Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 44: The Ungrateful Son
I pondered what I could create by combining the knowledge I retained from my previous life with the information and technology of this world.
In alchemy, what I could mold into existence was limited to “things whose shapes I could precisely envision.”
Anything beyond my imagination was off-limits. Electronic devices, for instance, were naturally impossible—but even objects whose internal structures I didn’t know, or those too complex for me to fully visualize, were beyond my alchemical capabilities.
In other words, there were limits even to imagination itself.
Rather than trying to conjure a finished product in one go, it seemed far more reliable to adopt the approach I’d used when crafting bearings: create individual components—balls, inner rings, outer rings—separately, and then assemble them piece by piece.
As for other possibilities, I could perhaps synthesize chemicals using methods like fusion, separation, or maturation. Yet creating potions or chemicals was dangerous without the proper knowledge, so I had never attempted it. Still, maturation could be applied to food, and I planned to experiment with that someday—aged meat, after all, was delicious.
Synthesis could also be used for creating alloys, but metals other than iron were scarce and expensive, so I hadn’t tested that yet either.
After considering all the possibilities, I realized that, with my current knowledge, the only thing I could reasonably make was a bicycle. Motorcycles or cars required power sources and fell under the category of magical devices. Chemicals required precise knowledge, and potions demanded elemental attributes—none of which I could handle.
The conclusion was clear: contrary to Rugena’s dramatic claims, there was no way I could make anything “truly incredible.”
With that in mind, I focused on creating parts for a bicycle. The reason was simple: components made for a bicycle could be repurposed for other projects.
The first thing I made was wire, crafted by twisting iron threads created through alchemy. While I could produce the threads, I couldn’t manipulate them into twisted wire using alchemy alone, so Rugena assisted me. The process involved threading each iron strand through a guide, shaped like a lotus root with holes about the size of coins, and then twisting it as the guide rotated.
Next, I attempted to make a suspension using the core material from slimes. I didn’t know the exact structure of a suspension, so what I ended up creating was more of a “suspension-like contraption,” and it proved to be a major challenge. Initially, I thought, “It’s supposed to absorb shocks, so maybe I can just sandwich it in somewhere?” I tried to make it the perfect size, but the liquid core material leaked through tiny gaps. Hardening the core stopped it from stretching, making it useless for vertical movement. In the end, I decided to control the up-and-down motion with springs while letting the core absorb shocks.
When I attached this experimental suspension to a cart and had Rugena pull it, the experience was strange—on land, it felt as if I were sailing on a boat. The sensation was slightly nauseating.
There was another matter. About two weeks after Ditnell left the village, Autihel came to my mother to formally ask for her hand in marriage.
After the previous “misunderstanding marriage incident,” he hadn’t approached us, but apparently, he had learned something when Ditnell stayed over. He said, “If you’re going to be dragged back and forced into marriage, you might as well marry me and stay here.”
His reasoning was, as always, a little off. Still, this time it was an actual marriage proposal, and Mother flatly refused. “I have no intention of marrying you.”
He left with his shoulders slumped, disappointed, but unlike before, he didn’t shout or make a scene. Perhaps, if he didn’t have that lecherous grin, he might even be a decent man… though I still couldn’t bring myself to like him.
Amid all this, I continued my crafting. About a month later, a small contingent arrived in the village: one knight who had served Ditnell, a maid attendant, and five adventurers.
The knight, acting as a messenger, presented proof that the severance notice had been revoked, along with letters from the head of the Kaupels family and Ditnell himself. Mother read them, her face tightening into a grimace as she sighed.
“The wheat harvest is approaching. Could you wait until it’s over?” she asked.
“No. Ditnell-sama instructed us to bring you immediately.”
“I see. But the letter doesn’t specify a date, and leaving the house will require preparation. At the very least, we should have time to get ready, yes?”
Mother had the knight confirm the details in Ditnell’s letter.
“Are you taking the others as well?” she asked.
“Of course. You can’t leave children behind, can you?”
For a moment, I wondered if the knight had intended to take only Mother. Logically, they couldn’t leave the children or the servants behind.
“…Very well. But we depart for Meluestat on the morning of the third day.”
“The morning of the third day, understood.”
We began preparations to leave, unsure if we would ever return. All the tools I had crafted were dismantled and returned to raw materials. The forge was cleaned and maintained, and I gave the keys back to the village head. I told my friend Rodibel simply that we’d be “away for a while.”
My mother asked the villagers to handle the wheat harvest, and arranged with the tax officer, Keties, to deliver our share of the taxes, while leaving the remainder for the villagers.
“Martine, or should I say, Martine-sama?”
“No, as before is fine, Keties.”
The day before our departure, Keties arrived for a pre-harvest inspection. Although my mother had already informed the village head about the wheat, she spoke with him directly and also discussed the profits from the glass business we had contracted with the Merlot family.
“I’ve deposited the glass business profits into your account, Arthur. Are you sure this is alright?”
“Yes. If we’re taken away, even the glass profits could be seized.”
“Then… there must have been other options.”
Keties’ voice was quiet and measured.
Those “other options” meant marrying someone officially. Through formal marriage, one becomes part of the spouse’s family, and the Kaupels family could no longer enforce orders like this one. That was why Autihel had attempted to propose marriage.
Even if Mother had married him, we couldn’t be certain how much resistance we could mount. Commoners’ marriages required only a declaration, with no formal documents, so proof of marriage would be impossible.
Exile was another option, but to leave this village, we had to pass through Meluestat, risking discovery by Ditnell. Traveling north to the nearest neighboring country was also dangerous due to constant skirmishes, and who knew what might happen. Traveling east would take over a year and pass through the royal capital. Traveling south meant crossing Kaupels’ territories. Exile was deemed impractical.
We could have tried adoption by the Merlot family if the severance revocation hadn’t been issued—but that was no longer possible. Mother decided to “play her last card,” but it arrived too late.
The next day arrived.
“We depart.”
At the knight’s signal, the carriage set off. It could hold six people, and inside were the four of us plus the maid. Two adventurers alternated as drivers, while another stood at the rear, keeping watch. The knight and one adventurer rode alongside, surveying the surroundings.
The adventurers dealt with monsters along the way. At the same spot as before, spider-like monsters appeared, and the adventurers destroyed them completely by burning the corpses. Watching it, I couldn’t help but sigh. “What a waste…”
Even in this situation, my mind wandered to crafting. Perhaps I was a truly ungrateful son.