Injector and New Workshop Chief

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The concept drawing which Anna pinned up.
 
 Drawn there was a single locomotive dashing along railway tracks and pulling passenger carts.
 
 The shape it took on was that of a steam locomotive… not.
 If anything, I’d say its streamlined shape resembled a bullet train or private rail express train.
 
 However, there was one point in which it differed greatly from those.
 
 In both shoulders of the upper portion of the track vehicles, there were cylindrical components arranged such that they embedded themselves there, such that they took air in from the front.
 
 
 
 “… a magic locomotive?”
 
 Shishou-sama, who intently looked at the concept drawing with squint eyes, murmured so in a low voice.
 
 “How’dya make this thing work?”
 
 Workshop Chief Duncan, who was leaning forward and looking at the picture, looked at me excitedly.
 
 “I’ll explain.”
 
 I stood up from my seat, and headed for the board.
 
 And then, I pointed a pointer stick at the cylindrical part in question.
 
 “The structure itself is very simple. This cylinder sucks in air from the front, and spits it out from behind. This recoil propels the tracked vehicles.”
 
 In short, it is an engine that produces air flow with magic, without using combustion ——— the magic jet engine.^[1]
 
 As I had used in the mansion in the royal capital, there is a spell that controls the wind.
 
 I thought of using that.
 
 Since it’s sufficient to just create an air flow in one direction, it’s possible to implement a simple magic circuit.
 
 The distance it can run on inertia is longer due to running on a cyclical path^[2], there’s no need to keep the engine running, so the magic stone being sourced for power will also have a reduced consumption.
 
 In this world, blast furnaces have been developed and steel material reforms have finally begun advancing.
 To develop and produce the wheels and brakes and rails would probably be quite difficult.
 
 
 
 To be honest, it’s not like I didn’t think of a magic steam locomotive that operated using a boiler with its heat source produced from magic.
 
 But that method would not only require magic power, but also the skillful control of steam, and would tremendously increase the development man-hours.
 
 To implement it, pistons and cylinders would need to be developed, and the piping and valves would be numerous.
 
 I just couldn’t believe we’d be able to develop it in three years.
 
 Not to mention the precision and strength required from the power system and driving system for the reciprocating engine.
 
 
 
 I then declared to everyone.
 
 “I intend to complete this railroad vehicle within 2 years. And I think I’d like to connect the New territory and the County via railroad service within 3 years.”
 
 “Is this really possible?”
 
 I nodded strongly at Otou-sama’s words.
 
 “We already have the underlying technology. Now we just need to get started on it.”
 
 “Hmm……”
 
 My father pondered for a bit, then eventually said 『alright』 and turned back to me.
 
 “There are still 3 years till the deadline presented by His Majesty. For now, I want Letty to try setting up that local defence organisation you mentioned earlier. And tackle the development of the 『railroad』 at the same time in parallel. As for the military reduction, we’ll consider it as time passes. ——— Is that alright?”
 
 “Yes, I’ll do my best!”
 
 Hmph, I pumped my fists.
 
 Otou-sama nodded, then looked around at everyone.
 
 “And so, with what we’ll do decided, let’s decide on the assignment of tasks.”
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 From there, it was quick.
 
 We’ll come around to touch up on the New territory later.
 We said we’ll first start on my territory.
 
 Lionel, who had been serving as the knight order captain of the Owleyes Knights Order for a long time, was to be established as the commanding officer of the territory soldiers in the County territory.
 
 “I’m also already old. I’m old friends with the commander of the East Gracimento expeditionary force, and we’ll be drinking booze while leisurely training the next generation in the countryside.”
 
 The veteran knight laughed as he said so.
 
 “Then for the time being, so that your subordinates don’t look down on you, why don’t you and I practise with the flying boots?”
 
 When I said so with a grin, Lionel’s face contorted into a 『geh!』.
 
 “You see, I’m not really good at that…”
 
 Though he may be an experienced warrior, you can’t call his magic power control good even as flattery.
 
 Thereupon Otou-sama wedged himself in for some reason.
 
 “That’s no good, Lionel. Flying boots will be indispensable equipment for knights from now on. ——— Hmm. There’s no need to expressly trouble Letty. Let me teach you the basics directly.”
 
 “Uuh… I’ll do self-practice so that it’s usable before I head over to my new post!!”
 
 Otou-sama’s training is famously strict.
 My new territory soldier’s commanding officer replied with a bitter expression to my father.
 
 
 
 The supervisor for military affairs has been decided.
 
 Sofia and Loretta will take care of governance and foreign affairs so there’s no problem there.
 
 So then there’s only one duty left.
 
 Right.
 The manager for the magic tool workshop.
 
 
 
 “Duncan, you do it.”
 
 “Huh?!”
 
 Startled by Shishou-sama’s sudden words, the Royal Capital Workshop Chief questioned him in return.
 
 “Ain’t it fine if you do it? It’s too much for me to set up a new workshop. Basically, what’ll happen to the Royal Capital Workshop? Unlike the Main Workshop, the Royal Capital doesn’t have extra personnel, you know?!”
 
 Shishou-sama sent Duncan a glancing glare as he argued back.
 
 “We’ll transfer some people over from the Main Workshop to the Royal Capital. And for your successor, you can have that youth that’s been going between us here do it.”
 
 “No, no, hold up, gramps. Roland ain’t a craftsman, you know?!”
 
 “You don’t really need to be a craftsman to work as the workshop chief. There’s no problem if he’s got the ability to look at the workshop as a whole. Your teacher and two veterans can probably take care of the technical points.”
 
 “——— you’re saying we should rely on that bunch of old guys.”
 
 “Those guys are roughly the same age as me. Since I’m not retiring either, I’ll be annoyed if they don’t at least mentor the next generation.”
 
 “Oi, oi…”
 
 Duncan wrapped his head in his hands.
 Seeing him like that, Shishou-sama said this to him.
 
 “I’m also going to wash my hands of management and hand over to the workshop sub-chief. It’s about time you too moved on to the next stage.”
 
 Hearing those words, Duncan groaned for a bit, then eventually opened his mouth.
 
 Ever since becoming a craftsman, I’ve done nothing but repairs. You can’t just suddenly say 『go start a new workshop』.”
 
 Duncan has always acted confident, but apparently, when it comes to taking on something new as the one in charge, he really lacks confidence.
 
 I myself think 『if it’s him, he can do it』, but maybe it’s best if I properly put it in words after all?
 
 Thinking so, it happened just as I was about to open my mouth.
 
 “If it’s you, you can do it.”
 
 Shishou-sama said so to the workshop chief beside him.
 
 
 
 Duncan looked up with a face of surprise.
 Shishou-sama continued speaking.
 
 “The magic power analyser that was sent here ——— you’re probably the one that put it together.”
 
 “Yeah, but… how’d you know?”
 
 “If ya look at the way the lines are drawn and how the touch-ups are done, I can tell who put it together. You probably touched up on the diagram that the young Miss drew.”
 
 “Yeah. The way she scrawled the lines was terrible. I put it in red and requested a revision.”
 
 “You’re fine if you can do that. i could leave the Main Workshop to you right away. ——— Well, I don’t plan on making it that easy for you though.”
 
 Shishou-sama grinned, one corner of his lips raised in a smirk.