Volume 6 Chapter 7 Dwarf Who Dislikes Dwarves
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ms. Claire delivered the package from Mr. Zenom and arrived in the royal capital. It seems the parts Ms. Mahal ordered are finally ready.
This is a good chance to return to Toyata village. I also want to try making ninja tools. I think I can make iron shurikens and kunai myself, but with Master Zenom’s help, they’d be much stronger. There’s still so much I want to learn from him.
I’m also curious to see Mr. Zenom’s reaction when he hears about ninja tool ideas. He loves rare items, so he’ll surely be excited and help me. For example, something like a mizugumo—a water-walking device—could be seriously fun if we turned it into a magic tool.
First, I’ll finish my tasks in the royal capital. I planned for Ms. Claire to stay with Miss Floria for three days, but she said she’d pick her up in three days and left. Ms. Claire can travel between the capital and Toyata village in less than half a day—her speed is truly impressive.
As for me, I need to greet acquaintances, and travel fatigue will slow me down for days. Just because I’ve trained a little doesn’t mean I’m not tired. When I return to Toyata village, I’ll probably rest the next day.
If only I could use teleportation. Sages have observed and recorded the spell, but it’s risky. It’s designed to not activate due to MP shortages, and modifying it is too dangerous. If I miscalculate and teleport into a stone or mid-air, I’d die instantly. I’ve played such games, so I know the danger.
* * *
While in the royal capital, there’s someone I want to meet: Mr. Ginchi, a dwarf and Ms. Mahal’s acquaintance. He’s a skilled artisan with a workshop in the capital and a researcher of homunculi. His workshop monopolizes the high-precision glass tubes used in Ms. Nina’s life-support device.
It seems Mr. Zenom and Mr. Ginchi had a falling out—they’re like cats and dogs. Rivalry, maybe? My mentor is eccentric too, so they probably fought over something trivial. As one of the twin sages of the Holy Kingdom, Mr. Ginchi is on par with Ms. Hóa, which is impressive. He’s also wealthy, accumulating riches like a snowball. I wonder if he’s like a businessman?
Ms. Mahal even wrote a letter of introduction for me. Letters like these make me nervous. A difficult dwarf would be scary, but dwarfs are generally hard to please.
Clutching the letter, I head to Mr. Ginchi’s residence. A gift would be nice, but giving the wrong thing might offend him. Strong alcohol, which dwarfs might like, is a no-go. It’s not that they dislike it, but they hate being treated like a stereotype. What a tricky person.
Old-fashioned antiques are out, but modern Earth items are appreciated. Even things from a hundred-yen store require gold coins here. Giving cash is a bad idea, and ordinary gemstones are no good—he’d prefer trees that bear gems. Even in a fantasy world, do such trees exist?
Anyway, I’ll go without a souvenir for now.
I quickly found Mr. Ginchi’s mansion. The glass greenhouse near the palace, which I thought was an annex, is actually his workshop and research facility, called the Crystal Palace of the Sages. Impressive!
The top of the pyramid uses beautifully transparent glass, but the lower half is poor-quality glass set in rusted iron frames. The greenish, bubbly glass is hard to see through, but I can make out tree silhouettes.
In this world, sheet glass is costly. The method to produce it is a guarded secret. Mr. Zenom said they crush large glass bottles while hot and process them into sheets, but it’s too labor-intensive for large quantities.
To get optically clear sheet glass, the surface must be polished, a technique monopolized by some workshops, making it expensive.
I once saw Mr. Zenom’s secret optical device, resembling a prism. It’s not for the public and is used to engrave magic circles onto tools. It’s incredibly precise—maybe not even made of glass. If it were a dwarf’s work, they might carve it from natural crystal. It’s insanely expensive.
Even the lowest quality sheet glass would cost as much as a national budget to build a greenhouse. No doubt, he’s a billionaire.
Now, I see a tall fence with barbed wire surrounds the pyramid, and four armed guards patrol. It’s probably to stop people from throwing stones to break the glass.
Heavy taxes are levied on luxury glass windows, but if paid promptly, they’re under state protection. The government can beat up anyone who breaks the glass, and killing or enslaving them is legal. Yet, some still break windows—a test of courage, foolishness, or rebellion?
When I approach, the guards come closer, as if to detain me. I hand over the letter, but they take me to the guard station. I should have dressed better—appearance matters.
Miss Floria prepared a special outfit, but I find it bothersome to need help dressing.
After waiting, Mr. Ginchi, a dwarf in a white coat, arrives with an entourage. He looks younger than Mr. Zenom, with a cleanly shaved face and trendy hairstyle—not very dwarf-like. He has a stocky, muscular dwarf body, but otherwise, he doesn’t seem like a dwarf. Since he dislikes dwarfs, he might be eliminating dwarf-like traits.
”Are you Mahal’s friend?”
”I am Amada Saburou. I’m learning alchemy from Ms. Mahal.”
Ms. Mahal told me not to mention I’m Mr. Zenom’s disciple. They’re still quarreling—both are stubborn.
”My name is Ginchi. I’m a scientist and artist, a seeker of truth.”
He’s an alchemist but prefers “science.” His white coat resembles Earth’s style—is he influenced by Earth?
”Since Mahal introduced you, I’ll meet you. But I’m busy and don’t have time for fools. First, I’ll test you. Can you explain electricity?”
I didn’t expect a test. Electricity? I know about it, but explaining it is tricky.
Does it make electric noises? Is it the source of lightning? Does it power electrical appliances? I don’t know how to explain it.
I guess he’s testing me on these points too.
”If you have magnets and copper wire, you can generate electricity. Creating a proper generator from scratch here would be difficult.”
If you move a magnet inside a coil made of copper wire, electricity should flow. I vaguely remember doing that experiment in the science lab with an ammeter connected.
Building a practical generator would be difficult, but I’m sure another summoned Hero has already made one. There’s even a workshop in the capital that does electroplating, so electricity is definitely being used.
”You’re not a fool, but you’re ignorant and arrogant. You think you’re from an advanced world, right? Generators and batteries have existed here since ancient times, long before your world discovered electricity.”
He thinks I’m passable but arrogant. I didn’t mean to boast about Earth. He’s not obsessed with Earth either.
”In this world, Aratos, advanced knowledge is kept secret. Those summoned here misjudge themselves as civilized just by seeing what’s visible.”
People’s lives may seem medieval, but this world is more impressive than Earth. He probably wants to say that.
Earth’s scientific power couldn’t create a doll princess for a long time, but I can’t believe this world is more civilized.
”That depends on how you define civilization. Is it civilized for a few to monopolize knowledge, or is it better if everyone enjoys a rich life?”
”Yeah. Earth’s civilization is about quantity over quality. A large flame burns out quickly. Your growing desires will devour your world.”
Mr. Ginchi knows a lot about Earth. He’s stating truths, but it’s unpleasant to hear Earth belittled.
Earth’s population problem is serious, but with Wall Barley here, explosive growth could happen too. Low birth rates and the fight against Demonfolk regulate the population.
Japan struggles with a declining birthrate—too few people are also a problem, right?
”But numbers are strength. Collective intelligence means even ordinary people can rival a wise man. The resource problem is serious, but if everyone thinks together, it’s fine.”
I accidentally defended Earth, but its future isn’t bright. Thinking a thousand years ahead, Mr. Ginchi’s argument seems more correct.
But this world relies too much on Wall Barley, so it can’t see the future either.
”Very well. It seems we can have a constructive discussion. I’ll acknowledge you as a guest.”
He values logic over conversation content.
* * *
”Guest, please wear this.”
One guard hands me a white smock and hair cap. I’ll finally enter the greenhouse.
Walking on the liquid floor cleans my shoes. I pass through the E-Redent.
These facilities are likely Wall Barley countermeasures. If even a seed slips in, it could overpopulate, turning the greenhouse into a wheat field.
Though spring is approaching, today’s temperature is low. Inside, it’s warm and humid, feeling stuffy.
Tropical plants grow like a jungle. Young branches stretch upward, growing quickly. If neglected, they might break through the ceiling.
”Huh? Is this a rubber tree?”
It’s a striking plant with thick, oval-shaped leaves and bright red, pointed buds at the tips of its branches. It strongly resembles the rubber tree, a common houseplant on Earth. I wonder if it was brought here from Earth?
”Indeed, that’s a rubber tree. But for latex, this tree is better.”
And there’s even a para rubber tree! One of the most crucial plants for modern Earth’s civilization. After all, rubber is a strategic resource.
I was planning to search for rubber trees in this world eventually, but it turns out they’re right here in the capital—right under my nose.
”Do you have rubber manufacturing technology?”
They add sulfur to the sap, but I don’t know the details.
If Mr. Ginchi has the technology, I’d like him to make rubber tires.
”We don’t handle rubber stoppers at the guild. You’ll have to source them yourself.”
Rubber stoppers are needed for experiments and cost as much as gold. What I really want is an air-filled tire, but that’s impossible.
Mr. Ginchi’s workshop makes glass products and processes rubber and cork as connectors for glassware.
Alchemists here had to make their own tools or order custom ones. Mr. Ginchi’s workshop started mass-producing quality tools relatively cheaply.
Some tools for the Doll Princess can only be made by Mr. Ginchi’s workshop, so they hold influence with the Hero Management Bureau.
The Merchant Guild tried to get involved but was shut out. It’s a niche market, and the Bureau relies on Mr. Ginchi’s supply. Some try to imitate, but it’s not simple.
”Outside our shop, glass processing precision is terrible. They can’t even make a decent flask.”
”If it’s a dwarf craftsman, won’t they eventually copy it perfectly?”
”Ah, no. They’ll obsess over perfection and won’t produce enough.”
”That… seems likely.”
I know Mr. Zenom’s artisan temperament. Craftsmen who aim for perfection struggle with standardized specifications.
”I hate a dwarf’s self-indulgent bragging. Maintaining minimum quality while making things quickly and cheaply is rational.”
Despite criticizing Earth, Mr. Ginchi’s thinking is Earth-like. Human thinking isn’t simple.
Mr. Ginchi’s glass tubes are standard-sized, so Ms. Mahal praised them. Cost reduction might have happened as a pursuit of rationalization. I think he’s an efficiency freak—a dwarf trait, but I won’t offend him.
* * *
Inside the greenhouse, besides rubber trees, various rare plants are gathered. The knowledge aristocracy here considers collecting rare plants a status symbol.
Even plant-type monsters like Trents and Dryads are included. They’re used as alchemical materials, but the collector’s boasting is typical.
”This Trent is a rare variety from the south. It roams during the day and uses illusion magic.”
Trents and Dryads have similar thick, glossy leaves. Trents are twisted and wavy, while Dryads are straight and bushy.
Trents are active at night, but Dryads don’t move. Dryads are more intelligent and use magic, but some Trents also use illusions.
”Could Trents and Dryads be close relatives?”
I think they’re like moths and butterflies—relatively close. Well, that’s just a guess. I don’t know if conventional biology applies to monsters.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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