Chapter 46
#46. Northern Automail (1)
“Of course, it’s you. I knew you’d be the one to first check on His Majesty’s safety.”
Among those present, only Valkyrie nodded silently, as if confirming this was indeed her style.
“Would you like to observe my lower dantian?”
Ariana then smirked and turned to Sun.
“Well… I shall risk being rude and proceed with the observation.”
Scanning someone’s dantian without a healing or educational purpose is generally considered extremely disrespectful in these parts.
However, given the subject’s consent—and more importantly, the overwhelming concern and curiosity of the moment—Sun focused his eyes, channeling mana to scan Ariana’s lower dantian.
“What… What is this?! How could…?!”
After completing the scan, Sun’s expression was one of sheer astonishment.
“What’s wrong? Why is the core completely empty?!”
“Empty? But still, through effort recently, I’ve managed to grow it to about the size of a seed.”
“That’s not the issue here!!”
But Sun’s shock was only just beginning.
“Would you care to examine around the heart area?”
“Heart…?”
Caught off guard by the sudden mention of the heart, Sun felt an indescribable sense of foreboding as he once again infused his eyes with mana.
“!!”
And yet again, he couldn’t help but gasp in disbelief.
“What in the world…?!”
“It’s a long story.”
“Please explain! Everything! I beg you!”
“Hmm, it all started last winter with a letter that came from Haven. You remember? Polly…”
Following this, Sun and the high-ranking knights of the expeditionary force were finally able to learn everything that had happened through Ariana, Valkyrie, Isabel, and Haytai.
“…So that’s how it went.”
The story began with Ariana’s words and concluded with Valkyrie’s.
From the salt of Professor Arad to events in the Magic Realm, the golden carriage, Mary’s blessing, the Lenslet Order, and the Empire’s movements—all of it unfolded before their very ears.
In an instant, Sun and the expeditionary force knights were overwhelmed by too many incidents and events.
“Exactly who is Baron Arad Jin? And where is he?”
After a brief silence, one of the expeditionary force knights asked.
The common thread running through all the stories they’d just heard was but one: the unparalleled genius of Arad Jin, who caused all these events to happen and resolve themselves.
“Hmm, now that I think about it, where is Sir Arad? Wasn’t he here just now?”
At the knight’s question, Valkyrie looked around and asked.
“He said he’d personally oversee the banquet to ensure nothing was lacking.”
Haytai informed Valkyrie.
“He should take a break on days like today. Still, considering that every dish and recipe for this banquet is his creation, it’s understandable he’d feel concerned.”
With an approving nod, Valkyrie acknowledged Haytai’s response.
“Thanks to him, the budget for the banquet has significantly decreased. Lord Jin truly is a genius. How does he keep creating such delicious dishes using otherwise unused parts of animals…?”
“Beef and pork intestines weren’t enough; even the hooves. Truly, a new frontier of taste.”
“As for me, I especially enjoyed the fried chicken gizzards.”
On the faces of the two people discussing Arad, deep trust was etched like a tattoo.
‘Arad… Arad… Wasn’t that the young man earlier?’
Theo thought he recognized who Arad was.
The youth with black hair and dark eyes, resembling a noble page, had caught Theo’s eye when passing by the city walls on the way to the inner castle. Later, during the banquet, he had been standing near His Grace the Duke before disappearing suddenly, leaving an odd impression.
“And by the way, Grandma, is that thing going well?”
“Don’t worry. Even someone as sharp-eyed as Sir Arad wouldn’t be able to notice. Didn’t you see it earlier?”
“Indeed, I did.”
“I do have some expertise in transformation and illusion magic, hehehehehe!”
Then, out of nowhere, Ariana and Isabel’s quiet conversation reached Sun’s ears.
“Hmm…?”
Theo wanted to talk to this person named Arad even more now.
*
I stood at a distance, observing the temporary barracks set up within the inner castle, muttering under my breath.
“There she is.”
In my line of sight stood a girl with unusually white hair, something rare even in this other world.
I first saw Mary not here but in the palace banquet hall.
While scanning the corner of the banquet hall where Ariana and the expeditionary army commander were, I suddenly noticed Mary’s back.
Citing urgent on-site supervision, I quickly left the hall.
“Why is she standing there?”
Chasing after Mary aimlessly, I stopped when I realized she had halted in front of what appeared to be a temporary infirmary for treating wounded soldiers.
It was also where injured expeditionary soldiers received treatment, and I had instructed for banquet food to be sent over there as well.
Why was Mary standing at the entrance to this infirmary?
“Still, no matter how I look at it, she doesn’t seem like someone here to work?”
Rojie, a senior knight with better eyesight than mine, commented from beside me while observing Mary from afar.
“Yeah. Looks like she’s out for a casual stroll. Maybe she knows someone inside?”
“They’re getting help from witches in there.”
Indeed, Mary’s attire seemed far removed from what she usually wore.
She donned a practical tunic suitable for a modest lady stepping outside.
“Hm? It seems Miss Mary has noticed us.”
Suddenly, Mary, who had been standing blankly at the infirmary entrance, met my gaze.
I waved at her, and she responded with a slight bow before entering the infirmary.
“Let’s go check it out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Like ghosts drawn to light, Rojie and I naturally headed toward the infirmary.
Upon entering, we were greeted by the chatter of witches, groans of soldiers, and the sound of eating coming from the back.
“Lord Roji?”
“Boss? And Lord Eopte?”
To our surprise, the person who greeted us inside wasn’t Mary but an unexpected figure: Roji.
“You, what are you doing here? I thought today was your day off?”
Eopte asked Roji on my behalf.
“My body felt stiff staying home.”
“Why not enjoy the festival then? There’s one happening throughout High City alongside the inner castle banquet.”
“Can’t do that. It feels awkward enjoying a festival while injured soldiers lie here.”
Roji pointed to the soldiers receiving treatment as he spoke.
“Ah! It’s Lord Arad!”
“Lord Arad!”
Only then did the witches, busy with treatment, notice me and smiled in acknowledgment.
Despite turning their gazes toward me, their hands didn’t stop working—washing wounds, applying medicine, and casting simple healing spells continuously.
“Allow me to introduce you, Boss. This is my younger brother, Theo.”
After lightly waving to the witches, I turned my attention back to Knight Roji and the other knight he introduced.
“Big Brother, is this really Him? The one who created Arad Salt?!”
“Yes, and he personally developed all the dishes served at this banquet too.”
Roji refrained from mentioning that Mary’s blessing was also my creation.
That fertilizer should remain as a symbol of the North’s earnest prayers in history.
“It’s truly an honor to meet you! I’m Theo Sharpe, a regular knight of the Frost Shield Legion.”
“Pleased to meet you. My name is Arad Jin.”
Without thinking, I extended my hand for a handshake, only to pause mid-motion.
This young knight lacked a right arm.
“Uh… Ahem! Anyway, nice to meet you.”
“Hahaha! Please don’t worry too much about it.”
As I became flustered, Theo instead helped ease my discomfort.
‘This guy seems more proactive and considerate than I expected. As a knight, he must know how to read and write tactical strategies, so he probably understands calculations too.’
Simultaneously, my internal radar for talent acquisition began to activate.
“But why are you here, Boss?”
Just as I was looking at Theo, Roji finally asked why I was here.
“You don’t have to call me ‘Boss’ on days off. Since you’re a high-ranking knight, you can speak freely with me.”
“This feels more natural. Sticking to usual manners prevents mistakes during crucial moments.”
“Suit yourself. You, Eopte, and even Karot back there—I’ve given up on all of you.”
After exchanging light banter with Roji, I glanced around to address the original reason I came here.
“Oh, by the way, where is Miss Mary?”
“Miss Mary? Why are you looking for her here?”
“What do you mean? I saw her come in earlier. That’s why Eopte and I came here.”
“Excuse me? I’ve been here since earlier, but I haven’t seen Miss Mary.”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
Confused by Roji’s answer, both Eopte and I exchanged glances. What was going on? Did we both see things that weren’t there?
Glancing at the witches briefly, they seemed fully absorbed in attending to their patients, likely unaware if Mary had entered.
“Uh… Boss? There are other soldiers here. Would you like me to introduce them?”
Seizing the opportunity, Roji naturally guided me toward where the soldiers were eating.
‘Hmm…’
There sat disabled soldiers eating their meals.
Their bandages and uniforms were clean, having been tended to by the witches and medics.
“Everyone, stop eating and look this way. This is Lord Arad Jin, the one who developed the food you’re eating!”
Once we reached the dining area, Theo, not Roji, introduced me to the soldiers. Upon closer inspection, not only soldiers but a few knights were present.
Most were war-injured veterans missing arms or legs.
“Lord Jin, thank you. Thanks to you, I get to taste such delicious food before dying. Hahaha!”
“My apologies for not standing to greet you properly. My legs…you know.”
“Don’t mind it. Finish your meal.”
I briefly exchanged greetings and observed their expressions and eyes closely.
‘Most of them lack vitality.’
They were forcing smiles, as if enjoying a final feast.
Their souls, if compared to candles, flickered precariously in the face of strong winds.
Living in the harsh Northern Region with less-than-complete bodies was practically a death sentence.
‘Did she deliberately guide me here? Using magic?’
I cautiously speculated about the current situation.
“Uh… Boss?”
Coincidentally, Knight Roji called out to me at the perfect moment, his tone cautious.
“Are you referring to helping them?”
“How did you know?”
“Because it’s obvious.”
“Is there any possible solution? Please, I implore you!”
Knight Roji bowed deeply as he pleaded.
“Hmm…”
I fell into deep thought.
Right now, I wasn’t thinking as a corporate social responsibility advocate but purely as a creator examining the situation.
‘It wouldn’t do to simply offer prosthetic limbs or eyes as solutions in a fantasy world like this. Then automail would be the answer…right?’
In a world with magic, certain creations could surpass Earth’s scientific achievements.
Take the Golden Carriage and Spatial Case as examples.
Even automail limbs that move somewhat according to the user’s will could fit into this category.
‘However, with the current foundry technology and infrastructure, crafting alloy suitable for automail akin to Silver Age 1 would be challenging.’
The current infrastructure makes producing the necessary magical alloys difficult.
‘I need to think… There must be a way…’
Special magical alloys are required to either move according to the user’s will or send magical signals to the user’s brain.
‘Even coating regular iron with mana circuits would pose problems. They’d be too heavy to use, and prone to easy damage.’
Additionally, they’d need to be worn all day, so lightweight materials resistant to water are essential.
‘The materials needed for magical alloys… Surely impossible to obtain right now?’
Creating these alloys requires mythril, orichalcum, etherium, and other rare substances.
Producing them in the Northern Region would require significant funding and time.
‘Reflecting on it, rubber isn’t available here either. Without opening direct trade routes to the Southern Continent, acquiring rubber would be impossible.’
The more I pondered, the more the idea seemed unfeasible.
‘Should I just create basic prosthetics based on Earth’s designs?’
Just as I contemplated this option…
‘Does automail HAVE to be made of metal and rubber?’
A brilliant idea struck me like lightning.
“By any chance, among the spoils the expeditionary force brought back, are there monster byproducts? Specifically, corpses of humanoid monsters like orcs would be useful.”
Having found a potential method, I asked Roji.
