Mage? Magic Engineer!-Chapter 42 - 39: This Routine Is a Bit Familiar

"Nothing."

The next five pieces of Leather Armor had no reaction. ’Looks like getting a hit on the first two was just a stroke of luck. The actual drop rate isn’t high, which is probably for the best.’

Out of the six pieces of Leather Armor obtained at great risk, only one was useful. This left the two agents feeling unsatisfied. "Is that all? Should we try another method?"

"If you’re not convinced, go ahead and try." Rorschach then created some light and sound effects, convincing the two that the remaining five pieces were indeed just ordinary leather goods.

"...To summarize the two manuscripts, they are a Caster’s hypothesis and verification regarding the environmental Magic Power fluctuations caused during Casting."

Rorschach didn’t mention the subsequent content about the Magic Restriction. "The manuscripts came from our Empire. This summary, along with Night Owl’s records, should be enough to pinpoint the specific contents, right?"

The two agents had no idea what Rorschach was talking about and could only nod in agreement. Their job was just to report back, after all. It’s not like they could be expected to go audit classes at a Magic Tower or Mage Academy for several years just to understand everything.

"We need to set off for the Empire. From now on, people from the commerce chamber and the embassy will be your point of contact."

Rorschach nodded and shook hands with each of them. Their hands were rough, with calluses on the sides of their fingers, the edges of their palms, and the webbings of their thumbs.

"Take care."

Following Night Owl’s instructions, Rorschach left first. As he passed by the Bibo Tea House again, a "Closed for Business" sign was hanging on the door. Looking through the display window, he could see that some of the tables and chairs inside had been overturned and smashed.

At some point, the sun had become hidden by clouds. The late autumn, early winter wind was a bit chilly, and Rorschach wrapped his robes tighter around himself.

This wasn’t the kind of weather for a boat ride. Rorschach hailed a rental carriage. It was painted a lime green that had oxidized and yellowed, but the vehicle was still relatively clean.

"To Stella Garden." The labyrinth entrance to the Tower of Stars was there.

"Hold tight, sir." The coachman pulled a cord for a bell. After a JINGLE, the horse began to move on its own, the reins constantly guiding it toward the garden.

Rorschach watched the scenery outside the window as they went.

The attire of pedestrians in Valuva was more diverse and colorful than in the Imperial Capital. Women were currently often wrapped in black or white furs or camel-colored flannel cloaks, but you could still see the lacy collars and hems of their dresses peeking out. Men tended to wear loose-fitting overcoats, tight trousers or leggings, and conspicuously exaggerated collars.

As they passed a Church, he saw a crowd of thinly-clad people gathered at the entrance. They were clustered around a Cultivator’s stall, receiving wheat porridge and a small slice of black bread. Among them, an old woman leading a child made a gesture of prayer and worship toward the Cultivator and the Church entrance.

"Seven ten-thousandths... heh."

After traveling for about half an hour, the carriage reached a stretch of road Rorschach was slightly more familiar with, near Prairie Avenue. The Starlight Torch Tower could be seen from here.

’So the Starlight Torch Tower is this close to the entrance? The first time I came, I turned back to go to the Magic Guild. Now, after seeing the tower, it’s only a short while before I’m at the labyrinth entrance.’

"We’re here, sir. My carriage can’t go past the iron gate." The wrought-iron gate at the garden entrance was closed. Rorschach paid, got out, and walked toward it. The gate swung open automatically with a CREAK.

The labyrinth... After walking inside to a fork in the path, Rorschach took out his Mage Badge. The right edge of the badge lit up, so the young man took the path to the right.

Just like that, Rorschach traversed the labyrinth alone and arrived at the door.

’Please don’t let there be any weird problems like the first time...’ Thankfully, Rorschach stepped smoothly into the main hall of the Tower of Stars.

...

Although the chief professor’s office was on the third floor of the Tower of Stars, Kano spent most of his time near the Starlight Torch Tower, unless he had to teach. Now that Rorschach was substituting for him, there were even fewer days he needed to check in at the Tower of Stars.

"Is this building part of the Magic Tower too?" At the foot of the Starlight Torch Tower stood a building that, aside from its high ceilings, was also characterized by its thick, solid walls.

On the first day of the second half of the month, Rorschach followed Kano into the building to enter the research lab. The first floor was filled with the CLANG of metal and the ROAR of some kind of machinery. An indescribably nauseating smell drifted from the second and third floors. It wasn’t until the fourth floor that things improved.

"That’s right."

Master Kano began to explain to Rorschach:

After the Magic Guild proposed building the Starlight Torch Tower for the King as a birthday gift, the generous His Majesty the King waved his hand and approved a huge plot of land at the end of the Royal Capital’s central axis. He even urged the municipal government to build Prairie Avenue, the widest road in the entire city.

The Starlight Torch Tower itself didn’t take up much space. So, not to waste the generosity of His Majesty the King, the Tower of Stars erected a large number of buildings on the allocated land.

"Who would have thought this place would become prime real estate? But the Valuvanan people just love chasing trends and interesting things. They love to crowd around the tallest landmark in the city."

The area at the foot of the tower became white-hot. Wealthy merchants and nobles took pride in owning property nearby. Through the income from selling and leasing the attached buildings, the Tower of Stars and the Guild not only covered the costs of this massive project but also secured a continuous stream of revenue.

This current building is the research area the Tower of Stars kept for itself.

The King was happy, the Magic Guild and the Tower of Stars were happy, the Dwarf Construction Association that took the contract was happy, and the wealthy merchants and nobles who bought property and storefronts at the foot of the wonder gained face and made a profit, so they were happy. Everyone’s happy, everyone’s happy!

*Hiss...* ’Why does this business model seem so familiar?’ The soul of a Transmigrator shivered.

’A wonder-driven economy! That’s right, in a world with magic, building a wonder must come with a buff. Makes perfect sense.’

Kano was also very pleased. "Well said! We’re here. Come, come, let’s start the group meeting..."

In this weather, a fire was already lit in the fireplace. When the Meeting Room door opened, a wave of warm air and the faint scent of incense washed out. A marble table was surrounded by several high-backed chairs, each covered with a soft cushion. On all four sides were cabinets stuffed with documents and books. Next to the fireplace stood a presentation board covered in scribbles and drawings.

For a room of its function, it seemed overly comfortable. The proof was that Pascal was already drowsy.

Besides this Apprentice, who was older than Rorschach, there was also a young woman with a high ponytail. She sat upright, flipping through materials and occasionally making marks with a quill pen.

"Let me make some introductions. Oh, you’ve met Pascal. This is your senior, Paulina."

"Hello. Rorschach, Tier One Mage."

Paulina nodded and smiled, her lips were thin. "I’m glad Teacher Kano has recruited someone new. Paulina, Tier Three Mage, same cohort as Apprentice Pascal."

"Pau, you didn’t have to emphasize that last part," Pascal said with a yawn.

Kano asked Paulina to brief Rorschach on their current research project. The group was currently researching Teleportation Magic that led directly to the Star Realm:

Even before the Old Empire, there was Magic to connect to other Sub-planes, but the Star Realm of the Main Plane was the sole exception; no correct ritual or spell could reach it. A Dwarf once built a rocket powered by concentrated Flammable Element, but after exiting the atmosphere, it encountered the turbulence of Transmuting Dust, and he sacrificed his precious life for the sake of exploration.

"We are separated from the Star Realm by a ’shell’ of Transmuting Dust. Breaking through it likely requires an immense Ethereal Flux. This is a result of Master Kano’s research."

This meant that attempting to cast the researched Magic would require multiple Great Mages Casting in concert, aided by rituals and minerals brimming with Magic Power, or...

"Convert other forms of energy into Ether. The theoretical model for magic-to-energy conversion was proposed in a paper by a Mage from the Empire."