Konbini Ossan Volume 5 Chapter 1 — Factory Matters
The factory has finally started operating.
It runs on a simple system — using the magic power stored in phosphorescent magic stones to fuel enchantment spells.
Several production lines for different kinds of magic tools are already up and running.
First, there’s the line for high-frequency blades. The process is straightforward: metal plates made to standard size are imbued with «Leg Jitter» and «Landing» in sequence.
To ensure the enchantments always succeed, the device used for imbuing resembles an industrial dishwashing machine.
The stored mana from phosphorescent magic stones is supplied into it, activating the magic circle etched into its top panel.
On the underside of that top panel is a “skill plate” — a small metal plate that has the target skill itself embedded into it. For example, a palm-sized plate engraved with only «Leg Jitter».
The device transfers the skill from that skill plate onto the material beneath the top panel.
Insert a metal plate for the high-frequency blade, start the machine, and in about ten seconds, the enchantment is done.
Next comes inspection for defects. Since the blade must vibrate properly, we attach it to a test handle and activate it. If it vibrates correctly, it moves on to the next stage.
Those that fail to vibrate are sent back for re-enchantment, and those that shatter upon activation are discarded.
After the vibration inspection, it’s time to imbue «Landing».
This happens in a separate enchantment unit, followed by testing again — the blade is dropped horizontally, and if it strikes the sponge below in a perfectly vertical position, it passes.
This test is done three times. If it lands vertically each time, it’s approved and sent onward.
Anything that fails gets re-enchanted; anything broken is discarded. Though honestly, it’s rare for a blade to be scrapped at this point.
Once «Landing» passes inspection, we move to sharpening. There’s a special whetstone platform designed to vibrate at just the right speed via «Leg Jitter».
Place the whetstone, activate the device, and it begins to hum softly as it vibrates.
The high-frequency blade is then sharpened against it, giving it a precise edge in the designated area — and with that, it’s complete.
Currently, there are several such production lines within the factory.
Since high-frequency blades also need handles and sheaths, those have their own lines within the same building — which we call Building One.
Nearly all work related to these blades takes place there.
Next is Building Two, where we produce phosphorescent magic stones. These stones degrade quickly with heavy use, so it’s a high-turnover operation.
We collect depleted scrap stones from the Adventurers’ Guild and elsewhere, then use the enchantment machines here to restore them into fresh phosphorescent magic stones.
After imbuing, the stones are set outside in the sunlight to recharge with mana before undergoing defect inspection.
In fact, about two-thirds of Building Two’s grounds are dedicated to this recharging and testing process.
Building Three manufactures the same kinds of magic tools sold in my store.
First, lighting stones — created simply by granting the phosphorescent stones the «Illumination» skill. It’s a compact and efficient process, which makes production easy.
Then there are the anti-blade robes. These have three enchantments: «Shape Memory», «Impact Absorption», and «Slash Resistance».
Recently, Rosa and the girls in the robe-making team have improved a lot, delivering robes that are both stylish and functional.
Each has its own design touches, and they’ve become one of our most popular products.
The robes supplied to the military are made separately under uniform standards.
We also produce defensive magic stones and containers for preserving portable rations here in Building Three.
The quantities aren’t high, so their lines are small and share the same equipment by swapping out the skill plates in the enchantment machines.
Building Four handles food production — specifically Security Candy and Sweet Dew Mochi.
Both are relatively easy to make, so they’re produced from scratch in the building and enchanted in the final step.
We also prepare regular boxed lunches here — fried chicken and pork cutlet bentos, for example. For now, the containers are collected and reused, so production is limited.
In the future, I plan to develop inexpensive, mass-producible containers — much like a real convenience store — to make affordable meals available in larger quantities.
Finally, there’s Building Five, which doesn’t produce magic tools at all, but rather the metal plates used for high-frequency blades.
Inside is a massive device designed to form metal plates automatically, without me lifting a finger.
It operates on an application of the «Iron Blood» skill.
The machine itself is a magical organism — a homunculus — that circulates pseudo-blood within its body, using «Iron Blood» to create metal sheets.
Homunculi are similar to golems, though the key difference lies in their origin: golems are magical constructs, while homunculi are artificially created magical lifeforms.
They only possess enough intelligence to repeat simple programmed actions.
With current magic technology, battle-capable homunculi like golems are impossible to make.
But for repetitive tasks — like using «Iron Blood» to produce identical metal sheets — they’re perfect.
This metal-forming system in Building Five is built around that concept.
First, we supply it with materials gathered from the Adventurers’ Guild — parts of Iron Golems — which a specialized homunculus absorbs into its pseudo-blood.
That pseudo-blood is then circulated to another homunculus responsible for forming the metal plates.
Because the entire device is a living system of homunculi, the transfer of this pseudo-blood works seamlessly.
The design concept was mine, but all the complex technical work was handled by Shuri-kun.
If it ever breaks, I can’t fix it. It’s a complete black box — so I just pray it doesn’t malfunction.
Now that metal production is fully automated, I have almost nothing left to do at the factory.
Security is handled by one of the Kanehama-group heroes who rotates in daily. With enchantment and forging automated, what’s left are just staffing and administrative duties.
Even those are mostly covered by the part-time ladies I hired to manage day-to-day operations, so my personal involvement has become minimal.
Which means — I can finally move on to other projects.
Time to start preparing for what comes next.
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E/N:
Those are insane factories! Although, I personally think most factories are really amazing! Stay tuned!
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