Chapter 105: The hometown of researchers and engineers
Trantor: Tseirp
The town said to be the gathering ce for researchers and engineers gave me the feeling of a cosy ce.
Instead of a city, it certainly gave a stronger impression as a town so, on a whole, it was small in size.
Rockford was the final stop on the highway.
I found that the town was built on a wide emptynd surrounded by mountains.
“It’s called Rockford so I imagined a more rocky ce but it’s surprisingly normal.”
We’ve arrived at the town so I housed Fornoir and the horses in the Hermit’s stable and stored the carriage in my magic bag before slowly surveying the cityscape.
The dwellings felt like they were built with bricks and concrete and there were no buildings made of wood.
In addition, contrary to the ce where engineers and researchers gather, there weren’t any visiblerge workshops that leave such an impression.
“That’s because this town is a dummy. I believe you have not seen anybody around right?”
Dn mentioned so I once again looked around the town of Rockford and it certainly was a ghost town without anybody living in it.
“This way.”
Pa looked like she was feeling nostalgic and was walking ahead.
“Watch ou?! Ha?”
Pa looked like she was going to m into a wall as she was looking over here so I inadvertently called out but Pa … didn’t m into the wall and her body was swallowed into the wall instead.
“Illusion?” (Luciel)
“That’s right. It’s the effect of a magic tool created to hide the people from foreign enemies by expertly using the refraction of light. This ce is full of oddballs but there are also many who are chased by various entities …” (Dn)
“It’s amazing nya.” (Cathy)
“It’s a glimpse of the technology that was the reason why the Empire failed their attempted attack on this ce.” (Lionel)
“Gahaha. This is just the beginning.” (Dn)
Under the guidance of the abnormally high-tensioned Dn due to the praises to his own town, we also stepped into the wall.
It was a pretty amazing otherworld version of projection mapping that could disy a fake wall despite it being daytime now.
“Wouldn’t one be able to do anything with such technological capabilities?”
Nobody heard my murmurings.
What awaited us after we were swallowed by the wall were … golems.
“I’d like to be spared from being forced to fight with these though…” (Luciel)
“A new golem would rise at the same time you destroy one so it’s a waste of time.” (Dn)
Pa was waiting for us in front of a golem.
“Hurry.” (Pa)
With her delighted expression, Pa looked like a child proud of her own home.
“Pa, it’s the first time we’re here?”
Rician chided her as we continued to walk forward. The golem began to move and spoke.
【Answer the riddle if you wish to pass through here】
Seems like we could pass if we answer the question.
I was looking forward to it slightly.
【Name the technique where one circle and clutch their arms around the waist of their opponent from behind, throw them backward, and form a bridge while maintaining the clutch on their opponent.】
Huh?
“German Suplex.” (Pa)
【The road shall open】
” … What’s with that question just now?” (Luciel)
“The founder who made this made it such that the questionse from the selected genre but there are a lot of strange genres. Furthermore, if you try to forcibly pass through, the golems would attack.” (Dn)
” … Then just now?” (Luciel)
“Most likely a question on the techniques from professional wrestling. Pa yed with the golems a lot so before I knew it, she had memorised them.” (Dn)
There are professional wrestling techniques in this world? In the first ce, I didn’t learn any professional wrestling techniques when I was studying Taijutsu under Instructor Broad.
“Incidentally, what happens when you’re wrong?” (Luciel)
“Nothing in particr.” (Dn)
“Nothing?” (Luciel)
“You’ll understand when we continue on ahead.” (Dn)
” … Incidentally, what are the other questions?” (Luciel)
“There are scientific questions like the temperature for water to vaporise or the definition of water vapor explosion. There are also questions like the kind of ores attainable from the mines or extremely difficult calction questions appear if you choose mathematics.” (Dn)
” … Who was the founder of this ce?” (Luciel)
“It ought to be Sir Rainstar. Apparently, he stayed here for a couple of years and developed various things.
I heard he gathered engineers and researchers who could not resist trying to figure out what they can do with their own techniques.
Rockford was built by those people holding various kinds of techniques.
This ce being called the hometown of researchers and engineers only happened after then.” (Dn)
” … It sounds outrageous, in many ways.” (Luciel)
“If you ask me, I think Luciel-sama is simr too. Since you’re still so young, I have a premonition that you will be a heavyweight that surpasses Sir Rainstar.” (Dn)
Dn walked on ahead as he said so andughed.
” … I should make a magic tool that somehow manages to transform me into another person.” (Luciel)
I made a new resolution and chased after the backs of everyone.
After passing the golems, there was arge door with a small door on its right.
Pa ignored them and walked toward the right side wall instead of the doors in front. The moment she ced her hand on the wall, the wall emitted a pale light and split open.
“This is?” (Luciel)
“Magical power authentication. If you do not register your magical power in advance, it will cost you considerable effort to enter.” (Dn)
… I’m shocked by the gimmicks we’ve encountered until now, but then how did Dn be a ve?
“Dn, how did you be a ve? Where did you encounter the ve traders in the first ce?” (Luciel)
” … The request was from the king of the dwarf race of the underground kingdom … I’d prefer if you do not ask any more than that if possible.” (Dn)
“Okay. Rather, so there’s an underground kingdom where dwarves live huh?” (Luciel)
“The elves have their country so it’s said that, not to be outdone, the dwarves also built a kingdom underground.” (Dn)
“I see. Shall we go?” (Luciel)
We entered through the wall that Pa opened before it shut.
After advancing forward, a town … a city precisely split into districts spread out ahead.
“So other than workshops, there are fields and pastures as well. Moreover, there’s even a sun …” (Luciel)
“The people who live here are almost all engineers or researchers who own workshops.
However, since they are living, they naturally get hungry too.
There are different approaches like purchasing ves for the sake of managing the fields and pastures or having their own disciples manage them.” (Dn)
“Even so, I’m surprised the food can suffice.” (Luciel)
“That’s because the Adventurer’s Guild transport monster meat over once a week and it’s possible to borrow food during emergencies.
We don’t just always remain in this town, if we go out to search for disciples, we also partake on some requests. That’s why it doesn’t feel like it’s inconvenient for living.” (Dn)
“Home is where the heart is huh.” (Luciel)
“First of all, I’ll have to serve as an apprentice under someone in order to construct my workshop.” (Dn)
Dn smiled weakly but it seems like he has a goal in mind.
Also, unlike the fake town, although seldom, we still passed by people and they called out when they noticed Dn and Pa.
“Isn’t that Dn!”
“Pa-chan is here as well.”
“He, hey Dn has his arms.”
“Perhaps Dn is going to smith again?”
Those voices asked but Dn ignored all of them.
No, rather, he was stunned after he saw the man standing ahead.
“Elder brother Grand.” (Dn)
“Long time no see, Dn. Also, you may have been a junior disciple once but I’m younger so please stop calling me elder brother.” (Grand) (TL: They were both disciples under the same master)
Pa was hugging onto Grand-san and crying.
Although hepletely treated all the surrounding people as air, Grand-san separated himself from Pa and slowly approached me before bowing down.
“Luciel-dono, thank you for saving Dn and Pa.” (Grand)
“Please raise your head. It’s really just a coincidence that I found Dn and Pa.
They became my ves solely because Dn looked like he has the capability so it’s really just by chance.
Furthermore, I want to believe that it could help me repay Grand-san slightly for gifting me the Illusionary Cane.” (Luciel)
After I said so, Grand-san patted my shoulder and smiled.
“I’m d I really worked hard that time.” (Grand)
“I agree. Well then, could you give us a tour?” (Luciel)
“Yeah. Everyone, please follow me.” (Grand)
We followed after Grand-san.
A look of distress slowly surfaced on Dn’s face and Pa’s gait gradually became heavier.
However, after they saw that, they both bolted ahead.
“Is it exactly the same as before?” (Dn)
“No, the rooms increased for thatdy elf there so it’s wider than before. Well, I did reproduce the shape and the location.” (Grand)
“I will pay for the cost.” (Dn)
“No, please allow me to shoulder this. Since Dn became a ve because you were forced to do the impossible when I wasn’t around.” (Grand)
… The Dwarf Kingdom huh.
I’m interested but I shouldn’t thrust my head in too deep.
” … Then let’s split it equally. Since I n to have Dn and others create various things from now on.” (Luciel)
” … It somehow sounds interesting.” (Grand)
“Please ask Dn about it. How much is it?” (Luciel)
“It’s 8 white gold coins but do you have enough?” (Grand)
“I’ve earned quite a sum even though I’m like this. Moreover, I pretty much only used the gold for food.” (Luciel)
As I said so and smiled, I took out 8 white gold coins from my magic bag and passed them to Grand-san.
” … I wasn’t wrong to think that your concept of money is warped.” (Grand)
“Yeah. Oh right. Could I request of you to do some weapon maintenance?” (Luciel)
“Sure. Leave it to me.” (Grand)
Thus, we headed toward Dn and Pa’s workshops.
At that time, I was unaware that Lionel and Cathy hardened their determination for a certain matter.
Author’s note:
Thank you for reading.