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The invention of a certain dwarf, who did not reveal his name, sent shockwaves through the dwarf community.

“Whoa… It really works. I can’t believe mixing silver with brass and a bit of potion could lead to such an improvement…”

At the end of the simple magic circuit, a huge flame blazed brightly.

To produce a flame of this magnitude with conventional magic circuits, one would need a mana stone of considerable size and quality. But now, this was being achieved with a mana stone less than half that size.

“This… might be called a revolution in magic circuits.”

The dwarf said this with a smile, continuing to watch the flickering flame, which eventually dwindled and flickered out after a long time.

The magical power in the mana stone had run out.

“If I can create a flame like this with a small mana stone for this long… it might be possible to commercialize the mana furnace that was discarded due to cost issues.”

The dwarf smiled. A hot flame made purely from magical power. If he could create a mana furnace using that flame, he could melt metals that couldn’t be melted with the existing flames.

“Father… I think I finally found a way to melt this.”

The special metal, which could only be coated with soot when using firewood or coal, was once mined by his father, a renowned dwarf miner, but no one could melt it, so it was merely considered a pretty ore.

The silver ore, mutated due to the influence of magic… mithril.

If he could melt this metal with a mana furnace and create magical tools…

He could fulfill the dream of becoming a Dwarf Grandmaster.

“Before that, I need to invent a mana furnace using the improved magic circuit and file for a patent.”

Other dwarves were likely thinking the same. Enhancing the furnace and smelter would bring great glory.

Only the fastest dwarf would claim that glory.

So, there was no time to hesitate.

“I need to hurry…!”

And with that, the dwarf rushed to prepare documents, all the while replacing the mana stone attached to the trial magic circuit to ignite a new flame and begin collecting experimental data.

To complete the invention using the new magic circuit faster than anyone else.

When he approached the Dwarf Grandmaster with the invention for the new mana furnace, he was met with disappointment by the announcement that items merely replacing the magic circuit of existing inventions would not be registered.

—–

The new magic circuit brought a huge shock to dwarf society.

By adding a bit of reagent to an alloy of silver and brass, they found they could create a new magic circuit with nearly double the efficiency of pure silver. This was something unimaginable for dwarves fixated on metals.

In truth, he merely hinted at the most efficient but cheapest materials suitable for magic circuits… but hey, good news is good news, right?

So, the dwarves began making various items using the improved magic circuits.

Alright. Just as planned.

Among the items the dwarves were making, the tools that injected magical power using mana stones had severe limitations because of the mana stones serving as fuel.

To achieve high output, one needed to use large, high-quality mana stones, which were not only rare but also exorbitantly priced.

The cost of materials was a world apart from the magic scrolls made by grinding small mana stones and mixing them with ink.

But with this new magic circuit, if the efficiency was increased more than double! It could replace the one-use scrolls!

Of course, it would be slightly more expensive than scrolls, but as long as they were maintained regularly and the appropriate mana stones were replaced, they could be used continuously! The single-use nature of scrolls couldn’t be compensated for, no matter the means!

If the dwarven-crafted items started to eat into the market once dominated by scrolls… the cocky fools of Procyon, who flaunted their wealth, would get a taste of something quite spicy.

Additionally, the price of mana stones was somewhat raised… something that might seem trivial to Procyon, viewing it as a small protest, would become a major issue once dwarven products began taking their market share.

In the face of a powerful rival like the dwarven magical tools, if the price rise became an obstacle they thought was minor… it would be amusing.

Of course, Procyon would have no idea that all of this was part of my plan. No one aside from the High Priest of the Church of Life would know.

I slightly twisted the sequence, making it even less understandable.

So, how will Procyon withstand this attack? Or rather, can they withstand it?

I wonder if anyone can endure having their money flow cut off.

Once they feel the pinch and are pressed from all sides, I’ll just stretch my hand out to impose various regulations and loosen their grip just a bit.

What? It’s not like I’m such a harsh god. I just won’t meddle as long as they keep to a reasonable line.

—–

But that’s what I thought.

“Wow… these guys are something else…”

Procyon exceeded any expectations I had.

Due to the dwarven magical items, the main source of income for Procyon—scroll sales—was cut in half.

When compared to the hefty price of a one-time-use scroll, the dwarven magical tools, while slightly more expensive, could be used repeatedly as long as you replaced the mana stone!

Among them, the dwarven lighter became an essential item for adventurers camping out, and word of its usefulness spread amongst the general public, leading to the realization of “one lighter per household.”

After all, it must be quite a hassle to start and maintain a fire otherwise. Why wouldn’t you use something so convenient that ignites with just a click?

Not to mention, they aren’t even wizards.

Besides that, there were items like the purification pouch that turned any water into clean drinking water, or the magic freezer that cooled the temperature inside boxes to make storing meat or fish easier.

Dwarven products began selling at cheaper prices than before the magic circuit improvement.

It was only natural since they had solved the biggest problem regarding the stable supply of mana stones.

Anyway, with the dwarven goods flying off the shelves, Procyon slowly started to feel the crunch…

Hmm. Well… it’s hard to say if this is really the right move…

In the name of giving wizards practical experience, they started making them work as adventurers.

Wait, are you serious? Wizards? Thanks to Sia’s book, the number of wizards did increase, but isn’t it the case that noble families only have one or two as retainers at most?

Sending those wizards on adventures… what the hell are they thinking over there in Procyon?

No matter how strapped for cash they are, sending wizards to work as adventurers? It was something I honestly couldn’t have imagined.

Of course, it’s undeniable that a wizard’s magic is powerful.

Even the simplest attack spell, the mana pellet, could end the breath of any decent monster with a well-aimed strike at the weak spot.

Though even if it’s not a weak spot, injuring it shouldn’t be difficult.

Moreover, once they developed the skill to imbue properties into mana pellets, it became plain scary.

The lethality of property mana pellets, armed with substance rather than just causing shock, reached dangerous levels even when not aimed at weak spots.

Ahem. In any case, Procyon seemed to show a movement to offset their financial losses by sending their affiliated wizards on adventures.

Those beings being sent out weren’t even long after qualifying as wizards in Procyon. They weren’t particularly talented or born from a wealthy background, just mediocre talents that led them to become wizards.

They were forced to become adventurers.

After learning basic combat magic and receiving some training, they were given the Basic Theory of Magic by Cientia and other prerequisite magic texts, and relied on a staff for five years of their adventuring lives.

Having basic magic and a bit of training, they ended up as wandering mage adventurers, bound by contracts that required half their earnings to be sent back to Procyon each month.

The wizards, unable to escape from the bonds of that contract, were labeled “slave mages” by Procyon’s wizards.

Um… this feels oddly familiar… it’s dangerous, despised, and when it comes to equipment or training, they have it rough unless they’re gifted or have connections… Ugh…

It’s like an army… this, isn’t it…?

Who on earth thought up such a cruel system!!! Not even human!!!!

I could only cover my eyes with my hands in the presence of such distilled human malice.

 

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