Chapter 40

I filed down the rough spots with a file and applied the paint.

A large wooden box was completed.

There was a face on the front part. This, too, falls under the broad category of Otem.

If I attach the wheels that Shivy and I cooperatively made yesterday, it will be complete.

"Alright, it's done!"

A four-wheeled wooden cart, I named it the Otem Trolley.

In this village, vegetables are expensive.

The reason is the difficult geological conditions for farming and the magic grass that quickly ruins the fields.

Thanks to the incense leaves, I have enough wealth to spare, so I decided to try to develop agriculture by making a tractor next.

This Otem Trolley is the first step.

I plan to continuously improve it, and eventually create an Otem Tractor that can cut grass, mix soil, and even fire magic beams.

First, I want to make it operable by anyone as long as it's charged with magic power.

That will be the first challenge.

I had the idea for a while, but I gave up because I couldn't gather the materials.

But now, even rare minerals are plentiful for me.

Wealth is justice.

"R-Really? This really works!? Can we ride it!?"

Giselle approached the Otem Trolley excitedly.

"Yeah, you can ride it and move around. Giselle, you've seen me use magic to rotate the wheels during the experimental stage, right?"

"S-Super! It's amazing! I want to ride it!"

Giselle looked at me with eager eyes.

However, in a world with magic, being this surprised by a trolley is unexpected.

On Earth, things like this are everywhere.

Still, I can understand her excitement.

I'm a bit excited myself to see a wheeled vehicle after sixteen years, especially one I made myself.

To maintain my dignity as an older brother, I'm trying to stay calm, but I feel like dancing right now.

I want to fulfill Giselle's expectations right away, but I can't.

"Hmm... We need to do a bit more safety testing first."

"Eh... H-How long...?"

"I'd like a week. There might be unexpected blind spots."

"S-So it is..."

You don't have to look that disappointed...

I waver for a moment, but shake my head to dispel the thought.

I can't let my guard down. In my previous life, there were so many car accidents.

My death was due to a car accident.

Moreover, this Otem Trolley is still in the adjustment phase.

I think it will be fine as long as I don't go fast... but accidents happen when you let your guard down.

I think it will be fine as long as I don't go fast... but it can gradually become "a little faster is fine" and "a bit more is fine."

I'm confident that if Giselle is giggling and having fun, I'll get more and more relaxed.

I might even end up saying, "Okay, I'll go a bit faster!"

If anything happens to Giselle, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

I'll let her ride it later, after I test it myself and identify and improve on the flaws.

However, I was surprised by Giselle's enthusiasm for the Otem Trolley.

I thought this kind of thing would be more popular with boys.

Shivy, for example, drooled over the blueprint and stared at it intently.

...By the way, today is the day Shivy prays to the spirits of the Ardie family's ancestors.

It's like Obon or a memorial service in my previous life.

Today was the planned completion date for the Otem Trolley, so Shivy tried every trick to skip it.

In the morning, Shivy came here, saying, "Mr. Abel, Mr. Abel! I managed to sneak out by using Otem as a decoy to trick Father!"

But when she saw Garia waiting at my house, her confident face quickly turned to tears.

Garia was one step ahead.

Shivy was then dragged away by Garia.

I turned towards Shivy's house and bowed slightly.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

"Well, I thought Shivy would want to see the completion too."

I'll let her ride it once the safety checks are done.

Running it in the village is dangerous because wild Philos might jump out.

I'll carry it to the forest with magic and then use magic to move the wheels.

I think it would be fine to move slowly, but since it was just completed today, there might be unexpected issues.

It's better to be cautious. Safety first.

...However, there is one problem.

Even if I use magic to lighten it, I might run out of stamina and collapse halfway if I push the trolley while walking.

Should I ask Giselle for help?

But my dignity as an older brother...

...Well, maybe I can give up on that dignity.

I've been weak for a long time.

I tried to improve by doing some strength training, but I only lasted three days.

Giselle always happily accepts when I ask for help.

I'm happy when Giselle relies on me.

To deepen our sibling bond, it's important to rely on each other appropriately.

"Brother... um..."

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, when the safety checks are done, please let me ride it first! Before Philo and... Shivy. ...Is that... not okay?"

"Don't worry, I intended to do that anyway. But the trolley is small, and it might be a bit cramped for two people."

This Otem Trolley is fully controlled by magic.

I want to make it operable by anyone once it's activated, but for now, only I can drive it.

Naturally, I will have to ride it.

"No, that's fine! I don't mind if it's even smaller!"

Giselle said this while gripping my clothes tightly.

"...Hmm, you might get a bit dizzy."

"R-Really...?"

She looked a bit disappointed.

It seems Giselle still has a long way to go before she can be independent from her brother.

Seeing Giselle like this makes me happy, but also worried.

Giselle is almost fourteen.

At this rate, she might not be able to be independent from her brother even after the coming-of-age ceremony.

After I return from adjusting the Otem Trolley, I'll consult with Father without Giselle knowing.

I've been putting it off, thinking I'll consult him someday.