A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 358 Should we go to watch the game?

He had been greedy, greedy. After Lieutenant Rorschach and the others left, he began to reflect on his actions.

To quickly recoup his investment, he sold water gas to other workshops. For example, Bain's specialty glass, which required high firing temperatures, wouldn't use coal, which was harder to control, or firewood, which was too weak, and couldn't afford fire magic, so they imported lightweight phlogiston from the dwarves.

Rorschach then took over this type of business from the dwarves.

Unexpectedly, someone with a keen sense of smell discovered Rorschach's large toy.

He pieced together the information he had received over the past few days.

The "Mini Holy Expeditionary Force," with the Holy Knights as its backbone, is approaching the Empire.

Initially, the "Air Cavalry" instructors reported a malfunction in their mobility devices, and Rorschach was misled by the speculation of an "ancient magical relic." Now that the military personnel have appeared, he recalls his encounter in the fortress city.

That night, the rain that suppressed magic wept like tears.

So how does the Empire intend to restrain the Church's armed forces? The answer is obvious.

However, Rorschach was unaware of the Empire's technical details. He only extracted the principles from the leather armor and developed the [Anti-Magic Scream] based on it, which also inspired subsequent anti-magic spells.

But that was his personal spell, and it only made sense on a large scale on the battlefield. How did the Empire achieve this? The first possibility was collective casting, performed by high-ranking spellcasters subordinate to the Empire.

When he received the Imperial Army's order for lightweight phlogiston, he thought of a second possibility: the Empire's anti-magic technology might be accomplished through some large device. The Imperial Army needed hydrogen to fill airships so that the airships could carry the large device and maneuver.

If they continue to purchase gas from the dwarves' gas stations, the number of airships in service and their operational status will become known to outsiders. Therefore, the lieutenant and the group he represents are very eager for Rorschach's gas production technology.

"Actually, it's quite unsafe." Rorschach felt that the airship could easily become a sitting duck on the battlefield. It was not afraid of guns and cannons with zero anti-aircraft capability, but as long as the mages of Valuwa entered the fray, the airship could easily become an aerial super bomb, and the crew cabin would become a disposable incinerator.

Sigh, I've been worrying about my clients unnecessarily again. I need to change this habit! I wonder if Rorschach of the Secret Railway ever reflects on whether his conscience has become bloated.

He found a map and began studying the Holy Knights' marching route by comparing it with newspaper reports. The reports estimated that the main force consisted of approximately 1,500 cavalrymen, essentially including all the Holy Knights in the northern part of the Holy Kingdom, as well as two-thirds of them cadet knights. In other words, the Kingdom's Church was betting its current and future resources on a gamble.

The contingent of servants rapidly expanded to over eight thousand men during the ten-day march, forming a ten-thousand-strong army with the paladins. Besides coachmen and servants, the contingent included priests, choir members, and civilian soldiers; their fighting strength could not be completely ignored.

The newspaper's assessment was: "They might even surpass the Second Legion of Saint Valois, who previously invaded; at least they have faith." In this world with gods, "faith" is real, while superstition and blind faith are even more terrifying—meaning they are more obedient to the clergy and possess a strong magical resonance.

Extending the route and taking into account the influence of the terrain, Rorschach drew a possible marching route, intersecting it with the border at the southern gateway of the empire, the fortress city of Andorella.

They didn't consider the Second Legion's opening of the Saro battlefield. Just as the Holy Crusade went straight for the ancient holy land, the current Paladin advance is also a straight punch, and the Empire will definitely have to find a way to catch it.

They will settle their score on the plains outside Andorella.

"I really want to see it." Rorschach came to this other world from his peaceful past life, and he would definitely feel bad if he missed the big scene that was about to happen. Moreover, he really wanted to know what form the Empire's secret weapon would take on the battlefield, which was also very important to the future fate of the Kingdom of Byrne and Rorschach's personal fate as a spellcaster.

Having found enough excuses and mentally prepared himself, Rorschach began to act.

He was going, but he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to risk danger. The [Summoning Spell] he learned from the Forest Tower would come in handy.

Slipping away to a ravine outside the town of Kempson, Rorschach first used the [Sculpting] technique to condense the moist humus into a human shape.

He scraped open the surface, took out a packet of powder from his storage ring, and carefully sprinkled it evenly on top. This was made from "live aquatic microorganisms (Rorschach bacteria)" that had been deactivated and dried.

When Rorschach poured in the sugary soda, the carbon dioxide was immediately released as dense bubbles, indicating that the nutrient-rich bacteria were beginning to activate. Rorschach felt it necessary to enhance the spellcasting ability of this clone, so he sprinkled in some passivation and transmutation dust.

Finally, he bit his finger and squeezed out blood that was deep red with a bluish tinge.

Compared to the free-spirited and vibrant clones of the nature mages in the Forest Tower, Rorschach's was more luxurious and complex, but no matter what, the extravagance was worthwhile. He began constructing two bridging magic circles, diverting a portion of his soul to activate the clone.

At this point, it would be nice to have a spare soul, but Rorschach wouldn't let the tower spirit replace him. The substitute, having completed the spell, began to build muscles and then struggled to its feet.

Rorschach now possessed two senses, and because the clone and his main body were so close, it was a dizzying experience. Following Humboldt's teachings, he weakened the connection between the two, and now Rorschach's main body would no longer experience all the sensations of the clone unless he actively strengthened the connection again.

That's much better," Luo Xia said, giving the clone casual clothes. The clone's height and build were almost identical to the original, as this best suited the small wisp of soul that was separated, making it easier to control. However, since Luo Xia was going to a complex battlefield to dominate the scene, the clone absolutely could not be wearing Luo Xia's face.

After adjusting the parameters like creating a character in a game, he sculpted a face that resembled Luo Xia's temperament but was completely different in terms of handsomeness.

Dominated living water emerges and covers the soil surface, and the "reflected" mimicry forms a watery, near-realistic skin, while magical metamorphic dust illuminates the pupils.

With the addition of mimicry-like hair and the earthen-yellow cloak that Rorschach had prepared to blend into the wasteland, the newly created human was nearly perfect.

The clone carrying Rorschach's will did not need any instructions. It found its own direction, packed up supplies such as transmutation dust and sugar, and set off.

"Hey, hey, hey, let's go ride horses!" Rorschach had Andrei help prepare the horses.

To be honest, he is now among the top in his age group (a humble way of putting it), but he is still bad at spatial magic.

Currently, Luo Xia possesses two techniques: one is the [Ether Membrane Space Compression Technique] he used when he was in the Shadow City clone, and the other is the [Gravity Wave] he cast inspired by the Lord.

Both spells are "heavyweight," but the most practical teleportation spells were once Caroline's responsibility.

Therefore, Rorschach dutifully prepared horses for his clone.

The clone turned around and revealed a sly smile: "I feel great, this body's power is inexhaustible." With that, he bent his legs and pushed off, and actually jumped directly onto a tree branch more than ten meters high, rushing and leaping westward at an extremely fast speed.

Did I somehow infuse my Naruto-loving soul into this pose? My arms are stretched back instead of swinging, a combination of silly and cool.

Luo Xia watched the "ninja clone" disappear into the dense forest, then mounted his horse: "Never mind, let it go. I'll communicate with the clone when we get to the battlefield."

Acknowledgments will be combined for tomorrow. Also, I finished the phase requirements for my graduation project today, and I can add an extra chapter tomorrow if all goes well!

(End of this chapter)