Published: January 17, 2026
Has it been about an hour since then? While Havel and I were muttering as we transformed the materials, Radavesta’s face suddenly popped up from the surface of the sea.
“How did it go?”
This was about the twentieth time I checked. I asked with the feeling that this time it really might be right. Radavesta nodded deeply with a serious expression.
“Hmm. I think it’s good this time. The sound and vibrations were clearly resonating underwater.”
“Oh!”
Hearing Radavesta’s words, I couldn’t help but cheer and looked over at Havel. In response, Havel made a sound through his nose with an exasperated look.
“…It’s surprisingly easy to find, which is good, but it’s totally cheating. I’d even want Lord Van’s magic myself.”
Instead of a joyful voice, Havel grumbled and let out a short breath.
No wonder. Normally, you’d have to turn ore into a highly pure chunk of metal each time, then check the quantity, melt it again, mix it, and cool it down through a series of steps. Only after that would the alloy be completed. I don’t know the detailed steps, but it’s probably something like that.
However, with Van-kun’s magic, as long as you can picture the shape, you can keep transforming the materials and remaking it.
With that, we roughly mixed mithril with silver in increments of about ten percent each time. The result was somewhere between twenty and thirty percent, and then we adjusted the ratio by one percent at a time.
Once we reached that point, it was just fine-tuning. Although Radavesta felt something was a little off, after repeatedly changing the materials based on his opinion, we quickly succeeded in replicating the alloy.
“We did it!”
I raised my fist toward Havel to share the joy again, and with a sigh, he pressed his fist against mine.
“…This really is an incredible magic. Well, since it’s finished, I suppose I’ll just accept it happily.”
Havel gave a reluctant smile, as if unsettled for some reason, and said that. While laughing at this, Panamera and the others came down from the ship. Arte and Kamushin were with them.
“Is it already finished?”
Panamera asked a little surprised. I nodded with a smile and answered.
“That’s right! I’m glad we managed to finish it today!”
Upon saying that, Havel started persistently complaining behind me.
“No, it’s cheating, okay? Seriously cheating. That’s unfair.”
“Oh, Havel-san, you’re so persistent.”
“Hey, well, it’s…”
In the end, Havel pouted and sulked. I couldn’t help but laugh at this face I’d never seen before, and Panamera showed her teeth and smiled.
“Same as always. Well then, I’ll go inform your excellency that it’s finished.”
“Ah, okay!”
With that, Panamera moved back onto the deck. Shortly after, Rosso came down from the ship with his subordinates.
“Is it already finished?”
Rosso asked in his usual tone, but Havel looked dissatisfied. Maybe he wanted Rosso to understand just how outrageous this was, but it seems he didn’t dare speak out freely before the marquis.
“It’s done! First, we plan to do a trial voyage nearby!”
Saying that, Rosso nodded deeply and looked up at the ship from the pier.
“How many people does it take to operate this ship?”
“Well… I think the minimum number is about ten. Wind magicians, helmsmen, people to raise and lower the sails, that sort of thing. But realistically, I think twenty people will be necessary. We’ll also need shipwrights and cooks, and enough people to take shifts for emergencies.”
“I see... even so, twenty people. It’s surprising that such a large ship can be operated by that few. If I remember correctly, Rear Guard Tran said it took over thirty people to operate Fleetwood. I guess that many people are needed if you’re aiming for distant lands beyond the sea.”
“Probably there are also navigators who can calculate the current location on the sea chart based on direction and sailing time, combatants, and diplomats for negotiating with other countries.”