14xx7/30
182 days since arrival…
The metallurgy of this world is much simpler than I thought.
The normal ores here worked just like back home. The only difference was that each ore has a certain level of magic conductivity that allows it to be imbued with natural magic even before it was shaped into a weapon or something. For instance, gold. Gold are soft metal, softer that iron, yet their power dwarfs their normal iron counterpart. That was because gold has higher magic conductivity which allows the user's own strength to flow into the mineral, hence increasing their strength attribute.
For this reason, the whole weapon crafting scene in this place rely heavily upon the magic conductivity law rather than actual physic, hence altering the blacksmithing process entirely. The magic conductivity factor appears as soon as a mineral made contact with another magic-rich being. Like how plants absorb the sunlight to grow bigger and stronger, the minerals have the ability to absorb little by little the energy of the person's holding it, hence making it stronger than normal. Studies also shown that it doesn't even require that much magic energy to awaken their latent power. A little sip of the magic elixir in a human body and it'll automatically absorb the natural ki around the mineral itself.
The magic conductivity was the core concept of weapon crafting in this world. The main principles are simple; the higher the magic conductivity of an object is, the more powerful said object will be. An ore with high magic conductivity has a faster and stronger connection to the world's natural latent energy, giving unnatural strength to said ore. For example, crystals mined from the mountain creates a more powerful blade than a simple steel blade despite the crystal's chemical composition equivalent to obsidian.
My rifle is a special case. Due to its being a living being instead of being an ore turned into a weapon, it is capable of generating its own magic as well as receiving more magic to become stronger. Therefore, in an emergency I can borrow some of my rifle's magic energy to enhance my combat skills or simply endure more blows. Thankfully, I have first-hand experience with that principles. Unfortunately for me, it seems that she has been absorbing my magic more and more, thus depriving me of my more offensive skills.
A weapon with magic conductivity can also be upgraded, as in becoming stronger by altering the conductivity of said weapon to serve a more powerful purpose. For instance, if one wanted a lightning-based weapon, he should modify his weapon to be conductive to electrical power. Or if one is a pyromaniac at heart, he should modify it to be conductive to flames. Modifying the magic conductivity of any weapons is the key to not only strengthen a weapon, but to even change how it behaves and its characteristic!
It was fairly simple in restropective, very easy to play around with. It is highly modifiable, allowing any budding blacksmith to try their hand on enhancing weaponries. However, forging a weapon beyond the basic requires more than standard blacksmithing techniques and knowledge. For this reason, magical blacksmith is highly respected and soughted out for their ability to create magical weapons like the legend of old.
Papi knows how to make crystal, gold, iron and mithril dance in her claws, but she can't really imbue the weapon into much more powerful version of itself. She is a generalist, can do everything but never specialized in anything. A little bit like me in the past.
Projectile-based weaponries like guns are still under the magic conductivity law, so even if I made a fucking .50 rifle in this world it'll probably deal next to no damage to some higher tier monsters. If I want to keep my game up in this world I gotta learn how to imbue shit. None of these girls here knows how to blacksmith. Hell, none of them really have the knowledge to mass-produce anything in particular. Hand-crafted stuff is fine and all, but machine-stamping saves time more and stuff made from stamping is much cheaper to make by the bundle than artisan-made stuff. That's why MP40s are much more prevalent than the Thompson.
I can make a simple press in this place. The amount of metal and engineering would be enormous, but not beyond my usual capacity. The damned researchers here won't let me have a whiff at this place's supply though.
Hell, the only reason they tolerated me is because I know exactly what all these Makinas are and how it worked as well as how to make them. This place's culture emphasized too much on magic and heroes to do their work. A little bit like my old home, but at least the area was small enough for me to gradually change the culture.
Seriously, what happens if Luka fails in his quest? The armies suddenly drop the blade and bend over? I found myself asking that question again and again. What happens if Luka decided that he wanted to join the bad guys instead? There's a reason why I emphasized on weapons anybody can use!
I've talked to the leaders in the castle beside Luka of course. Strangely, the Medallion Queen also made her way here for some reason. Luka exchanged his medals in return of her being his companion. I asked her what kind of companion considering her beauty and her regal stature. She laughed it off and told me that she was simply another sword for the chosen one to choose.
Even Pope was there, the one from San Ilia. Turns out, the bombing was better than expected and he nearly died hence why most of his body was replaced with metal machines. He's a cyborg now! A fucking Robo-Pope! He joined Luka's party out of the mandate of his goddess Ilias. I asked him how did the people react to their beloved pope just up and leave the church like that.
He smiled and told me that the public can't even tell the difference between a clock and a statue.
I don't understand what he meant, that is until it hit me.
I felt stupid not knowing the difference between the robotic double and the real deal.
Robots exist in this place, the ones with actual free will and soul. Robots however can be manipulated unlike human being. Its appearance can be altered, their body changes. Despite most of this place here still stuck on the Medieval ages they actually have the capability of creating a robot with algorithm mimicking a human brain. Radio is a good example of that.
Robot can be manufactured, it can be programmed, and it can look any way you want.
That worries me more. Despite having technologies equivalent to the Renaissance era, they have access to high-tech robotic equipment that almost surpass the one back home! Pair that with their overwhelming magic capabilities I am worried if this world would invade our world if that happens. We fought off the demons with conventional weapons yes, but these people have the techs to create robots that can mimic a human being down to its mannerism and appearance. It means that they are capable of standing toe-to-toe with us if they wanted to fight.
This is serious. What is their real technological cap? Are they in the 20th centuries? The majority seems to be stuck in the Middle Age or the Renaissance, but why the hell does high-tech equipment exist in this place? Did all of them came from Tartarus Rift? How many of their high-tech equipment was homegrown instead of reverse-engineering from Tartarus Rift? What is their real technological power without the Rifts?
Granted, I have been spreading some part of our technologies in this world. But in my defence, I only gave them techs that are outdated or at their current technological level. Teaching them bullets is problematic alone, but it would take them a long time before they could surpass our firearm techs.
The Tartarus Rifts is more important than I expected. if they can produce techs that are much more advanced than our own then it is imperative that I should claim them for the researchers back home. I haven't seen anything beyond the 21st century equipment lying inside the rifts, but I can't take chances.
My smartphone is busted again (Wished I got Nokia 3310 instead…) and I'm not that good in making electronics. Mechanical stuff like guns and armour is my forte, but anything beyond a ham radio is out of my capability. Even the memory card is screwed as well. I was lucky I backed it up on PC back home, but I need a new smartphone. A camera is too clunky and a laptop is too fragile to be carried in the field.
Their store has no such things. They don't even know what a smartphone is. I have to hit up the Tartarus Rifts again to see if they belch out a new Samsung or something.
Oh yeah, I also need to build a machine press. I've been preoccupied with my studies that I kind of forgotten about it. However, the researchers told me that I need permission if I want to make one in the castle ground. Considering the attendance record of Luka in this castle I can safely say it will be faster for me to find Hito than wait for his blessings. He maybe the owner of this castle, but I serve the Scarlet Devil, not him. And I will do what has to be done.
After all, he can't protest if I build it outside of his castle no?
