Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 196

Fulam and I took the I-rank promotion exam at the Crafter’s Guild and passed with flying colors.

It’s a shame for Fulam, who studied so hard, but the I-rank promotion exam was like elementary school level for me, so I had plenty of room to spare.

Apparently, guests used to get promoted to B-rank in a few days, and Sayuri (Female) climbed to S-rank Crafter in about ten days.

Fulam, who also studied diligently, has also earned the qualification for the C-rank promotion exam.

Fulam, a hard worker, will likely be promoted to S-rank Crafter in no time.

“Hey, congratulations on your promotion to I-rank Crafter.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”

After the exam and completing the procedures for our promotion to I-rank, Fulam and I were summoned by Laberna.

I wondered what it was about, but Prim and the others were also there, and it seemed Fiana was the main speaker, so they were likely discussing and consulting about the metal ship.

We had talked about that this morning.

“I heard from Fiana that you’re going to build a ship using metal. Do such things really exist in your world?”

Ah, so that’s the question.

Not just Fiana, but Ed and Marina were also skeptical until I showed them a warship with an Engraving Tool, so this is understandable.

“Yes, they do. In my world, environmental destruction, rather than forests, is a major concern, so we rarely use wood for transportation anymore.”

There’s also a lot of aluminum alloy.

Helios Orb doesn’t have aluminum, but I feel like Magic Silver plays that role.

“I see, unnecessary deforestation.”
“The problem is that it can’t be said to be entirely unnecessary. We also conduct afforestation, but since Earth doesn’t have Tree Magic, it takes decades for trees to be ready for felling.”

Although not as much as in the past, environmental issues are still in the news.
There also seem to be depleted resources, and some theories suggest this was a distant cause of the Third World War.

“So, metal, huh? Your world seems quite challenging.”
“It’s more than just ‘quite.’ And by asking me about it, you mean Fiana reported to you, right?”
“Yes. I heard that even though it’s a small ship, it didn’t sink even with three people on board.”

When you spread iron thinly and increase its surface area, it becomes more susceptible to buoyancy.
So, even with the same mass, it floats on water. I explained this, and they were very convinced.
My knowledge only goes this far, but since it actually works, this much is enough.

“I see. If such large ships can be put to practical use, we should be able to do it here too. I’ve heard Fiana is also experimenting, so let’s try making a prototype here as well.”
“Please do.”

This certainly helps.
Fiana’s small boat was well-made, but she said that a professional shipwright could make it better, and since shipwrights will actually use it, there’s no point in evaluating it without them trying.

“And Fiana, in this case, you will be the developer.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Even if it’s small, it’s natural since you’ve proposed making a prototype, isn’t it? Moreover, you’ve even suggested using Melting and Deforming. The prototype should be ready in a few days, so I’ll call you again when it’s finished.”

Indeed, I suggested it, but that’s all I did.
Ed was the same, so I expected Fiana would be too.
Therefore, Fiana also seemed to be somewhat prepared.

“Understood.”

With Ed as a precedent, Fiana is quite resigned.
So, the Crafter’s Guild rank promotion exams for Fulam and me, the Crafter registration for Fiana and Reina, and the report and consultation about Fiana’s metal ship are all completed.

After this, I plan to guide Fiana and Reina to Feel. However, before that, at Fiana’s request, we are going to the Priests’ Guild.
Apparently, Connecting might not be able to fully support the weight of the Beast Carriage itself.

Of course, it’s not confirmed yet, and it was only confirmed during a prototype of a prototype, so it might be different. However, even the doubt alone causes hesitation in using it.
Therefore, Fiana is considering chanting a new magic, taking my advice into account.

Leaving the Crafter’s Guild, we arrived at the Priests’ Guild with Fiana and Reina, being guided to Feel in a Beast Carriage pulled by Jade.

“Right, I’ll try it.”

After stating our business at the Priests’ Guild and being shown to the ritual chamber, Fiana immediately offered a prayer to the statue of the goddess of magic.

“It’s been chanted.”
“Yes. The magic’s name is Locking. It’s classified as Supplication Magic.”

The new magic is Supplication Magic, Locking.
Its effect is the fixing of different objects, but judging from the name, it would be a locking magic.
However, if it’s locking, it should be able to fix not only house or shop locks but also the Beast Carriage itself placed on the vehicle or ship’s hull.
It was originally intended for such purposes.

“That’s great. I’ve managed to chant the magic I envisioned.”
“Chanting magic, Big Sis, you’re amazing!”
“Thank you, Reina.”

Not only Reina but Fiana also looks happy.
Moreover, since it’s classified as Supplication Magic, anyone can use it.
It will likely be easy to incorporate into magic tools, so house and shop locks are likely to transition to being enhanced with Locking.
I could use it myself, but it might make unlocking troublesome.
It’s fine if you live alone.
It might also be possible to add locks to Mirror Bags and Storage Bags.

“By the way, Yamato, Fulam. How did the T-rank job go?”
“We’ve delivered it. Right, Fulam.”
“Yes. We wouldn’t have received the exam qualification if we hadn’t delivered it at least once.”

I answered Ludia’s question, but the T-rank Crafter job is delivering ten iron ingots or five tanned hides of T-rank monsters, so it’s not that difficult.
Fulam and I chose to deliver iron ingots.
While we can hunt T-rank monsters quickly, tanning hides takes several days even with the Craft Magic known as tanning.
So, while not exactly easy, iron ingots are easier to make quickly.
In fact, we finished them quickly, so Fulam and I delivered fifty each.

“So that’s how it was for the T-rank delivery.”
“Yeah. By the way, to get the C-rank exam qualification, it’s twenty iron ingots or ten tanned hides of T-rank monsters.”
“I don’t know if that’s why, but I got the C-rank exam qualification.”

Even if I delivered a lot at the T-rank stage, it doesn’t count if it wasn’t delivered after reaching I-rank, so normally it shouldn’t be evaluated.
However, both Fulam and I passed the exam with almost perfect scores. I am an Ancient Human, and Fulam is a High Undine, so we have more Mana than Dragonians and Fairies. Thus, we can make dozens of iron ingots.
Moreover, there are apparently only about ten High Crafters, including Sayuri, so the examiners told me to get promoted quickly directly.

“Ah, Yamato-san and Fulam-san, you weren’t aware of that part, were you?”
“Aware of what?”

Fiana, having been Laberna’s secretary, is knowledgeable about promotion exams.
However, neither Fulam nor I have any idea what she’s referring to.

“Up to B-rank, High Crafters are exempted from delivery. Even Ogres, who are said to have low total Mana, become superior to Dragonians and Fairies when they evolve into High Class. Furthermore, Yamato-san, as a guest and an Ancient Class, you are likely causing the Crafter’s Guild to worry about what to do.”

No way?
No, I do remember the receptionist being surprised when I made the delivery, but I just thought it was because I had prepared so many right after registering.

“I think that’s part of it too. It’s common for the first delivery to take a week after registration, and even then, it’s not uncommon to fall short of the required amount. Yet, not only did Yamato-san and Fulam-san craft them beautifully, but you also delivered a quantity exceeding that of high-rank Crafters, so naturally, people are surprised.”

I feel like they’re indirectly saying we’re not normal, but considering the current situation where there are only a few High Crafters, Ancient Human and High Undine are indeed unusual.
In reality, we didn’t make them all at once, but both Fulam and I had plenty of Mana to spare.

“H-High Class is amazing, isn’t it?”
“Reina, Yamato is an Ancient Human, so he’s even more amazing.”

Prim and Mana aren’t surprised at all, but Fiana’s younger sisters are.
This pure reaction feels somewhat fresh.

“Don’t talk about it like it’s someone else’s business. You’ve also become Crafters, so you need to do your jobs properly, right? When you return to Alka, try making at least one iron ingot.”
“Ehhhhhhhh?”
“So soon? We don’t even know how to do it yet!”
“Of course, I’ll support you.”

Fiana might be surprisingly strict.
After registering as a Crafter, people usually study from textbooks before working, but starting to work immediately without reading a textbook sounds too harsh.

“It’s better to learn by doing. Besides, aren’t you learning a little from your Father?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“B-but in the village, Father’s materials were taken away too…”

Fiana froze at her sisters’ words.
They took Dusk’s materials too?
No, that’s practically a crime.

“More and more charges are coming out.”
“Yeah. Even if outsiders rarely visit the village, this is too much.”

Lydia and Ludia are also grimacing, but it’s truly terrible.
Fiana says nothing like this happened until she was bought out, but it makes you wonder what happened afterward.
It’s unlikely Fiana and Reina would know, and Dusk himself might not even know.

“Once the issue with Valentia is resolved, I’ll go to Rorie Village again. This time, without hiding my identity.”
“I’ll go too.”

Indeed, Mana and Prim are furious and say they’ll go again without hiding their identities.
For the princess of Amister and a former ducal daughter of Valentia, even in decline, to visit a normal village would be a huge event.
No, it’s more accurate to say the Hydransia Dukedom was framed for an innocent crime rather than fallen.
I don’t know when the issue with Valentia will be resolved, and I don’t know if Rorie Village will still be there by then.

“Wouldn’t they just self-destruct if left alone? The ugly side of the villagers has been revealed, and Fiana’s family, who were the targets of their resentment, are gone now.”
“Ah, that’s possible too.”
“If that happens, fine by me. Well, that Village Chief will desperately cling to life.”

That’s certainly undeniable.

“Fiana, what do you want to do?”
“As for me, I don’t really care. If it perishes, it perishes, they brought it upon themselves.”

Besides, Fiana herself is completely indifferent.
It’s understandable since she was betrayed by the people of Rorie Village whom she trusted.
I think it might be okay to help the younger children, at least.
They were probably fed lies by their parents, and the children who were friendly with Fiana and her sisters were bewildered.
Of course, as for their parents, especially the Village Chief who likely took the lead in tormenting Fiana’s family, I don’t care what happens to them.
However, the rift between Fiana and them likely won’t be mended, so it’s irresponsible, but I’ll think about it if there’s an opportunity to visit Rorie Village.