Black Gold (11)

What I had in mind was a firearm, but it was not an Earth-style firearm. Those were impossible to implement; procuring gunpowder and ammunition was a problem, and the knowledge of a maintenance soldier had limits when it came to primers, bolts, firing pins, or gas regulators. So, what I thought of was a firearm in the form of a matchlock. Instead of using gunpowder, it was a type of gun that attached a mana stone to generate pressure and fire something like iron spheres. I began to sketch the design myself to establish a rough shape. I decided on a direction of making the barrel as long as possible while incorporating rifling to increase accuracy and penetration.

‘The durability of the barrel will be crucial.’

‘I believe modern barrels are manufactured by carving rifling into a solid casting to increase durability… This will need a similar method.’

After combining a few bits of basic knowledge and ideas I knew to finish the drawing, it felt more like a “long pipe” than a gun. Still, looking at the trigger, handle, and a few parts needed for bracing, it seemed it could pass for a somewhat distinctive “firearm.” But was it truly alright to create this? While I was having such thoughts, Linda and Matilda looked at the drawings I had made and asked.

“What have you drawn here?”

“Well, I thought of a long-range lethal weapon, and I devised this to try and manufacture a magic tool of this form.”

“….Are you planning to manufacture weapons?”

“Our domain has many people who demonstrate great ability at close range, but we are severely lacking in people who can perform long-range attacks.”

“So, I wondered what it would be like if we could attack enemies in the air or at a distance from the ground.”

“It looks a bit different from a bow or a crossbow.”

“However, for this to work, it has to go through a quite complex process, so I am not sure if it is possible.”

If I designed it more simply, it felt like it could be made without much difficulty, but the problem was whether the technology to machine iron actually existed.

‘If there are no machine tools in the first place, manufacturing itself is difficult… In that case… should I manufacture it with the same logic as a pipe?’

After recalling a few things, I asked for Linda and Matilda’s understanding and moved to the Artisan District to find Gilbert immediately. His workshop, which I hadn’t visited in a while, was producing various stainless steel items; among them, I saw the pipes I had ordered previously. Seeing that the joints were handled smoothly, it seemed they had somehow completed them as solid castings, and I thought there was a fair possibility with this. As I entered the workshop, was work in full swing? A wave of hot air washed over my face. I saw many artisans working on their respective stages, and seeing Gilbert polishing a sword blade, I approached him. I had no intention of interfering, but because his assistant spotted me and greeted me loudly, all the artisans turned to look at me, making me feel unnecessarily apologetic.

“Ah, keep working. I only came because I have business with Gilbert.”

Despite my command, no artisan readily returned to work. They likely thought it was just a polite formality. So, I called only Gilbert aside and left the forge, and after settling in a suitable spot with him, I asked.

“The workshop seems very busy?”

“Recently, merchants have been ordering stainless forks and knives. I am utilizing a large number of artisans for that.”

“The pipes seem to be well-finished; is that the total amount?”

“No. I sent a large quantity to the manor warehouse last time, but it seems a report has not reached you.”

“Is that so? I’ve been a bit busy.”

“But what brings you here today…”

Gilbert asked cautiously. He seemed nervous, knowing that my visit meant I was going to ask for another favor. So, I handed him a stack of papers and spoke.

“I am thinking of making an object of this form, and a few parts need to be manufactured in the way I explain.”

“What kind of method is it?”

To Gilbert’s question, I first asked if it was possible to drill a hole of uniform size through a solid casting. I was trying to manufacture a barrel, and I asked with a length from a basic 30cm up to 70cm in mind. After pondering for a while, Gilbert spoke.

“If it is a method I discovered while manufacturing pipes… it seems it might be possible.”

“If we manufacture a mold and pour molten iron rather than making a hole itself, it seems possible.”

“Must it be done by drilling a hole?”

“It is because that is the most stable way to withstand pressure.”

“But if it is possible even in that way, good. Instead, you need to carve several spiral grooves in this form; would that be possible?”

Gilbert looked over the documents for a long time and then nodded. Thinking that he must have a way, I began to coordinate opinions by talking about whether other parts could also be manufactured and the fastening methods to connect them all. When I asked how long it would take to manufacture everything as I desired, Gilbert said a prototype would be finished in about a week.

“Since most of it is possible if manufactured by casting, it will not be very difficult.”

The reason it would take time was that it was an unfamiliar object, and time was needed for the process of creating the molds. Furthermore, Gilbert said it would take time to fasten the manufactured parts and adjust the sizes. After telling him I was counting on him, I left the Artisan District. The person I visited next was Richard, who had come with us this time. Since I had also postponed building a house for them to stay in, I intended to handle it all at once and visited him as he was resting at the Lord’s Manor. He looked haggard, as if he had suffered quite a bit from the aftereffects of teleportation, but he welcomed me warmly.

“This is an incredible domain!”

That was the first thing he said upon seeing me.

“It seems you like it quite a bit?”

“It is beyond what I imagined. I did not think it would be such a wonderful domain… It is amazing.”

“What part of it is amazing?”

“The beastkin are one thing, but the expressions on the people’s faces are very bright. Shall I say everyone looks happy…?”

I haven’t done anything special. I just provided (?) fair compensation and appropriate labor. With the exception of a few people, I usually sent everyone home without overtime. The fact that I was included in those few was sometimes ironic, but I had no major complaints.

“First, let’s go build the house where you will stay.”

“Build… a house?”

“You will know once we get there. First, look around the domain and tell me a place you think would be good.”

With an expression that said he didn’t understand, Richard followed me. I left the Lord’s Manor with Richard’s family, whom I had asked a maid to call, and we began to look around the streets. Richard was amazed at the state of the streets, which were better developed than he expected; the part he found most fascinating was the well-paved road.

“Even the streets of the capital would not have flagstones laid this neatly… How on earth did you do this? How did you cut and lay such massive stones?”

“You will find out later, so first, let’s think about where it would be good to settle down.”

After saying he understood and looking around the surroundings for a long while, around the time we had made almost one full circle around the Lord’s Manor, Richard pointed to a vacant lot near the Artisan District and asked.

“Do people not live in this vicinity?”

“Since that area over there is the Artisan District, people did not settle here because of the smoke and noise.”

“I see. The location is not bad, but there were such inconveniences.”

It was certainly a decent location. However, the beastkin, whose ears were sensitive, were living even further away from here. If humans found it noisy, it went without saying for the beastkin. After looking around the entire street and checking some of the beastkin residential areas, I asked Richard where he wanted to settle. After a brief consultation with his family, he spoke to me.

“Next to the Artisan District would be good. I can handle the noise somehow, and as for the smoke, I can just use circulation magic, so I thought it right to take a good spot.”

It was an unexpected response, but after asking one more time and receiving confirmation that they would settle there, we headed to the spot. Richard was puzzled, but once we arrived at the site where the house would be raised, I began to listen to detailed explanations. The house Richard wanted was quite large, at three stories. Perhaps because I said I would build the house, he was being a bit greedy in his request. After using Construction, I paid attention to every detail while imagining the structure of the house Richard’s family described. Then, I asked Richard’s family, who were looking at me strangely.

“Are those all the requirements?”

After they said yes, I acknowledged them and immediately used Construction. Mana poured out through the soles of my feet, and the building was rapidly generated; I could see Richard looking horrified and surprised. And when the building had fully taken shape, he asked me in shock.

“Ho-how did you use this much mana… Are you not tired?!”

“Is this a lot?”

“It is the amount of mana for a middle-class mage. Are you… really okay?”

I couldn’t understand Richard, who was going on about middle-class mages over the amount of mana used to raise just one building, but I was perfectly fine. So, I spoke in a nonchalant tone and led Richard’s family inside the house, finishing the Construction work while discussing missing or additional parts. Richard followed me out and asked cautiously.

“Lord, what on earth is your identity…? Are you perhaps an Archmage?”

“It’s nothing like that. I am just a person with a talent called Construction. I am not someone grand like an Archmage or anything.”

“By any chance… would it be okay if I checked your mana capacity?”

“My mana capacity?”

“Yes, because among the few ways to categorize a mage’s rank, mana capacity is one of the measurement methods.”

“I am not a mage, though?”

“….You might have talent. If things go well… it could be that a great person has not yet realized their own talent…”

“It’s fine. I won’t be checking.”

“May I know why?”

“It’s because I’m not particularly interested.”

To be precise, it was because I didn’t want information about me leaking out again. Furthermore, I had no intention of learning magic. Moreover, if the amount of mana I just used was at the level of a middle-class mage, it was certain that problems would arise. It was because I could make more than 50 houses of this size without resting. The fact that I possessed such an amount of mana becoming known? I was certain that bothersome things would occur. So, if possible, I didn’t want to undergo any verification. To change the subject, I took Richard to the Lord’s Manor and we went to the workshop. Since he was looking around in wonder, I first asked a question.

“Has the contract been well-drafted?”

“Ms. Matilda and Ms. Linda did ask this and that, but they said your final signature was needed. I understand it just needs to go through that.”

They could have handled it themselves, but it seemed they specifically wanted me to review it. I thought the documents would be in the office, and first, I asked Richard a question.

“The reason I brought you here is to relieve the burden on the existing mages, but it is also because I thought your ideas held great value.”

“Value… you say?”

“Ideas are the most important means of changing the world. Furthermore, as I said before, I had the conviction that if science and magic became one, they could exert great power, so I felt I would regret it if I lost you then.”

“Thank you very much for evaluating me so highly, but I am just one high-level mage. The world does not change easily because of me alone.”

One could say he was evaluating himself coldly, but my thoughts were different.

“The power of a few can sufficiently change the world. That is what I think, and I intend to create that change now. Will you cooperate?”

I felt a bit cringey, but Richard looked at me with an impressed expression, adjusted his posture, and spoke to me.

“If it is something I can do… please, use me as the foundation to help in a task that can change the world.”

Richard knew how to say even cringier lines than I did.