Chapter 491: Ogre(3)
Chapter 491: Ogre(3)
There are countless reasons why communism failed, but one of them is its lower productivity compared to capitalism.
If my reward remains the same no matter how hard I work, would I ever feel motivated? If that guy over there is slacking off, why should I bother putting in any effort?
People—or more accurately, humans—are very fickle creatures. We are animals whose desire to take the easy way out grows the moment we see someone else doing it right next to us.
Thanks to that desire, we have advanced civilization brilliantly through endless "competition," but it has also given birth to numerous problems.
As such, communism is destined to fail unless the inherent fickleness of the human heart is eliminated.
As someone once said, everyone is equal, but not everything is fair. It’s a statement that perfectly pierces through the contradictions of communism.
However, the case for Dwarves is a bit different. Dwarves are a race so exceptionally skilled that they are referred to as "factories" rather than "workers."
Furthermore, the reason a revolution is only breaking out now, despite them performing nothing but simple labor for nearly three hundred years since the Race War, is because they love "creation."
Just as Beastkin possess animalistic instincts, Dwarves are fundamentally hardwired with a desire to create.
Like how Eins invented the magic engine, they dig relentlessly into whatever catches their interest—provided they have enough money and time, of course.
Currently, the Dwarf factories are being stripped of both their money and their time, so that tendency isn't showing, but an instinct embedded at the racial level cannot be suppressed.
In other words, communism—a system nearly impossible for humans—might actually be the right fit for Dwarves.
"I’m going to give everyone an equal opportunity. We won't be parts that just spin like gears; we’ll be the ones making those gears. However, while we share the technology, we'll ensure the inventors receive everyone's respect. If that happens, we Dwarves will be able to evolve to the next level."
"On the surface, it sounds like a system that couldn't be better for Dwarves. But what if other countries use those blueprints?"
Lina asked a question following Eins's explanation, which was deeply connected to ideology and systems. Eins's ideas would cause a massive stir not just among Dwarves, but across the entire world.
Humans, in particular, were likely to see the greatest impact. As difficult as mechanical engineering might be, could it really be harder than magic, which is a realm of pure "talent"?
Engineering varies based on talent as well, but it can be established to some degree if one receives sufficient education. Magic, however, doesn't work like that.
Therefore, if Eins succeeds in the revolution and distributes the blueprints, everyone and their mother will start manufacturing magic engines.
As mentioned before, the magic engine is a machine that can produce mana from coal. There are places everywhere drooling at the thought of that single merit.
"It doesn't matter. It’s a mystery if humans can even manufacture a magic engine, so I don't expect them to invent better technology. Even if they do, we’ll be able to catch up in no time."
"..."
It was a truly arrogant statement, but Eins was a Dwarf. He was more than qualified to say such things.
Lina seemed to realize this as well; though she frowned in displeasure, she couldn't offer a rebuttal. That was how weak humans were in many respects.
However, I knew a unique strength of humans that Dwarves lacked. Thus, I leaned in and whispered into Lina's ear so Eins wouldn't hear.
"Hey..."
"Hieek?!"
Perhaps startled by the sudden whisper, Lina let out a sharp, shrill scream.
It was a truly human scream that stripped away every ounce of her dignity as an Imperial Princess. I stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
Before I knew it, Lina’s face had turned beet red, and she was staring at me blankly while covering her ears with her hands.
Her eyes were wide with shock. She looked like a prim cat that had just been startled into a high jump.
"Uh... did I scare you that much? Sorry."
"N-No. Ahem. Ahem."
When I apologized in an awkward voice, Lina hurriedly composed herself with a series of fake coughs, even glancing at the Dwarves to check their reactions.
If it had just been our acquaintances in the dormitory, it might have been different, but with the Dwarf trio present, she must have felt even more embarrassed.
I felt a bit bad, but I still had to tell her what I needed to. When Lina offered her ear again, I spoke in a whisper.
"You don't need to be so discouraged..."
"Hmph..."
"...?"
What's with this woman? I looked at Lina again as I heard another strange sound.
Her face looked like she was biting her lip hard, trying to hold back a scream at all costs. Was it really okay to keep talking like this?
While I was hesitating, Lina forced her trembling lips into a line and spoke to me.
"K-Keep talking. I'm fine."
"...Are you really okay?"
"O-Of course."
I don't think so. Even as I looked at her with suspicious eyes, Lina responded with a brazen face.
The only flaw was that her face was ripening to a deep crimson. I stared at her for a moment before putting my mouth back to her ear.
"Anyway, you don't need to be so discouraged. As you know, even if Dwarves are good with their hands, they tend to be lacking in basic academics. So, if you establish academic fields and provide education, you can definitely catch up. Above all, creation based on theory is highly precise and carries less risk."
Whether it's mechanical engineering or ergonomics, that damn "physics" and "mathematics" are always involved. Honestly, those two subjects get into everything.
If magic engines are introduced to humans, academic fields will develop explosively, and those fields will allow for the creation of much more sophisticated machinery.
If Dwarves specialize in heavy industry, humans will specialize in light industry or high-tech industries. Of course, it would be a different story if Dwarves delved into academics, but that would take quite a long time.
Machina had focused so much on production that they had almost no educational institutions, and they had outsourced complex fields like magic to the Elves.
"I-Is that so? Since you're the one saying it, it sounds very reliable. Phew..."
As soon as I finished speaking, Lina fanned herself with her hand to cool down. To think she’d react like this just from a whisper—it felt quite novel.
"Did you like it?"
"L-Like it! What are you talking about! It's just that my ear was itchy."
"Really? That's strange. An Imperial Princess should be used to hearing plenty of whispers... Could it be that you're not?"
"You really...!"
Of course, the mischievous Cecile wasn't going to miss this. Seeing Mari join in as well, it seemed they had caught her in a moment of weakness.
I chuckled at them as they began to bicker, then turned my gaze back to the Dwarf trio.
They remained serious, seemingly indifferent to whatever the women were saying.
"You said you'd propose distributing the blueprints so all Dwarves can create equally, right?"
"That's right."
"Then let me ask a question. If a certain Dwarf attempts an anti-human act in the name of 'creation,' will you tolerate that as well?"
The system Eins described had a strong communist feel, but it also had a proper mix of liberalism.
Creation is an act that is impossible without freedom. However, if freedom is too extreme, it becomes lawlessness, and that lawlessness eventually breeds disaster.
"Hmm... I hadn't thought of that. There will be many things to consider besides that. Geas?"
"You son of a... damn it..."
"Haha. Why are you like this, friend? I told you to just bear with it for five years."
"Because of you, even the little hair I had left is going to fall out."
Geas sighed but accepted it. It seemed Geas was in charge of most political matters.
Eins patted Geas on the shoulder, then looked up at me with eyes even more sparkling than before.
The sight of a hairy Dwarf with sparkling eyes was quite strange, but because of his small stature, it was strangely cute.
"Are there any other points to be careful of?"
"As for precautions... giving them a chance to get back up even if they fail? Even if everyone has equal conditions, there's no guarantee everyone will succeed. Success is originally something that blooms after repeated failures. Wasn't it the same for you, Mr. Eins?"
He would likely know the famous saying that failure is the mother of success. If failures pile up and become data, the probability of heading toward success is bound to increase.
If the revolution succeeds and Eins distributes the blueprints, everyone will try their hand at various creations.
Unless those creations are successful right away, most are highly likely to fail at first. If left as they are, they would be nothing more than piles of junk.
Therefore, the government or an institution must provide the opportunity to rise again. This is the most crucial part.
Even if there are "failures," there should be no "outcasts."
"That's true. Back then, even these guys treated me like a weirdo. A chance to rise again even after failure... perhaps this is the most important thing."
"One more thing. They don't necessarily have to cling to creation. Just because they're Dwarves doesn't mean everyone loves creating. You should provide opportunities in various fields, not just creation."
"Mm. Mm. And what else?"
While Eins and I talked, Geas was busy taking notes beside us. Handai was doing the same.
On the other hand, Cecile and Lina... had faces full of some kind of dissatisfaction. It was as if they were asking why I wasn't telling them things like that.
I felt a bit self-conscious, but it couldn't be helped. The ideology Eins was preaching was ideal, but the risks were too great.
'If things go wrong, it could turn into an underwater city like the one in that game.'
And I would be the one to shoulder all the responsibility and guilt. I needed to teach him the points to be careful of to ensure such a thing didn't happen.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you. If the revolution succeeds, I'll have to create a new system based on what you've taught me."
"I only told you what to watch out for. As I've mentioned repeatedly, the greatest enemy of communism is corruption. The more those at the top sweep up the money, the more the budget to be shared will dwindle, so rooting that out will be the key."
"We will never repeat the same nonsense the Bourgeoisie did."
I wonder. There's a reason for the saying that history repeats itself.
Wasn't Stalin actually like that? The difference was that he craved power rather than wealth, but the result was similar.
Fortunately, despite his paranoia and suspicion, his love for the Soviet Union was sincere.
He was a dictator who wielded absolute power like Hitler, yet he was a man who grew the Soviet Union into a superpower and continues to receive complex evaluations even after his death.
"That aside, can you tell us more about the tank? This ideology stuff only matters if the revolution succeeds; right now, the tank is the most important thing for us."
"Ah, of course. First of all..."
Before speaking, I looked down at the Dwarves. Because of their uniquely short and stout bodies, they must be facing constraints in various areas.
Of course, they weren't fools, so they would have considered that when they started building the tank. However, there was a practical problem.
It was none other than guns—specifically, machine guns. Originally, tanks were equipped with not only a main gun but also machine guns.
But right now, let alone machine guns, even muskets hadn't been invented. To do something similar...
"Do you happen to have something like a repeating crossbow?"
"Do we have to attach that too? It's a pain, but I guess it can't be helped."
"Not something you load one by one, but something where the arrows fire in succession just by pulling the trigger."
"How do you make something like that?"
I guess even in fantasy, reality is reality. It seemed a repeating crossbow without reloading was beyond their wildest dreams.
"I'd rather just use a magic item. We can use Magic Arrow."
"I thought you said you couldn't use magic?"
"It's not that we can't, it's that we don't. Why would we ever need to use Magic Arrow? Since it's a simple spell, it's easy to mechanize, and since we have the magic engine, we won't run out of mana. No, wait. Should I try putting Fireball in instead?"
"..."
Never mind. Fantasy is definitely fantasy.
Instead of pouring out a hail of bullets from the tank, they'll be pouring out a hail of magic. Fire will be launched, magic arrows will be fired, lightning will be shot, and so on.
Perhaps a monster even more bizarre than a real-world tank will be born. The only saving grace was that they didn't know high-level magic because it required too much mana and the formulas were too complex.
Conversely, it meant that if they had enough mana and knew the formulas, they could fire that magic off like crazy.
What kind of monster am I creating?
"...Anyway, I'll explain the other things too. Things like..."
After that, I told them everything within the scope of my common knowledge—the 360-degree rotating turret, the personnel needed to operate a tank, the radio that would allow the tank commander to give orders more smoothly, and so on.
Of course, since the worlds were different, it was uncertain if all of this would work.
"I knew it, he really is a prophet."
"Of course, of course."
"There's no way he'd know this kind of knowledge unless he was a prophet."
It seemed I had instilled a useless misunderstanding, but I decided to let it slide. From now on, the rest was up to the Dwarves.
I didn't know if they would succeed in their revolution, but I hoped they would be alright.
"There are quite a few parts that need improvement. Thank you so much. It was well worth risking my life for."
"I hope everything works out well. Oh, by the way, have you decided on a name?"
"Of course I have."
Eins cleared his throat with a fake cough, then placed his hands on his hips and announced the name.
"Ogre."
The name of the tank that would be revealed to the world for the first time.
"Ogre No. 1 Tank."
It was a name that suited it perfectly.