Solo Swordmaster

#676. Come on, tell me.

* * *

Magic Lord Carl Amadeus.

He is called a genius among monarchs.

A monarch who changed the paradigm by interpreting the principles of magic-type skills that were originally treated as garbage.

In addition to that, Carol achieved many achievements throughout her life, such as establishing the Magus Guild and raising the status of magic players.

But there was something else he put the most effort into.

It was to destroy the London confrontation system that he believed was the culprit who took away his family.

Of course, the London battle system is the strongest magic in the Silver Age.

It was difficult even with the power of the monarch to break the mystery that even the Demon God had blocked.

So, after a lot of research.

Carol reached an answer.

Just as humans hunt beasts with tools.

If you lack the ability, you can use tools to make up for it.

To that end, in addition to personal research, he shares recipes for magic items, creates a patent system, and interacts with other guilds.

Magic items developed in all sorts of ways.

That’s why cheap magic items have become commonplace in Madou London.

The result of decades of investment.

Carol’s tenacity had seen the light.

The result is magic engineering.

It was a technology that advanced the magic item found by the magic lord, the absolute ruler of this era, to a new level.

The unfortunate thing is that as soon as Carol completed magic engineering, she was engrossed in destroying the London Great Barrier with it.

Because of that, the London crisis is happening.

After Carol’s death.

Sorcery was also lost.

No, at least Sir knew that.

…Until I investigated the new products released by the World Federation, Demiurge, to be exact.

“Is the abnormal performance of the LW products produced by the World Federation now thanks to that magic engineering?”

[I think so.]

I’m not sure.

Even adding a word, Sir was convinced of his guess.

Even if you don’t know about advanced technology or products.

Having lived a long time, she was an expert who excelled in mystery and magical tools.

So I could say for sure.

Spirit powers and skills.

Magic mysteries and miracles too.

Regardless, mass-producing products that surpass the common sense of the present mankind is only possible with skill and magic engineering.

[The core of magical engineering is to endow objects with skills.]

In fact, it is easy to create objects with skills.

Production players with that kind of skill aren’t common, but they weren’t rare either.

However, conversely, only players with endowment-type skills were able to put skills into objects.

That was until Carol broke that mold.

[Originally, even magic items were limited to containing magic-type skills at a low level…]

“Magic Engineering has exceeded that limit.”

Lynn clicked her tongue.

If it’s as Sir said.

I also understood the unusual performance of LW products.

A skill is a skill, even if it can be used by beginner level 10 players in their 20s.

A vacuum cleaner with the 『Cleaning』 skill.

A frying pan with the 『Cooking』 skill.

Washing machines with the 『Wash』 skill, etc.

Those who live in this age of iron could not know how much the performance would improve if each product had such a skill.

“No matter how magical engineering it is, is it possible to mass-produce these things at this price?”

[In the first place, common sense doesn’t work with skills. It’s even more so if the baby called the Creator has been exchanging skills with that bastard since before.

]

Lynn agreed.

The Creator Lord is the best production player in the present age.

If Carol had studied magic items, it would have been only natural for her to interact with him.

And if the creative lord succeeded in independently restoring magic engineering using the knowledge and technology gained through that exchange.

Mass production of this absurd new product was also a possibility.

The problem is…

“So what’s the solution?”

[No.]

“…Hey old man?”

[Don’t look at me like that. There can be no solution to this absurd situation.]

“Tsk.”

I just lightly clicked my tongue.

Rin didn’t blame Sir.

Because it was too difficult to think for myself.

The LW products launched by the World Federation are already selling out all over the world with a huge boom.

Unless a miracle happened, even the legendary Archwitch couldn’t have solved the situation.

So it was.

Why did Rin turn her head?

“What do you think, crazy princess?”

“well?”

A silver-haired girl who was sulking when she tried to put a cake cut with a fork into Ainsha’s mouth, but was rejected.

Yekathrice tilted her head.

And like calculating something.

After rolling his eyes, he opened his mouth.

“Maybe half a year?”

“Can you catch up with the World Federation’s technology in half a year?”

“No, if we go on like this, it will take about half a year until Bahamut goes bankrupt and our clan goes bankrupt.”

“…In just half a year?”

“It’s not just, sister, it’s been half a year.”

There are two factors that allowed Bahamut to dominate the world’s manufacturing industry.

Overwhelming technology.

And it was productivity.

How to lead the market with a small technological difference in high-tech industries.

In particular, there was no competitor to Bahamut, which could freely use the world’s factories called the Russian Khanate.

But as long as the LW product came out.

Now Bahamut’s products don’t have any advantages.

As time passed, the market would shift to LW products and Bahamut would go bankrupt.

It is even more so because of the finances that have been sluggish in the aftermath of the last revolution.

“It’s ruined.”

with a short lament.

Lynn regretted herself.

‘I was too careless about the monarchs.’

The core of the World Federation is, after all, the seven monarchs.

They were the absolutes of this era who built a power comparable to the Seven Dragons in just a few decades.

Even the divine lord almost drove the green dragon clan into a corner with the potion business.

However, no matter how busy I was with keeping the sword masters in check, I ended up taking a shot like this again.

It was something I had no choice but to lament over my own inadequacies.

“Don’t worry too much brother. Because there is a solution.”

“What measures are you talking about?”

Seeing Rin upset.

Yekathrice chuckled.

Then, he put the cake that had been rejected by Ainsha into his mouth and said cheerfully.

“If you don’t have cake, you can sell bread, right?”

“…Are you trying to gain a competitive edge by lowering product prices due to high sales?”

“No matter how much our family is, it takes ‘time’ to catch up with this level of technology. Until then, we have to maintain our market share somehow.”

“That’s right, but… is that possible?”

If the Russian Khanate were fine.

It may have been possible to compete with LW products by increasing production capacity and lowering product prices, even if it was a little excessive.

However, in the midst of the aftermath of the revolution still remaining, can such a method be used?

To Rin who asked questioningly.

Yekathrice answered confidently.

“If Maia helps a little, it will be fine.”

“Why is the doctor?”

“I need Brazilian specialties.”

“…Special products?”

“huh. Gulag is there for times like this, but if you’re going to use it, you have to use it efficiently.”

That moment.

Lynn raised her eyebrows.

And asked in a slightly hard voice.

“What are you going to do?”

“What are you doing?”

I don’t know why you ask such an obvious question.

with a slight tilt of the head.

Yekathrice said lightly.

“Are you going to increase the forced labor time of all gulags to 20 hours a day to print things?”

* * *

And.

A silence as deep and heavy as death came.

Lindo with a heavy expression.

Cirdo beyond the communicator.

Ainsha also has an expressionless face.

While everyone is silent.

The only one who spoke was the man who had been silent until now.

“…Daukhan. Forced to do such harsh labor, all the prisoners in Gulag will die from overwork.”

“don’t worry. If you give me lots of stimulants and drugs from the green dragon clan, I’ll be able to survive for a while.”

“…!”

The green dragon family’s pharmaceutical technology is the best in the world.

Their medicine would give even the most reluctant inmates a passion to sell their souls and an indefatigable spirit.

Looking at Yekathrice talking with a single smile.

Bachemensky’s face hardened.

“Are you saying you’re going to turn all of Gulag’s prisoners into drug addicts?”

“Maybe it will?”

“Doing so will leave enormous aftereffects for all prisoners.”

“Isn’t that what I know?”

“What is that…?”

“Hey brother, I think you are forgetting something. Is this Gulag?”

It seems he doesn’t know why Bachemensky is surprised.

Tilt your head slightly.

Yekathrice said.

“Whether or not the inmates here are completely overworked is up to me, and no one can say anything about it.”

It’s because I don’t agree.

Or is it because you don’t want to accept it?

Yekathrice took her eyes off the distorted face and asked with a meaningful smile.

“Isn’t it, sister?”

Bachemensky followed Yekathrice and turned his eyes.

And with a frown.

just keeping silent.

I was stunned to see Rin not expressing any opinion.

“Swordsmith? Could it be that you also agree with the Great Khan’s plan?”

“…”

There was no answer.

It’s like you have nothing to say.

Or as if thinking about something.

Looking at Bachemenski, who was shocked to see Rin keeping silent, Ekatriche giggled.

“Don’t trouble your sister too much, brother. Because you can’t answer that question.”

“Why?”

“My sister knows that even if my choice isn’t the best, it’s the second best.”

“Are you saying that an atrocity that could lead to the death or incapacity of millions of people is the second best?”

“At least not the worst.”

“…”

“Huh, that expression doesn’t agree.”

I think the reaction is funny.

with a single face.

Yekathrice asked playfully.

“Brother, if Bahamut Corporation collapses, what do you think will happen to my country?”

“That’s…”

Bachemensky’s face hardened.

It was because he was also in charge of state affairs as a high-ranking member of the revolutionary government, so he could clearly know what would happen next.

“Russian Khanate runs on Bahamut Corporation’s taxes.”

“If Bahamut goes bankrupt, it is inevitable that the national finances will collapse.”

“It also means that we will no longer be able to maintain the welfare system that has been given to all citizens for granted.”

Seven Dragons Group.

A conglomerate that controls all the wealth in the world.

their near limitless funds.

And thanks to Bahamut’s automated system, the citizens of the Russian Khanate were able to enjoy abundant welfare with minimal labor.

But what if that money runs out?

“Now people will have to work 12 to 16 hours a day.”

“It must be fortunate to be able to work like that. If Bahamut collapses, 90% of factories will stop and jobs will disappear.”

“Inflation is skyrocketing, and people will die of starvation or freeze to death one after another because they can’t pay their heating bills, let alone food.”

That’s just the beginning.

Medical education, welfare, public order, etc.

Even if it is coercive and restrictive, the world’s most advanced system will completely collapse and all benefits will disappear.

Even if you are sick, you are not treated.

Even if you try to learn, you can’t learn.

Starved corpses are left unattended.

Even if you have money, you can’t buy things.

Even if a crime is committed, no one will stop it.

The only powerful country in the world comparable to the United States would become the worst living hell overnight.

If this situation is neglected, it refers to the future that the Russian Khanate will face with the highest probability under the check of the World Federation.

Yekathrice Khan chuckled.

and asked

“Now tell me, brother.”

“….”

“Having 500 million innocent people die or become unhappy and giving millions of criminals a chance to pay for their crimes to prevent it.”

“….”

“Which of the two do you think is for this country?”