Chapter 3:
After getting back to the mansion and unloading everything Emilia, Subaru and Roswaal meet in Roswaal´s office so that Subaru can ask for permission to set his plan in motion, night has already fallen upon the world.
Subaru: "Thanks for letting hearing me out. I will keep it brief and then answer any questions you may have."
Roswaal: "The curiosity has been killing me so please take your time."
Emilia: "I am kind of tired but speak out, you have constrained yourself and curiosity is also chewing at my consciousness."
Subaru: "Well then, so Emilia-tan, remember what y said about unifying the nation?"
Emilia: "Yes I do, but still have doubts regarding the first step. To make a lot of things more widely available and affordable."
Subaru: "Perfect we are on the same page then. I have a way so solve that issue, but I won´t be capable of making my plan a reality by myself or with the abilities we have available in the camp right now."
Emilia: "Explain this point."
Subaru: "I need technical expertise that we don't have in the camp. I was hoping for you authorize me to create a separate detachment from the main camp. I expect to have them apart from the rest of the camp as a proxy."
Roswaal: "And why would they need to be held apart from the rest of the camp?"
Subaru: "Because I plan to start a process called the Industrial Revolution basically, I expect to make machines to make works that people normally do. Increasing the amount of stuff created and reducing their price and to keep it a secret."
Roswaal: "I don't understand how that would work, but you seem to know more than I."
Emilia: "Is it really possible? And exactly how much more and cheaper can stuff be made?"
Subaru: "I do not remember how much more and cheaper stuff can be made, but we should be capable of flooding local markets with cheap, high quality stuff. If I make it work."
Roswaal: "So this will be your little experiment, I will agree if it's not too expensive, but Emilia-sama has the last word. What do you need to start?"
Subaru: "I need authorization to hire 2 people right now, I guess about my salary should be enough, but I wish to be capable of expanding the number of people in my detachment further to 10 and later beyond."
Roswaal: "That would not be a problem unless you intend to create an army. Anything else?"
Subaru: "Enough money to buy 500 kg of Iron and 4.000 kg of coal. It won't be all used for coal and iron, but most will."
Roswaal: "It´s a hefty sum, but I´ll still concede for now. Don't hold the last one spit it out."
Subaru: "Finally I need maps of the Mathers domain, a map with all known coal and iron deposits, another one of the geography of the area, another of all and I mean ALL the population centers and finally one of cotton plant suitable soil."
Roswaal: "Seems like a lot, you will have to give me time to get your maps."
Emilia: "That's really interesting. Why cotton plants?"
Subaru: "It's ok Ros-chi. Well Emilia-tan as far as I know the industrial revolution started in my world with cotton factories flooding the markets with cheap high quality cotton fabrics. And then spiraled out of control making almost every product mass produce, cheap and relatively good. The other nations were forced to industrialize or be subjugated so I hope to keep it exclusively in Lugnica."
Emilia: "Then this will mean we can have a chance of fighting off Vollachia and not falling apart?"
Subaru: "If I make it work then yes and if it works you with gain more economical leverage in the Royal selection."
Emilia: "Very well I guess you can go ahead with your plan."
Subaru: "Yes! Thank you very much you won't regret this. Now that I have permission will you take me to the guy you know Emilia-tan?"
Emilia: "Mmmm…it will have to be in 2 days time I am occupied before that."
Roswaal: "Oh Emilia-sama just make it 1 day. I will handle the lord from the south for you."
Emilia: "For real?! I´ve been waiting so long so spend time with Subaru!" She got flushed once she notices her secret was spilled.
Subaru: "W-what did you say? Am I hearing things? Emilia-tan could it be you finally love me?"
Emilia: "Well I did miss you terribly but I'm still not sure if I l-love you." She was lying and she knew it.
Subaru: "Even if so, you have to admit you can´t resist my charm." He struck a pose, and her heart skipped a beat.
Roswaal: "How about you flirt in another place?"
The couple got out of the office and headed together until they departed for their rooms. Subaru in his room was writing a letter to the inventor from Priestella "Ivan" he said slowly 'It is Slavic or Spanish?' he wondered "How silly of me, those things don't even exist here." He closed the letter and sealed it with the Mather´s wax seal. He would send the letter tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile in Emilia´s room she was planning and drawing the best way she saw to extend the barrier in a village to the east with the sole objective to increase crop output. Taking a break every 15 minutes or so to think about her relationship with Subaru just to dismiss the thoughts and return to her plotting 5 minutes later.
3 days later the road to Elior Forest:
Emilia: "I will have you know this man was the only one in the entire village to ever talk and interact with me. In a way he is my first acquaintance once I came out of the ice."
Subaru: "Even before Puck?" He teased her.
Emilia: "Come on you know what I mean."
Subaru: "Yeah, I´ll treat him well as long as he doesn't fuck up." Emilia just glared at Subaru with angry eyes.
Emilia: "What did I say about language?" She was slightly mad, and he rubbed his head.
Subaru: "Yes miss Emilia-sama, regardless, you shouldn't smack me with such beautiful eyes."
Emilia: "Very well, now cut it out with the formalities." She was proud of keeping her knight behaving properly."
Subaru: "Yes madam."
They continued chatting until they reached the village. They headed for the central plaza parked the dragon carriage and went into the store, once inside the store man received them while organizing son crates and not looking at them.
Man: "Welcome, is there anything I may help you with?"
Emilia: "Hello…It's been a while." The man froze upon hearing her voice. He recognized it.
Subaru: "Yes we currently need your help." He tried to sound calming, and it worked a bit.
Man: "Very well I will be happy help then. What is you need?" He slowly turned around locking his eyes on Emilia.
Emilia: "We just came to extract information you possess." The man was terrified by her wording.
Subaru: "Oi Emilia-tan don't word it like that."
Emilia: "Oh…I did not mean harm mister. We just want to ask questions." She bowed slightly noticing her error. The man was now at ease.
Man: "Well then what do wish to ask then, and may I ask who you are?" He did not know their names or status.
Emilia: "Oh where are my manners? My name is Emilia just Emilia and I am a candidate to the Throne of Lugnica." The man held his breath at this information. "And this here is my personal knight Subaru Natsuki he wishes to make some questions."
Man: "What business could people with your status have in a place like this?"
Subaru: "I am in need of a good blacksmith that is well versed in working steel."
Emilia: "And we came here because when I used to come here you sold many tools and steel weapons."
Man: "It is true, but that blacksmith died a year ago. His student remains and is of comparable or greater talent than the old man."
Subaru: "Do you know where we can find him? I have a special offer for him."
Man: "Yes he is currently searching for minerals for his works in the forest."
Emilia: "I know the forest very well we should find him with ease."
Man: "If you don't, he lives in that house and should arrive before dusk." The man points to a house visible from the window.
Emilia: "Thank you very much"
Subaru: "Yes thank you very much, just one last thing." He puts 3 gold coins in the counter. "You never saw us here and we never asked anything. You understand?"
Man: "Mhm…what a boring day. No one has come her so far."
Subaru: "Truly a remarkable man."
They went outside and into the forest to search for the blacksmith. After a few hours of searching the find him in the fourth place Emilia knew mineral deposits where at. They decide not to sneak up on him and just walk in the open toward his direction. The man sees them and stops what ever he is doing. Subaru and Emilia wave trying to indicate that the don't mean harm. The man continues what he is doing until the come close enough to talk. The blacksmith is shorter than Subaru, slightly fat, about 30 years old according to Subaru and of pale skin telling of the local climate.
Subaru: "Hello, would you mind speaking with us a while?"
Man: "As a matter of fact I do. I am working as you can see." The man is mining coal.
Subaru: "Well you see I have an interesting proposal for you, I'm talking about giving you a third of a Knight's wage." The man stops and turns to look at them.
Man: "Very well I would be interested to…" He sees Emilia and mutters. "The witch of Ice."
Emilia: "I do control ice and use it for my magic, but I don't consider myself a witch."
Man: "A-are you not the w-witch that guarded the forest from o-outsiders?"
Emilia: "I used to guard the forest but only played along with you guys naming me witch."
Man: "I-I am so sorry for i-intruding in your forest p-please forgive my stupidity." He keeled down desperate to keep his life.
Emilia: "What do you mean? Ug, just get up already I mean you no harm and we have to talk."
The man was confused what he was hearing and seeing was different from the stories he was told.
Subaru: "Let us start again. Her name is Emilia, just Emilia a candidate to the throne of Lugnica and I am Subaru Natsuki her personal knight. What is your name?" Subaru put a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder.
William: "W-William Cortez is my name, and I am the blacksmith of the village nearby." He stands back up and Subaru lets go.
Subaru: "Perfect, William I was searching for you."
William: "Me? Why?"
Subaru: "I heard you specialize in forging steel. Is that right?"
William: "Yes, that is right but there have to be people better than me. Why are you searching for me?" Subaru raises to fingers.
Subaru: "Two reasons, first a great sprit praised the work of your master and the man from the village said you are as good if not better than him. And second I need someone who is not well known for a secret project of mine."
William: "Secret project?"
Subaru: "You will only know more if you agree. But I give you my word that It's not weapons what you will make."
William: "Will I be capable of coming back here when it's done?"
Subaru: "You will, but I'll need you for at least 1 year."
William: "I´ll give my answer but first." He turns to face Emilia "Sorry miss Emilia-sama for freaking out, I shouldn't react like that to a royal candidate." He bowed in apology.
Emilia: "It's ok, you are now calm. So, what will you do?" William smiled noticing she was not like the stories at all and got back up.
William: "I will work for 1 year and 1/3 of the salary of a knight, after that I will consider if I stick with you."
Subaru: "Perfect then, we will head for the main Mathers mansion."
William: "You work on behalf of the lord?"
Subaru: "Don't mix thing up, he works on behalf of Emilia-tan."
Emilia: "Subaru just relax."
Subaru: "Yes Emilia-tan. William get packing we have to leave today before dusk."
William: "Yes, Sir Subaru." He gets to prepare to leave.
Subaru looks at the coal deposit and asks Emilia about the size of the deposit and what she thinks of the coal. Apparently, it was good coal or better than others Emilia has used. He takes a sample with him. Subaru speaking to William learns that the village is struggling to keep afloat only surviving do to selling ma-beast horns and primarily mining and hunting whenever it was safe in Elior Forest. Still the situation was looking slightly grim. When they reach William´s house Emilia and Subaru help him pack up. Emilia is of great help carrying the anvil and other heavy stuff used for smelting and crafting witch surprised William incredibly. They depart from the village after Subaru makes it clear to the village leader that he should keep the events of the day a secret and shuts up any complains with 1 holy coin.