Thirteen Steel, Gunpowder, and Holy Water (Part 2)

Although he had known that Hus, as a Gondite, had a strong interest in him, Emilia had never expected that Hus would publicly ask for help.

Not to mention, Emiya didn't even know what they needed.

Emiya suddenly stood up and shook hands with Hus, who rushed over, somewhat bewilderedly. "I don't quite understand... Actually, I don't have a deep connection with the Gond Church, and I have no right to speak at a public meeting..."

"We are craftsmen," Hus said flatly. "Age, knowledge, experience, background, tradition—these things are certainly important, but they pale in comparison to the exquisite craftsmanship of a finished product. Let's put it this way: we've received the Flaming Fist's new armor."

"How did you get this?!"

The plate armor he sold was the Flaming Fist's common property, right? It's only been a few months since he left Baldur's Gate, and the Flaming Fist is already so broke he has to pawn his pants again?

"Oh no, our way of obtaining it... in short, compare it to Baldur's Gate." Hus shrugged.

In other words, it was a backdoor.

Then, Hus's voice was filled with enthusiasm. "That armor is the most perfect masterpiece we have ever seen! There is no flaw left by any human effort. From the materials to the workmanship, it has completely surpassed the limits of current tools. And you were able to complete it in such a short time—"

At this point, Lude snorted, "People of Gond over there, this is not your Temple of Supreme Miracles. Let's not discuss technical details here."

He raised his voice. "Now, let's discuss the next steps: protecting Candlekeep and eliminating the source of the ghostly uprising. These two directions must be pursued simultaneously. Whatever the participants gain in this incident belongs entirely to them. Candlekeep only seeks to eliminate the long-standing problems."

"However, the underground caverns are complex, and due to Milim's occupation, we haven't updated the map in years. If we were to be caught off guard, the consequences would be disastrous. Therefore, we believe that those entering the underground are likely several elite teams, not a large army.

"In contrast, Candlekeep is extremely large, and relying on a small number of people simply cannot provide adequate protection. It requires a large number of people to cover it..."

"Sorry!" Hus interrupted with lightning speed. "In short, we are willing to do our best for Candlekeep. But we believe that Mr. Emiya's help can greatly enhance our combat capabilities. We are not good at navigating complex caves, but protecting a castle is our best job. We have no choice but to do it."

Lude clearly disliked Huss and snorted coldly, "You? I'm afraid it's just your job, which is what you're best at. As far as I know, not every Gondite is as obsessed with smoke bombs as you are."

"So, what do you think?" Hus shrugged, obviously not wanting to continue the topic.

Lude was silent for a moment, then said, "You can move weapons and equipment if you want. But you must apply for each weapon in advance. You can't act without authorization."

Huss's eyebrows rose at this remark. He spun around abruptly and slammed his hammer down on the round table. "There are nearly ten churches, large and small, in Candlekeep, and almost all of the pantheons of knowledge are present. Only our Gond Church has yet to be allowed into Candlekeep. Will this blatant discrimination continue?"

"To be more precise, I don't want your so-called firearms allowed in!" Lude shouted. "If your smoke powder catches fire, it will cause more damage to Candlekeep than a dragon!"

"Alright, alright!" Seeing the situation about to escalate, Hus took a deep breath and raised his hands. "Then, I accept your request. Whenever we want to move weapons from the Supreme Miracle Hall, we will report to you in advance and obtain permission."

"They're not weapons." Lude glared at him. "They're firearms! I'm only restricting weapons and their corresponding ammunition that use smoke powder! Even the flames of scorching fire glue can be restricted by the Candlekeep barrier. But if something goes wrong with smoke powder, it burns too quickly!"

"We've reformed the way we store ammunition!" Huss tried to argue, "We've already pre-loaded the gunpowder into the bullets..."

"The specifics of how and what you did are up to you! But that can't change the final result."

At this critical moment, the Chief Reader stood up and smoothed things over. "Regardless, with the people of Gond strengthening the city walls, the pressure on us in the outer courtyard will be greatly reduced. Let's discuss our plans for going underground."

After being interrupted, Lude breathed a sigh of relief and sat back in his seat.

"...Sorry, let's discuss this later." Huss also apologized to Emilia in a low voice, then quietly returned to his seat and never said a word again.

Emilia looked at Hus's back and felt her eyebrows twitching.

He had a rough idea of ​​what Huss was thinking.

First it was weapons, then armor.

As a result, within less than a year, he was about to be dragged onto the path of formal arms manufacturing.

After the atmosphere cooled, Stutin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "First, Candlekeep has decided that the task of protecting Candlekeep's surface buildings will fall to Lord Scripture Keeper Lude. And I will lead the team going deep underground."

"Firstly, the underground of Candlekeep is actually a massive cavern with a complex terrain, a significant difference in elevation, and a narrow expanse. With all due respect, if there truly are well-rested enemies waiting for us down there, then the young men will likely never return."

At this point, Stutin clapped his hands and said, "So, we plan to use a team composed of only the most elite people. Specifically, the bishops of various churches and the great readers of Candlekeep. In addition..."

At this point, Stutin paused, then looked in Metatron's direction. "...Ms. Forsaken? Are you willing to join the team? You've explored the underground caves before, and you know there's never too many Nine-Ring Mages. We'll also try to get those Archmages to agree to send their simulacra. Please rest assured."

"In addition, a very powerful friend I recently met has also promised to participate. Please rest assured - this trip will not be that dangerous."

“…Me.” Metatron pondered for a moment. “Actually, I don’t like underground terrain, but since Milim’s rampage has caused such great damage, I have no choice but to go.”

Almost at the same time, Metatron's voice exploded in Emilia's mind: [You, stay on the ground and don't get involved in this matter.]

"It's hard to say which is safer, underground or above ground," Emiya replied.

[On the ground.] Metatron's answer was incredibly straightforward.

【why? 】

[This place was once an elf settlement, where they used advanced magic to build a large protective maze.]

"I've checked underground, and the maze is still working. So stay safe above ground."

Emiya reacted quickly.

The Book Keeper chose to stay on the ground, on the one hand because he wanted to protect several Mystra voters in the inner court, and probably on the other hand, to ensure the operation of the maze.

This is apparently Candlekeep's greatest secret, one that even the Friends of Candlekeep seem to know nothing about.

The problem is, the way Metatron knew this secret seemed extremely excessive.

——When she knew this, Candlekeep had not yet been born.

[…Teacher, how old are you? ]

[I refuse to answer this question. 】

On August 8.19th, I will draw a set of Black Myth: Wukong from the high-end fans.

To thank you all for your continued support and to apologize for being a little lazy these days, I will draw a set of "Black Myth: Wukong" Standard Edition at 15:00 Beijing time on August 8.19th.

The extraction rules are as follows:

At the corresponding time, I will randomly select one person from the newly established high-end group to give Black Myth: Wukong

Instructions for joining the group:

The tentative way to join the high-end group is: add the author's QQ: 506828472, send me a screenshot of your own unique reading user interface and the fan value of "Equipment Printing School Mage", and those with a fan value of 4000 or more will be invited to join the group and have a chance to win the Black Myth lottery.

How to check your fan value: There is a fan contribution list in the details of this book. Click it and your fan value will be at the bottom.

*******************

Correction: My current total subscription amount seems to be less than 5000, so I will change the threshold to 4000. I am very sorry!

14. Steel, Gunpowder, and Holy Water (Part 3)

In the end, the meeting ended hastily.

"Candlekeep actually has a puzzle lock... I didn't even know that."

Everyone has their own preferences and spheres of influence. After the discussion with Candlekeep, it was time for a small gathering with family and friends.

In short, the teacher of Team Emiya and two of its members.

"Actually, the cause of our current predicament is very simple—our dissatisfaction with you, Emiya, or perhaps jealousy, is only one aspect of it." Metatron leaned against the windowsill and said calmly, "The question is, just how deep is the friendship between those archmages and Candlekeep?"

"In the final analysis, the relationship between Candlekeep and these archmages is more like a pair of drinking buddies. They are willing to stand on Candlekeep's side during minor quarrels and discuss knowledge with Candlekeep. But when it comes to their own personal safety, their relationship with Candlekeep is not that deep. Emiya, you are just an excuse for them to get angry.

"Even without you, they might not agree to go deep into the depths of Candlekeep. From the beginning to the end, this matter is a matter between the Church of Magic and the God of Knowledge. Outsiders will not be involved."

Sig was currently clutching a bag, her mouth bulging with stuff. Strangely enough, even in this situation, her voice was still remarkably clear, making Emiya wonder if her vocal cords were the organ that produced the sound. "Originally, Candlekeep was already in a state of disarray due to a single dragon. Now the number of dragons has multiplied dozens of times, and their mouths are reaching beyond their ivory tower—they'll have to reconsider."

"No, Miss Sig, the truth of this matter is very different from what you think." Metatron leaned against the window and shook his head. "Candlekeep is more stable than you think, but also more dangerous than you think."

"I don't understand." Sig looked confused. "Why is it more stable, but also more dangerous?"

Emya's knowledge was rather partial—he was completely clueless about Faerun's current situation, relying almost entirely on last-minute learning. However, in contrast, he could easily draw upon this obscure ancient knowledge: "Like a harp string, if a taut string breaks—"

"Stop, I get it. Don't use such a terrible metaphor." Sig suddenly felt that the snack in his mouth no longer had a good taste. "Why don't you use the bowstring metaphor?"

"No, that metaphor is too scary," Emilia replied.

Sig glared at him with great disdain and asked, "So, what exactly is a mythal? A very powerful spell?"

Metatron said seriously, "A spell. Mythlocks don't have a specific effect. To use a simple analogy, a mythlock is the most powerful form of sanctity. Even compared to the simplest mythal, most modern sustained spells are safe, but they sacrifice a great deal of performance."

"...What do you mean by for safety?" Sig blinked. "Does the mystery lock have significant side effects?"

"Extremely powerful. It's common for casters to die because of this spell. Those pointy-eared guys even take pride in it." Silver's face was filled with frost, and he clearly disliked the Mythlock. "In short, the Mythlock is one of the most powerful spells in the elven high magic. It only has a basic framework but no fixed form or content, allowing casters to add to it at will.

"But no matter what, most of the time it is a powerful spell that covers a large area and can last for hundreds or thousands of years or even longer."

When it comes to elves, even Alestria couldn't help but ask, "So, how strong is the effect? ​​Is it enough to deal with this ghost dragon invasion?"

"Of course, the specific strength of each puzzle varies. But one of the most powerful puzzles ever created, the Dragon Madness puzzle, nearly solved the ghost dragon problem once and for all."

Elastri's ancient history was clearly not good. She blinked, "...Permanent? What do you mean?"

Emya said coldly, "The Dracorage mythal, literally, is a mythal that drives dragons mad. It was a perfect demonstration of the mythal's power: its vast range covered nearly all of Faerûn at the time, and all of Faerûn's inhabitants were affected by the mythal—unfortunately, the overwhelmingly dominant race in Faerûn at the time was the dragon. Under the influence of the Dracorage mythal, the true dragons that once ruled Faerûn gradually began to fall into endless madness, eventually turning indiscriminately to attack all living things around them. The result is obvious—dragons have become what they are today."

Metatron sighed deeply, "They were once a civilization. Now, they are just powerful monsters."

"...Uh." Sig looked uncomfortable and unconsciously leaned away from Elastrid, trying to distance himself from her. "This looks like genocide or a massacre."

"Uh... sorry?" Elastrid wasn't feeling much better at the moment. She wanted to say something but didn't know who to talk to.

"Don't worry, the elves were just reckless—they're just as ruthless against their own people." Silver said expressionlessly, "The dragon was destroyed by the elves. The elves were destroyed by themselves—although they didn't cast the Eccentric Bewilderment on their own kind, they were not stingy with similar high-level magic.

"Although high magic is powerful, it comes at a cost far beyond what modern spells can achieve. During the Elven Civil War, a high elven mage unleashed high magic, only to perish before his enemy, effectively becoming a mutual destruction."

"That's true."

Elastrid's posture changed slightly at some point.

She is actually quite humble in her daily life, doesn't particularly like to be in the spotlight, and doesn't talk much.

But at this moment, she had untied the mace from her waist and placed it beside her, casually clapping her hands. She straightened her body, raised her head slightly, and even spoke in a fluent and profound Elvish: "The difficulties and obstacles of the elven high magic are well known. Even elves are forced to devote their entire lives to it, leaving no time for anything else. But why hold a sharp weapon only to let it be covered in dust for a lifetime? High elven wizards desire to reach Arvandor in splendor more than anyone else."

She lowered her head in thought for a moment, then said, "The only good news is that mythals are rarely used offensively. If there is a mythal in Candlekeep, it's most likely used for self-protection and enhancement rather than for attack."

Then, Elastri was stunned for a moment: "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

At this moment, the room was eerily quiet, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Elaster.

Emilia didn't answer, but waved her hand in front of her: "Are you Elastrid?"

These words seemed to have some magical power, causing her to shudder suddenly, and her entire demeanor instantly dropped. She hugged her mace, somewhat bewilderedly, "...What's the problem?"

The problem is huge.

He originally thought that Elastrid just had some little secrets - in Sig's words, the onion seemed a little thick.

But no matter what, it's not possible to suddenly improve her Elvish language skills by several levels, right?

Emilia hesitated for a moment, then patted Elastrid's right elbow.

“——Ah!” Elastri, who had just been speaking righteously, suddenly felt like a frightened cat, with her fur standing on end. She suddenly jumped back and rushed directly into Emilia’s arms, almost knocking him to the ground. “Sorry… Sorry…”

She seemed to be unable to react to what had just happened. She struggled in Emilia's arms like she was drowning for a long time before being supported by Emilia.

"I apologize to you on behalf of my teacher and Gin." He helped Elastrid to her feet and calmly changed the subject: "Elastrid, what exactly is your weapon? Could you please tell us?"

"..." Elastrid hesitated for a long moment, then murmured softly, "I don't know. It's been with me since I was old enough to understand. Perhaps it's a relic of my family."

"I see." Emilia shook her head. "So, have you finished your research? I think you shouldn't act alone lately."

"Does it have to be this way?"

"It doesn't matter at any other time." Emilia said firmly, "At least before the incident in Candlekeep is resolved, I hope you won't act alone again - or, you can tell us here what happened to you."

She looked at Yin and Xige silently and replied, "...Then, I choose to return to the team. What is our next goal?"

"Divide the work," Metatron took over. "Leave the investigation of the maze and the anomaly to me."

"To be precise, it's the two of us," said Apodel Adrian. "I didn't even know there was a mythal in Candlekeep—but at least I know for sure that if the enemy can break through the protection of the mythal, then even adding me would be equally futile. In that case, I might as well take the initiative and attack."

Having said that, he couldn't help but glance at his waist and sighed: "...if the Holy Avenger was still there."

Other magic swords are indeed powerful, but compared with the Holy Avenger, which is indestructible in attack and impenetrable in defense, the gap is still too big.

"Yes." Metatron said, "Next, you must first ensure your own safety, and then try to support the safety of Candlekeep itself."

"Logistics again." Apodel, who had been listening in, couldn't help but laugh. "Some team captains are responsible for boosting morale and maneuvering externally, while others are responsible for leading the charge. Emiya is more like the team's steward. Aren't you putting too much of a burden on him?"

At this moment, the sound of the chain link and metal objects outside the door collided like exploding popcorn, and a person was rushing towards this direction.

Emiya and his group had already booked an entire floor, so this guest naturally came just for them.

He made no attempt to conceal his whereabouts, but simply stopped outside the door and knocked: "Your Excellency Emilia of Lunya, I am Hus of the Gond Church, do you remember me?"

Now that their little meeting had come to an end, Emilia stood up and opened the door. "Sir Hus... is there something urgent?"

The meeting they had originally agreed to have was not now.

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