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It didn’t take as long to establish the shipyard as I had thought.

The existence of magical formulas and mana.

The support of the Great Mage Elena.

Around 1,700 workers dedicated to the task with all their passion.

And finally, the presence of a steel mill capable of mass-producing steel.

All these elements came together to create a miracle.

At last, we were able to set up the shipyard and begin the construction of the battleship.

“Thank you all for your hard work. This factory you see here, capable of building the world’s strongest battleship, has been created by your own hands. You should take pride in it.”

Edgar called all the workers together to acknowledge their contributions.

Fostering unity for a single goal.

The best way to inspire that was to instill a sense of pride.

To imprint in their minds that what they did benefited the nation, the territory, their families, and the future.

“From now on, there will be no more misfortunes and suffering of the past. Every member living in my territory will enjoy the most prosperous life in the history of the Empire.”

And Edgar made a promise to ignite the passion of the territory’s residents.

That now every member would live a prosperous life.

That no one would have to suffer from cold and hunger.

He presented a life that felt like a dream for all the commoners of this era.

“Fix!”

“Fix!”

“Fix!”

As the speech wrapped up, the name of the family echoed from all around.

Perhaps because they had suffered moments of pain that could lead one to the Demon Church, tears flowed from many eyes.

“Rest well today. From tomorrow, we will start the construction of the battleship.”

“Wahhhhh!!!”

Soon, Edgar granted a special bonus to the hardworking workers and treated them to food and drinks.

He opened the factory doors wide so the family members of the workers could also attend the party.

It was to clearly show the family what their husband and father had accomplished.

“Wow… You built this…?”

“Yep. That’s right!”

And the effect was certain.

The wives who were invited, along with their children, came to the shipyard, looking around with mouths agape in astonishment.

A sense of respect towards their husbands naturally welled up.

To think that their husbands played a part in building such an extraordinary structure from an alien civilization.

“All thanks to the lord. He is the god of blacksmiths.”

And the workers who had brought their families attributed the credit to Edgar.

After all, it was the lord who had given them jobs and food, guiding them to build this incredible factory.

“Shall we head to the party? Drinks and food are prepared inside the shipyard, so enjoy to your heart’s content.”

The workers quickly brought their families to the party.

The venue was filled with various drinks and luxurious foods.

Since it was a gathering to invite families, Edgar made sure to prepare the best food.

“This… this is…?”

“Hahaha. Enjoy as much as you like.”

Families who used to melt hard bread like bricks in boiling pig porridge every day.

Recently, they had been distributed quality food and no longer had to eat that brick-like bread, but the food at this party was on an entirely different level.

How could such delicious food exist in the world?

“Hahahahaha!”

Laughter filled the party.

Since the lord had come, good things had consistently happened in the territory.

Seeing his wife and child eating delicious food and smiling brightly felt like a dream, but it didn’t take long for that dream to come true.

Everything was thanks to the lord’s ability and drive.

“How amazing. Moments like this really do come in life.”

“Indeed.”

The workers were happier than ever.

They felt a solid sense of pride as providers for their families and could fulfill their duty as men.

It was about advancing civilization in line with the lord’s will.

This massive steel mill and shipyard became a source of pride and a symbol for the workers.

Realizing how blessed they were to be able to work here was something words couldn’t adequately express.

“Alright! Let’s have another drink!”

“Gra-ha-ha! Of course!”

Their night deepened.

***

Finally, the long-awaited moment had arrived.

It was time to construct the Dreadnought battleship.

I unfolded the blueprint of the Dreadnought battleship created based on holographic skills.

I showed it to the mid-level managers gathered in my classroom.

Their eyes widened in astonishment.

“Can we… really make this?”

“Of course.”

The textbook of battleships that renders all previously existing battleships as mere trash.

Named Dread (fear, dread) + nought (none, nothing).

Literally translated, it means “the one who has nothing to fear.”

“By building this ship, all the battleships of Clendor will become trash.”

The overwhelming technological gap.

No matter how many magical formulas were stacked, they could never reach this level.

The HMS Dreadnought that ushered in the era of battleship dominance.

I began explaining the structure of the Dreadnought using a 3D hologram.

As a result of my daily mechanical engineering lectures, they had become somewhat capable of following along.

“First, let me explain the main facilities of the battleship.”

The main facilities of a battleship typically include the control room, boiler room, ammunition depot, and main gun turret.

I briefly described the roles and functional structures of these facilities before moving on.

If I were to delve into the details, it would become an endless lecture, so I provided just enough information for them to grasp the concepts.

“Next…”

I then began sharing the components of the battleship.

Before explaining operational principles or mechanical structures, they needed to understand what the overall structure of the battleship was like and familiarize themselves with the names of each structure.

Thus, I explained the hull axis, propeller, keel, armored deck, torpedo protection, bulkhead, mast equipment, piping, fire control center, steam pipes, rotary power unit, wind vane, gun control room, bridge, elevator, guide pulley, rope storage area, concentrated defensive zone, and so on, briefly describing their functions.

“………”

However, that alone caused most of the attendees to become slack-jawed.

Only the club members who had built up resistance to my engineering and physics lectures looked at me with bright, eager eyes.

‘Looks like I need to make them engineers.’

And at that moment.

I made a resolution.

To use them as mechanics.

They would need to understand the structure and operational principles of battleships to become mechanics.

“From now on, we will split into two groups for the class.”

Thus, I decided to gather the club members for special training.

Meanwhile, the remaining mid-level managers would receive education to grasp the general operational principles and methods of the battleship.

The others, unfamiliar with modern engineering, struggled to keep up with the lectures.

“Now, we will proceed with the firing test.”

It was about two weeks after we started ship construction and had night classes simultaneously.

Finally, the turret was completed.

It was time to conduct the firing test for the 12-inch (304.8mm) Mk.10 dual-purpose turret.

However, this turret was not yet mounted on the battleship.

Currently, components were being assembled piece by piece, and it would take more time for the ship to be fully completed.

So, we decided to test the performance of the finished turret first.

We moved the several-ton turret with a construction robot and placed the target at maximum distance.

The target was the deck of a Clendor battleship, which had been reinforced with a magical formula to maximize its defense.

In other words, it was set to possess the maximum defense that a Clendor battleship could have.

“Fire.”

After setting the target, I gave the firing command.

In an instant, a thunderous booming sound erupted from the cannon, accompanied by white and black smoke, and the target that was left there for testing…

-Kwaziziziziz!

Was blown into pieces, disappearing without a trace.

As expected, it shattered spectacularly.

-M-Mad…

-What in the world is this weapon…?

-It’s just going to tear everything apart…?

The workers witnessing this scene stared vacantly between the turret and the destroyed target.

It seemed they finally began to grasp what they were creating.

“Let’s get to work! We’ll return to the site immediately!”

Feeling the power of the cannon, the excited workers quickly began to head back to the site.

And then, the princess, who had been quietly watching next to me, suddenly spoke up.

“I’m glad you possess great ambitions.”

…Ambitions, you say?

As I looked at the princess with a puzzled expression, she spoke with glimmering eyes.

“If you had ambitions for power, I would have no choice but to deal with you. But you’re not interested in power at all.”

“………”

Well, that’s true.

If I had harbored any futile thoughts, the royal family would have discreetly removed me by now.

The palace’s ability to read people’s hearts is profound.

“Perhaps I should consider an engagement with you.”

The next statement she made was unexpected.

An engagement?

Noticing my bewildered expression, the princess smirked and elaborated.

“Your suit is already at a dangerous level. If your city, navy, and personal troops continue to grow like this… you’ll inevitably get caught up in a power struggle, regardless of your intentions. If you were to connect with one of the grand duke houses, you would gain influence that could challenge the royal family.”

…Has the realization of the turret’s power made me thoughtful?

The princess, unusually serious, wore a grave expression.

Then she continued.

“In other words, you’ve become someone whom I cannot leave unchecked. To maintain a stable regime under the name of Orsserk, the only options are to absorb or eliminate you.”

“………”

…That’s true.

Historically, a number one cannot tolerate a number two, and a number two must surpass a number one to survive.

Only a powerful, singular leader can ensure the stability of a regime.

“That’s why you decided to assign the ownership of the battleship to the royal family.”

However, I, concerned about this, chose to transfer the ownership of the battleship to the royal family.

In return, I would hold the leasing rights and operational rights for five years.

“Indeed. But it seems that the princess has realized something. Your true power is not this battleship, but the people you have creating the battleship.”

The princess said this while observing the busy workers.

Her gaze fell upon the construction robots actively working alongside the workers.

Then the princess turned to me, her eyes gleaming.

With a penetrating gaze, she spoke.

“You can create that city you envision with them. However, once that city is completed, your influence will become a threat to the royal family. The Emperor’s top officials will not sit idly by and watch…”

The princess spoke this, then rubbed her temples.

Perhaps her head was throbbing as she frowned deeply.

Her eyes, too, had dimmed.

“Sigh… It’s always exhausting to deal with you. There’s so much more hidden than what is visible.”

Then she muttered something incomprehensible.

More things are hidden than what’s visible?

What could be hidden?

“Anyway, if you want to complete that city, you’re going to need to prepare to be engaged to me. Otherwise, there’s no way you’ll be accepted.”

Yet, the princess continued discussing the engagement as if it were just a matter of course.

She spoke as if her feelings were not particularly important.

So, I asked her about her personal feelings regarding our engagement, excluding the political considerations.

Whether marrying me would be emotionally okay for her.

“Of course. In a world full of fakes… someone like you… hmm… is only half a fake.”

Saying this, the princess turned her magical eyes back on.

She frowned as she continued.

“Or maybe… I have a feeling you might be similar to my sister… But it’s so vague that I can’t be sure…”

With her red eyes darting around, the princess scrutinized me.

Eventually, her gaze returned to its original color.

Her magical eyes extinguished.

The princess said.

“The fact that you might be real. That’s enough. If you’re genuine, you’d be the perfect match for me. At that point, I would throw away the ‘Princess’ facade.”

Throwing away the facade of the princess.

In other words, she intends to reveal her true self.

The spoiled princess Sephilia.

‘That’s a bit…’

I broke into a cold sweat.

A princess who clings to me and acts cute at any time.

Of course, it’s cute, but if she clings to me with Elena’s intensity…

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

“Khuhum.”

Did she read my thoughts?

As she puffed her lips with her magical eyes lit, the princess said.

“I possess many facets. I can change according to the relationship. If you’re ‘real’ and are willing to marry me…”

Her face flushed red.

She turned her head as she said.

“You are my destiny. The only man I want to love is you.”

The princess said this and cleared her throat unnecessarily.

Then, leaving me with a warning to contemplate our engagement, she turned away.

I found myself deep in thought, watching the departing princess.

‘So that’s how the princess route opens…’

The princess, Sephilia, was one of the formal candidates for the heroine in El Pandor Runtera.

Yet, I had never once opened that route.

I had no idea what the conditions were.

‘I didn’t expect that it was about becoming a powerful figure capable of threatening the royal family…’

And just now, I learned the conditions.

To become a power that the royal family cannot dispose of without taking it in.

That was the key to unlocking the Sephilia route.

…I have a feeling that there will be unusual events ahead that I have never experienced before.

 

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