episode_0055

“Calm down, even if you all come here, we won’t be able to look after you all at once.”

They calmed down the researchers who came rushing in and asked to see what they had done. Even though I could use skeletons to do the work of dozens of people at the same time, it was only possible because the skeletons did it, not me. I couldn’t do multiple things at the same time.

Anyway, after calming down the excited researchers who had gathered, we began to slowly make our way around the research and development headquarters as if inspecting it.

The first person to show me results was a researcher stationed near the entrance. Because everyone was positioned the way they wanted, it was impossible to view them in order of rank or ability. If that was the case, I would have to go back and forth inside the R&D headquarters several times.

For that reason, when I went to the first batter’s seat, one person jumped out from the group of researchers and stood there. In terms of blacksmithing skills, he was a researcher with average skills, but he was evaluated as often doing strange things.

And, as he was evaluated by other researchers as doing something strange, what he brought up as an achievement was also quite strange. No, in some ways it was closer to being a little bizarre or strange.

“… … Is that a new product?”

“Yes! This is my new creation! I heard that mercenaries get into a variety of situations because they wander around the world. However, I also heard that since you can only carry items that you can carry on your own, you have no choice but to prefer items that are highly usable. That’s why I created this sawtooth shovel!”

The researcher, who was overly confident, presented the object he had created to me.

The top part looked like a shovel, and the blade of the shovel was very sharp, like an axe, but the other side had serrated teeth. Also, the handle was shaped like a T rather than a triangle, and both ends of the handle were pointed like a pickaxe.

To put it simply, it was said that all kinds of functions were crammed into one tool, resulting in a strange appearance.

“Uh… … . The intentions are good, but… … .”

The moment I looked at the object with the strange name of sawfish shovel, I was speechless. No, honestly, I had no idea what to say.

Using a shovel like an ax or saw was useful in its own way, but honestly it didn’t seem practical. Even the pickaxe attached to the handle seemed even less practical. Everything about it, including its center of gravity and shape, was unsuitable for swinging. Other than the advantage of being able to do all tasks with one, everything was said to be a disadvantage.

“Have you tried wielding that yourself?”

“No, I haven’t used it myself yet!”

“Then try it out.”

After hearing what I said, the researcher immediately used the top part first. The plan was to make handles and cut the remaining wood. And, the researcher who used the product he made quickly identified its shortcomings.

“Ah… … . This is difficult to write.”

“Right? Think again. Don’t try to crowd it too much into one thing. For example, if you make the shovel blade a little longer and make serrations on the side, it would be good to use as a shovel, and wouldn’t it be bad to use it as a saw? You add one main function and another auxiliary function. Or you could attach a pickaxe to the back of the axe.”

“I’ll try that!”

The researcher, who felt that what he had created was virtually useless, reacted to my words as if he had found hope. I shrugged my shoulders at that and checked the performance of other researchers.

Several researchers showed me a variety of achievements. Some researchers have found ways to make it easier for skeletons to make things, while others have created new products that can be made and sold right away.

Of course, like the researcher who first showed results, there were more researchers who showed things that were a bit ambiguous or lacking. However, I didn’t criticize them or anything because it could have been better if they just improved it little by little.

Anyway, after seeing all the results that the researchers had worked hard to create, I decided to use the good ones right away. These included a method of changing the layout that could slightly increase the production capacity of the skeletons, a method of quickly turning pig iron from the blast furnace into steel, and a new form of crossguard that could be commonly used on swords such as the Arming Sword.

Naturally, researchers who studied or developed the things I selected were given a reasonable level of compensation. In addition to rewarding those who worked hard, the purpose was to stimulate others to work harder.

Those who are happy, those who are happy, those who are envious, and even those who are sullen. Researchers each had their own reactions. However, it took only a moment for each person to react in their own way. By the time I left the R&D headquarters, researchers had started to focus on R&D again.

Those who received some sort of performance bonus focused hard on research and development to receive another performance bonus, and those who did not receive a performance bonus concentrated hard on research and development to ensure that they received it next time.

I left the R&D headquarters, looking with great satisfaction at the people working hard on research and development on their own without any prompting, and headed back to the blacksmith shop.

After returning to the blacksmith shop, I began to relax for the first time in a long time. Maybe it was because I had worked so hard until now, but I didn’t want to do anything right now. I also took care of everything that needed to be done.

As I started to rest like that, I started to feel a little sluggish for no reason. Since I had finished what I had to do and there was nothing more I had to do right now, I wanted to rest more and more intensely.

I bought Ziena the whole pork barbecue that I had promised, and I started to enjoy resting intensely, drinking heavily with Jiena, which I normally drink in moderation, and just lying around at home doing nothing.

But that break didn’t last long. This is because the skeleton mage sent to the direct territory returned after three days.

“How did you do what I asked you to do properly?”

“Yes.”

The Skeleton Mage passed from the village entrance to the checkpoint without any problems and came to the front of the blacksmith shop, nodding from the top of the skeleton horse.

Seeing that he seemed strangely confident, I approached the skeleton cart he was pulling. The cart skeleton was piled high with iron ingots made in a blast furnace. At this level, it was enough to produce items that were several times the size of the items sold at Carbon.

“Should we gradually increase the number of sales outlets? … .”

If this continues, it suddenly occurred to me that I might need to build a separate warehouse to store raw materials.

Moreover, the iron ingots brought by the Skeleton Mage were not simply filling one cart, but three carts of skeletons.

“Huh?”

However, as I was checking the iron ingots filled in the cart skeleton, I couldn’t help but be shocked when I looked at the third and final cart. This was because there were three orc corpses lying scattered around the third cart skeleton.

“What is this, orc?”

“The low-ranking things that were targeting items to be delivered to the owner were killed and brought back as loot.”

“So… … . Orcs attacked the cart and you stopped it?”

“Yes.”

The Skeleton Mage looked as if he was just doing his job. After thinking about it carefully, I realized that there was no reason not to do it.

Since I was using the Skeleton Mage as a smart skeleton, it had abilities worthy of the name Skeleton Mage. It was possible to attack using black magic, and it was also possible to use curses. It was obvious that it wasn’t difficult to kill the attacking orcs.

“Good job. The dead bodies were hunted and brought back intact as well. I could make it into a skeleton right now.”

“I’m just glad it helped.”

Even though it was a skeleton with only bones and no facial expressions, it felt like it was smiling as naturalization bloomed in its eye sockets.

I threw the blood essence to the Skeleton Mage with the idea of rewarding the Skeleton in my own way. It was part of what was set aside as a spare in case of an unexpected situation.

“Thank you!”

The Skeleton Mage, who received a round piece of blood essence, looked very happy and poured it into her mouth. Since it was only bone, it seemed like it would flow down the jawbone, but the essence of the blood that disappeared through the guy’s mouth disappeared as if it was absorbed.

I was a little sad that my blood essence was disappearing, but considering the three orc corpses he brought, I didn’t think it was a waste.

“Thank you for your hard work. First, put down all the iron ingots over there, leave the orc corpses in the workroom, and then rest. Make all the cart skeletons small.”

“Okay.”

The Skeleton Mage may have absorbed the blood essence, but she moved the cart skeletons with a little more force and followed the instructions I gave her.

I took a seat in the corner of the studio and looked at the guy who seemed to be resting for a while, then enjoyed my leisurely daily life again. Until I made regular deliveries to the Carbon branch, I rarely had to move around, so I was able to enjoy my leisure time again.

Of course, that didn’t mean we could just spread out and rest. Orc corpses brought by the Skeleton Mage were processed into skeletons, parts that needed repairing were repaired at the store, or monster corpses that could be used as skeleton materials were requested from the Mercenary Hall.

And, the end of that leisure has come. As time passed, the time to deliver goods to Smith Skeleton’s Carbon Branch arrived.

But rather, I felt relieved. After going to Carbon in person this time, there was no need to go to Carbon in person unless it was something very special. I don’t know if that’s why, but the road to and from Carbon was very enjoyable. I usually just passed by in a daze, looking around as if I was sightseeing.

Anyway, I arrived at Carbon, enjoying myself, and immediately had a meeting with the guard commander. From now on, it would be transported without me, only with skeletons, so it was necessary to seek cooperation in advance.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that part. I received word from the Count in advance. Are you going to transport it unmanned using only the skeleton?”

“You see the skeleton attached to the skeleton horse in front of you? That skeleton is the command entity and will lead the skeletons back and forth. We deliver goods to the Smith Skeleton Carbon branch, receive orders, then purchase coal and charcoal and leave.”

“Okay. Then, I will spread the word to other guards.”

Perhaps thanks to Count Carbon’s advance notice, it didn’t take long to talk to the guard captain. All I ended up doing was observing closely the skeleton that would come to replace me in the future.

After properly preparing for unmanned transportation, we headed straight to the Smith Skeleton Carbon branch. And, I informed the franchise owner of the Carbon Branch that from now on I will not accompany him and that the skeleton will come alone.

“Skeleton alone?”

“Yes. Well, I am intelligent and can speak, so there is no difference from before. It’s not me, it just turns into a skeleton.”

“Is that so? Okay.”

I don’t know if it was because he was a franchise owner who rented skeletons for maintenance of iron products, but he nodded without much reaction. Rather, he said he would give it a try right now, placed an order with the Skeleton Mage who followed me, and even appeared to pay for this delivery.

Without any sign of awkwardness or fear, the franchise owner paid for the delivered items and even completed orders for new items needed. It looked like there would be no problems with delivery or orders even if the Skeleton Mage was sent alone next time.

After being assured that I had nothing to worry about, I briefly exchanged greetings with the store owner and headed to the store that sold coal and charcoal. Of course, there were no major problems there either. I don’t know if it was because the main industry of the territory was coal mining and charcoal production, but it seemed like the lord’s influence had a role here as well.

On the contrary, I heard that he was an excellent customer who purchased a considerable amount, and that he would provide various conveniences even if he only sent a Skeleton Mage.

After finishing all the things I had to do in Carbon, I got on the skeleton cart with very light steps. I don’t know if it was because I had prepared in advance so that there wouldn’t be any problems even if I sent only the Skeleton Mage alone, or because I didn’t have to waste a lot of time traveling to Carbonon myself, but I felt very relieved.

Anyway, after finishing my schedule in Carbon, I headed straight toward the village. There was nothing more to do here anyway, and since winter was now in full swing, I had to quickly return to the village. The longer we waited, the more likely we were to be shivering in the cold on the way to town.