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CHAPTER 19
“A solar mana-stone charger?”
“It can charge mana stones?”
The dwarves immediately broke into heated discussion among themselves again, and Ladian patiently waited for them to settle. Watching the mana stone, which had remained glowing blue for a while, made her smile without realizing it.
She placed the freshly charged mana stone into a lamp.
Flash!
The lamp lit up instantly, illuminating the dark room. Everyone inside stared in shock. Despite being charged only briefly, the light lasted more than thirty minutes.
One minute of charging for thirty minutes of light.
A complete success.
Ladian bit her lip slightly to hold back a laugh that threatened to burst out—her idea, once only theoretical in her mind, had become reality. But it was impossible to suppress her joy entirely.
When she looked at Michael, he was also wearing an astonished expression. Strangely, seeing Michael more surprised than the dwarves gave her a greater sense of satisfaction.
Before becoming Ladian, she had worked at a company that manufactured products using 3D printers. She had been part of the product design team and even held several patents.
While she was impressed that she herself had drawn precise design schematics, she was even more deeply amazed by the dwarves who had created a solar mana-stone charger without using CAD or 3D software.
The dwarves, having been given explanations while the lamp was still lit, looked restless, as if itching to build something else. Since the day Ladian had commissioned them, they clearly hadn’t slept—dark circles under their eyes, yet their pupils shone like children on Christmas morning.
When their excitement peaked from testing the device themselves, Ladian casually spoke again.
“Would you like to see… more design blueprints like this?”
“Do you have more of those?”
“I do!”
“Me! This time give it to me!”
“What do you mean just you? We’re all making it together!”
“I’ll be the first to build it!”
Their voices rose with excitement and curiosity. The reception room grew noisy, and Ladian waited in silence.
Once their excitement calmed slightly, she immediately began sketching another design.
Her pen moved swiftly, starting from a single base point and forming lines with ease. The dwarves watched in admiration.
“Incredible…”
“My word…”
“This is truly astonishing…”
The drawing evolved from a point into lines, and lines into planes. Watching a simple shape transform into a complex structure left their mouths hanging open.
After about ten minutes, Ladian tapped her fountain pen, then blew lightly on the still-wet inked paper.
She began explaining.
“If the one earlier was a portable version, this is a design for a much larger energy storage system.”
“How large are we talking?”
“I’m thinking about 5 meters wide and 20 meters long.”
“Where would you even put something that big?”
“In a desert.”
“A desert?”
“Yes.”
“I see. A desert is spacious. Then we could add protective metals.”
“Rodun alloy might work well.”
The discussion among the dwarves reignited. While they argued, Ladian quietly collected the sketch.
The dwarves paused and looked at her in confusion.
“You are a race that loves curiosity and beer more than money, correct?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“Dwarves don’t care much for money.”
One proudly struck his chest. Ladian smiled gently.
“If I can satisfy your curiosity, would you be willing to work in the desert?”
“In the desert? Which one?”
“How many deserts are there? It must be the Atlanka Desert.”
“That’s near our homeland.”
“Hmm… that’s convenient.”
“Hey, human, let us see that design again.”
Ladian shook her head—and threw the blueprint into the fireplace.
The dwarves stared in shock as the carefully drawn design was consumed by flames.
“W-what are you doing!”
“Quick, take it out!”
“No. It’s already completely burned.”
“Oh my goodness…”
Ladian smiled serenely at their panic.
“It wasn’t a complete design yet, so it couldn’t be manufactured anyway. Even if I showed it again, it would be useless. I will deliver the finalized blueprint in three months.”
The dwarves let out disappointed groans, but since they were effectively in Ladian’s position of power, they said nothing further.
“If this large-scale solar energy charger works properly, I would like to produce about thirty units.”
“Thirty?!”
“That’s way too many!”
“Listen, we are a race of curiosity as you said. We do not remake what we’ve already created.”
“Yes. A masterpiece is meant to be one of a kind.”
So that was the condition. Artisan pride.
But Ladian was not flustered.
“I understand. I know how important that principle is. That is why I have a proposal.”
Instead of explaining, she began drawing again.
Within five minutes, another intricate design sketch appeared. The dwarves’ eyes widened dramatically.
“Hooh…”
“This is incredible…”
“How does she even think of this?”
“I understand your expertise in both function and design. I can create schematics, but I cannot build them. You can build them, but you cannot easily imagine them. So, every time you complete one energy storage unit, I will give you one design sketch.”
“You… you’ll give them? Not sell them?”
“What you do with them is your choice. However, they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone who wants this design?”
“It’s not complete, so I will give it for free. Of course, only to those who seriously consider my proposal.”
Silence fell for a moment.
Then all the dwarves rushed toward her.
“Me! Give it to me!”
“I prefer repetition and refinement!”
“Get out of the way! I’ve worked with only one design my whole life!”
Their eyes sparkled with overwhelming curiosity.
Ladian’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“Thank you very much for your interest.”
“Truly impressive.”
“I’d like to say it’s nothing, but I’m glad it worked as intended.”
“Yes. More than enough.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Ladian tapped the contract she had made with the dwarves in satisfaction. It stated that for each large mana-stone charger they produced, she would provide a new design. It also noted that the products would be sold exclusively through her future merchant company.
The dwarves didn’t mind—they were more interested in the work itself.
Looking at the devices they had created, Ladian once again admired them.
They were practically living 3D printers.
“…I will accept.”
“Hm?”
Ladian looked up, not having heard Michael properly.
“The proposal you gave me earlier… I said I will proceed with it.”
Proposal?
Ah.
Marriage?
For a moment, Ladian stared blankly at him before her mouth slowly opened.
“Really? You’re going to marry me?”
Her face turned pink.
Michael, realizing she wasn’t blushing out of affection but out of excitement over increased utility in her plans, gave a faint, wry smile and nodded.
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Michael!”
Overcome with joy, Ladian hugged him tightly. Michael froze instantly, his face turning red—but she didn’t notice at all.
“Oh my. I’m so happy!”
Realizing they might be seen, she quickly pulled away. There was no one around in the reception room, but caution was still good.
Michael suppressed his disappointment and walked ahead.
“So you’re not returning to As? You should inform them.”
“I already informed my subordinate.”
“I see.”
“Your primary goal is to obtain a quick divorce, correct?”
“Yes. And then go to my territory.”
“I will help you achieve it quickly.”
“How?”
Ladian looked at him curiously.
Michael smiled faintly.
“Like this.”
In the blink of an eye, they were suddenly inside Irion’s reception room.
Michael took out two large gray orbs from his jacket pocket.
Ping. Ping.
When he pressed the base of the orbs, smaller spheres emerged and began orbiting around them.
“…That is…”
Ladian recognized them immediately.
Recording orbs—portable image storage devices powered by mana stones.
A technology developed exclusively by the Skanan family, famous for its high resolution and long recording time. Easy enough for children to use, and often used as legal evidence due to its 99.9% accuracy.
“If we leave these here, we may obtain useful information.”
“But… are you sure it’s okay to leave something this large?”
“Of course.”
Michael placed the orbs where they faced the center of the table and swept his hand lightly.
The orbs vanished instantly.
Of course.
Why had she even worried?
With someone like him.
Michael installed a few more around the room, identical to those he had placed in the duke’s residence. Ladian was genuinely impressed.
“You really are amazing…”
“It’s nothing.”
Although the ducal residence was protected by a fifth-class magic nullification barrier, Michael’s magical rank was apparently high enough to bypass it.
“I want to learn more magic too.”
Ladian spoke sincerely.
Michael brightened immediately.
“That’s an excellent mindset. Then we shall meet every night to study magic together.”
“…Huh?”
Before she could correct herself, Michael continued happily.
“But… won’t that be difficult for you?”
“I am an exceptionally outstanding mage. Physical conditioning is just as important as magic training.”
In other words, he was also very confident in his physical endurance.
Ladian silently wept inside.
“U… okay. I understand. Let’s do that…”
