Now, in order to make use of this mana spring as a spot for supplying magic power, we need a magic generator. However, it’s quite an expensive thing, and requires special alloys. You need to do it this way, and that’s still difficult with the current situation. The magic equipment and buildings made by magic architecture in the royal capital wasn’t made by one magic architect alone. They also needed the help of the craftsmen. When my generation took over, the facilities were already in place to some extent, so I was able to get by, but the estimates I submitted, for example, clearly stated that I would request a dispatch of craftsmen from other countries. Not shady guys like that Abane Group. The reason I say “other countries” is because the craftsmen’s skill in the royal capital is the worst. They’re only slightly better than amateurs. In this case, the old guys doing this as a hobby here and there are maybe more preferable. It wasn’t like this in the previous king’s reign. There was also dwarf craftsmen as there wasn’t a slavery system. Speaking of dwarfs, there’s no race that’s better than them at blacksmithing. With their skills, construction work would definitely become easier. Although, the dwarfs in the country, or rather, the continent, seemed to all disappear one day. My master told me that was more than three generations ago. I don’t know what happened between the dwarves and the kingdom. Way back then is a different story from the current new king. Either way, we’re now on an island with all the fluffy guys, with one robust golem added, so anyhow, let’s just live a carefree DIY life with everyone. As expected, we don’t need a magic generator while we live like this, so no need to rush it. I thought about it because my line of work is that of a magic architect. Bad habit.
”Now, we ate our meal and I’m also satisfied with the mana spring. It’s about time we headed back.” ”Kyupi~♪”
”Unyu!” ”Koo~♪” ”Mogu-!” ”Mogu~”
”Mogyu♪” ”Mo~gu~” ”Mogu mogu♪” ”Go-!”
Yeah, looking at it like this, it feels like we’ve seriously come to the island, it’s getting pretty lively. Now then, I stood up and got in the excavator. Kobelco was going to follow after us, and we were thinking of returning like that when suddenly, a grasshopper-like creature showed up. Seems there were apparently monsters other than the armour. But this grasshopper’s body is frighteningly transparent.
”Mogu-!” ”Uni-!” ”Mogu-!” ”Unii!”
The well-informed Marbo’s words are conveyed to Uni.
”I-, it’s that!” ”You seem to know it, Marbo!”
Their conversation seems to be going something like that. Putting that aside, this monster is apparently called a Glasshopper, and seems to have a body made of glass. [TL: “R” and “L” would be spelt the same in Japanese, since they don’t have a letter dedicated to “L”, so “grasshopper” is actually spelt the exact same as “glasshopper”. I guess that’s this time’s pun.]
But this is perfectly timed. This glass can be used as a substitute for quartz as it is.
While I was thinking about this, poof!, and the monster disappeared from sight. Apparently, it seems this monster can adjust the light’s permeability to raise the transparency and disappear.
”Unii!” ”Kyupi~”
Uni and Keon were surprised. The moles were hurriedly looking around. Then a beam shot from our blind spot.
”Kyupi-!?” ”It’s fine.”
The beam hit the magic excavator and bounced off to the day after tomorrow. It was properly given reflective treatment. It can be turned on and off as I want. That’s why attacks with light aren’t a problem.
”Go-!”
On the other hand, Kobelco was hit all over, but as expected, he’s sturdy. It’s no big deal if he takes a few hits. But to think this monster would fire a beam.
”Mo~gu~?”
Iseki tilted his head worriedly. “Even if you say how ever many hits are fine, what’ll you do against an opponent you can’t see?” is what I guess he’s thinking.
”It’s fine. We have a radar here.”
My words wipe away the moles’ worry. The magic construction ship’s reliable radar can also be used by the excavator. When I asked for it in my head, a radar appeared between the levers. WIth this, even an invisible opponent’s location can be located.
”Kobleco! Diagonally to the right, behind you!” ”Go-!”
As Kobelco swung his arm in the direction I gave him, I heard the sound of the Glasshopper exploding. Then I also hit it with the excavator’s bucket, while relying on the radar. The beams were repelled, the location was identified, and the Glasshopper was splendidly defeated. The transparency of the defeated monster was lowered to the point where we could see it. This Glasshopper’s body will be useful as material, so I properly collected it. Alright, now we’ve more or less got all the materials.
”With just this, we should be able to get the cement we need. Once we have the cement, we can make the Mancrete.” ”Unii~”
Uni got on my knee and arm and pumped his fist in the air. He seemed to be saying “Yes!”, pleased.
Now, at any rate, we’ve achieved our goal, and I’ve properly memorised the location of this mana pool, so let’s all go back to the prefab…