Using a round metal tube, I hollowed out the core of the Apos. This method easily removes the stem, core, and seeds.
One by one, I cored a large quantity of Apos and simmered them with an equal amount of water, keeping the skins on. As the Apos softened during cooking, I mashed them into a pulp. Stirring carefully to prevent burning, I let the mixture reduce before transferring it into a barrel. Once cooled to around 50 degrees, I added specialized koji yeast made explicitly for Apo fermentation.
- Conversion: 1 kilogram of Apo → 100 grams of koji for Apo wine = Mana cost: 200 points
With the Apo wine set to ferment, I moved on to medicinal wine. Using 10 types of herbal ingredients, which I’ll now collectively call “kanpo,” I prepared two different blends based on their medicinal properties. The base for these wines is distilled Maou spirits, requiring no heat-based preparation like Apo wine. The process involved cutting the herbs into appropriate sizes and mixing them with a shared medicinal wine starter, then adding them to the distilled spirits.
The Apo wine fermentation is progressing well, and it should be ready in about three months. The medicinal wines, however, will take six months to reach their full potential. Fortunately, these require little maintenance during aging.
While tending to the Apo wine, I decided to tackle the mountain of slime gel in storage. The maid, Sarah, scolded me about the lack of space in the warehouse.
Slime gel is an incredibly versatile material. However, mana consumption differs significantly between producing raw materials and crafting finished goods. For sustainable industrial use, over-relying on magic is inefficient. I must ensure others can replicate these processes independently of me.
Still, when I saw my grandmother’s wheelchair, I thought, This needs an upgrade.
- Conversion: 3 kilograms of slime gel + 1 kilogram of sulfur + 2 kilograms of wood + 2 kilograms of iron → Slime-tire for wheelchair = Mana cost: 300 points
The resulting tires offered durability, weather resistance, and cushioning. To reinforce the slime gel, I embedded iron wires within. While making these wires manually was challenging, it was worth it for my grandmother’s comfort.
Next on my list: carriage tires.
- Conversion: 10 kilograms of slime gel + 4 kilograms of sulfur + 10 kilograms of iron + 10 kilograms of wood → Slime-tires for carriage = Mana cost: 1,200 points
I don’t often ride in carriages, but after a particularly bumpy trip back from the Axel territory, I had a sore realization: My backside can’t handle this anymore.
Unlike my grandfather’s luxurious carriage equipped with vibration-dampening magic tools, our family carriage had no such perks. The slime tires would help reduce vibrations, but I also considered adding leaf springs for additional suspension. However, that would require more extensive modifications, possibly during a full carriage replacement. For now, I decided to consult Bowman, Ben’s father, to craft the springs when the time comes.
For the immediate tire replacement, I asked the carpenter, Mr. Birds, for assistance.
“Mr. Birds!”
“Oh, young master! What’s the matter?”
“I need the wheels on our carriage replaced. Are you available?”
“Replacing wheels? Sure thing, no problem.”
He promptly came to the estate’s garage and got to work.
“Is this the one?”
“Yes. These are the new wheels. I’ve ensured the sizes match perfectly.”
“And this black material is…?”
“A new kind of substance.”
“As expected of you, young master. I’ll call you once I’m done.”
The wheel replacement took less than an hour. Truly, a master at his craft.
To test the ride, I asked one of the temple knights to drive the carriage. While the smaller vibrations improved, larger jolts felt even harsher—an unexpected downside of the slime gel’s elasticity. Clearly, leaf springs were necessary. Or… what if I installed air suspension? Sadly, my current abilities don’t allow for that.
In the end, I opted for iron-based leaf springs, transforming the entire carriage through magic.
Told you to do that from the start? Well, restraint is important, right? Heh heh.
The upgraded carriage provided a ride nearly on par with my grandfather’s luxury model. Adding slime gel cushions to the bench seats made a significant difference as well.
“So, what is this…?”
“It’s a carriage.”
“Quite different from the ones I know.”
“I tried my best.”
“Indeed, you have…” My father let out a hollow laugh.
“Oh, speaking of carriages,” he added, “it’s about time Thomas learned how to ride a horse.”
“Horses?! I can’t wait!”
What an exciting prospect!
