Chapter 545
Chapter 545: I Think You Should Do Some Work. (3)
In Penris, wizards receive a somewhat different treatment than elsewhere.
In Penris, wizards are not beings who reign over others with supernatural powers. Nor are they respected intellectuals.
Wizards are more like “laborers” with slightly stronger powers and highly efficient skills.
Most of them are responsible for the construction work necessary for territorial development.
But it’s not just mindless labor. They are dispatched wherever magical techniques are required.
And Ghislaine was not stopping the development of new weapons even during the war.
— We can do both work and fight, right?
— I only have one body, you know?
— I’ll have some priests stick with you. Then you can use twice the time compared to others. Twice the time is like having two bodies.
It was indeed feasible if he received healing from the priests instead of sleeping. He often did so even before the war.
Anyway, under the powerful will of the lord, wizards were participating in both the war and labor tasks.
Of course, priests also had to participate in the war and recover the workers.
It was just another day like any other.
However, Jerome, who was still unfamiliar with Penris’s unique culture, tilted his head and asked,
“What jobs do I have? Is there something I need to do?”
What could possibly be more important than standing on the battlefield as a wizard?
Ghislaine gently explained that part.
“Our knights and soldiers wear special equipment. But that alone isn’t quite enough.”
The knights of Penris wore magical armor made from Galbarium, and the soldiers were also equipped with a full set of Galbarium armament.
With this level of equipment, they boasted overwhelming combat power compared to soldiers from other kingdoms. However, Ghislaine was not satisfied with that.
“The knights activate the armor’s magic with their own mana. It’s tough to maintain for long. So I want to create some artifacts that don’t require the use of mana.”
“Artifacts?”
“Yeah. Since it’s war, I’d like for each of them at least to carry one auxiliary weapon. They should at least be able to shoot a few fireballs.”
What is an artifact? It is a treasure created by imbuing an item with magic.
Generally, artifacts are classified into those that require mana to use versus those that can be used without mana.
As expected, artifacts that can be used without mana are much more expensive.
They are one of the main sources of income for the Mage Tower, but they are notoriously difficult to make.
Not only are the materials rare and expensive, but the time it takes to create them increases exponentially as a wizard’s circle gets lower.
However, Jerome was someone who had reached the 8th circle. This meant he could create artifacts faster than anyone else.
Jerome broke into a slight sweat.
“Uh, artifacts? Do I really have to make them? Wouldn’t it be better to just fight on the battlefield?”
“Of course, you have to fight too. But I feel we need to bolster our power a bit more. That way, we can minimize damage. Listen carefully.”
The goal of this war is to completely annihilate the enemy. It’s not just a matter of having a few strong participants.
No matter how strong Jerome is, it would be difficult to fight all alone here and there. In the end, war inevitably takes some time.
It would be far more effective to develop weapons quickly and multiply the forces of the allies.
Once Ghislaine finished explaining, she pressed Jerome with an intense gaze that was hard to refuse.
“You can do it, right? You can! You’re an 8th circle wizard. It’s absolutely necessary.”
The reason he hadn’t been able to create artifacts until now was that the workload was realistically impossible.
There hadn’t been enough wizards in the territory, and everyone’s circles were lower. There were countless things needed for territory development aside from artifact production.
“Thank goodness Vanessa reached the 6th circle back then, allowing us to barely create the knights’ armor.”
They had now reached a system where mass production was possible by recruiting wizards through the war. But ironically, they couldn’t comfortably create them during the war.
“But you’re here at just the right time!”
In his previous life, Jerome was also a superb artifact manufacturer. He had fought a lot on the battlefield but had focused more on research and work.
Since he was the only 8th circle wizard, he had no choice but to take full responsibility for research and development.
“This guy was truly remarkable. I owe you a lot.”
Jerome created monster grains with scholars, developed hot air balloons with dwarves, made knights’ magical armor, and researched sealing rifts.
As a high wizard, he participated in many studies. Without him, the Human Alliance would have had it even tougher in his previous life.
Yet Jerome had no idea that he had accomplished such great feats.
“Ugh… I, I don’t like that kind of stuff.”
Jerome was someone whose mind and body often did not align. Like a typical wizard, he would sometimes show mood swings. He was quite famous for being lazy in the town as well.
His master always told the townspeople this:
— Our boy is smart, but he doesn’t study well.
That was Jerome.
When he showed reluctance towards work, Ghislaine spoke again.
“You won’t be doing it alone. Vanessa and the other wizards have already started working on it bit by bit. You just need to help out a little.”
“Ugh….”
“You will help, won’t you? We’re friends.”
“Uh, yeah….”
The more they strengthen their power, the less damage the allies will take, and it will be easier to eliminate the enemies. It was a pain, but as a wizard, it was indeed his responsibility.
With his mind resolved, Jerome nodded.
“Alright, I understand. But how do we do it? We can’t work here, right?”
It’s not like they could mass-produce such work on horseback. They needed a workshop.
Then Galbarik confidently replied.
“That’s something you don’t need to worry about! In Penris, we are always prepared to work anywhere, anytime.”
“How?”
Galbarik pointed to some massive wagons a little distance away.
“Tada! That right there is the ‘Mobile Workshop’ created by the great blacksmith Galbarik and his friends!”
“What the… This place seems frightening.”
Jerome gaped. That impressively large wagon was a workshop.
A sense of ominous foreboding began to creep in. Wizards and dwarves had been working while moving across the battlefield!
He had never heard of such a territory, nor had he even imagined it.
As soon as Ghislaine got Jerome to agree, she swiftly shifted her stance.
“Alright, I’m busy, so I’ll head off first. You can follow me in the mobile workshop. You’ll get the rest of the explanation from Galbarik and Vanessa.”
“Uh, okay.”
Ghislaine rushed off leading the mobile army. Now, only the wizards, dwarves, and some priests remained here.
Galbarik gave Jerome a light pat on the backside.
“Now, hop on! It’s all nicely heated up inside. When we make the spears with the runestones, we just need to imbue them with magic alongside the wizards.”
“Uh… I’ll understand for now.”
“But you know we need to hurry, right? If we take too long, it’ll tire everyone out.”
“Got it, got it. Still, I need to make 400 of them, so it’s going to take some time.”
There were roughly 400 knights in Penris.
Even if he could only imbue lower-circled magic compared to Jerome’s level, and even with the help of other wizards, it would indeed take a considerable amount of time.
But Galbarik looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“400? Who decided on 400?”
“Isn’t it 400? We need to make enough for the knights.”
“Who said that?”
“Uh… Isn’t that usually what knights use?”
Galbarik shook his head.
“No, no. You still don’t know our territory’s style. If it were 400, we would have finished it long ago.”
“Then… how many?”
“Target quantity: 20,000.”
“I must have misheard?”
“I told you it’s 20,000.”
Jerome pointed at Galbarik and laughed.
“Haha, are you trying to joke because I just joined? Is this some kind of hazing for the newbie?”
“I really mean 20,000! The entire mobile army will use them! We probably just need to make about 16,000 more. We’ve been working on it!”
Jerome gasped and looked around at the wizards.
“Then those dark circles under their eyes…?”
It wasn’t because they had been following him on the battlefield. It was because they had been tirelessly working!
“Ah, no! When will we finish all that! I can’t do it!”
Alfoy laughed uproariously from the side.
“Hahaha! Are you going to say you can’t do it? Tututututu! Hahaha!”
He was bleeding from the corners of his mouth but found Jerome’s predicament amusing.
Vanessa said with dark eyes.
“You can do it!”
“Uh, how am I supposed to do that?”
“We’ve always done it.”
“….”
“If you actually do it, it’s nothing special. Just think that every day is the same day repeating.”
She absolutely needed to hold onto Jerome. Even though she and the other wizards were all as busy as 7th circle wizards, they were still not achieving the speed they desired.
The lower circle wizards took too long to imbue magic, making it hard to rely on manpower. They could only do the most basic work.
At least the 5th and 6th circle wizards who had recently joined were working on it, but they also weren’t making it very quickly.
Ultimately, the main responsibility would fall solely on Vanessa, and the other wizards would merely assist.
“So Jerome, you absolutely have to help!”
If he, an 8th circle wizard, worked hard, the speed of making things would double!
As Jerome trembled in fear, Vanessa hurriedly continued speaking.
“It’s for the people! The faster we can make this, the more lives we can save! Really, it won’t be anything difficult, trust me!”
“Ugh, ugh….”
Certainly, if an entire force of 20,000 were wielding magical weapons and firing fireballs, it would cause shock and awe.
If they cast magic at least once before the mobile army charged, the enemy formation would utterly collapse.
This truly was what Ghislaine envisioned as the ideal way to launch an assault.
“But do we really have to do it?”
The words clawed at his throat, but Jerome couldn’t bring himself to speak them. Vanessa was pushing too forcefully.
Eventually, Jerome asked with a feeling of surrender,
“Uh, when do we need to finish it by?”
One year? Two years? Wouldn’t that be okay?
Vanessa replied with a bright expression.
“The sooner the better. Now that you’re here, can’t we do it in two months?”
Galbarik, the dwarves, and other wizards all nodded in agreement.
Jerome looked bewildered.
“Is that even possible?”
It was physically impossible. While he could tough it out for days without eating or sleeping, others couldn’t do that.
At that moment, Piote spoke up.
“Based on the speed so far, it seems likely. If we manage our stamina and cut down on sleeping time…”
Piote was discussing a recovery plan together with the priests. They had also become specialists in work alongside Penris.
Jerome thought.
“These guys are all weird….”
Everyone was considering that murderous workload as a given and planning accordingly. Jerome had to wonder this time if he was the weird one.
Galbarik shouted loudly.
“Okay, let’s finalize the work plan as we go! Now, everyone hop in!”
At that shout, everyone hurried towards the wagon. They seemed accustomed, quickly finding their wagon to get on.
Vanessa grabbed Jerome’s hand and pulled.
“This is your wagon, Jerome.”
[Magic Use]
“…….”
The wagon was clearly marked with who should sit where.
With a sigh, Jerome entered the wagon. Inside the quite spacious area were various tools and spears to be worked on piled up.
“They even have name tags already?”
Jerome walked to the table with his name tag and sat down. It seemed like they had prepared this from the moment he joined.
Clunk! Rattle! Rattle!
As Jerome settled into his seat, the wagon door shut. Then, a thick iron grille came down. It felt more like a prison than a workshop.
“…….”
Only blinking in disbelief, he watched as a small window on the wagon door opened, and Galbarik peeked inside.
“Normally, we work in two shifts, but we’re busy right now, so we’ll keep going without shifts. The door will only open briefly during meal and rest times. Oh, and priests will come every hour to heal you.”
“…….”
“This is your first time in our territory, right? We’re just telling you to focus on the tasks, so don’t feel too upset. We provide plenty of food.”
Bang.
Galbarik finished his words, shutting the small window with no regard.
“…….”
He couldn’t believe this was happening so openly. Jerome turned his gaze to the side.
“Alright, let’s get started!”
Vanessa shouted, and the wizards sat down and began their work.
Jerome thought.
“Ah, so this is how everyone actually lives. I didn’t even know. I’ve been living too comfortably.”
To protect his mind, it seemed best to just accept it that way.
He felt like he’d chosen friends poorly, but it seemed too late to turn back now. Jerome lowered his head and quietly began to work.
Around that time, Claude, who was leading the main forces, muttered upon hearing news of Jerome’s joining.
“Shouldn’t we say the new guy is around fifty years old?”
Wonderful workers were continuously increasing in the territory of Penris.
