BXBX NOVEL Chapter 77 - New Furnace
Chapter 77: New Furnace
In short, they were ‘Area-of-Effect’ magic circles.
Such magic circles could work on energy storage apparatuses within a set area, and they did not have to be carved on the surface or interior of the apparatus. Or rather, as long as the key nodes on the magic circles were connected to the energy storage apparatus, this effect could be stimulated. Magic circles with an ‘interference model’ were very similar to those large arrays. Large arrays meant building a magic circle, then placing sources of magical power, such as storage crystals or the like, onto key nodes as power sources. Such a structure naturally did not require having to carve the magic circle onto the crystal, but in reality, magic circles with an ‘interference model’ did have intrinsic differences compared to large arrays.
Magic circles with an ‘interference model’ were usually extremely small and exquisite. They also had a very small area of effect and only had one function, and their rune structures were actually incomplete: the storage part had to be combined with the rune portion to be considered a complete ‘operating body’. Thus, such interference-style magic circles were usually used as ‘starting gears’ to do simple activating and shutting off of some magical power sources or…
Used to blow up the magical power sources.
Gawain understood the Gondor mages back then had carved interference-style magic circles inside these crystals for military use. Logically speaking, since they’d already shoved these runes inside the crystals, there was absolutely no need to spend more effort to set them as interference models. However, in actuality, the problems which soldiers faced on the battlefield were much more complicated; not all crystals for military use were able to remain intact throughout the entire battle. Many a time, cracking or breaking due to violent combat was the ending for such crystals. At this point, perhaps the magic circle aspect of the crystal core could still operate due to proper protection, but the crystal body had already disintegrated.
In such situations, the rune experts of the Gondor military sector came up with an idea: they had to at least ensure that these crystals’ spontaneous-explosion function was still usable at the very end.
Hence, these magic circles with an ‘interference model’ were used for the crystals’ spontaneous-explosion aspect. Such magic circles ensured that even if the crystals were to break, they could still explode when the fragments were thrown out — as long as some energy still remained in these fragments.
“I don’t know what the effect would be if huge amounts of these crystals are gathered and set off at the same time.” Gawain rubbed his chin as he began thinking in his mind. “Or use something to glue them together? Besides, we’re still unclear as to how they’re formed. Only a small amount of the entire basket of samples that Rebecca sent over contained such crystals…”
Heidi watched Gawain’s expression. She could sense that the other party’s spirits were at an all-time high; this had her slightly confused. Although she was also rather pleased that these odd crystals could be put to use, she could not imagine exactly how valuable these magical crystals that had no other use except for explosions were. “Ancestor… you seem very happy?”
“Why can’t I be?” Gawain turned and glanced at Heidi. “Don’t you think that once these things are put to use, the effect would be immense?”
“Mm… if the processing is suitable, perhaps they could be made into explosive magic articles. They would be very useful for average mages like Rebecca and myself. They can also be distributed to the soldiers as supplementary weapons.” Heidi had stretched her imagination to its limits. “But I cannot think of what else they can be used for other than these.”
Gawain watched Heidi’s slightly confused expression and opened his mouth, but he found it hard to let the other party understand the image that was in his mind right now.
Before personally witnessing the spectacle of explosives cutting into mountains or industrial mass production, no one living in the Middle Ages would be able to dream of those images.
Hence, he simply did not explain further but raised the sheepskin bag in his hand. “I’ll leave all these samples to you. To be honest, there isn’t much. Try your best to confirm their various properties before they’re all expended. While doing so, see whether the ‘detonation magic circles’ work on them. I’m going to look for Rebecca and figure out how that girl managed to create these.”
Heidi received the sheepskin bag from Gawain in a cherished manner; she then seemed to be reminded of something and specially mentioned, “Ancestor, Rebecca is a very hardworking child, but she has almost never been praised since a young age, so…”
“Don’t worry. I will be lavish in my praises for her.” Gawain smiled and pointed at the sheepskin bag that Heidi was now holding, “I’ve even decided to name these crystals ‘Rebecca Crystals’ — if that lass can reproduce them.”
With that, Gawain warned Heidi to be absolutely cautious when testing out the explosive magic circles and to ensure precautions are in place; he then left the magic laboratory.
Watching Gawain leave, Heidi was too embarrassed to voice the true thoughts in her heart. Actually, she had meant for Gawain to take it easy when he praised Rebecca; that child had never received praises since she was a child. Once someone praised her, she might just become too full of herself…
But never mind, since Ancestor seemed so pleased, she’d better not be a wet blanket.
Rebecca was optimistic and could stand beatings; if she really became too complacent, at worst, a beating would solve it all… [E/N: Aunt Heidi is so mean!]
After leaving the magic laboratory, Gawain headed straight to where Rebecca had attempted the baking of cement but did not find her there. There were only a few workers clearing up the waste residue, and after asking around, he learned that Rebecca had left to go to the ‘steelworks’.
The base component of a magic web had been completed; the first furnace was also in the final stage of assembly. Rebecca had gone to supervise the work bright and early.
Gawain briefly checked the waste cleared out of the furnaces. After confirming that there weren’t crystals mixed in them, he left for the steelworks (though only a frame had been put out at present) at the east side of the camp.
Once he arrived at this place which had been known as the ‘Blacksmith Store’ not long ago, Gawain found that it had been the right decision to hand this task to Rebecca.
The courtyard which was once full of dug-out gullies (for the sake of burying magic circles) was now re-leveled properly. Absolutely no signs of magic circles could be made out on the compacted ground, and the only proof that there were indeed magic circles buried under were those silvery-white pillars neatly spaced out in intervals of ten-odd meters.
Those pillars were coated with a mithril layer of primitive magic sensors.
And other than these almost one-meter tall ‘sensors’ that appeared out of the ground surface, Gawain also noticed many neatly arranged stone slabs. These stone slabs were distributed in between the sensor pillars at equal intervals, and they lined a good half of the courtyard.
Glittering runes could be seen on the surfaces of the stone slabs. Gawain had vaguely guessed the use of these slabs.
The whole project had been rationally done, a good job indeed. Not only were those magic circles most sensibly ‘encased’, what was even more satisfying were those orderly arranged pillars and stone slabs. They were such a perfect delight to the eyes, so accurate and precise. Even knowing that they were handmade products rather than manufactured ones, Gawain still felt that, as an OCD1 person, he was exceedingly satisfied.
Orderly! Being orderly was the way! Rebecca had fully understood all the demands that Gawain had listed for her, and she had even thought of, in advance, the requirements for this place to increase its capacity in the future! Empty spaces were reserved in advance in those areas where stone slabs had not been laid, clearly in preparation for the future!
There were lots of people bustling about in the courtyard, transporting tools, or cleaning up the leftover materials, but Rebecca’s form could still be easily spotted. That was because Gawain had caught the large black furnace in a courtyard corner at first sight, as well as the iron-headed fireball girl directing things with animated gestures.
“Be careful, be careful… This structure has to completely adhere to the stone slab! Do not cut corners! Accuracy, accuracy, do you understand… If it is not fitted accurately, there’ll be no meat. Do you understand now?! Hey, hey, we don’t need that iron bar at the side now. We’ll see about it after the runes have been installed… Where’s the drainage trough? Move the drainage trough here… Let me have a look at the blueprint!”
Watching Rebecca who was excitedly immersed in her work, Gawain did not have the heart to disturb her. He stopped several serfs — who were alarmed upon seeing his face and wanted to bow — and turned to the newly installed furnace, observing it with an admiring gaze.
This was a… very beautiful furnace. Compared to those old-style furnaces that are only about a meter tall, it was more than four meters tall and entirely pitch black; this was because black stone powder was added into the materials used to build the furnaces to further strengthen its magical power compatibility. It abandoned the traditional ‘pot-belly’ furnace design and also employed a rectangular chamber as its main structure. At the upper end of the rectangular chamber, there were three chimneys running parallel, whereas the lower end had a protruding rectangular flat surface. There were rather complicated rune arrays carved on that surface; a part of those arrays extended all the way to the front of the furnace. There was a metal plate that seemed to be movable; there was even a connecting rod under the metal plate linking it to something like a pedal, which seemed to be a type of control gear.
As a result of the control gear being positioned at the front, the openings to pour in ore, remove slag, or drain molten metal were all set either to the back or to the left of the furnace.
It was neither like any furnace that Gawain had known in his past life on Earth nor was it similar to the traditional furnaces of this world. Better yet, it totally did not match the blueprint that Gawain handed to Hummel at the very beginning…
Evidently, that old blacksmith had racked his brains and improved the design.
To Gawain, this was excellent news; whether it was the outcome of doing so or the ‘improvement’ itself, both were wonderful.
Only now did Rebecca notice that everyone around had become much quieter and wore looks of reverence. She glanced around impetuously before she saw her Ancestor who was strolling around the furnace.
The young lady was instantly surprised. “Ah! Lord Ancestor! Why have you come?”
“I was looking for you for a matter— But now I’ve also seen your progress while I’m here.” Gawain waved his hand, a satisfied smile on his face. “To be honest… it’s better than I’d imagined.”
“Is that so, is that so?!” Rebecca immediately looked overjoyed. “Do you really think so?”
“If you weren’t able to handle these well, I certainly wouldn’t have allowed you to continue being in charge long ago.” Gawain could not hold back his smile. “Be more confident in yourself. I’ve said before, you are the pride of the Cecil Clan.”
Upon hearing these words, Rebecca’s head was held so high that her face was about to be raised into the sky…