Chapter 39

The next day, Davis boarded the Dreadnought.

Accompanied by several hundred sailors and a hull full of supplies, he set sail under the watchful gaze of the Ironwood leadership. The massive warship cut through the waves, heading southeast.

This voyage served a dual purpose sea trials for the new vessel and the opening of a trade route to the Balan Empire.

With the launch complete, the team enjoyed a two-day break before throwing themselves back into new projects.

Freya dove into the research of heavier artillery and aerial bombs. For some reason, the little girl had developed a fanatical obsession with explosions.

Minister Speer returned to his workshops to design new industrial machinery.

And Clyris was assigned a new research topic.

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The Magic Research Center.

"Miss Clyris, is 'Elemental Vision' truly a privilege reserved solely for High-Rank supernaturals?" Charlo asked, leaning over her desk.

"Of course. Without resonating with the elements, how can one perceive the fluctuation of mana? Elemental Vision isn't actually 'seeing' with your eyes; it is sensing the flow of mana in nature to determine if something supernatural is present."

Clyris explained patiently, using an analogy. "In the natural environment, mana flows from high concentration to low concentration. It is smooth and continuous, like a great river. Ordinary humans, animals, and objects absorb mana, but the amount is negligible—like tiny ripples in the river that do not affect the main current."

"But a supernatural entity... even the lowest First-Rank Knight... has been refined by potions and breathing techniques. Even if they can't control it, their body naturally devours ambient mana. They are like whirlpools in the river, swallowing the water."

"The higher the rank, the more mana they absorb, and the larger the whirlpool. Once someone reaches the High Ranks, they become a abyss. They distort the flow of mana for kilometers around them. To someone with Elemental Vision, they are blindingly obvious."

"That is the principle of Elemental Vision."

Charlo frowned. He pulled a stack of blueprints from his bag. "Then, can you look at this device? Do you think it would work?"

"Let me see..."

Clyris took the papers and studied the strange device depicted on them.

It was an ingenious concept. It generated something called "electromagnetic waves," emitted them into the air, and used the reflection (echo) from objects to determine the surrounding environment.

Radar.

But regrettably...

"It won't work," Miss Demon Lord stated bluntly.

"Eh?!" Charlo blinked.

"This is knowledge from your 'Otherworld' as well, isn't it?"

Though phrased as a question, she looked at him with certainty.

"Yes! So, what is the problem?" Charlo admitted frankly.

"It is truly a marvelous idea. Perhaps in that world, it was perfect. But in this world, it is useless."

"Why?" Charlo couldn't help but ask.

"I told you just now—mana in this world flows," Clyris explained. "Mana is a potent form of energy. It permeates the environment and affects all things."

"In this environment, these 'electromagnetic waves' would be disturbed, scattered, and distorted by the natural background radiation of mana. The signal you get back would be a chaotic mess of static. You wouldn't be able to distinguish a mountain from a cloud."

"Then can we improve it?" Charlo pressed. "For example, use this mechanism as a base but modify it to detect mana flow instead? An artificial Elemental Vision?"

"You make it sound so simple," Clyris rolled her eyes. "Tell me, then: how do you make a cold machine possess a soul capable of resonating with the elements?"

"Ah, this... I'm just a Third-Rank Mage and a Fifth-Rank Knight. In terms of magic theory, how could I compare to a Ninth-Rank Grand Magus like you?" Charlo scratched his head.

"Wait a moment..." Clyris suddenly realized something. "You are a Third-Rank Mage now? I thought you were Second-Rank?"

"Oh, that. I advanced recently."

"You mean... you neglected your Knight training to focus on magic?" She frowned, her voice rising in pitch.

"Yes. I realized that compared to being a Knight, being a Mage is much more convenient for research and manufacturing."

"Preposterous!" Clyris scolded him. "Cultivation requires focus! You should only switch paths when you have hit an absolute wall, and even then, only to assist your main path. You are putting the cart before the horse!"

"But..."

He tried to argue, but Clyris cut him off rudely.

"But what?! Do you think you are a Hero? Do you think that just because you have an Otherworldly soul, you received a Blessing upon arrival? Trying to cultivate both paths before reaching High Rank will only cause the energies to conflict. You will end up blocking both roads!"

"What?" Charlo asked, surprised. "Otherworldly souls get a Blessing when they arrive?"

"Of course! Otherwise, why do you think the Hero can wield two Authorities?" Miss Demon Lord said as if it were common knowledge.

"Wait. Then what about the Demon Lord? Why can the Demon Lord also use two Authorities? Don't tell me the Demon Lord is an isekai protagonist too?"

Charlo looked at her with a strange expression.

"Of course not. The 'Power of the Demon Lord' is, fundamentally, a fragment of the Demon God's power. When a Demon Lord dies, the power dissipates. A thousand years later, it re-converges on a new individual, crowning them as the new King. Using this power places no burden on the user because it is external."

"In other words... the power actually belongs to the Demon God. The Demon Lord just has a 24-hour rental agreement?"

Charlo’s mouth twitched, seemingly amused by his own analogy.

"Hmm... A strange way to put it, but... accurate," Clyris mused. It certainly sounded better than "Claw of the Demon God."

"Enough! Back to the main topic!"

Clyris looked at him sternly. "From now on, your cultivation must return to the Knight's path. I am not saying you must stop magic completely, but the Knight's path must be the priority! Do you understand?!"

"Okay, okay... I promise. Happy now?" Charlo raised his hands in surrender.

"Don't try to slack off. I will be watching you," she glared at him.

"Ah..." Charlo sighed, then looked at her with puppy-dog eyes. "So, please... this detector is really important. Can you research it a bit more? Please?"

Seeing his dejected appearance, Clyris felt her resolve soften.

"Fine, fine. Look at you, acting like a kicked puppy. Put the blueprints away. I agree to help."

"Really? Thank you so much, Miss Clyris!" Charlo's face instantly lit up with a grin.

Accepting this "impossible" problem came with a price.

"I have absolutely no ideas..."

Miss Demon Lord slumped in her laboratory chair, her face a mask of exhaustion.

"Damn it. I shouldn't have sympathized with him. That bastard!" Clyris gritted her teeth, feeling a mix of annoyance and regret.

But reflecting on it... even if she could choose again, she would likely still agree.

Not for him. But to protect this... Utopia of the Common Folk.

She knew she had no right to use such a lofty word, but she genuinely cared about this place. She didn't want to see it destroyed.

She wanted to see it. She wanted to see the society of his dreams come to fruition.

A world where no one becomes a slave.

A world where no one loses everything for no reason.

A world where everyone lives with dignity, where no one has to sell their home, their children, their wife, or their parents just for a mouthful of food.

Current Ironwood had basically achieved this.

But Ironwood was too small. A mere Viscountcy with a few tens of thousands of people. It was weak. Any Earl could mobilize an army to crush this fledgling paradise.

The "Radar"—this device to detect enemies early—was essential for its survival.

So... I cannot give up.

She would be the shield of this city.