Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Aspiring to Become the Greatest Artisan
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Tio stood before me and spoke.
“From the moment I saw the intricacy of the magic circle, I already sensed it, but your understanding of magic is truly impressive, human.”
She started off by showering me with praise.
“So, here's what I was thinking. If we combine the mana control and magical knowledge you showed when developing the mana battery last time with my technical skills, I don't think there's anything we couldn't make. If I assist with the magic circle using my expertise, we could even advance illusion magic even further!”
“You seem to have something specific you want to develop separately.”
“What I'm aiming for right now is to miniaturize the mana battery we just made—which has zero mana consumption—and turn it into a portable mana device! I'd like your help with that too.”
“Hmm... Is the goal of this collaboration gaining recognition from the other dwarves?”
She nodded.
“If that's the case, I think it would be difficult.”
“Huh? W-Why...?”
“Would they recognize something developed together with a human?”
“Ah...”
She froze for a moment, her voice dazed.
“No matter what we make, we can't subdue those stubborn dwarves.”
“But I...”
She bit her lip, unable to finish her sentence.
The humiliations she'd endured because she was a female dwarf.
The stories of how she wasn't recognized and was told to just do engraving work.
Perhaps those emotions were surging up again.
Her face crumpled as tears welled in her eyes.
I had a rough idea why she craved recognition from the other dwarves so badly.
It was to repay all the humiliation she'd suffered so far.
But as I just said, if the reason was merely to gain approval from dwarves who wouldn't recognize it simply because of collaboration with a human, I couldn't work with her.
The moment she obsessed over that, she'd be wasting her brilliant talent.
‘That said, I can't afford to discard a skilled artisan like Tio.’
She was a craftsman more skilled than any dwarf I'd seen.
Just look at the mana battery she made with zero consumption.
Even though it was thanks to the high-concentration mana stones I provided, she was the only one who'd made a zero-consumption battery even with those.
So, I needed to plant a different goal in her.
One that would keep her from obsessing over a misguided objective.
“If you dream of a different reason, Tio, we can work together.”
“A different reason?”
“Yes. Not a shortsighted goal like gaining recognition from fellow dwarves, but something else.”
“A different goal...”
I spoke to Tio as she murmured softly.
“The greatest artisan. Isn't that enough?”
“The greatest artisan...?”
“Is the reason you're seeking recognition from other dwarves to work in the central factory of Steam Factory?”
“No, that's not it. If it were, I'd have achieved it already.”
“How many dwarves who invented something as hot as the Manacon—used across the entire continent—are working in the central factory?”
“Not many, right?”
“Then you don't need recognition from those jealous failure dwarves anymore, do you?”
“...”
“I don't know much about dwarf society, but one thing I do know: the dwarf who makes the greatest invention is the greatest artisan.”
With just the Manacon she'd made, I thought she could stand at the pinnacle of dwarf artisans.
‘She probably doesn't acknowledge it herself.’
It felt different to me, having lived in modern society.
Conquering the weather wasn't just about developing one item.
It was an invention that could potentially change society as a whole.
That's why Willis Carrier's name keeps coming up even after all this time.
Tio was the same.
Her invention wasn't just about cooling a room; it was on the verge of reshaping society's atmosphere.
“Become the greatest artisan. If that's the condition, I'll collaborate with you.”
‘If she doesn't acknowledge it herself, I can just keep developing until she does.’
That's why I proposed a higher aspiration.
An absolute one that no one's jealousy could pull down.
“...”
She kept silent for a while.
“...The greatest artisan. Can I really do that?”
Fear tinged her voice.
I approached her and said,
“You can. I'm certain of it. Just as you were intrigued by my magic, Tio, I was intrigued by your skills.”
“Ah.”
“If you ever doubt yourself, lean on me then. I believe you have what it takes to be the greatest artisan.”
“...Thank you, human. I get what you mean about not needing recognition from my own kind.”
I patted the shoulder of her head, now nodding as if she'd steeled her resolve.
“Eek!”
Was it because of that previous illusion?
Her body flinched and shuddered.
I pretended not to notice and opened my mouth.
“Then let's do our best. I'll make full use of you to advance illusion magic even further.”
“Got it! I'll trust you, human.”
Tio, reinvigorated, grabbed my hand.
Perhaps because she'd renewed her determination,
Her face was slightly more flushed than before.
“...”
“So, there was this dungeon I went to once. There was a trap that immobilized you for an hour if you fell into it. Wanna know what's funny? It numbs the sensation in the part of your body that got caught. Isn't that hilarious?”
Eirin watched Niki, who sat before her, refusing to leave and spinning tales of her adventures.
Normally, Eirin would have listened with rapt interest to each story Niki shared, but not today.
‘When is she going to leave?’
She was growing bored with Niki still lingering and recounting the hero's adventures.
She had something far more important now.
“I could've just broken the trap since it seemed no fun even if I fell in. Then, in a deep jungle untouched by the empire, there are these lewd plants with weird tentacles. The local natives treat them as sacred and perform some ritual with them. I should've gone to see it, but I missed it because of a nearby monster subjugation.”
Why did Niki's words feel so endlessly long today?
“Ever been hit with a petrification curse? It hurts way more than you'd think. It was nice having our saintess around to heal it right away...”
Niki sighed deeply and sat next to her.
“I miss traveling with you, Eirin...”
“W-We can't do that anymore.”
“Yeah, you're right. The Demon King is dead, and the demon forces are gone now. No reason for the saintess to go out anymore.”
Niki leaned her head on Eirin's shoulder.
“Nothing fun to fill my heart this time either. I go here and there looking for real thrills, but nothing's interesting. Sigh.”
Eirin looked at Niki, who sighed with her head on her shoulder.
Boredom filled her eyes.
She always wore a refreshing smile, but today, that smile lacked its usual vigor.
Why did it remind her so much of her past self?
“Is that so...? Then will you stay in the capital?”
“Probably. I'm thinking of taking a break for a month or so after so long. Maybe I've gone numb from being out too much...”
“I see.”
“I'll keep our saintess company! Even if you use Divine Word on me, I can handle it.”
“...N-No, it's fine.”
“It's fine?”
“Y-Yes... N-Niki, don't push yourself too hard. You should rest well.”
Niki blinked and looked at Eirin.
“Eirin.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have a boyfriend by any chance?”
“...Pardon?”
Her heart plummeted.
For the past few days, Eirin had been masturbating while imagining Max.
And that wasn't all.
Not only had she copulated with the devil Max in the illusion, but she'd even carved a lewd mark on her lower abdomen.
He wasn't her boyfriend, but she'd done things a saintess shouldn't.
That fact made her react as if she really had a boyfriend.
“Why the weird reaction?”
“W-What do you mean...?”
“You seem especially flustered...”
Niki narrowed her eyes, staring at her.
A saintess harboring feelings for another man.
She couldn't imagine the gossip if this got out.
Absolutely not.
“N-No way. Me, a saintess, f-falling for a man...?”
Eirin put on her best act.
Of course, it was pointless.
“...Got it. If the saintess says no, then no it is.”
If Niki hadn't backed off first, it would've been even more trouble.
“Anyway, that's it for today.”
Eirin watched Niki rise from her seat.
“A-Are you leaving?”
“Yeah. Let's call it here for today. I need some alone time.”
The boredom and tedium etched on her face.
Why did she keep seeing herself in that expression?
She couldn't figure out the reason.
Niki was freer and more vibrant than anyone.
Could someone like her—bound by Divine Word, unable to speak properly, confined to the sanctuary—really resemble her?
Watching Niki's inscrutable expression, Eirin saw her off but never grasped the reason.
Except for one thought.
‘I want to go to Brother Max's shop.’
“Hmm.”
Tio had left, and I examined the mana core—no, now called the mana battery—that she'd installed.
“Zero loss rate for sure. The links are properly connected, and it functioned correctly even when I cut off the mana injection for testing.”
It was perfect.
Her craftsmanship was superior to any dwarf's, without a doubt.
I wouldn't have to worry about illusions cutting out from overusing mana anymore.
‘If it gets too much for me, I can just cut off my mana and switch to the battery.’
Even running the magic circle during breaks, it wouldn't collapse from ordinary strain.
‘I was worried about how much I could use it given the expensive mana stones.’
-I'll supply them to you for free, human! We're partners now! And you helped a lot with developing this. So don't worry too much about ordering more mana batteries from now on!
Thanks to Tio's consideration, I could install them comfortably even in my current shaky financial state.
-I'm going to clean up my workshop at Steam Factory. For collaboration, it's better to have an office nearby, right? It'll be fine. Other dwarves set up workshops or forges in the empire anyway. I'm a dwarf who loves overalls, after all?
With that, she returned to Steam Factory.
Tia, still unaware that I knew she was a woman, was putting effort into acting like she was still a man.
‘I'll keep her secret for a while.’
There'd be a chance to tell her soon enough.
As I finished maintaining the magic circle and was about to close shop for the day,
Knock knock knock.
There was a knock at the door.
“Customer, sorry, but we're closed for today...”
When I went out to explain,
“I-It's been a while...”
There stood the saintess Eirin, her voice trembling meekly.
As soon as I opened the door, she slipped inside.
Thud.
She closed the door and looked at me with a deeply flushed face.
“I-I came because I want it carved again.”
Eirin lifted her nun's habit, exposing her lower abdomen.
There, the faint trace of the nearly vanished lewd mark lingered ever so lightly.
Saintess, you want the lewd mark carved again?
Are you in your right mind?