Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Magic Stone Engine (8)
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The prototype of the Magic Stone Engine was complete.
The principle was exactly as I'd explained before, and surprisingly, the experiments didn't exceed a hundred runs.
Honestly, I'd expected it to go over that.
Well, I'd rushed it a bit to make it demo-ready.
Like Steve Jobs unveiling the first phone, swapping out units on the sly.
I'm a little different, but the demo will go off without a hitch.
For a full commercial release, though, it'll need about another week.
"We'll worry about that later."
Right now, it's time to check out the rig the professor prepared.
The mineral mining cart I'd requested from him the moment the prototype was done.
Today, we mount the engine and take it for a proper test drive.
Three days until the council demo.
I'm still buzzing at the thought of shoving it right up those nobles' noses.
"Edn, you can't afford any slip-ups. You know that, right?"
"I do, Katiranya."
It's nearly perfect, but complacency isn't on the menu—not now, not ever.
Not when I've clawed my way to this chance. I won't blow it.
Right on cue, the professor pulled up with the chassis.
I went over with Katiranya to inspect it.
Good—chassis is solid, no issues.
"Time to mount the engine!"
Crane it up, slot it into the engine bay.
Hook up the bits, tighten the fittings, align everything. Done.
I wiped my hands and gazed at the freshly finished machine.
Unlike a regular car, it screamed mineral mining rig.
A drill up front, counterweight in the back to support it.
Engine and driver's seat sandwiched in between—small-scale mining vehicle fit it perfectly.
Only downside: it looked pretty crude. A bit disappointing.
"Edn... this is as good as it gets."
"I know."
A shadow crossed the professor's face.
He'd clearly been working day and night on this.
Once this is over, his reputation gets a boost too.
Plus, he's been fretting over how to turn his business profitable.
Bump up productivity, slash prices. Should do the trick.
Anyway, business later—time for the first test run.
I loaded the mining cart with lubricant and mana crystals, climbed into the driver's seat.
Final checks, buckled in, turned the key.
Vrrr—.
The mining cart hummed to life with a low rumble.
The professor and Katiranya watched from the side, impressed.
"It's working! Edn, success!"
"Ho, interesting. It moves nothing like a standard cart."
Seeing them marvel made my spirits soar too.
But no relaxing yet.
If my calculations hold, it'll only run for about an hour stationary.
Moving? That'll cut it way down.
Finish the test quick.
I eased down on the accelerator, heading for the rock pile prepped just ahead.
Hit the button to spin up the drill, inched closer.
"Ooh, it's working."
Perfect—this'll do it!
Watching it operate flawlessly, I truly felt it was complete.
I hopped out, did final maintenance, and prepped for the council.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Council day.
Today, I prove the improved Magic Stone Engine—or it's over.
The test runs went fine, but nerves were inevitable.
Still, plenty of people believe in me.
Time to reward that faith with a flawless demo.
Naturally, the mining cart demo was outdoors.
In front of a massive boulder hauled in by the Magic Tower mages—or rather, their apprentices.
Cart runs normally, drill powered by the engine carves out that giant rock. Done.
Simple, yet not so simple.
The rock was enormous.
Nearly ten meters across—who knows how hard they worked those apprentices.
And it wasn't plain rock—veins of iron laced throughout.
Meaning this thing was tough.
The professor eyed it, voice laced with worry.
"You sure about this? Looks like it'll need iron-mining capability if it slips."
"It'll be fine. Designed to handle that from the start."
Theoretically, even tougher than iron.
Issue is whether the demo engine holds up.
If it craps out midway?
Edn's life ends that day!
Still.
"Gotta make it work."
After all I'd suffered the past month.
Fail? Sleep's off the table.
Literally.
I reassured the professor and strode confidently to the demo site.
Nobles and mages already there, encircling, watching me.
They'd been chatting; my entrance hushed them.
Tense, yeah.
Center stage, scanned the crowd—locked eyes with Duke Ropel Apontuna.
Bowed my head in greeting, then addressed the audience.
"Thank you all for coming. I'll now demonstrate the mineral mining cart powered by the improved Magic Stone Engine."
Laid it on thick to grab attention.
Like it was no big deal.
Done with greetings, hopped in, checked everything, buckled up.
"Whew, here goes."
Key on—engine rumbled low.
No breakdowns. Good.
"Ooh, heard a bit beforehand, but..."
"Impressive. Mana flow's unstable, but solid work."
"Heh, so that's the pseudo-artifact? Engine and parts reinforced with mana supply for durability."
"Weak reinforcement spells etched in?"
Praise mixed with analysis everywhere.
Mostly mages; non-magic nobles stayed mum.
But their eyes gleamed predatory.
Ready to pounce if I fail.
Won't happen.
I'd managed the cart right up to the venue.
No time for sabotage.
"So sit tight and watch."
Accelerated gently toward the boulder.
Cart moved—gasps and cheers rippled out.
Me? Cold sweat, monitoring the engine.
Can't cast inner realm spells, but I sense mana fine.
Couldn't build this otherwise.
Engine's dicey now.
Mana flow unstable—tension spiked.
Test runs before venue wore it down?
Or environment mismatch?
Can't pinpoint, but stop?
"Screw that. No stopping."
Full steam ahead!
Cart halted before the rock.
Buttons flew—routed power to the drill.
"Ooh, drill's nominal too!"
"But won't that split the output?"
A mage stroked his goatee, skeptical.
Others nodded agreement.
"True. Output might not cut it?"
But some pushed back.
"Prototype stage—no judging yet. He came for the demo. This is proof central. He believes it's ready."
Hey, not total confidence.
But not blind either.
Throttle down—drill kissed the rock, grinding in with an ugly screech.
"Ooh, like a Wind Cutter through timber."
"Nah, more like an Explosion spell."
"Quiet. That's the iron vein. Performance test incoming."
All held breath, staring—I prayed the engine endured.
Can't fail here.
You die, I die!
Hid my nerves, kept the pedal down.
Drill hit the iron.
"It's... mining it!"
"Handles iron no sweat—what a mining cart!"
"That level? Mines get way more efficient. Introduce to mine, productivity skyrockets."
Phew, safe.
Wiped sweat, relieved.
Drill managed iron, but output lag or stall had me sweating.
Glanced around—mages and some nobles eyed my cart hungrily.
Whoa, think I'm selling to them?
Business-wise, won them over.
Turned haters into fans. Profit.
But as Edn the man? No thanks.
These types are bandwagon jumpers.
Floppy-eared, as they say.
Inched forward to prove it no fluke, then reversed.
Stopped the drill, reached to kill the engine.
Pffft.
"Huh, it shut off."
Timing's impeccable.
Hand on switch, engine dies.
They think I did it.
Some mages side-eye, but ignorable.
Out of the cart, grinned boldly, shouted.
"How was it? As you saw, the improved version proved its performance. Mined minerals impossible for the old engine."
Silence blanketed the crowd.
Scanning faces, the noble who'd grilled me before shot up.
"Damn it!"
Snarling, he stormed out.
His pissed-off mug? Pure satisfaction.
Chuckled softly—Duke's icy voice boomed.
"It's over. Time for the council verdict. Edn Rlangbur, listen."
"Yes."
Turned to him—he held up a paper.
Council results, probably.
"Verdict as follows: Edn Rlangbur has proven the Magic Stone Engine he produced and distributed safe. Thus, all charges against Edn Rlangbur are void as of now. Objections?"
Mages: none.
Nobles: grudging nods.
Duke nodded once.
"Hearing concluded. Dismissed."
I won.
Joy overwhelmed—arms shot up high.
Beat those damn nobles!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The council ended in Edn's victory.
The noble who'd orchestrated it fumed to his scalp.
Back home, he paced, venting rage.
"Damn it! That cursed Rlangbur!"
Face flushing purple, he slammed the desk.
"Filthy warlock bastard! You said it'd work your way! Why's he soaring higher?!"
He glared at the statue-still figure in the corner.
Black-and-blue robed, it paused before speaking.
"Birds that soar endlessly burn in the sun eventually."
Pre-council, he'd have agreed.
Post-failure? No.
"Doesn't look like burning anytime soon! Damn it, now what?!"
Straightened, death-staring the robe.
The robe, unfazed: "There is a way. Succeed, and the royals are yours."
"What? How?"
Fury flipped to glee.
Then coughed, hiding it, recalling the council.
"It may escalate in scale."
"Fine. Just win."
Topple Edn, worth any wait—even longer than now.
Council took months; few more fine.
His ancient jealousy clung like tar, beyond mere stubbornness.
Sensing it, the robe just smiled quietly.
"Heh. Wait, Edn. You won't soar forever."
Oblivious to the mocking robe, he dreamed of golden futures.