NOVEL NEXT Chapter 80
“…Am I still half asleep?”
“Well, then just go inside and sleep. I have more work to do-”
“What on earth did you do overnight?”
Renny’s gaze was glued to the building I had made myself—though I borrowed the help of my crafting skill. Is it shocking? I just made a decent workspace. My superior, with charming brown skin, looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
“I told you. I said I would make a workshop.”
“No, I know that… but you built this in one day?”
“Of course.”
Renny opened the door to my new workshop and stepped inside. It was intentionally large, spacious enough, I’d say, about 30 pyung. With my nearly nonexistent knowledge in architecture, it was just a rough estimate.
When I was making the building, I simply sketched out a rectangular shape and used my skill to put it together piece by piece. Design plans were merely a concept in my head. Building structures wasn’t something I had done just once or twice.
“Wow, it’s big… You really made this in one day? It has everything!”
“It’s simple if you have the materials.”
“Where did you get the materials?”
“There’s always a way.”
There was the undiscussable cooperation of a thieving cat involved. I expanded an old burrow to create a passage, and Sif helped pull in carts of materials through it all night long. Sif’s complaints from the hard labor were silenced with three gold coins.
Having her reach for more tasks was a very desirable worker quality. I’ll have to push her around like that next time too.
Money really is the best.
“Johann, what’s this?”
At Renny’s question, I snapped back to reality and looked at the item she was pointing at.
A wheel. But it didn’t look like the usual wooden wheels.
Instead of wood, it was made of iron, covered with rubber. I tried to create a modern tire, but it was beyond my skill. I probably lacked the ability to process rubber into the desired shape. If I couldn’t make it myself, my skill wouldn’t help either.
Really, what a fitting use of trashy skills.
“It’s a wheel.”
“A wheel made of iron? Why?”
“I need it to make a chair for Karina.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re making…”
How do I explain the concept of a wheelchair? I organized my thoughts in my head and explained it to Renny. She tilted her head as she listened, but when I summed it up with, “It’s a chair that moves easily to carry Lady Karina around,” she nodded.
“If that’s the case, do you need anything else? It doesn’t look like you need anything in particular…”
No need for complicated explanations. Just saying it’s for Karina convinces Karina fangirls like her.
“I don’t need anything. I’ve already gathered what I need. However, some trial and error will be necessary, so I’d like to call Millia. I need someone to sit and test it out.”
“I’ll call you after lunch. No, you should eat lunch too.”
“…I got it.”
It wasn’t an urgent job, so there was no need to skip a meal. Renny and I closed the door to the workshop and headed to Yeomyeong-gwan.
———————
“Oh my, really?”
“Exactly! I can’t believe how you built a building in just one day…”
Karina, sitting across from me, stared wide-eyed at me, enchanted by Renny’s words. Her genuinely amazed expression was so beautiful that I found myself staring at her face unknowingly.
How long I stared, I suddenly felt a heavy weight on my body.
“Johann! Good morning!”
“It’s too heavy, get down.”
“That’s just mean!”
A pair of delicate, white arms wrapped around my neck. Of course, it was Millia. I was so used to her antics, like an energetic seven-year-old, that it felt out of place when she was calm.
“Millia, did you sleep well?”
“Yep! Did Karina sleep well?”
“I slept well.”
With a pale face that didn’t inspire much confidence, she replied. Millia dashed over to Karina like a puppy and clung to her. The red-haired girl roughly ruffled Karina’s large chest. Karina elegantly smiled and patted Millia’s head. I looked on at the scene when I felt a scorching gaze and lowered my eyes.
“Don’t stare so intently.”
“I was just looking at Millia.”
“With that kind of gaze, it seemed a bit… pervy, don’t you think?”
The hand of Renny on my shoulder was hurting. She could break my shoulder bone if she tightened her grip further. I tried to maintain composure and responded to her comment.
“Do I look like that kind of person?”
“…I’m not sure. Maybe?”
Why the confusion? That was a casual remark; why are you thinking about it? You don’t think I’m some sort of weirdo, do you?
…I might lack a bit of lust, but not to that extent.
“Anyway, I hope you behave like a proper guard.”
“I got it. So, can you take your hand off my shoulder?”
I was on the edge of death or at least felt like it. I tested my now-free shoulder by rolling it a few times and called Millia, who was babbling in Karina’s arms.
“Millia. It’s meal time, so sit down.”
“Okay!”
Millia turned toward me and sat beside me. I thought she’d sit next to Karina instead. Filled with anticipation for breakfast, Millia was swinging her legs playfully, humming a tune.
“Looks like you’re in a good mood.”
“I’m finally having breakfast together here at Yeomyeong-gwan for the first time!”
…That’s true.
Since waking up, Karina had spent an additional three days in the hospital of Haeju Department after her condition improved, so she moved to Yeomyeong-gwan. Naturally, it made sense. It was easier for security here, where Renny and I were stationed, than in the Haeju Department building, which only had a gloomy female student and an old professor.
Now Professor Lennon was scheduled to visit three times a week to check on her condition.
“I’m happy to have breakfast together like this.”
“I could eat later…”
Renny trailed off, scratching her cheek as if reluctant to this situation.
It was understandable. Usually, guards would eat during their off time. If Karina hadn’t insisted, she would probably have been wandering around behind Karina right now.
“Don’t worry too much. Yeomyeong-gwan is protected by powerful magic.”
Karina reassured Renny in a sweet voice. Renny seemed unable to ignore Karina’s words and reluctantly accepted, sitting down next to her.
“Here they come!”
Millia, ever greedy for food, exclaimed just as the door opened, and maids and butlers began pushing in serving carts.
…What’s with all this extravagance for breakfast?
Did Karina being here prompt them to go all out?
As each dish was set on the table, Millia’s face was filled with excitement. She was clearly thrilled about this feast, especially since she had a healthy appetite.
“It looks delicious!”
“Looks like the servants set it up in style since they’re serving breakfast.”
Guess I’d be stuffed by the end of this breakfast.
Though my stomach would be empty again after I began working…
After several minutes of setting the table, the elderly gentleman in charge at Yeomyeong-gwan looked at Karina with emotional eyes and said,
“We’ve prepared easy-to-eat foods for the saint.”
“Thank you so much. I’ve never seen so much food at once…”
Usually, simple meals were the norm.
Sure enough, having the saint present really makes the table flourish.
“Shall we start the meal?”
“Millia, don’t shake your head so much.”
We simultaneously picked up our forks and knives.
——————
“Wow! You made this in one day?”
Before I could even speak, Millia opened the door to the workshop. You could tell she had a childlike curiosity that just exploded.
I hope she doesn’t hurt herself touching something.
I followed Millia inside immediately.
Millia was poking around, looking at all the tools in the workshop. After a moment of exploring, she approached me, pointing at something on the workbench.
“Johann, what’s that?”
“It’s a wheel.”
Millia tilted her head at my reply, seeming puzzled by the item on the workbench.
“Wheels are usually made of wood, right?”
“Typically, yes. But that’s a special wheel.”
“Special?”
“Because it’s a wheel for Karina.”
“Make one for me too!”
What is this kid saying? I gave Millia a light slap on the forehead as if to say, “Why not me?” and admonished her.
“This is for people with difficulties moving. You can run around, can’t you?”
“Cheh. Then make something else for me!”
“Fine. I’ll make yours after I finish the chair for Karina.”
“Yay! Thank you!”
Smooch.
I looked at Millia after that soft touch on my cheek. She had playfully pecked my cheek with a kiss, grinning mischievously and sticking her cute tongue out.
“Can I watch?”
“Sure, but don’t get too close. You might get hurt.”
I started my work at the workbench.
Millia dragged over a barrel to sit nearby and watched me work closely. It felt a little awkward with her staring.
…Ugh, better just keep working.
I repeatedly mass-produced and smashed wheels like I did before Renny came along. Since I had no knowledge of how to make a wheelchair, I had no choice but to go through trial and error while imagining shapes that came to mind.
Had I smashed about the 17th wheel now?
I held up the best-looking wheel I had made to inspect it from various angles. It looked good, seemed sturdy, and had rubber covering it with just the right thickness, making it quite usable.
I need two, so the remaining one is…
“Crafting.”
Two of the same wheels.
“Is it complete?”
“Probably.”
“It looks oddly shiny…”
I placed the two wheels on the workbench and laid out premium lumber on the surface.
What did a wheelchair look like again?
I envisioned the kind of wheelchairs that people of high status used during emergencies. With handlebars at the head… metal body… Were there any other peculiar things?
Following the memories that floated back, I imagined a chair with armrests and two handlebars. It was a completely ordinary chair. Now, if I could just attach the wheels and conduct a test…
Wait, I also need a support wheel, don’t I?
I didn’t realize how much I actually needed.
Ultimately, by lunchtime, I had made what seemed like a decent wheelchair.
“Millia.”
“…”
“Millia?”
“Ah! I’m not sleeping! Really!”
“Wipe the drool off your mouth.”
“Ugh…”
Millia blushed as she wiped her mouth with the handkerchief I handed her. When our eyes met, she gave me a bashful smile as if trying to dismiss her embarrassment.
“Let’s go out for a moment. We need to test it.”
I stepped outside the workshop with the prototype for the esteemed wheelchair, placing it in the midst of the open space.
“Millia. Get in the wheelchair.”
“Really?”
Should be fine since there’s not much of a size difference with Karina.
Just as I expected, Millia settled into the wheelchair without difficulty. Though the soft cushions meant to protect the patient’s rear and back were hastily covered with several layers of leather for the test version, Millia seemed comfortable enough and didn’t complain.
“I’ll take you on a lap around Yeomyeong-gwan now, so let me know if your butt or back hurts.”
“Okay!”
And so our tour of Yeomyeong-gwan began.