Chapter 36: Side Story (Telek Harbor Town and the Iron Town)

The arrival of Paraiso’s warship (technically a destroyer, though townspeople saw it as a battleship) in Telek Harbor Town caused a fair amount of initial confusion. Up until that point, Paraiso had been regarded as a mysterious but generous trade partner, eager to buy cheap scrap iron with their elegant ships. The sudden presence of such a vessel, combined with the unexpected artillery barrage on the first day, sparked a wave of fear among the residents, who feared Paraiso might now turn its guns on the town.

However, over time, that fear dissipated and even gave way to a warm reception. Stories of Paraiso’s artillery obliterating bandits who had threatened the refugees, coupled with the arrival of massive quantities of food, farming tools, and weapons, steadily elevated their reputation.

The supply of weapons, in particular, was enthusiastically welcomed. Supplying arms to a group you intend to dominate was counterintuitive, and this act was perceived as an acknowledgment of equality. This bolstered the spirit of self-governance among the townspeople, leading to a surge of volunteer soldiers. Equipped with uniform-quality swords, bows, and arrows, they dedicated themselves to rigorous training, understanding that Telek Harbor’s survival relied heavily on its strategic location and trade goods.

"We must secure the iron that Paraiso needs."

Paraiso had not demanded much in return for their aid. They were giving abundantly, but their generosity was tied to a clear expectation: iron. Fortunately, they hadn’t demanded the iron stockpile from the town itself, as such a request would have been untenable. Instead, their focus was on the inland Iron Town, a small settlement whose iron production had ceased due to the severing of supply routes and dwindling fuel for its furnaces. Despite limited information, it was believed that the town was still holding out.

Thus, Telek Harbor decided it was time to act. Liberating Iron Town aligned with Paraiso’s needs and Telek Harbor’s growing military capability.

Approximately four months after Telek Harbor began its path toward true independence, the first expeditionary force, composed of volunteer soldiers, set out for Iron Town.

Iron Town: A Glimmer of Hope

Despair and resignation had gripped the residents of Iron Town. Their dwindling food supplies, frequent raids by bandits, and poisoned water sources had left them exhausted. The town could no longer cultivate crops due to contaminated water from nearby mines, forcing them to rely on meager rainwater storage, which barely sustained their shrinking population.

Just as they neared their breaking point, aid arrived from Telek Harbor. Though initially wary of treachery, the people of Iron Town accepted the proposal: a defensive force would be stationed there, trade would resume, and the mines would reopen. In exchange for food and clean water, the town would once again supply iron ore.

The arrival of Paraiso’s provisions—dried fish, seaweed, and containers of safe drinking water—was a revelation. The clean, stored water was especially prized, offering a reprieve from the toxic rainwater they had relied upon.

With newfound energy, the townspeople quickly loaded carts with unrefined iron ore, sending them to Telek Harbor. The remaining workers, emboldened by the influx of food and water, returned to the mines with renewed vigor. Women began preparing meals, filling the town with the aroma of boiling food, while men cheered as they descended into the tunnels.

Bandit Raids and Retaliation

Word of Iron Town’s revival quickly spread, attracting the attention of nearby factions. The first to strike were local bandits, emboldened by their previous raids. Armed with stolen weapons, they launched a nighttime assault on the town.

Awaiting them were Telek Harbor’s guards, outfitted with Paraiso’s cutting-edge equipment. Their reinforced armor, woven with durable threads, rendered the bandits’ crude weapons useless. The guards wielded sharp, resilient cutlasses that shattered the bandits’ swords after only a few exchanges. What little resistance the bandits managed to muster was swiftly crushed, and those who tried to flee were brought down by highly accurate volleys from archers. Paraiso’s flares, fired high into the sky, illuminated the battlefield, exposing hidden bandits and ensuring their complete defeat.

This decisive victory not only lifted the spirits of Iron Town’s people but also solidified their belief in their newfound autonomy. They saw that self-defense, combined with trade, could provide the necessities of life. Iron Town, once teetering on the brink, began to regain its vitality.

Clashes with Nobles

As weeks passed, neighboring nobles took notice of Iron Town’s resurgence. One sent a delegation demanding total surrender of the town’s resources. The emissary’s arrogant attitude and subsequent drawing of weapons led to a violent confrontation, in which the entire delegation was killed. This escalation had been anticipated, and Telek Harbor had already advised Iron Town to fortify its defenses.

The townspeople swiftly built fortifications using rubble from the mines, felled trees, and Paraiso’s construction tools—steel hammers, saws, and wheelbarrows—all of which drastically improved their efficiency. Defensive walls, wooden barricades, and archer towers were erected in record time.

When the noble’s first wave of soldiers attacked, they couldn’t even breach the outer walls. The second wave, believed to be the noble’s main force, was intercepted by Telek Harbor’s guards in open combat. Though the battle came at a cost, the defenders successfully repelled the attack.

Weakened by the loss of his main force, the noble was soon overrun by a rival faction. In the ensuing chaos, Iron Town faded from official records, becoming a forgotten yet flourishing neutral zone, free from external control.

The Iron Trade Resumes

"How is the trade with Iron Town progressing?"
"Smoothly. Iron ore production has resumed, and with Paraiso’s tools, they’ve started mining areas they couldn’t access before."

"I heard they’re using some kind of device to locate new veins… even if no one understands how it works."

"Well, to be honest, it feels like Paraiso has us entirely in their grip."

"That’s true, hahaha! Neither the guild master nor the rest of us can hope to stand up to those girls!"

"It’s no laughing matter… but laughing is all we can do."

"I’ve alr

eady given up. There’s nothing we can do against them."

"Yes… giving up might be the easiest path forward after all."