Chapter 65: The Strongest Staff
I entered the building located just past the Knights Order’s training ground.
I paid a visit to what had now completely become the Magic Tool Research Laboratory, formerly the Knights Order’s equipment storage area.
“Thanks for your hard work!”
“Ah, thanks for your hard work!”
As I greeted the artisans, with whom I’d become quite familiar, and proceeded to the back room, I found three of them bustling about together.
“I told you! It goes like this here! Mine goes first, I said!”
“No, this one goes first.”
“Hmm. If I do mine like this, and this one here, won’t they not interfere with each other?”
“Ah… in that case!”
It seemed like they were fiddling with a huge staff.
However, while I’d expect the staff artisan to go berserk if someone pointed out something about the staff to him, as I observed, he was properly only chiming in on matters related to his own specialty. It looked like they were discussing how to attach the parts they had individually crafted.
“What’s that staff?” I asked, steeling myself and joining their circle.
“Ah, you’re here, you’re here! Listen to this! We’re making the world’s strongest staff right now!”
“Yeah, this thing’s the strongest. It won’t lose even to your bombs.”
“Because the materials are insane, you know.”
All three of them turned to me with meaningful, grinning faces.
Good grief, what were they plotting? They always look like they’re having fun; I’m envious.
“Th-that’s very interesting, but… something came up that I have to tell you.
The war has started. So, you can hand off your work to other artisans and evacuate.”
“Since you guys are residents of Oldam,” I added.
“…What should we do?” the three of them muttered in unison.
No, what do you mean, “what should we do”?!
No matter how you look at it, you should go back. You’ve done your jobs properly!
“Kuuhh… I’m staying! I can’t leave this job… even if it costs me my life!”
“We just made a huge discovery, you know. It’s not this one, but I haven’t tinkered with it enough. You’ll be surprised too, you know?”
“That’s right, that’s right. This time, it’s your turn to be surprised!”
The topic somehow changed midway, but when I tilted my head, wondering if they were okay with evacuating, two of them gave the worst possible answer: “We’ll stay a little longer.”
While warning them that it would definitely get dangerous, I asked the reason for their grins.
“So… what’s up?”
“This is where I should be the one to say it. Come here for a sec.”
The leather artisan beckoned with his finger.
The place he took me to was the material storage room.
“Ohh, so you found some new, highly useful material?”
“You’re quick on the uptake. That’s right. See this Treasure Chest’s inner lining?
This… is the raw material for Backpacks.
The very same material that the country seized, making it unobtainable except for state-sponsored merchants.
And that’s not all!
Judging by the size of the cloth, we should be able to make a Backpack with five times the capacity of conventional ones!!”
As he spoke, rubbing his hands together excitedly, I couldn’t help but let out a cry of joy, “Ooooooh!”
“So, that’s why. If we miss this chance, we won’t be able to tinker with it anymore.
I want to help with your work too, so I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“I-I’ll stay too. We’re short-handed on Magic Tools.”
No, you guys were just messing around, though…
Well, I guess it’s fine if it’s just for a little while.
“So… what’s so amazing about this staff?”
“Listen to this! Unbelievablyyyyy!! The amplification rate is four times!!!”
He shouted, thrusting his fist towards the heavens.
“Huh? No, no, usually it’s 30% at best, right? Isn’t that a mistake for 40%?”
When I threw my common knowledge at him, it turned out that was talk for poor people.
“No, even with commonly available materials, if you throw enough money at it, you can get up to two times,” Mizuki said.
“Then how did you get a number like four times!”
Pouring money into it means it’s two times with the highest quality materials, right?
Either way, that’s still absurd!
“Well, of course! It’s because this gemstone and my skills came together!” the staff artisan declared.
“Idiot, it’s thanks to me completely eliminating wasted Magical Power with the Backpack material,” the leather artisan retorted.
“Hey now, my Magical Power circulation technology is in there too, you know!?” Mizuki chimed in.
Another artisan, who came in avoiding eye contact with the three squabbling ones, whispered something to me.
“These guys, ever since they got hooked on that, they haven’t been doing any work at all…”
“You guuuuys!! It’s fine to mess around, but do it after you’ve finished your work!”
“We are working! You’re mainly a magic user, right, Kimi? We made this for the war!
Gununununu… I really want to adjust it more, so I don’t want to hand it over, but…
I’m reluctantly giving it to you, okay! You absolutely have to return it, you hear?”
The young staff artisan held out the staff with a terribly reluctant look on his face.
I thought he’d never hand it over, but to think he made it for me…
“Th-this helps a lot. Um, can this kind of thing be used many times?”
“Normally, it can be used indefinitely, but… I’ll guarantee five uses. Maybe it can go up to ten,” Mizuki explained.
“There’s nothing we can do about that part,” the leather artisan added.
“If the circuits made of pure Mithril burn out, there’s no fixing it.
It’s probably a backlash from greatly exceeding the amplification limit…
The ones that broke are piled up over there, right? That’s what happens.”
O-ohh… these guys…
Wasting someone else’s luxury items just for fun, they’ve got too much nerve. Though I already knew that.
“I-I properly worked hard on this as Rui’s trump card!” Mizuki declared.
“O-oh. Thanks, Mizuki. My first battle is at the fort the day after tomorrow, so this really helps.”
“A r-report! Make sure to write it down properly on paper and summarize it for me, okay!?”
While I was talking with Mizuki, the staff artisan, who was radiating an “I want it back” aura, made a strange request.
No way. It should be fine to just report the amplification level verbally…
“So, how is it? Think you can manage?” one of them asked.
“I don’t know yet. It’s my first battle, after all. But I don’t think I’ll lose immediately.”
“Alright, well, if that’s the case, our contract continues. Shall we do one more job?” the leather artisan said.
“Then, since we got your seal of approval, how about we make another one after we finish our work?” the staff artisan suggested.
“…Are you a genius?” Mizuki responded.
And so, the three of them returned to their work.
Man, this staff is huge. It’s over two meters long.
Well, I’ll be storing it, so it’s fine.
But I’m grateful. Four times my full-power magic, right? That sounds pretty insane.
Whoops. More importantly, next is Hiroki and the others. I expect they’ve gone home, though.
When I headed to the aid station, contrary to my expectations, Hiroki’s mother, Sayuri-san, was there.
There were no patients, so she was chatting with other healers.
I looked around, but Hiroki and the others weren’t there.
Reluctantly, I went over to Sayuri-san.
“Um, you haven’t gone back yet?”
“Oh, Rui-kun. Of course I’m not going back. Is it about that again today?”
I replied, “No,” and had her gather the doctors. These people would need to prepare too.
“The day after tomorrow, hostilities will commence.
Even if many patients come, please conserve that and use it only when your Magical Power is insufficient.”
To the doctor who asked back, “The day after tomorrow, you say?” I replied, “Yes. The battle will likely start the day after tomorrow at the earliest,” and they responded, “We’ll make our trips to the town clinic by tomorrow then.”
Apparently, they had been using their surplus Magical Power there.
They must have heard that the war wouldn’t start yet.
It seems they’ve been acting flexibly to be able to bring in healers from the town.
I told them that was all, and then asked Sayuri-san, “Hiroki and the others are…”
“Those kids are in the Dungeon. I’m so glad. They’ve gotten along well with Owen.
This way, even if something happens, I’ll have no regrets.”
Apparently, Sensei was giving them practical combat training.
Hiroki probably heard Lestall might be in danger and is pushing himself hard, likely thinking that since I’m trying to handle things, he needs to do his part as well.
That guy has a super strong sense of responsibility.
But still… there’s no need for them to be in the Dungeon here, is there?
“Shouldn’t we be worried about the fact that they’re here right now?
If you’re here, the two of them might die, you know?”
Even when I said that, Sayuri-san shook her head.
Her father, who had struggled to raise her all by himself. She said she knew how difficult and lonely that must have been, and she had lingering regrets. She had Owen, who supported her both emotionally and financially, but even so, it had been tough. She said her father had strongly opposed her becoming a Hunter, and she had left home practically running away. After her two children were born, they started corresponding by letter, but it had been over a dozen years since they last met. Seeing her father, who had aged considerably, she apparently thought she had to be a filial daughter to him now.
No, for a grandfather, he looked incredibly youthful, though…?
Well, whatever.
Regarding the safety of her two children, she didn’t seem worried at all, thinking they’d be fine if Owen was there.
He’s certainly strong, Sensei is…
“Well then, there’s no point in saying anything more.
I guess I’ll just have to do something to make sure the town doesn’t become a battlefield…”
“That’s right. Good luck, Ouji-sama!”
Th-this woman… Why does she say that so nonchalantly…
I understand Hiroki’s suffering now. She’s like my own mother when she’s being difficult.
Either way, I have no intention of letting the town become a battlefield, but that was just plain irritating.
I let out a deep sigh and left the aid station.
Next, I have to go back to that place where I set the bombs and inform them that the enemy army has made a move.
In terms of construction days, it should be barely okay, but I should inform them just in case and have them hurry.
No… it’s a lifeline, so if it’ll be ready in time, maybe it’s better not to rush them?
Hmm, I’ll inform them just in case, and tell them to be careful since it will be ready in time.
There’s also the possibility of scouts coming, so strengthening the watch is necessary.
Thinking that, I once again descended to Fort Fondale.
Just by my doing so, everyone stopped their work and lined up.
“Sorry to bother you. But something has come up that I must report.”
So, I informed them of the day the war would start and asked them to strengthen their surveillance, telling them they could take their time and be careful with their work.
It seemed I had made them incredibly tense, so I reassured them, “If the reports are accurate, you’ll likely be able to return without even seeing the army, even if you take your time. It’s alright, so be cautious.”
That’s right. They are soldiers, but they aren’t scheduled to participate in the fort’s defense.
They seemed to regain some composure at those words, so I entrusted the work to them with peace of mind.
After that, to scout the Daltone Army’s movements, I flew towards a town called Duct.
After flying for a while, I saw the lights of the town.
Outside the town, an incredible number of tents were lined up, and I could see a large number of soldiers gathered.
That was fine, but…
It looked like they had already begun their advance.
No, the movement just started. That’s how it seemed.
The organized troops were gradually moving out onto the main road and starting to march.
“Crap, I just told them it was alright a moment ago.
This is no time for that, is it?”
After confirming from above, I did an about-face and increased my speed.
The distance between Duct and Belfast is relatively short.
Even though it’s a town in another country, the distance is about the same as to Oldam.
It’s even closer to Fort Fondale.
Ah, Oldam was another country too.
Ahh, the smallness of Belfast…
Well, it does spread out quite a bit to the south, though.
Let’s see, they said about three days, right?
If it’s to the fort, that’s half the time, so a day and a half, huh?
If the construction period is until tomorrow, then it should just barely be in time.
In that case, first is report, contact, consult, huh.
We’ll be too late if our side doesn’t sortie as well.
Our numbers are small, and it’s mostly high-ranking Knights, so our speed should be good, though.
It’s alright, it’s unexpected, but it’s alright, I told myself as I returned to Belfast Castle.
When I immediately had the General summoned, the Knights Commander, Uncle, and Aunt came along too. Thinking it convenient, I explained the situation.
“The Daltone Army just left Duct moments ago. It looks bad if we don’t head out too.”
“Hmm, we haven’t received any such report…”
Roosevelt-san tilted his head dubiously, looking perplexed.
I understand how he feels, but it’s for real.
“Hold on. This kid can fly freely. Rui, you saw it, didn’t you?”
It was a relief that Uncle was there. I immediately nodded, “I saw it with my own eyes.”
“They were on foot, so I think there’s some leeway, but we can’t afford to be slow, can we?”
“No, if they’ve already started moving, there’s no time to spare!
Let’s hurry! Your Highness, will you be joining us?”
The General gave a nod, and while firing off instructions for his aide to go make contact, he asked about my plans.
“No, I’ll fly around and check if there are any scouts.
The success or failure of the landmines will decide the battle, so we can’t let them figure out the location.”
“Rui, take me with you. You can’t do it alone.”
I nodded at Uncle’s voice.
If he can use Enhanced Hearing, that’s reassuring.
His strength probably hasn’t increased that much from just two trips to the Abyss, but I can give him a Gun and we can shoot together.
Regarding the Gun, I’ve had the blacksmith make bullets.
In that case, they can’t be offset by Magical Power, so if we land a proper hit, it’s pretty much a win.
They don’t have Elixirs over there, after all.
After that, as planned, I’ll check if any scouts have gone ahead.
But it’s a pain because I can’t hear over the sound of the wind unless I stop each time.
Even though the sun has already set.
I probably won’t get any sleep today…
Muttering complaints, I flew around the night sky.