Chapter 219
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 219
Beatrice tilted her head, surprised by the Grand Duke’s sudden appearance.
“Grand Duke McDowell, what brings you here?”
He was an incredibly busy man, far too occupied to concern himself with such trivial matters, so her confusion was only natural.
In response, McDowell offered a polite, practiced smile.
“When Your Highness graces us with her presence, how could I not come to greet you personally? Besides, there are many interesting young people here who have piqued my curiosity.”
Grand Duke McDowell’s gaze swept over us once before he gestured toward the interior of the Magic Tower.
“Please, follow me.”
*
Though we had received a grand welcome at the Alchemist’s Tower, it couldn’t compare to a tour personally guided by Grand Duke McDowell, the Master of the Magic Tower.
He revealed every corner of the spire, explaining even their latest breakthroughs without hesitation. The advancements in magic engineering were truly dazzling, showcasing technology that surpassed modern science in several fields. I was particularly impressed by their implementation of virtual reality through illusion magic.
After showing us the public sectors, Grand Duke McDowell led us to a top-secret research lab.
“I must ask that you do not speak of what you see or hear in this place. Regardless of my own intentions, I cannot guarantee your safety if you do.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Bell and Trish nodded rapidly, their faces pale with tension.
He led us into a room protected by a formidable magic barrier and pointed toward a complex device.
“This is a magic device that generates the power of lightning. We call it the Electromagnetic Rotation Device.”
“The power of lightning? Is that different from the power of spirits or mana?” Yuliana asked.
He shook his head. “It is a bit different. It’s more like… a fundamental principle of the world. It exists separately from mana.”
My eyes lit up as I listened to his explanation.
Hoh.
So, a primitive form of a motor had been created in this world as well?
Grand Duke McDowell continued, “Using this, we can generate power to operate all kinds of mechanical devices without consuming mana. It is a revolutionary invention that can convert simple physical force into energy. Soon, even those without mana will be able to enjoy the benefits of magic devices. And to complete it, we need your ability, Miss Bell.”
The Grand Duke’s intense gaze fell upon Bell. She trembled like a frightened puppy.
“M-my power? I don’t have anything like that…”
“To be precise, we need the power of the extreme flame possessed by you and your clan. We intend to use it to boil water.”
“What? Boil water?”
“Yes. The powerful steam released when water boils becomes the force that turns a turbine. Through this, we can generate energy.”
It made perfect sense. Whether it was thermal power or nuclear fusion, the core of electricity generation was ultimately boiling water to turn a turbine. You could use wind or falling water, but steam was the most efficient.
There was even a joke back home that even when humanity finally learns to fully harness the power of the sun, we’ll probably just use it to boil water.
Though still in a primitive stage, if this technology were to advance and integrate electromagnetism with mana, it could spark a total energy revolution.
Our tour concluded at the top-secret lab. Afterward, we were each called for a private meeting with Grand Duke McDowell. It seemed this had been his true purpose all along.
I soon found myself in the Grand Duke’s office on the top floor of the Magic Tower.
“Please, make yourself comfortable.”
I sat on the sofa and took a sip of the prepared tea. After some perfunctory greetings, the Grand Duke got straight to the point.
“I hear you are conducting research on magic armor with my son, Meyer. I was told you started on bad terms but have since become good partners. Please, take good care of my boy.”
“Of course. Meyer is an exceptional talent. I intend to maintain a good relationship with him.”
“Good. And about that Next-Generation Core you and Meyer created…”
The Next-Generation Core—the component we had hastily developed for the Carbonated Water Maker. Word of it had already reached the Grand Duke’s ears. Considering I had given most of the blueprints to Meyer, it wasn’t surprising.
“The concept and design of that Next-Generation Core are truly outstanding. Was it you who designed it?” McDowell asked with a hint of expectation.
I answered truthfully. “No, sir. I came across the blueprints by chance while exploring some ancient ruins.”
“I see. A legacy of the ancient dwarves. That would make sense. A remarkable discovery, indeed.”
The Grand Duke leaned back comfortably and gazed out the window. “Speaking of which, I hear you’re also running a carbonated beverage business. I’m told it’s quite popular in the capital.”
“…”
I immediately understood his intention. He was telling me that he knew the Carbonated Water Maker contained a Next-Generation Core, and that he could inspect it whenever he pleased.
I sighed inwardly. If Grand Duke McDowell decides to act, a technology leak is only a matter of time.
From that perspective, telling me directly was his own form of professional courtesy. It seemed he was having trouble reproducing the core with the blueprints alone and needed a physical sample to reverse-engineer. Indeed, even I had only managed to complete a prototype with the help of Meyer, the triplet dwarves, and the power of the Sage’s Glasses.
It will take at least a few years to analyze the core and commercialize it anyway. Until then, I’ll have a monopoly on the market, which is more than enough time to profit.
“Do as you wish,” I said. “I was planning to release it to the public eventually anyway.”
“Thank you. I will be sure to reward you handsomely. As it happens, there was an imperial decree from His Majesty to spare no expense in supporting the academy you plan to establish.”
Grand Duke McDowell took a piece of paper from his drawer and signed it.
Scratch, scratch—
“But His Majesty is a busy man. He has no time to attend to every little detail of such minor affairs. Do you understand what I mean?”
He handed me the letters bearing his signature.
“It means that the one who actually carries out His Majesty’s orders is me. And I am telling you that, from this moment on, I will give you my full support. The best minds, the latest equipment from the Magic Tower, and a near-infinite supply of materials. I will provide everything you desire. Is there anything you want in particular?”
Seizing the opportunity, I requested several pieces of equipment I had noted during the tour. This included the latest magic device needed to analyze Roen’s diary.
Grand Duke McDowell chuckled. “Is that all? Take it. No, I’ll have the Magic Tower deliver it directly. If you need anything else, just send me a list.”
*
After our visit to the Meister Tower, we spent the next several days touring the other Magic Towers: Ancient Studies, Summoning, Astronomy, Barrier Studies, and finally, the Cassandra Imperial Family’s Elemental Magic Tower.
Touring the seven Magic Towers that formed the origin of magic in the Myrillin Saga was a truly invaluable experience.
At the Cassandra Imperial Family’s Mir Magic Tower, Bell was welcomed with open arms. Her extreme flame promised a massive revolution in the study of the fire element, so the reception was expected. Seeing the "love calls" she received from various towers, it was clear that a smooth path lay ahead for her.
The Summoning Magic Tower wasn’t quite as welcoming, likely due to the friction I’d had with Esetra, the Tower Master’s daughter. However, their methods for restoring ancient creatures and handling summoned beings were fascinating. If I studied this further, I might be able to raise Kabeltar properly. After all, I was told Kabeltar wasn’t just a simple spirit, but a half-dragon.
Conversely, at the Astronomy Magic Tower, my connection with Hildegard allowed for a comfortable tour. I felt a bit self-conscious, having recruited Roxana—whom her family had exiled—into my academy, but…
“Thank you for taking in my sister.”
Instead of resentment, I received sincere gratitude from Duke Astraia himself. He expressed regret at being unable to help her on a family level since her banishment from the magical world and thanked me for giving her a chance to return to the light. With the Emperor’s decree in place, he promised to maintain a continuous exchange with my academy and provide full support.
It was almost strange how well things were going, but I suppose I was simply reaping what I had sown.
Next was the Ancient Studies tour, a field dedicated to researching ancient Runic language and lore. At this tower, I examined the records of Timur the Great, the first emperor, and received several related texts. The records were too ancient to contain much solid information, but I hoped to find something useful by cross-referencing them with the Sage’s Glasses.
While Bell’s abilities had been the spotlight at the other towers, here, I was the celebrity.
“P-please, I beg you, come to our Magic Tower!”
The mages of the Muller Magic Tower, having discovered my ability to decipher Runic, practically begged me while clinging to my legs. But I couldn't grant their request.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time.”
I simply didn’t have the leisure to translate the thousands of ancient texts they wanted. Instead, I promised to translate a portion of them in my spare time if they sent the books to the Union. In return, I was promised a steady supply of personnel and books from their tower.
The last stop was the Westcott family’s Barrier Studies Magic Tower. Unlike the other towers, which covered broad categories, I had wondered why a narrow field like Barrier Studies had its own tower. This tour answered that question.
Barriers are the source of all magic circles.
Barrier Studies was the foundational discipline for the execution and calculation of all magic. It was also deeply related to the study of space-time, which seemed connected to the first covenant the Emperor had made. The ability the Twelve Honored Ones wanted from me—the ones who wished to break that first covenant—was also a type of spatial manipulation.
In just a few weeks of traveling between the capital's towers, I felt I had gained far more knowledge than I had in a year at the Union. They were truly the superior educational institutions.
I also dedicated myself to advancing my alchemy while staying in the capital. The promotion quest for Advanced Alchemy was now just around the corner.
*
I remained in the capital for the rest of the vacation.
Just as I had done at the Devalis estate, I traced Roen’s footsteps from his diary, meeting those with whom he had bad blood one by one. Some threw me out the moment they saw my face, while others refused to meet at all. However, there were also those who resolved their past grievances after speaking with me directly.
I expressed my gratitude and promised compensation. This wasn't just to keep my promise to Freya; it was an effort to restore, even if only slightly, the honor Roen himself had tarnished. Whatever his reasons for his past actions, wrongs had to be righted.
At the same time, I made time to visit the Magic Towers, imperial research labs, training grounds, and knight orders, searching for talent to recruit. Thanks to the Emperor’s full support, I was able to recruit several more talented, named individuals, allowing for the development of not just magic, but various other supernatural abilities.
Lize’s [Eye of Replication], Joshua’s [Prophecy], Garfield’s [Golden Grace]—the diverse abilities that manifested as traits in the game were difficult to develop with the existing curricula of other academies. Each trait required a specific teacher and a tailored program. No matter how much talent I gathered, it never felt like enough.
And so, the winter passed busily in the Empire.
When the break ended, I headed back to the Union on a gifted floating ship.
The time was March of Astral Calendar year 313. Roen's third year.
Nearly a full year had passed since I first fell into this world.