[Book 1 Completed] Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World [Kingdom Building LitRPG]
B2 | Chapter 53 – I’m Interested

Theodore POV

After going through twelve different shades of red, Jacopo's face finally settled on what appeared to be a ripe tomato. With a force that nearly toppled his chair, he sprang from his seat and dropped into the most dramatic bow that Theodore had ever seen.

"My apologies, Lord Theodore!" The words practically burst out of him. "This is... this is unprecedented! I just couldn't believe it. The implications, the sheer impossibility of what you've achieved..."

Theodore watched him with the same expression he'd use to observe a particularly stupid pigeon. What a bunch of clowns.

"Welden," Jacopo continued, spinning toward the man in question, "let's continue with the patent process! Immediately! We mustn't delay such revolutionary work!"

The other people in the room continued to gawk at the refrigerator like it had personally insulted their mothers. As if it were about to burst, the woman continued to touch the crystal gadget she had used before. The thin noble was just shocked.

All Theodore did was shake his head. Indeed, these individuals were appointed as the new magical experts in the Inventors' Guild. An incredibly encouraging group.

Another hour passed for the patent paperwork. More paperwork to fill out, more witnesses to say they'd witnessed the unthinkable, and more stuttering justifications from Welden for nonexistent precedents. Theodore did what was requested of him, signed where needed to, and spent the majority of the time planning his meal and playing with mana exercises.

At long last, they had completed the task. The patent was formally issued . The refrigerator was legally his invention. Production could begin in earnest now.

That's when the real problem hit him.

On his way home, Theodore couldn't help but wonder what would happen when these everyday people learned about his new invention.

They'd all want one.

And that was the problem, wasn't it? The runes that made the whole thing function could only be inscribed by him. Not the ornamental scribbles that enchanters utilized, but actual runes. Runes that, rather than merely politely asking, actively twisted reality to bend to your will.

Theodore got to his study and immediately started pacing. Hypothetically, he'd need about three hours to finish one refrigerator. He'd inscribed it enough times that the rune work wasn't too hard, but it needed his own touch.

He couldn't just throw the work at others. Three hours per unit. Maybe two and a half if he really pushed himself and two hours once the whole process was optimized. Since he had a lot on his plate already, he couldn't really do more than this, so if he worked every day, it would be 10 refrigerators a week.

The kingdom had, what, hundreds of thousands of households that could use something like this? Even if only half of them wanted one, that was a lot of units. At ten per week, that was...

He'd be dead before he finished the first production run.

There was also the possibility of teaching someone else to inscribe runes. He was not the only person in the world with the ability to learn [Rune Inscription]. Since there was a skill, it could be taught. Find someone with the right aptitude, drill them on the basics, supervise their first attempts...

Nope. Not happening.

So. Workarounds it was.

He could definitely create something to aid in the process, to be fair. A runic device of some sort capable of reproducing his inscriptions without his direct involvement. There existed a theoretical foundation now, too. Runes that inscribed other runes. He did have everything necessary to make it work with the new information and runes [Cloning] provided, but it would take time. For the time being, Theodore went to his desk and took out a piece of parchment. It was time to send the Artificers' Guild a letter.

There were things to discuss with the man.

The letter was short and to the point. He needed to discuss a commission with their guildmaster. About the bathhouse in particular. Something that would need professionals.

He signed it, sealed it, and handed it to a servant to deliver.

Then he went and caught Freya, asked to train, got dragged to the training room, and there he started experimenting around with [Severing Aura]. After all there was a boulder to sever.

Hours passed just like that.

***

Einar POV

Einar walked to the front door of the manor and rubbed his sweating palms. The summons had come as a surprise. An official meeting request regarding a "significant commission opportunity." Those were the kinds of words that might either mean amazing headaches or amazing profits. Sometimes both.

The door was answered by a courteous but brisk servant. "Lord Theodore is expecting you. Right this way."

Einar trailed him down hallways that likely cost more than his whole workshop. It was true that the manor was amazing, but it was the kind of impressive that made you realize your exact position in the world. which was a number of steps below the individual you were about to meet.

Theodore's office was smaller than Einar had expected, but somehow that made it more intimidating. Personal. Like the man himself was paying attention to you instead of just going through the motions.

"My lord," Einar bowed respectfully. "What can I do for you?"

"Einar. Good, you came quickly." Theodore gestured to the chair across from his desk. "I have a proposition for you. Multiple propositions, actually. All related to a new project I'm working on."

Einar sat down. "I'm listening, my lord."

"I'm building a public bathhouse. Not just any bathhouse. Something revolutionary. I need custom metalwork, pipe systems, and installation expertise. But that's just the beginning. After the public bathhouse, I want to expand to noble houses. Private installations. Eventually, even commoner houses. A complete transformation of how people think about bathing and hygiene."

Einar nodded slowly.

"What exactly are you envisioning, my lord?"

The careful politeness vanished as Theodore leaned forward. It was replaced with real passion, the kind that, in spite of Einar's mistrust, made his instincts twitch.

"I'm introducing a new concept. I call it a 'shower.'"

"A... shower?"

"Exactly. Instead of filling a tub with water and sitting in it, you stand upright while water falls on you from above. Like rain, but controlled. Hot water, cold water, whatever temperature you prefer. From a device called a showerhead. It disperses water in a fine spray pattern and covers your entire body evenly. Much more efficient than baths, uses less water, and it's faster."

This was beginning to resemble the type of job that appeared straightforward on paper but became a nightmare in reality. Einar had seen enough of those to know what was coming.

"How exactly would this work, my lord? The water distribution, I mean."

Theodore pulled out a sheet of parchment with sketches. "Pipes bring water from a reservoir. The showerhead—that's this piece here—has small holes that break the water stream into droplets. Valves control the flow rate and temperature."

"Temperature control?"

"Hot and cold water lines run separately, then mix at a device I'm calling a mixer tap. Turn this handle for more hot water, this one for more cold. Perfect temperature every time."

Einar studied the sketch. It was... well, it was actually clever. Assuming it worked. Which was a big assumption.

"What about water pressure? Water doesn't naturally want to shoot out of small holes."

"Pressure systems. Elevated reservoirs, pumps to lift water, maybe even gravity feeds from higher floors. The exact method depends on the building."

Technically, that made sense. Einar had prior experience with pressure systems, mostly for the installation of fountains. However, this was slightly more complex for him given that he'd never done something like this.

"And the enclosure? People can't just stand in the open while water pours on them."

"Exactly." Theodore flipped to a new page. "Privacy partitions, waterproof flooring, drainage systems. The whole thing needs to be self-contained."

"What kind of flooring? Stone?"

"Stone would work, but it's expensive and difficult to install. I was thinking about sloped surfaces that direct water toward drains. Maybe even decorative tiles that are both functional and attractive."

"Tiles... That's doable. More work than stone, but doable."

"And soap dispensers built into the walls. No need to carry soap with you. Just press a lever and get exactly the amount you need."

"Soap dispensers?"

"Small reservoirs connected to the plumbing. Fill them periodically, users access them as needed. More convenient and more hygienic than shared soap bars."

"What about ventilation? All that hot water and steam..."

"Ventilation systems. Air circulation to prevent moisture buildup. Maybe even heated air to keep people warm while they're wet."

"Heated air?"

"Pipes that carry hot water through the walls. Radiant heating. Or maybe direct air warming using fire mana conversion."

"This is..." Einar paused, choosing his words carefully. "This is significantly more complex than a typical bathhouse, my lord."

Theodore nodded. "That's why I'm offering significantly more than typical payment. This isn't a standard commission. This is a complete redesign of how people interact with water and hygiene."

That's when Einar's professional excitement began to clash with his professional cynicism. For if this really did work...

"You really think people will prefer this to traditional baths?"

"I think people will prefer being cleaner, faster, with less effort. Once they try it, they won't want to go back to sitting in tubs full of their own dirt."

"How many installations are you planning?"

"The public bathhouse first. Prove the concept works. Then private installations for anyone who wants them. Eventually, I want every household in the kingdom to have access to this technology."

Every household. Einar tried to calculate what that would mean in terms of work, materials, profits...

The numbers were staggering. If even a fraction of Theodore's vision came true, it would be the biggest commission in the history of the Artificers' Guild.

"What would you need from me specifically?"

"Everything. Design consultation, custom metalwork, installation supervision, maintenance protocols. I want you to be my primary partner on this project."

Primary partner. Not merely a contractor, but a partner. The sort of connection that may make a craftsman's life.

"This would be a significant commitment, my lord. My entire workshop would need to focus on this project."

"I'm prepared to pay for that focus. Exclusive contract, guaranteed income, profit sharing on successful installations."

Profit sharing. Einar's hands were definitely sweating now.

"What about materials? Some of what you're describing... specialized pipes, pressure vessels, precision metalwork... it's not cheap."

"I'll cover material costs. You focus on craftsmanship and installation. I want the best work you can deliver, and I'm willing to pay for it."

Einar inhaled deeply. This was either the most costly mistake he would ever make or the chance of a lifetime.

"How soon would you want to start?"

"Immediately. I want the first installation running within a month. After that, we scale up as fast as your workshop can handle."

One month. For a brand-new technology employing methods that had never been tried before. It was so ambitious that it was insane.

And it was just the sort of challenge that made Einar's heart sing..

"I'll need to see detailed plans. Material specifications. Installation requirements. And I'll need to bring in additional workers if we're moving this fast."

"Already prepared." Theodore pulled out a thick folder. "Everything you need to get started. Plans, specifications, material lists, even suggested suppliers."

As soon as Einar opened the folder, his eyes widened. These weren't hazy ideas or crude drawings. These were exact dimensions, comprehensive engineering drawings, and material requirements that included pipe wall thickness.

"When did you have time to prepare all this?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while."

Einar turned page after page of complex blueprints. Water flow calculations. Pressure requirements. Temperature control mechanisms. Drainage systems. Ventilation layouts.

It was brilliant. Completely insane, but brilliant.

"This is... this is actually feasible," Einar said, surprise evident in his voice.

"You sound shocked."

"I am, a little. Most nobles who come to me with 'revolutionary' ideas haven't thought past the basic concept. This is..." He gestured at the folder. "This is ready for implementation."

Theodore smiled. "So you're interested?"

Einar considered his workshop. His debts. The chance to work on something truly unique rather than the same drab metalwork and fountain displays.

"I'm interested," he said. "Very interested."

***

The law required Patreon plug:

Patreon - /itsnectar