Chapter 626 – So Much Work, So Little Time.

“Here, take it.”

“What’s this?”

“Homework.”

Roland handed Bernir a thick notebook. The trial was over and he had failed, but the real challenge was only beginning.

“I… I’m not sure what I’m looking at here, Boss.”

“I tried to make it easier. These are simplified theories about souls, spirits, and the power they use. It will be better if you study this before you return and attempt the trial again.”

Bernir flipped through the notebook, and his eyes already looked tired. He was not much of a researcher but a craftsman at heart. He preferred shaping metal with a hammer to reading complex theories. Roland had spent a few hours organizing what he had observed during the trial and writing notes that could help Bernir, but it was still up to him to absorb the knowledge.

The mana phantom research was at the heart of the notes, as it was what led Bernir to unlock his new class. Roland’s theory was straightforward. The mana phantom represented the soul, and through the use of the prosthesis, a connection between the two was established. This connection triggered the title’s activation and granted Bernir a special class, one that allowed him to forge using soul energy.

To pass this trial, Bernir would likely need to tap into this new form of energy. Roland could at least provide him with information on spiritualism and the research he had used to develop the prosthetics capable of connecting to the mana phantom. He also planned to look for skill books that might help Bernir attune to his own soul, though he had yet to confirm whether such books even existed. The only person he knew who understood souls well was that strange witch, but he had no intention of visiting her since doing so would put him in danger.

“I’m not complaining, but there are a lot of big words here…”

“You’ll figure it out. Just read it at home, see it as homework!”

“You sure come up with some strange phrases, boss.”

Bernir sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. The notebook weighed more than some of the lighter hammers in his forge. It was quite hefty, and to him, some of the diagrams looked like witchcraft.

“If you don’t understand something, I’ll try to explain it. You can also ask Sebastian about it. His explanations might lack some nuance, but it’s better than nothing.”

Roland smiled slightly as he watched Bernir scratch his beard. This was not Bernir’s strong suit, but he was good at reading and following instructions. He still did not seem fully decided on his new class. After taking the book, he glanced at Roland with more questions.

“Boss, do you think I can do it? Or should I just train my left side for now?”

“I’m not sure. It’s possible that the area you entered was only part of the test.”

Both of them had reviewed the footage, and with Bernir’s memories partially restored, they had a good idea of what it involved.

“Aye, making one greatsword feels like just the beginning of it.”

Bernir said, and Roland nodded.

“It might have been an area meant to help you get used to the new skills. Once you passed, you would probably need to make something more. Maybe a full suit of armor or several weapons.”

Bernir nodded while holding the notes tightly. The tier-three trials were usually much longer. Some could take weeks, months, or even years, as was the case with Roland. They could not be sure how long it would take, but with the help of memory restoration technology, passing it seemed possible. With Roland’s guidance and access to the Institute’s vast library of knowledge, it was within reach.

“I can’t make the decision for you. If you want, you can choose one of the easier variants and then try this one once you reach level two hundred and fifty, after we have done more research.”

Roland said, offering an alternative. Bernir could always postpone this class and attempt it later. Many people did that when they faced a difficult trial. It was generally considered easier to leave the more prestigious class for the second trial, something Roland often did in reverse.

“I see… aye, give me some time to decide, boss.”

“Take all the time you need, and remember, don’t worry about the resources. Money isn’t an issue.”

“But boss, how will I ever repay you?”

“What do you mean? What would I do without my number one assistant? If you really want to help, start reading. The faster you become a tier-three class holder, the better. There is so much work to be done and so little time.”

Roland’s eyes trembled slightly, and Bernir flinched. A wave of projects was heading their way, and they were already short-staffed. Lately, he had been wondering if it was time to expand. They relied heavily on the dwarven craftsmen, but it was always better to train a few promising artisans themselves. Once Bernir reached tier three, he would be considered a master and could properly take apprentices under his wing.

Roland could do the same, but with his relentless schedule, finding time for a proper protégé was difficult. Still, he knew he might eventually have to. Relying entirely on the union for most of the heavy work was not ideal. Another path was automation, which was becoming more feasible as his research progressed, although even automated factories required supervisors.

“My own team of blacksmith apprentices…”

Once Roland mentioned the idea, Bernir drifted off, lost in thought. He was likely imagining his own team of assistants and a smithy entirely under his control. Even now, Roland was the one who made all the important decisions. When Bernir had turned the old shed into his personal corner of the workshop, it had still technically belonged to Roland. The only other smithy he had access to was the one owned by his wife. He didn’t truly have a place he could call his own, but if he became a tier-three master, that dream might finally come within reach.

“Stop daydreaming and focus on passing the trial first, Bernir.”

“Aye… I’ll get back to work then, but what about you, boss?”

“Me?”

Roland paused and tried to organize his thoughts. Among their ongoing projects, the most immediate was the railway connection to the neighboring city under Robert’s protection. Theodore was doing everything he could to cut them off from the western routes, leaving Albrook as their only reliable trade partner. Apparently, any merchants who dared to enter Aldbourne were being banned from setting foot in Theodore’s territory if discovered.

If it was assembled correctly, they would be able to supply their second city with ease and would not need to worry about random monster or bandit attacks. It was very likely that Theodore was not above hiring mercenaries to disrupt their trade routes and rob them blind.

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There was also another possible solution that involved creating vehicles similar to the armored one he had used to travel through the underground. These were comparable to modern cars but powered by mana instead. However, their use presented several problems, one of the biggest being their extremely high fuel requirement, which exceeded the cost of modern vehicles by more than ten times.

To solve this issue, they would need to build charging stations in each city and either connect mana power cables from their geothermal electric plant or install wind generators. Unless the cost of fuel decreased, even wealthy merchants would refuse to purchase such vehicles. It was a potential project for the future, but it would likely take many years to realize, and they would first need to establish the necessary framework to support it.

“I’ll probably head out into the dungeon for a few days. Not sure when I’ll be back. There should still be some time before Arthur’s brother arrives to see Agni, but I’ll need to return once that happens.”

“Aye, well, I won’t take up your time then. See you around, boss.”

“Yes, enjoy your homework.”

Roland nodded and parted with Bernir. He returned to the main display screens in his workshop and called out to Sebastian.

“Bring up the schematics from the backlog folder.”