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Chapter 15: Let’s Make Something
Posted bytheredsargeantJuly 25, 2020Posted inFun Territory Defense
Production magic is surprisingly useful.
There are an incredibly large amount of items that I want to create using it.
A fancy, decorated sword would be nice, and I would love to have a gun. Weapons are a man’s romance.
”
Van-sama, is your magic inexhuastible?”
Despite my lack of the above items, I was still able to huff proudly at the size of my existing collection. In my hands, I had created swords, spears, and even gun-like objects that were the size of toys to be held by a doll.
“It’s incredibly detailed
!”
“These will sell like hotcakes!”
The two of them look at the toy in my hand with a twinkle in their eyes. Even though they are made of wood, they look just like the real thing. Just not in terms of color. The texture is close to that of plastic, not at all like the typical grainy feel of wood.
Moving on from those toys, I attempted to make a sword about a meter long.
Despite not being made of metal, the blade’s edges are sharp, with little warping. It looks just like a Japanese sword.
”Ugh
!”
By the time the sword was finished, Kamsin was looking at it with a boyish glee on his face. No, well, he actually is a boy, though. (T.N. Note: 
ummmm. Well, I can’t pretend I didn’t see this
 Well then, time to change a lot of pronouns.)
“I’ll give this to you.”
Kamsin began to hyperventilate as I passed the sword over to him. He grinned as he held the sword in both hands while saying, “I’ll make it a family heirloom,”
Seeing this, Till looked at me with expectant eyes.
We stare at each other for a while, but eventually, I lose the contest. I pick up a single woodblock and pour my magic power into it while solidifying an image in my head.
“
Here, I’ll give this to you”
When I handed her the object Till faced turned into a complex mix of happiness and sadness.
“Ah, um
 thank you,”
“What? You don’t like axes? I made it look so strong
 it’s a weapon that can be used as a spear if you thrust and a hammer if you use the blunt side
” (T.N. Note: Note sure why you would be able to use an axe like a spear, but I guess I’m not the production magic user.)
I looked at Till tears in my eyes and saw a pitiful, dismayed girl making a conflicted expression.
“Ah, no, no, no! Jeez, I actually love this axe! Oh, how could I avoid falling in love with such a wonderful axe
!”
My tears quickly turn into smiles as I see Till happily rubbing her cheek on the axe.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Of course!”
Till made an enthusiastic response. I think I will make her some cute ornaments later. Though they will also be made of magic-made wood.
After I finished playing around, I came back to the village and found that the village was beginning construction on a new wall, starting from the front of the village. The gate was still there, but the walls around it have risen to be four meters in height.
“It’s amazing how much progress has been made in half a day.”
As I muttered about that and got off the carriage, Orto looked on in mute shock.
”Van-sama is one thing, but that butler is also quite unusual. To be able to use such large amounts of mana without rest, he has quite the large mana reserve.”
Although I’ve become known an abnormal person without my knowledge, I’m glad to be seen as an equal to Espada, despite having no magical talent.
“You’ll find that Espada is a capable steward. He’s an amazing person who has supported the Marquis family from the shadows.”
When I said that with my chest out, Pluriel looked at me with a questioning look.
”Even then, it still seems odd. If he was such a powerful magician, the army would have pulled him in. If he were to be classified by adventurer standards, he’d be top-ranked
”
“Well, it doesn’t matter, does it? I’m glad that Espada came with me, even though he said he was going to enter retirement. That’s why I’d rather look towards the future than be hung up on some nebulous past. It is good that Espada has aged well.”
I tried to stop them from prying into Espada’s past. Then I heard a voice from behind me.
“I suppose the joy of the twilight years of my life will be to see Master Van grow up.”
When I turned around, I saw Espada there with a warm smile on his face. A set of what looked like construction tools was held in his hand.
”What does that mean? Wait, wait a minute. I think it’s better to strengthen the defense of the village first. Oh, if we don’t reinforce that gate, the fence will be damaged
”
“If there is an attack today, I will fill in the gate with earth and build a wall around it. Now, even you don’t want to, you shouldn’t miss your lessons. This way, young master.”
He takes me by the hand and takes me with him. This no-questions-asked attitude is the difference between him and Dee. I slumped my shoulders in defeat, like a sad puppy left in the rain.
Incidentally, while I was miserably studying, Orto and other adventurers were getting all excited about Till and Kamsin’s weapons. What’s with this difference in mood?
After dinner, I was released after two hours of studying. I was lucky. Normally I would have to complete a full half-days worth of studying, but there was no time. The sun was going down and it was getting dark, and as oil was precious, they couldn’t afford to use it to slightly extend my studying hours.
“Hmmm. Hm. Hmm.”
Humming to myself, I walk through the village with Till and Kamsin in tow.
It’s quiet as almost all the villagers were asleep.
“Oh, Van. Where are you going?”
One of the adventurers on the night watch and calls out to me.
”Good evening. I’m here to reinforce the walls and doors.”
“What? It’s dangerous this late at night. I’ll follow you.”
The man replied in a worried tone. This small, overweight man is a scout and a trap-disarmer, despite his appearance. He is a goody-two-shoes, loves meat-loving, and is surprisingly good-natured.
“Do you have enough torches? Wait, erm, that’s not the point. I don’t think it’s easy to strengthen a door.”
There is probably not a single spot of malice in this jolly man’s body.
”I’m a production magician, you know.”
When I tell him that, Ksara blinks his eyes.
”Are you sure it’s okay to tell me that? That’s a secret, isn’t it?”
“Everyone knows already, so there’s nothing to keep quiet about. Besides, you’ve already seen the wooden blocks and the weapons Till and the others use.”
I answer with a laugh, and Ksara begins to start laughing as well.
“Oh, is that how it is? The two of your friends love the gifts you made for them. It might be a good time to test them out, they haven’t even swung them yet because they were afraid of breaking something you made for them. I personally think that it would be hard to break those study things even if they tried.”
Till and Kamsin avert their gaze from Ksara, who was laughing lightly, and to the weapons in their hands. I look at them and raise my eyebrows.
“I mean it is a weapon, so you should at least try it out. It would be a disaster if you can’t use it when you need to.”
As he said this, they looked at their own weapons with an end-of-the-world kind of look in their eyes.
”But
..”
“I couldn’t
..”
As they hesitated, Ksara chuckled and brought out a leather shield.
”How about hitting this. It’s the leather from an orc knight’s shoulder and back. It’s an excellent piece that is both sturdy and flexible.”
Looking at the blue leather shield that the adventurer proudly took out, Kamsin reluctantly held up his sword.
”Fine, okay. I’ll do it!”
He swung his sword lightly, taking great care to not damage the sword.
Ksara laughed at the half-hearted strike, but, as if mocking him, the sword passed through the shield as if it were slicing through thin paper.
”Huh?”
A piece of the leather shield, about a third of its total mass, rolls to the ground as Ksara shakes his head.
”Eh?”
I tilted my head, and Kamsin, his eyes round as a plate, looked at his sword.
”What was that?”
Till hesitantly looks down at the axe she is holding.
“Oh no, my leather shield! I just bought it!”
Ksara’s screams echoed through the nighttime village sky.