Spreading the Faith (2)
As everyone knows, Jane is objectively a 'genius oddball' without a doubt. The invention of artificial magic stones, deemed impossible. Engineering tech far surpassing the current era. Strictly speaking, she's a transcendent genius, which is why she comes off as an eccentric. It's like inventing a lighter in the primitive age when fire was crucial.
The problem is, she invented the lighter just to make grilling meat easier, so she has no clue how groundbreaking it is. She's a genius who seems brilliant yet has these dumb blind spots. It's like how geniuses sometimes get treated like idiots for their weird ideas.
"You said I was chosen by Chaos, but... is something like this really enough?"
"Of course. Sister Jane, you've invented something that can replace magic stones, haven't you?"
After the whole fiasco, Lize's fondness for Jane had skyrocketed. Just minutes ago, she'd been ready to cleave her head with an axe, but now? Not even close. She'd gradually pieced together who Jane was and somehow grown astonishingly close.
"That's true, but... I have no idea if this is actually impressive."
Jane adjusted her glasses and stared at the object resting on her palm. Unlike the round, mineral-like magic stones, her artificial magic stone was a square plate. Crowded on its surface were things like gold foil circuits—eerily similar to semiconductors from Earth.
"I know magic stones are extremely rare minerals. But making this is way too expensive. I poured most of Sivar's investment into it. And it took forever."
"But you invented it artificially, right?"
"Sure, but wouldn't it be better to just buy them off the market? Less hassle, cheaper too."
Look at her. She has zero idea what she's created. In Earth terms, it's like inventing an oil substitute, and she's oblivious. Her brain's so smart it's backfired. Jane's thought process probably went exactly like this:
[Need a magic stone to fabricate.]
[Magic stones are too pricey, so make a replacement.]
[Ta-da! Invented artificial magic stone!]
[Now back to fabricating!]
No exaggeration—that's likely how it went down. If you asked how others do it? She'd be baffled why this "simple" thing stumps them. Just whip one up, right? She probably thinks no one's made it because of the cost. But nah, they couldn't—they can't. If they could, they'd have done it ages ago.
"...I see why Chaos chose Sister Jane. I'm glad we met now."
"What do you mean?"
"It's hard for you to grasp, Sister Jane, but this is a monumental invention. Countless efforts to replace magic stones have all failed."
"Wasn't that because of money? If it was profitable, I'd have patented it long ago."
Thank god she didn't. I meant that sincerely. Jane calibrates everything to her own standards. Add in her dirt-poor life, and she's clueless about the world. "Only those who've tasted good meat know how to savor it." Professors at the academy hadn't even clocked her genius—they were frogs in a well. Except the frog was a dragon, oblivious to its own nature.
'Well, even Newton tanked hard on stocks...'
No matter how transcendent the genius, without learning, they're ignorant. What's a top-tier PC good for if you only play low-spec games? Total waste.
"So, any plans to patent it?"
"None at all. I barely scraped this together saving every penny. With proper equipment, efficiency would be decent... but honestly, this version's too crappy for a patent."
"In other words, with enough equipment and materials, you could make a superior artificial magic stone."
"Yes. But that'd require a ton of money..."
Jane glanced at me slyly as she said it. Classic nonverbal plea for more funding. Money? No issue—stocks had netted plenty. As I said before, nurturing Jane takes cash. Iron Man couldn't have built his suit without his fortune. Her smarts got her a cave prototype, but anything more demands dough.
"More money. Give."
"R-Really?!"
"Yeah. But slow. No patent. Dangerous."
Best to patent slow or never—at least for now. The system's full of loopholes in this era. One slip, and bam—backstabbed. With Jane's abysmal situational awareness? Devil's upgrade in no time.
"Of course. I'd never patent trash like this anyway. Oh! Speaking of, we need to update the contract..."
"Contract? You don't mean that slave contract, do you?"
"Huh? I've never signed a slave contract..."
Jane looked puzzled, so Lize pulled a paper from her pocket. The contract she'd brought to crush the scammer. Basically a self-declaration of voluntary enslavement. Jane took it, read slowly, then pushed up her glasses.
"This is my handwriting, but... any issues?"
"..."
Issues? Too many to count. Lize was speechless, face twisted in disbelief. For someone unflappable, Jane was impressive. Only after a detailed breakdown did it click—for her, belatedly.
"W-Wait... this is a real slave contract?"
"Yes. Lucky it was Brother Sivar. Otherwise, you'd be worked like a slave."
"Phew. My first investor was Sivar..."
What if someone else had spotted her talent? Would they have enslaved her for real? In Soul World, no enslavement, but a brutal backstab. Then she went full villain, sided with demons, who got geared to the teeth.
"S-So, new contract?"
"If Brother Sivar's investing, I'll help. I only know oaths, but that'll suffice."
"Oath? What's that?"
"Think of it as a contract mediated by a god."
Piercing the nose from the get-go. Oath's basically slavery lite. As Lize explained, gods enforce it directly. Needs a bishop-level officiant. Break it? Banned from serving any god forever. Plus the "oath-breaker" stigma. Specific conditions can reverse it, but they're insanely strict.
'Oaths are usually for bishop promotions...'
Rare between people—treated as pacts with gods. As a saint, piece of cake for Lize. Curious what terms Chaos would allow. Pretty lenient—could justify murderers. But no blessings for pleasure killers. Alignment's still 'good'.
"Oath later. You said something to show Brother Sivar first?"
"Ah, yes! Come here, please?"
Jane blinked like she'd forgotten, then led us. Not far. We arrived at a table cluttered with junk and a metal gauntlet.
Yes. The mechanical arm I'd craved sat there proudly.
"This is the mechanical arm you mentioned, Sivar. Without mana, it's just iron scrap. Infuse mana, and it'll unleash tremendous strength."
"Artificial magic stone in here too?"
"Yes. Essential for mana distribution throughout."
The overall design was rougher than I'd imagined. Crude, unpolished. Era limitations—no way around it. No proper welding gear either. But that meant intricate work via basic hammering. With real tools? Masterpiece territory.
I stared for a bit, then reached out. Time to equip.
"I'll help."
"Hm? Finger joints too. How?"
As Lize assisted, she spotted the uniqueness. Finger joints are tough even with welding. Hammer-only? Insane.
"Oh, this? Needed finer work, so I made another tool."
Jane fitted the arm, then showed a pen-like thing from the table. Pointy tip, soldering iron vibes.
"Infuse mana—tip generates intense heat. Enabled precision."
"Converting mana to thermal energy?"
"Yes."
"..."
Dunno if it's impressive, but Lize went quiet—must be. Designing that sans blueprints? Genius confirmed.
Clank.
Finally equipped. Solid iron made it heavy.
"Pretty heavy. Begged the blacksmith for cheap scrap."
"Fine."
"Mana infusion now."
Vrrr.
Jane placed her hand. Injecting personally. Odd hum from the arm. I flexed fingers.
Creak.
Smooth joints. Noisy, but negligible.
Glanced around—Ragnarok caught my eye. Heavier axe now. Would the arm help?
I lifted carefully.
"Oh?"
Swinging it? Felt light, arm's weight aside. Strength boost confirmed. Huge win.
"How is it?"
"Super light."
"Haha!"
Jane beamed at my awe. Proud of it. Then, with innocent cheer:
"Now, finishing touch. See the groove in the palm?"
Palm center: round hole. As requested.
Beam port?
"Brace yourself. Blew me back in testing."
"Yeah."
"Activating. Aim at wall."
Click!
Aimed at blank wall. Jane nodded, hit connected button.
Whirr!
Noise built—
BOOM!
Blue mana beam erupted from palm. Braced per advice—no flying back. But recoil shoved my body slightly. Insane kick.
"Whew! Amazing, right?"
"I'll buy this."
Every guy's dream on my arm. How to resist? Jane replied joyfully.
"Per contract, it's yours. Take anytime."
"Thanks."
"Thank you. I'm more grateful."
Classic Jane. Invest, get overdelivery. Keep funding her—
Lize, watching from afar, chimed in.
"Mana-consuming mechanical arm... Sounds appealing. But mana drain must be heavy."
Spot on. Jane had dumped a ton—I felt it while wearing. She wants civilian-use. But knights-only viable. Total role reversal.
Jane nodded, aware.
"Right. Lots of mana needed. But no worries—I planned ahead."
"What?"
"Well... Got chewed out by prof for it, so not sure if it'll work..."
Jane scratched head, gauging us. Confidence lacking here. But Iron Man suit sans energy? Pricey tin can. Energy's key for any machine. And Jane's inventing it.
'Dunno how, but she'll manage.'
I removed the arm slowly. Dorm-bound. Jane scanned, grabbed paper/pen. Explaining time.
"You two aren't majors, so simply: Know mass-energy equivalence?"
"No. Zero."
"...?"
What. Instant unease. Not Wild Instinct—just her words.
"Back to basics. Mana's basically our energy. In other words..."
Jane scribbled symbols, explaining slowly. Futile—we got zilch. Her standards are sky-high. Low self-esteem byproduct. Believes everyone's superior, pushes harder. Profs bullied her, so mindset fits.
"Follow this formula: mass converts to energy. Objects with mass become mana."
"..."
"With right gear/tech, tiny mass yields massive energy! Powers mechanical arms, dream power armor easily!"
Fuck.
"Get it?"
"...No?"
"Hm. Too complex? Again..."
Oppenheimer why.
You wanna see the world end?