Greatest Alchemist? Chapter 166

Trial and Error

Having come out about the Sanctuary to Margrave Volton, I’ve been feeling somewhat light these days, concentrating on the ship making.
I can concentrate.

The ship’s body was making progress, but I worked with the Dwarves on the plan for the Controllable Pitch Propeller and Magic Turbine.

Controllable Pitch Propeller (henceforth CPP) is a rotating screw propeller which enables forward and reverse movement. It is technology that is normally installed into modern destroyers and large warships. However, while I know its general mechanism, it’s difficult to design it from scratch. I want to be able to complete it with the cooperation of Golan-san and the Dwarves somehow.

「Fumu, I understand that the “screw” rotates something and gains propulsive power. The so called CPP switches from forward and reverse by altering the direction of the rotation. Fu~mu, I’ll reflect on this properly.」

Golan-san raised his voice in admiration as I made a simple diagram and explained it, but I just happened to like the military types in my previous life a bit. That’s why the ship that came to mind, at first, was the Atago class destroyer.

「I was thinking we need to make models and test the Magic Turbine and CPP screw.」
「Ah, I am also of the same thought. I also want to verify the shape and number of propellers.」
「We must also include the analysis of the rotation method of the propellers.」
「Ou! Leave it to us!」

Thumping his chest with his brawny arm, Golan-san took over the model creation and testing.

Golan-san grabbed the theoretical blueprint and walked to the workshop the Dwarves built for themselves in quick steps.

I went into designing the ship’s main body.
Actually, for making the ship’s body, I was thinking of adopting methods uniquely applying to this world.
The structure is relatively simple to try, and the creation method will be 『Alchemy』, which is from my main Job.

I’m planning on calculating and preparing the needed materials, then build the majority of the hull with alchemy. The interior and stern of the ship will be worked on manually by the Dwarves, but I’ve chosen to process the finer parts and Sea Dragon materials with alchemy too.

The development of the CPP is a difficult voyage. For the propeller to rotate, I need to test various things, like hydraulics, No attribute magic, and Wind attribute magic.
I even made a pool for testing, testing tiny model ships repeatedly.

I repeatedly made designs and prototypes for peripherals, such as a method to steer and control the output of power.

「Takumi, let’s use mithril conducting wires for the CPP’s power and control. Mithril is abundantly yielded from Gnome-sama’s mine and he had given his seal of approval.」
「Steering, Magic Turbine’s power control, CPP’s operation, I want all of these to be manageable from the pilothouse with mithril wiring.」
「Right. A compass is also essential in the pilothouse.」

Golan-san decided to put everything related to handling the ship into the pilothouse, and I asked him about the CPP tests.

「Are the tests doing well?」
「The mechanism for rotating the propeller and the controlling magic formula are alright. However, we must still verify the optimal shape and number of propellers.」

I have no clue about shapes and numbers of propellers used in the screw, so Golan-san has been producing and testing various types.

「Ooh, as expected. Please continue.」
「Umu, I got you.」
「Has ore mining been alright?」
「Yeah, it’s doing well. My brethren have increase, after all.」
「Eh? They increased?」
「What, you haven’t noticed? The Dwarves have increased by 5 again since the last time. All of them are skillful craftsmen.」

Golan-san says it’s really natural that the Dwarves have increased. Having been surprised so much, I’ve come to feel okay with anything already.

「Takumi-samaa! Would it be alright if I go shopping with Akane-san and Lulu-chan in Volton?」

Laeva, who was entrusted with the production of goods to be sold to Papeck Company, turned up at workshop with her ears aflit.

「Yup, careful where you go. Ah, it’s alright if you bring along Fluna-san and the Mermaids if they want to go.」
「Ooh, that is a good idea. The Mermaids have few belongings, so that would be perfect.」

Then Akane and Lulu-chan called Laeva.

「Laeva, let’s go quickly. We have a lot to do today.」
「Yes, understood.」
「Well then, take care and have a good day.」
「「We’re off!」」
「See you later.」

Akane waved, then walking to the mansion basement where the Gate is established. Laeva hurried out of the workshop to ask Fluna-san and the Mermaids.
The Gate is an improved version of the Time-Space magic’s Long Distance Transfer magic device, and it is available to even individuals that do not have the Time-Space attribute. Of course, it has a specification where unauthorized people can’t use it because of the magic power authentication, but by holding hands with authorized people like Laeva, Fluna-san and the others could also teleport using the Gate. Wappa, Colette, and the kids had also been brought to Volton a few times, having them help with the shopping.

「Haa, I want to go out and take a break too, but Undine said to do this as soon as possible.」
「Indeed. We want to shelter the Mermaids from the south of the continent as soon as possible, after all. Let’s do our best, Takumi-sama.」

I don’t know if Sophia was consoling me or if she was encouraging me when I grumbled idly, but she called out to me.
We’re in the Sanctuary workshop so I don’t need guarding, but Sophia never leaves my side.

「You’re right. I’ll keep at it!」

With my discussions with Golan-san about the design, the ship eventually became 100m long and 20m wide. It needed many more components that needed to be designed apart from the engine and the CPP, and those blueprints need to be completed. This is the consequence of my choice not to use sails though.
The specifications of facilities that could be built at a later date, like various interior designs, dining halls, bathrooms, hatches, etc, were to be discussed with Sophia, Marnie, and the others.

Wanting personal rooms, or wanting a full bath and not just a shower in their room. Anytime there was a request, the blueprints increase.

I’m having fun planning as I imagine a variety of things though.

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