Overwhelming Firepower-Chapter 61: Turning gears and flowing ideas

Over the span of several intense days, Lucen and his team pushed out breakthrough after breakthrough.

Their first innovations were focused on improving the forge. Lucen introduced the mold, a simple but revolutionary concept for the people of this world. Instead of hammering metal into shape, molten metal could now be poured into carved molds, saving time and producing consistent shapes.

At first, the blacksmiths were skeptical. But when they saw the uniform components for the arquebus emerge from the molds, it was clean, precise, and identical, and their doubts melted faster than the ore in the crucible.

Even Robert was amazed by the simple idea, yet immensely useful.

"Wow, it’s so simple, but why hasn’t anyone thought of this before? I would really want to open up your head to see how that mind of yours works." Robert spoke jokingly, though it didn’t entirely feel like a joke.

The next thing they created was something that would revolutionize the town: the waterwheel. Before building it, Lucen had to ask his father’s permission.

After explaining to the Iron Duke what the waterwheel was and the possibilities it held, the Iron Duke did not hesitate to agree.

It wasn’t easy. Lucen designed the basic structure, while the craftsmen cut planks and shaped paddles.

Together, they built a wooden channel to redirect part of the river’s flow, ensuring steady movement. With Robert calculating the flow rate and torque, and the blacksmiths forging the iron fittings using the new molds that were made, the wheel was soon set in place, turning steadily with the current, ready to power whatever they connected next.

They had failed several times before making this one wheel work. It was a practice of trial and error, especially since this was the first time they built something like this.

It was unlike anything from his past life, not even the clunky wheels from low-budget historical movies came close. This waterwheel was crude, rough-hewn, and jarringly angular. But as it groaned into motion, creaking like an old ship catching wind, it was a sight that stole everyone’s breath.

The river’s diverted flow surged into the wooden paddles, and with a splash, the wheel jerked once... Then again... Then began to turn in earnest. Water cascaded down the slats, glinting in the sunlight like silver ribbons. A rhythmic thunk... Thunk... Thunk echoed as the wheel turned, slow but unrelenting.

Vardon, Vahn, Thalos, Harlik, Robert, Lucen, and the gathered craftsmen stood silently for a long moment, watching a miracle of motion powered not by mana, but by nature itself.

"Hahaha, this is amazing to make something this big move without the use of mana stones, or some spell, but only letting nature itself do the work. Those b*stards in the grey tower would sh*t their breeches, if they see this." Robert couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

"So what can this thing do?" Thalos asked.

"Right now? Not much, just spins," Lucen said. "But if we connect it to the bellows, you know, that air pump for the forge, we could keep the fire blazing without someone nearly fainting trying to work it."

The moment the blacksmiths, especially their apprentices, heard what Lucen said, their eyes almost glowed like stars.

"This is an amazing device, young master." One apprentice could not help but speak out loud.

"Yes, it is, but it doesn’t just do that. It can grind grain, power hammers, pump water, and even saw wood. Anything repetitive that needs force, we can make it do that. Once we connect the right gears and systems, of course."

"This is an incredible thing you have invented, my son," Vardon commented.

"I didn’t do it alone," Lucen replied. "Everyone worked hard to make it happen." He gestured to Robert and the craftsmen.

"We only followed the young master’s guidance," one craftsman said, bowing deeply.

Still, all of them beamed under the Iron Duke’s praise.

***

After they had made the workshops more efficient, they started making things that they could sell to the public.

The first thing was scented soaps. In this world, there was already soap, but it was simply boring with no smell. So Lucen had the simple idea of creating scented soaps. Robert already knew how to make the normal soap everyone uses, and Lucen added essential oils, turning the bland bars into something fragrant and inviting.

Each soap was carefully molded, not just into plain blocks, but into delicate flower-like designs, petals curling inward in soft spirals. Some resembled blooming roses, others dainty lotus blossoms.

The surface shimmered faintly from a fine polish of oil, and at the center of each bar was the Thornefang insignia, stamped in deep relief like a noble seal. The scent of lavender, pine, and citrus drifted from them in gentle waves, clean, soothing, and luxurious.

Lucen showed the members of Thornefang the new soaps, declaring that from now on, they’d be required to use them.

"What is this? Can we really use this thing that seems like it should be used by a lady?" Greg asked.

"Well, aren’t we ladies?" Miya gestured to the female members of Thornefang.

"Oh, were you ladies?" Greg joked, but then Miya and the girls started hitting him.

"This smells like a field of flowers." Harlik, who sniffed the soap, commented.

"Now you guys can smell that way as well," Lucen said while handing them each a soap.

***

The other thing Lucen and the team made was three kinds of salve. A healing salve, which helps with burns, cuts, and abrasions.

The insect repellent salve, which, like the name implies, repels some insects away from exposed skin.

The last salve was for pain relief, helpful for sore muscles and general aches.

Each salve was something Lucen was able to make with a combination of his alchemy skill, his past life memories of chemistry, and bits of memory he had from watching various videos.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect, but after speaking with the herbalist who was part of Thornefang, and through rigorous trial and error, they were able to make something adequate.

They used common herbs like comfrey, mint, and pine resin, blended with animal fat or beeswax depending on the salve’s purpose. Of course, in this world, some of those herbs had different local names.

The next step was testing the salves. The first few batches had the wrong mixture and produced less desirable effects.

After a few mistakes, Lucen and the group felt confident that this batch of salve was the one. They were so confident in this batch that Robert happily volunteered to test each salve. Without any hesitation, he made a small cut on his arm.

"Wait! Robert, you didn’t have to!" Lucen exclaimed while sighing after seeing the flowing blood from Robert’s forearm.

"Too late!" Robert grinned. "The wound is made to get closer to the truth, to understanding, to advancement!"

"Fine, just put on the healing salve."

Robert opened the wooden container and dabbed the healing salve onto the wound. Once placed, everyone present leaned closer to see what would happen.

At first, nothing happened. Then, the redness slowly faded. It didn’t close immediately, but the swelling eased and the bleeding slowed.

"Hoh, that stings a little bit, but it seems like it does have some effect."

"This should speed up recovery and prevent infection," Lucen commented.

"Alright, onto the next one." Next, Robert rubbed the pain-relief salve onto his shoulder. "This is for the aches in one’s muscles, right?"

"Yes, so how do you feel?"

"It feels warm and comforting, I think it’s actually working," Robert answered, intrigued by the feeling.

"Alright, then onto the last salve. I heard there were some pests in the forge. Let’s see if this would work."

The group went to the forge, where there were some insects flying about. Only Robert had put on the insect-repelling salve. They waited and then noticed that the insects bothered everyone else but Robert.

"Well, this is interesting. I wonder if you could also make something like this, but for monsters."

Robert was already thinking about the next thing he wanted to create.

***

Once all formulas for the salves worked as intended, Lucen created wooden containers for each, of course with the insignia of Thornefang on them.

The three salves were given to every knight, mage, and soldier going out on missions. Lucen also sent Aldric a few salves and the scented soaps for him to sell.

Due to some circumstances, Aldric’s location had become top secret, and when Lucen delivered a new batch of products there was a certain procedure needed to be followed.

Only trusted couriers delivered the goods now, following a simple but strict procedure: leave the crates at a marked drop-off point near the eastern forest, and someone from Aldric’s side would retrieve them before sundown.

These couriers were watched and protected by some of the men from Thornefang. For now, this was the only way to send goods to Aldric as per his request.

’It would seem that Aldric is having quite the adventure of his own.’ Lucen thought to himself.

Just as Lucen was wondering whether to build a waterwheel in Dorsen as well, a familiar figure burst through the door.

Robert slapped his personal board game onto the table. "So, are we doing more experiments today, or am I finally beating you at Territory War?"

Lucen smiled as he looked at Robert. "I’m not in the mood for the first, and the second thing sounds like a dream that you’ll never reach."

Robert clicked his tongue and set the board down with a firm thud. "Keep saying that. I’ve been studying your patterns."

"Oh? Since when did staring at the board while losing count as studying? Also, patterns, aren’t you the one who’s following a pattern, and it’s not even a hard-to-follow pattern." Lucen replied with a grin.

"Hmph, I won’t fall for your provocations anymore. This time, I will claim victory, and you will be just one of the defeated."

Lucen chuckled as he sat down across from him. "Really now? I guess even someone like you can tell a joke."

Robert clicked his tongue in annoyance as he too got ready to play.

"Tsk, you won’t be so smug once this is done."

The two then started the game, and after a few minutes, Robert shouted.

"How did I lose again?!"

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