New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (2/2 chapters)

 

 

Unexpected Property

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

I turned the pages one after another, confirming the parts I did not understand each time. An hour passed before I finally finished reading through everything.

“Phew… that should be all for now.” (Elt)

I gathered the documents and placed them neatly on the table. Naru was reading the papers after me as well.

“Nya…” (Naru)

Naru seemed to have finished too, after going back and forth through the pages. Her expression was serious.

“Nya…” (Naru)

Iskamina leaned forward, looking at both of us with sparkling eyes.

“How is it, mogu? Of course, this is only a draft, mogu!” (Iskamina)

“Setting aside the technical aspects, I now understand the projected costs and returns. If this village can be connected to Zanzas, the profits will indeed be significant.” (Elt)

The main issue lay in the financial side. If we were to extend the magical trolley line all the way to Zanzas, it would cost at least five thousand gold coins. Naturally, that estimate applied only if the tunnels and underground spaces were suitable. If the underground path had too many slopes or narrow passages, the cost would increase considerably.

“Even if only part of it is completed, it will still have benefits, nya. However, connecting the entire line would be a heavy burden on the treasury, nya.” (Naru)

“That is true. Still, trying it out first on a short-distance route might not be a bad idea.” (Elt)

Even converting the second underground plaza into a warehouse or farmland would yield benefits if it were connected by the magical trolley. Usable land was precious, and there was flowing water there as well.

“Yes, in that case, we could recover the costs over the long term, nya.” (Naru)

“Mogu! The magical trolley should be viewed as a long-term project, mogu!” (Iskamina)

“Indeed. It is a major enterprise.” (Elt)

“If possible, I would also like to establish connections with the Dwarven Kingdom, mogu.” (Iskamina)

“I see. Because the magical trolley technology is more advanced among the dwarves?” (Elt)

“Mogu. We can build them ourselves, mogu, but when it comes to maintenance parts and all matters related to iron, the dwarves are the best, mogu.” (Iskamina)

It was said that the Mole Tribe surpassed even the dwarves in observing soil underground and in integrating complex technologies. They did look like talking, walking moles after all. However, when it came to iron procurement and metalwork, the dwarves clearly held the advantage.

The magical trolley did not end once it was installed. Maintenance was essential, and replacement parts would be required. Over time, large-scale updates to the vehicles themselves would become necessary.

I paused to think for a moment. There was one thing that caught my attention. I did not know whether it would be profitable, but it was worth asking.

“By the way, this magical trolley can also run above ground, right?” (Elt)

“Mogu! It can, though it would require magic stones, mogu!” (Iskamina)

A magic stone referred to any ore containing mana. They were mainly used as energy sources for magical tools. Both natural and artificial magic stones existed, and they had enriched human life greatly.

“However, in this area, the output would likely be insufficient, mogu. It would probably move quite slowly, mogu.” (Iskamina)

“Nya. Do you have something in mind, nya?” (Naru)

As expected of Naru. She had already sensed that I was thinking of something new.

“I was wondering if connecting the lake to this village could yield some returns. I am not sure how profitable it would be to bring Marude aquatic creatures to the village, though.” (Elt)

The main weakness of the magical trolley was that it required ambient mana in the air to function properly. Without it, it would be slower than a carriage and carry less cargo. However, according to this draft proposal, the magical trolley was expected to move at roughly three times the speed of a horse-drawn carriage. Of course, that estimate was based on underground conditions where mana was abundant.

Even so, if it could move twice as fast as a carriage, that would still offer advantages. It might not be as beneficial as an underground route, but even small improvements could lead to significant change over time. In Japan, the convenience of society had been built upon such accumulations, one route, one bus, one wheel at a time. I wanted to replicate that approach here.

“If it could travel at twice the speed of a carriage, that would free up time. People could then take on other work.” (Elt)

If we were transporting valuable goods from the start, the cost could be recovered in the long term. That depended on the quantity and price of the Marude shellfish, of course.

“Nya… I had not considered that possibility, nya.” (Naru)

“Mogu. For the transport of seafood… the value per weight… mogu.” (Iskamina)

Hm?

Both Naru and Iskamina looked surprised. I did not think it was such an unusual idea, though. The faster you transported marketable goods, the greater the profit. In modern Japan, speed was everything. The parcel delivery industry alone sustained countless major corporations.

“Is this kind of thinking unusual here?” (Elt)

“Yes, it is, nya. The magical trolley is a specialty of the Mole Tribe and the Dwarves. I have not heard of anyone else producing something reliable, nya.” (Naru)

“But the Mole Tribe and Dwarves live all over the world, don’t they?” (Elt)

The Mole Tribe and Dwarves held great power across the northern continent, but they were not confined there. Even this village had Dwarven craftsmen, and there should be some in Zanzas as well.

“Mogu… We do not usually live near the sea or rivers, mogu.” (Iskamina)

“Oh…” (Elt)

I seemed to recall reading that somewhere, but it must have been a passing note since I had forgotten it.

Iskamina looked at my face and gave me a firm thumbs-up, smiling brightly.

“Mogu. We Mole Tribe and Dwarves are not very good at swimming, mogu!” (Iskamina)

 

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