A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 130

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“I have brought you some tea.”

Smith sat at a table, and a cup of tea was brought before him.

The man brought his own tea, too, and he sat down opposite of Smith.

“Thank you very much,” said Smith.

“No, no. It is just regular tea. Please make yourself at home.” 

Smith was at the magical goods shop, and before him sat the store’s owner, Taylor.

“By the way, was there a reason why you asked for me?” asked Taylor.

“Mmm, well, this may be inappropriate for me to ask of you. You looked willing to help me,” said Smith.

“Really? I hadn’t meant to change how I looked in any way,” said Taylor.

“Hah. Is that so? At least to me, today, you struck me as more proactive and refreshed than you did yesterday. I thought maybe something good happened to you, and I invited you to a cup of tea,” said Smith.

“I see,” said Taylor.

Smith looked around the shop and took a sip of his tea. He noticed Takeo’s rifle sitting atop another table.

“Is that Takeo-sama’s rifle?” asked Smith.

“Yes,” said Taylor.

“I believe you said… You were aiming to make a high-powered rifle?” asked Smith.

“Hmm? Did Kitamizato-san say something like that?” asked Taylor.

“Yes. He said he would be glad to find a gun where he wouldn’t have to put his faith in a bullet, but according to Takeo-sama, a high-powered rifle was well on its way,” said Smith.

“Hmm… Is that so,” said Taylor, crossing his arms and deep in thought, “I see. I suppose Kitamizato-sama’s saying, ‘As long as I’m touching it, it will get stronger’ meant that he was including this in his ways, as well,” said Taylor.

“What do you mean?” asked Smith.

“Well, this rifle, like I said before, has Kitamizato’s saying, ‘As long as I’m touching it, it will get stronger’ imbued into it. He himself said, ‘It’s meant to defend against my enemy’s sword’…”

“Ah… I don’t understand,” said Smith.

“Hah! Well, it’s an inside story between me and Kitamizato-san, I suppose. Oh, if you don’t mind – could you relay a message to Kitamizato-san for me?” asked Taylor.

“I don’t mind,” said Smith.

“Alright, then,” said Taylor, “Please tell him I said, ‘The refurbishment of your rifle will be finished in the afternoon today, and you can come for a test firing whenever you want.’”

“I will tell him,” said Smith.

“Shopkeeper Taylor, sir, are you-” began Smith.

“Taylor’s fine,” said Taylor.

“Thank you. Taylor, are you originally from this town?” asked Smith.

“Ah, I was born in a different village. I lived in the royal capital for quite a few years, too, but… Why do you ask?” said Taylor.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“Well, I was just thinking that this shop wasn’t here when I was little,” said Smith. 

Taylor smiled wryly upon hearing Smith’s words, and said, “It’s still a small shop, now, you know? It must be about three years ago that I started this business.”

“I see… This may be a bit unrelated, but, what is it like in the royal capital?” asked Smith.

“Are you interested in the royal capital?” asked Taylor.

“I’m going to enter a school dormitory there next year, and so… I wanted to know what it’s like,” said Smith.

“I see, well… That place has everything,” said Taylor.

“It really has everything?” asked Smith.

“Yes. The city is overflowing with things and people. The king is there, so it goes without saying, but people from all districts are gathered there,” said Taylor.

“I see… I don’t really want many things, and so… That doesn’t interest me,” said Smith.

“Hah! So, Smith, what are you interested in?” asked Taylor.

“Hmm… I don’t know. If I had to choose, I guess I would want enough knowledge to rival Takeo-sama,” said Smith.

“That’s probably impossible,” said Taylor.

“You say that so quickly… Would it really be that hard to achieve?” asked Smith.

“Well… Kitmaizato-san’s wisdom doesn’t come from knowing a lot of things,” said Taylor.

“Doesn’t come from knowing a lot of things?” asked Smith.

“That’s right. When it comes to the number of things he knows, he probably knows less than you, Smith-sama,” said Taylor.

“Really?” asked Smith.

“…I know you’ve spoken to Kitamizato-sama before, but, personally, I think where he shines is his unique way of thinking. Even if someone with a lot of knowledge came up with the ideas he comes up with, their knowledge would hold them back from executing those ideas. I guess I… When I look at this rifle, I wouldn’t even be thinking to refurbish it,” said Taylor.

“Is that so?” asked Smith.

“Yes, wisdom and experience are similar,” said Taylor, “For example… his rifle has been made to ‘perform something similar to magic for someone who is not a magic-user’.” 

“Yes,” said Smith.

“That idea in and of itself has existed since long ago. However, with enough knowledge and experience put together, one comes to the conclusion that it’s impossible,” said Taylor.

“Why is that?” asked Smith.

“The more you get to know about the magician’s guild and their system, you come to realize that you can’t just create magic like that. Not only that, you wouldn’t even know where to begin. Knowing that mages and their convenient ways exist, it would be a waste of time to attempt to create a weapon that mimics them,” said Taylor.

“I see,” said Smith.

“Even Kitamizato-sama said that the person who invented this rifle wasn’t right in the head. To say it in a different way, the person who came up with this rifle in the first place had the same kind of ingenuity that Kitamizato-sama has. However, Kitamizato-sama is different from that person in one way,” said Taylor.

“What could that be?” asked Smith.

“He’s discreet. He doesn’t really want the world to know about his ideas,” said Taylor. 

“Now that you mention it, Takeo-sama did say that he intended to use his findings for the benefit of the Elvis household,” said Smith.

“Usually, when someone becomes knowledgable, they want to show that off to the world. They want to show how much they know and how much more they can come up with,” said Taylor.

“Is it really like that?” asked Smith.

“Yes. That’s why everyone flocks to the capital. There lies all the important people, and things, and money, and knowledge… everything,” said Taylor.

“I see… Are there many prideful people there, then?” asked Smith.

Taylor smiled wryly.

“Have you changed your mind about wanting to go?” he asked.

Smith could only wryly smile back.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]