NoveLight ™
A detection device painstakingly crafted by Arad and Mary during the earlier surge of magical energy.
The device’s function is simple yet ingenious: a thin plate made from melted and flattened mana stones serves as the base. On this plate, users place a fragment of what they wish to locate—this could be a strand of hair, a frequently used object, or, in the absence of a specific item, a similar energy source.
Typically, the energy source was powdered mana stones. For example:
“This is truly an incredible magical tool!”
“It’s not just for detecting corrupt things. If you put your mind to it, it can locate nearly anything.”
“Oh my! When I put mid-grade mana stone powder on it... Look at this! It shows areas with large deposits of mid-grade mana stones!”
“This could revolutionize mana stone mining in the North!”
“Silver and gold mines! This will make locating them so much easier!”
What had been hastily thrown together in a rush turned out to be astonishingly effective.
Witches and knights who used the device sang its praises without hesitation. Whether it was a person, a curse, a totem, a monster, or even minerals—the potential of the detector was staggering.
“The response has been better than I expected.”
The greatest satisfaction for a creator is witnessing others marvel at their invention.
Fueled by this enthusiasm, Arad upgraded the detector further, enhancing its durability and lifespan, as it was initially a consumable tool.
“I’ll name it... Radar! Arad Radar!”
Thus, the Arad Radar became an officially managed magical tool under the supervision of both the High Citadel and Frosthand. Its primary uses were in military operations and resource scouting.
“With this detector, finding the Bell Witch and those dark wizards will be a breeze!”
Although its official name was Arad Radar, the knights continued to call it simply “the detector,” as they were more accustomed to the term.
“Bring the detector for this extermination mission!”
“Always carry a detector while patrolling the northern regions!”
Soon, nearly every knight and cavalry soldier in the North was equipped with a detector, patrolling the area with a grim determination to slice down anything showing a trace of dark magic.
“These bastards… Where the hell are they hiding?!”
“Not in the city of Haven, nor in the plague-ridden major cities like Cadia, Shuen, or Lemme!”
“What did the detector show?”
“It pointed to totems and magic circles set up by dark wizards! They seem to be barriers designed to keep the plague from dissipating easily.”
Yet, neither the dark wizards nor Haran were anywhere to be found.
In the major cities ravaged by the plague—Shuen, Narvik, Cadia, Lemme, and Haven—the traces of dark energy revealed remnants of totems and barriers secretly erected and then abandoned.
“What should we do? Should we destroy the totems?”
“No, tampering with them recklessly could trigger unforeseen side effects.”
“Leave the totems and barriers to the witches! We have our job to do!”
“Damn it! Those cursed bastards! Where the hell did they vanish to?!”
“They’re not the type to disappear quietly!”
The knights tirelessly roamed the North, nervously checking the Arad Radar multiple times a day.
“Wait… Could it be…?”
Suddenly, Balzac and the knights were struck by an unsettling realization.
“Isn’t it just the Grand Witch of Spring and Sun currently at the High Citadel?”
“Can the two of them handle both the Bell Witch and several high-ranking dark wizards from the Demon’s Hollow?”
“The High Citadel! What’s the nearest mountain to the High Citadel?”
Driven by a gut feeling, Balzac and the knights pointed the radar in the direction of the High Citadel.
Hours later.
“!!”
They saw faint lights shimmering on the mana stone plate’s coordinates.
“Damn it!”
“Hurry! Head to the High Citadel!”
Realizing the enemy’s true plan, Balzac and the knights spurred their horses towards the High Citadel at full speed.
“Summon the Winter Falcons!”
As they galloped, Balzac hastily wrote two separate messages to be delivered by the Winter Falcons.
“To the Grand Witch of Spring, inform her of the dark wizards’ true objective. To Her Highness, simply report that we’re stopping by the High Citadel for a brief inspection!”
If Balzac knew Arina, she would inevitably try to involve herself in the battle somehow. He had to prevent her from participating in such a dangerous fight, especially when she had yet to recover her strength.
***
Regardless of whether it stems from Earth’s science and technology or the arcane engineering of this world, the pinnacle of any tech tree is always weaponry.
I can craft weapons befitting the arcane-punk era: mana rifles, energy swords, shielded armor, flying boots, airships, mana-powered trains, and so on. The possibilities are endless.
However, I can’t make them just yet.
Even though I’ve created everything from golden carriages to elixirs, semi-permanent spatial bags, and mana potions, these projects are on a completely different level.
The main reason? A lack of essential infrastructure.
This infrastructure is called a mana engine.
Unlike Earth’s steam engines, diesel engines, or nuclear reactors, a mana engine operates on an entirely different plane of power. It’s not just an engine for trains or airships—it also functions as a power plant to run factories.
With it, materials like mithril, adamantium, and ether, which are otherwise impossible to process with human strength, can finally be utilized.
And to build such an engine, I first need...
“Rubber! I need rubber.”
But rubber, a crucial raw material, is unavailable in the North.
The problem is that rubber only exists on the Southern Continent, a land fiercely guarded by non-human races that strictly prohibit human access.
To the Northern Grand Duchy, which can’t even establish direct trade with the United Kingdoms, resources from the Southern Continent are as unattainable as helium-3 on the moon.
Interrupted Thoughts
“Sir Arad? Are you finished?”
Balzac’s voice snapped me out of my daydreams.
“Oh! Yes, I’m done. Fortunately, it wasn’t too damaged.”
I examined the pauldrons Balzac was wearing and confirmed their condition.
“Is that so? That’s a relief. I was quite alarmed when it suddenly stopped working.”
His pauldrons differed from ordinary knight armor, featuring embedded mana stones in each shoulder plate.
These artifacts could defend against curses, barriers, and ranged magic attacks up to three times.
“Three-circle spells can be blocked three times, four-circle spells twice, and five-circle spells only once. Beyond that, they’re no different from regular pauldrons. And they can’t block six-circle spells at all, so you must avoid those at all costs.”
“I’ve heard that so many times it echoes in my sleep,” Balzac replied with a faintly annoyed expression.
I insisted on repeating these warnings because I didn’t want anyone getting seriously hurt—or worse—while using my creations. His reaction was disappointing, but something else troubled me more.
“If only it were rechargeable.”
The embedded mana stones were of high-grade quality. But like the mana potions I made, they were consumables.
If this weren’t the North, rich in mana stone mines, I might have abandoned the project altogether during the material procurement phase.
“If I could have made it with mithril or adamantium, it could’ve been a rechargeable, semi-permanent magic artifact…”
Clicking my tongue in frustration, I moved on to the next item.
“Sir Sun’s shield is in excellent condition as well.”
Unlike Balzac, Sun didn’t wander the North battling enemies. His enchanted shield remained in pristine condition, as if brand new.
“Hmm.”
After a brief inspection, I nodded in satisfaction, and he silently stepped back.
“Next! Sir Eote, come forward.”
One by one, I examined the enchanted gear of other high-ranking knights following Balzac and Sun.
Time was tight, and our infrastructure remained insufficient, so these magical weapons and equipment were the best I could produce under the circumstances.
All I could do was hope they would perform flawlessly in critical moments.
After about ten minutes, all maintenance was complete.
A Sudden Question
“But why have you all gathered here so suddenly?”
As I finished my work, I finally asked the question that had been nagging me.
These knights had left to hunt the Bell Witch and dark wizards. Why had they suddenly returned?
“We remembered a place where they might be hiding. If it weren’t for the detector you made, we’d have missed it entirely.”
Hearing this, I naturally thought of Arina, who should currently be in the High Citadel. Now I understood why they had come here.
“You must head to the Hall of Glory immediately! Her Highness is in danger!”
“That’s right. Sir Balzac, Commander Sun, you must hurry to the High Citadel.”
“While Sir Arad and the factories are important, the Grand Duchess is far more critical.”
The urgency in my voice was echoed by the other high-ranking knights present.
“Don’t worry. There’s still time. Besides, isn’t the Grand Witch of Spring also in the High Citadel? Did you give her any magical equipment? If she had something like this, it would be a tremendous help in battle.”
“Due to her unique curse, there wasn’t much I could provide. However, I did gift her a newly crafted magical smoking pipe with exceptional effects, which she seems to tolerate well.”
“That’s reassuring.”
While the rest of us were anxious, Balzac and Sun remained uncharacteristically calm.
Urgency and Reassurance
“This unhurried attitude doesn’t suit you, Sir Balzac and Sir Sun.”
I continued to press them.
“You must protect Her Highness at the High Citadel. What will you do if something happens to her? How will you live with the grief?”
“Alright, we’ll go soon.”
“Well, if you insist, we have no choice.”
Finally, after repeated urging, Balzac and Sun prepared to depart.
“I’m going, too!”
To my surprise, Mary suddenly declared her intent to join. She seemed to have noticed something in Balzac and Sun’s demeanor.
“Sir Arad.”
Balzac ignored Mary’s statement and instead called out to me.
“Yes?”
“Where will you be tonight?”
“I’ll likely remain here at Factory One.”
“Good. That’s a relief.”
“Call it intuition, but I thought it best to stay prepared.”
“A wise decision. I see you’ve set things up accordingly.”
“Yes, it’s my habit to ensure safety in places where I stay for extended periods.”
“I see.”
Balzac appeared visibly reassured by my answer.
“May I ask you a favor?”
“Of course. What is it?”
“As you just said, stay here no matter what. Especially with Lady Mary. Do not leave this place.”
“Understood.”
“I know this sounds strange for a request, but could you swear to it? Swear that you won’t take Lady Mary outside the factory.”
“…I swear.”
This was the first time since the Abyssal Rift that I had seen Balzac this serious, and it compelled me to make the promise.
Of course, I understood why he was so earnest.
“Even though she’s illegitimate, Mary still carries the Renslet family’s blue blood.”
As the conversation unfolded to this point, Mary fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.
“Then we’ll be off.”
“May fortune be with you.”
With that, Balzac, Sun, and the High Citadel’s senior knights swiftly departed. Some of the Frosthand guards assigned to protect me also seemed to have followed.
Mary’s Resolve
After the knights left, Mary broke the silence.
“Master, are you not going?”
“Go where?”
“To protect Her Highness, of course!”
“Me?”
“Yes!”
“Mary, I’m practically useless in combat.”
“What?”
“Exactly.”
Mary stared at me, utterly confused, while I returned her gaze with equal perplexity.
“But... weren’t you the one who ventured into the Abyssal Rift alone to save Her Highness? I’ve heard about the magical crossbow you used back then.”
“Oh, that?”
Now I understood her reaction.
“At that time, I was the only one who could save Her Highness. But now, things are different. There’s no one on this continent who could defeat the Renslet knights armed with magic armor or a Sword Master. Not even Doom the Dark Duke or Yulcanes of the Golden Tower.”
Perhaps a legendary dragon could, but even that was unlikely. Dragons didn’t appear in Age of Silver 1, so there was no reason for one to suddenly emerge now.
“Even so, your presence would surely make a difference.”
Despite my explanation, Mary didn’t give up.
“It must be her concern for her sister’s safety. And Isabel’s too.”
While I respected Mary’s feelings, I couldn’t agree with her reasoning.
“Would our presence truly help? Have you considered that we might be a hindrance instead?”
“...!”
“If we go to the High Citadel, we’ll endanger ourselves—and distract Balzac, Sun, Isabel, and the other knights from their tasks.”
As my firm words sank in, Mary’s shoulders drooped visibly.
“Most importantly, I’ve already sworn to Sir Balzac that I wouldn’t leave this factory. I can’t break that promise.”
Understanding emotions doesn’t mean abandoning logic. What cannot be done, cannot be done.