episode_0155

After calling all the alchemists and researchers, I sat down in the mansion overlooking the garden and leisurely looked out the window.

Time passed quite a bit while I was traveling to the capital, summer had already passed, and the feeling of fall was already in the air. It was fall in the garden, the leaves were falling, and the plants were also showing signs of preparing for winter.

It was an autumn scene that may have looked a little bleak, but because the person who managed the garden was Jiena, the garden still looked beautiful even though it was fall.

As I was staring blankly at the garden, people began to enter my mansion one by one and gather in the center of the garden. Since the alchemists and researchers were all remembered by the hive mind, opening the mansion’s gate through the hive mind was no problem. Because it used a skeleton instead of hinges.

Anyway, people came in one by one, and everyone was seated in about ten minutes. Among the alchemists brought to the territory, none had the same rank as me or were of a higher rank, so I answered the call right away. Needless to say, all the researchers gathered together.

At my call, the alchemists and researchers gathered in the garden of the mansion were talking about various things in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere.

I don’t know if it was because the alchemists and researchers exchanged opinions a lot about building the magic tower, but it seemed like they were already becoming close friends. In particular, the senior faculty member and the senior researcher were standing side by side and having a conversation.

If you were inside the mansion, it wasn’t difficult to hear their conversation because you could sense even a rat moving.

“Not long ago, our boss asked us to make metal that wouldn’t rust, but it was really difficult.”

“Ho, is that so? It’s a metal that doesn’t rust… … . If it’s metal, it’s bound to rust. But I think that’s why it’s so interesting. The lord has given you a very interesting task.”

“Yes. So we are working very hard. It’s just a pity that there hasn’t been any significant results yet.”

“Do you mind if I help you a little later? Preventing rust from occurring in metals that naturally should rust is a transformation of physical properties! That is the goal that an alchemist should aim for!”

“Oh! We would be very happy if the alchemist would help us.”

Perhaps they had already become close friends, but the sight of the senior faculty member and the senior researcher smiling at each other felt very satisfying. In the first place, I built a magic tower in my territory to cooperate and produce results like that.

Satisfied with the senior school members and head researchers, as well as the alchemists and researchers, exchanging various stories, I immediately got up from my seat. Now that everyone had arrived, it was time to explain why I had summoned them.

I immediately went down the stairs of the mansion and went out to the garden where the alchemists and researchers were gathered.

When I opened the door to the mansion and appeared, the chaotic atmosphere instantly became quiet.

“The reason I called you all out like this is because there is something I want you to collaborate on in the future.”

When I said that there was something I wanted to create together, the alchemists as well as the researchers responded. Since the researchers often asked me to do research, they seemed to be expecting what I would have them do this time, but the alchemists were a little different.

I felt like they were worried because I was in a school that received budget and was run by the government. It was clear that they thought that the research they were going to do might not be fun, or that it might just be difficult for no reason. No, there were people who not only thought about it, but also muttered it.

He smiled lightly at the several alchemists who showed signs of concern and told them what he wanted.

“There are three things you need to do. We create metals that are harder than steel and do not break easily, metals that do not rust, and metals that are lighter than steel but are similar or better than steel. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a different metal. I can find a way to process iron to the level I want.”

And, at the same time as I revealed what I wanted, the alchemists and researchers who had reacted slightly differently showed the same reaction.

He was looking at me as if I was making an absurd request.

“I… … . president? Is that possible? It is impossible to make iron hard and unbreakable at the same time. If you make it hard, it becomes brittle, and if you don’t make it brittle, it becomes soft… … .”

That’s common sense – I nodded as I saw the head researcher equivocating, as if he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. I also had training as a blacksmith, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know about it.

“So, I’m saying you should cooperate. Even now, you can see that the elixir made iron superior, right? I’m telling you to do it that way. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to just make iron hard and use alchemy to make it unbreakable?”

“Ah! That way… … !”

Let’s applaud as if that were the solution! I looked at the researchers nodding their heads for a moment, then turned my attention to the alchemists.

“And, even if you don’t necessarily use the elixir, there may be a way. I don’t know much about alchemy, but wouldn’t it be possible to understand the characteristics of substances through alchemy? I heard that only alchemists can make gold nuggets of very high purity.”

“Yes, that’s right. Only an alchemist can create gold that is so free of impurities that even magic cannot detect it.”

After hearing the story at first glance, the alchemists seemed confident, saying it was true.

“Then wouldn’t it be possible to understand the characteristics of iron? Iron ore contains impurities, so its properties change depending on the smelting process. If there are a lot of impurities, it may break easily, but well-made steel does not break and is even hard. If we know the cause, wouldn’t it be possible to control it arbitrarily? Or, it would be good to find out about impurities that can change the properties of iron.”

“Oh… … . That makes sense. Suddenly my curiosity arose. This may be the fundamental way to achieve physical property transformation. No, I even think that maybe it could be a step towards the truth of this world!”

The alchemists turned their heads towards the magic tower, which was visible from a distance from my mansion, as if they wanted to run to the magic tower right away. At the very front, the senior school member was so excited that the mana around him was shaking as if his passion was visible, and he was shaking his body as if he was going to run at any moment.

Not only that, some alchemists even questioned the researchers nearby, asking if what I said was true. Hearing what I said, it seemed as if he had been stimulated by something as an alchemist.

It felt like if they continued like this, they would abandon all the research they were doing and cling to what I said. The alchemy school is not mine, and it shouldn’t be, so I had no choice but to stop them.

“Of course, I will have to finish all the research I am currently doing and the work I had to do separately at the school. No matter how much I say I am a supporter of the school, I can’t have you completely ignore the school’s schedule, right? Don’t let the princess and I blush for no reason.”

“Ah, ah… … .”

When I heard an exclamation of regret as I spoke, I thought I did a good job of stopping him. When the princess came to visit the branch later, it seemed like she would not find the alchemists messing around.

‘If the princess comes instead, she might come forward and instigate the alchemists… … .’

Considering that the princess was said to be obsessed with alchemy, I thought that she might take the lead after hearing about what I wanted, but she quickly shook her head and shook off the random thoughts. That was the choice of the princess, the head of the school.

Anyway, seeing that the alchemists seemed to want to finish all the research and schedule immediately and do the research I asked for, I decided to send them away right away. It seemed like he was going to use magic to get out of this situation if he stayed like this, so it was better to just let him go.

The alchemists, who were shaking their bodies, hurriedly left my mansion as soon as I heard my words. To anyone, it would have seemed like I, a warlock, had posed a threat to them and were running away. The difference is that the face is not one of fear, but of joy.

“Boss. Well then, let’s go.”

Although not as much as alchemists, researchers who were interested and motivated to research also wanted to go to the R&D headquarters. Since I didn’t have any further instructions to give them, I sent them on their way as well.

Fortunately, the researchers escaped in a calm manner, unlike the alchemists. It was clear that he did it because he knew that even if he ran out like that anyway, it would be faster to catch a moving bus and go there.

Of course, there was nothing bad about the reactions of the alchemists and researchers, so I felt nothing but satisfaction.

“Hmm, it will take some time for the alchemy researchers to come up with any results anyway… … . In the meantime, I need to start preparing for winter. Let’s check the city’s condition.”

After a moment of satisfaction and a light smile, I decided to go about my business. It felt like there was nothing to do because most of the work was left to others, but there were many things to do as a lord.

A lot of things were handled through the hive mind, and the village chief was placed in a position similar to an administrator. Although most of the things I didn’t have to worry about, there were things I had to deal with.

However, contrary to the belief that the alchemists and researchers would not look for me for a while, they came to me within a few days.

They came to me with the feeling that they were fighting with each other, a little fussy, and brought me a problem instead of a result.