Chapter 4. Shipping (1)

When I handed over a small silver ring, Uncle Manho looked puzzled.

"So, you want me to make this as thin as a copper wire? What do you need it for?"

"I'll tell you later. Is it possible?"

"It's possible, but this thing is so small, there won't be much of it, right?"

"I just want to do a test, so that should be enough."

"Alright, whatever. I get it. Come back tomorrow."

"Would it be difficult to do it right now?"

It's not an urgent matter, but I want to act quickly when I have a plan in mind.

"Right now?"

"If it's too much trouble, it's okay."

"Not that it's too much trouble, but the employees are about to go home."

"Ah! I'm sorry. I didn't think about that."

I was too anxious.

I was so busy traveling from Gyeonggi to Yongsan this morning that I didn't even notice the time passing.

I turned around with an embarrassed look, but Uncle Manho handed me something that looked like a ball of thread.

"This is leftover copper wire. If you need it, you can use this."

"Really thin, huh."

A very thin copper wire.

It shone like gold, making it look like a spool of gold thread.

"Even though it looks like thread, it's metal, so be careful. Copper is easy to bend, but it also breaks easily, so be careful not to prick yourself."

"Got it. Uncle, I'll be careful. Have a good day off, everyone!"

I said goodbye loudly and left the factory, heading straight home.

The distance wasn't that far, but the roads were more congested than expected because it was close to rush hour.

As a result, it took an hour to travel a distance that should have taken 30 minutes.

"I'm back."

"Seonwoo!"

As soon as I entered the house, my pale mother rushed out.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"Where have you been? You're just out of the hospital, and you're wandering around... Why didn't you answer your phone when you said you turned it on?"

I thought something might have happened, but fortunately, it didn't seem to be the case.

When I checked my pocket, I realized I had left my phone in my room.

"Ah, I must have left it in my room in a hurry."

Even I thought it was a bit thoughtless.

I knew she would worry, yet I left without a word and wandered around all day, and now I was back and about to disappear again.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I'll make sure to bring my phone next time."

I'm still not used to carrying a phone, having lived in a world without them for so long.

But that's a minor issue.

"I'm glad you're safe... Have you eaten?"

"I had a little meat with Dad earlier, but I'm getting hungry again?"

I'm using mana to accelerate my healing.

It's just a matter of speeding up the natural healing process, but it consumes a lot of energy and stamina.

In short, I need to eat a lot and sleep well.

Plus, being back in a young body, it feels like...

'The food is so delicious!'

"Brother, are you a pig? What food... Didn't you say you had meat with Dad earlier?"

Seul, who was sitting at the table, scolded me, but it didn't bother me at all.

"This brother has a constitution that doesn't gain weight, so it's fine."

"Ugh, annoying."

"Seul, you! To your brother."

The three of us grumbled as we ate dinner, and I went straight to my room.

I couldn't wait to try something, so my hands were itching.

"First, I need to draw the magic circle diagram."

Even though it's a familiar task, drawing complex shapes can sometimes confuse me.

I placed a sheet of paper on my desk and started with the cooling sustain magic circle.

To an outsider, it might look like random scribbles inside a circle.

"Now comes the important part..."

There was electricity in the other world, but it was all generated by lightning or magic.

There was no place like this with advanced science, so there was no stable voltage electricity.

In short, converting electricity to mana is something I've never done before.

The opposite might be possible.

'Should I try reversing the lightning magic?'

I decided to try that method first.

I drew the magic circle and let a little mana flow.

Zzzt.

The paper was completely burned.

It didn't catch fire; it just turned to ash instantly.

"Too much?"

Well, I didn't expect it to work on the first try.

Magic circles are, in a sense, a study of patience.

I won't give up.

After dozens of attempts and failures, I finally completed the magic circle as the morning sun began to rise.

The final hurdle.

I needed to combine the mana conversion magic circle with the cooling sustain magic circle.

The process of bypassing overlapping parts while ensuring normal operation.

That's why overlapping magic circles with two or more layers are difficult.

"Maybe I should sleep a bit first."

I was almost exhausted from staying up all night, and my head was fuzzy.

I wouldn't make any progress if I kept going.

***

I could have slept in and gotten up slowly, but I woke up early and got out of bed.

Uncle Manho said to come after lunch, but I wanted to complete the magic circle before then.

"Seonwoo, if you're up, come out and eat."

"Okay, I'll be out."

I put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and went to the living room, where only my mom and Seul were.

"Where's Dad?"

"He's already at work. Seonwoo, you're going to the factory again today?"

"Yep, I have to ask Uncle Manho for something. I'm going to pick it up."

"Be careful... No, go with Seul."

"Umm?!"

I shook my head with food in my mouth, but Mom's tone left no room for refusal.

"Just this once, go with her. I'm worried."

"Fine. I haven't been outside in a while, so it's good to get some fresh air."

"Seul, you. Speak nicely to your mom."

"When are we leaving, Brother?"

Seul, who had her hands on her stomach in an exaggerated manner, ended up getting another slap from Mom.

We arrived at the factory just as lunchtime ended.

"Seonwoo, you're here."

"Uncle!"

"Huh? What's Seul doing here? She never comes to the factory because she doesn't like the smell of oil."

"Today, I'm here to protect this precious patient."

"Haha, you too."

"But what did you ask for, Brother?"

"Ah, this. Seonwoo, here."

The amount was almost the same as what I received yesterday.

Honestly, it didn't look like the amount from a single silver ring.

"More than I expected?"

"Ah, I saw some leftover silver in the warehouse from a previous job, so I made more. I melted the ring and kept it separate because I thought it might be meaningful to you."

"Thank you."

Looking at the amount wound around the plastic cylinder, it was still woefully small.

If Uncle Manho hadn't added more, it might have been difficult to make 10 samples.

"Thanks, but what are you going to do with it?"

Dad, Uncle Manho, and Seul were all curious.

I wanted to tell them, but...

'If I do, they'll think I'm crazy.'

"Never mind. We're done, so let's go."

"What? We just got here, and you're leaving already?"

Seul frowned and looked at me in disbelief.

She clearly didn't want to come, right?

"Why?"

"Well, we came all this way, so we should say hello to Dad."

"Dad's busy."

Given Dad's personality, he wouldn't just stand by and watch.

He would try to find another solution if my plan went wrong.

"Still, we can't just leave. Where's the office?"

He had a slight smile, clearly with another agenda.

"You're going to ask Dad for pocket money, aren't you?"

"Me? What... Hurry up and follow me!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

Everyone had been treating me carefully since I woke up from a coma, as if I might fly away or break if touched.

But Seul treated me just like before.

"You haven't changed at all."

"Brother, if someone heard you, they'd think you've been gone for 10 years."

It's been 60 years, not 10.

Strangely, the long time doesn't feel long at all.

'Sometimes, it feels like I've only been asleep for 6 months.'

I sometimes wonder if the time I spent in the other world was just a dream.

I can see the flow of mana, but maybe it's just an illusion.

Anyway, if I succeed in this, it will be clear.

I believe magic is the only way to transcend physical laws.

"Hurry up and go say hello, then."

"Brother? Aren't you coming?"

"I'll wait here. I want to check something else."

"Alright, I'll be quick."

Seul went to the office, and I found Uncle Manho again.

I really did have something to check.

"Uncle, I have a question..."

"Hmm?"

"You've worked with a lot of metals, right?"

At that question, Uncle Manho nodded with a proud expression.

"I started working at a factory right after high school... It's been over 30 years. I doubt many people have worked with more metal than me. Why do you ask?"

"Have you ever felt warmth when touching a metal?"

My question was strange, and I can only imagine how he felt.

Still, his serious expression made Uncle Manho think for a moment.

"Hmm... I don't think so. Is there such a thing?"

"No, I was just curious."

The best material for drawing magic circles is, of course, a mana stone that contains mana.

They occasionally drop from monsters or can be found in mines with a very low probability.

But that's a story from another world.

As far as I know, such minerals have never been discovered on Earth.

What's the next best thing?

The magical metal mithril, which can most flexibly accept the flow of mana.

It feels warm to the touch because it contains mana, which is why I asked.

'Of course, there's no way to get mithril here.'

It's so rare that even a miner who digs all their life might never see it.

Only dwarves could mine mithril using their special techniques.

But there are no mithril or dwarves here.

'So, silver is the best option?'

Compared to mithril or mana stone powder, silver is far inferior, but it's the most mana-conductive metal I can get my hands on.

It's like comparing a firefly to the sun, but at least I can try with silver.

"Should I check for you?"

"No, it was just curiosity. I was wondering if such a metal existed."

"Alright... I've never heard of a metal that feels warm to the touch."

Mithril doesn't actually feel warm to the touch.

It's just a very subtle feeling of calm as mana flows into your body.

Only someone with very sensitive senses would notice it.

"Alright. Hehe, let's go!"

Seul came back with a big smile, having coaxed some money from Dad.

We headed straight home.

It was time to check if the things I practiced yesterday worked.

'And... If I send the samples, I'll get a response.'

On the way, we stopped at a stationery store and bought 10 small boxes.

I also bought some air cushions for packaging, just in case.

"What's all this for?"

"I need to send some packages."

"Ten packages? Brother, are you starting a business?"

I'm not starting a business, but I'm doing this to make a business successful.

That's not entirely wrong.

"It's not a business, but... I guess it's similar in a way."