Volume 6 Chapter 15 Building A Bathhouse 5️⃣
In the freshly cleaned bathhouse of the Sanroze Territory, Zain and Cain had been hard at work since morning, busily assembling a new boiler. Their purpose was clear: to honor the promise Zain had made with the Margrave of the Shield Territory. In order to see it through, they had arranged to carry out the work as guests under the Sanroze family's hospitality.
"I've updated the design a little since last time. Turns out, the Mana efficiency's way better than the one we built back in the Shield Territory. Heh... Researching and refining magic tools really is the best."
Zain's voice carried a cheerful tone, almost like he was about to break into a hum. As he explained, the high Mana recovery rate from the magic stones Cain had supplied made several inefficient components in the previous design completely unnecessary. But for Cain—who lacked in-depth knowledge of magic engineering—it was all he could do to respond with a polite "That's amazing," or a sincere "Wow."
"By the way, Mr. Zain," Cain began, lifting his eyes from the boiler. "Fetching water in this territory is quite a chore. I'd like to use the water crystal magic tool I bought earlier—would that be alright?"
"Ah, I see. Filling a boiler of this size each time would be a hassle, that's for sure. I think it's a smart idea. Though, we'll need to install a Mana circuit to draw water from the crystal itself..."
Upon hearing Cain's suggestion, Zain pulled a small notebook from his magic bag and immediately began scribbling. For a good half hour, he muttered to himself, deep in thought, before suddenly lifting his head, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I've got it!"
"I'm sorry... I see there's something drawn here, but I still have a lot to learn about Mana circuits..."
Cain gave a wry smile and scratched at his cheek with his fingertip.
"My apologies, I got a little carried away," Zain said, looking a bit embarrassed as he mirrored the same gesture. "This is a more efficient circuit for extracting water from the crystal. The crystal itself is part of an older generation of magic tools, so it's riddled with inefficiencies."
With Zain's improvements implemented, the new boiler was finally completed—long past lunchtime.
"Alright then, shall we test it out and make some hot water?"
Just as Zain proudly declared the boiler's trial run ready, Barvish, who had been working alongside them, lightly suggested they break for lunch first. It was only then that Zain and Cain realized how deeply they had been absorbed in their work. Apologizing to Barvish, Gardy, and Sasha, the pair made their way to the dining hall.
* * *
Lunch was already prepared by the time Cain and the others took their seats. The meal began with a variety of sandwiches, all lightly flavored with mayonnaise. Alongside them, the head chef had crafted a special soup—rich with vegetables and steaming hot.
As Cain lifted the spoon to his lips, savoring the warmth, the chef approached to relay a quiet message. The moment the words reached his ears, a chill ran down Cain's back despite the soup's comforting heat. Sitting bolt upright, he resumed drinking the soup in silence, drawing curious looks from those seated nearby.
Even so, Cain offered no explanation. He simply kept eating and repeated the thought in his mind: Communication is important.
* * *
After lunch, the boiler's test run began in earnest, this time with Randolph and the head maids present. Despite the newly added features, Cain had confidence in the device—they'd already tested the fundamentals, and there was little reason to fear failure now.
Before they began, Cain called out to Lala. Since the test involved filling the boiler with hot water, they would first need to drain it for a proper demonstration. The thought of wasting that much water nagged at him, but it couldn't be helped.
"Alright, for the operation process—first, Sir Cain will insert a Mana-infused magic stone here. Then, lower this lever to release water into the boiler. Lastly, channel Mana into this stone to heat the water. That's the basic procedure. If there's anything unclear, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll prepare a written manual to guide the process as well."
Zain stood before the maids and butlers of the Sanroze household, explaining the system with calm precision. While slightly more complex than the earlier model built in the Shield Territory, this version had been carefully designed to eliminate the need for manual water transport. Users could now even set the exact water temperature.
"Sir Cain," Randolph said, stepping forward once the explanation ended, "this new boiler is truly remarkable. In the past, we had to add cold water to adjust the temperature ourselves. Being able to produce hot water at the desired temperature will ease the maids' workload considerably."
Cain nodded at Randolph's words, heart swelling with quiet pride.
"You're right. I need to properly thank Mr. Zain... and apologize to everyone for how hard they've had to work up until now."
"Please do express your gratitude to Sir Zain," Randolph replied gently. "As for the maids, there's no need to apologize. The work may have been difficult, but they were still able to enjoy the baths each day. However, if Sir Cain were to offer a few words of appreciation, I believe it would lift everyone's spirits."
"I'll do that. Thank you, Randolph."
Cain kept his voice low, making sure only Randolph could hear. Though still unfamiliar with noble customs, he listened closely to Randolph's guidance, grateful for the quiet support.
Notes:
• Zain - A man in his 30s with long ears, possibly an elf or a similar race. He works in the basement of Ms. Merida's shop and is highly perceptive, noticing Cain's incredible mana from a distance.
• Barvish - A slave dwarf with a muscular, compact physique, intended as Cain's retainer/bodyguard, brought via magical contract.
• Sasha - Female. A young and energetic warrior. She has a confident demeanor and wears a short sword at her waist. Her appearance is typical of an elf, with pointed ears and a slender build. She is determined to prove her strength and has a playful rivalry with her seniors. She admires Sir Cain and is responsible for waking him gently in the morning.
• Lala - Cain's companion, likely a servant or minder, cautious and protective.
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