Volume 4 Chapter 4 What Lies Beneath
"How's it going? Is it too hot or too cold?"
"Not a problem at all! It's perfect!"
Rita spun around with a big smile on her face. Her happy expression sparkled in the sunlight shining down in the courtyard. Thanks to the heat-retaining innerwear, she could work without feeling too bundled up, which seemed to reduce her stress.
It's been 2 days since Randy brought back the dry grass. All the staff have already received the heat-retaining innerwear.
The tests they started in the dining hall went on late into the night... They concluded that the heat phenomenon reacts to heat and moisture, and that the magic and cells left in the plants are responding.
After that, they did some safety tests with Ellie's aging magic and Randy's experiments to see if the heat would really stop. Soon, they had a prototype ready, which was distributed to the staff under the name of a test.
The heat-retaining innerwear was put into use really quickly, but since the situation was what it was, they only needed it to last for this one season.
They aimed to create something that would help them get through this winter, and then use the time they gained to make improvements. They were really thinking on their feet.
So, the production work was intense. Randy ran to get materials, and he and Liz worked together to turn them into innerwear. It was more about adding to the existing innerwear than making something completely new.
Thanks to Craft, a unique ability that no one else could copy, the process moved incredibly fast and was very flexible.
They made different sizes, short-sleeve types, long-sleeve types, and even versions with a special lining for outdoor work. They even took apart old clothes to make tights!
As a result, the staff loved it, and it was a big success. In fact, just yesterday, the ladies in charge of beauty products asked for an early delivery.
"I really wish we could fully understand how it works and set up a production line... that would be ideal."
Randy sighed as he watched the working staff, and Liz shook her head, saying, "It can't be helped."
"Right now, what's important is finding a way to get through the upcoming winter."
Just as Liz said, the heat-retaining innerwear, which got a thumbs up from the staff, was planned to be distributed to the workers. If they waited to figure everything out and set up a production line, it would probably be warm by the time it reached them.
Understanding how it works and improving production can wait. For now, safety and effectiveness, along with a decent amount of heat, are enough.
"That's true. Let's deliver some to the ladies too."
Randy sighed again, and since they had already received the existing innerwear from the ladies yesterday, he and the others had already turned it all into heat-retaining innerwear.
Next, they planned to deliver this and then head to the construction site at the port.
"Wow, I can't believe you actually made it."
Alan appeared with a wry smile, and the staff, including Rita, stood up and bowed their heads. Alan waved his hand, telling them not to worry, and then looked over at the maids who had resumed their laundry work.
"Still, it looks cold doing laundry."
"It would be nice if we had hot water."
Randy shrugged, and Alan murmured, "Hot water..."
"The easiest solution might be to build a sunroom and do the laundry there."
If they had a glass room, they could expect some warmth while the sun was out. If the room was warm, doing water work would be a bit easier. But they still needed water for gardening and cleaning, so some things couldn't be avoided.
"Seriously... you come up with so many ideas. I keep relying on you."
Alan said thoughtfully as he watched the cheerful maids, and Randy snorted, "Don't be silly."
"The one who said, 'We're family. Don't worry about it,' back then was you, right, old man? I'm not trying to help. It's just what I do."
Randy grinned, and Alan looked surprised... then he chuckled softly.
"You remembered that?"
"Did you think I'd forget?"
Randy turned his back to Alan after saying that.
"For now, Liz and I are heading to the Port City site. We need to get things going with the workers."
Randy waved his hand, and Liz gave a little bow. Alan smiled as he watched the two of them leave, who were so different from each other.
"I thought back then that you helped me out too."
Alan's eyes reflected the back of his son, who had grown stronger since that time.
* * *
Randy and Liz were bouncing around in a carriage driven by Harrison, heading to the Fishing Village, which was supposed to become Port City. They had already delivered some undergarments to the workers making beauty products and finished asking about how they felt about them.
Since the feedback was really good, they were now on their way to help the workers at Port City. But going to the construction site wasn't just about processing the heated undergarments. They also needed to talk about plans for dealing with the cold.
They were going to set up heating systems and get expert opinions on what else they would need.
Inside the carriage, Randy was reviewing the blueprints he would show to the engineers. He was focused on the blueprints and spoke without looking up.
"You look worried..."
Still staring at the blueprints, Randy heard Liz scratch her cheek and say, "To be honest..."
The vibe between Alan and Randy earlier was a bit different from their usual easygoing chats.
"It's not a big deal... no, it is a big deal."
Randy sighed heavily, folded the blueprints, and looked out the window.
"Dropkick──."
Randy muttered, and Liz tilted her head, asking, "From when you were a kid?"
"Yeah. When I was a kid... 'I was a total fail.'"
Randy gave a wry smile, and Liz tilted her head again. After all, when Luke told the story, it was all funny and entertaining.
"Luke was just being nice. He made it a funny story so I wouldn't feel bad."
As Randy continued to look out the window, he shared a story about how he dropkicked Count Shadler's son when he was ten. But it wasn't a heroic tale; it was just a violent incident.
Of course, there was a backstory to it.
The incident happened at a party for Clarice when she turned 5. Randy dropkicked Aldis Shadler, Count Shadler's son, at that party.
The reason? Aldis had snatched Clarice's precious notebook and stomped on it. He even said something like, "This is perfect for a poor kid."
Angry, Randy gave him a solid dropkick, thinking, "I wouldn't care if this guy died."
Aldis got hit in the face with Randy's dropkick and flew back, passing out. The party went into chaos.
Panicking adults.
Clarice crying.
Aldis being carried away.
And then... Count Shadler, red-faced, protesting.
"I was just a kid. I was born into this world thinking, 'This is like a game,' feeling all excited. I thought I could do anything. No, I thought I could do whatever I wanted."
The result was a careless dropkick and trouble for the Victor family. Randy snorted and laughed at himself, saying, "I'm just like Catherine."
"So what happened next?"
"We got hit with a huge bill, and old man sold his sword, which was a sign of being a noble, just to pay it off."
Randy looked sad as he stared outside.
"So at that time..."
"Yeah. He said, 'We're family, don't worry about it.' Then he added, 'If you didn't do it, I would have.' I've never heard he call himself 'I (ore)' before or since." (T/L: the usual is watashi)
That meant he spoke to Randy not just as a father but as a man.
"That's quite a story."
"I learned a lesson. This is reality, and I'm just a kid who can't take any responsibility. I was acting tough even though I couldn't own up to my own mistakes."
No matter what happens, he thought he'd be fine. But in the end, he made his father clean up his mess. That was the moment reality hit Randy hard.
"Well, the biggest problem is that if I went back to that time, I'd probably just dropkick the guy... that's what I think."
Randy smiled wryly, but he was half serious and half joking. Now, he would drag the guy into the ring and make sure there were no excuses or complaints before knocking him out. That's how he really felt.
"You look like you're up to no good."
"I was born this way."
Randy shrugged and sighed, saying, "Being an idiot is just in my nature."
"That's why I asked Luke... to remind me sometimes so I never forget."
Randy looked out the window again and chuckled to himself, "I didn't think it would turn into a funny story."
"That's Sir Luke's kindness, right?"
"Who knows? Did I say that?"
Randy played dumb, and Liz smiled softly.
"Then next time, let's beat them down on their own turf."
Liz clenched her fists, and Randy shrugged, saying, "I can always count on you."
For Randy, it was a bitter memory, but it was also the moment he started to realize who he was as Randolph Victor. With that memory in mind, the carriage rolled down the well-kept road toward Fishing Village.
* * *
"What's going on? Is Victor's country bumpkin planning to survive winter without magic ore?"
Goldeis Shadler, the lord of Count Shadler's territory to the north of Victor, sighed in disbelief. With his Kaiser mustache and slicked-back blonde hair, his sharp gaze was fixed on the huge mountain range outside the window.
There's a magic ore mine owned by the Count Shadler family in the massive mountain range that stretches from the north of Beast Forest to the northern edge of the kingdom and the southern part of the empire. The mountains used to have many volcanoes, and even though they are now dormant, they still hold a lot of heat energy and continue to produce magic ore, which is the pride of the Count Shadler family.
But now, that pride is starting to fade.
Next door, Victor has been gaining a lot of power through various businesses. The value of magic ore hasn't dropped as an important energy source, but for the Count Shadler family, who used to be ahead of others just because of magic ore, it's not a good situation.
These days, everywhere he goes, he hears the name "Victor" that he doesn't want to hear.
He still clearly remembers how about 7 years ago, Victor's heir (Randy) dropkicked the eldest son of Count Shadler, Oldis.
After all, Oldis was already 15 while the other kid was barely ten. With that age difference, it was embarrassing for Oldis to be knocked out by just one dropkick, and he probably hasn't forgotten it either.
Back then, they treated it like a kids' fight and slapped a huge fine on Viscount Victor. As a result, they made him give up his sword, which was a point of pride for nobles. When Viscount Victor came to pay the fine, Victor's heir was there, holding back tears at the seriousness of the situation.
If you look at it as a family feud, you could say the Count Shadler family won.
But now, the Viscounts, who were supposed to be weakened, are starting to regain their strength.
"Are they just pretending to be tough, or are they licking the kingdom's boots?"
Count Shadler muttered as he heard a knock on the door.
'Father. Oldis is back.'
Oldis's voice came from the other side of the door. When he was invited in, the door opened, and a much bigger Oldis appeared.
"You've grown a lot."
"I've been training with the Knight Orders."
Oldis grinned, currently working hard in the Dukedom's Knight Orders. All of this is because of that day when Victor's foolish son (Randy) kicked him. He's been training every day to get revenge someday.
"I hear Victor is holding back."
"Seems like it."
Count Shadler snorted as he showed the order cancellation form that had come from Victor's territory.
"What's this..."
"They're up to something."
"Do you think the kingdom is helping them?"
"Do you really think so?"
Count Shadler sighed and leaned back in his chair. He said, "But we're still investigating." If they find out that energy is being imported from outside the country, it would clearly break the Dukedom laws and the kingdom's laws.
If energy needs to be imported, it usually has to be done by the government. Otherwise, everyone could secretly build up their own power.
If that's the case, then raising the price of magic ore is just a small annoyance compared to what could happen.
"We might be able to take down Victor easily."
Count Shadler smirked, and so did Oldis. Both of them didn't know the whole story. Or maybe it was just their strong bias.
Victor = Dropkick
That bias made them think Victor was a simple-minded person.
Of course, Alan is also doing a good job of hiding Randy's achievements. Even though they're in a remote area, Randy doesn't have a fiancée. If he stands out too much, there's a chance that a forced engagement proposal could come from the center.
Alan doesn't want that, so he cleverly makes it look like the Marquis Braubelg family and Count Hartfield family are the ones getting the credit, while showing that Victor is just in charge of supplying materials from the Beast Forest.
Anyway, Count Shadler thinks of Victor's people as a simple-minded person. He would never imagine that such a simple-minded person is trying to develop heated innerwear and new heating equipment.
And he can't even imagine that the once-violent beast has now grown to be called a 'war demon,' combining knowledge and strength...
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