Chapter 14

Baybalon Trivia: Alicia is cute and has a big chest, and it seems she's actually Rize's type, but she seems like the kind of mother who would joyfully convert her children to religion, so he's trying to avoid getting too involved with her.

"Lord Rize, we've created something terrible...!"

"Yeah, this is a great invention...!"

-- In the forest of the Baybalon territory, in a village of beastmen, I was standing with Ilyna, a blonde dog-eared lady, staring intently at a palm-sized wooden box.

A few days ago, when I went to check on the group of beastmen, which had grown to about 3,000, they were all gathered around some white pebbles, deep in thought.

According to Ilyna, "If we're going to keep fighting against nobles like Jaikof, it's going to be tough with just one mage, Lord Rize. I was thinking that if we could use these 'magic stones' for something—"

Well, I'm a pacifist, so I don't really want to fight...

But, if someone like Jaikof were to accuse us of a false crime and start a war, it might happen. I'll think about ways to boost our combat power.

By the way, 'magic stones' are apparently small stones found inside monsters.

Beastmen have long speculated that "monsters have strong regenerative abilities because they collect magic from the air into these stones, using them to heal themselves in a way similar to the recovery magic used by some 'human tribes.'"

Hmm, if I presented this theory at a conference, I'd probably be killed on the spot.

In the noble society, magic is considered a sacred energy bestowed by the gods. If they were told that monsters are also absorbing and using it, everyone would be furious. Well, Rize is broad-minded and doesn't get angry easily.

Anyway, if these small stones, which humans have always thought were just some kind of urinary stone in monsters, have such properties, they could indeed be useful for something.

So, I tried sending magic into one to see if it would absorb it— and it turned red-black and exploded!

Whoa! I was so surprised! And the fragments hit me, and it hurt like hell!

Without thinking, I stomped on the fragments that fell to the ground, and they also exploded! Whoa!

...If my facial muscles hadn't died, I would have cried from the shock. But the beastmen were in even worse shape.

Their keen senses made them even more sensitive to the explosion and the light, so they were crouching on the ground in fear. Ilyna was even hugging me tightly, her dog ears trembling.

"Are you okay, Ilyna?"

"U-uh... Lord Rize, you're fine, as expected. I almost cried..."

"Haha, more importantly, is it okay to keep hugging me? Well, it's a perk for me."

"Wh-what!? I'm sorry, Lord Rize!!"

Ilyna's face turned bright red as she quickly backed away. Ah, so cute... But honestly, my feet are really hurting!

...Well, at least you didn't get to see my rare angry outburst.

Anyway, the real issue is the strange phenomenon with the magic stone.

It seems that the magic stone really does absorb magic. Ilyna also seemed to think so, as she was staring at the charred explosion site.

"Ah, I see. If it absorbs too much magic too quickly, it explodes. This is a great discovery!"

"Yeah, I'm probably the first to send magic to a creature considered unclean. The other nobles don't know about this.

...And by accidentally stepping on a fragment, I found out that it also explodes when shocked."

"What, really, Lord Rize!? ...If we can use this, we might be able to create something incredible!"

-- Thus, the secret item-making project between me and the beastmen began.

First, we crushed the magic stones into powder and infused them with a small amount of magic. This made them relatively safe, only exploding under significant impact. We called this 'explosive powder.'

A few days later, we discovered that the explosive powder loses its magic when exposed to water or moisture, so we decided to seal it in a wooden box and throw it.

Additionally, from the experience of being pierced by fragments, we mixed in iron shards, and thus the 'bomb'—a pseudo-attack magic item that even commoners could use—was completed!

"Great job, Lord Rize...!"

"Yeah, it's the result of my and the beastmen's efforts...!"

Holding Ilyna's hand tightly, I exchanged glances with the other beastmen who had helped with the research.

This bomb—something that humans, who despise monsters, would never have been able to create in a lifetime. It was only possible because of the knowledge of these beastmen, who have been eating monsters joyfully for ages. It's a true testament to our friendship.

"Great job, Lord Rize!"

"This is an invention that will change the world! We must keep the development method a secret!"

"Hey, Princess, how long are you going to hold Lord Rize's hand? Let us shake hands too!"

While Ilyna, blushing, moved away, I also shook hands with the other beastmen.

Yeah, yeah... I've really come to understand these guys.

In the noble society, beastmen are discriminated against as "aggressive human-like creatures, bloodthirsty beasts," but that's not true! They are the same as us, 'humans'! They are beings we can understand!

With a warm feeling of friendship in my heart, I looked into Ilyna's eyes.

"Ilyna... continue to get along with everyone in the Baybalon territory. And let's work together to create a world where no one persecutes beastmen, starting from this land!"

"Right, Lord Rize...! We will eliminate all those who persecute beastmen with our power!!"

Uh, something felt off about her words... but maybe it's just me!

I and the beastmen are connected in our hearts! So, since we've developed a weapon that even commoners can use to defeat crazy nobles, the Baybalon territory is making explosive progress toward peace today! Hahaha!

I received a review from "Sakuradama Zero," who writes reincarnation stories!

I hope this novel, filled with friendship, effort, and victory, reaches many children and helps with their healthy development!

I look forward to your reviews and comments!