Chapter 102 - Magic-Powered Engine (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

‘Trivial spells’ were categorized as spells that weren’t official. Even apprentice mages would be able to execute these fundamental spells. They were extremely easy to learn in normal situations, and the construction of the spells was so simple that even young children could understand. But the corresponding effects were extremely limited, and the functionality was very direct. In fact, many of the trivial spells didn’t possess any practical usage for combat or work. They could only serve as support spells for official spells or ‘preschool education’.

Gawain knew a few ‘trivial spells’ that were very interesting, like the Transformation spell’s simplified version ‘Dye spell’. It could change the target’s hair color according to the situation, but apart from the change in color, there wasn’t any lethal power, and it was only able to be maintained for two hours. There was also the spirit-tempering trivial spell ‘Toughen Will’. After execution, the spellcaster’s vision would summon a phantom that would immediately start to recite the spellcaster’s youthful and sorrowful experiences. It would keep on repeating until the spellcaster stopped the spell. It had an unbelievable effect on toughening willpower…

Okay, youthful and sorrowful stories were just Gawain’s own understanding. The local mages realized that the phantoms would mainly be reciting the spellcasters’ failures and foolish mistakes from their entire life. Because the phantom would only be seen by the spellcaster, it was something like a mental hint to oneself. It was a technique that was in between a spell and a skill. It was very effective when used to toughen the willpower, to self-reflect, and to summarize one’s experiences. But most of the people weren’t willing to learn this trivial spell.

Official mages weren’t willing to be grouped as ‘spellcasters’ together with people that merely learned trivial spells. It referred to those street performers who used trivial spells to deceive uneducated commoners or to those shoddy apprentices who relied on trivial spells to trick countryside knights. Even apprentice mages wouldn’t feel proud for mastering a few trivial spells… On the other hand, if one wasn’t even able to master a few trivial spells, it would definitely be humiliating…

Rebecca was obviously a dauntless general of the shamed and humiliated mages.

The Repulsion trivial spell was something that had nearly caused Rebecca to have a mental trauma during her childhood. It was a rather powerful spell among the various trivial spells.

It was the prerequisite spell for the force field-type spells. It was in the same category but a variant of the trivial spell, ‘Telekinesis’. It was also a training method for advanced spells like the Gravity Control spell, Levitation spell, or the Sculpture Hand. The Repulsion spell’s function was to push away anything in front or within the vicinity of the spellcaster (as for which effect, it would be decided by the type of runes added during the construction of the spell). As for the object being pushed away, it would be up to the spellcaster’s magic strength. It was one of the rare trivial spells that could be effective during battle… to push away enemies or to make the enemies lose their balance.

Gawain knew of this trivial spell, but he had never thought of it.

His mind was only filled with the forces of expansion or high temperature and high-pressure airflow. Even though his mind would flash with the electric-motor model occasionally, he didn’t correlate it with this world’s most fundamental ‘Repulsion spell’.

After seeing how Rebecca described her idea in high spirits, Gawain used a self-mocking attitude to reflect upon himself.

He told himself not to overestimate his creative thoughts and other world’s experiences as a ‘transmigrator’. These thoughts and experiences might be very effective, but there were plenty of moments when it would become a transmigrator’s restriction and obstacle. Just like this time, Gawain Cecil’s memories contained the Repulsion spell, but why didn’t he think of it?

Because Gawain’s mind was filled with Earth’s classic engine model…

Rebecca had never seen a steam engine before and wouldn’t know what an internal combustion engine was. She wouldn’t even understand why Gawain insisted on adding a sealed cylinder in the machine; therefore, her thoughts didn’t have such restrictions. She merely required Gawain to propose a rough idea, and she would use her fine brain and her magical knowledge of this world to think of a perfect solution.

Of course, there was another very important reason — that Rebecca was indeed abnormally talented. With her highly creative ideas, as long as she didn’t starve to death in this world, she would probably be a significant person. She would at least become those people who were printed on history books and would take up two lessons to fully explain their accomplishments. But one had to admit that: how could the other world people be silly?

They simply didn’t consider things in a certain direction!

Heidi’s train of thoughts had opened up because of Rebecca’s idea. She took a piece of paper and casually drew runes and lines on it. “That’s right… the Repulsion spell is very suited for simple magic circles. In fact, there are plenty of magical mechanisms like the automatic door, and the most common floor traps are all actuated by the Repulsion spell. But no one had ever thought to transform such energy into sustainable operation and standardized machines… Ancestor, your wisdom and thoughts are truly unfathomable.”

As she spoke, she handed over the rough sketch she had done.

The back of Gawain’s head was perspiring with cold sweat after getting praised by Heidi. I am not done with my self-reflection yet…

After taking over Heidi’s sketches, he took a glance and realized that it wasn’t just the sketches of the simplest Repulsion magic circle; there were also markings of the corresponding magic effects and the cheapest material for assembly.

She was truly hardworking and frugal. If the camp didn’t have Heidi, there would be plenty of pointless expenses.

The trio’s minds were working together as their discussion revolved around the ‘Repulsion spell’ that was one of the most fundamental spells. Rebecca pointed at Gawain’s initial blueprint of the cylinders and said, “If we are using the Repulsion spell, we can simply do away with the sealed cylinders. Perhaps, we will leave behind a protective cover to avoid any foreign material from dropping inside, but it wouldn’t need to be so tight.”

“We can carve the Repulsion magic circle at the underlay for it to actuate the ‘piston’ thing.” Heidi’s interest in research was aroused. “But how will the piston return after being pushed away?”

“Using inertia — this steel wheel’s inertia. It’s called the sprocket wheel.” Gawain pointed at the sprocket wheel that was connected to the piston. “It is connected to the crankshaft and piston. When the piston is away from the Repulsion magic circle, the sprocket wheel will turn and reset the piston.”

Amber had been staring blankly for a long time. At the start, she couldn’t understand at all, but as Gawain and the others continued to discuss, she finally had some clues. After all, the fundamental theorem of this machine wasn’t considered complicated. The main structure was a bunch of wheels and connected shafts. As a thief, Amber had frequent contact with various mechanisms and traps; thus, she was rather familiar with these wheels and shafts. When everyone was discussing the problem of the piston reset, she murmured something by the side, “What about the process when the piston is trying to return to the Repulsion magic circle? The magic circle will still be pushing outwards… but this large wheel will only be able to continue acting after turning the last half of the circle. It means that the machine will be competing against itself.”