The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

Chapter 12 Difficult for Her Heaven?

Why is the technology tree of this world described as abstract?

Even in the Middle Ages of my previous life, there were already large waterwheels, and later water-powered forging hammers were developed, which helped to lower the price of plate armor for those knights.

But this world didn't have any, not even large waterwheels, let alone water-powered forging hammers.

The reason is simple: it's magic.

With second-tier, third-tier, and even some magic apprentices able to easily summon rain or draw water for irrigation using the power of magic circles and scrolls, who would invent irrigation tools?

Just like how, if cryogenics were available, no one would think of inventing refrigerators and air conditioners.

At least the nobles would never consider such a thing, because even if they really didn't have the money to hire professional mages or druids to irrigate their fields, the cost of spending money to have serfs carry water for irrigation was lower than inventing a waterwheel.

Even if some clever farmers could conceive of similar devices, they would be unable to realize them due to poverty, or if they did realize them, they would be lost to history.

Especially in this world, feudal ignorance holds an overwhelming advantage, and the development of civilization will remain stagnant and slow for hundreds of years.

The abstract technology tree is the concrete manifestation of this state.

Amid the exclamations of the people, Linde personally pedaled the dragon-bone waterwheel to bring water from the irrigation canal into the farmland.

Unlike before when sugar was being made, no one exclaimed in surprise, "Magic, this must be magic!"

The principle of the keel waterwheel is not complicated. As long as you understand the chain drive, you can make it almost perfectly.

Many children even looked eager to try out the pedal chain wheel.

Before the little boy could even run around, Lena had already taken off her boots and stepped onto the waterwheel.

"Wow, brother, look, this wheel is spinning so fast!"

Like a child who has just received a new toy, Lena pedaled the wheels quickly, but because the waterwheel was still a prototype and Lena was too strong, the waterwheel soon fell apart and Lena fell into the field.

The knights immediately surrounded Lena, who was grinning foolishly. Most of the surrounding villagers wanted to laugh but dared not, and could only try their best to suppress their laughter.

Lind silently slapped his forehead.

Lena has really been letting herself go these past few days, to the point that she could even be described as somewhat lawless. Fortunately, she hasn't done anything particularly heinous; at most, she's been fighting with the kid over toys.

You know what, when Lena was snatching toys from the kids in her territory, she really did look a bit like a spoiled rich girl.

Brushing the dirt off her clothes, Lena said to Susan beside her, "This is good. Make me a sturdy one out of black iron so I can ride it every day."

"Yes!"

Looking at Susan's serious expression, Lind really couldn't understand why Lena's knights were able to keep their composure. Was it because they were used to it?

"Bro, do you still have any of these toys?"

Seeing Lena's expectant face, Linde didn't correct her mistake. Instead, he thought about whether he could make the bicycle ahead of time. Although it certainly couldn't be mass-produced and the bicycle would be useless without road repairs, it shouldn't be a big problem to make one for Lena to play with.

After all, he's a big spender, so we definitely have to appease him.

After circling the dragon-bone waterwheel, Lena asked, "Brother, do you think we could add a stick that rotates with the sprocket, and put the other end of the stick in the River of Tears, using the water flow to drive the sprocket?"

"Drive rod?"

Lind almost instinctively mentioned the device that Lena had described.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean, brother, you're a vermin inside my stomach!"

"Those are roundworms..."

Lind, who was just a little shocked that Lena wasn't a fool, suddenly started looking at her like she was a fool again.

"However, in that case, the waterwheel you mentioned also needs to be modified."

Lena picked up a twig and started drawing on the ground.

The more Linde's expression was drawn, the more horrifying it became—yes, horrifying.

With just a quick sketch, Lena had already figured out the basic model of a waterwheel driven by a water turbine.

This is no less than a fool deriving a formula or theorem on his own.

Is this idiot really a genius?

Linde had asked in detail beforehand that there was nothing like a waterwheel in this world, but Linde only provided a theoretical basis and a model, and Lena had already designed a tool that she had never seen before.

"If what I've drawn is feasible, could I modify it further and use water flow to forge steel and armor?"

Holy crap, in the short time Lin Decai was distracted, Lena's thoughts had already jumped to the water-powered forging hammer, and she had even started drawing design diagrams.

"Miss Lars, how did you come up with the idea of ​​using water power to forge steel?"

Lind's expression was quite serious, but Lena smiled shyly and said, "After all, our Lars family used to be blacksmiths. My grandfather always told me that we can't lose our family's skills, so that we can still make a living if we fall on hard times."

"..."

For a moment, Linde suddenly suspected that Lena's absent-mindedness was hereditary. How could the eldest daughter of the dignified Duke of the North have to resort to blacksmithing to make a living because of her poverty?

However, seeing Lena's silly grin, Lind suddenly understood why Grand Duke Lars, far away in the capital, might actually be serious...

As Lena continued to refine the sketch, Linde picked up a twig and joined in. With Linde's help, a sketch of a theoretically operational hydraulic forging hammer device was completed.

Midway through, Linde supplemented Lena's knowledge with some physics, which Lena grasped instantly with astonishing speed. She even applied what she learned to other situations, defeating Linde, who wasn't a physics major, in a series of defeats.

Lena is truly a genius, in the "physical" sense.

"While it probably won't run smoothly, to be honest, are there really any materials available right now that can support speed changes and transmission? If not, then it's just a giant toy."

Linde looked at the sketch and started to feel sorry for himself.

However, Lena immediately replied, "The materials are not difficult to obtain. You can use those alchemical materials. As long as you tell them what you need, those alchemists can make it for you. It's just a matter of price."

Then Lena smiled confidently: "But for the Lars family, money is not an issue."

Linde then remembered that magic and alchemy really existed in this world, so he nodded and said, "Then let's go to Farson Town downstream tomorrow. I also have some other ideas that require a lot of alchemical materials."

"Farson Town? Are we going to the Champagne Market?"

Lena seemed to have inexhaustible energy, jumping excitedly around Lind, as if she was eager to try it out.

"Not entirely. I have something to discuss with Viscount Jefferson in Fassen, and of course, I also need to go to the Champagne Market."

Upon hearing this answer, Lena immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, of course I'll go! I've never been to a people's market before. I'll go pack my bags right away!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Lena ran off with a group of knights, leaving Lind with no choice but to shout helplessly, "They'll be back that day, no need to pack up."

The Champagne Market is a well-known market in the western part of the North, but the location of the Champagne Market is not fixed. Instead, it is held in rotation on the territories of the lords known as the Champagne Nobles. This time, it just so happens to be the turn of Viscount Jefferson of Fassen, a neighbor of Lindsdown.

Although he was a viscount, Jefferson made a fortune from the Champagne Market, to the point that some earls and marquesses even had to borrow money from him.

Moreover, the Champagne Market is not just a place to sell wine, nor is it just a market. It has evolved into a commercial activity with various shops and stores, as well as performances such as circuses.

Because of her strict upbringing, Lena's knowledge of the market came entirely from chivalric novels, so she was very much looking forward to this trip. The next day, as soon as it was light, she dragged Lind, who was still asleep, onto the ship.

Before Lind could even greet Jefferson after disembarking, Lena dragged her to the market.

The market is filled with all kinds of stalls, and the noise of the market and the crowds blend together to create a bustling and lively scene.

Farmers set up stalls selling brightly colored fruits and vegetables, while vendors displayed various poultry and livestock. Craftsmen showcased their works, such as wood carvings, pottery, and leather goods, attracting the attention of passersby.

You can even see some special stalls, such as those for healers, sorcerers, and prophets.

"Those mages at the stalls, I can't sense even a trace of magical energy from them, they're amazing!"

Lena marveled at a mage's stall that sold amulets with free divination.

"That's a scammer."

Linde, speechless, pulled Lena away.

Lena's knights were already carrying huge piles of strange and wonderful handicrafts, but Lena was still buying things here and there.

In fact, these handicrafts are nowhere near as exquisite as those in Lena's home; they're the kind of things Lena wouldn't even glance at if she saw them in the capital.

However, Lena still bought them because the eyes of the people selling handicrafts were exactly the same as the eyes of the people she managed when she was dealing with the gray and white collars. This reminded Lena of herself when she couldn't do anything right back then, which made her want to do something for these people. But in the end, she could only spend money to buy their cheap handicrafts.

The market was bustling, but not as Lena had imagined.

Weapons and bottles flew everywhere, shouting and brawling were commonplace, and there were probably more pickpockets than customers.

Mercenaries and adventurers were nothing like the chivalrous figures depicted in chivalric novels. Instead, they harassed sellers with no background in droves. The champagne nobles managed the market and wouldn't allow free purchases, so they made these merchants offer a 50% discount, or else they'd rip them off. That's what free trade is all about.

Lena initially thought the old soldier next to Lind's claim of riding a dragon was outrageous enough, but the mercenaries in the tavern went even further, claiming they had slain dragons, bathed in dragon blood, and were now invincible, able to sleep with anyone...

Lena didn't hear what happened next because Susan covered her ears. But even Lena thought the man was lying because, like the old soldier next to Lind, he stammered and couldn't describe what a dragon actually looked like.