blacksmith cleared his throat.

“No, no. Can’t we just make the Lizardmen work here? They won’t have a blacksmith’s shop, so it’ll be hard for them to heat metal, and we’re getting tired of striking it.”

“You’re not trying to use the Lizardmen, are you?”

“...No way.”

Hwee-Kyung felt it was at least somewhat true by looking at the blacksmith’s eyes.

“Also, this isn’t all the iron there is.”

“Then…”

“There’s a wheelbarrow full of it, and that’s probably not all of it.”

“Then it’ll be a difficult task even if all the blacksmiths in Automation come together.”

“What if we increase the number of workers?”

“It takes years to learn how to handle soft metals.”

“Why don’t you take in more students?”

“Nine out of ten would likely run away. And with what time would I teach all of them?”

The blacksmith was right.

‘The blacksmith’s method would eventually work if there were only a small amount of iron, but that's far from the best solution. And it doesn’t address the fundamental problem. Moreover, if we have the Lizardmen help and work on this, what would Lakrak think of me?’

Hwee-Kyung had the desire to solve this problem even if it weren’t for Lakrak’s request.

“Anyways, do good work and work hard until the smithy is removed.”

“Yes, lord…Wait what?”

***

“Where does the water come from?”

“...What?”

Hwee-Kyung looked up at Lakrak’s question. Her growing horns made her head feel heavier. It naturally tilted down when she thought about something else for a moment. Hwee-Kyung looked out at the buildings inside Automation and the citizens. The two of them were in the dining hall carved into a cliff. One wall was completely torn down so they could look outside.

‘What were we talking about?’

Hwee-Kyung wondered if Lakrak also enjoyed talking like all the other wise men, but fortunately, that wasn’t why Lakrak asked his question.

“I asked where the water in Automation comes from. There needs to be water for people to live, no?”

“Oh right.”

“I heard there’s something called a water supply system. The water comes from above, along a specific path. With that, there is no need for wells.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“But I didn’t see a river flowing through the gorge on top of Automation. There was no waterfall either.”

Fortunately, Hwee-Kyung managed to stop herself from saying, ‘Oh you’re right. Where does the water come from?’ But she did have the same question.

“There is a waterway coming from inside the palace.”

“Waterway?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, so there’s a source of water, but it’s not seen because it’s hidden inside the building. Ancient people were very smart. That’s good.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Then enemies won’t be able to attack Automation by polluting the water source.”

Then, Lakrak continued to boast that he once attacked another tribe by polluting their water source with dead bodies. Surely, for Humans, it wasn’t the best thing to listen to while eating, but Hwee-Kyung didn’t have too weak of a stomach compared to the other Humans.

Fortunately, Lakrak didn’t ask about what happened with the iron even after they were finished eating. With a sigh of relief, Hwee-Kyung struck up a conversation with Sairan, the only one left after Lakrak and the other Lizardmen had left.

“I think I’m doomed.”

Sairan was still in his seat, drinking herbal water.

“...Are you still troubled about the iron problem?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t think of another method?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t a lot of merchants come from the inner continent?”

“That’s right. And our blacksmiths are learning from those merchants. But nothing comes up.”

Sairan shrugged.

“There's nothing we can do if there’s no other way. Just tell Chief Lakrak the truth.”

“Ugh. Wouldn’t Lakrak kill me for swindling him or something?”

“No. Lakrak will be generous. He’ll probably say that’s okay since he couldn’t do it either.”

“...I’m not actually scared, but wouldn’t you feel slightly hurt if it were you?”

“If you failed, shouldn’t you pay that much of a price? There’s no reason why Automation wouldn’t be able to make up for it with something else either.”

Sairan wasn’t wrong.

“Then let’s go,” said Hwee-Kyung.

“You mean to study writing? I thought you would want to do it here,” replied Sairan.

Sarian shook his bag of silk and charcoal. Hwee-Kyung was learning how to write because she thought it would be useful. The Black-Scaled Tribe’s writing was already fairly famous, so a small number of merchants in Automation were using the system. There was no better way to keep track when someone borrowed something from them.

“I have something I want to check.”

***

Hwee-Kyung took Sairan to a place deep inside the palace. This part of the palace wasn’t that much different from everywhere else, but there were no decorations since people didn’t frequent the area. And as they headed deeper, windows also disappeared. It got quite dark, with only a few torch holders lining the walls.

“The ancient people must have used this part of the palace too,” said Sairan.

“I think so,” replied Hwee-Kyung.

“But why have we come all the way here?”

“Do you know why Automation is called Automation?”

“Isn’t it because of the mud soldiers that move on their own?”

Hwee-Kyung nodded. And just in time, a mud soldier a head or so shorter than Hwee-Kyung came from the other side of the hallway. These soldiers seemed to be modeled after the armor and helmets the ancient people wore, and they had unique, albeit sloppy-looking faces. The mud soldiers usually devoted all their energy to repairing the castle’s rampart. Outside of that, they would stand still in line at several designated places in Automation.

Sairan made way for the mud soldier and said, “They come all the way here, I see.”

“Yeah. They were created inside.”

“What? Then was the mud soldier we just saw newly made?”

“That’s right. Not only do they move on their own, they also manufacture themselves. But I think there’s a limit to their total number. The citizens don’t break them, but they do break down due to excessive rain or accidents. Then they would be replaced like that.”

Sairan was a bit surprised as Hwee-Kyung said all of that like it was nothing.

“Can’t you give them orders other than to repair the ramparts?”

“It is possible, but that order would only be to protect me.”

“I guess that is the most important command.”

“Father said there used to be more in the past, but they probably lost them over time. Anyways…”

Hwee-Kyung reached the end of the corridor. There was a door made of stone with no handle. Sairan realized at first glance that it wasn’t a door that could be opened and closed by force. Hwee-Kyung picked up the token of the lord hanging around her neck.

“This is the Mud Soldier Room where the mud soldiers are made. Now that I think of it, the room has another important role.”

“What is it?”

Hwee-Kyung raised the token, and the door opened. The first thing Sairan heard was the sound of water.

“This is the source of Automation’s water.”

There was a small lake. Water poured down from a cliff and filled the waterwheel on the wall. When the waterwheel was filled with water, it would rotate and move the water to the next waterwheel, and so several waterwheels attached to the wall moved one after another. The last waterwheel turned very slowly, causing the water to calmly pour into the lake.

Each waterwheel had a long axle that turned with the wheel. There was a complex mechanism that forced the waterwheels to change directions, and it was connected to an even more perplexing device which Hwee-Kyung and Sairan couldn’t understand. Underneath it was a jar filled with mud. The mud inside was whirling due to an unknown force.

Hwee-Kyung turned to Sairan as if she had wanted to show him this for a while.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“It is…truly amazing. I’ve been to a few Ancient Ruins, but I’ve never seen one like this.”

“However, I didn’t bring you here to show you around. I always thought that it being automatic was strange. People and animals need to eat in order to get strength. And wheelbarrows only move when it’s pushed or pulled. But the mud soldiers don’t eat anything, and there isn’t anyone pushing or pulling them, yet they still move. So I figured these mud soldiers would also have some kind of power source.”

“Now that I think of it…” replied Sairan.

Hwee-Kyung pointed to the water source of Automation.

“That’s right. It was the power of water flowing.”

Hwee-Kyung hadn’t pointed to the complex mechanical device, or the mysterious jar where the mud soldiers were born, but one of the waterwheels.