50 – Mine (Episode 50)
＜Episode 50: Mine＞
[Completion: 13]
“What’s this! The notification!?”
It seems I’ve figured out how to use the skill.
When I draw a blueprint, the completion level appears.
And the higher that number, the better the design.
I took out another piece of paper and drew again.
Changing the material ratio.
[Completion: 17]
“Oh…”
Even an exceptional craftsman like Debe takes at least an hour to experiment with one.
But, what if I use the skill?
The time it takes to draw a blueprint is enough.
Right now, it takes about 10 minutes per piece…
‘Once I become proficient, I can reduce it to 5 minutes or even less.’
[Completion: 23]
[Completion: 24]
[Completion: 19]
[Completion: 27]
…
[Completion: 28]
[Completion: 29]
…
…
[Completion: 46]
“Uaaa…”
Stretching out his upper body, he yawned.
Bright sunlight was streaming in through the window.
“Did I pull an all-nighter?”
I drew dozens of blueprints.
Thanks to that, I raised the completion level from 13 to 46.
“Let’s give it a try until Dve comes…”
The workshop door opened,
And Dve came in.
“Huh…? Why are you here so early?”
“I came on time.”
Actually, it wasn’t morning, but a time after lunch.
Growl.
My stomach growled, demanding food.
“Try experimenting with these blueprints. The ingredient ratios are written next to them. Just follow them.”
I explained briefly and hurriedly left the workshop.
**
**
The central workshop.
Dve was alone.
From Noble mtl dot com
In one hand, holding the paper Elwin had given.
“Wow. Have you already gotten bored?”
I wondered why a noble like him would stay in a workshop.
“Couldn’t even last a few days and had to run away.”
He threw the paper onto the desk and slumped into the chair.
Even though the owner had run away, was there any need for him to work so diligently?
“But still…”
A promise is a promise.
This owner was different.
When he said he would only work for three hours,
and spend the rest of the time as he pleased,
he gladly agreed.
And.
He was actually given free time.
Regardless of the fact that the owner had escaped from the workshop,
as long as the promise was fulfilled, he had an obligation.
He picked up the paper given to him by the owner.
There was a plausible design drawn on it.
“What is this again?”
A stack of blueprints piled up on the desk.
One sheet, two sheets.
Ten sheets, twenty sheets.
It was a number close to a hundred sheets.
“Could it be that he drew these all night long?”
Elwin bowed slightly towards the door that had closed behind him.
Filled with apologies for the misunderstanding.
“If the owner wants it this much, I should work hard too.”
Rolling up his sleeves,
He made the rope according to the blueprint.
Thirty minutes passed,
Ping.
“Well, is this the luck of a beginner?”
It was unbelievable.
With materials here like
Goblin, orc, troll tendons.
A common-looking rope.
And animal fur.
To produce this level of elasticity with such materials.
“Anyway, it seems like I found the right proportions.”
Using the same materials but twisting them in a different way.
This is not written in the design.
He used various knotting techniques,
And as a result, he found the best knot that matched the materials.
Ting.
“The recoil has improved. At this level…”
Though not as advanced as the modified ballistae used on the front lines,
it was at a decently usable level.
**
**
Having quickly filled my stomach, I left the restaurant.
Whether it was because of lunch,
or perhaps staying up all night,
my eyelids drooped uncontrollably.
“But I still need to verify.”
It was necessary to confirm whether the completeness of the blueprint translated to actual performance.
Upon entering the central workshop,
Dvega, who was testing the crossbow, came into view.
Ting.
Ting.
“Oh…”
Even from a distance, it was apparent.
The recoil was much better than before.
“Dvega! Is this… the crossbow made according to the blueprint?”
“That’s correct.”
Dvega led another protest.
Ting.
Ting.
It bounced well.
Not bad, I suppose.
But it wasn’t as good as the first time I saw it.
“What is that?”
“It’s something I made separately, referring to the design.”
“Separately?”
“Yes. Because…”
I listened to Dvega’s explanation with the mind of a student.
The proportions of the materials I found were definitely good.
The problem was that I only used one knotting technique.
“There are various ways to twist the material. So I tried using different knots.”
“Oh… What is that knotting technique? Explain it in detail.”
I learned the knotting technique from Dvega,
And took out a blank piece of paper.
I drew a design using the new knot.
“I’m not one to interfere, but a design is meant for making something. Why are you drawing a design when you’ve already made the thing?”
“I have my reasons.”
Roughly responding, I focused on the design.
When I finished drawing the final line,
[Completion: 53]
“Oh, it really improved!”
I stood up from my seat and patted Dreve on the shoulder.
He looked at me with a strange gaze, but
whatever.
I found a good design.
“What do you think is needed more in your opinion?”
“First, it’s the materials. It’s difficult to make a good prototype with the current materials.”
“I think the same!”
I rushed out of the workshop.
I called a slave passing by on the street.
“Send a letter to Russell immediately. Get all kinds of veins. Animal fur too!”
“Yes, master.”
.
.
After sending a letter to Russell,
As the top arrived, veins and fur arrived.
After two months, dozens of veins and dozens of furs were displayed on the desk.
“aaahhhhh!!!”
I tore out my hair.
The designer’s guidance was undoubtedly exceptional.
It saved me an enormous amount of experimentation time.
However.
Dozens of strings. Dozens of hairs.
Various types of ropes.
And even different knotting techniques.
There were too many possibilities.
I pulled out the papers where I had organized the results of my experiments so far.
There were not just one or two, but over dozens of them.
They were filled with materials, proportions, and knotting techniques that had been meticulously used.
And at the end, I wrote down the scores for completion.
The highest number was 71.
“Let’s be satisfied here.”
For over two months, I sat in the workshop, only drawing up blueprints.
Now, it was time to compromise.
“Devae! This. Let’s go with this.”
Tiiiiing.
Tiiiiing.
“I told you. This alone is sufficient.”
“Alright, let’s start mass production immediately.”
“Understood. Should I teach the artisan I introduced last time?”
“Yes.”
Dvebe went outside.
And I collapsed onto the desk.
“It burned white…”
.
.
From the next day onward,
We began the full-scale production of ballistae.
The body was entrusted to ordinary slave artisans.
The core of the technology, the trigger mechanism, was selected through interviews.
And they decided not to remove the slave brand for a lifetime.
Instead, they promised a much more prosperous life than the freedmen.
They also took responsibility for old age.
If they had children, they promised support for upbringing and quality jobs.
The reason for going to such lengths is,
To maintain confidentiality.
“There are a lot of people on the street.”
During the planning phase, my subordinates fulfilled their duties diligently.
Hans and the slave soldiers guarded the village,
Isaac completed the construction of Alp Village,
Russell is fostering growth in the Highlands of Ireland,
while supplying materials necessary for ballista production.
I entered the workshop street.
On both sides of the main road stood rows of blacksmith buildings.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of hammers and anvils colliding echoed in my ears.
Looking up, I gazed at the mountains.
I could see people transporting iron ore to the village.
“Are the basic structures in place?”
With the mine operational,
and the forges beginning production,
Iron Village, no, the village officially named ‘Iron’, is fulfilling its role.
“As we expand the scale and complete the ballistas, we’ll reduce the number of mercenaries.”
Iron Village intends to manage the region directly.
All for my gain.
As I strolled through the village, the sun set.
“I never knew walking could be this blissful. It feels like I could live without even looking at the blueprint.”
.
.
While enjoying a few sweet days of vacation,
Russell paid a visit.
“Why did you come in person?”
Russell is busy with upper management.
Not only simple growth, but also competing with Cynthia’s upper management.
Until now, he had sent other upper members with the materials for delivery.
“There’s a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“The supply of slaves has decreased. I requested more volume from Justice Slave Upper Management, but they say it’s difficult too.”
“Could it be because of us?”
“Yes.”
The empire we belong to is massive.
Even at this moment, slaves are being produced.
Inter-country wars are occurring,
And wars between territories are unceasing.
It’s not just war slaves.
There are debt slaves too.
This world lacks welfare.
Countless individuals accumulate debt, unable to repay, and consequently descend into slavery.
The number I purchased is not significant compared to the scale of the empire.
“However, is it insufficient because the balance has collapsed?”
Even before actively purchasing slaves, the empire had been operating a slave system.
In other words, there had been a balance between the supply and demand of slaves for a long time.
In such a situation, a large-scale demand emerged from the country.
The supply remained as usual, but with a sudden increase in demand, a shortage of slaves occurred.
“It’s troublesome.”
Slaves are the foundation of my power.
I earn money using slaves,
I gain strength using slaves.
“Master, we are currently facing a shortage of slaves, but it will return to normal in 1 or 2 years.”
1 or 2 years.
A not-so-long yet not-so-short time.
During that time, should external growth come to a halt?
It cannot be allowed.
Buying slaves,
Establishing large farms,
Creating agricultural villages,
Now, even the mining town has been constructed.
But should we stop growing?
The brain, which had entered recovery mode after a few days of rest, began to move quickly.
The farmlands are abundant.
The iron reserves are also sufficient.
With people alone, expansion is possible right away.
‘But does it have to be slaves?’
“Russell.”
“Yes, speak.”
“How does this place look to you? Is it livable here?”
“Thanks to the lord’s grace…”
He raised his hand to stop the words.
“Enough with the flattering words. Tell me, compared to the continent, how is it?”
“The average quality of life… is not bad.”
Mercenaries are pouring in, regularly subduing monsters.
Stable jobs are provided.
The school serves as a communal childcare facility, saving on labor.
After considering various factors, the conclusion was that it’s livable.
“Let’s accept our wandering people.”
