The Man Picked up by the Gods – Volume 3 Chapter 87: Prototype and Assessment (2/2)

“The meat here really fills you up. It goes well with liquor, so I always end up eating too much whenever I come here…” [Serge]

“Oh, Serge-san! Will you be in your usual seat?” [Female Waiter]

The waiter here remembers Serge-san by face and name. It seems he’s a regular here.

“Yes.” [Serge]

“Alrighty then. Oh, what a cute child. Are you together with him? Is he your son?” [Female Waiter]

“Excuse me!?” [Ryouma]

“He’s… a customer.” [Serge]

I know I look young, but having it thrown at my face like that really leaves one speechless.

Even Serge-san is making a funny face.

“Please follow me to the second floor then.” [Female Waiter]

We followed the waiter up the stairs.

“? Oh.”

When the door was opened, a refreshing wind blew past me. There were no walls nor windows in the second floor, only a roof and some columns to support it, leaving the city in full view. People could be seen below going to and fro the streets under the illumination of the lightings of the nearby buildings.

The place was like a beer garden with how noisy it was, but the tables were separated by a partition woven out of hide, so there was also a hint of calmness mixed into it.

“Can I take your order?” [Female Waiter]

“Two sets of the usual please. But before you serve it, I’d like to have a drink first. What wine do you have today?” [Serge]

“You’re in luck, Serge-san. The head chef managed to snag some higher quality ale today.” [Female Waiter]

“Then give me some snacks and a beer mug full of ale. How about you, Ryouma-sama?” [Serge]

“I’ll have the same.” [Ryouma]

“Ale then. I suppose you’ll be having that in a… glass?” [Female Waiter]

“A beer mug will do. Don’t worry. This body has been blessed by Tekun-sama.” [Ryouma]

“In that case, the first drink will be on the house.” [Female Waiter]

I showed my status board as proof (just the part with the God of Wine’s Blessing), and the waiter suddenly said that.

“…Is that okay?” [Ryouma]

I was just planning to use my status board like a license or ID, but for some reason, it got turned into a coupon instead. I’m not sure how to describe what I’m feeling, but I hope this is alright.

“For someone blessed by the God of Wine to visit our store on the very same day that our head chef just so happened to snag some good ale, this is clearly the God of Wine’s will!” [Female Waiter]

“The quality of wine affects the sales of restaurants, so there are many of them that are superstitious.” [Serge]

“…In that case, I shall gratefully accept.” [Ryouma]

“Alrighty then! Please wait a moment.” [Female Waiter]

I accepted the offer and sent the waiter on her way. I’ll just pay if something happens.

“What a beautiful view.” [Ryouma]

“This view is the town’s life itself.” [Serge]

“But despite all this hustle and bustle, you can still see the stars so clearly. Maybe it’s because one of the lights is weak that it’s able to naturally blend in with the artificial lights.” [Ryouma]

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Here are your ale and snacks.” [Female Waiter]

“That’s fast.” [Ryouma]

“This restaurant serves ale and snacks really quickly.” [Serge]

“People ask for them all the time, after all! So, go ahead and drink as much as you want! We’ll serve them in a jiffy.” [Female Waiter]

It seems this store is making quite a bit.

“Ryouma-sama, would you honer me a toast?” [Serge]

“Of course.” [Ryouma]

“Cheers!” [Ryouma and Serge]

We knocked our beer mugs against each other and drank from our respective mugs.

“Mmm!” [Ryouma]

As soon as the ale entered my mouth, its delightful fragrance filled me. It was sweet like fruit, but there was some herb mixed in as well. Bubbles welled up around my mouth as the ale slid down my tongue and into my throat. With barely any bitterness or strength to the liquor, I allowed the ale to keep on pouring.

“…PUHA! That’s really good!” [Ryouma]

“You said it! It goes great with the snacks too… Yes. Very delicious.” [Serge]

The ale was accompanied with salted nuts. Probably lightly roasted as well, as they emanated a faint aroma.

The sweetness of the ale coupled with the aroma and saltiness of the nuts was truly a match made in heaven.

“What a perfect combination to let loose after work.” [Ryouma]

“Oh, we’re just getting started, Ryouma-sama. Wait till you have a taste of their meat.” [Serge]

I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, I don’t drink myself full before the meat arrives.

“Fuu… By the way, were those magic tools in your room earlier?” [Serge]

“You saw? How embarrassing. After our trip to Dinome’s Workshop, I couldn’t help but try my hand at it as well.” [Ryouma]

“Oh! So, they really were magic tools. What kind of magic tool did you come up with?” [Serge]

It’s not a secret or anything, so I decided to show him the smaller ones of the tools I made.

“What do you think?” [Ryouma]

“…I say, Ryouma-sama, your imagination is truly unique. I’ve always felt that about you.” [Serge]

“What do you mean?” [Ryouma]

“For example, this ‘electric fan’ and ‘ventilation fan’ of yours. Both magic tools are meant to move wind, yes? Ventilation magic tools aren’t rare, but it’s very rare to see something that incorporates the rotation of a blade like yours does.

After all, if all one wants to do is to move wind, then enchanting a tool with wind magic would more than solve the problem. That’s common sense among magic tool artisans. In doing so, not only do you save on the costs of making a blade, you also make it easier to mass produce your tool. Of course, there are also those who try to prioritize user-friendliness, but they’re a minority.” [Serge]

Huh. I guess that was the cheaper way to do it.

“This way of doing things is somewhat similar to the magic car though.” [Ryouma]

“I agree. In the first place, magic cars were first invented based on a memo found in-between the pages of an important historical book. That memo contained ideas for several magic tools, but didn’t include any details. Fortunately, we were able to make some of them a reality.

For example, the ‘heater’ magic tool, which raises the temperature within a room, or the ‘air conditioner’ magic tool, which does the opposite. There’s also the ‘cooler box’ which cools food and keeps them fresh.

Although these magic tools all function differently, they follow a similar philosophy to yours, Ryouma-sama. A philosophy most similar to the person who wrote that memo…” [Serge]

…Based on that naming-sense, I’m guessing that person is an otherworlder like myself.

Of course, I can’t tell him that, so I just nodded and did my best not to let anything slip.

“Well, I didn’t really think I would be able to make something good right at the start.” [Ryouma]

“Oh, actually. This one is pretty good.” [Serge]

“Huh? This one?” [Ryouma]

Serge-san pointed at one of the magic tools I laid out on the table. It was a misshapen music box that looked like a toilet paper holder with a small comb attached to it and an uneven surface.

When mana is coursed through it, the gears within turn, and a children’s song can be heard playing from the uneven surface. But the melody played is nothing more than a simple tune that can be played with one finger on a piano.

“You sure about that?” [Ryouma]

“Of course. I’ve seen many magic tools as a collector, but a magic tool that can play music on its own is really interesting. It may not be very useful, but as a toy, I believe it has more than enough value. There are many nobles that fancy toys like these. If you take better care of the design, I’m sure it’ll sell.” [Serge]

When Serge-san started talking in hushed voices, I knew for sure that he was serious.

The music box was invented around the middle ages in Earth’s Europe. But the prototype, Carillon (a church bell meant to inform people of the time [1]), existed long before that. At least, that’s what I recall from one of my classes in college.

Anyway, they took that prototype, made it automatic and outfitted it with a clock—

—Wait. Didn’t the Jamil Household give me a magic tool clock? If I recall correctly, it’s supposedly so complicated that there was nothing else like it. [2]

“Are there really no magic tools like this that make sounds? Like for example, the bell church. I hear it a lot, and it would be a huge hassle if it was late for even a moment, so maybe something like this is used there?” [Ryouma]

“…Nothing really comes to mind. Magic tool alarms that use a whistle are a thing, but a magic tool that gives a musical performance on its own aren’t. Normally, commoners would invite a travelling entertainer or a troubadour, while nobles would invite a musician if they wanted to listen to music.

The church bell is tended to by the friars and the nuns. It’s a systematic part of their lives, so there’s no magic tool to substitute for them. I haven’t really looked into it, though.” [Serge]

So, I guess they don’t have any recording technology? In that case, maybe a gramophone or a recorder would gather attention. I don’t need to think about that now, but I do understand that the music box is surprisingly valued in this world.

“It seems you weren’t planning on selling it, but I think it would be a waste to just leave it to dust.” [Serge]

“…If I were planning on selling it, how would that work? I can’t exactly mass produce it by myself.” [Ryouma]

“Well, we…” [Serge]

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Here’s the store’s special steak, Herb Pork.” [Female Waiter]

Oh, the food is here.

The fragrant aroma of the pork and the herb emanating from the steam really whets one’s appetite.

“Let’s continue this topic after the meal.” [Ryouma]

“Of course. More ale please.” [Serge]

As Serge-san ordered more ale, I quickly cleaned up my stuff on the table.

 

[1] – Author’s note.

[2] – See chapter 5 for the moment when he received the clock and chapter 8 when he talks about it. CTRL + F ‘clock’ for your convenience.

Tl Notes: ePUB and PDF updated credits to a kind anonymous reader.


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24 responses to “The Man Picked up by the Gods – Volume 3 Chapter 87: Prototype and Assessment (2/2)”

  1. Hadi Hendra Avatar
    Hadi Hendra

    I like how they just accept ryouma drinking even though he is underage just because he has tekun’s blessing

    Thanks for the chapter !

    1. Gabriel Costa Cruz Avatar
      Gabriel Costa Cruz

      It is not just because he has Tekun’s blessing. This world has no age restriction for drinking, just as ours didn’t have until very recently.

  2. ThePlaneskeeper Avatar

    Thanks for the chapter!

  3. Revilo7B Avatar
    Revilo7B

    Thanks for the chapter!

  4. cake Avatar
    cake

    Lovely chapter. Maybe this is the path that will lead him to obtain Tekun’s other blessing.

  5. Isaac Cunningham Avatar
    Isaac Cunningham

    I am surprised other otherworlders haven’t made things like music boxes as there has been tons of otherworlders, tho maybe there was some that got lost in the flow of time similar to the lack of medical knowledge

  6. ZaX Avatar
    ZaX

    Electric fan is probably the only thing I could things of reproducing. Thanks for the chapter

  7. twinnnn100 Avatar
    twinnnn100

    thanks for the chapter

  8. Timóteo André Avatar
    Timóteo André

    The kid is 12-13 years old right? Right?

    Even though he has a blessing, still feels wrong that everyone just accepts that.

    1. Caudyr Avatar
      Caudyr

      He’s 11…maybe 12. Not sure if he’s turned 12 yet. Either way, it’s also mentioned that there’s actually no drinking age restrictions in this world, iirc. I’m pretty sure that even Elia was drinking at those parties and stuff (though her dad took most of it to protect her cause the nobles were being jerkwads and trying to force feed a child more alcohol than she can handle).

      Therefore, the whole “underage drinking” thing is a moot point.

  9. KuroHaruto Avatar

    Thanks for the chapter!!!

  10. Kariage Avatar
    Kariage

    Thanks for the chapter! 🙂

  11. Xix Avatar
    Xix

    It’s labeled as ch 86 from the home page.

  12. Charoshy Avatar
    Charoshy

    Thank you for the update. I thought, I had missed out on something about the clock and went back to read chapter 5 but it was just a small detail.

  13. Daiz71 Avatar
    Daiz71

    Thanks.

  14. Traveling Chef Avatar
    Traveling Chef

    thank you very much~

  15. Passing Pedant Avatar
    Passing Pedant

    That’s not quite what distinguishes a carillion, but it’s close.
    Normal church bells sound because they are swung and there is a hammer inside, they’re limited in count due to size so 8-12 is a pretty high number to have. The usually have a separate chiming hammer that is disconnected when the bells are being swung.
    A carillion uses bells that can’t swing, usually much going down to much smaller sizes, that are sounded by a separate chiming hammer being hit against them. Because of this the upper limit on bells in a carrilion is far higher, I think there are some in the 30s but I don’t remember exactly.
    Both can be played using the chiming hammers, they’re mostly there for the clock, but it’s like comparing the tune you get from a toy piano to a grand piano. Incidentally, traditional mechanical church clocks do play their 15 minute chimes like a giant music box, just with much bigger parts, so the comparison is really appropriate.
    And that’s your random trivia dump for the day.

    1. Dancer Avatar
      Dancer

      Wikipedia: carillon

      Spoiler
      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carillon

      A look at a player carillon. Similar to a player piano it is controlled by a “recording” of the music score. This music box is 100 tons and housed in a cathedral.

      Spoiler
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OsjG1aEdogw

  16. pokeperson1000 Avatar
    pokeperson1000

    Thanks for the chapter

    Also, just a brief mention, a typo: “honer me a toast?” *honor

  17. Jdeath006 Avatar
    Jdeath006

    Thanks for the chapter! 🙂

  18. sfcipher Avatar
    sfcipher

    Error?

    would you honer me a toast? -> would you honor me a toast?

    Thanks for the treat.

  19. Caudyr Avatar
    Caudyr

    I should point out that you forgot to link to the next chapter part, Jiggly. ^^

    Thanks again for the chapters as always~

  20. darkLoki Avatar
    darkLoki

    Thanks for the chapter, this is a sweet change

  21. John Fritz Avatar
    John Fritz

    I like this world-building the author is doing in the reboot. It makes the story more alive than monotonous since the mentions of future geniuses and inventions from the magic tool artisans makes your imagination just run wild, you know? And it’s really interesting what the next otherworlder’s reaction would be, maybe an epilogue after the story?

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