Mage? Magic Engineer!-Chapter 51 - 48: Business Trip, To Go or Not?

Master Snow had dealt with so many engineering problems that when it came to theoretical models, he only believed what was experimentally verified and practically applicable. Alchemists, especially the old hands who crafted Magic Guide Devices, tended to suffer from a severe case of "I reckon" and "good enough."

But convincing Master Kano and the other Mages required logical proofs. Rorschach’s follow-up work involved organizing the data, drawing experimental conclusions, and then proposing a mathematical model to generalize his findings into a universal conclusion.

His dorm room was illuminated by the Light Technique for many nights, all because Rorschach was tirelessly contributing to this world’s understanding of thermodynamics.

Kano took the newly revised and supplemented paper and studied it for a long time. "Rorschach Mage, you’ve truly surprised me." He stroked his smooth, round chin.

"For your next line of research, you could consider the conversion between heat, electricity, kinetic energy, and the Ether. Our research group happens to have a large amount of data and records on the subject."

"Alright."

"I will serve as the preliminary reviewer and submit it to the Magic Guild on your behalf." As a Low Tier Mage, Rorschach’s paper required a Middle Tier or High Tier Mage to act as a "preliminary reviewer" to endorse it for submission, a role similar to a corresponding author.

"Rorschach Mage, you’ve proven that heat is a form of energy, not matter. So, what do you think the Ether is, in the end?"

’Magic Power? The Empire and the Dwarves generally call it "Magic Power" or "Magic Energy," while the Holy Kingdom and the Elves call it "Ether" and "Mana," respectively. It subtly hints at a conflict between the concepts of it being energy versus matter.’

"I don’t yet have a deep enough understanding to jump to conclusions." ’Maybe it has mass-energy duality? This is magic, after all,’ Rorschach couldn’t help but think. ’Don’t make me whip out the mass-energy equivalence equation... On second thought, I never really understood relativity anyway.’

"Master Snow has agreed to build a new engine for us, so you’ve done well. But let’s set that aside for now. I need you to go on an assignment for me. There’s extra pay in it for you this month."

"An assignment? Where to?"

"A sub-plane." Kano turned, dispelled the Secret Technique Lock on the cabinet behind him, and handed a file folder to Rorschach. "This is the first stable sub-plane we’ve discovered, one where humans can survive for extended periods."

The atmosphere of the Main Plane is separated from the starry sky by a thick layer of Transmuting Dust, which even Great Mages can seldom penetrate. However, rare entrances to sub-planes can be found through magic rituals or within ancient ruins.

But those planes are often filled with extreme elements. The Water Elemental Plane, for example, is an endless ocean. It has an atmosphere, but the boundary between gas and liquid is indistinct. Then there is the Air Elemental Plane, a place of ceaseless storms, where water constantly evaporates and condenses within air masses and lightning flashes between the clouds.

The discovery of a sub-plane with solid land and a breathable atmosphere was unprecedented. Such fantastical realms had only ever been imagined in epic poems passed down from ancient times.

Kano voiced a suspicion in a low voice, "It might just be an abandoned Divine Kingdom..."

He wasn’t the only one to speculate as much. Ever since the Age of Silence, Mages and Priests couldn’t help but wonder: where had the vanished Divine Spirits gone? What had become of them? And if they had perished, what did they leave behind?

After High Tier Mages confirmed its safety over multiple round trips, the Magic Guild and the Tower of Stars planned to organize a force of about one hundred people. They would be sent in batches to a designated location on the plane to attempt to establish a semi-permanent outpost.

"You really want me to go? I’m here to study abroad." Rorschach was one of the Empire People, after all. ’Shouldn’t they handle a boon like this quietly, sneaking in without making a peep?’

"We couldn’t hide it even if we wanted to. Thanks to the Magic Guild, certain people in the Empire are already aware of the sub-plane. This large-scale exploration is the semi-public phase now that the initial investigation is over." Kano tapped the desk. "As for why I’m asking you to go... Paulina is swamped, Pascal is a lost cause, and that left only you."

Explorations revealed the sub-plane to be a desolate land of sand and rock, roughly the size of a major region in the Holy Kingdom. Its edges were sealed off and imperceptible behind a veil of Transmuting Dust. Though the land was lifeless, the plane’s Ether concentration was very high.

"The Great Mage who led the initial exploration has a powerful family backing him. He hopes to carve out a territory in the sub-plane and have it recognized by the Holy Kingdom as his family’s fiefdom. Many other old-timers share this ambition, and that gave His Majesty the King the perfect excuse to intervene." Kano snorted. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Rorschach found that strange. "Then why didn’t the discoverer claim ownership of the entire plane?"

"The exploration was a joint effort by the Great Mages of the Magic Guild. I’ve been there once myself—it’s nothing but a barren wasteland. Compared to the land itself, the noble title that comes with having it converted into a fief is far more important. Besides, even if it were given to him, he couldn’t handle it all! What good is a wasteland one-thirteenth the size of the Kingdom? To develop it, he’d need more Mages and commoners for construction, requiring the intervention of secular powers.

His Majesty the King’s Minister of Finance and Guard Captain negotiated with the Magic Guild, hoping the Guild would recognize the sub-plane as the Kingdom’s territory. Then, they would ennoble the discoverer and several Great Mages as Lords of the plane. They also demanded a ten-thousand-acre territory in the central region for the Royal Family, which is about one-fifteenth of the plane’s total size."

"And the Magic Guild would agree to that?"

"Ah, Rorschach, what do you think the Magic Guild is?" Kano shook his head. "It’s not some unified, tightly-knit organization. It’s just an association Mages join for their mutual benefit.

Compared to handing it over to the Magic Guild for all Mages to own collectively, an ennoblement recognized by the Kingdom is obviously more beneficial to the discoverer. Like many of the Great Mages here, he was born into the Kingdom’s Nobility. As for the Great Mages from merchant backgrounds, they’re even more desperate for titles and fiefdoms to ascend into the aristocracy, so they were easily swayed by the discoverer and His Majesty the King.

When those guys are sitting in the Aurora Elder Council, they represent the Magic Guild Branch of the Holy Kingdom. But when it’s time to carve up the spoils? They represent their own interests, their family’s interests. What Guild?" Kano spread his hands in a shrug.

"Master, you weren’t born into the Nobility?"

"Your master, I, Kano, look down on these wastelands and on these people. Oh, right. Doesn’t any of this strike you as strange?"

Rorschach thought for a moment. "If His Majesty the King has already made his move, it’s strange that the Church hasn’t tried to get involved as well."

"Exactly. That’s the strange part. The Church has remained completely silent, and His Majesty the King certainly doesn’t want them showing up to claim a piece of the pie."

"It isn’t dangerous, is it?"

"I wouldn’t send my own student into a deathtrap! The plane was discovered a year ago. A few of us old fogeys have been back and forth countless times, and we’ve confirmed it’s nothing more than a barren wasteland. This time, besides the Mages, it will mostly be ordinary construction workers entering to build the outpost. As one of the attendant Mages, your job will be to watch for any unforeseen incidents.

I’ve talked myself hoarse. So, are you going or not?"

With things laid out like that, Rorschach had no reason to refuse. He took a deep breath. "I’ll go. Don’t forget my travel expenses."

"Excellent. In four days, I’ll take you to the portal."