Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Uphills Workshop's Victory
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"Uphills Workshop! Champions!"
Waaaaaaaaah—!
A thunderous roar poured toward Uphills Workshop, the first to cross the finish line.
Heh heh.
A hollow laugh escaped Tobin's lips.
'This actually worked...'
In truth, Tobin hadn't understood Isaac's blueprints at all.
He'd just thought, Well, it's from the hero himself, so it must be right... memorized the results, and reproduced them.
Even so, his chest swelled with pride.
Seeing the machine he had made reach the finish line first made his heart pound.
How long had it been since he'd felt such exhilaration?
Tobin's gaze turned to the hilltop stands.
Isaac met his eyes and flashed a bright smile.
The little kid beside him was bouncing around excitedly too.
In that moment, the crowd in the stands split in two.
One group swarmed Isaac to congratulate him, while the other mobbed Gerrick, pointing fingers accusingly.
Looking at Gerrick's sorry state just made Tobin laugh.
'Serves the bastard right.'
After taking all that investment and still blowing the win, his downfall was sealed.
'...But for someone in that position, he doesn't look too bad.'
Gerrick's expression clearly showed relief.
What on earth could he be relieved about?
With his workshop on the brink of ruin.
It was a mystery, but... whatever, good for him.
The era of 'footless horses' was over.
The new era belonged to Uphills.
"Master! First place! First place! Insane!"
Callen came running and hugged him tight.
It had been ages since he'd seen his disciple smile so brightly.
Actually, hadn't he been smiling like that constantly since starting to work with Isaac?
Tobin muttered.
"See? If you've got the skills, the world will recognize you eventually."
"That line again?"
"Heh heh."
'If you've got the skills, it'll pay off in the end.'
It was a habit, something he always told Callen.
But even Tobin himself had started doubting if it was true.
Over those three barren years without work, he'd lost a lot of his edge too.
A moment later, other craftsmen swarmed them like clouds.
"Tobin! What the hell is this?! How'd you do it?!"
"Crazy! You actually beat the 'footless horse'?"
In the chaos, Tobin kept his eyes fixed on his disciple.
Tobin said.
"Just three years. That's all it took."
"...Yeah. Felt like we were dying back then, but it's over now."
"Right? Told you it'd be worth hanging in there."
Imperial South.
Everglow County office.
Bang.
The door flew open as Gwendolyn Everglow stormed in.
"...What is it?"
"..."
Her father tensed at his daughter's sudden antics.
She acted normal outside, but alone with him, she was like a cat.
Even Count Ludwig didn't know where his daughter might pounce next.
Flutter.
Gwendolyn spread the latest issue of Empire's Dignity before her father.
Ludwig pinched the bridge of his nose at the article she pointed to.
[‘Uphills Workshop,’ launched by Isaac Uphills, wins the Harvest Thanksgiving Capital Chariot Race.]
What was this now?
A question floated in Ludwig's mind. He said.
"Wasn't that guy a mage?"
"Yes."
"So why's he suddenly designing chariots?"
"Who knows? But isn't it amazing?"
"..."
Ludwig was momentarily speechless at his daughter's words.
'Has my daughter already fallen for him that hard?'
He liked the young man, but he wasn't quite ready yet...
"Hearing you say that makes me curious too. How'd he do it without magic?"
"Hm. Indeed."
At his daughter's innocent curiosity, Ludwig's thoughts shifted elsewhere.
Unlike his scholarly daughter, he was a warrior to the bone.
His old legion commander's instincts kicked in.
What mattered wasn't how it was made, but how it could be used.
'A chariot that doesn't shake... Chant spells from atop it, then fire magic the moment it stops—a unit of field mages...'
Just imagining it sent shivers down his spine.
A new tactic combining mobility and firepower.
Self-propelled artillery.
No—self-propelled mages.
And if it didn't use mana crystals as the catalog claimed...
Its efficiency would upend the Empire's entire military system.
'But it's not certain yet. If magic's involved in processing, the cost-performance plummets.'
If parts required Isaac to pull all-nighters alone, the price would skyrocket.
'Might as well hire ten cheap Magic University grads.'
Should he order now or hold off?
It was a once-in-a-lifetime dilemma.
He glanced at his daughter's face again.
Gwendolyn's eyes shone with trust in Isaac Uphills.
She seems to like him... Should I buy one?
'No. Betting reservations on an unproven product is insane, regardless of cost. But...'
He recalled that bizarre flame magic that had shaken him.
No hard evidence, but...
If it's from a genius, the cost-performance should be good, right?
Resolve hardened in Ludwig's eyes.
"Daughter."
"Yes?"
She looked up from the catalog.
"Should I buy one?"
"Huh? Why, when the price isn't even listed?"
"..."
Ludwig felt betrayed by his daughter once more.
But he had no intention of backing down.
A week after the chariot race.
I headed to 'Tobin Workshop'—no, now Uphills Workshop.
"What? When'd they change the sign?"
My surname plastered so huge on the door felt weird.
If I complained, Tobin would just say it was named after his disciple.
Everyone gathered.
Tobin, Callen, and Duncan.
It was nice seeing them all grinning.
I said to them.
"Honestly, no one expected things to blow up this big."
"You're telling me."
Originally, it was just supposed to be me making a personal magic tool.
But thanks to Tobin and Callen, we birthed the 'magic-less suspension,' and thanks to Duncan, we won the race.
...I still don't know why they decided to enter the race.
Whatever, good things are good.
Thanks to it, Anna got a fun show, and the craftsmen had a fair showdown.
'If we make bank later, maybe start a sports league?'
Sounds fun, but magic first for now.
I said to them.
"For starters, I've submitted the paper for the high-end 'Magic Tool Suspension' to the Magic Tower."
"Already?"
"It's my job. The issue is this 'mechanical suspension' from the chariot..."
I chose my words carefully.
In this world where most of the elite are mages, tech without magic doesn't get proper IP protection.
In this romantic era where even drawing and quartering exists, it's a wonder magic IP is protected at all.
"This tech needs to stay our secret for now."
If I'd made it alone, I'd have released it freely.
It was just past-life knowledge handed to me.
But I didn't want to give away the suspension they'd helped create for free.
That'd mean we couldn't hire more craftsmen.
Expecting business ethics in this romantic era is unrealistic.
I knew division of labor's efficiency, but forced apprenticeship it was.
I asked Tobin and Callen.
"This means no workshop expansion. You okay with that?"
"Fine by me."
"Me too."
Everyone agreed.
Good.
With the big decision made, time for business.
"So, how many orders so far?"
Callen checked the ledger and answered.
"Everglow family ordered ten chariots' worth, forty units total. Nothing since then..."
"Less than expected."
Everyone's faces fell.
"Why, with such a dominant win?"
Coachman Duncan asked me.
"Because I'm involved."
"Why you, sir?"
"No magic tools in the chariot itself, but they'll assume my magic was used in processing the parts."
Expecting to strike it rich overnight?
Sucks, but the world isn't that easy.
"It'll take time to clear the misunderstanding."
"Hm... Guess we wait it out."
Then Callen raised his hand.
"Hold on."
He continued.
"Do we have to clear it up?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Just say it's infused with 'Isaac Uphills'' mysterious aura and sell it expensive—someone'll buy, right?"
"...."
Hm?
Is that so?
...Come to think of it, the princess heads east on tour in a few days.
Could showcase it then.
'Uphills Workshop Employee of the Year: Callen Uphills.'
A few days later, a gift from 'Isaac Uphills' arrived at the princess's office.
Inside the box were several suspension sets and a short letter.
[Prepared for Your Highness's busy duties. Useful for handling urgent work en route or awkward noble meetings—from inside the chariot.]
"My goodness..."
The princess's hand trembled holding the letter.
It brimmed with pure goodwill and consideration.
'I've never properly helped him, yet why does Isaac...'
She'd heard snippets about Isaac lately.
Taking over 'Tobin Workshop' and running it as his namesake...
Even winning the chariot race under that banner.
She knew he was talented, but this multifaceted? No idea.
"Hm..."
The princess pondered.
What could help Isaac most right now.
Lifting a suspension, she said.
"Could try it on the eastern tour."
Perfect for picking bad roads.
'Split chariots with and without—vary arrival times.'
Word-of-mouth would spread discreetly, bolstering Uphills Workshop.