Chapter 90: Alchemy Workshop, Nameless Demon Armor

"Ah, my apologies, Lord Wang Yu, I am terribly sorry. That swamp monster has been hindering me, spraying its slime everywhere." Elliot scrambled out from the iron gate, apologizing profusely as he caught the wrench Wang Yu had tossed him.

"Glug?" A mass that looked much like a slime, yet composed of thick mud rather than translucent gel, wriggled out from behind the iron gate.

It seemed to have overheard Elliot, for there was a hint of grievance in the swamp monster’s gurgling sound.

"Alright, alright, I know you big-sized slime want to help, but please, can’t you go assist those working on the road? Stop causing me trouble, will you?"

Elliot tapped his own head with his tool; it appeared that even this chatterbox goblin was exhausted by the dim-witted swamp monster.

"Glug?" The swamp monster, which emitted a faint scent of earth rather than any foul odor, responded once more before slithering away, leaving not a single trace of muck in its wake.

"Huh, why did it just leave? It’s been pestering me all this time." Elliot scratched his bald goblin head, looking rather bewildered.

"Did you ever tell it what to do?" Wang Yu asked.

"I suppose not. Is that why it kept clinging to me? Never mind. Lord Wang Yu, this church of yours is truly miraculous—how did a swamp monster even end up here? Before seeing it, I honestly thought they were just mindless mud slimes."

Elliot pondered for a moment, realizing he really hadn't given this creature, named Dada, any specific instructions, which was why it had stayed by his side. But that was no longer the point.

"Lord Wang Yu, you’ve finally arrived. Come and see the alchemy workshop I’ve prepared for Miss Aivia. I gave it my absolute all; I hope it meets with her approval."

"Yes!" Wang Yu turned to look at Aivia. He could see the anticipation and curiosity in the girl’s eyes; she truly loved the craft of alchemy. Seeing Wang Yu look at her, she nodded excitedly.

Elliot had built the alchemy workshop inside a cliff near the summit. An iron door was embedded into the rock face, leading into the facility he had constructed.

In truth, Elliot’s identity as a merchant often made people overlook the race of this shrewd goblin. Most educated goblins were masters of mechanical construction, and clearly, Elliot possessed a top-tier education.

"Because the Underdark is different from the surface, I didn't adopt the traditional small-workshop layout. Instead, I referenced the structure of alchemy factories in the underground cities," Elliot explained, guiding Wang Yu and Aivia through his creation.

The entire workshop utilized the natural space of the mountain, requiring only reinforcement rather than extensive new construction.

Steel beams reinforced the interior, and stone slabs served as walls, completing the main structure with elegant simplicity.

Magic crystal lamps were embedded into the stone, with mana circuits woven into the walls to ensure a steady supply of power. The slabs were a bright, marble-like white, appearing both clean and professional.

Walking down the white corridor, illuminated by the bright glow of the magic lamps, Wang Yu felt as if he were strolling through a laboratory back on Earth.

Goblin technology was utilized extensively; Elliot had hidden a vast array of mechanical structures within the walls. His exquisite craftsmanship ensured that the operation of these complex, massive machines produced no harsh or jarring noises.

"One difference between underground alchemy workshops and those on the surface is the use of piping. It’s incredibly convenient; raw materials can be transported through these conduits. I contacted an old client of mine in the underground city to link our systems."

As he spoke, they entered a spacious hall. The layout here was far more complex than the simple corridor outside, filled with various instruments and intricate mechanical designs.

"A separator, a cutting table, a mana isolator, an extractor..." Aivia murmured the names of the instruments placed around the hall, her face filled with astonishment.

"The equipment is incredibly comprehensive, but surely each of these requires a significant amount of space?" the girl asked, surprised. In her mentor’s workshop, the equipment was equally complete, and the magical alchemy tools were worth a fortune.

However, those magical devices required corresponding arrays to function, which meant they could rarely be gathered into such a small space. In reality, Weber Lanchi’s laboratory was the size of an entire library.

Yet here, Aivia recognized almost every piece of equipment, and in her experience, they should have occupied far more room than this.

"Ah, Miss Aivia, that is the difference between the underground cities and the surface. And, of course, the special modifications I’ve added," Elliot said, shaking his head with a touch of pride.

"Alchemists in the underground cities don't have the luxury of the wealthy surface dwellers. To maximize efficiency, we strive to achieve the most with the least. There are many inferior products, yes, but some have conceived of technologies that don't belong to humans—that’s right: goblin technology."

Elliot spoke eloquently, explaining the details to Aivia, who listened with rapt attention. The uniqueness of the workshop had piqued her interest immensely.

"Surface alchemists have a common flaw: they rely too heavily on magic and magic arrays. Some tasks can be accomplished with simple mechanics, but because magical devices must avoid mana interference, they cannot be miniaturized. Goblin technology, however, can."

"Of course, this underground invention called a 'steam engine' is also quite remarkable. Although it uses boiling water and isn't highly efficient, the mechanical structure itself has taught me a great deal. By incorporating this underground technology into goblin craftsmanship, I’ve perfected this workshop."

Elliot demonstrated the various machines. Pipes buried in the walls carried constant steam from a central boiler, providing the energy to power the workshop’s machinery.

Mature magical technology and burgeoning steam power had formed a marvelous combination. The two were not inherently conflicting; using goblin mechanical engineering as a carrier, they had fused together.

By using mechanical structures to replace magic arrays and utilizing steam—a substance that wouldn't cause magical interference—as a partial substitute for mana, the integration of these technologies allowed a vast array of alchemical tools to be packed into this compact space.

"It’s... marvelous." Aivia’s perspective was broader than that of the average alchemist. With the knowledge Wang Yu had shared about Earth, she understood the significance of the technology in this workshop.

"Right? I didn't expect it to go so smoothly; I was just experimenting." Unable to fully grasp the girl's thoughts, Elliot was simply proud of her satisfaction. In truth, the goblin was well-deserving of the title "Master" bestowed upon him by Holo.

"These instruments are the most important part of the workshop. The rest is just a small token of my own; I wonder if you’ll like it." Elliot pulled a lever nearby.

With the sound of clashing gears, the entire workshop began to vibrate slightly. Wang Yu felt the floor beneath his feet shift—or rather, the entire workshop was moving.

As it vibrated, a sensation of rising, much like an elevator, took hold. The workshop was ascending. It was truly goblin technology; after seeing the lighthouse of the Night’s Edge, Wang Yu had already realized the power of their machinery.

Mechanical technology originally designed for massive structures had no trouble driving this relatively small workshop.

After a while, the vibration ceased, and the workshop stabilized. Elliot opened a small hatch in the ceiling and climbed up; Wang Yu and Aivia followed.

Once above, they were astonished to find that this hatch led directly into Wang Yu’s base cabin, which had been completely renovated.

A newly built bar, neat shelves, a complete display cabinet, and various tasteful decorations—likely acquired at a bargain—transformed the cabin into a fully functional alchemy shop.

"Very nice. But I recall this being a base for the Night’s Edge... is it alright to renovate it like this?" Wang Yu surveyed the transformed space. He was personally very satisfied; as a man, how could he not appreciate such a design?

After a moment of thought, he realized it was perfectly fine. The base was meant for him, a member of the Night’s Edge, to rest and recuperate.

If it functioned as an alchemy shop, that was fine too. He could still use it as a base, and the workshop provided all the necessary functions, and then some.

"What do you think, Aivia..." Wang Yu turned to the girl, intending to ask for her opinion, only to find her already excitedly behind the bar.

The usually reserved and gentle Aivia was showing a lively, youthful side. Sitting behind the counter, posing as the shopkeeper, her joy and anticipation were plain to see.

He rarely saw Aivia like this; it was clear she truly loved alchemy. The effort put into building this shop and workshop was worth it.

It had cost a significant amount of money. The largest expense—the fee for a master craftsman—had been waived because Elliot was the nominal head of the merchant guild, but the cost of materials had still been substantial.

The funds provided by the Professor were gone, and his previous savings, along with the reward from the Abyss Gate mission, had been mostly spent. But as long as Aivia was happy, it was worth it.

It was clear the girl had been working hard for his sake. Wang Yu, a man with no experience in such matters, didn't quite know how to respond, but he knew the simplest rule: treat those well who treat you well.

He hoped she would find what she loved and do what she enjoyed, rather than being influenced or led by him. Seeing her now, it was clear this alchemy workshop was exactly what she wanted.

"Knock, knock, knock." The door of the cabin was rapped. Wang Yu scanned with his ripples and discovered the orc Emon standing outside, holding a box.

Wang Yu opened the door and welcomed him in.

"Mr. Wang Yu, I would like to give you this as a token of my gratitude." Emon placed the box on the floor before Wang Yu.

"Me? A token of gratitude?" Wang Yu pointed at himself, confused. He didn't recall doing anything for Emon.

"Yes, Mr. Wang Yu. It may sound ridiculous, but the Night’s Church has shown me the possibility of coexistence between different races, and harmony between different classes. I know my ideals are sometimes impractical, but you have given me hope."

"This hope is the greatest gift I could receive. For someone holding such impractical ideals, seeing this hope is a tremendous help. At the very least, it shows me the direction in which to strive."

Wang Yu opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. He had a deep impression of this orc with the strangely noble ideals.

He hadn't expected the accidental creation of the Night’s Church to have such an impact. As an adult from Earth, Wang Yu knew well that Emon’s ideals were entirely unrealistic—peaceful coexistence between humans and other races, the erasure of class divides—it all sounded too much like a "Utopia."

"Well, I wish you success." After a moment, he said it anyway. He knew Emon’s stubbornness; even if he tried to dissuade him, the orc wouldn't give up. It was better to cheer him on; after all, it wasn't a bad pursuit.

"Yes, I will continue to work hard. Please, Mr. Wang Yu, accept this gift." Whether Emon understood Wang Yu’s thoughts or not, he insisted.

"I recall you haven't had a suitable suit of armor, Mr. Wang Yu."

"Yes." Wang Yu nodded. As Emon said, due to various factors, he had yet to acquire armor of his own.

Compared to a knight like Edward in his heavy plate, Wang Yu looked rather out of place. He seemed more like a ranger, yet in battle, his performance on the front lines was that of an indomitable knight.

"I know your willpower is incredibly strong, so I thought perhaps you could master this armor. It has no name; our boss likes to call it the 'Nameless Magic Armor.'"

Under Elliot’s pained gaze, Emon opened the box, revealing a suit of armor that looked truly extraordinary.