episode_0154

“Oh, use lime paste?”

“Yes. When it hardens, isn’t it incredibly hard? There is nothing better than lime dough to form a floor that will support a huge magic tower. Moreover, lime dough is best for building a magic tower because it can shorten the hardening time with magic.”

Although he was not an architect, the alchemist seemed confident, perhaps because he had some knowledge.

However, it soon became clear that such confidence was not simply due to knowledge of the properties of lime paste.

“What are you mixing now?”

“Ah, this is the alchemy solution made by our school. If you add this alchemy solution to lime dough and harden it, it becomes several times harder than ordinary lime dough.”

“Should we call it alchemy? It’s fascinating.”

“When you see the actual results, you will feel that it is amazing.”

Perhaps because it was the source of the alchemist’s confidence, he immediately stepped forward to demonstrate the effects of the alchemic solution.

He immediately made small pieces of lime dough with alchemy added and lime dough without, and hardened them with magic. The lime paste, which was almost liquid, hardened in the blink of an eye in a mold the size of a fist.

And, it showed the two differences that were created in that way. He, who was both an alchemist and a wizard, used magic on lime paste that hardened into stone. Two bluish balls of light appeared and tapped the hardened lime paste.

“If you look at it, there is no difference on the outside, but if you apply an impact like this, you can see the difference.”

The stones that looked the same before being hit by the magic changed into different shapes as soon as they were hit by the magic.

One was completely shattered and crumbled into stone dust, while the other still maintained its original appearance. There was a bit of soot left when the magic exploded, but other than that, it was exactly the same.

Looking at it like that, I could clearly see why it was possible to build a huge building even though the construction technology was not good.

“Do you think it would be good to use it later to make the iron wooden fence surrounding the outskirts of the city with lime paste?”

“That’s right! If you build a castle wall using lime paste with alchemy added, it will be several times stronger than if you build a castle wall with ordinary lime paste. Maybe it can even withstand a magic cannon.”

I nodded slightly at the sight of the alchemist answering energetically, and watched the construction going on.

Meanwhile, some of the researchers at the R&D headquarters were found sneaking outside to look around. Because a magic tower was built right next to the research and development headquarters, it seemed like they came out of curiosity to take a look.

“Boss, are these people the alchemists?”

Among them, the senior researcher showed great interest. The head researcher who came next to me watched closely what the alchemists were doing. Then, perhaps because I sensed something strange, I approached the alchemist who showed me about lime paste.

“Hey, alchemist. Why is that tree buried in limestone over there?”

“Hmm? Of course, this is to make the lime paste stronger. If you only use lime paste, it can easily break, so you need to have something to hold it strong.”

“Oh, you can build it that way too. We only used it to build roads, so we didn’t even think about that part. But, for that purpose, wouldn’t it be better to use an iron bar rather than wood?”

“Iron rod… … ? No, you’re just saying that you use something like that to build a building?”

“Yes? It’s barely a building… … .”

It felt like the head researcher and the alchemist were not communicating smoothly with each other.

The alchemist asked why he used expensive iron when it was possible to make it with alchemy solution, and the chief researcher did not understand why he did not use iron bars because he had never heard about alchemy solution.

Of course, that misunderstanding was quickly resolved. The solution was to show the stone that had been shattered by magic a little while ago and the stone that had survived unscathed.

“At this level, even if you use wood, it will be fine for quite a long time. However, it still seems like a good idea to use an iron bar… … .”

“That’s because the price is the problem. I know very well that it is good to have iron planted throughout the building. The Magic Tower in the capital is the only building built like that. But right now, I have no choice as the budget is a bit tight. It’s also time to make iron bars… … . When the capital’s magic tower was built, it took a very long time because of such problems.”

“Yes? Price and time are the issues… … . Ahhh! understand. But you don’t have to worry about that. Here, in Viscount Steele’s domain, iron is not expensive at all. The time it takes to make it is also short.”

“What does it mean to say that it is because it is Viscount Steele’s territory? … . ah! I see!”

Also, the misunderstanding that the alchemists were having was resolved very simply through additional conversation with the head researcher.

Even though iron was an expensive commodity in the capital, the alchemists also realized that it was not that expensive in my territory. Since they also have eyes and ears, they seemed to understand what was going on about me.

Naturally, alchemists who realized that iron could be purchased cheaply began to retrieve trees that had been buried in lime paste. Since they had not yet been solidified by magic, it was not difficult to take them out.

The alchemists who extracted the trees from the lime paste immediately discussed various things with the researchers and decided to use iron rods.

“Viscount Steele! My lord! Can I ask you to produce some iron bars?”

“Nothing can’t be done.”

Since the Magic Tower was built strong, there was nothing wrong with it, so I nodded willingly. Since we decided to provide support in building the magic tower anyway, we were able to make as many iron bars as possible.

Since it does not take a small amount to build one building, a lot of iron will be consumed, but that was a problem that could be solved just by putting additional undead into the mine.

However, since the raw material, iron, was quite abundant right now, the production of iron bars could be started immediately.

The ingot-shaped iron was heated red-hot, and then about a dozen skeletons clung to it and pounded the iron. At first, it was a lump of iron that stretched out unevenly, but as I turned it around and knocked on it, it suddenly took the shape of a long stick.

Although it was a stick that had a rough, bumpy shape, it would have been sufficient to add strength when placed in the lime dough.

Anyway, after bringing a very long iron rod, the alchemists immediately joined forces with the researchers and began to continue the construction of the magic tower.

Iron rods were planted in the lime paste that had been prevented from hardening by magic, and other iron rods were planted in the same spot around them, and the iron rods were tied together with wire.

I don’t know if it was because the alchemists and researchers worked together like that, but the basement floor of the Magic Tower was created in an instant. The gray-white floor was made very sturdy. It also has iron bars sticking out from the edges and where the pillars would be.

“Alchemist. How will you build the walls and pillars?”

“When the magic tower was built before, it was built using magic. It was made by making lime dough into squares and sticking them together.”

“Hmm… … . So, how about using a mold like making a casting? The mold is what makes the molten iron take a certain shape… … .”

The alchemists and researchers who created the basement floor of the Magic Tower using iron rods now began to put their heads together and exchange various stories.

Not only the head researcher, but also other researchers came and expressed various opinions about building the magic tower.

“Oh! That’s a great opinion! Let’s get started right away! However, rather than bringing something called a mold to make it, it would be better to build a wall with magic to prevent it from flowing.”

And the alchemists, who judged the researchers’ opinions to be quite useful, immediately worked with the researchers to build the walls and pillars of the Magic Tower.

The method was to create two walls using mana on the part that would become the walls of the magic tower, and then pour lime paste between them. The lime paste fixed with mana hardened instantly through magic and was transformed into a very strong wall.

“Hahaha! At this rate, one month… … No, I can complete the magic tower in three weeks!”

Seeing the basement floor and walls starting to be formed in an instant, the senior school member who was in charge of leading the alchemists burst into laughter.

Seeing the senior academy member like that, I also nodded. At this speed, it seemed possible to create a magic tower in an instant.

“Work together with researchers and build a magic tower. If you need anything, let me know.”

Seeing that the researchers were contributing their own ideas and leading in a positive direction, I immediately assigned some of them to the construction of the magic tower.

Since we would have to create various things through collaboration with alchemists in the future anyway, the idea was to experience the process of putting our heads together and producing results in advance.

And, the alchemists and researchers may have understood my thoughts, but they put their heads together and began building the magic tower one level higher at a very fast pace.

The construction of the Magic Tower was progressing at such a pace that its appearance changed not just as a day passed, but several times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening.

All the ingredients were delivered right when needed, and since there were undead who were strong and did not need rest, the speed was very fast. The building was erected in just 15 days, shortening the construction time by a whopping 1 week from the 3 weeks expected by the senior school member. It was also several floors higher than originally planned, reaching a height of 8 floors above the ground.

“… … Is it possible to build a building this quickly?”

I thought there might be problems with durability if the building was built too quickly, but there were no such problems at all. This is because not only did it use magic and alchemy to increase speed, but it was built with magic engraved on the entire magic tower.

In fact, there seemed to be no need to worry as there was not even the slightest scratch even though an iron bar cut into the outer wall while materials were being raised for the upper construction.

Anyway, when the magic tower where alchemists could operate was created, all the alchemists and researchers were immediately called.

Now that there was a space for alchemists to operate, it was time for them to work properly.