Chapter 10.2

“I’ll take this one.”

I selected the largest and sturdiest-looking carriage, along with the two horses hitched to it, and handed a pouch of silver coins to the manager.

“Ah! I’d like to modify this carriage. Can I rent a storage shed?”

“Of course! Just say the word!”

The manager, counting the coins from the pouch I gave him, eagerly nodded like a puppy wagging its tail and led me to a shed.

“This one is the biggest and has the best location. It’s right next to the guard post, so you won’t have to worry about petty thieves.”

The shed he showed me was spacious and well-situated.

After moving the carriage inside, I nodded in satisfaction.

“You’ve done well.”

“Think nothing of it! Is there anything else you need?”

“I’ll need materials for modifying the carriage…”

“We have plenty of carriage parts here.”

“No, I’m looking to make something a bit… special.”

“In that case, you’ll need to hire adventurers?”

“I’ll reach out to them, but time is short. I’ll check with the traders currently in Haven first.”

At first, I thought about using the city’s adventurers’ guild as I had when making Arad Salt.

But now, I don’t have much time.

“According to the staff at Polly’s Inn, the Grand Duke and her knights haven’t left Haven yet.”

Fortunately, Arina, the Northern Grand Duke, and her knights were still in Haven. But who knew when they’d leave?

“From now on, anything addressed to the Baronet will be stored in this shed.”

“I’m not a noble yet…”

Despite my protests, the depot manager continued bowing like a serf before a lord.

“Anyway, off you go. I’ll be here thinking about how to modify this carriage.”

After sending the manager away, I was left alone in the shed, examining the carriage I had just purchased.

Memories of the max-level skills in carpentry, alchemy, magitech, and mechanical engineering flashed through my mind.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Of course, I can’t use everything at max level just yet.”

I felt a slight frustration. This was a time 100 years before the “Silver Era 1,” when magitech truly flourished.

It was like being a smartphone developer stuck in a time before electricity.

The same applied to my alchemy and magitech skills.

“But I can at least make a rough imitation.”

After finishing my design, I picked up the hammer and saw it provided in the shed.

Thus began the grand modification of my carriage.

***

Over the next three days, a “black hole” appeared in Haven—a phenomenon by Earth’s standards.

This black hole absorbed all kinds of materials sold in Haven: herbs, leather, fabrics, metal, food supplies, lumber, magic stones…

It became so voracious that people began to wonder if a giant general store was being set up.

Among all the items consumed by this black hole, the most absorbed were magic stones.

So much so that the miners and merchants in Haven experienced a temporary economic boom.

And the one who created this black hole was none other than me, Arad Jin.

“With this, we’ve procured all materials available through Haven’s adventurers’ guild. The remaining magic stones from the labor camp will arrive by tomorrow evening.” “Good work, Renon.”

By now, I was used to being treated as a Baronet.

While inspecting the ten different types of magic stones piled up in the shed, I praised Renon for his efforts.

The amount of magic stones gathered in the shed was so immense it formed a small hill.

The shed was now 30% occupied by the carriage and 50% by magic stones. There was no way all of it would fit into the carriage.

“It’s the least I can do after you saved my life.”

Renon, who had recently discarded his chest bandages, smiled as he pointed to his scarred chest.

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

“I will.”

Was this another benefit of my Luck stat?

Renon, whose life I had saved on my first day in this world, turned out to be a well-connected adventurer in Haven.

His ties to the northern adventurers’ guild, labor camps, and merchant caravans had been instrumental in setting up my new venture.

“By the way, what are you planning to do with so many magic stones?”

Renon couldn’t contain his curiosity as he stared at the pile of magic stones.

“They all have their uses.”

“I understand that magic stone powder can be used in medicine, but this seems excessive.”

“Magic stones have far more applications than you realize. They’re essential for alchemy and magic.”

“True, magic stones are a favorite of mages. Their staffs are always embedded with large magic stones, and witches’ brooms are no different.”

The more we talked, the more puzzled Renon seemed.

I probably didn’t look like a mage to him, as mages usually carried a staff adorned with magic stones and wore robes.

“Most of these magic stones are of low quality and have no market value, though…”

What puzzled him most was the quality of the stones I had purchased.

The majority of them were mid- to low-grade stones that most mages or alchemists wouldn’t bother using.

“No market value? Who says so?”

“The entire world does. Among those stones, only the fire- and light-element stones are somewhat usable.”

“That’s only because unskilled mages and alchemists don’t know their worth. To me, these are invaluable materials.”

“Are you a mage, too, Baronet?”

“Mage? No, I’m more of a magitech engineer.”

“Magitech… engineer? What’s that?”

“Think of it as a half-baked mage. Someone who can’t fight, but still uses magic.”

I dismissed his question with a vague answer, too lazy to explain properly.

“Ah…?”

Renon nodded blankly, clearly not understanding.

“Magic stones are like coal, oil, or nickel on Earth.”

In this era, just beginning to emerge from medieval times, magic stones were used sparingly and for limited purposes.

High-grade magic stones were used for making mage staffs and experimental tools for alchemists.

Mid- to low-grade stones, however, were only used for medicines, dyes, or glow stones.

“Right now, the Empire’s royal family and the royal mage tower are among the few who understand the true potential of magic stones.”

As the Silver Era progresses and the arcane-punk world takes shape, magic stones—regardless of their grade—will become ubiquitous, much like oil and petrochemical products on Earth.

“And the North is rich in magic stones. The Empire likely orchestrated the Grand Duke Arina’s disappearance for this very reason.”

It made sense why the Empire sought to turn the North into its territory and why they oppressed the Northerners who remained loyal to Renslet.