During the last medal awarding ceremony, Callen Upperhills had been there too. He was too far away to see properly, but... He heard it, even from a distance.
Hero~! Hero~!
The cheers of that day. On that day, Isaac Upperhills became Callen’s hero. To think that someone with the same name as Callen had walked such a different path.
And he hadn't succeeded as a mercenary or a soldier, but in the Magic Tower... There must have been an effort that cost him blood and flesh. He must have run without rest.
Though he had never met him, Callen already felt a deep sense of connection. Because he knew better than anyone how an Upperhills lived.
"How about you work on something with me?"
And now... that very person wanted to work with him.
"Yes! I will do my absolute best!"
"Whoa, you scared me."
He'd be a fool to refuse. Callen’s back bent into a right angle. Without a moment's hesitation, Callen Upperhills signed the contract with Isaac.
Naturally, Isaac also signed the contract. ... He had wanted to get his autograph, but he never imagined it would be through this route. Just a moment ago, he was fated to return to the countryside, and now he was on a team with the Hero of the Capital.
Even the work they were doing together was an honor. A mechanical replication of shock-absorbing magic. Was this not uncharted territory?
"Well then, I'll see you next time."
"Yes! Please come by anytime!"
Isaac left the creation of the ‘spring steel’ to Callen and Tobin. He said he would come back later with a design for the other component needed for the suspension. After Isaac left and he was alone in the workshop with his master, Callen snapped back to his senses.
The real-world problem he had forgotten grabbed him by the ankle.
"Wait, master! Then what about that business?"
"What business?"
"The Horseless Carriage!"
Tobin Workshop had previously had a conflict with a chariot workshop named ‘The Horseless Carriage’. In truth, it was hard to call it a conflict. Since Tobin Workshop was the one getting beaten up one-sidedly.
The catalyst was the incident a few years ago when Callen won an award at the technology contest.
‘The Horseless Carriage’, furious at being pushed to second place, started spreading malicious rumors about Tobin Workshop.
That they steal commissions. That they don't meet deadlines. That they don't give refunds unless the client has connections.
And so on... Every single one was the kind of rumor that would negatively affect their ability to get commissions. It was too much for Tobin and Callen to handle on their own.
‘The Horseless Carriage’ was a chariot workshop with connections to several merchant guilds.
Thanks to the backing of those guilds, those scoundrels were exceptionally fast at spreading rumors. This was also why Callen had decided to leave the workshop. Because if he, the source of the problem, left, the attacks from ‘The Horseless Carriage’ might stop.
Tobin’s eyes widened.
"Don't tell me you were leaving because of that...?"
"... Yes."
"You naive fool... You really thought those bastards would let us live if you did that?"
"... You never know. It's the only thing I could do."
"I told you not to worry..."
Master Tobin clapped Callen on the shoulder.
"If you have the skill, the world will eventually recognize it. Just like today!"
"That's true, but..."
Callen agreed, but a part of his heart felt heavy.
He continued.
"If things go wrong, Sir Isaac might get hurt too..."
"Hmm... That is true."
Even if he was a hero favored by the princess, he was still an individual. If ‘The Horseless Carriage’ decided to spread false rumors, it would be nearly impossible to counter them.
"He's a commoner, so he probably doesn't have much money to begin with..."
"If his reputation is tarnished on top of that, the blow would be severe."
"Hmm..."
He couldn't be a burden to the hero. Callen’s mouth opened.
"I think it's best if I go back to the countryside..."
"No!"
Tobin’s eyes glinted.
"Don't talk nonsense. Are you asking me for severance pay again?"
"... That's not what I meant, master."
"Better to face it head-on!"
Tobin continued.
"You know the chariot race was postponed because of the medal awarding ceremony, right?"
"The Harvest Festival Chariot Race?"
"That's the one."
The ‘Harvest Festival Chariot Race’ was a competition that many merchant guilds and nobles, including the Imperial Army, paid close attention to. Because nothing was as important as chariots for both transport and war. If they won there, ‘The Horseless Carriage’ would lose the very power to spread rumors.
Callen asked Tobin.
"But there are only two weeks until the race. Won't we be too late?"
"That's what we have to manage somehow! Don't you have confidence?"
Tobin’s voice was already filled with absolute certainty.
"But... I've never worked on a chariot before..."
"What does that matter? With the 'suspension,' everything will change!"
"Even just adding a suspension to a standard-issue chariot guarantees a win. Don't tell me you don't trust Sir Isaac? After you admired him so much?"
"Ah, seriously... you old man!"
Callen was also spurred on by his master’s words. Instead of answering, Callen lifted his hammer.
"... What are you doing, not picking yours up?"
"Right. That's the spirit."
Tobin grinned and lifted his hammer as well.
A few days later. I headed to Tobin Workshop with the initial draft for the 'shock absorber'. I wasn't an engineer, so a detailed design was beyond me.
Still, I wrote down the principle itself in detail, so they should be able to figure it out. I believe in my team. As I opened the workshop door, a blast of hot air washed over me.
"One, two, three!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Tobin and Callen were taking turns hammering a single iron ingot. Soaked in sweat, their focus was solely on the metal before them. The two were no different from human power hammers.
‘Maybe I should make them a real power hammer later?’
That didn't sound like a bad idea. I sat quietly beside them, waiting for their break time. A short while later.
Their work was finished. Tobin and Callen, drenched in sweat, collapsed onto the floor. I handed them water bottles and asked.
"Is the work on the spring steel not finished yet?"
Callen answered while gulping down water.
"No! It's finished. We've stacked it over there."
Where his finger pointed, a pile of uniform-quality carbon-steel springs was stacked. It was much faster than I had expected.
"Then what were you working on just now?"
"We were wondering if there might be a better alloy combination. We wanted to use the best possible materials to match the design the hero gave us."
"Wow... I'm touched."
Such an incredible hustle. A level of diligence completely different from me, who only thinks about slacking off every day. It kind of makes me want to learn from them.
"Is that so? Haha."
Callen scratched his head awkwardly.
"That's amazing. I thought it would take several times longer."
"Phew... Does this mean we're over the hump?"
"We're barely at the seventy-percent mark."
"... What?"
Both of their gazes landed on me at the same time. I held out the parchment with the principle of the 'shock absorber' written on it.
"Springs alone aren't enough. To effectively absorb vibrations, this device is also needed."
The life drained from Tobin’s eyes. ... Was it too much work? On the other hand, Callen took my parchment and read through it in one go.
"This is... another incredible piece of technology."
"You can take your time. I don't know the detailed structure of this either, so I only wrote down the principle."
"No." Callen looked at me and declared.
"One week. I will finish it in one week."
"No... there's no need to rush like that, you know?"
I was planning to take it easy and enjoy my break, so if they finish that quickly, what am I supposed to do? I shook my head. Callen shook his head back.
"We are going to enter the race held next week with a chariot equipped with this suspension."
"... A race?"
"Yes. And if we don't win there..."
Callen shut his eyes tightly.
"You can terminate my exclusive contract."
"Hey, Callen! How can you decide that on your own...!"
Tobin was startled.
What.
They didn't discuss this?
"Master. What else can we do? We've come this far."
At Callen’s words, Tobin’s mouth clamped shut. Soon, Tobin answered.
"... Damn it! Alright, let's do it!"
What's this?
Why are they all so fired up? I have no intention of breaking the contract... Why would I give people like this to someone else?
I have to hold onto them until the end.
The rumor spread quickly. 'Tobin Workshop has opened its doors again.' 'And they're planning to participate in the upcoming chariot race.'
Naturally, this rumor reached the chariot workshop, ‘The Horseless Carriage’. The master, Gerik, stroked his mustache as he processed the information.
"That worthless old geezer. He should have just stayed quiet..."
He knew Tobin Workshop's skill well. That was precisely why he had tried so hard to crush them completely. From master to disciple, neither of them was disposable.
His plan was to bring both of them in for cheap once the workshop closed and they were drowning in debt. Did ‘The Horseless Carriage’ have to remain just a chariot workshop forever? It was about time they soared.
"But to think they're participating in the chariot race..."
Honestly, it was scary. That old man Tobin was a man of his word. He must have a trick up his sleeve.
It seemed best to avoid a direct confrontation if possible. Let's do what we always do. The master pressed the employee who brought the information.
"Did you find out who commissioned Tobin?"
"It seems to be a student from the Magic Tower."
"Perfect."
Mages who remain in the capital during the break are usually commoners without connections. That was fortunate. In cases like this, all he had to do was offer a cheaper price than Tobin and secure the contract.
Of course, it was a breach of professional ethics, but... For the peace of the capital's workshops, it couldn't be helped. He had no intention of letting go of his grip.
I'll dry you out and kill you, Tobin.
The next day. A man with a mustache stood before me.
"Are you the mage student who commissioned Tobin Workshop to build a chariot?"
"Not a chariot, but chariot parts. Is there a problem?"
The mustached man introduced himself as the master of ‘The Horseless Carriage’.
"You should transfer the job to our workshop. Whatever price Tobin quoted, we will do it for 10% less."
"You wouldn't be able to make it."
"Ha. Impossible. When it comes to chariots, we are the best."
Is that so? I decided to test the mustached man.
"Do you know what happens when you raise the temperature of iron, quench it, and then maintain it at a high temperature again for a certain period?"
"What? Do you need to know that to build a chariot?"
Fail.
This person doesn't know about heat treatment. But Tobin did. I said to the mustached man.
"I'm sorry, but you cannot work with me."
"I might consider collaborating if you go and learn from Mr. Tobin."
Had he ever been this insulted since becoming a master?
"I might consider collaborating if you go and learn from Mr. Tobin."
How dare...
How dare he! To insult him, who had clawed his way up from the bottom, just because he was lucky enough to be born with mana! Gerik’s mouth opened.
"Do you know how long I've been working as a smith?"
"Hmm... fifteen?"
"Seven."
"Oh."
Clap, clap, clap. The commoner mage applauded.
"If there were a hundred kids who picked up a hammer at that age... I am the only one who has reached my position now."
"That's impressive."
"Gah!"
Squeeze. Tremble, tremble.
Gerik clenched his fist and muttered.
"Acting like you know nothing from the start..."
"Excuse me?"
He couldn't curse him out loud. His opponent was a mage, a semi-noble. The rational decision here was to leave.
Then, he could slowly devise a plan to bury that mage.
However...
The way he acted so nonchalantly, as if he knew nothing, was infuriating. 'This bastard who knows everything...' Gerik’s mouth opened.
"Do you know who won last year's chariot race? It was our workshop!"
"No... I get it, but I'm telling you, your skills aren't enough to make what I want..."
Gerik wanted to beat that commoner mage to a pulp. Not with schemes, but head-on. It had been decades since he felt this way.
"Fine, Mr. Mage! I don't know what you're so confident and arrogant about, but I'll prove it with skill!"
"Hmm?"
"Let's see each other at the chariot race!"
"Oh. You're entering that too?"
"Let's see who is the better chariot designer, you or me!"
This time, he truly intended to go all out. He would mobilize all his connections, gather investment funds, and crush him with money.
"Let's see who is the better chariot designer, you or me!"
With those last words, the mustached man retreated.
"... What was that?"
Tobin, Callen, and now this mustached guy... they all had a serious edge to them. A vibe closer to hip-hop than craftsmanship.
"How cool."
Originally, I had planned to just make the suspension and be done with it... But honestly, I was a little provoked. By the 'sincerity' of the people of this world.
"Should I put in some effort too?"
It seemed like a good idea to build a chariot for the race in my spare time. It would be easier than the suspension. All I had to do was find a suitable structure by repeating wind tunnel and crash trials.