Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Magic Stone Engine (2)
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I didn't announce the improved version or mention mass-produced golems without reason.
The improved version was something I'd been thinking about for a while.
But I'd already laid all the groundwork, so I couldn't just let it go to waste.
Besides, there was no immediate need for it anyway.
So I'd only planned it out in my head, but now I had no choice but to put it to use.
If I created the improved version and proved its utility, its safety would follow naturally.
No—rather, I'd guide them to think that way.
After all, I hadn't made the engine or the automobile—still called a carriage—dangerous.
As I said, I'd added as many safety features as possible, revised the blueprints numerous times, and run plenty of tests.
Even so, accidents were inevitable.
But those were unavoidable accidents.
Any object moving at high speed is inherently dangerous.
And unlike the modern world, most roads here were unpaved, making it even riskier.
Plus, there were magical beasts and monsters!
I'd even installed both magic-operated and manual braking systems.
So I'd done everything I could.
The "runaway" they were claiming was an extremely rare occurrence to begin with.
It was impossible unless you deliberately ran it nonstop for days on end, 24 hours a day.
Even then, it would require a defect.
Whether in the engine or the mana crystal.
'So, are they saying it was just a fluke defect that caused the accident?'
No, not at all.
There was no need to get caught up in their claims.
I shook my head slightly to clear the stray thoughts.
As for the mass-produced golems, that was just something that popped into my head.
The improved version alone didn't seem enough, so I'd brainstormed various ideas.
That's when golems came to mind.
This council might seem dominated by nobles at first glance, but in reality, it was the mages who held sway.
Because the reason I'd been summoned was the Magic Stone Engine.
Right now, I wasn't standing here as a noble, but as a mage.
Regardless of whether I had talent as a mage or not.
The proof was that all the mages present hailed from various Magic Towers.
No matter how influential the political heavyweights were, they couldn't sway every Magic Tower.
They must have told the mages during persuasion—whether by trickery or whatever—that it was a matter for mages.
That's why the mages were staying quiet now.
They were probably just observing the situation.
As I took a step forward, one noble spoke up in a fluster.
"Th-this council is addressing the safety issues of the Magic Stone Engine. Edn von Rlangbur. This isn't a place to promote your new products!"
Hm, fair enough.
The other nobles began nodding in agreement, regaining their fervor.
This was a problem.
As I opened my mouth to speak again, my eyes met the duke's.
His face was stern for the public setting, but somehow, I sensed he was telling me to handle it.
Like a sturdy shield ready to protect me.
...So why are you putting this on me?
Pretina, what exactly did you say to him?
I'd have to ask her later when we were alone.
Not that I'd ever been alone with her in the same room before.
The duke raised his hand and brought it down lightly.
The sound of his hand striking the wooden furniture echoed, and the chamber fell silent once more.
"Everyone, calm down first. Yes, Edn von Rlangbur. Why did you say that? I'm curious about your reasoning."
He wasn't helping after all?
I was momentarily taken aback, but then realized this was his way of helping.
He'd silenced the nobles and given me the floor.
When a duke grants you speaking rights, even nobles couldn't object.
I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.
The ones I needed to persuade now weren't the nobles, but the mages.
I'd been summoned here because of the mages, and every mage present belonged to a Magic Tower.
Red Magic Tower, Blue Magic Tower, Gray Magic Tower, Green Magic Tower, White Magic Tower, Black Magic Tower.
Not all towers were represented, and they were all different, but it all came down to one thing.
They had gathered under the banner of magic.
So I had to persuade them as a fellow mage.
"Mages are eternal seekers. We discover the new and rejoice in it."
The Magic Tower mages began focusing their gazes on me one by one.
Each gaze held a different light.
Some were favorable, others not.
Those gazes felt a bit burdensome.
Nobles were one thing, but mages were different.
These were people who ignored others and buried themselves in research, and I'd caught their attention.
I calmed the turmoil in my heart and continued.
"So why do we pursue and contemplate magic? To uncover the truths of the world."
Joining a Magic Tower was like entering graduate school for research.
But the differences were stark.
Magic Towers focused solely on magic-related pursuits.
Whether academic or commercial, they dealt only in magic.
Graduate school, on the other hand, wasn't limited to magic.
You could tell just from my mana engine development.
It covered engineering as well as magic.
And philosophy, literature, economics, and more—it was all-encompassing, differing only in breadth.
Why the difference?
Because Magic Towers sought to glimpse worldly truths through magic, as I said.
They did it even if it didn't make money.
Like astronomy—pursued for intellectual curiosity despite no immediate profit.
What good is knowing about stars for practical folks?
Does understanding the universe's birth help daily life?
Yet plenty of people are obsessed with astronomy.
Like that YouTuber everyone watched back on Earth.
Even as mere specks of dust in the cosmos, human curiosity is immense.
Anyway, what I wanted to say was this.
"So, everyone! I'll prove it. That even something more powerful built on this foundation will have no issues!"
I shouted with heightened passion, as if stating an obvious fact.
The nobles grimaced like it was mere noise, but the mages took interest.
Generally, an "improved version" means filling in the shortcomings of the original.
Seen that way, it might seem like admitting the original Magic Stone Engine's safety flaws.
The nobles were surely thinking that.
Looking at where they sat, they were smirking like they'd won.
Unlike their earlier frowns.
As if I'd slipped up in my words.
"Well said. Surely you're proposing an improved version because of its safety shortcomings!"
"That's not it."
I shook my head side to side, and they snickered with mockery.
"What isn't? To begin with, an improve—"
"I have a question."
A mage from one of the towers cut off the noble.
The noble glared irritably at having his words interrupted.
But the mage ignored him and asked.
"I'm Patrick, elder of the Red Magic Tower."
"Pleased to meet you, Patrick."
"Yes. I've given it some thought, and the improved version you mentioned—is it a kind of enhanced model?"
Exactly.
I nodded with a small smile, and Patrick stroked his beard as he spoke.
"To improve and strengthen an existing model, its foundation must be solid. That's especially true for the fire-element research in our Red Magic Tower."
The elderly man looked at me with a kindly smile.
Like he was gazing at his prized disciple—it was a bit overwhelming.
Had I piqued his interest that much?
No wonder mages from Magic Towers were called eccentrics.
While I was lost in useless thoughts, he began explaining his tower's achievements.
"The most basic Fireball. Its enhanced version is usually Hellfire—"
"Wait! Hellfire as the enhanced version? Isn't it normally Fire Spear or Fire Arrow? Giving near-formless magic a shape is the next step!"
Whoa, that startled me!
Another old man sitting beside him shot to his feet in rebuttal.
Patrick frowned and responded firmly.
"Tch! Can't you do that as soon as you learn Fireball?"
"Nonsense!"
Why were they suddenly fighting?
They'd been talking fine, but now the two elders were arguing.
You're wrong, no you're wrong.
Under the guise of magical contemplation, they traded barbs.
I was watching in bewilderment when a Blue Magic Tower mage stood.
"Ignore them. If you went to graduate school, you know. You've fought over research directions, right?"
"Ah."
I did have memories like that.
I'd worked on a joint project with other grad students in the same lab.
Two of them had definitely clashed over the research direction.
The Blue Magic Tower mage introduced himself as Hobbes, a disciple of one of the elders.
"What he means is this: enhancements require a sturdy foundation. No matter how much you improve the original, some parts can't be changed."
Hobbes looked at me as if confirming his view was correct.
I nodded slightly, and he let out a satisfied exclamation, as if he'd known it.
That's when Esili caught my eye.
It was about time a noble stepped up to support me.
I glanced at her with that intent, and she seamlessly picked up the thread.
"Mr. Hobbes from the Blue Magic Tower is right. Altering that part would make it something entirely different."
"Ho, young lady. You're different from the other nobles. So, you're saying safety is one of those crucial parts?"
I nodded again, and he turned to the other mages.
The chamber had fallen quiet again, with even the arguing Red Magic Tower mages now focused.
Hobbes smiled in satisfaction and sought the mages' opinions.
"What do you think? If the improved version demonstrates sufficient performance—proving its utility—then the original's safety is assured, yes?"
"Hm, I think that's fine. Magic formulas follow that framework too. There are outliers, but enhancements usually build on the frame with added elements."
A figure who seemed to be an elder from the Green Magic Tower nodded in agreement.
Then someone from the Black Magic Tower stood.
"I agree. The foundation must be solid, after all. Besides, the Magic Stone Engine is a fusion of magic and engineering, isn't it? Edn von Rlangbur has essentially created a pseudo-artifact. At such a young age, no less!"
The elder-like figure eyed me greedily, eyes gleaming.
It triggered a bit of PTSD, so I averted my gaze.
More than that, "pseudo-artifact" was something I'd only thought of myself.
Having someone else acknowledge it felt oddly satisfying.
No matter how much I called it a pseudo-artifact, without others' recognition, it was nothing.
Especially since I'd combined magic and engineering—I'd assumed it wouldn't qualify as an artifact.
Artifacts typically meant ancient divine relics.
There were modern ones, but they were magic-dominant.
Unlike mine, where magic and engineering balanced without interference.
Considering nearly all artifacts ran purely on magic, this praise was gratifying.
I just wanted to avoid his gaze.
Mages from other towers chimed in, praising the Magic Stone Engine.
One after another: pseudo-artifact, never thought of combining magic and engineering, etc.
Honestly, I'd expected criticism for linking magic to engineering.
Magic Towers were insular at best, stodgy at worst.
They mingled a lot, but were deeply conservative on magic matters.
Like the medical field, perhaps.
Apparently, there had been various behind-the-scenes dealings I didn't know about.
Hobbes spoke to me as interim representative.
"Edn von Rlangbur."
"Yes."
"We mages accept your argument."
A bit surprised, I looked over, and Patrick from the Red Magic Tower—the first to stand—nodded.
"We're requesting a suspension of the inquiry into you. And if the duke declares it, we'd like you to explain the mass-produced golems as well."
Whoa, it worked?
Honestly, it had been half-improvised.
I'd just spoken from what I knew about magic as an academic field.
Magic is like math; the fundamentals are crucial.
Even as math gets complex, basic arithmetic remains the base!
Of course, there are exceptions, but let's skip those.
"Wh-what?! That's not what you said!"
As the mages clearly sided against them, the nobles jumped up.
But the mages didn't budge.
If anything, they looked annoyed, like they'd seen something bizarre.
"Quiet. Didn't you start with the falsehoods?"
"Urk!"
What had they discussed?
I was curious, but there was no time to ask.
So I just gave Esili a grateful gesture.
She nodded with a faint, hard-to-see smile, pleased to have helped.
"Silence."
A chilling voice rang out as we watched the nobles argue with the mages.
The duke quieted the chaotic chamber and spoke.
"I've heard Edn von Rlangbur's words. Now, I'd like the thoughts of those who requested this hearing."
"Our Magic Tower mages request a suspension."
"Understood. And you?"
The duke's gaze turned to the nobles.
Some averted their eyes, others feigned ignorance.
In the end, they had nothing to say.
If they'd summoned me as a noble, maybe, but it was as a mage.
And the mages they'd called were requesting suspension—what could they do?
The one who'd first stepped forward with the safety claims spoke.
"...We also request a suspension."
"Good. Then it's decided. Listen, Edn von Rlangbur."
"Yes."
I bowed my head slightly, and the duke continued.
"This hearing's topic was whether the Magic Stone Engine is safe. But after hearing various opinions, I've judged we can decide after seeing the improved version. Any objections?"
"Of course not."
"None."
The nobles, mages, and I all accepted his decision.
The duke nodded in satisfaction and signed the paper.
I felt a bit proud seeing the fountain pen in use.
"Good. This concludes the hearing on Edn von Rlangbur for now. You have one month. Fail to deliver, and it resumes."
"Thank you."
With that, my hearing was over.
Of course, things would get busier from here.