Chapter 91.2

The two of them took turns vehemently opposing the idea.

They had plenty of valid reasons to do so.

The North was cold.

Inland areas, where large quantities of magic stones were buried beneath the ground, experienced some thawing during spring and summer—rivers would flow, and the soil would soften. However, the magic-stone-less seas were merciless.

The ocean was frozen nearly year-round, and even during summer, it was barely navigable for about two weeks.

The southern seas, below Narvik, were comparatively less frozen due to the region’s agricultural potential. But the problem was that the North lacked access to those coasts. To the east lay the Great Forest and the Enchanted Abyss, while the west was blocked by the Manus Mountains.

“For now, let’s visit Jin County and think things through. I’m not planning to proceed recklessly.”

I assuaged their concerns for the moment.

“Also, don’t worry—I have alternatives to the greenhouse barriers. If all else fails, we can fall back on those.”

“And what are these alternatives?”

“The sky.”

“The… sky?”

“For now, just leave it at that, Mary,” I said, glancing out the window at the open sky above.

If sea routes were blocked, I would establish trade routes in the air.

“An airship…”

The contingency plan I had been mulling over as Plan B, following the ice-free port plan, was an airship.

Specifically, a half-functional airship without a magic engine.

“If you don’t have teeth, you use your gums. If there’s no magic engine, why not use a combination of steam engines, anti-gravity mechanisms, lightweight materials, and subspace enchantments?”

Even with my mastery over all magitech disciplines of the Arcane-Punk era, such an airship had never existed.

In other words, I would need to design and build it from scratch, from A to Z.

The project would undoubtedly demand immense funding and time, rivaling the greenhouse barrier endeavor.

“If I start researching and making prototypes now, it could be feasible. It might even surpass the greenhouse project in potential.”

Still, it seemed safer than braving the sea monsters while navigating through frozen waters.

“The easiest route would be to develop gunpowder weapons like steam cannons and supply them to the entire army…”

Frankly, none of this would be necessary if brute force could solve everything.

With AK-47 rifles, MG-42 machine guns, and 155mm howitzers, Northern troops alone could conquer the entire continent.

“But no, the balance always has to be maintained here.”

As expected in an Arcane-Punk world, one of the key ingredients for gunpowder—saltpeter—behaved differently here due to mana’s influence.

“Even with my MAX-level alchemy skill, I couldn’t access any gunpowder-related recipes.”

While I had managed to replicate steam engines using basic natural principles and my MAX-level mechanical engineering skill, gunpowder remained out of reach.

“Alright! Let’s wrap up this conversation here. There’s no point in dwelling on vague future plans and getting depressed.”

Having sorted my thoughts, I decided to shift the topic and lighten the mood.

Planning for the future was important, but losing oneself in it could mean neglecting the present.

“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Arad Jin. I shall take my leave as well.”

Gard prepared to depart, his previously worried expression significantly softened after our conversation. Seeing my confidence seemed to have reassured him.

“Yes, Lord Gard. Please get some rest. You must be exhausted from your long diplomatic mission.”

I personally escorted Gard to the door.

With his departure, the headquarters was now left with just me, Mary, and Jarvis, the building’s caretaker.

“Mary, aren’t you heading home?”

“Are you so eager to get rid of me?”

Mary pouted as she responded to my question.

“Even if you’ve been busy and a bit neglectful lately, don’t forget—I am your exclusive secretary.”

“Ah… right.”

“Right?”

Mary frowned at my casual acknowledgment, clearly exasperated.

From his corner, Jarvis observed our exchange with great amusement.

“Aren’t you the one who hasn’t been going to the factory lately, boss? Come to think of it… you’ve been working more here at headquarters than at the factory recently. What have you been up to this time?”

Lately—or rather, for quite some time—Mary’s nagging seemed to have increased.

It felt almost like being scolded by a girlfriend or, worse, a wife.

“Indeed, I’ve been working on something personal lately.”

I half-listened to Mary’s reprimands and gave a vague answer.

“Working on something? What is it?”

Mary’s curiosity and interest replaced her irritation as she looked at me with eager eyes.

“Follow me. You’ll be the first to see it.”

“Really?!”

“Ah… well, actually, Jarvis already knows about it.”

“…?”

“By the way, the item I made is also a wedding gift for Chief Teo.”

“So, it’s an invention meant for household use?”

“Exactly. Something that will revolutionize daily life.”

“Chief Teo seems overwhelmed with wedding preparations lately. Hearing this will surely delight him.”

I led Mary to the second floor, and she followed closely like a duckling trailing its mother.

Once upstairs, I revealed one of the recent inventions I had been working on.

“Take a look. This is the result of my casual factory absences. I had a lot of help from the mages at the Arcane Society.”

“What is this? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

I showed her a long, paddle-like object coated with magic stone and crafted from porcelain.

“Watch.”

Sometimes, showing was better than explaining a hundred times.

Click.

I pressed a button on the device.

Whoosh!

A stream of water burst out, like heavy rain.

“!!”

“Th-this is!!”

Mary’s eyes widened in astonishment as water poured from the device the size of a forearm.

“Look, you can even adjust the water temperature like this.”

When I pressed a red button made of fire-aspect magic stone, warm water flowed out. A moment later, pressing a blue button made of ice-aspect magic stone turned the water cold.

“What do you think?”

“Unbelievable…!”

That’s right. This invention was a showerhead.

But not just any showerhead—this was unlike anything seen even on Earth.

I dared say it would leave Earthlings utterly stunned.

“How… how does water come out of such a small device?!”

Mary’s question echoed the exact sentiment of Earth’s age-old internet meme: “How did a liberal arts major make this showerhead?”

That legendary showerhead was now a reality here in another world.

“Ah, this is called a Bluetooth showerhead,” I declared.

A dream invention of a magic-driven world—requiring no hoses or plumbing.

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