Volume 6 Chapter 56-2 Since He is an Engineer
"With a dragon, even the dwarf-made weapons won't work, huh?"
It was an easy-to-understand provocation, but flames sparkled in the eyes of the two dwarves.
"Hey, give me a break."
"Yeah. I'm going to show the young lord a thing or 2."
Both of them, holding broken swords, somehow disappeared into the same workshop.
"Just you wait!"
"No mercy, huh!"
"Give us some dragon materials!"
"That's unfair! I want some too!"
The dwarves scattered, praising loudly──and sometimes just wishing──and Randy sighed and shifted his gaze to the dwarf he had just picked up.
"Where's the boss?"
"Is it Master Gaston? He should be in the forge today."
After saying that much, as the dwarf hurried to leave, Randy called out, "Hey."
"Don't drink too much."
At Randy's words, the dwarf, holding a bottle of alcohol with a smile, ran off.
"Well then, since he seems to be in the forge, let's go check it out."
"You sure said you'd come back right away with this."
Randy subtly averted his gaze from Ellie, who was giving him a piercing look.
He had indeed just entered the workshop, and here he was.
"It's okay. I just have to ask the boss."
"Rune press machine..."
Escaping from Ellie's glare, Randy hurried to the forge located on the ground floor.
* * *
"Oh. young lord and young lady... or should I say, the witch?"
Seeing Gaston raising his hand, Randy approached him frowning and said, "Stop the fighting, Master."
"It's fine. It's just lively discussion."
Laughing loudly, Gaston, Randy sighed and ended that topic with, "Well, that's okay."
"So what can I do for you today? Are you going to let us mess with the teleportation gate?"
"Are you an idiot? If I leave it to you, it will get broken apart right away."
Randy frowned, and Gaston also grimaced, saying, "How rude." But given how they were fighting, it was no surprise.
They might argue about which workshop would take the lead or what kind of investigation to do, and in the end, they could end up falling apart and taking pieces home.
That's why they only appointed Gaston and had him cooperate further under Randy's watch.
"Once the teleportation gate is analyzed, I'll ask the master for the help."
"You promised."
Gaston's curiosity about the unknown technology was insatiable.
Seeing his expression, Randy smirked.
"Well, after you see this, you might find it more interesting than the teleportation gate."
Randy pulled a dragon-horn greatsword from his magic bag and placed it on the table in front of Gaston.
"Whoa, no way..."
Gaston's surprise suggested he'd figured out Randy's intent.
"I want you to reforge this."
"Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't ask anyone but you."
Gaston's eyes lit up with excitement as he cautiously ran his hand over the greatsword. He'd seen dragon materials before, but a greatsword made entirely from a dragon's horn—one of the most valuable parts—was something you'd never find anywhere in the world.
To reforge it.
Any blacksmith's arms would itch at the thought.
Randy shrugged, knowing there was no one else he could trust with this task.
"Just make sure no one else interferes while you're working on it..."
"Leave it to me. In fact, the others will be eager to help."
Gaston, still gleaming with excitement, explained that none of the dwarves here had ever handled a dragon's horn before. This would be a rare and valuable experience, and for once, everyone would unite to tackle the task, he assured confidently.
"Alright. Then I'm relieved. Let me know when the prototype's ready."
Gaston nodded at Randy's words, already itching to get started, but...
"Hate to interrupt your fun, but I also need your advice on the Rune press machine."
At this new request, Gaston's face clearly clouded over.
According to him, it was extremely difficult.
Uniform engraving technology and uniform magical power transmission.
Achieving these alone would require precise molds and magical power control circuits.
There was also the issue of how to supply the magical power needed to carve the Runes.
"The quality of magical power required for Runes varies depending on what's being engraved."
It was Ellie who nodded at Gaston's words.
For example, a Rune that raises the temperature converts magical power into heat... something like that.
Of course, it's not that simple.
More complex magical power manipulation is needed, but they must first store that in the press machine.
"The magical power conversion device, magical power memory, and the problem of supplying magical power. It's full of problems."
With a sigh, Randy also sighed and said, "I see."
However, Ellie alone seemed to notice something and was deep in thought for a while.
"Did you come up with something?"
"No... I just thought that all of these have functions similar to the teleportation gate."
"Oh! Really!"
Randy, looking happy, was told by Ellie that the analysis was still not finished.
"So, does that mean we'll be back to square one?"
With a wry smile, Randy said, "It's a hint that we should hurry back," and Ellie, full of spirit, pulled on Randy's arm.
For better or worse, she enjoyed the 3-person analysis in that little shed.
Knowing this, Randy only told Gaston to lend him a sword, and unlike when they arrived, he was led back by Ellie.
"A Rune press machine with a teleportation gate... He really is a man who speaks terrifying things."
Looking at Randy's disappearing back, Gaston showed an impressed expression.
Not only the lost ancient technology but also trying to mass produce it in modern times.
Not to mention, this dragon's horn.
"This is going to be challenging."
With a smile, Gaston called everyone in the workshop together.
From that day on, the workshop, which had been noisy, became terrifyingly quiet, and this became a big rumor in the port town.
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