Chapter 71 - Abnormal Changes with the Ball (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
These experiment logs were proof of crushing defeat when physics from Gawain’s ‘Earth experiences’ and ‘this world’ was put together. He bound them into a book; he then encrypted it using Chinese, taking it as his untold secret.
Amongst all of the experiment logs, close to eighty percent were failures.
This meant that while this world appeared to be very livable and the surface of its natural environment seemed rather similar to Earth’s, it was entirely different from Earth in its underlying physics. Supporting its operation was a system completely alien to Gawain. In this unfamiliar system, the various forms of supernatural powers, which included magical power, carried considerable weight.
No, perhaps he shouldn’t call them supernatural powers anymore. In this world, only chanting an incantation to call out to immortals while rubbing a fireball between one’s hands was considered ‘supernatural power’.
However, Gawain did not choose to wash up and go to bed. On the contrary, this mysterious world left him full of fight.
He believed that all laws could be interpreted. All things should have an underlying regulation; humans should be in awe of nature but should not stop moving closer to it because of this reverence. Since those supernatural powers truly existed in this world, he would treat and research supernatural powers as something definite. Just like the winds, rains, thunder, lightning, and universal gravitational force in his native world, the so-called magical powers here were merely part of nature’s cycle. Although his ‘Earth experiences’ could not be put to use, his mode of thinking… Could a mode of thinking polished in an era of information explosion not be able to compare to those conservative aristocrats and pedantic scholars constrained by the medieval life?
Moreover, some of his experiences could still be utilized.
Gawain picked up the two pieces of transparent lenses placed at the corner of the desk. They were cheap man-made crystals (the low-price was merely in relative terms to magic crystals), the most skillful craftsmen in Tanzan Town had spent two days to polish them into a convex lens and a concave lens according to Gawain’s requests. Gawain put the two lenses before his eyes, one behind the other. He constantly adjusted their positions until a clear image was presented to his eyes.
Although the speed of light could not be determined yet, at the least, light still adhered to a law familiar to him in its transmission.
Then at the very least, telescopes could be created; an inexpensive ‘Eagle Vision’ could be popularized for civilian use.
He just had to further lower the cost of constructing the man-made crystals and settle the problem of the low efficiency of manual polishing.
Besides optical phenomena1, the successful operation of the waterwheel also proved one point — in this world, although the basic laws of the microcosmic field might be different from Earth’s, some direct, macroscopic laws of physics probably did not differ much from his native planet’s.
Hence, many things could still be attempted.
After noting down the entry related to telescopes in his memorandum, Gawain let out a long yawn. Only then did he notice that it had totally quietened down outside. Night had fallen; it was time to sleep.
Gawain’s ears were very sharp, and he could catch light snoring and mumbling while asleep coming from nearby. They were Betty and Amber, who were sleeping next door. Hearing Amber, who mumbled about getting rich even in her slumber, he could not help but chuckle with a shake of his head.
It was really time to wash up and go to bed now.
As the night deepened, the last bit of light in the camp was put out. A tranquil darkness enveloped them, just like the draperies of the legendary Lady Night which protected dreamers. Gawain tried to empty his thoughts while slowly sinking into dreamland.
And only when everything had fallen into darkness would some faint glimmer — which had originally been neglected by everyone — have the chance to flower. Beside Gawain’s desk, some extremely subtle rays of light slowly emerged. They came from the big basket by the desk, the pile of waste produced when Rebecca tried to make ‘cement’.
…
In the camp at night, there were some people who were still awake. They were not ‘workers’ of ‘Cecil Steel Works’. Gawain had renamed the blacksmith store and already given the craftsmen some information regarding the new production system; however, at the present stage where all key infrastructure was incomplete and where there wasn’t any electric lighting, no workshop in the camp could be operated round the clock in three shifts. Those awake were the loyal soldiers on night shift.
The militiamen wore armors and helmets as they walked down the paths with burning fire pans and did their handover at the various stations. A small group of militiamen passed through the warehouse area at the southern part of the camp and arrived at an independent tent set on the fringe of the camp. The squad leader was a middle-aged soldier with a full beard. He confirmed the command and identification token with the comrade he was relieving; he then looked towards the tent with a teasing look. “Is that thing sleeping?”
“Duh, what else can a piece of rock do other than sleep?” The squad leader who was about to go rest shrugged. “I really don’t see the point of us guarding here. It’s just a rock ball, and there hasn’t been a stir for so many days. Madam Heidi even uses all sorts of spells to stimulate it every day, but I don’t see any effect…”
“Watch your tongue.” The squad leader taking over reminded. “This is the Grand Duke’s decision. He gave orders to guard this thing. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Of course not, of course not,” The person across him hurriedly replied. Then he bowed his head, only to see the elaborate equipment on him that was full of magical brilliance. “I still got to thank the Grand Duke. I never thought I could be using such good equipment in this life. It feels like an illusion where I’ve become a knight…”