ALL NOVEL Chapter 150.2
150.2. Surprises Aren’t Always Singular, Isn’t It?
—About two months after the Rite of Adulthood.
At the port built along the great river, a massive ship was docked.
Though a giant bridge extending from the nearby port was also visible, it was unfortunately still unfinished. It reached the middle of the river, but the final completion would take a bit more time.
However, trade and the exchange of information with the lands across the river were urgent matters. After all, it was a direct order from King Van.
To address this, we decided to execute another project alongside the construction of the bridge.
And that project was the enormous ship now before us.
Despite being far larger than any galleon or sailing ship, this vessel had no sails.
Instead, it featured massive propellers resembling waterwheels on both sides of the hull.
What’s more, despite being made entirely of iron, the ship floated effortlessly.
A smokestack jutted out from the ship, billowing thick white steam into the air.
“At last, it’s complete, Jabil-sensei.”
“Indeed. We owe it to Leafan, who has become the Blacksmith King.”
“I still can’t believe it. An iron ship that floats? Even seeing it, I can hardly accept it.”
“Hmph. This is just elementary alchemy. You’d best study harder.”
“Sorry!”
I apologized reflexively, and the professor sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
“It’s thanks to that evaporation drug you made. I never imagined that tossing it into water would expand the volume over a thousandfold.”
I recalled what Jabil-sensei had taught me.
When water boils, it expands to about 1,700 times its original volume (or so they say). But heating is required for that.
However, with the evaporation drug, water could expand to around 1,000 times its volume—at room temperature.
…Yeah, I pretty much understand. Probably!
Anyway, the evaporated water swells tremendously, and the force it creates powers a piston that moves up and down!
I totally get how this works!
Leafan called it a “steam engine.”
The only thing large enough to house such a massive steam engine was a ship.
Thus, before the bridge could be completed, this enormous steamship was finished.
As Kyle, myself, and the others watched the test run, the massive ship powered against the current of the great river.
Seeing it sail onward set our next goal clearly in sight.
“Craft-niisama, the time has finally come.”
“Yeah. We’re finally leaving the country.”
“Yes. The final members haven’t been decided yet, but… our destination is the land of small states! A turbulent region caught between the Three Great Nations!”
“Leave it to me!”
Gazing at the glimmering water and the steamship carving its way across the river, my heart raced in anticipation of the adventures that awaited us.
—End of Chapter 5—