Episode 179: Talking about things that have nothing to do with the magic while moving mana is considered taboo because it damages concentration and hinders the success of the magic.
Clayton had always taught his students that, but now he felt like praying to God.
“Please, please…”
The mana mobilized is only at the level of 1 circle, and the metal that the mana is primarily targeting is also ordinary steel.
However, the bluish liquid flowing around the steel was a concentrated solution of rare magic metals called mithril and black metal, and if it failed, a large sum of money, close to a whopping 1 million gold, would have evaporated into thin air.
Moreover, the remaining balance of the budget of 10 million gold received from the Archduke as a favor was used for this experiment.
The moment it failed, it was the final experiment that left me trembling as the next experiment had no promise.
“Please, please, please, please! The Nine Great Gods who look over heaven and earth, please help me!”
Even though he was a wizard and shamelessly knelt down and looked for God, Clayton was just as desperate.
‘I made such a promise to the Archduke, I can’t fail again!’
Not only will your family lose respect, but your pride as a mage will also be destroyed.
but.
God turned away from him.
Push type.
The moment when the bubbling special solution cools down with a subtle sound.
“Oh, no!”
Clayton screamed and fell down in his seat.
It had to be that way.
The mithril and black metal that had lost their mana and special ingredients were nothing more than hardened miscellaneous metal.
“Ship a million gold. A million gold!!!”
The sight of Clayton clutching his head and screaming was truly gruesome.
It seems to prove that the magician is also just a human being who has no choice but to bow down to the budget.
The frustrated mage fell down on the spot and could not get up until his students heard the screams and came running to knock on the door. It took two days just to recover from the mental damage and begin to repeat the experiment.
“The theory is correct. It has clearly been improved to perfection. But why…?”
It was because of that confidence that Clayton confidently asked Logan for a budget.
However, after several successive failures, it was proven that the theory that was thought to be perfect had flaws.
I had to find an improvement somehow.
After reviewing the experiment for a while and thinking about it, Clayton found a crucial hint.
“Yes! That’s it. That’s where it goes wrong! Damn it! If only we could fix that.”
But there was a big problem with that.
‘You need money to find improvements and prove the theory, but to get the money, you have to prove it first.’
That fatal irony.
Moreover, he had evaporated the last remaining budget into thin air two days ago.
“Damn it! You idiot! You should have left some behind. Why were you so sure that this would be your last experiment if you kept failing? Ugh!!”
I’ve patted my head and blamed myself countless times for what I was like a few days ago.
‘uh? I think I’ve been in this situation before? what? ‘Did I have precognition?’
The awareness that his daily life had been repeated to the point of déjà vu was blocked by his high pride and could not rise to the surface.
“I need money money.”
I don’t know how much time has passed, but honestly, I was aware that it hadn’t been that long since I received the money.
It was necessary to put an iron plate on the face.
For one’s own research… no, for the development of the territory.
‘okay. This is all for the territory.’
Clayton stood up with clenched fists and ran toward the official residence with resolute determination.
Then, he folded his hands together in front of Logan and bowed his head politely.
“…You spent all 10 million gold in less than two months?”
A voice filled with a sense of absurdity.
It was such an absurd sound that anyone would hear it, so it was natural for them to feel that way.
The problem is that you are the one listening.
Clayton forced his head up, which was gradually falling without realizing it, and squeezed out his voice as best as he could.
“There was a small, tiny mistake in the experiment. Next time, we will definitely succeed!”
I tried to stretch out my shriveled chest and strengthen my eyes, but the archduke’s cold eyes were nothing more or less than those of a gambling addict.
“I have found a really clear improvement. The cost of the experiment can be reduced, and if successful, the investment will be considered nothing more than a penny. Confucius doesn’t know that!”
Did the strong appeal work?
“Yes, I know. I know it well, but this is the current budget… hehe.”
The archduke’s shaking eyes.
Clayton, who thought it was an opportunity, spoke passionately again.
“The number of disciples in the Magic Tower has increased by six more. With the budget given, we have created many magic circles to test talent. Even if the experiment fails, if the new disciples have a certain level of qualification as a magician, they can be mobilized for various construction projects in the territory. “We can also recover our investment. Don’t you know our school’s construction skills well?”
“…I remember that he came to our territory so that his disciples wouldn’t have to suffer.”
Phew.
Clayton became dizzy as the dagger stabbed his conscience deeply and without mercy.
“That is, while working on construction, using magic and golems at the same time, and challenging the limits, the students also developed…”
I knew it was a lame excuse, but I couldn’t just sit still.
Clayton, who became the only mage in the kingdom after Juan Douglas died, had already become a slave to Yesan for a long time.
“That’s it.”
bang!
Clayton’s eyes became blurred as a hand strongly knocked on the desk.
“Grand Prince…”
However, the content of the firm answer that followed was unexpected.
“I will apply to the Magic Tower again as soon as I have some spare funds. It won’t take long, so please wait a little longer.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, really.”
“Ahh! Archduke! Thank you! Thank you!”
Logan couldn’t help but chuckle as he saw Clayton repeatedly lowering his head.
‘Anyway, despite his appearance, that guy is quite pure.’
It was also clear that detailed records of the experimental costs for the study were being written and that they were not being siphoned off unnecessarily.
Moreover, wasn’t the research itself something he had requested when he gave him Crowne’s journal?
But before I knew it, I was so hooked that I ended up asking for it in reverse.
I was happy to see the innocent appearance of a person who had become a mage, and the pain of spending painful expenses seemed to be forgotten a little.
Besides, I was going to meet Clayton anyway.
“Clayton, if you don’t experiment for a while, you have some free time, right?”
“Yes? Oh yes. The existing students are taking care of the selection of students, so it’s up to me…”
“That’s good. Until the budget is set up again, why don’t you go somewhere with me?”
“Yes? Where?”
“Have you ever heard of the Taren region?”
“Yes. I heard that it was a newly received territory from the family.”
Logan, who saw Clayton with a puzzled expression, smiled and said.
“I’m going there. I’m asking just in case, but are you capable of using magic to search deep beneath the earth’s surface?”
“Huh? Of course. Even though I look like this, I’m not an Earth-type mage.”
“That’s it. Hamar will go with us, so please get ready immediately.”
“…Right now?”
“yes.”
Don’t you want to receive a budget?
The moment when Logan shoots a look with a subtle threat in his eyes.
“Of course we have to go. I’ll get ready right away.”
Clayton could only nod obediently.
And Logan immediately stopped by the workshop and dragged Hamar, who was carving the eyes of the 142nd Noir, out and put him on a horse.
…
_
_ In a way, it could be called a talent to lay things out for three days.
It almost makes me wonder if the pony he’s riding’s ears are drooping because of the flood of horses.
‘It’s so consistent. ‘Very…’
However, for some reason, Logan, a dwarf who was not unpleasant, had no choice but to bring out the reward a little early, which he had planned to give only after arriving at his destination and giving him a new job.
“Hamar. Come here.”
“Yes. I ordered it immediately. What power do I have to refuse it? If I have to criticize it, I have to criticize it.”
Pony approaching from various angles.
Logan suppressed his laughter as he looked at Hamar, who was full of annoyance, and took out the magic contract he had prepared and waved it.
“You remember this, right?”
Then Hamar’s expression became even more distorted.
“Yes, yes. Isn’t that why I’m crawling so hard?”
The worse the guy was feeling right now, the more dramatic the change in his feelings would be after receiving this gift, so Logan paused a little longer.
“We gained a lot from the last war, but nothing was given to you, who could be said to have contributed the most. Well, it doesn’t seem like you are hoping for great wealth and fame…” “…
?”
Hamar’s expression changed little by little as he tilted his head as if he felt something.
Logan held the contract in front of him, secretly enjoying that expression.
“So, I’m thinking of giving you this slave contract as a gift. I’ll destroy it right here…”
And he tightens his hands.
grasp!
“No!! Stop moving!! Master, just leave that hand alone! Ugh! Don’t strain! Use it! What are you doing?!”
The dwarf jumped on the pony’s saddle, grabbed Logan’s hands, and hung on.
“…What are you doing?”
They say they will give me freedom at best?
I looked at him in bewilderment.
“This is a contract that guarantees my freedom for 20 years… no, 16 years from now. Who can tear it up? Tear it up?!”
“What? No, I’m going to give you freedom now, not 16 years later…”
“Master, if you tear this up, you’re just going to use me indefinitely! You’re not going to let me go! You know everything!!”
Looking at the dwarf’s face, which was almost crying and screaming, Logan had no choice but to put down his hand in a daze.
“No, I promise. If I achieve my goal…”
“What is that goal?”
“….”
“Look, you can’t say anything! Isn’t this a ploy to not let you go?!”
How could someone’s kindness be accepted with such malice?
Logan glared at the dwarf, feeling a deep wound in his heart.
“Even if you glare at me like that, it won’t work! I can’t let you break this promise!”
“Didn’t I keep my promise?”
“her?”
Hamar’s expression distorted at those words.
A few things came to mind, which pricked my conscience slightly, but Logan shamelessly laid down the iron plate.
“Why? What?”
“…You’re like the devil’s seed. Anyway, I can’t compromise on this!”
“That’s right. You’ve always had it. Well, it would be nice if it could be given as a gift. Hehe.”
Logan, who only got hurt while trying to give a gift, just nodded in despair.
But in my conscience, I felt uncomfortable just letting it go.
“The person concerned does not want compensation, so what should we do with this… If you’re a human, you can promise money or status, but dwarves won’t be interested in wealth and fame, so should I buy you a lot of mithril?”
At those words, Hamar once again started a fight.
“Some bastard’s bastard is helping dwarves make weapons. Did you say you felt romantic?…! If I catch him, I’ll rip his mouth off! Don’t say such terrible things.”
“Lux is going to cry.”
Wow.
I don’t know if he really heard me or if it was just a coincidence, but Lux, the beloved sword hanging on his waist, seemed to be shaking slightly.
Hamar kept looking at Logan’s waist to see if he had been stabbed by him too. I cleared my throat.
“Well, sometimes it’s nice to make something that feels like a work of art like Lux, but… Anyway! In general, absolutely not!”
A very firm attitude.
Logan shakes his head with a wry smile.
“And who said that dwarves hate wealth and fame? I wonder where the master’s knowledge about our species came from. What kind of guy instilled such strange common sense into the owner? Ugh!”
“What?”
“I also want to roll around every day, drinking beer, eating meat, and patting my stomach!! I want to yell at others and tell them to do this and that! “I don’t want to work! I want to enjoy wealth and fame!!”
In the end, in order to appease Hamar, who was rolling on the ground in protest, Logan had to promise a lot.
