Chapter 92

Chapter 92

#92. The Northern Renaissance (2)

Even in the Silver Age of the First Era, magical household items like Bluetooth showers existed.

There’s no way they didn’t exist. In some aspects, the Arcanepunk world was more advanced than Earth.

Of course, they were extremely expensive. Only nobles and wealthy commoners could afford them, much like potions.

Since these inventions came after plumbing was widespread, there wasn’t much need for them to become popular.

At best, rich nobles used them when traveling or installed them on ships where water was scarce.

That was a world of the late Silver Age and early Platinum Age of the First Era, where capital and technology were highly polarized.

“But things will be different now.”

The North would actually find it faster and more effective to distribute these.

Eventually, we’ll install plumbing in major northern cities too.

The problem is how to survive until then.

We’re already short-handed with building factories and roads, so plumbing construction is still far off in the future.

It’d be more ideal to sell these to households and get them through until plumbing arrives.

“Besides, this makes more money.”

Hehehe… I stroked the Bluetooth shower in my hand with an evil grin.

“…!”

Mary looked at me and took a step back in surprise.

“Hmm! So how does it draw water?”

“Do you want to see?”

Instead of answering Mary’s question, I decided to show her something else.

“It used to be a hassle to dispose of water used indoors.”

In developed cities of empires or kingdoms, plumbing allows indoor water usage, but…

In the underdeveloped North, large buckets carried wastewater to the yard, or small drainage holes connected to the outside were used.

“It’ll be different from now on.”

I poured the water from the shower somewhere.

This tub, made from ceramic frames coated with magic stones and magic circuits, had an open drain that let the water flow through.

“The water…?!”

The key here is that this house doesn’t even have running water.

Moreover, where I poured the water was far from the yard-connected drainage hole.

“How in the world…?!”

After inspecting the tub up and down, Mary looked at me with shocked eyes.

“The core of this invention lies in pocket dimensions.”

“Pocket dimensions?”

Unfortunately, it’s not portal technology.

Portal tech will still be extremely dangerous and difficult even a hundred years in the future.

This magical device uses cutting-edge pocket dimension technology. And just that alone has created a pretty decent Bluetooth shower.

“If you set the pocket dimension circuit to store only specific substances like water, its capacity increases exponentially.”

I pointed to a small box attached near the tub’s drain.

This thin metal box, about the size of a travel bag, was also coated with magic stones and covered in them.

“In reality, this is the key. It’s detachable too, and weighs the same regardless of contents.”

Thanks to pocket dimension and weight reduction enchantments, even when full of water, it remains light enough for a child to carry easily.

This small, light magical box can store wastewater used at home.

“So does the shower use pocket dimension tech too?”

“That’s right. Think of the whole shower as a pocket dimension box. Since it’s quite large, it’s usually mounted on walls.”

Indeed, this Bluetooth shower is three times larger and longer than Earth showers.

“See this fist-sized decoration with water, earth, and dark attribute magic stones? Not only does it store large amounts of water, but…”

Shwoooosh…

“I’ve added enchantments to pressurize the water flow. There’s also a water level indicator here.”

“Whoa…”

“But that’s not all.”

“More?!”

Looking at Mary’s perfect reactions, I continued showcasing recent inventions.

“In the future, you’ll be able to easily handle bathroom waste at home.”

Next, I introduced her to a ceramic toilet enchanted with pocket dimension and purification magic.

“When you dispose of waste in this toilet…”

“…that’s it.”

This magical toilet, embedded with various water, earth, fire, and light attribute magic stones, devoured food waste I tested it with.

“There’s a pocket dimension purification tank behind the toilet. A purification circuit made from earth and fire attribute magic stones bakes waste into soil-like material inside, making emptying easier later.”

“Will it need regular recharging?”

“Just replace the magic stones every five years or so.”

“You mean water recharging.”

“Good question. Both storage for usable water and wastewater are enchanted to hold one week’s worth for an average family of six. That’s the limit mid-grade magic stones can handle.”

Both toilets and tubs have indicators showing remaining capacity.

“But there’s still one important thing left.”

After hearing my presentation (?), Mary asked seriously:

“Can these be mass-produced?”

“They’ll be a bit expensive.”

“What does that mean?”

“While pricey, they won’t be as rare as the megamagnum rifles I showed before or the bag I gifted His Grace the Duke.”

“!!”

“Oh! We’ll also be producing Bluetooth series and pocket dimension bags. They’re production models, so not as fancy as what I gave the Duke, but who cares as long as they have pocket dimensions, right?”

Watching Mary’s clearly surprised reaction made me feel proud.

“Can we meet the demand?”

“We can.”

“…?”

Confused by my words, Mary suddenly remembered something.

“Oh! Thanks to Arad Radar, we’ve discovered more magic stone mines recently! Production has increased greatly thanks to mining trains too!”

If we had magic circuits, we could combine low and mid-grade magic stones to artificially create higher grade ones, but currently we can’t make those.

So we have to mine mid and high-grade magic stones from nature.

And during the past blessing incident with Mary, the detectors (radars) and steam engines played crucial roles in mining.

“That’s right. Thanks to Arad Radar, steam engines, and most importantly, the liberated witches, we can achieve this level of productivity and pricing.”

“So how much will you sell these for?”

“Considering labor costs and everything… about this much?”

“Ugh… Definitely not cheap.”

“Isn’t expecting cheaper prices just greedy?”

“I-I’m just thinking from the perspective of commoners!”

Of course, prices aren’t exactly cheap yet.

But these days, people in the North can afford them if they save up.

“Isn’t life improving for northerners these days with increasing incomes? It’s time to collect. Hahahaha!”

With money flowing into the North, inflation naturally occurred.

Until now, we’ve controlled it with overwhelming production and development dictatorship, but it’s getting hard to keep up lately.

“The timing for development couldn’t be better.”

Bluetooth shower using extreme pocket dimension magic, Bluetooth toilet, Bluetooth tub, Bluetooth sink… There are places to spend money.

“If price is an issue, we have installment plans and subscription promotions too.”

I don’t worry at all about sales dropping due to high prices.

“These magical appliances failed to become mainstream in the First Silver Age. At best, only nobles and wealthy commoners used them since they weren’t easy to maintain.”

But it’s different in this world.

Unlike the First Silver Age, Arad Company in the current North can hire skilled magicians at reasonable wages.

“Recently, the mages’ engineering skills have improved dramatically thanks to my elemental tutoring, allowing us to consider mass production.”

Not only that – unlike the closed magical engineering academies of the First Silver Age, talented individuals are practically kidnapped and brought to Lenslet Academy to be trained as magical engineers in the North.

“And if we bring academy students learning magical engineering for field practice periodically… we only need to pay them pocket money for labor costs.”

Hehehe… I smiled wickedly again.

“This is a paradise for entrepreneurs!”

No taxes, no restrictions or regulations as a government-backed company, and we can fully utilize high-level manpower without worrying about wages or unions.

It really feels like living in a game world.

Though it was tough and frustrating at first, now that momentum is building, making money is becoming fun.

Where else can you find such joy?

“Jarvis, who handles building maintenance, will probably be happy. Most of his work is disappearing anyway.”

Watching me, Mary suddenly spoke.

“Will he be though?”

“?”

“That friend’s side income will decrease too.”

“Ah…”

“Still, he won’t quit. Managing these buildings is better than most jobs out there.”

“Seems like technological advancement isn’t always good.”

“You gain something, you lose something. That’s how it goes.”

* * *

One week later.

Inside the cathedral of the Lenslet Order in High City.

“We proclaim the eternal love of these two before the zealous assembly of Lenslet.”

The somewhat lengthy ceremony by the chief priest of the Lenslet Order was nearing its end.

Theo Sharpe, head of Arad Company’s management support department, was finally becoming officially unavailable.

Waaaaaa!

“As everyone here present bears witness, may the couple seal their love with a kiss. Rune Renslett!”

The couple’s kiss was followed by the beginning of the Lenslet chant.

“Rune Renslett!”

“Rune Renslett!”

“Rune Renslett!”

Theo in black silk tunics and Maria in pure white dresses were smiling happily.

The slightly protruding belly of the bride in her pure white dress stood out impressively.

Clap clap clap clap

“They look perfect together!”

“I’m jealous!”

“Live happily ever after!”

Cheers surrounded the couple.

“There’s still more! Hehehehe! There’s something for the unmarried ladies!”

Cutting through the loud applause, the priest conducting the ceremony shouted with a gentle smile.

Then Maria, holding a small bouquet, stepped onto the open space.

From the exchange of rings to the bride throwing the bouquet, the wedding culture of this world was surprisingly similar to Western weddings on Earth.

“Bouquet! Here it comes!”

As the bride prepared to throw the bouquet, unmarried female guests stood ready with determined faces.

From mage guild mages to order priestesses and Arad Company female employees, the group was diverse.

Merry was among them too.

Whiiik,

When the bride threw the bouquet, Merry caught it nimbly like a true sword-mage.

“…”

She then silently stared at something.

Merry’s gaze was directed at Professor Arad’s direction.

Everyone nodded knowingly – the relationship between those two was well-known throughout High City and even the entire North.

“Alright, operate it like this…”

Meanwhile, Arad was distracted by something else entirely.

“Understood. Leave it to me.”

“Good, Jarvis. I trust you. Here’s your bonus. Your side income has decreased lately, hasn’t it?”

Arad handed half a silver coin to the caretaker Jarvis and called out to the newlyweds.

“Everyone over there! Tall people to the back! Short people to the front!”

This wedding was a kind of new product demonstration for Arad.

The new product was none other than the camera.

A chest-sized iron box shimmered with mid-grade light, dark, and neutral magic stones.