Chapter 9 - You Didn't Even Use Water Magic, Yet Such a High-Level Water Style!
You Didn't Even Use Water Magic, Yet Such a High-Level Water Style!
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 9
Since that day, the Tower Master had ceased her eccentric behavior. Instead, she began "commuting" to Archion’s workshop.
“Um, Tower Master.”
“Mm.”
“What are these... documents?”
“Documents for my approval. There are upcoming projects for the Magic Tower and even some classified papers.”
It was exactly as she said. She was doing her work for the Magic Tower right there in his workshop. Thanks to that, a corner of Archion’s workshop was now occupied by the Tower Master’s neat, large desk and numerous document boxes.
Archion wanted to ask why right this second. Why was she doing this?
“In accordance with the contract, I provide assistance to your research. However, I must not neglect the affairs of the Magic Tower either.”
“Won’t doing the Magic Tower’s business near an outsider work against the Tower’s interests?”
Even if it was because of the contract, why was she approving important documents in a place where an outsider could see them!
“In my presence, you may look. Provided you are prepared for the consequences of misusing that information.”
“Ah….”
Since she put it that way, Archion had nothing left to say. What brave soul would dare sneak a peek at a Dragon’s business papers and try to exploit them?
Above all, her eccentricities had noticeably decreased. For Archion, that alone was something to be grateful for.
Squish~!
“Ah, my apologies. Are you alright?”
Occasionally, while watching him assemble engineering machinery, she would "mistakenly" lean her body against him, providing a soft cushion.
Anyway, mission accomplished!
“If you intend to increase the mana output, it is correct to use this material.”
“Whoa! The motor really is spinning faster!”
And finally, the Tower Master began to perform her role of genuinely improving research efficiency.
“How did you know?”
“The magic staffs we use are all works of alchemy. And within my head, thousands of years of magical knowledge are stored.”
She was providing magical knowledge that could be directly applied to engineering. Since the engineering Archion knew was powered by mana instead of electricity, he needed quite a bit of knowledge regarding magical materials….
“Then, what about alchemy?”
“Alchemy was a discipline belonging to magic from the very beginning. And our Lidasid Magic Tower is quite well-versed in alchemy. Did you not know?”
“Yes... I thought every Magic Tower dealt with alchemy as extensively as Lidasid.”
“We are only large because our primary business is potion production. When it comes to the advancement of magic, the mages of our tower also treat alchemy as a secondary concern.”
A magical culture where alchemy was neglected. Because of that, it hadn't been easy to find someone with deep expertise in alchemy. Think of how much Archion had struggled while improving the incandescent bulb and the motor….
But now that the Tower Master was here—
“Hmm. A sensor that detects and operates when the water level drops below a certain point…. Is this 'sensor' a device that sends a signal when exposed to a specific situation?”
“Yes. Is it possible?”
“Aqua-Absol. It is an alchemical material that absorbs water rapidly. It is a material that mages of the Blue Magic Tower always include in their staffs.”
Development of the pump motor gained momentum.
“Its property is that its volume decreases when it absorbs water and expands when it dries. And the drying speed is also fast. This should be able to replace your sensor.”
“I love you, Tower Master!!”
“Wh-wh-wh-what nonsense are you saying!”
Operating the pump according to the water level in the tank was now possible. With the motor’s output also improved, the power was now substantial.
“So... what you’re saying, Young Master, is that water is sucked in because of the pressure difference created while rotating?”
“Exactly. Goldie understood well.”
“A pressure difference…. Archion. Is this by any chance the same principle as wind blowing from a place where the air is heavier to a place where it is lighter?”
“How on earth did you sense and even understand high and low pressure?”
They moved on to the full-scale assembly of the pump motor. The pump Archion was developing this time was a centrifugal pump. It’s also called a turbo pump, and inside, it has a peculiar propeller called an impeller. This impeller rotates at high speed to create centrifugal force, which creates a pressure difference to suck in water.
Whirrrrr!Slurp~
“Ooh-waah! Water is really being sucked in!”
“Can you also adjust the strength and amount of the water being sprayed out?”
“It’s possible if we increase the rotation speed, but for the purpose of filling the water tank, we just need to increase the thickness and size of the impeller.”
Creating prototypes was now an easy task. The artisans of each guild had been hounded by Archion’s meticulous conditions for over half a year. They were now in sync with him, and if Archion explained what he wanted, they could even implement it.
“It’s not magic, yet it’s fascinating… Wait, can you wash your buttocks with this?”
“Have you lost your mind? You want to put water sprayed out like this into your back hole?!”
“It’s not that I have that kind of taste! I’m just saying it would be nice to wash cleanly after doing my business!”
Watching the two artisans bicker, Archion vowed to develop a bidet one day. A perfect modern bathroom wouldn't be complete without one.
Pop!
“Whoa!”
“Gasp! This output is incredible!”
Of course, trial and error hadn't vanished completely. Just as with the previous incandescent bulbs, the efficiency was so devastatingly good that a pump made of cast iron—sturdy by medieval standards—exploded.
“Hmm. If we make the casing thicker—”
“I don't think that will be enough. It seems to have exploded because the motor vibration caused cracks….”
“What is a 'crack'?”
“Ah, this is a topic from the mechanics of materials called fatigue failure….”
To compensate for this, Archion poured out engineering theories. Goldie, the Tower Master, and the artisans who were listening….
“Young Master, please explain it more simply. I can't understand….”
“Ah. Sorry.”
They fell into confusion like freshmen looking at a major-specific textbook.
Materials engineering? Rib reinforcement? Damper? Everyone’s eyes spun at the words they were hearing for the first time.
“Basically, we’re going to make a mold and cast it as a single piece. Then the air bubbles inside will escape... and while we’re at it, we’ll replace the molten iron with steel….”
“Ah! By 'ribs,' you mean an external framework! We can just carve grooves in the mold beforehand!”
“Archion. This thing you call 'steel'... are you by any chance referring to wrought iron that has been heated at high temperatures for several days with charcoal? The blacksmiths of the Magic Tower call it 'Silver Iron,' and they even add finely ground animal bones—”
“No, if you all already knew how to make it, why did you ask…?”
Even so, once he explained it simply, they all understood and immediately set to work. Even by medieval standards, they were all masters in their respective fields. If Archion explained it, they weren't unable to grasp it.
Furthermore, it was like he had established theories for things they had realized through experience. From their perspective, they felt their skills improving just by being near Archion.
“Fire magic at maximum output? Not needed. My breath melts everything. Inhale…!”
Kwahaaaaa!!!
“Gaaaah?! Tower Master! Lower the output, the kiln is going to explode!!”
“Whimper! Goldie’s tail caught fireeeee—!!”
Of course, the forge was completely incinerated once during this process.
“Oh dear, oh deeeear… my workshop….”
“Ahem. I have inconvenienced you due to my mistake. However, since the important equipment was recovered—”
“Oh deeeeeeeear!! My laaaaaab—!!”
“I-I understand! I’ll have everything replaced with Magic Tower-level equipment within a week, so stop your tears! Stop it right now!!”
“The whole workshop? You promised.”
“What…? Could it be... was that an act?!! You deceived me—?!!”
And thus, Archion upgraded the forge using the Tower Master’s money.
“Even so, the fact that the Tower Master burned my forge to a crisp remains unchanged. Isn't this a serious violation of the research efficiency specified in the contract?! Oh dear! My workshop!!”
“Only the forge was burned, not the workshop!”
“Are you a Dragon who goes back on her word, Tower Master?”
“Grrrr…!”
It was a summer where the Tower Master trembled with a sense of betrayal (?).
By the time the Tower Master, who didn't want to go back on her word, had a lighter wallet, and Goldie’s burnt tail fur had grown back—
“The youngest young master is showcasing a new machine?”
The mansion was bustling thanks to Archion. It was because today, Archion was showcasing his newly developed engineering machine.
“What kind of machine will it be this time?”
“Whatever it is, our lives will surely become incredibly comfortable. Young Master Archion always said he develops things for an affluent life, right?”
“The incandescent bulbs and ceiling fans were so good... but this time, he’s going to draw up water from a well?”
A machine that can suck up and spray out a large amount of water. Archion called it a "turbine pump."
“It’s crowded….”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of magic the Young Master has performed again!”
Beside the mansion flows a river that the servants use to fetch water. The turbine pump demonstration was held there.
Residents of the Earldom, mages from the Magic Tower, the Tower Master, and even nobles from nearby territories gathered, making it a lively scene.
“Hmph.”
Naturally, members of the Enersis bloodline were also present.
The Head of the House, several family elders, Countess Lucretia, and one of her children, the third daughter, Hermione Enersis.
A cadet at the Imperial Academy, she had returned to the family for summer vacation. But lo and behold, the family she returned to after a long time had changed too much.
“I heard this one is related to fetching water….”
“It would be truly great if it is. Fetching water every time is such a chore.”
“Replacing it with water magic is only something the Third Lady could do.”
Everyone was praising Archion and was completely enamored with the magic tools he had made. The incandescent bulbs, the ceiling fans, and the culture derived from them.
“No matter how good it is, its output will likely be weaker than magic.”
Both of those items had been installed in Hermione’s room as well, and she did find them quite nice. However, Hermione was a magic-omnipresence believer. Her stance was: ‘Why bother developing such things when you can do everything with magic?’
Furthermore, she was a rising prodigy at the Blue Magic Tower. A genius of water and ice magic. To someone like her, a turbine pump that sucked in and sprayed out water?
“It will definitely be weaker than my magic. Can you even sweep away monsters with something like that?”
It’s bound to be nothing special—she was certain of it.
“Don't you agree, Mother?”
“Uuuuhmm….”
Until she saw her biological mother, Countess Lucretia, with an incredibly awkward expression.
“Mother?”
“Just... watch for now.”
Lucretia tried to calm her daughter down for the moment. And Hermione could not understand her mother. Just what kind of alchemical talent did Archion have that even her mother, a high-circle mage, was hesitating!
“We will begin now!”
Archion stepped forward to demonstrate the product, as if providing the answer. He pulled a lever on the machine called a turbine pump—
Chug, chug, chug... Vroooom!Pop!
Soon after, the pump began to operate, emitting a resonant sound. Air and water mixed together and sprayed out from the pump’s discharge port.
“Hmph. As expected.”
After seeing this much, Hermione was convinced the demonstration was a failure.
Whirrr... Kwahaaaaa!!!Swoooooosh~!
“Whoa?!”
“M-my word! What kind of water stream is shooting up higher than the roof of the mansion?!”
“Hahaha! It’s raining even though the sun is out!”
Soon after, seeing the water stream that, accompanied by a roar, far exceeded the 5-story Enersis mansion….
“What... is this?”
She was horrified to find her expectations were completely wrong.
“To think such a water stream could be created without magic!”
“But isn't alchemy a part of magic…?”
“Idiot, it’s Magic Engineering!”
“Aha!”
A rain of river water that shot up dozens of meters before scattering.
Crack!
Watching that rain blankly, the pride in Hermione’s heart began to crack.
“To think this... is not magic…?”
On this day, Hermione began to harbor doubts about her magic-omnipresence belief.