Chapter 94.1

Renslessi

The various exclusive items manufactured at the Arad Industrial Complex directly and indirectly provided jobs and income for the people of the North.

Even those not directly employed by Arad Company found no difficulty making a living.

No longer did they have to wander the snowy fields and cities in rags, looking for work like in the past.

Thanks to this trickle-down effect, the Northerners grew wealthy rapidly.

“Unbelievable! We’ve saved up five silver coins!”

“Honey, what should we do with this money?”

“Should we try our luck gambling?”

“If you do that, both of us will be ruined. Think of the children!”

With fuller pockets, Northerners began to escape the hand-to-mouth existence they had once endured.

They started saving, and as their savings grew, they naturally wanted to spend on something meaningful.

“How about buying a painting to hang in the house?”

“A painting?”

“Lately, it’s become trendy to hang portraits of the Northern Grand Duchess in homes.”

“Yes, I heard the same when I went out to gather weeds the other day.”

“They say it’s a symbol of pride as a Northerner.”

“But honey, won’t it be expensive?”

“Not so much that we can’t afford it.”

“That’s true. Honestly, having this much silver just sitting around the house makes me nervous. It’s better to spend it on something worthwhile.”

“You’re surprisingly on board with this idea.”

“Better this than wasting it on gambling or booze.”

The inventions Arad created were first used by the High Tower, the Renslet Magic Society, and employees of Arad Company.

A half-beat later, they spread to the Rune Merchant Guild, the Renslet Church, and the Renslet Academy.

Within a year, they reached even the most remote villages in the North.

Arad Company had essentially become a cultural phenomenon.

“Boss! When I went to the High Tower, everyone was wearing something they called ‘uniforms.’ And they were made with Lian fabric!”

“Lian fabric?! It’s already burdensome to provide uniforms; now they’re using premium fabric?”

“I heard Arad Industrial Complex developed a way to produce Lian fabric really cheaply.”

“As expected of the North’s magician.”

“Shouldn’t we also get uniforms for our clan? We’ve got some spare money, and the amount is too awkward to divide among the members. This would be perfect.”

“Great idea! Let’s place an order with Arad Company right away! Oh, by the way, any news on those subspace bags?”

“I heard there’s a massive backlog. They say it’ll take until winter to get one.”

“Damn… That’s what we need the most right now…”

It became commonplace for major merchant guilds, mercenary bands, and adventurer clans to order matching uniforms, just like Arad Company employees.

Likewise, nearly every street and household in the North displayed portraits of the Northern Grand Duchess Arina as essential decor.

People dined with porcelain plates, and even beggars on the streets carried porcelain bowls for alms.

“Did you hear? Count Arad Jin, the North’s magician, invented another amazing magical tool!”

“I heard about it too! A tool that lets you pump water anywhere and dispose of waste effortlessly. What was it called again?”

“Bluetooth!”

“That’s right, Bluetooth!”

“What does ‘Bluetooth’ even mean?”

The latest series of inventions by Arad—Bluetooth devices (including showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets)—followed this same distribution pattern.

First, research and development were completed at the Arad Company headquarters.

Next, final testing was conducted at Manager Theo’s newlywed home.

Finally, full-scale production began at the industrial complex.

The Bluetooth series quickly spread from the High Tower and the Renslet Magic Society to the rest of the North.

“Boss! Have you been to Jack’s Inn? They’ve installed the new Bluetooth series from Arad Company!”

“Damn it! First with the uniforms and the Grand Duchess’s portraits, and now they’ve got those expensive Bluetooth devices? Don’t they believe in saving money?”

“What should we do, boss?”

“We can’t lose to them! Place an order immediately!”

“Yes, boss!”

“By the way, what does ‘Bluetooth’ even mean?”

“I have no idea.”

“Maybe Jack knows? I heard he’s on good terms with the North’s magician.”

“Should I ask him?”

“Are you crazy? Just order the damn Bluetooth stuff already.”

Naturally, the Bluetooth series became a sought-after commodity.

In the North, where infrastructure like running water was underdeveloped, these inventions were not just a passing trend but a transformative change in daily life.

There were even businesses where large wagons equipped with subspace water tanks and waste tanks roamed the streets.

“We’ll refill your water! We’ll dispose of your waste!”

These services became a staple of Northern life.

“Argh! Another day of overtime!”

“Is it too much?”

“Too much? No way! This is all money!”

Thanks to this, employees manufacturing the Bluetooth series at Arad Company were drowning in overtime work.

“Send the magic stone coating process on lines 10 to 15 to the Academy students!”

“Three-circle mages, focus on purification circuits! Four-circle mages, handle security circuits!”

“Mages under two circles, join the students on magic stone coating!”

Whether they were regular workers or mage-engineers, everyone at the complex was swamped with the influx of work.

“Waaaah! There’s just too much work!”

“If it’s too much, go home. It’s not mandatory.”

“But… I earned a gold coin last month! Me! A two-circle mage earning a gold coin in a single month!”

“Then… let’s get back to work.”

“I’ve become addicted to overtime…”

The company never forced overtime but ensured employees received fair overtime, night shift, and special work allowances.

“All this enchanting work lately… I feel like my tier has improved.”

“It helps, even if it’s limited to production and manufacturing.”

“The role of wizards is going to change completely in the future.”

“Instead of roaming battlefields, they’ll draw magic circuits in factories.”

“It’s safer and much more lucrative.”

Winds of innovation swept across the North, spreading further and faster thanks to a communication revolution.

***

“Sir, what’s that? I saw a strange magic stone orb installed in City Hall.”

“It’s a magic communication device, created by Count Arad Jin in collaboration with the Renslet Magic Society.”

“A magic communication device?”

“With this, they say you can send and receive news across the continent in an instant. It does consume a lot of mana depending on the distance, though.”

“That’s unbelievable!”

“I thought the same at first.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om