This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 200
Chapter 200
Translator: Yonnee
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“The central furnace! What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, but the fire is about to go out!!”
“How can that be! Didn’t we just replace it with a high-quality firestone in anticipation of the Saintess’s visit!”
“Yes, we definitely switched it to a high-quality firestone! But it seems like it’s a defective product—it might go out within an hour…!”
“This, this is bad!”
Wuran pressed his forehead, groaning in frustration.
Then, noticing Reina watching the situation with confusion, he belatedly continued explaining.
“As I mentioned earlier, using wood for fire risks exposing the existence of the forge to the outside… Therefore, we use high-quality firestones that don’t emit smoke.”
“High-quality firestones? That must be quite expensive… Ah.”
Reina instinctively reacted, then quickly shut her mouth.
Where else would the products made in this secret forge go? They must be smuggled.
Anticipating Reina’s deduction, Wuran added with a bitter face.
“This isn’t for our family’s profit. As you’ve seen, the Dwarven Principality is…”
He paused, as if trying to calm the bubbling anger inside him, and then uttered just one sentence that explained everything.
“We are helping those who are overworked within a contradictory system.”
She didn’t ask any further. No, there was no need; she understood perfectly.
While Reina was attending the banquet, the third division of knights who had stealthily followed her hadn’t been idle.
“It’s not rare to see rampant starvation in the Dwarven Principality.”
“…Starvation? Are you sure you saw that correctly?”
It was unbelievable. The weapons of the Dwarven Principality were traded at such high prices in other countries…
And weren’t they infamous gluttons? How could they just neglect their people starving to death?
“It’s not a misunderstanding, Lady Reina. The situation of the dwarves here are truly dire.”
“It’s human nature to want to live… Somehow, the citizens of this principality are dying without a fight if they’re not fed.”
Perhaps this was the inertia that Letis had mentioned before.
‘And perhaps it’s this submissive inertia, combined with the façade of collective production, distribution, and complete equality, that has led to the horror of starvation…’
So, instead of blaming Wuran, Reina chose to focus on the current crisis.
However, the issue was that she was a designer, not a technician who could actually make things.
“Can’t we take a break until the next firestone is ready?”
Though she knew as little about the forge’s rules as a newborn, Reina asked, prompting Wuran to furrow his brows and shake his head.
“To relight a furnace that has gone out, one high-quality firestone is not enough. That’s why it’s a rule here to always keep the fire going.”
“Hmm… I see.”
Despite the urgency, he earnestly responded to her question before bowing his head as if giving up.
“I’m sorry, Saintess. I know it’s awkward to have invited you here and then this… But given the urgency, it seems we must move towards the central furnace.”
“I understand completely. Don’t worry about it and go ahead.”
“Thank you. There’s a place near the central furnace where you can sit and rest. Let’s head there.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Reina’s group followed the hurried steps of the warrior family members.
Seeing all the blacksmiths gathered around the central furnace confirmed the seriousness of the situation, as Wuran had explained.
“Please wait here for a moment, Saintess.”
“Yes, I understand.”
As he and his group rushed towards the central furnace, Reina and Leo were left alone. Then, Leo finally spoke up.
“It seems to be a serious issue, Lady Reina.”
“Yes, it does…”
Her inherent ability made her privy to their conversations, whether she wanted to hear them or not.
“Just a little more…! Just a bit more to go! Bring more lower-grade firestones quickly!”
“But… we’ve already scraped together all that we have…”
“Ha…! Does that even make sense?”
“It seems… those merchants tricked us.”
“This is bad… If the fire goes out now, who knows when the furnace will be operational again.”
“If we don’t have anything to give to the next caravan of merchants… more people might starve this year, Leader.”
“What should we do…”
Echoing voices made Reina let out a small groan. Leo, noticing her complexion, checked on her.
“Are you feeling unwell? Shall we go back?”
He’s reacting almost exactly like how Ethan might, given the caution he’d been advised.
“No, I’m fine. It’s not because I’m in pain.”
The woman brushed off the hand from her forehead.
“Then what is it?”
Biting her lower lip, she looked down at the pendant, which was attached to her waistband.
“Please, no matter what, even if you witness something utterly unfair, don’t intervene.”
A sigh filled with dilemma escaped her crimson lips.
‘There’s a way I can help them…’
But the promise to her lover weighed on her mind.
‘But technically, it’s not intervening in an unfair situation, and there’s no danger involved, right?’
Yet, when had things ever gone as she intended?
So, even if the help seems minimal and risk-free now, who knows what repercussions it might bring later?
‘Ah… what should I do?’
Ignoring them was difficult with the word ‘starvation’ echoing in her ears.
As she pondered over her options, a nearly breathless voice pierced her ears.
“The fire, the fire is going out, Leader!”
“N-No!!!”
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