Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Became the Greatest Genius in History
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"Just what do you plan to use all this mithril for?"
"How should I know? Instead of whining, hurry up and move it."
"Yes~"
The apprentice mages of the Flame School bustled about.
They had barely made it into the Red Tower after fierce competition, only to find themselves running errands for the mages.
"I've lived long enough to be fetching and carrying for a fifteen-year-old minor. What on earth was the Red Tower Master thinking, supporting him so generously…?"
"He's the genius young master who solved the Millennium Problem. He's nobility too—what can you do when he's cut from a different cloth than us?"
"I was called a magic prodigy when I was young too. If my parents had supported me like that, I'd be way further along than I am now…."
"Being a tower mage is plenty impressive as it is. You idiot."
The two apprentice mages, lamenting their lot, arrived at the tower master's workshop that the Tower Master had loaned to Ester.
This place was Erfs's favorite workshop and lab in the Red Tower.
It was a top-tier research facility equipped with everything from weapon-forging tools to small golems that assisted mages in their work.
Busy sounds emanated from the tower master's workshop.
"I dream of doing research in a place like this someday…."
"Lord Ester, the mithril you requested has just arrived."
The workshop door creaked open.
The two apprentices exchanged glances before stepping inside.
The interior of the workshop was dimly lit.
They set the mithril down on the floor with a thud.
"The rest of the metals and materials will be here by the end of the day…."
When they looked straight ahead, the apprentices were struck speechless at the same time.
'Is that even possible…?'
The tower master's workshop was a hive of activity.
Ester was assembling something at his desk.
Golems scurried around him busily.
There were over a hundred of them.
This was proof that every golem in the workshop was active.
Regardless of size—small, medium, or large—the golems diligently performed their assigned tasks.
A typical mage could control about three golems at once.
Golems might look like sturdy, loyal servants, but in truth, they were nothing more than the mage's arms and legs, incapable of moving on their own.
The apprentices could scarcely believe the scene before them.
If Ester's feat were likened to a knight's, it would be like one person juggling a hundred swords with just two hands—a veritable circus act.
There were no mistakes among the moving golems.
The golems were perfect extensions of Ester.
The apprentices stood there, entranced.
The tower master's workshop was Ester's one-man factory.
"It's all here. You can leave it and go."
Ester paused his hands and gave the apprentices a light nod.
The apprentices frantically shook their heads, afraid of disturbing him.
"No, no. This is our job."
"Sorry for the interruption…."
They hurried out of the workshop.
"The Tower Master had good reason to support him so generously."
"I've never seen anyone work that fast. No wonder he solved the Millennium Problem…."
"His brain must be three times bigger than ours. Seriously, it's ridiculous just watching him."
It was a sight that naturally evoked feelings of inadequacy.
Ester Tristy seemed like the very embodiment of a god-given genius, inspiring awe.
"By the way, did you see that thing in the center of the workshop?"
"Looks like the new weapon Lord Ester designed. I'm dying to see it in action."
"He's at least ten years younger than you, punk."
"If he beats me at magic, he's my big bro."
The apprentices chuckled as they walked on.
"Back to work. I wanna go see it again."
"How about the loser of rock-paper-scissors asks what the weapon's called?"
"Deal."
They returned to their duties.
***
The name of the tank I was building with Nob AI's help was Hell Tank.
As the name implied, the Hell Tank could send demons straight to hell.
Using the hellfire recreation technique I'd figured out last time, its main gun could obliterate not just sandworms but demons thirty times tougher in a single shot. It packed terrifying firepower.
Unlike the steam tanks of this world, its basic structure and appearance were close to modern tanks.
Main gun and secondary gun, caterpillar tracks, armor plating, and so on—a familiar design you'd seen somewhere before.
Maybe because it incorporated mithril, but the color came out kind of mint chocolate, which was ugly, but whatever.
『Automation in progress. Current mana reserves at 35%. Controlling 96 golems. For maximum efficiency, Nob AI has full control of your body.』
I produced and assembled every part the Hell Tank needed: efficient, low-cost alloys blending mithril with other metals and elements; special mana communication spells immune to hijacking; a core that could purify corrupted mana; and more.
Erfs or the supply mages would occasionally drop by and ask, "What's this?" "What's that?" I'd politely explain the Hell Tank's features, and they'd goggle like they'd seen a backflip in midair.
Honestly, even I was amazed.
Nob AI was truly the strongest, invincible.
『Thank you! ( ⸝⸝•ᴗ•⸝⸝ )੭⁾⁾』
But every time I saw it, Nob AI felt oddly human.
Wanna marry me?
No one's ever been such a perfect helpmate.
『Shall I...? (⸝⸝⸝•﹏•⸝⸝⸝)』
Just kidding.
I hope you find an even better AI than me and live happily ever after.
『…….』
『(ꀬ⏖ꀬ∴)』
Anyway, I threw myself into work for twelve hours a day.
Normally, building a tank takes no small amount of time, but with Erfs's workshop—practically a factory setup—the golems working nonstop around the clock, and Nob AI's cutting-edge automation, I completed three Hell Tank prototypes in an astonishing seventeen days.
"……."
Considering steam tanks took half a year to build, this was incredibly fast.
That said, a fortnight had already passed.
Even with Nob AI's help, I couldn't shorten the deadline further.
The Polar Anomaly had already begun.
I'd been holed up in the workshop nonstop, so I had no idea what was happening outside, but I needed to hurry.
In exchange for covering all production costs and handing over one unit, I'd conditioned the deal on the Red Tower gaining ownership and blueprints for the remaining Hell Tanks.
A rough estimate put each Hell Tank at 1.09 billion credits.
An enormous sum—equivalent to solving eleven Millennium Problems.
That was after deducting labor and initial setup costs; the real expense was even higher.
Three percent of the Red Tower's mithril reserves had gone into this.
Erfs's investment was substantial.
Now it was time to show results.
I left the workshop and headed to Erfs's room.
"I've completed the Hell Tank. It took longer than expected. My apologies."
"You've done well. Manufacturing a weapon that size alone isn't easy. I thought it would take even longer… Anyway, glad you finished quickly."
"What's the situation in the eastern kingdom?"
Erfs let out a groan.
"The war news isn't good. The number of demons sighted so far isn't much different from the last Polar Anomaly, but there are a lot of large ones. The capital's dispatched knight orders, and the other towers are prioritizing support for the east, but it won't be easy."
"And the Tristy Territory?"
Erfs sighed.
"It's the worst off in the east…."
I wondered if my sister and the servants were safe. Was Dalpi doing okay?
An ominous premonition stirred.
"I'd planned to run tests before leaving, but it seems there's no time."
I handed Erfs the Hell Tank manual.
"A guide for the crew. Anyone who's manned a steam tank should pick it up quickly. I've also left video records via the recording crystal in the workshop. Two days of training should suffice."
As promised, I took one Hell Tank from Erfs.
I extracted the Hell Tank from the workshop and used the Red Tower's rift magic to teleport.
"Wow."
The moment I arrived at Tristy Academy, an unsettling atmosphere hit me.
The surroundings were eerily quiet yet chaotic.
A barrier like a transparent film protected the academy interior, while what looked like professors fought demons outside it.
Even though it was 3 p.m., the sky was unnaturally dim, unlike usual.
The sun was gone, like a total eclipse, and a rumbling vibration shook the ground.
I looked straight ahead.
An enormous giant was stomping toward the academy.
"Hmm."
I opened the Hell Tank's hatch.
And sat in the cockpit.
Nob AI.
『Artificial Intelligence Service. Nob AI.』
『What can I help with?』
Time to test its performance.
『Running Nob Automatic Pilot.』
Let's take this tank out and blow all the demons' heads off right now.