Chapter 62 - Magic Web 1 and Blacksmith Store (1/2)
Chapter 62: Magic Web 1 and Blacksmith Store
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Feeling the large hand smoothing the top of her head, Rebecca felt a little confused.
Her first reaction was that she had heard wrongly. Her second reaction was that Lord Ancestor had said it wrongly. Her third reaction… was that this was some kind of consolation.
It couldn’t possibly be sarcasm, right?
The young viscountess who had never achieved anything from a young age would never have imagined that she would be so praised.
After seeing Rebecca’s reactions, Gawain repeated his words again before laughing. “Don’t be startled. I am seriously praising you. It is probable that you aren’t even aware of your incredible talent.”
“Really?” Rebecca was at a loss before she blinked her eyes with embarrassment and said, “But I am just clever in these trivial matters… Such things wouldn’t be needed in normal situations.”
Such exceptional talents had actually been categorized as trivial… Gawain was truly a little speechless.
Rebecca was born a little too early, but it was fortunate that Gawain came in time and would have the chance to bring out these innate talents.
Gawain took a careful look at Rebecca’s modified magic circle… He might be a knight but back then, Gawain Cecil was considered half a scholar and had studied magic circle theories quite a bit. Coupled with the fact that the Gondor Empire was rather magically developed, basic magic knowledge was therefore fairly widespread. As such, Gawain didn’t have a hard time understanding the basic runes used to form this magic circle. After taking a serious look, he was certain that Rebecca’s modifications to these runes were feasible. This magic circle had turned from a rough concept into something that matched his expectations. It could be used as the foundation of a ‘prototype’, and if it was going to be perfected, it would need to go through practical tests first.
Gawain raised a question. “Have you considered how to expand it further?”
“Expand it further?” Rebecca paused for a moment before asking, “What expansion? Draw it bigger?”
“No, I’m asking whether you can connect it with other self-powered magic circles that are similarly structured but of different scale. Or even to use a certain magic circle as a unit in a foundational structure that can connect endlessly and that can expand to finally form a large network covering a vast region.” Gawain looked at these orderly arranged runes and could subtly see a plausible combination and shadows of repetition. He couldn’t help but propose a rather bold idea. “Every magic circle wouldn’t be independent and are all connected together… Can you understand what I’m proposing?”
Rebecca might have outstanding mathematical talent and creativity, but such a grand concept was still rather profound to Rebecca. She was trying hard to ponder but finally frowned with distress and asked, “Lord Ancestor, the thing you are saying… Could it really exist?”
“Just treat it as my incredible imagination.” Seeing Rebecca’s confused expression, Gawain knew that he must not be too eager for rapid results. Hence, he stopped the topic from going in this direction and instructed, “Construct Magic Web 1 first and let the blacksmith store start running it. We will talk about other things in the future.”
“Okay!” Rebecca nodded with delight. “Earlier on, I was discussing the blacksmith store with Hummel…”
“Oh?” Gawain raised his brows. He had indeed seen Rebecca in a discussion with Hummel, but the pleasant surprise of Magic Web 1 had nearly made him forget about the matter. “What were you discussing?”
“About the new furnace.” Rebecca raised her head and said, “I was thinking that if Magic Web 1 started up, the furnaces would be able to produce proper magic circles, and we wouldn’t need to use runes that are hard to use. If that was the case, the furnaces could be modified further, right? But I don’t know how to forge, so I could only discuss it with Hummel and ask if he had any ideas to improve the furnace or workflow…”
The old blacksmith Hummel was staring in reverence at the nobles. His head was lowered as he listened to the Viscountess and the Duke discussing the problems. For a commoner like him to stand in this place and to participate in conversations with nobles, he was feeling honored and nervous at the same time. When Gawain shifted his attention onto Hummel, this old blacksmith’s back was truly perspiring with cold sweat. He would have never dared to imagine that the noble lord who had never used the bellows to come and guide him on the construction of the blacksmith store. But Hummel had no choice but to cooperate; thus, he was already prepared for Gawain to propose a bunch of outrageous requests while Hummel and his apprentices would have to work desperately to complete the tasks…
In fact, such things weren’t strange. It was rumored that there was a viscountess in the north who had a sudden impulse to guide the gardeners on pruning. She had set a rule that every golden fleece’s blossom should have two flower buds instead of three… Because of this, over a dozen gardeners had suffered for a long time until the Viscountess had lost interest in this matter.
“There’s no need to be nervous.” Gawain could see Hummel’s anxiety and spoke in a calm manner. “Give me your opinion on this.”
“I—I don’t any opinions.” Hummel lowered his head and spoke humbly, “The young Viscountess is truly knowledgable and intelligent. These things that she designed are things that poor people like us would never understand in our lifetime. It is already taxing just for me to learn how to use it. How can I possibly have any opinions?”
Gawain looked at Hummel and shook his head. “Of course, you wouldn’t understand the parts on magic. But you know the most about the furnace and the anvil. You are the professional for this part, and we will respect your opinions.”
Respect… a commoner’s opinion?