chapter_0152

153 – Mr. Human, I Want to Research You

153 – Mr. Human, I Want to Research You

We were surrounded by a huge crowd until the end of the conference.

So many people flocked to us.

“When can we buy it?”

“We’d like to try buying one too.”

“From what I see, it seems to be made by condensing powerful Mana. Is commercialization possible? If so, when?”

People rushed in, wanting to invest immediately.

“We were here first!”

“Are you ignoring the Volvardt family!”

“You! Just a count’s family!”

“Shut up, Margrave! You’re weaker than the central nobles!”

People argued with each other, claiming they were first.

All sorts of people gathered around Tia and me.

Even those who had ignored the Illusion faction rushed to us, offering to pay.

“Please, take your time. It’s not something that can be mass-produced right away. Like the Manacon, various studies are needed for mass production. Therefore, I will give you the right to use this Mana Battery first.”

Tia skillfully managed those people.

“Only a select few of you can be early adopters of this invention combining Dwarven and human technology.”

And the few people Tia chose.

“We’ll invest!”

“It doesn’t matter how much! We’ll pay!”

They were the ones who promised the most investment.

The ten Mana Batteries that had been prepared in advance.

Tia sold all five portable Mana Batteries and five stationary Mana Batteries on the spot.

She kindly explained how to use them and received payment through a contract.

“Using this Mana Battery first means experiencing the future before others.”

After speaking, Tia looked at the crowd that hadn’t left yet.

Her eyes showed a firm determination.

“And…”

Tia, who had been looking at the people for a while, hesitated for a moment and then closed her mouth.

“No. This is the end of the presentation.”

With her farewell, the Battery presentation ended.

But the contract wasn’t over.

I left Tia to the people who flocked to her to sign additional contracts and went backstage.

The presentation was over, so I wanted to rest a bit.

“Max, you worked hard!”

Meiko, who had been watching from below, ran up and patted me on the back.

“Such a successful presentation! I thought it would be successful because the product is good, but I didn’t expect it to be this spectacular!”

She seemed interested in the Mana Water synthesis shown on stage.

“By the way, disciple, how did you do that? I’m talking about fusing Mana Water and Luitan.”

“Ah, that? It’s possible enough if you condense the Mana concentration to the maximum and exert force.”

“Creating something that was considered impossible to coexist just by condensing the Mana concentration…”

Meiko narrowed her brows at my words and began to mutter to herself.

“That’s a foolish method that an ordinary person would never have thought of.”

“Not just anyone can do it.”

I know it well.

That not everyone can follow along just by showing them.

Because the Mana power must be strong enough to forcefully overcome the repulsive force of Luitan.

That’s why I showed it.

To show that this is a difficult task and that not just anyone can do it.

“Master can do it.”

“Of course! How can I, as your master, not be able to do what my disciple can do?”

Meiko confidently spread her shoulders and shouted, but her expression hardened again.

It was clear that another thought had flashed through her mind.

“Maybe I’m too stuck in my preconceptions. Depending on how Mana is applied, it’s possible to do what can’t be done.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe there’s a way to find the Bretilla Flower.”

The Bretilla Flower.

The flower that is only known as a legend that Illusion magic can have physical power.

I looked at her when she said that she might be able to find the flower, which was the reason why she started visiting the Witch’s Forest periodically.

“There’s something I want to check.”

She finished speaking as if she had realized something and jumped up from her seat.

“We should enjoy a party to celebrate the success of this presentation.”

“You two should enjoy today’s celebration. I have something urgent to do.”

“Are you going to look for the Bretilla Flower?”

“I think I can find a clue.”

Meiko smacked her lips as if she was disappointed.

“I’d love to participate in the celebration of my disciple’s success, but… I have something more important to do.”

“That’s too bad. I wanted to celebrate the first presentation together.”

“I’m sad too. That I can’t enjoy Max’s success with you. But…”

Meiko’s eyes looking at me became benevolent.

“I was prouder than anyone else. You left behind a great achievement that no one else could accomplish. I think you might become a better Illusion mage than me.”

“Thank you.”

“Anyway, I’ll get up first.”

Meiko, who got up from her seat, said to me.

“Even if Tio is a Dwarf, he’s not an adult yet, so don’t let him drink alcohol! Got it?”

Oh, that’s…

Actually, Tia is an adult woman?

I couldn’t bring myself to say that.

Because it would be like me arbitrarily revealing Tia’s secret.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him.”

“Okay. I trust you?”

After speaking, she left immediately.

“Human, you worked hard!”

Tia, who had finished the additional contract, sighed and returned.

“I really wanted to say how much I wanted to do it… I only signed additional contracts for 5 portable and 5 stationary units and backed off. This isn’t something that can be mass-produced properly, and I only signed up to the additional number that I had agreed with the human in advance.”

“Aren’t you going to sign any additional contracts?”

“Of course. I promised the human. Let’s only produce 10 units, 5 each, for now.”

Tia’s eyes were firm.

“If I get greedy for money and sign additional contracts recklessly and then fail to fulfill them, it’ll be a disaster. Trust is as important to Dwarves as skill!”

“I see.”

“Now let’s go back and celebrate the successful presentation. But…”

Tia looked around as if looking for Meiko.

“Where did Meiko go?”

“She said she had something to study further and left first.”

“No, she should have stayed for the presentation…”

“The inspiration that comes to mind on the spot must be resolved immediately.”

“I understand. I’ve had that happen to me a lot. But it’s a shame. A celebration party is better with more people.”

Tia, who smacked her lips, loosened the top button of her suit as if she was frustrated.

“Let’s go back quickly. It’ll be a problem if we get caught by other scholars and can’t go home.”

At Tia’s urging, we hurriedly left the academy.

Since all the business was done, there was no need to stay any longer.

The scholars had left to see other conferences.

Our presentation wasn’t everything, so it was perhaps a natural thing.

Don’t you have to see the presentations of other conferences?

It’s okay.

After all, the papers from each faction mentioned in the presentation will be pouring out tomorrow.

Then I can read them alone, watch the videos, and analyze them.

For now, I’ll just focus a little more on our success.

On the way back, I looked at Tia.

“But Tio, wasn’t your goal to be recognized by the Dwarves?”

I almost said her real name, Tia.

She was still the young Dwarf Tio.

“It was.”

“But why did you present at the Empire’s academy? Even if Dwarves come, the number will be very small. Wouldn’t it have been better to present at the Dwarf’s factory or at the conference there?”

At my words, Tia smiled as if it was natural.

“Well, it’s an invention developed with the human. It wasn’t just mine. That’s why I came here. The Empire’s academy is more open to many people than the Dwarves’ society. And…”

Tia, who was thinking for a moment, looked at me.

“You’re the only one who should know what I’m about to say. I’m not ready yet.”

“I understand.”

“Actually, I lied to the human about one thing.”

A moment of silence.

And she opened her mouth again.

“Actually, I’m not a young Dwarf. The reason why I couldn’t properly enter the factory wasn’t because I was young. Actually…”

A faint sigh.

I had a feeling.

“I’m a female Dwarf. I was a Dwarf who should never enter the factory. My name isn’t Tio, it’s Tia. I’m sorry. For deceiving you until now…”

She was speaking with a solemn face, as if she was taking out a secret of the world that should never be revealed.

“I see.”

I didn’t expect her to say it right here.

I thought she would announce it to other people.

Looking at her actions so far, it seemed like she was going to reveal to the world that she was a female Dwarf after making a definite achievement.

I thought the Manacon and Mana Battery were enough achievements.

I didn’t expect her to say it here.

“Y, you’re more calm than I thought.”

“I roughly guessed it.”

“Y, you guessed it? How…”

“You don’t have much of a beard for a boy. And not much muscle either.”

“Ah… You have good eyes. Most other races don’t know.”

She smiled awkwardly and continued.

“I was originally going to say it today, but I thought it wasn’t enough with just this…”

“It’s enough.”

“Huh?”

“It’s enough. No, in the first place, creating the Manacon is already an achievement that other Dwarves can’t dare to compare to.”

“Is that so?”

“Didn’t you overcome nature? No legendary mage can do magic that overcomes nature. But Tia did it.”

“Ah…”

“You shouldn’t underestimate the achievements of this invention just because I helped. As Tia said, it caused a Mana energy revolution.”

Tia’s eyes brightened.

Should I say she gained spirit?

It felt like the hesitation that was visible in her eyes when she confessed that she was a woman had disappeared a little.

“Was the reason why you couldn’t do it at the Dwarf’s conference because you were a female Dwarf?”

“It’s similar. At least I wouldn’t have been able to proudly say that I developed the Mana Battery. They would have forcibly found fault with the fact that I received help from humans.”

“So that’s why you hesitated at the end when you presented above. Whether to reveal your gender or not.”

She nodded.

“Ahem, anyway, I thought you should know since you’re a partner now.”

Tia waved her hand, embarrassed.

“Sorry. I made the atmosphere heavy for no reason.”

“It’s okay. It’s good to see you being honest.”

“Then, is the celebration party at the human’s workshop?”

“Would that be easier?”

“Okay. Let’s buy some alcohol and food. I know a place that makes good alcohol!”

So we bought alcohol and returned to the workshop.

“Hehe, human… I wonder if it’s okay if I study the human?”

Tia, whose face was flushed with alcohol, said to me.

She grinned and took off her suit and approached me.

“Human…”

“Tia?”

“Do that for me. That…”

That?

What is that?

“That thing you did last time.”

Tia opened her mouth in a moist voice.

“Illusion magic.”