Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1)
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A week had passed since the Red Magic Tower and Blue Magic Tower began selling mass-produced golems.
Their main customers were nobles.
They used the golems for ordinary tasks or sometimes in rather unusual ways.
But there was another group buying them in bulk.
Wealthy merchants.
Nobles typically bought just one or two units, but merchants were different.
They purchased at least three or more, assigning them to escort duties alongside loading and unloading cargo.
Of course, mass-produced golems could only follow simple commands, so they were used in tandem with human workers.
The synergy was more than enough to bring smiles to the merchants' faces.
"This thing is a real gem!"
"Exactly. Thanks to it, work has gotten so much easier."
The merchant and his escort eyed the golem's heavy footsteps with satisfaction.
For both merchants and escorts, golems handling cargo were a godsend.
The merchant glanced at the escort beside him after watching the golem.
His face wore a smile, but something seemed off.
"Right. So keep up the good escort work."
"Ahem. Understood."
The escort looked embarrassed, as if caught slacking off.
The merchant patted his shoulder and sent him off.
And just like that, the golems earned high praise from merchants too.
The Red and Blue Magic Towers, however, couldn't care less.
Public opinion mattered far less to them than something else.
Sales volume was all that counted—the core condition of their bet.
One more week.
Their deadline was fast approaching.
So far, the two towers' sales figures were neck and neck.
Considering they hadn't yet expanded across the entire Empire, a single variable could decide the winner.
And surprisingly, that variable came from Duke Apontuna.
He'd heard about the mass-produced golems from his butler.
"Edn Rlangbur developed these mass-produced golems, right?"
"Yes, my lord. The reviews have been glowing."
The duke was always busy, but lately, he'd been focused on bolstering his house's forces.
Well, he'd always done that, but this time felt different.
He was considering this new technology: mass-produced golems.
"What do you think about operating around a hundred of them?"
"Two options. Integrate them into existing units, or form a dedicated golem battalion."
Each had clear pros and cons.
Pairing with soldiers conserved manpower.
But golems couldn't grasp complex orders, making coordination tricky.
A golem-only unit eliminated coordination issues.
Still, complex commands remained impossible.
Either way, the outcome was the same.
Golems could turn the tide of battle.
Previously, costs were prohibitive, but mass-produced models halved expenses at worst.
The duke nodded, deeming it viable.
"I see. Let's run a trial then. Purchase fifty for now."
"Understood. Where shall I place the order?"
"Hm. For a trial, split it evenly. We need to see which tower performs better."
"Right away, my lord."
And so, orders arrived at both towers under House Apontuna's name.
Seeing this, the towers set aside other requests to prioritize it.
"Hahaha! The heavens guide us!"
Bento of the Red Magic Tower rejoiced at the duke's order.
Mages were a prideful bunch, but they didn't ignore a duke.
On the contrary, as one of their top patrons, they couldn't afford to.
The duke's order was as good as secured additional funding.
Meanwhile, Pilling of the Blue Magic Tower tensed up, unlike his Red counterparts.
Because as soon as the order came in, they'd unleashed their full intelligence network.
And what they uncovered was alarming.
"This is bad. The Red Tower got an order too."
"Meaning..."
"Exactly. We have to prove we're superior."
The Blue Tower poured everything into maximizing quality.
Upgrading parchment to finer stock, switching inks for inscribed spells, and more.
In the end, both towers delivered to House Apontuna with their best efforts.
Only top-tier products selected.
Now, the duke would test them personally and decide.
On a wide clearing, rock piles were prepared, and each parchment tested.
"This one..."
Watching the golems rise, the duke made his choice.
Which tower to use.
**
At last, the competition between the two towers ended.
A month—long yet fleeting—had passed.
Bento and Pilling arrived at the Mage Society once the contest concluded.
Each clutching ledgers detailing sold parchments and totals.
I took the ledgers, vowing a fair judgment.
Normally, I'd factor in material costs and more.
But that wasn't important now.
Who won mattered most.
Production costs could be adjusted later.
"Though overspending would be an issue."
Still, as fellow towers, they'd likely spent similarly.
No way they'd pour excess just to win.
Standing before me, their tension was palpable.
Despite being older, they looked like interviewees awaiting results.
I opened the ledgers before them and read slowly.
Hm, both Red and Blue Towers gave it their all.
But there could only be one winner, and it was clear-cut.
"It's decided."
"Really? Who won?"
Bento asked excitedly.
I calmed him with a throat-clearing pause.
The winner was...
"Regrettably, the Red Magic Tower!"
"Yes!"
"No way!"
The verdict was plain, splitting joy and sorrow.
Bento thrust both arms skyward in triumph.
Pilling slumped to the floor in defeat.
Gloomy yet baffled, he stared.
I explained why Bento and the Red Tower prevailed.
"Overall sales are close. But Red edged out slightly."
Of course, that alone wouldn't convince.
It was sales volume that decided, but the loser craved specifics.
I opened the ledger.
"Red Tower shows steady upward growth throughout."
"...I see. Blue was inconsistent, that's true."
As the downcast Pilling admitted, Blue's graph jagged wildly.
Unpredictable future.
They could gamble on luck, but it'd remain precarious.
For me, eyeing commerce, Red was far more appealing.
Pilling nodded, convinced.
Thankfully, prideful yet rational mages.
I shook Pilling's hand in consolation.
Then approached Bento for a congratulatory clasp.
"Looking forward to working together."
"You got it. Trust only Red Tower."
"Haha, reliable as ever."
Thus, monopoly sales rights went to the Red Magic Tower.
**
In the end, Red Magic Tower triumphed.
They'd handle mass-produced golems exclusively now; nothing left for me to worry about.
Well, settlements lingered, but...
"Routine stuff."
Professor sent steady engine sales reports.
Fountain pens too.
Novels got regular statements from Jenectra Publishing House.
Adding golems changed little.
"Might need family help if it piles up."
Or start a company.
Oh, right—Professor has one?
Co-CEO with him?
"I developed them; he'll agree if I ask."
Worst case, legal tussle.
But unlikely.
Anyway, later issue.
No immediate plans.
So, next up?
Regrettably, honoring my promise to Katiranya.
I wanted rest, but no dice.
Promised—or half-promised—to write her a novel.
She nagged daily; no choice but to write.
Unless I fancied more prodding.
"Besides, I had an idea brewing."
This one's short.
A novella; with illustrations, maybe 250 or 300 pages tops.
Short's fine; Katiranya would understand.
Right after golems!
Anyway, this time: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The spark? Nothing major.
Just something close by.
Mass-produced golems, upgraded engines before that.
The duke's public-versus-private image gap at the council, plus the Don Quixote fiasco.
The latter? Fake sequels by unknown hacks claiming authorship.
Heard my Don Quixote Part 2 ending shut them down.
"Made me ponder humanity's duality."
That theme screamed this story.
Not the only tale on it, sure.
But short one this time.
"Novellas exist too."
Back home to my study after ages away.
Straight to fountain pen and writing.
First, review the original.
Full title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Koreans know it shorter: Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, musical as Jekyll & Hyde.
Summary: Dr. Jekyll theorizes humans comprise good and evil halves.
His own case, but still.
Experiments yield a potion splitting the evil within.
Enter Hyde.
Jekyll indulges crimes as Hyde, but loses control.
Hyde emerges at will, dominating time.
Potion runs out; new batches fail.
First had impurities; pure ones didn't work.
Jekyll dies as Hyde.
"Maybe brewing the potion crossed the point of no return."
Filling details come in the book.
"Place names like Sherlock Holmes—fictionalize."
Same setting as Holmes.
Timeline difference only; no issue.
"Won't be a problem."
Holmes flew; this will too.
I wrote diligently.
Finished in a day—eager for break?
No hitches; satisfying.
"Done. One niggle, though."
Good-versus-evil theme.
Holy Kingdom might object.
Plus Jekyll's potion.
Earth aside, alchemy here makes real potions.
"Nah, who'd try?"
No recipe anyway.
I shrugged off needless worry.
Manuscript complete, off to Jenectra Publishing House.