Let’s Play Minecraft in a World of Swords and Spells
Volume 6 Chapter 5: Real Life Steam Mech

Volume 6 Chapter 5: Real Life Steam Mech

(Walson)

The spacious cave tunnel was deep but surprisingly not dark. I couldn't tell what minerals were embedded in the black rock walls, emitting faint fluorescence that illuminated the tunnel and guided our path forward.

Chuck and I walked side by side, already three days into our journey.

Although initially we had set out with the intention of reaching our destination, the process turned out to be entirely within this ridiculously long corridor, and eventually, we started to walk somewhat absentmindedly.

"Not to pry, but Walson, you're quite something!" Chuck, carrying a simple backpack, spoke up in his free time.

"What's up?" I asked.

"You have three fiancées! Three! And they're all stunningly beautiful! You really hit the jackpot!" he exclaimed.

"Um, it's not exactly like that," I said sheepishly, swallowing a gulp of water.

"Huh? So those aren't your fiancées? Didn't you say you have three..." Chuck trailed off.

"Well, actually, it's four now..." I admitted nervously.

Upon hearing this, Chuck froze in disbelief— then, after a few seconds, he suddenly lunged at me!

"What the heck! I represent all the single dogs out there to beat you up!!! Four already? What do you mean by ‘it’s four now’!?" he yelled, shaking me by the neck with all his might.

"Whoa! Let go of me!!!!"

"You're just a tiny bean, whyyyyy?! Why?! Lord Tuvok! How could you allow such a person to exist in this world!!!"

"Hey!? You're only two centimeters taller than me, how can you call me a tiny bean!?"

Two 1.6-meter-tall squashes were now wrestling in the corridor. I tightly grabbed Chuck's wrist, trying to break free from his chokehold while simultaneously stepping on his foot.

...

...

...

"Damn, you're such a jerk," I rubbed my sore neck.

"You deserve it," Chuck replied, flipping me off.

... Unexpectedly, I didn't find it rude of him. Instead, it felt like I was goofing around with a buddy.

A buddy... How long has it been since I've had this feeling, after thirty years in my previous life and seventeen years in this one?

Lost in thought, I followed Chuck's footsteps. Just then, Chuck suddenly stopped. The tunnel had reached its end, with a stone door covered in totemic engravings, much like the one we saw when entering the tunnel, only much larger.

"We're here," Chuck said, tapping the stone door and turning to me, "This is the Ironsteel Bastion."

Feeling a sudden excitement, indeed, this city had been hidden from the world for centuries, and no one outside knew of its existence. Yet, this was the true capital!

To put it in perspective, it's like saying "The real capital of the United States isn't Washington, but some mysterious place!" It's absurd.

From my understanding of history, the Dwarven Empire was founded after the schism four hundred years ago. So how could a capital city evade the world's eyes for four hundred years?

The level of secrecy must be extraordinary...

"Remember what I told you earlier?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah, yeah, you're not my mom," I yawned, mentally preparing myself.

He had specifically instructed me during the campfire on the first night, and he also told me...

As for what he said... you'll find out soon.

I took out two iron and copper anchors from my inventory and handed them to Chuck. He stowed them in his backpack and then took out a badge, pressing it into the groove on the door.

The sound of gears echoed, and after four hundred years of being sealed off from the outside world, it finally appeared before me...

...

... Just kidding.

What greeted us was a simple, spacious square room. The walls were covered with brass-colored metal plates. Across from us stood a massive metal door, indicating that this room was some sort of passage... Well, frankly, I really wish I had the leisure to describe these things if no one is pointing a weapon at me right now.

As soon as I stepped in, a huge black figure appeared before us.

As for how huge the figure is, it’s like if the Hulk wore the Hulkbuster armor, that’s basically it.

Standing at least three and a half meters tall, with a broad chest plate several times the width of my outstretched arms, and massive iron arms that could probably turn me into minced meat with one punch.

I heard the sound of boiling water and gears turning. I noticed a cage at the abdomen of this suit of armor, illuminated from within by a bright light, casting shadows.

"Who are you?" A deep, resonating voice emanated from the armor in front of us, accompanied by a hiss as steam spewed from the seams of the giant armor. It held a complexly structured greatsword in its hand, the tip of which swayed slightly as it pointed toward the ground.

What in the world?

"My name is Chuck Barlow, and this is my badge," Chuck said, his tattoos turning blood-red, while he displayed the badge he used to open the door earlier.

"...Chuck Barlow of the Barlow royal family? The fourth prince?" The armored giant didn't advance further, sounding somewhat puzzled.

"Do my tattoos and this badge not suffice as proof?" Chuck retorted.

"Then, what about the person beside you?" The giant armor's stance remained unchanged, but I could feel its gaze shifting toward me.

"He's also a noble dwarf, but somehow found himself stranded outside. I believe there's some backstory to it, which is why I brought him back," Chuck explained casually.

However, this statement seemed to trigger the armored giant, who instantly assumed a combat stance. Its greatsword surged toward me with alarming force.

The tip of the sword stopped just ten centimeters from my throat, and I couldn't help but gulp as the scalding steam almost reached my face!

"...Walson, show what you can do. Although I just awakened your [Metalforge Manipulation], making a small item should be no problem, right?" Chuck turned around, handing me the copper and iron anchors I gave him earlier, while winking at me.

I nodded, first taking the two copper anchors in my hand. Then, quietly utilizing the Item Synthesis interface that only I could see, the two copper anchors began to warp and meld together, eventually forming a pair of copper scissors.

Next, I picked up the iron anchor and repeated the process. Another pair of iron scissors appeared in my hand.

"He's a Metalforge Manipulator of Iron and Copper. Although his aptitude for metal is ordinary, as you can see, he can perform fine manipulation without using a forge, estimated to be between Level 3 to Level 2 in technical licensure," Chuck explained.

The armored giant remained silent, seemingly pondering. However, it moved its sword away, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You also know that items like the [Stone Tablet of Identification] can be used to fake one's race, so they're not trustworthy. But [Metalforge Manipulation] cannot be imitated. In that regard, we can be completely certain that he's also a noble dwarf," Chuck continued.

At that moment, steam billowed from the armored giant's helmet, gears creaking as the chestplate slowly lifted, revealing a small figure inside.

Now I could see the interior of that metal frame. Although many parts were incomprehensible, there was a seat inside— Could it be?! That thing from earlier was actually a mech!

Wow! A real life steam-powered mech!!!!

The person who jumped out of the mech was about one meter and fifty centimeters tall, slightly shorter than me. She was scantily dressed, wearing a combination of bandages and a short skirt. A black cloth covered her face, hiding her features.

...I was astonished. The person inside the armored giant was actually a petite girl!

She circled around me as if assessing me. Finally, she stood beside Chuck.

"The height matches the description, so it seems you are indeed of our kin... but why are you stranded outside?" she spoke, and once again, I was surprised, because her voice wasn't the high-pitched one might expect from a petite girl; it was the voice of a mature woman!

Ah, did I just stereotype? I've left the realm of humanity, and the person before me is obviously a dwarf.

"I'm not sure about that myself. That's also why I've come back. It's a serious matter to have one of our kin stranded outside for no apparent reason," Chuck replied. "But, Lena, your reaction earlier was quite surprising."

"...You know, that's my duty," she shook her head. "But I didn't expect you to really come back."

"I had to come back sooner or later, and now I should have a new way, so it's time to return."

"A new way? By the will of Tuvok, does that mean..." she questioned, then seemed to understand something as she turned to look at me.

"Yeah, so let's not report his situation for now. Anyway, he's from the same kin, so there shouldn't be any problem," Chuck smiled at me.

"...Alright, I understand. You two, follow me, and I'll lead the way."