Chapter 630 - System, You Sure Are Embarrassing

“Sigh, I’m so angry! Why would Boss Mag make Miya work at Mamy Restaurant during the lunch service? That way, I won’t be able to sneak over to the ice cream for an ice cream during my lunch break, and Mamy Restaurant is so far away!”

“Exactly! I also wanted to come here for an ice cream, but the ice cream shop’s opening hours are right when Mamy Restaurant is closed! This is terrible.”

At the entrance of the ice cream shop, there were two young women looking at the opening hours on the door with a grumpy expression.

Esther was a student at Chaos School and she was 17 years old, so there was only one year left until she could graduate.

She was a 17-year-old 4th-tier magic caster, which placed her aptitude at above average in the magic world. In her family, her aptitude was sufficient for her not to have to worry about anything for the rest of her life.

As such, she was never short on spending money.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, the lunch break at Chaos School wasn’t very long. The distance from the school to the restaurant wasn’t all that far, either, but there were simply too many people lining up there. There were hundreds of people lining up during their lunch break, so if they wanted to have an ice cream, they would have to wait until school ended. That was simply downright torturous to them.

Many people passing by the ice cream shop also wore expressions similar to theirs. The people who had time rushed off to Mamy Restaurant to join the line there, while those short on time could only wait for the next time.

After the lunch break, Mag borrowed one of Mobai’s three vacant storefronts, carrying the steam engine parts into the shop before closing the door and fiddling around with the parts.

He could only be considered a newbie as a chef, but when it came to assembling steam engines, he was a professional. During his free time back when he was writing his thesis in his past life, he assembled and disassembled steam engines for fun.

Mag laid down all of the parts before saying internally, “System, I need a piston, a cylinder, two belts, and four wheels.”

Due to the restrictions in skills, technology, and materials in this world, in conjunction with the fact that Mag didn’t want to have too many individuals participating in the creation of the steam engine, Mag had to buy some parts from the system.

“I don’t have any of those,” the system immediately replied.

“State your price.” Mag pursed his lips.

“The system is issuing you a stern warning! You are forcibly pushing this world into the steam era and severely disrupting its natural progression! The effect this will have on the world will be immeasurable, and you could very likely trigger divine retribution, which will wipe your existence off the face of this world!” the system warned.

“Then could it be that James Watt and Michael Faraday were taken by God? They pushed the Earth into two different eras, after all. Wouldn’t it be really fun to have a steampunk world with swords and magic?” Mag pursed his lips.

“That’s… That’s not the same! Those two scientists were only able to make those breakthroughs following extensive research and development. Their success was a product of their hard work, and their inventions contributed to the natural progression of the world! What you’re doing is completely different!” The system was getting rather frustrated.

“Let me ask you this, system: can you be sure that Watt and Faraday weren’t transmigrators? Perhaps they were also forcibly transmigrated to Earth after speaking ill of a certain restaurant owner? Look at their systems. Watt wanted a steam engine, and the system willingly gave him one. Faraday wanted an electricity generator, and his system also handed him one without any resistance. Then, look at you. I had to do everything myself, yet you’re acting so reluctant even though I’m only asking you for a few parts. You can’t even begin to compare to their systems!” Mag pursed his lips with discontent.

“That’s utter nonsense! How can those lazy bastards compare to the system? If God tossed me a few trillion gold coins and asked me to force you to do missions in exchange for monetary rewards every day, my job would be countless times easier than it is now!” the system yelled in grief and indignation.

“Looks like you’re very short on money as well.” A peculiar look appeared on Mag’s face.

“Of course I am! Do you think production is free? Do you think it’s free to develop exceptional seeds? Do you think construction materials are free? All of these things cost so much money! I still owe the system next door 20,000 copper coins! God gave that bastard 2,000,000,000,000 copper coins, and it gives its host 50,000 every day, yet it still chases me around all the time, trying to get me to repay the 20,000 copper coins! How could I not be angry?” The system’s voice was becoming more and more furious and indignant.

“System, you sure are embarrassing.” Mag covered his face with his hand. His system was was most likely one of a kind.

The system’s voice rose to a screech. “You still dare to say that! If it weren’t for you—”

Mag immediately cut the system off as he said, “Alright, I’ll give you 20,000 copper coins for the parts I mentioned so you can repay your debt and stop being an embarrassment.”

“Really?” The system’s screeching voice immediately reverted back to a normal octave.

“If you think it’s too much, I can offer something lower.” Mag shrugged nonchalantly.

“Of course not!” the system immediately responded before asking, “Can you add a bit more?”

“Then I’ll make it 20,001 copper coins.” Mag nodded with a smile. “That way, you’ll have one left over after you repay your debt.”

“Deal!” the system immediately responded. It then deducted the copper coins and prepared the required materials in five minutes.

After all of the materials were delivered, the assembly of the steam engine was a piece of cake. Soon, a complete dual-cylinder steam engine was ready.

Mag also made a metal shell for it so its internal functions wouldn’t be directly visible.

He poured some water into the machine before he ignited the coals, which had been previously doused in alcohol. The steam passed through the cylinders, and as the pressure gradually increased, the pistons began to cycle up and down in a repetitive range of motion, thereby prompting the flywheels to rotate.

“This is the first time that a steam engine had been turned on in this world. This moment is worthy of commemoration.” Mag nodded in contentment as he looked at the rapidly rotating flywheels, the steam blowing out of the vents, and heard the sound of metal parts working together. Even though he hadn’t actually invented the steam engine, he was still struck by a sense of accomplishment.

“I have a steam engine now, so the next step is to tell a good story.” A smile appeared on Mag’s face. This was the first major step that he was taking in this world.

In a room that was lined with all types of clocks, Cyril was fiddling around with a small pocket watch. Off to the side, Goodenia bowed deeply to him, and said, “Young Master Cyril, thank you for saving me. I, Goodenia, am your most loyal servant from now on. You can ask me to do anything for you and I will give it my all.”

Cyril put the pocket watch away before turning to Goodenia as he said, “Goodenia, I had to expend a lot of money and connections to bail you out this time.”