Chapter 308 - Episode 300: The Artisans' Struggles
Around the middle of August.
Noein had called Damian and Daphne, who had been striving to analyze the magic carriage, to the Lord's office to have them report on the current status.
"Uh, to be honest... various difficult parts are cropping up."
Damian spoke in a voice that was, unusually, not very high-spirited.
"As expected, I wonder if various technologies not found in the Kingdom are being used?"
"That's right; the magic circuits are particularly problematic," Daphne answered this time in response to Noein's question. Looking at her expression, it was clear that she was also feeling a bit discouraged.
"Um, first, regarding the axle... as long as we have time, it seems we can make something similar even in our smithy. It's simply that there are many parts and they're made of metal, and since there are several mechanisms not found in the carriages of the Roadberg Kingdom to exhibit performance as a magic tool, it just takes effort to reproduce them. We have to start from making the parts used to make the parts... well, it's something like that. That's all on my end."
Damian finished his explanation first while scratching the back of his head, and then Daphne opened her mouth.
"...And regarding the main subject, the magic circuits, these can truly only be described as unknown."
Daphne always describes herself as "being among the quite skilled" among the Kingdom's magic tool artisans. Seeing the high quality of the magic tools she creates, such as her golems, Noein also believes that this self-praise is appropriate.
For her to show such a troubled expression is rare, even from Noein's perspective.
"Noein-sama, how much do you know about magic tools and magic circuits?"
"Um, it'll be basic things, but..."
With that preface, Noein spoke the knowledge he possessed regarding magic tools and magic circuits.
Since magic circuits were originally technology of the ancient great nations, there are many parts where the concrete logic is not understood.
However, it is understood through empirical rules that "if you draw the circuit correctly with magic paint and fix it with enchantment magic, you will be able to generate various phenomena by sending magic power there." The meaning and mechanism of the circuit diagrams are also being steadily elucidated, taking decades of time.
When supplying magic power to a magic tool, a magic stone is embedded as the power source. As when Noein manipulates golems, it can also be operated by a human who possesses appropriate magical talent and vast magic power flowing it from their own hand.
Additionally, because metal is difficult for magic power to pass through, even if a magic circuit is drawn, an enormous amount of magic power is required to make it function. Therefore, magic tools are basically made of wood. Magic tools for "Ignition" or "Boiling" use metal partially due to their functions, but they are considered luxurious tools because they are expensive despite their simple functions, and the magic power consumption of the magic stones is severe.
"As expected of Noein-sama, it is exactly as you say. And from here, it becomes a professional discussion, but for magic circuits, not only the diagram, but the size of the circuit and the raw materials of the magic paint are also important."
To draw out the effect of a magic circuit, one must draw "the correct diagram, at a size above a certain threshold." Even if the diagram is drawn by simply scaling it down, the effect is either not exhibited or drops extremely. The logic is unknown, but that is how it is.
Furthermore, the quality of the magic paint directly correlates to the ease with which magic power passes. It is said that there are magic tool artisans who conduct research daily, receiving funding and support from the royal family or great noble houses, in order to develop magic paint that passes magic power more efficiently.
Noein was taught these technical circumstances by Daphne.
"And, the magic carriage of the Republic of Betumia used magic circuits and magic paint that were unknown to me. Regarding the magic circuits, there are parts that look somewhat familiar, so technology was likely shared with the Grandor continent during the era of the ancient great nations."
"I heard the power of the ancient great nations extended even beyond the distant seas... there must be differences in the technology and knowledge inherited between this continent and the other continent."
"Yes, I think so too. And regarding the magic paint... this is the tricky part. I believe this was developed independently on the other continent. The magic power transmission efficiency is on a completely different level from that of the Adleon continent. The reason they can trigger sufficient effects just by drawing such a small magic circuit on a metal axle is precisely because of this paint."
Saying so, Daphne showed a bitter expression. Such a face is also rare for her, who always exudes a gentle atmosphere.
"Looking at that face, it seems like the same magic paint can't be made overnight."
"That's right. Even with a light investigation, I've barely managed to find that it contains several types of raw materials not used in the Kingdom's paint, one of which apparently is silver powder... that's about all. The detailed raw materials, the proportions, and the processing method are all full of mysteries. To be honest, as someone who wasn't originally in a research profession, I don't think I could analyze it even if I spent my whole life investigating."
"I see... by the way, if it were a researcher employed by the royal family, would there be a possibility of succeeding in the analysis?"
"Yes. I hear that in the research institutes operated by the royal family, specialized research artisans work while being given abundant budgets and equipment. There... if they spent ten or twenty years, or about that much time, they could probably reproduce a similar magic paint."
"Ahaha, even then it's on the scale of ten years."
Knowing that mass production of magic carriages in the Kingdom would not be possible for the time being, Noein gave a wry smile as if giving up.
"For now, I think if I put in some ingenuity, I could make something like a degraded version..."
"Eh, really?"
"Yes. The magic circuits of the magic carriage have parts similar to the Kingdom's magic tools, so I can vaguely infer the logic—like, this part is the diagram that governs the effect of the magic tool itself, and this part determines the magnitude of the effect... and so on. If I greatly simplify the part that determines the magnitude of the effect and reduce the amount of magic power required for the circuit to operate, I can probably reproduce something similar."
"Is that so, that's amazing. As expected of Daphne."
"Fufufu, thank you very much."
Noein's praise was a bit forced, but perhaps noticing that feelings of encouragement were contained within it, Daphne also formed a smile.
"However, even so, since the magic paint cannot be reproduced, the same effect cannot be exhibited with a magic circuit that small. In order to draw the circuit larger, I think the axle will become somewhat larger."
"Which means, the effect can only be granted to larger carriages?"
"Yes. It will likely be limited to carriages with four horses or more. Furthermore, the effect... I believe the magic carriages of the Republic of Betumia reduce the burden on the horses pulling them to about one-fourth or one-fifth. For what I can make, I'd be grateful if I could reduce the burden by twenty or at most thirty percent. If I try to force a reproduction beyond that, the 'Tragedy of Mage Garrett' will be reproduced."
"...That would be problematic."
The 'Tragedy of Mage Garrett' that Daphne mentioned was an incident that occurred nearly two hundred years ago, in the early history of the Roadberg Kingdom.
As part of research to reproduce magic tools for attack magic, which had already become ancient legacies by that time, an experiment with a prototype created by the Kingdom's chief magic tool artisan of the time was conducted in a section of the Kingdom army's training ground.
The experiment involved a fire magic user named Garrett, who was the chief royal mage at the time, pouring a massive amount of his own magic power into that prototype and attempting to trigger 'Flame Bullet'.
Garrett spent several minutes continuously pouring magic power into the prototype, and finally, the prototype showed signs of activating—and suddenly caused a massive explosion. Garrett, who held the magic tool, vanished without a trace, the chief magic tool artisan who was watching the experiment nearby also died, and the Minister of Military Affairs at the time, who was also watching, suffered a serious injury and lost a leg.
Along with that fact, the lesson "one must not supply excessive magic power to a magic tool" is recorded in the Kingdom's history books.
"Among magic tool artisans, that incident is spoken of as something that thrust the immaturity of the Kingdom's technology regarding magic circuits and magic paint into the spotlight. Of course, compared to that time, research on magic circuits has progressed and the quality of magic paint has improved... but even taking that into account, we cannot make something as high-performance as those of the Republic of Betumia regarding magic carriages."
Concluding the explanation, Daphne let out a small sigh. She seemed to feel frustration as a single artisan for having to speak at length about impossibilities due to lack of technology.
"Still, if we can make a carriage that reduces the burden on horses by some percentage, we can extend the travel distance per day, or transport more cargo and people at the same travel speed. That is sufficiently groundbreaking."
Noein smiled while speaking to emphasize the results that would be born from this research.
"Looking only within the territory, we can expect effects in various aspects, such as the coming and going with the mining village Kilde, the coming and going with the Aspida fortress as trade with the Lancel Kingdom begins, and the transport of crops from the pioneer villages. It's a tremendously large achievement. Damian, Daphne, you both did great, thank you."
"...Then, may we proceed with this matter as is?"
"Of course, I'm counting on you. Both of you, tell me if there's anything you need. I'll allocate the budget with as much priority as possible. However, you're probably busy with other work too, so please don't overdo it. Especially Damian, you have to eat and sleep properly, okay?"
Noein spoke with a wry smile to Damian, whose expression had brightened upon receiving permission to continue development.
"Of course! Right now, Christy is managing various things for me, so my lifestyle is fine! I'll realize the duplication of that high-performance axle as quickly as possible!"
"Ahaha. Well, if Christy is taking care of you, there should be no problem, but you mustn't burden her too much and cause her trouble, okay? If you love your wife, you have to cherish her."
At Noein's words, Damian scratched his head bashfully.
"Daphne, you have the operation of the workshop too, so please don't rush the results too much. Your ability as an artisan is a treasure. You are an indispensable person for the Arqvist territory."
"Yes, thank you very much. I will strive to produce results steadily."
After that, they lightly discussed the detailed outlook for the future, and it was decided that for the Arqvist territory-made magic carriage, the goal would be to complete the first prototype within half a year.