Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World

07 - Ingenious Plan

Ethan held the bar of soap up to the sunlight, the pink hue catching the light and shimmering. It wasn't perfect, but a thrill ran through him. It was his creation. Well, technically not, but he still made something. His first creation in this new world.

The urge to try it was overwhelming. He could picture the luxurious lather, the clean scent of flowers, and the gentle scrub. Roland stood beside him; his brow furrowed in concern. "My Lord," he started hesitantly, "perhaps you should allow me to test it first? New inventions can be... unpredictable."

Ethan considered this. There was low to zero chances of something going awry, however, Roland was right. While the science behind soap-making was sound, there was always a chance he'd messed up somewhere. Besides, Roland was strong, far stronger than Ethan, at the very least.

"You're right, Roland," he conceded. "You shall be the first to experience the wonders of my Magnificent Multipurpose Marvelous Soap!" Ethan cringed the moment he said it.

Ethan caught Roland's lips twitching at the overly dramatic title, but the man bowed his head and Ethan didn't pursue it either—he felt rather embarrassed after all. "As you wish, my Lord," Roland said.

Roland hesitantly picked up a bar of soap, his fingers brushing the smooth surface. "It looks...interesting," he said diplomatically.

"Interesting indeed. Now, take it to the bathhouse and tell me everything. Does it lather well? Is it a good scrub? And most importantly, does it leave your skin feeling like the softest velvet?"

Roland did as instructed, and as Ethan paced the workshop, anxiety churned in his stomach. He'd poured hours of research and effort into this project, and the anticipation was almost unbearable.

Finally, Roland returned, a smile gracing his lips. "My Lord," he started, "the soap... it's magnificent."

Ethan's heart soared. "See? I told you!"

"The lather is rich and creamy," Roland continued, "the soap provides a gentle but effective scrub, and my skin feels... invigorated. Clean. And the scent is subtle but delightful. This is easily the best soap I've tried, and beats the luxurious ones in quality."

Relief washed over Ethan. He couldn't help but grin like a child who'd just won a game. "A masterpiece, just as I promised!" He eyed the soap thoughtfully. "Although, perhaps a touch less pink next time. Maybe a calming blue for a relaxing bath?"

Roland chuckled. "Perhaps, my Lord."

As Ethan busied himself with planning future variations, a thought struck him. Jack was still missing. The blight-repellent properties were a crucial part of the equation. Without them, the soap was a luxury, not a necessity.

Though, I am thinking of creating three versions—one that's simple soap; one that's a simple soap with blight-repellent properties; lastly, one that's the highest quality that I'll be using to rip off the noblemen and noblewomen.

"Roland. Prepare a message for Jack. Inform him that his contribution to the project is urgently needed. We require his brilliance to complete this magnificent soap!"

Roland bowed. "As you wish, my Lord."

***

The stench of decay from the observation chamber had to be a constant reminder of the urgency of Jack's task—he spent his days hunched over his workbench, surrounded by bubbling vials and glowing crystals. Through tireless observation of the Blight organisms through his magical construct, a picture began to form in his mind.

These weren't simply mindless creatures, that much had been certain. They moved in predefined patterns, a complex moveset that seemed to exploit weaknesses in a host's natural mana defenses—unless said host did not possess mana, which was a rare case, but nothing unheard of. Each Blight type—there were more than he initially expected, given that the organisms usually separated and evolution struck them differently due to changes in their environments or hosts—had its own unique signature.