Chapter 80

"Hmm. I see. So you were imagining something like this in your head..."

In the blacksmith's shop, there is a large sheet of paper and a table for Torre to draw on.

It's not that Torre's tone of voice is like that...

After asking Sequoia, who had finished analyzing the thunder beast, for an explanation, I was dragged into the blacksmith's shop and told to prepare paper.

I obediently took the paper from Torre and placed it on the table.

Then, Sequoia climbed onto a chair and started drawing with ink.

This thing is a combination of complex three-dimensional shapes.

I'm impressed that he can remember and draw such things.

Huh? I don't understand it at all.

"Um, Sequoia-san."

"What is it? Just wait a little longer."

"No, it's sudden. I can't understand the drawings at all."

"Your tone of voice is creepy. Just wait a little. I want to write down what I remember."

"Aye, aye, sir."

When I tried to peek from behind, he waved me off with his hand.

Usually, he would lean on me, but from his attitude, I understood that Sequoia was very serious.

I regret teasing him, but I don't feel like apologizing. Haha, I'm a bad guy.

There's nothing I can do. I'll wait.

I sat cross-legged on the spot and waited for Sequoia to finish his work.

Huh? No one except for me is paying attention to Sequoia?

Penguin is preparing to scientifically analyze the thunder beast's fur. He has been asked to share the information later.

No, no, as a blacksmith, there should be other masters who would gather for such things?

Yes, there are.

But, they are already...

"Not bad. Not bad."

"Mr. Joshua, aren't you drinking? It's quite good, you know."

Garam and Torre, with red noses, are engrossed in drinking.

The apprentices have prepared snacks, and they have also joined the drinking circle, making it impossible to stop.

Nathan is the only one who is still normal, but he is busy pouring drinks.

They are drinking guava wine. The alcohol has matured, so I brought it for a test, and they seem to like it very much. The barrel will probably be empty by tonight.

I should secure some for Bartholomew, Rumburg, and myself before it runs out.

Ely and Alru are still minors, so no alcohol for them.

Well, it's not that they can't drink, but I've never seen them drink before.

The standard in the principality is that there is no age limit, but it is customary not to let children drink.

Ah, Penguin is being taken away.

Is it okay for him to drink? Biologically.

'What is this?'

'Yes, it's fruit wine made from guava.'

I answered Penguin's question, who was holding a glass skillfully with his flippers.

I can't understand his words.

Wait.

He opened his beak wide and drank it all in one go.

'Hmm. This isn't bad. Let's call it a day for today.'

'You always work too much. I want you to rest. But, is it okay for you to drink?'

'Well, it shouldn't be a problem. After all, you're a penguin.'

'I'm worried because you're a penguin.'

'If anything happens, I want you to rely on Sequoia-kun.'

Nathan is also casually pouring another drink.

Well, Penguin is originally a mature adult. He will probably drink while observing his body.

Sighing, I noticed that Sequoia, who had been working at the desk, had stopped writing with the ink.

"Alright, it's done."

She stretched her hands and arched her back.

"I'm sorry to ask this just as you finished. Would you like to change the location? This place will get even noisier from now on."

"Yes, I would like to join, but since you invited me..."

"I'll treat you to dinner at my place."

"Okay. After dinner, we can go to the study. Or, you can use Joshua's bed."

"That's a bit..."

I gently declined and left the blacksmith's shop with Sequoia and Ely.

◇◇◇

After dinner, I saw the complex and bizarre drawings from Sequoia, but as expected, I couldn't understand them at all.

I decided to give up on the drawings and start by learning the basics of magic construction.

"You can come over here, you know."

"I'm fine with the chair. I feel like you won't explain if I go over there."

In my room, Sequoia, who was rolling around on the bed, invited me.

However, I am determined to stay in my chair.

I must not be tempted. If she says she won't talk unless I go to the bed, I must not.

"I don't feel like it."

"I'll come over if you talk."

"Ugh, what should I do?"

"Alright, let's call it a day. I'm exhausted. I'll drink guava wine and go to bed. Sequoia, see you... mmm."

"Just kidding."

I was tackled and my mouth was covered.

I tried to shake her off, but Sequoia, who had hooked her foot around my shoulder from behind, has abnormally high physical abilities and won't be shaken off.

I was determined not to move, but this is unexpected.

"Huff, huff."

"It's the basics of magic."

"O-Okay."

"The basics are this."

Sequoia drew two cubes of different sizes on the memo paper still on the desk with a quill pen. The cubes were stacked vertically.

"Is this the construction of magic? Do you imagine this in your head?"

"Yes. The magic that is activated changes depending on how the shapes are combined."

Hmm, I see.

So, the construction of magic can be thought of as circuits drawn in three-dimensional shapes.

For simple magic construction, it's as simple as stacking cubes of different sizes to activate it.

But, for multiple three-dimensional shapes... especially something like the charged three-dimensional circuit I saw earlier, it's impossible to imagine in my head.

"To handle magic, you need innate talent and years of training beyond imagination..."

"Yes, yes, that's right. Haha."

Without a computer and without training, it's completely impossible for me to handle.

If I can memorize the drawings, then, ah, that's it.

When learning magic, you start by accurately tracing the drawings and visualizing them in your head.

When you reach the level of a researcher like Sequoia, you can grasp and reconfigure the meaning of the drawn shapes to the millimeter.

"This is a tough subject. It's about inheriting and developing the magical construction circuits passed down by our predecessors, isn't it?"

"Yes. The legacy of our predecessors is extremely important. The cheap production of paper, in the end, was for the sake of magic."

"Is that so!"

Necessity is the mother of invention, but in this world, it's magic, not science, that has taken on that role.

There is a bit of a nuance, but... this world also has scientific technology. However, the convenience of magic far surpasses it.

Scientific technology is necessary for building structures, but magic-based technology is also used in conjunction.

That's the logic of this world.

"Well, now that I understand a little about magic..."

"Hmm? Did you grasp something?"

"Yes. I'm giving up on understanding. So, I'll ask you directly."

I supported the almost-fallen Sequoia and told her with a proud face, "Huhuh."