New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (2/2 chapters)

 

 

The Flaw of Thunder

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

I decided to return home on foot. I took the lead, with Rosso and Ao walking beside me, and Verde and Blanche walking ahead. Verde suddenly turned around.

“Though the conversation was too complicated for me to follow, I understood the last part. Gentoku, you picked a fight with that person Michaela, did you not?” (Verde)

“No, it was not a fight. I merely said what I thought.” (Gentoku)

“Heh. Hey, Ossan, do you need an escort like you did with Barion? Do you think that Michaela might send assassins after you?” (Rosso)

“N-no, I doubt that would happen.” (Gentoku)

Still, I had provoked her, so something might happen. Ao tugged on my sleeve and spoke.

“I did not understand the difficult parts either, but what is the flaw?” (Ao)

“Well, I have not examined it in detail yet, but there is something about that thunder power that caught my attention.” (Gentoku)

“Something that you understood, Oji-sama? Then why did you not tell her?” (Blanche)

“Well, I did not like Michaela’s methods for one thing. Besides, I thought the ones who should discover and solve such issues are the magical technicians currently working there, not an outsider like me.” (Gentoku)

If I go around solving every problem, I will become that so-called “cheat protagonist”. I dislike the idea of dominating this world with knowledge from Japan. I prefer to stay within the limits of what I could personally do.

And so, that matter ended there.

“For now, I will investigate what troubles me about the thunder power on my own. Now then, why not go to a tavern together for once?” (Gentoku)

“Yay! Ossan’s buying!” (Rosso)

“Heh. I will join you then!” (Verde)

“A drink sounds pleasant once in a while.” (Blanche)

“I shall try not to drink too much.” (Ao)

Thus, the five of us headed for the tavern.

 

—

 

A few days later, I was conducting experiments on magic stones in the underground laboratory at work. Then, I became certain.

“So, it really is as I thought.” (Gentoku)

In my hand was a magic stone engraved with the word “thunder.” I had also carved other terms related to electricity, such as “electric” and “lightning”, to verify their effects. As I expected, the results matched my predictions. I disposed of all the magic stones and returned to the first floor. At that moment, by coincidence, Sandrone and Michaela were there. Behind them stood Abel and Richter.

“Welcome. Is there a malfunctioning magical tool, or a request for on-site repairs?” (Gentoku)

“Gentoku-sama, I wish to ask you something. Regarding the power of thunder, what did you realize?” (Michaela)

“Well, come up to the second floor.” (Gentoku)

I led them to the office. Michaela sat on the sofa opposite me, Sandrone took a seat beside me, and Abel and Richter stood behind their respective masters. Michaela took a magic stone from her pocket. Upon it, although uneven, was engraved the word “thunder”.

“Oh, this magical script.” (Gentoku)

“This is the magical script developed by the magical technicians of the Klein Magical Trading Company, who devoted all their efforts to it. Gentoku-sama, does this match the magical script you know?” (Michaela)

“Yes, it does. It is slightly distorted but correct.” (Gentoku)

When mana was infused, it glowed faintly. Crackling violet sparks burst forth like a handheld firework. Michaela bit her finger.

“Indeed, a magic stone engraved with this character manifests the power of thunder. It can even serve as an energy source. In fact, when we used it in a prototype thunder magical apparatus, it functioned as an alternative to the magic stone as an energy source. However, it does not last.” (Michaela)

Michaela bit her nail in frustration. I spoke the answer she could not.

“The energy runs out almost immediately, doesn’t it?” (Gentoku)

“…” (Michaela)

Yes, that was the flaw I had suspected. My tests had confirmed it beyond doubt. I placed a magic stone that had lost its energy after only a minute, despite being filled with a considerable amount of mana, on the table.

“The method of imbuing thunder into magic stones as a new form of energy is an excellent idea. In my world, we had a tool called a battery that serves a similar purpose.” (Gentoku)

“…” (Michaela)

“But simply infusing thunder into a magic stone causes the mana to disperse quickly. Earlier in the lab, I filled a ten-star magic stone with the power of thunder, and the energy vanished in less than five minutes. In conclusion, while thunder can indeed serve as a universal energy source adaptable to all magical tools, the consumption rate is enormous. Merely imbuing thunder into a magic stone causes the energy to disperse almost instantly.” (Gentoku)

That was the weakness of thunder. It could serve as a versatile energy source, but the consumption was immense. To run a single refrigerator for a day would likely require thousands of thunder-charged magic stones.

When I tried charging a one-star magic stone with thunder, it burst. The second one held until just before bursting but still lost its charge within five minutes. What surprised me was that, whether a one-star or ten-star stone, the capacity for thunder remained the same.

“At present, using the power of thunder in magical tools is impractical.” (Gentoku)

“Gentoku-san, can nothing be done? The Klein Magical Trading Company has already begun modifying all existing magical tools into thunder-attributed ones under the name thunder magical apparatus.” (Michaela)

“It is impossible. You acted too hastily. More research was needed.” (Gentoku)

Perhaps in the future, technology will allow for greater thunder storage within magic stones. Michaela muttered bitterly.

“Damn it, thunder attribute. It should work, so why does it not?” (Michaela)

“It can work, yes, but not yet. Now is the time for research.” (Gentoku)

“Do not speak as though you understand everything.” (Michaela)

I was startled as she suddenly shouted. Daifuku, who had been sleeping nearby, perked up one ear and opened a sleepy eye.

“Gentoku-san, if you had told me sooner.” (Michaela)

“How many times must I say it. I have no intention of cooperating.” (Gentoku)

“Why not. This is a new attribute. The thunder attribute is a groundbreaking discovery that will draw attention not only from the magical tool industry but also from the field of magic itself. Why do you show no interest?” (Michaela)

“That’s because I have no interest.” (Gentoku)

Perhaps it was because I came from another world. Thunder existed naturally where I came from. Here, it was merely another form of magic to learn and use. For people of this world, a new attribute was something extraordinary, enough to make them as excited as Michaela was.

Then, Sandrone spoke.

“Michaela, you should have taken things step by step.” (Sandrone)

“Sandrone-chan.” (Michaela)

“Discovering the seventh attribute is indeed impressive. But afterward, you should have worked with the magic guild to study thunder’s properties. Showing its effects first and making the magical technicians create new magical scripts skipped several essential stages. Why are you in such a rush?” (Sandrone)

“Because with this attribute, if we develop new magical scripts and magical tools, the Klein Magical Trading Company will gain even greater recognition. The unification of the magical tool industry would no longer be a dream. Even the magic guild could be drawn in.” (Michaela)

It was no longer a matter I could step into. Sandrone continued.

“You cannot be serious about unifying the magical tool industry.” (Sandrone)

“I am. I believe I can do it. Sandrone-chan, I first entered this industry to be your successor, but I have long since moved past that. I want to be the best in this field as a merchant and as a magical technician.” (Michaela)

“The same as me. Yet you are already several steps ahead.” (Sandrone)

“Yes, but it is still impossible for now.” (Michaela)

“Indeed, it is.” (Gentoku)

Michaela stood up and left without another word. Abel tried to follow, but I stopped him.

“Abel, tell Michaela this for me. Do not rush but walk the sure path.” (Gentoku)

“Michaela has always made her ambitions reality. That is how the Klein Magical Trading Company rose to become one of the Four Great Companies. But this is the first time her expectations have not been fulfilled.” (Abel)

“Then, she should strive harder so that next time she succeeds.” (Gentoku)

“Yes. I will support her.” (Abel)

With that, Abel left as well. Only Sandrone, Richter, and I remained. Sandrone lit a cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke.

“A genius’s first failure, is it.” (Sandrone)

“Yes. People like her either break completely or rise again with even greater momentum.” (Gentoku)

The thunder attribute. Michaela had likely sought to create a new kind of battery and bring about a revolution in the magical tool industry. But her research had been shallow. While it was possible to store thunder in a magic stone, she had not considered that its energy would dissipate almost instantly.

“Hey, Gentoku.” (Sandrone)

“What?” (Gentoku)

“You could fix it, could you not?” (Sandrone)

“No. Even I cannot do everything.” (Gentoku)

Saying that, I too lit a cigarette.

 

—

 

After Sandrone and the others had left, I sat at my desk and took a magic stone from my pocket. Infusing it with mana, it glowed faintly with traces of thunder.

“When thunder is stored in a magic stone, it disperses. But…” (Gentoku)

My magic stone did not lose its glow. Even after five or ten minutes, it still retained the thunder.

“The magical script for storage of electricity. This one works. Even a one-star stone, if filled to capacity with mana, could power a refrigerator for a day.” (Gentoku)

After testing, I found that it could be recharged about ten times without breaking. It might indeed be practical. However…

I crushed the magic stone in my hand and threw the fragments into the wastebasket.

“If I perfected this, I might put myself out of work. Until the thunder attribute becomes practical, I will let the people of this world do the research. Right, Daifuku?” (Gentoku)

“Nyaa.” (Daifuku)

And thus, ended my dispute with the Klein Magical Trading Company. Later, I heard that a new department called the Thunder Attribute Research Division had been established there, dedicated to studying methods of storing thunder in magic stones.

Well, I wish them luck. I have my own work to focus on.

 

—

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