Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

“A young lady needs a good sword to protect herself, and I specially replaced the sea bream skin with pink one, so it’s foolproof.”

Christina rolled her eyes:

"I knew you'd pull out something like this."

"Isn't this great? Men, women, the elderly, and children can all use it. And who dares to say they'll never handle a sword in their lifetime? It's better to prepare early. I'll propose enacting relevant laws in the Senate, and then it will be a respectable and secure gift."

"...You're not serious, are you?"

"Cough cough cough! ... Just kidding, just kidding, I'm not that bored."

…………

Despite her constant complaints, Christina still had the lady-in-waiting put away the two smaller swords. It seemed that whether it was a boy or a girl, this was destined to be their first gift. She wondered if they would actually like it.

A gentle night breeze, like a soft veil brushing against your face, brings the moist air from the pond, making you feel refreshed and relaxed without even realizing it.

Amidst the clear, melodious sound of fish stirring the water, Thesolius asked:

"Is Lord Scripps aware of this?"

Christina nodded silently:

“I knew it a long time ago. I guess he’s been calculating the timing… He even sent several truckloads of gifts a couple of days ago. He’s thought of almost everything.”

"This is a good thing, something we should all celebrate, and it's not surprising... after all, he has always cared about you."

“I know… but sometimes fate just likes to play tricks on people. My lover and my friends just happen to be on the opposite side of my father, and all I can do is remain silent…”

"There will always be a solution. Don't be too pessimistic. You should have some faith in us. No matter what, I won't let the situation get out of control."

"Of course, we'll have to rely on your clever brains. Just tell us what to do when the time comes."

………………

"Then, Doctor, you can stay here for the next two weeks. Just tell the servants if you need anything, there won't be anything to do during this time."

Talina nodded, looking very excited about returning to her job, brimming with eagerness, which made Tersolius shake his head and chuckle.

"Then I'll leave Christina in your care, Doctor. I'll come back to check on her from time to time... If there's any emergency, you know how to contact me, and I'll rush back immediately."

rest for a day

Today, the author will organize the outline and plan the next steps, so a day off is scheduled.

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193 Celebration (3)

Compared to other countries, the empire's etiquette is very distinctive, without any complicated procedures. Just like the impression the country gives, it is steady and powerful. Even when facing the emperor, there are no repetitive and complicated etiquettes that make people feel helpless. Therefore, even the two of them did not spend much time learning most of it.

After all this was done, the solemn-faced officials of etiquette gave them a series of instructions, expressing their great concern that these two seemingly unconventional guests might offend the emperor, which would be a dereliction of duty on their part.

Having gone through this process, the last trace of skepticism in their hearts had long since vanished. Even the boldest of them couldn't help but be cautious in this magnificent and imposing place. Once everything was complete, they were led to the reception hall.

Looking at the intricately carved gate, which is over ten meters high, and the countless carvings on it, the level of detail is so exquisite that it's hard to believe that this is decoration on such a massive object.

There are seven such reception rooms in the entire Golden Palace, each with a completely different structure and style.

Once inside, only the two of them were allowed to go in; the other servants and guards had to wait outside.

Under the watchful eyes of others, the two hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward together, neither willing to go any further. As their feet touched the patterned stone bricks in front of the door, a strange noise came from underground, accompanied by a rumbling vibration, and the door opened automatically without anyone pushing it.

They looked at the magical scene before them with great surprise and curiosity, wondering how such a heavy door could be opened without the help of strong guards. At the same time, they walked in without stopping until the door closed behind them again.

The interior of the reception room is naturally magnificent, with glittering carved murals and crystal chandeliers everywhere. At a glance, there are eye-catching colors and textures everywhere. Even though it is surrounded by heavy marble, there is no dark or damp feeling. It makes people feel as if they are under the warm sun.

Surrounded by these splendid objects, the emperor of the empire wore a magnificent purple robe and a golden leaf crown. His fair and beautiful face was bathed in gold, making him appear majestic beyond compare. In particular, the high platform on which the emperor sat gave him a commanding view, overlooking all the guests.

Is your ceiling made of gold?

Just as Colin, who was relatively more sensible, was about to speak, Karila, who was staring up at the glittering dome, suddenly blurted out a sentence that immediately attracted the attention of both of them.

Although attention was drawn in, a long silence followed. Only Karila scratched her nose, somewhat puzzled, wondering what was wrong with what she had said…

Although the mountain people lived in the mountains far from the imperial cities, they were still under the rule of the empire. They were well aware of the emperor's noble status and the extent of his power and authority, so they generally knew what they should do.

But for Karila, who lived in the harsh, barren, and perpetually cold north, where every aspect of life was filled with the survival of the fittest, there was no strict hierarchical order in her mind. After all, no matter who it was, they would die if they were hit on the head with an axe. So she developed a unique and distinctive concept of equality.

Despite seeing only majestic, magnificent, and opulent things along the way, she felt no awe. She was merely struck by the immense wealth possessed by the owners of these places and felt a genuine sense of envy.

Colin was sweating profusely as the majestic emperor stared at them expressionlessly, as if a swarm of imperial guards would seize them, drag them out, and behead them at any moment.

She could almost hear the scraping of armor and heavy footsteps. In fact, some of the guards standing beside them did turn their heads to look at them, and the cold gazes beneath the golden visors were unsettling.

The silence continued, though only for a short time, but in Colin's mind it felt as long as the end of the world, and he felt utterly hopeless.

'I never imagined that after working so hard for so long and finally starting to live a good life, this idiot would ruin it all...'

Just as Karila was growing impatient and preparing to stretch her legs, the emperor's expression finally changed—it softened rapidly, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile.

"Hahaha!... You are indeed very interesting, just as my general said... I pardon your rudeness. Beginners always receive some preferential treatment, but you must always learn to be careful with your words and actions."

As the emperor gently waved his hand, the guards turned their heads back and resumed their previous silence. If it weren't for the faint breathing sounds coming from inside their helmets, they would have looked like statues forged from steel and gold.

"Come forward, Noria, give them two seats so my guests can sit down."

Colin let out a long sigh of relief, feeling his clean undershirt, which he had just changed into, get soaked with sweat again. He quickly and stiffly gave a curtsy.

Seeing her companion do the same, Karila followed suit, bowing stiffly as well. Then, she walked up first with a nonchalant air, looked left and right, picked a seat that looked good, and plopped down on it.

Once both were seated, the emperor began to speak with great interest:

"I've heard how you joined the Imperial Legion. It's a legendary experience that would impress any Imperial citizen. Although I already know a lot, I still want to hear from the people involved, especially about the current situation in your homeland."

………………

As the moon rose high in the sky, Colin and Carila enjoyed the emperor's dinner, finally concluding their thrilling visit. They were escorted out of the drawing room and into a lavishly decorated carriage to their lodgings for the night.

The carriage, traveling smoothly on the cobblestones, experienced very little jolting, enough to make one fall asleep peacefully. But Colin was finally reaching her breaking point, especially seeing the man opposite her carefully picking his teeth with a sharp dagger… Only when they were led into a lavishly decorated guest room did she leap from the soft leather chair:

"You damned barbarian! Do you know you almost got us both killed today!"

In the past, when the imperial nobles of the plains rebelled against the mountain people, they would angrily rebuke them as incorrigible barbarians. But now, facing this even more outrageous fellow, Colin suddenly realized that he was quite civilized...

"Isn't that obvious? If I'm not, then who are you?"

Carila's nonchalant expression left Colin speechless, unsure what to say... But then she realized that the anger that had built up from her earlier fear was still hard to suppress:

"You're not only a barbarian, but also a complete idiot. Even an idiot should be able to see the situation clearly! It might not matter if you get your head chopped off, since you don't need that thing anyway!"

“Huh!?…” Karila finally frowned, a hint of displeasure and guilt flashing across her face. She clearly knew she had messed things up.

"...What nonsense are you spouting? Want to fight?! The loser shuts up!...Don't mention this again!"

"Who's afraid of who! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Colin, unable to contain himself, leaped forward and punched the other man in the eye socket. Instantly, the sounds of fierce fighting, collisions, angry shouts, and furniture being overturned filled the air.

…………

"You guys really know how to cause me trouble..."

Tersolius rubbed his eyes helplessly, looking at the two bruised and swollen guys in front of him. Colin's eyes were completely black and blue, and his nose was stuffed with cloth. He was clearly at a disadvantage in close combat and had been beaten even worse.

Karila, whose lip was broken but not seriously injured, even looked at the short man next to her with a smug look on her face.

“The damage will be deducted from your military pay, half for each of you… Luckily you didn’t start a fight in the palace, otherwise it wouldn’t be so easy to resolve, but you will have to pay for all the damage.”

"Furthermore, anyone who engages in a duel without permission will be punished with ten strokes of the military rod."

With a wave of his hand, sending the two unreliable fellows away, Tersolius stood up, pondered for a moment, and decided where he would go next.

A dozen minutes later, a lean and strong middle-aged man appeared in front of him and bowed respectfully.

Although the man was dressed in exquisite and proper clothes, like a wealthy citizen, even the loose sleeves could not hide his thick, powerful arms and rough, calloused hands.

“Please sit down, Mr. Satroya. As an excellent craftsman who serves the Emperor, I have a task for you.”

"It is my honor, my lord. To be able to serve someone like you is a rare honor for me. Please give me your orders."

Tersolius looked at the calm and composed craftsman with satisfaction. The composure in the craftsman's eyes was a sign of absolute confidence in himself, a mark of consummate skill.

"My armor has seen countless battles with me. Although it is sturdy and durable, the damage on it is considerable. I cannot tolerate shoddy workmanship on it, so I need to find the best craftsmen to repair and maintain it. I think you can do that?"

The man nodded steadily:

"Of course, sir. The armor can be repaired to look brand new simply by replacing the corresponding plates and locks. Even an ordinary blacksmith can do that. But I dare to guess that what you are asking for is more than that."

Tersolius smiled and nodded, increasingly pleased with this excellent craftsman.

“Indeed, I need you to make new improvements to my armor. Use your talents to optimize its performance and weight. Although its defense is already excellent, it still has some flaws. I believe you can do it.”

“This is exactly what I’ve been asking for, sir.”

"I know that the Empire's artisan department is working on improving armor and advancing steel formulas, and you will receive more support afterward."

"Thank you for your generosity... Before that, may I be so bold as to take a look at the condition of your armor? I can't wait to complete this glorious task."

"Of course, it's right behind you."

Tersolius stood up and walked to the side of the tent, while the man, as he spoke, immediately turned to look behind him. Because he had been keeping his eyes straight ahead, he noticed a magnificent suit of heavy armor hanging on a hardwood rack. Although it was battered and bruised, it still looked gleaming silver, neat and sturdy, and could not have been damaged by ordinary swords, spears, or arrows.

After receiving permission, the man eagerly stepped forward and began to carefully examine every scratch and weak point of the armor, occasionally tapping it with his knuckles or using a small tool he took out of his pocket to check the condition of the armor plates and lock rings.

Once he got into work mode, he seemed like a different person; he became radiant and extremely focused, while also constantly talking with Tersolys.

"As expected, sir, the most severely damaged part is the breastplate. A total of 27 plates are damaged here, and it is beyond repair. It needs to be replaced entirely... The master craftsman who made this armor is truly admirable. Until now, the quality of our steel can not match his work. He was able to make such a thick metal have such sturdiness. We never imagined this before."

"He may be a master of steel smelting, but the design of some parts is still slightly lacking... For example, there is an extra plate here, which will slightly affect mobility."

"The chainmail used for protection under the armpits is also severely damaged. These rings need to be cut off one by one and replaced with new ones... But I would recommend that you replace the chainmail liner with a new one to prevent hidden damage that is not visible to the naked eye from causing problems."

"The riveting of these large armor plates is truly masterful! The helmet's level of craftsmanship ranks among the top three of all the artisans I've ever seen. It only needs minor repairs to the scratched gold plating to look brand new. If you'd like, I can make the faceplate foldable so you don't have to remove the entire helmet when you need more visibility."

"Of course, the hinge design is already very mature, and you can rest assured about its sturdiness. A smooth hook can be designed at the chin for even greater stability and reliability. According to the plan, the standard equipment of the armored cavalry will be changed to this design in the future."

Tersolius nodded secretly, feeling that the man in front of him was indeed a royal craftsman. He was not just a craftsman, but also able to consider all aspects of the problems that people would encounter in use and try his best to come up with solutions.

194 Celebration (4)

The city awoke in a joyful mood in the early hours of the morning. Before the sun had even peeked out, darkness still enveloped the earth, and the pale moonlight still illuminated the rooftops, the entire city was already bustling with activity. Busy figures could be seen in every street and alley, as citizens gathered together, carrying the things they needed for the day, all working tirelessly.

The honest city gates were granted permission by the emperor to open a little earlier than usual, allowing towns and farms to deliver fresh vegetables and fruits, chilled wine and ale freshly transported from cellars, freshly slaughtered poultry and livestock still beating, and all sorts of dried fruits to the city in a timely manner. One carriage after another continuously transported an astonishing amount of food and wine to every corner of the city.

No one sleeps tonight; whether emperor or beggar, everyone has their own things to do.

The women from several neighboring households would organize themselves, choosing one of the better-equipped kitchens. They would begin their work before sunrise, as each family received a large quantity of fresh food and wine under the generous decree of the emperor. However, they would have to do the cooking themselves.

The city's garrison also stayed up all night. Such lively and cheerful occasions can easily breed opportunists who want to take advantage of the chaos, and things can easily get out of control if one is not careful, so we cannot be careless.

While the women were busy at home, the men couldn't wait to open the wine barrels and start enjoying the new wine. They gathered in twos and threes in various corners of the city, and under the influence of the wine, they expressed their opinions freely, praising the generous emperor and the invincible general Tersolius.

Tonight, the laws of the Empire will be exceptionally lenient towards them; even making loud noises on the streets late at night will not result in arrest. Many rules and regulations have been temporarily lifted, allowing many to become somewhat dissolute, and this is only the beginning.

As the sun finally shone on the city's black rocks, colorful flags and ribbons everywhere transformed the entire city into a vibrant sea of ​​color. The weather was perfect; the sun was warm but not glaring, and everyone was in high spirits, enjoying the festivities under the sunshades erected along the streets.

This was an unimaginable spectacle—a magnificent city transformed in a single day and night. Hundreds of thousands of its residents were mobilized in a short period to participate in this grand celebration.

Loud singing could be heard everywhere, with some drunkards always eager to belt out a song. But when the songs were combined, they were always inaudible, easily drowned out by the rolling waves of sound. In a kind of intense emotion, like a raging fire, the cheers of the Imperials were even more fervent than the sun.

As the first rays of dawn shone on the towers, the two legions had already begun to assemble outside the capital. As heroes who had defeated the enemy in the east and won vast territories for the empire, they were entitled to enjoy the highest honor.

Every soldier's armor is kept in pristine condition. The Imperial army often carries a large number of craftsmen to ensure that the soldiers' weapons, armor, and important engineering equipment are not easily damaged to the point of being unusable.

Every soldier was ordered to wipe his armor clean and apply a glossy grease. Under the sun, the steel's reflection almost blinded the onlookers. The imposing army appeared majestically and grandly on the wide plain, its fluttering banners stretching to the horizon, churning in this sea of ​​steel and brass.

The Empire's disciplined army completed its formation and deployment in a very short time, and then received orders to march toward the city.

As the bugle sounded and the order was given, the first hundred-man squad, led by their commander, set off for the capital. A steel moat quickly appeared on the city's main road and was flowing towards the magnificent Eagle City.

………………

The cheers in the city reached their peak when the first heavily armored legionary soldier stepped through the city gates. As a continuous stream of iron ore poured into the city, the citizens lined both sides of the road to welcome these returning warriors with the most fervent emotions and attitudes.

The windows on the second and third floors were opened, and a girl carrying a flower basket scattered colorful petals, which drifted down onto the soldiers' gleaming armor and weapons in the sunlight. Countless scarves and flowers danced in the air, almost engulfing the hard steel.

Every soldier, even the most composed and resolute veterans of the legion, was overwhelmed by the immense glory at this moment. Their faces were flushed, their breathing was heavy, and everyone was enveloped in the overwhelming glory, walking as if on cotton, feeling light as a feather.

If it weren't for the strict military discipline that kept them in check, some soldiers might have already cheered. The admiring, awe-inspiring, and respectful gazes coming from all directions made them hold their heads almost to the sky, relying only on the muscle memory developed through rigorous training to maintain their formation and move forward.

The gleaming iron torrent stretched out like a mighty river, until the crisp, heavy sound of horses' hooves striking the stone slabs and the rustling of armor plates rubbing against each other reached their ears. The citizens, who had just been cheering loudly, fell silent at the same moment, as if they had been choked. Only the soldiers continued their march.