[Book 1 Completed] Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World [Kingdom Building LitRPG]
B2 | Chapter 51 – A Bet

Time went by. Winter settled in like nothing before, and Theodore stared out the frosted window of his workshop, watching the snow pile up against the glass. The beasts would start migrating sooner or later. Had to. Winter was getting harsh enough that even the toughest predators would be looking for warmer territories. Which meant he needed to make preparations. So many damn preparations.

Aside from all that, he would have to leave for the capital soon.

He wanted to groan at the thought. All that travel. All those politics. All those cautious words and phony smiles. He'd rather stay here in his workshop, where things made sense.

But there was way too much on the line.

He needed to participate in that tournament.

Theodore let out a long, deep sigh. Then he pushed all of his thoughts out of his mind. Because today… Today was happy.

It was today that Theodore completed the first refrigerator prototype.

Or, more like, he had completed it days ago, but only today, he thought it finished after testing. Though he'd still test it for a few more days just to be sure.

He returned his attention to the device on his desk. Not much to look at, really. Just a box with metal plates and runes inscribed into strategic places. But it worked. By the gods, it actually worked.

Now he needed to continue to test it out properly and then register it with the Inventor's Guild.

Though he wasn't looking forward to that part.

For one, he would need a way to explain the rune inscriptions. For now, he was planning on just calling them enchantments and saying that he'd had some breakthroughs in enchantments so they wouldn't understand.

After the tournament, it wouldn't matter either way.

Second, it'd been a while since one of their [Merchant Lords] had caused that significant scandal, and the Merchants' Guild had been dealing with the fallout. Theodore was unaware of every detail—in fact, he didn't even want to know—but the consequences had been severe, and it had been a while since it had happened. Now, the Guild had recovered somewhat, and they were actively expanding rather aggressively to make up for what they had lost.

Of course, it was all legal. They weren't taking over by force, but they were trying to make themselves into a big entity.

As usual with such things, there were obviously shady methods involved, but that didn't matter to him for now; he'd deal with it when it was time.

Regardless, multiple guilds were under their thumb, and they were trying to absorb even more.

The most recent casualty? The Inventor's Guild.

That also meant the staff had been changed. All the people Theodore had worked with before, the ones who didn't ask too many stupid questions, were gone, replaced by Merchants' Guild people.

Theodore really didn't like dealing with Merchants' Guild people.

But alas, he'd have to.

He went to his workshop's tiny cupboard in the corner and took out some bread, cheese, and apples. He'd received these a few minutes ago. It was all basic stuff and not very fancy. For testing, though, it would work. After ensuring that everything was positioned correctly, he put the food inside the refrigerator prototype and took a step back.

The runes gave out a gentle glow. As it turned on, a soft hum permeated the atmosphere before it subsided.

Perfect. It was working perfectly.

For the first time in days, Theodore relaxed by reclining in his chair. His chest began to feel the comforting warmth of achievement. It was a pleasant sensation. These days, he didn't get one frequently enough.

Aside from the level ups, that is.

Your class, [Runic Mage], has leveled up – Lvl 7 > Lvl 8!

Your class, [Runic Mage], has leveled up – Lvl 8 > Lvl 9!

[Rune Inscription] has leveled up! – Lvl 6 > Lvl 7!

[Mana Control] has leveled up! – Lvl 14 > Lvl 15!

[Mana Convergence] has leveled up! – Lvl 5 > Lvl 6!

[Cloning] has leveled up! – Lvl 2 > Lvl 5!

[Psionic Resistance] has leveled up! – Lvl 18 > Lvl 20!

[Severing Aura] has leveled up! – Lvl 2 > Lvl 5!

All of that meticulous runic work, all of those failed attempts, and all of those hours of experimentation had apparently added up. And the frequent training with Freya was bearing fruit.

It was interesting to see [Cloning] reach level 5. He could sustain his clone better now. He still couldn't handle the mental strain; dividing his awareness between two bodies was like trying to use half of his brain to think while the other half was engaged in something entirely else. Exhausting didn't begin to cover it.

However, he had learned something new since reaching level 5. He had the ability to "switch" between the clones. Shut off one for a time while focusing completely on the other. Although it wasn't flawless, it was manageable.

That was what he intended to do for the time being. Because he couldn't possibly keep up two bodies with one fucking brain.

Maybe when he reached level 10? Who knew?

Theodore waved the notifications he had gotten over the past few days away and returned his attention to the refrigerator. The quiet buzzing went on. Light surged steadily through the runes periodically. Through the channels he had constructed, he could sense the mana rerouting and converting, producing the exact temperature he required.

It was beautiful, in its own way.

***

After three days, Theodore was certain that the refrigerator was operating without a hitch. It was now ready for production, though he had to adjust some runework to iron out a few kinks—the mana conversion rate had been a little wrong, and there had been some unwelcome heating in the back corner.

Nevertheless, he had to visit the Inventor's Guild before beginning production.

The thought made him groan slightly, but it had to be done.

He went with Roland and a servant carrying the box that was the refrigerator. The thing wasn't huge—about the size of a small chest, something a single person could carry without too much trouble—but Theodore intended to build bigger ones once he got the patent sorted out.

From the exterior, the Inventor's Guild building appeared the same as it had before. The brass nameplate, massive wooden doors, and stone facade were all the same. However, Theodore sensed the change as soon as he entered.

All the interesting scholarly trinkets were gone, replaced by lifeless decor that made him frown.

They led him into a large office that had once belonged to Lady Ivy. The furnishings had changed. Garish and expensive-looking. Gold inlay and all-polished wood. The kind of thing that screamed, "I have money and want everyone to know it."

Theodore sat and waited. And waited. And waited some more.

At last, several people entered. A portly man with gentle hands and thinning hair who had never worked a day in his life was one of them. Three people who Theodore thought were nobles followed him, along with two unnecessary but likely meant to be intimidating guards. They dressed like them, anyway. All the jewelry and silk and that certain haughtiness that accompanied inherited wealth.

"Lord Theodore, to what do I owe the pleasure?" The burly man rubbed his hands together as though he were using a fire to warm them. He smiled too eagerly and too widely.

"I'm here to register a patent. What happened to Lady Ivy?"

"Ah..." The man's smile faltered slightly. "We can arrange for the patent, though we'll need to verify the functional invention. As for Lady Ivy, after the Inventor's Guild got taken over, she has been reassigned."

Theodore frowned. Lady Ivy had done her job well. The process went more smoothly since she was professional, efficient, and had a technical understanding of what innovators were attempting to accomplish. This guy? Theodore wasn't sure he could distinguish between a piece of colored glass and a mana crystal.

"I see."

"Yep, yep, name's Gelden, but that's unimportant. Anyway, if you will, my lord."

With a nod, Theodore motioned for his servant to display the refrigerator. The man set it on the table and removed the cloth covering it.

It wasn't large. Easy to carry with two hands. However, after approving and registering the original design, Theodore planned to construct larger ones.

"This is...?" Gelden leaned forward slightly.

"This is what I call a refrigerator. It cools things."

A slender man with a pointed beard raised an eyebrow. "Cools things? Like what, exactly?"

"It preserves meat, medicine, and temperature-sensitive alchemy components. Anything that spoils or degrades in heat."

"But why would you need such a thing?" A woman wearing ornate jewelry frowned. "Ice houses exist. Cold storage exists."

"Ice houses require ice," Theodore said patiently. "Which requires either winter weather or expensive transportation from colder regions. Or an [Ice Mage]. This works year-round, anywhere, with just a small mana input."

Gelden rubbed his chin. "How does it work?"

"The basic principle involves mana conversion," he said. "It takes mana—doesn't matter what affinity—and converts it to ice mana. Then it uses enchantments to contain and direct that ice mana to create a sustained cooling effect inside the box."

The thin noble laughed. "Mana conversion? From one affinity to another?"

"Yes."

"That's impossible. The mana loss alone would make it completely inefficient. Is this guy joking, Gelden?" He laughed. "This is a waste of time."

Theodore's face remained expressionless.

"I've solved the efficiency problem."

"Have you really?" The woman leaned back in her chair. "Because I know several master enchanters who would disagree with you."

"With respect, your enchanters probably haven't tried my approach."

Gelden held up a hand. "Perhaps we should see a demonstration?"

Theodore nodded. He'd been hoping for this. He activated the refrigerator, and the runes immediately began to work their magic. The humming sounded before silencing. A few moments passed.

"You can feel the temperature change if you put your hand near the opening," Theodore said.

The thin noble reached out tentatively, then pulled his hand back with a surprised expression.

"It's... actually cold."

"Very cold," the woman added, trying it herself.

But before anyone could respond properly, one of the nobles—the third one, who hadn't spoken yet—let out a snort of laughter.

He had a flawless face and well-groomed hair that shouted "never worked a day in his life," and he was younger than the others. An alchemist, based on the elaborate robes and the way he carried himself like he owned the world.

"Oh, this is rich," he said, not bothering to hide his amusement. "Mana conversion? From a backwater lord who thinks he's reinvented magic itself?"

"I beg your pardon?"

The alchemist waved a dismissive hand. "Please. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? The way you're claiming to handle mana is completely unstable. Preserving perishables with ice magic? Long term? That's a fool's errand that every first-year apprentice tries and fails at."

"I'm not claiming anything. I'm demonstrating a working prototype."

"A trick," the alchemist said, his voice dripping with condescension. "A parlor trick that will fall apart the moment anyone with real magical knowledge examines it. Even the enchanters in the capital don't dare convert mana from one affinity to another at this scale. The mana loss, the instability, the sheer impossibility of maintaining the conversion matrix—"

"And yet here it is, working."

"For how long? Five minutes? Ten? You think you've solved what master enchanters have been struggling with for decades? You?"

Gelden shifted uncomfortably. The other nobility looked at each other. The alchemist, however, was only beginning.

"Let me explain something to you, boy," he said, standing up and walking around the table like he was giving a lecture to a particularly slow student. "Ice mana is the most unstable common elemental affinity there is. It disperses faster than smoke in a hurricane. Even master enchanters can't sustain it for more than a few minutes without massive mana expenditure."

"I've been running this for three days straight."

"Impossible. You lie. You have to be lying, because if you're not, then you're claiming to have surpassed every magical researcher interested in this particular aspect of research in the kingdom. Which is absurd."

"I'm not claiming anything about other researchers. I'm showing you a working device."

"A working device that defies every known principle of theory?" The alchemist's voice rose. "Something that can be done with [Ice Magic], you claim to have built a device instead that supposedly does what the greatest minds in the capital have declared impossible with enchantment alone? Built by some provincial lord in the middle of nowhere?"

Theodore could feel the other people in the room starting to doubt. Could see them looking at him with new skepticism.

"Not to mention, ice mana disperses too fast, boy. Even master enchanters can't sustain it. This 'box of ice' will melt before sunset."

Theodore leveled him a stare.

"How about a bet?" Theodore asked expressionlessly, leaning on his hand.

"A bet?" The man snorted. "Tell me about it!"

***

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