𖹭 Chapter 3 𖹭
‘…No, seriously, does this even make sense?’
Workshop master Edgar was completely shocked by the feel of the metal in his hand.
He had worked in an alchemy workshop for a long time and had done countless enchantments, handling many kinds of metals over the years.
Just by touching them, he could tell their texture, weight, and even their compatibility. That was how experienced he was.
But this silver-colored metal in his hand—something that looked like iron, yet wasn’t quite iron, and wasn’t anything else either—felt completely different from anything he had ever touched.
And the reason was simple.
‘How can a piece of metal this big be this light?’
It was the weight.
The feeling in his hand did not match the actual weight.
It was cold like normal metal, but the expected heaviness was not there at all.
If anything, it felt like he was holding air in his hand.
That was how unbelievably light it was compared to any metal he knew.
“W-what is this, young master?”
Edgar asked Yujin in shock.
Something that completely destroyed his common sense had suddenly appeared.
He had no choice but to be shocked.
“Ah, that. It’s something I made recently.”
“You made this?”
“Yes. It’s the thing requested by the Kalibor Magic Tower.”
“Ah, that…”
A request to create a metal as light as paper, yet highly compatible with the lightning element.
It was a job that came from the Kalibor Magic Tower and somehow ended up at this failing Workshop No. 43.
‘This… if this is real…’
At the very least, the weight requirement was perfect.
If this metal could be made thin, it would truly feel as light as paper.
Mages were generally picky people, but if they saw this new metal, they would not be able to complain.
There had never been a metal this light in the world—how could anyone object?
No, more importantly…
‘If this gets out into the world, it could become a huge sensation…’
That possibility also crossed his mind.
“Is this weight enough, Workshop Master? It’s a prototype, so I think this should be sufficient…”
“It is more than sufficient. But how did you even…”
“I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep. Ah, and please handle the testing of lightning-element compatibility and send it to the Kalibor Magic Tower. I’m not very familiar with that part.”
“Ah, yes, young master!”
Yujin, looking exhausted from staying up all night, went into the workshop lodging.
Most alchemy workshops had lodging attached because they often worked overnight.
‘…We should test it first.’
The Magic Tower’s request was not only light weight and lightning compatibility. They also needed to check if it was easy to process, resistant to corrosion, and other properties.
Edgar used the workshop testing equipment.
And then—
‘It’s not only compatible with lightning, it’s easy to process, and it doesn’t corrode easily?’
It wasn’t just light—the material itself was far superior to anything they had seen before.
Its strength wasn’t very high due to its lightness, so it couldn’t be used for armor, but its possible uses were endless.
‘He created such an outstanding metal just days after arriving…’
When Edgar first heard that Yujin Magnus would be managing the workshop, he thought it was strange.
He had never heard any rumors of outstanding test results, alchemy talent, or achievements worthy of a successor.
So he had no expectations when the young master from the main family arrived.
But as soon as he came, he solved a problem the workshop had struggled with for a long time.
And he did it by creating a metal that had never existed in this world before.
Honestly, Edgar had spent a long time thinking about quitting this job.
He didn’t know when things had gone wrong, but everything had only gotten worse over time.
But now…
‘If we have a genius like this in our workshop…’
Maybe this workshop could come back to life.
That thought began to form in Edgar’s mind.
A few days later.
[Metal you requested has been delivered]
A package arrived at the Kalibor Magic Tower from Magnus Workshop No. 43, along with a letter.
Inside the package was a small box containing something.
‘A request? What did I even request…?’
Senior mage of the Kalibor Magic Tower, Evelyn Kalibor, frowned as she thought.
Mages at the Magic Tower handled all kinds of tasks.
Since their work involved research, they often ordered many different items.
And those items usually took a long time, since they were not easily available or had to be specially made.
Sometimes, the items never arrived at all.
Since payment was made after delivery, there was no real loss.
Because of this, people often forgot what they had ordered—or even forgot the research itself.
‘Well, I’ll remember it when the time comes.’
Evelyn tossed the package onto a messy desk full of scattered items.
She completed the simple paperwork and sat back down at her desk.
Then she resumed her current research:
[Why do humans find penguins swallowing sardines cute?]
‘This research is absolutely necessary for the survival of humanity.’
She believed this deeply.
At this time, humans ruled the world, and penguins were kept in zoos as cute animals.
But in truth, they were extremely dangerous creatures.
Especially when hunting sardines, penguins moved with unbelievable speed—like predators catching prey.
Despite their cute appearance, they hid a dangerous predator’s instinct inside them.
And yet, humans still found them “cute” even when they were hunting.
To Evelyn, this was no different from calling a lion cute while it tore apart its prey.
It was simply the strong dominating the weak.
Yet people still loved penguins for it.
In Evelyn’s mind, this meant penguins were brainwashing human perception itself.
It was a serious threat to humanity.
If the entire world were flooded, humans could not swim—but penguins could.
In that world, penguins would become the “strong,” and humans the “weak.”
And humans, already conditioned to find penguins cute, would not resist even as they were hunted.
This was a future crisis for humanity’s survival.
“I must complete this research quickly and reveal the danger of penguins to all humanity!”
Just as she was immersed in her mission—
thud
A sound came from the floor.
Looking down, she saw the small box from the package had fallen.
‘Ugh, annoying…’
She picked it up, complaining about her messy desk.
But then—
‘…Isn’t this too light? Can metal even be this light?’
She was surprised by how light it felt.
The package clearly said it was metal, but the weight was unbelievably light.
‘Did they scam me?’
Since she had already paid, if it was a scam, she needed to act quickly.
She quickly opened the box.
And then—
‘Huh? It’s actually metal?’
She was surprised to find real metal inside.
‘Come to think of it…’
She had once ordered a metal that was both highly compatible with lightning elements and as light as paper.
It was needed for her research on a flying saucer made of metal that could fly in the sky.
Because the conditions were so difficult, she had offered a high reward—but it had been so long she had completely forgotten about it.
‘But is this really metal?’
She examined the iron-colored metal in her hand.
Alchemy was useful, but also full of frauds.
For example, there was once an alchemist who claimed to have found the Philosopher’s Stone that turned everything into gold—but it was actually just an illusion artifact that made metal look golden.
So this could also be a scam.
Carefully, she tested it thoroughly.
And then…
‘…What? It’s real metal?’
It passed every test.
There was absolutely no trick.
It was a pure metal—no impurities, no illusion.
Not even an alloy. It looked like a single pure metal.
“This is… interesting.”
She completely forgot about her “penguin crisis” research.
“Everyone, gather! I have something to show you! And send another order to the workshop that made this!”
She called all the researchers in the Magic Tower.
She wanted to show them this revolutionary new metal.
‘Ah… what was its name again?’
She checked the attached report.
The name was…
“It’s called… aluminum.”
Edgar nodded after hearing the name of the new metal Yujin had created.
“By the way, does the name have any meaning, young master?”
“Meaning? Umm… not really.”
It was just what it was called on Earth.
Strictly speaking, it was not even Yujin’s original discovery, so keeping the original name made sense.
It was also easier for him later if he didn’t have to create new names for everything.
“I-I see! The name doesn’t matter at all!”
Edgar said with unusual intensity.
‘…Why does he seem more respectful than before?’
Yujin thought this was strange.
Edgar, who had initially seemed a bit lazy about dealing with him, now looked much more energetic and respectful.
‘Maybe he’s in a good mood today.’
Yujin didn’t think much of it.
“B-but this small device called an ‘electrolysis cell’… how did it produce aluminum…?”
“Do you remember what I explained earlier? Melt the albalite and levocite in the furnace, pour it into the cell, then apply voltage to create a potential difference…”
As Yujin activated the magic-powered voltage system, aluminum slowly began to be refined.
But—
“Voltage? So… is that a type of lightning element?”
“It’s more like a path that allows the lightning element to move…”
Even though Yujin tried to explain carefully, Edgar’s expression was no different from a junior listening to a complicated research presentation.
He understood nothing.
“Understood, young master. I will do my best.”
‘It’s hopeless.’
Yujin thought.
Explaining scientific concepts like voltage to people of this world was impossible.
But it wasn’t really Edgar’s fault.
Science was simply a framework to understand natural laws.
But in a world with magic, that framework would naturally feel unfamiliar.
Still, the fact that electrolysis worked at all meant there was some underlying universal law connecting both systems.
For now, though, Yujin was probably the only one who could use that system.
‘Technology monopoly, huh… not bad.’
The Kalibor Magic Tower had already placed another order.
Even when he quoted a price 100 times higher than gold per volume, they said it didn’t matter.
In that case, exclusive technology was an advantage, not a weakness.
Also, Yujin’s magic was far more efficient than normal lightning magic.
Instead of forcing mana to move charges, it guided them naturally.
That was why he could produce aluminum without exhausting himself.
But still…
‘The equipment needs improvement…’
The high-pressure furnace was borrowed and had to be returned soon.
The electrolysis cell was barely larger than a soup bowl, making production extremely slow.
Even though aluminum sold for a high price, the production volume was too low.
Alchemy equipment was expensive because it needed precision and stability.
He had enough money to keep the workshop running, but not enough to improve it or expand.
There were many things he wanted to make.
For example, aluminum alloys like duralumin would likely have high demand.
But he didn’t have the money for it right now.
‘Sigh… is there anywhere I can get more funding?’
As he prepared for work, Yujin thought.
A few days later, at the Kalibor Magic Tower.
Senior researcher Evelyn Kalibor was speaking with Jeffrey, a close aide of Isaac Magnus.
“So yes, the Magnus Workshop sent this metal called ‘aluminum,’ and my research has finally made progress! The sample you’re holding is that aluminum—it’s unbelievably light…”
But Jeffrey wasn’t listening.
Instead—
“Hmm…”
He was simply staring at the aluminum in his hand with great interest.
