Ghislain and Galbarik shook hands, locking eyes with fiery determination.
Both wanted to create something and were brimming with enthusiasm. It was the ideal setup for progress.
Unable to contain himself, Galbarik started firing off questions.
"So, where do we start? Should we upgrade the cosmetics equipment? Or should we work on improving those housing units? With the harvest season approaching, how about some farming tools? Just say the word. We'll finish everything you need within your timeline!"
"Wow, that's reassuring to hear. Of course, we'll get to all that. But there's something more urgent we need to tackle first."
"And what would that be?"
"We're going to make a flying machine."
"Excuse me? What did you just say?"
"A flying machine. We're going to build one."
After a moment of stunned silence, Galbarik asked in a trembling voice.
"Did you happen to acquire some legendary airship blueprints from the ancient empire?"
"No, nothing that dramatic. Isn't that just a myth anyway?"
"Then how do you plan to make something that flies?"
Galbarik clicked his tongue, baffled.
The ability to fly was reserved for those with wings or beings capable of defying natural laws. Sure, a grand mage with immense magic power could levitate something, but that hardly qualified as a "machine."
"It's not like you can summon a grand mage to do this. Fine, let's hear it. I'm curious."
As Galbarik and the other dwarves gave him skeptical looks, Ghislain instructed a servant to light a small campfire.
"Watch carefully."
Ghislain threw a piece of paper onto the flames. Predictably, the paper burned quickly, leaving only ashes.
Galbarik, after staring blankly at the display for a while, scratched his head and asked, "What exactly are we supposed to be looking at?"
"Look at the ashes as they rise into the air when the paper burns."
Ghislain picked up another piece of paper and tossed it into the fire.
Sure enough, as the paper burned, tiny bits of ash floated briefly upward.
Still unimpressed, Galbarik asked, "And that means… what? Isn't it just the wind blowing the ash up a bit?"
"Then why does it go up?"
"Because… uh, it's light?"
Ghislain shook his head, wearing a smug expression as he explained.
"This is just a simple demonstration. Hot air rises. That hot air can lift lighter objects."
"…?"
The dwarves tilted their heads, confused by the unfamiliar concept. As frequent handlers of fire, they vaguely remembered seeing such phenomena, but they had never thought much of it or assigned it any meaning.
Still unconvinced, Galbarik asked again, "Why does this hot air rise? Are you certain about this?"
'How would I know why? Why does it rise?'
What Ghislain wanted to create was a hot air balloon, a device that had been developed in his past life.
By heating the air inside a large bag, the balloon would lift into the sky. In his previous life, such balloons were often used for military reconnaissance.
Ghislain didn't know the detailed scientific theory behind it. He only vaguely recalled the principle, having come across it in passing. If they kept questioning him, he'd be in trouble.
"Ahem, that's just how the world works. It's a natural law. Like how no one knows why an apple falls to the ground when thrown—it just does because that's the way things are, right?"
Galbarik frowned as if Ghislain had said something ridiculous.
"What nonsense is this? That's already been explained by the great dragon of wisdom, Schwarzschild. He taught that at the center of this world lies a powerful force pulling everything toward it—gravity. Controlling its direction and strength is the basis of gravity magic. Surely you learned that at the academy? Even the longevity and strength of the demons are due to the fact that their realm has a stronger gravitational force than ours…."
'What the… Schwarz… who?'
As expected of a dwarf, the moment a scholarly topic arose, Galbarik became more talkative than Vanessa. Ghislain, however, knew nothing about Schwarz-something dragons or academy-level basics. He hadn't attended any academies, and Belinda had never taught him such academic theories.
Still, he had a rough idea of what gravity was, having used gravity magic in training. But studying why it existed or how it worked was for desk-bound scholars, not mercenaries like him.
Ghislain decided to do what he did best—ignore it completely.
"Anyway, just remember this: hot air rises, and cold air sinks."
"…Fine, let's accept that. But how do you plan to make a flying machine with that? I've never heard of anything flying near a fire."
"Tsk, think a little. Air is all around us, but when it's heated, it mixes quickly with the surrounding cooler air. So, to prevent it from mixing, you need to contain the hot air."
"Contain the air?"
"Exactly. If we build a large enough airbag, fill it with heated air, and seal it, the bag will rise. Then all we have to do is attach a basket for people to ride in. That's a hot air balloon."
"Oh… a hot air balloon!"
The dwarves nodded, finding the concept intriguing. Though it was something they had never heard of, they were curious to see if it could actually work.
"But is this really possible? Judging by the lack of any such devices here in the territory, you haven't built one before, have you?"
"I've been too busy with other tasks. Let's start small. Use the thinnest fabric possible, and enlist mages to help heat and contain the air. I've given you the concept, so it's up to you to figure out the technical details."
"Let's say it flies. How do you control its movement?"
"That's simple. Mages can ride and use wind magic to steer. To keep it stationary, just tether it to the ground with a long rope. Think practically."
"Got it! We'll give it a try!"
The dwarves, though unsure, showed a glimmer of excitement. If it worked, they'd go down in history as the first to create a flying machine.
While they weren't fully convinced, the allure of a new challenge fueled their determination. Ghislain nodded in approval.
"Good. We're on a tight schedule, so work on it as quickly as possible."
"Leave it to us!"
Galbarik, brimming with confidence, paused and asked curiously, "But what do you plan to use it for once it's in the air?"
The possibilities were endless. A new concept could lead to further technological advances. Though the answer was obvious, Galbarik wanted to hear it from Ghislain.
Ghislain replied nonchalantly, "It'll be incredibly useful for reconnaissance during war. And if we address the risk of crashes, it could also be used for transporting goods. Sell it as a luxury toy for nobles, and it'll bring in a fortune too."
"Ah, I see. Makes sense. Anything else you need?"
There was plenty. New alloys needed to be developed, and powerful equipment produced. However, these were long-term projects that couldn't be completed before the attack on Cabaldi County. Producing the desired alloys alone would require a large supply of iron ore.
"There's plenty to do. While working on the hot air balloon, tackle a few urgent tasks simultaneously."
"Whatever you need, just say it. Our hands are the quickest and most precise!"
At Galbarik's bold declaration, Ghislain raised a thumbs-up and said, "That's why I trust dwarves. Then let's start by upgrading the cosmetics equipment. We need to double production to meet contract demands. Can you handle that?"
The scale of the order was significant, but the dwarves nodded. It would be challenging, but not impossible for their skilled hands.
"Understood! We'll start with the hot air balloon and the cosmetics equipment upgrades. We'll finish as quickly as possible!"
Galbarik turned to leave confidently, but Ghislain grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going? I'm not finished."
"Hm?"
"You mentioned housing improvements earlier, right? Collaborate with the mages at the construction sites and work on that too. You'll need to work with them for the hot air balloon anyway. Build another village as quickly as possible."
"Ah… housing improvements…."
"Exactly. Dwarves are renowned for their construction skills, aren't they?"
Involving the dwarves would dramatically speed up the housing projects. Known for carving mountain dwellings and building underground cities, their architectural skills were unmatched.
Unable to argue, Galbarik reluctantly nodded. "Fine… we'll handle that too."
But Ghislain wasn't done yet.
"Oh, and with the harvest season approaching, we'll need more farming tools. They don't have to be magical—just upgrade everything to iron tools. Some areas still use wooden ones."
"Can't the territory's blacksmiths handle that?"
"We barely have any blacksmiths. That's why I brought so many dwarves. And since you'll be making them, let's make them high-quality."
"Uh… fine. We'll do it."
The dwarves began to sweat. The workload was overwhelming, but their pride wouldn't let them back down.
"Then we'll get started—"
Galbarik, feeling overwhelmed, tried to change the subject and excuse himself. But Ghislain wasn't finished.
"Oh, and there's some Blood Python leather. We need to use it to make inner armor for the knights. Also, we're short on weapons, so those need to be made too…."
Ghislain's demands seemed endless. The dwarves' faces turned pale as they groaned.
"All of this… might be too much to handle right now."
Ghislain tilted his head in confusion.
"Why? You said you'd work hard. I promised to free you in ten years. You even said you'd be slaves just to learn the skills. Isn't this the deal of a lifetime?"
"Y-yes, but… isn't this too much work right off the bat?"
"This is standard in my territory."
Ghislain's mind was already filled with plans to make the most of the dwarves' labor. With so much work piling up and time running out, he had to push them hard.
Unaware of Ghislain's true intentions, Galbarik took deep breaths and cautiously asked, "Then… What's the timeline? Three months? At least six? Honestly, a year would be ideal. With that much time, we can handle everything."
Even his tone became more polite under the sheer weight of the workload.
The timeline was the key issue. If they were given enough time, they could manage. Working day and night, three months might suffice, but to live, eat, and rest, a year would be safer.
But Ghislain widened his eyes in disbelief at Galbarik's suggestion, then let out a dry laugh before responding.
"What are you talking about? A year? We don't have that kind of time."
"What? Then how long are you thinking?"
Smiling softly, Ghislain placed his hands on Galbarik's shoulders and said, "One month. That's all I can give you."
[T/L: Please support me and read 60 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]