Chapter 381: You need Techies?
Its Braille, Haruka answered after we put this crude-looking video recorder aside to read what was written on the piece of parchment underneath it.
Braille? Brille? What is that? I turned to Grimnir, Tasianna, and Ellaine, who all shrugged, meaning that wasnt a Peolyncian word.
Seeing me confused, Tatsuya came to my rescue. Braille. You know the finger-touching dots on modern elevator buttons or Kombini shelves? Very hard to the touch, also on credit cards?
Oooooh! The alphabet for blind people! I snapped my fingers, finally understanding what it was. To be honest, I had never heard the name of it until now.
There is a language for grey-visioners? Ellaine tilted her head. When I asked her if that is what Peolyncians called the blind and if there was an alphabet like braille in this world, Ellaine first nodded before tapping her head. Why would we need to invent a whole tongue, when the System could just perform the same function?
That was a deviation from my common sense, but it made sense now that she mentioned it. Not only could the System transfer information into your head, a blind person could also learn skills to help them walk and live a normal life. There was [Enhanced Enemy Sense], [Prediction], you could also have superhuman hearing with [Enhanced Auditory Sense]. Being blind wasn't as inconvenient as I thought in this world.
Nevertheless, society still invented options to help the blind on top of that. To prove it, Ellaine raised her party bracelet and opened one of its functions. It was called [Quick Message] and it opened up a keyboard with all the letters and punctuation Common used. When I wondered why the layout looked so familiar, Grimnir interjected.
The previous version just listed all the letters like those letter cubes for them toddlers. It was a huge screen! The Revolution Queen adjusted it to be smaller and easier to type with.
So another addition to the world from the Revolution Queen, and from the look of it, she was used to keyboards, huh? That narrowed down the year and age she was born in.
So, why not use it all the time? It looks pretty useful compared to sending letters and so on. Why didnt I get one? I looked at my own bracelet, which only had the same functions it had since the day I got it. Ellaine got a new bracelet after she broke hers during the Griffonpeak siege when she fought Charleslyt, so she has the newest bracelet out of all Aurora.
You can just ask any guild to grant you the function, Lady Hestia. Also, we dont use it as often simply because it isnt convenient, Tasianna answered. It only works when you are in a party, only when both party members are close by, anyone nearby can see what you write, and it has an easily recognizable mana signal that can be detected. Using it to spy doesnt work, nor is it useful for your daily life, outside of transferring information to a grey-visoner.
Ellaine nodded. [Telepathy] is faster, more efficient on mana, and you dont make it clear to others that youre using it. If you want to quietly inform somebody, a discreet letter through a spy would be more effective. Not to mention, all this typing makes my hands feel awkward. Urgh.
Ellaines typing discipline was pretty shoddy. She was only using two fingers, like some beginner. Still, she showed me it worked by sending me a message directly to my head. It essentially was like a short-ranged E-Mail, which was redundant as you could, you know, just speak. It was useful for the blind, but really cumbersome to use for anybody else, even for the mute and deaf, as they could just write stuff with mana.
Still, I did feel the Peolyncians in our party werent seeing the full potential of a technology like this. Sure, right now, it was pretty limited but what if it was improved in the future? Hmm, it really seemed like the Revolution Queen was trying to introduce computers before she died. Or maybe not, and it was just a coincidence. Then again, Aleistunum was currently trying to create a functional long-range messenger using mana, so maybe in the future computers might exist.
I forgot people from Earth dont have the Divine System. Ellaine scratched her cheeks, looking a bit embarrassed. She then returned the discussion back to the subject of the braille code. So, how are we supposed to decipher it? There were so many dots on the parchment.
[Master?] Rajah looked at me, prompting the others to do the same.
Just because it comes from Earth, doesnt mean I know about it. My [Parallel Thoughts] isnt some universal library if I never heard or learned about it.
As such, I asked Grimnir if his cousin had written anything about it. Considering he hid the recorder here with the parchment, the diary probably had some answer. Grimnir nodded and looked through it again, specifically trying to remember if he had heard any weird words.
After some page turning, Grimnir found something at the end of his cousins dairy, specifically after their illegal entry into Chihiros workshop. Bideo Nencordo and Baelle were written in there using Common, instead of Dwarven. The book mentioned how Broggart had snuck some other items out of the workshop along with the blueprint for the gun.
They are hidden in the other dungeons? Tasianna placed a hand on her forehead, looking annoyed. Broggart had mentioned having made more than just one hiding spot. Goddess forbid, must we seek out the other places, too, now?
Probably. He might have hidden the instructions in Braille somewhere there. Dont worry, we dont have to search for them. Well ask the dungeon masters; they have full control, so they can help out. He then turned to me. Probably have to use your influence again. They wont listen to me, especially with the Luedbrumdar clan in this situation. They will blame me for it.
Bit unfair and unjustified, but dwarves really had this serious honor problem. Grimnir could be pretty prideful himself, so it was just something I had to just accept. In a controlled setting, it could be pretty wholesome like with the ending of the smithing competition. The Luedbrumdar smiths were pretty good losers, congratulating Grimnir despite their hostile relationship.
I shrugged. It was par for the course at this point.Nah, its okay. If he wants us to go on a scavenger hunt, then so be it; our fir
Finished.
Huh?
I turned around, looking at Haruka as she smiled, holding up the parchment with the braille code. There, underneath the dotted code, Japanese Hiragana was written. I was speechless, blinking my eyes as I tried to make sense of this. How did Haruka decipher this in, what, a couple of minutes or something?
Human calculator, was her nickname back in school, Tatsuya laughed as he saw me flabbergasted, only for Kyouya to lean over and smack him.
As Tatsuya cowered away, Kyouya cleared his voice, causing most of the girls around to smirk and giggle at his expense and making him blush. Haruka herself, though, could only smile wryly before she answered my confusion.
M-my grandmother became legally blind after her 80th birthday. Sooo, well, when I was still small, I told my parents that I wanted to learn with her. It stuck around. My grandfather also taught me a few other things
Oh, thats adorable! I blurted out, covering my mouth as I couldnt keep myself from smiling.
Right?! Kohaku, Kazumi, and Tamae joined in, agreeing with me as we fawned over Harukas little tidbit of her personal history. Learning braille just to help your grandmother? What an absolute doll!
Seeing our reaction, Haruka jerked back a bit, looking uncomfortable. B-but th-thats not really important, okay! Here! Just read it. Its the instructions to make the recorder turn on.
She was right. Just as she said, the translated code was just an instructions manual to activate the recorder. Looking back at the rectangle object, I couldnt see any buttons or other ways to turn it on and use it, but that was for a reasonto save space inside. To use it, we simply had to connect it to the chain of our party bracelet.
However, instead of me, I handed it over to Haruka, who gave me a weird look. I told her since she deciphered it, she should be the one to activate it. It was only fair. Besides, if there was another weird riddle or code the moment we opened it, it would be better for her to have it and solve it right away.
Its not like I can solve everything. Nishio-san can do it, too Haruka pouted a bit, but she didnt reject the idea so she accepted the recorder. Hmm certainly not dusty. Did you guys notice how this whole room isnt musty or full of dirt?
Now that she mentioned it, this place was pretty clean. Sure, there was some dust on the altar, but not to the point I would consider it dirty. How long ago had Broggart been here? I was pretty sure Broggart died around one or two years ago? Inside a cave like this, debris had to be falling from the ceiling, so why was this place so clean?
However, this thought died out the moment Haruka locked her bracelets chain on a small hook on the object, only for blue light to form around it.
Oh! she cried.
Not only did the hook seal shut with the mana, but according to the instructions, we could also pour our mana into it to extend the chain. She did just that and a blue string, almost like to mana threads, extended from the recorder, long enough for her to hold it in her hand comfortably.
Haruka then took another look at the instructions, reading through them from start to finish before opening her bracelets blue screen, where she pointed at a new function on it. Recording and Reviewing, it displayed. Once she pressed on it, a new screen opened, where she had an entire section just for the recorderall the basic stuff you can imagine a normal video recorder to do.
The other side, however, was to check on the film card, specifically what was inside the card attached to the side of the object. Inside was only a single video, one titled To Grimnir.
Haruka immediately disconnected the recorder and handed it over to him. Here, Mister.
Grimnir accepted it, looking down at the recorder with a deep frown. Thank you, lass.
He attached the recorder to his bracelet and opened up the function to watch the one video inside. The blue screen coming from his bracelet distorted a bit before a new screen opened, and this time it wasnt full of buttons or functions, but an actual video. A recording of somebody playing with a blue screen on their party bracelet, before they sat down on a chair.
Broggi! Grimnir cried out as the video continued.
Crustacias hair, hope this is working The Inko man in the video stated cautiously as he fumbled with the blue screen, before holding up the extra long thread coming from his bracelet, probably linked to the recorder. He then looked up. Well, it says its working, at least. Chihiro-sama, oh, please have this work just fine. I know its just a prototype, but please, have it work. Huuuuf. Grimnir, cuoso!
Broggi! Its me! Grimnir pushed his face closer to the blue screen in response, only to jerk his head back in surprise. He shook his head before his eyes darted around, looking at us, the ceiling, and back to the screen as his expression turned solemn.
Grimnir Ellaine, Daichi, and I patted his back.
The dwarf in question looked pretty close to Darlion, they were even both beardless! Still, while Darlion looked well-kempt and like a normal person, the grey-haired dwarf in the video looked as if he had not slept in days. To be blunt, he looked like a hardcore shut-in with how greasy his long hair were, how many pimples he had, and how gross his work clothes looked. Not to mention, he looked a bit too pale, even for a dwarf living underground; it could be an illness or just general exhaustion.
Compared to his relatives, Broggart was a far cry from Grimnir and Darlion. I wasnt sure if he was older than Grimnir, but he certainly had more wrinkles than him. Honestly, this wasnt the famous Broggart of Gazahan-Orn, known as one of the best artificers around I envisioned. It wasnt even a super-idealized version; I just thought he would look more like Grimnir!
Goodness gracious, hes a NEET! I wanted to shout out, but I kept it to myself as the situation felt too tense to say anything.
With all of us quiet, the video Broggi continued speaking, Cuoso Grimnir, at this point, if yare the one watching this, then it means I am either dead or we have parted ways. However, if ya arent my cuosocousinthen I hope you can understand this. Stop the video and please send it to him, if possible. Otherwise Well, this video recorder, as Goddess Chihiro calls it, is now yas to use and profit.
That was the reason why he was speaking Common, instead of Dwarven.
In any case, I hope it is the former Cuoso. I believe you have read my diary to find this place. If you had read it all
Damn right, I did, bashthuda! Bladdarg! Grimnir cursed. This was his moment.
However, the video Broggi did not respond. Grimnir, however, looked like he wished his cousin had answered back. then ya probably are pretty angry. If I know ya as well as I do, ya probably called me a bashthuda or something similar.
Yer damn right Grimnir slammed his arm on the stone table of the altar.
They were close
Well ya know Im not the type to apologize. I didnt think what I did was wrong. Bleidla and his constant grating restrictions, not to mention, how his followers always swallow it up and regurgitate it like its gospel! That damn father of mine Why? Why cant the Ankoran King understand what a waste it is to leave Goddess Chihiros plans and ideas to rot in that measly cave?! The world deserves to learn from them! Learn from Earth!
However, this part of Broggi was expected. The guy stood up to stomp on the ground, wildly scratching his messy hair in frustration. His ramble was focused on praising Chihiro and her inventions, while he kept complaining about Bleidlas more conservative rules. He kept ranting on and on, showing no signs of stopping. He really seemed like a kid throwing a tantrum.
There was a button to fast forward it, but Grimnir didnt even think about using it. His eyes were glued to the videoNo, he was engrossed in seeing his energetic cousin once again. To him, this video was probably a very important memento at this point.
Haaaa. Eventually, Broggi stopped, slumping on his chair in defeat. Well, if I had died, then you probably sent my body back to the clan. Proper burial, right? Not like we zuekluks really deserve it for our greedMy greed. Considering how Father reacted when he had to exile us, he probably didnt take it too well. He had always been a failure pushing me into the role of clan leader! Insanity! As if I could!
He really is rambling even more. Come on, dude, say something meaningful.
However, against my expectations, he stopped after he said that. He took a deep breath and stared at the camcorder. Cuoso. There is something I need to say. That I couldnt have said, since I felt too embarrassed by it. I am I apologize for dragging ya into my wishes. Ya wanted to see Chihiros workshop like me, but ya knew the consequences. Ya took them seriously. I tipped you over the edge.
Bladdarg Dont take all the blame, you fool. Grimnir shook his head.
I enjoyed our trip how we overcame the dungeon as only two fighters, how we got around that damn drake without waking him, just like actual robbers, hahaha!
Drake?
Hehehe Aye, true. Grimnir nodded with a wide grin, taking me away from the fact there was a drake protecting Chihiros vault.
Ha! Then we figured out that puzzle, you know, that one! We used ya hat and that fruit to find the clue; got ourselves in a real problem in that labyrinth, I tell ya. I thought we were gonna die in there.
Ha! Eating our shirts and leather boots! Right! Damn disgusting, I tell ya, lads and lasses! Haha! Grimnir suddenly slapped Daichi and Tatsuya on their backs, nearly sending them crashing on the ground with his big hands. For some reason, seeing him finally happy again made it hard not to laugh with him. And then the
workshop. Wow. Cant believe she placed all her problematic inventions in there, right? But, smart. Quite smart. Despite seeing the beast, I still cant believe she managed to persuade that thing to allow her to settle there. Guess it enjoyed her stories of the other world.
When one of us finally asked what he was talking about, Grimnir explained the dungeon master for Chihiros hidden workshop was a rank A drake. A young, unaffiliated one at that, meaning it was a monster spawn. About 400 years old, the beast had settled into a dungeon underneath the dwarfs capital, using it as his nest to become stronger.
Although the dwarves had ways to actually get rid of him, the Ankoran King during that time decided to make a deal with him instead. In exchange for peace, the drake would govern the dungeon and allow the dwarves to hunt and mine there. Over time, the deal had been modified, to the point there was a Gambit System where adventurers would offer riches to the drake for him to create a special dungeon course.
More difficult monsters, more loot, and more dangers. Some people are simply daredevils, you see, and as a drake, he was the perfect dungeon master for the job. He had the mana to spare to constantly modify the dungeon to his whims, Grimnir explained. As a monster spawn, he had no loyalty to Kargryxmor or your father, lass. In fact, as a dragonkin, he probably wouldnt like you at all. Dragonewts and levianewts are forbidden entry for this one reason.
Territorial, huh? I reckoned, and he nodded.
[Masters scent is quite strong. Beth and Shay says that a lot!] Rajah told me, causing me to wince. I knew he didnt mean it, but it sounded like I smelled.
Tasianna suddenly tilted her head, crossing her arms to think. Hmm, I think I heard about him from one of the elven visitors at my village. ManManethala? Was that his name?
Grimnir nodded. Correct, fiflei. Manethala the Avaricious. Not only gold and gemstones, but also stories, at least according to the Revolution Queen. That was how she managed to sway the drake. Most of the dwarves, especially the Bleidla followers and guild leaders, are pretty scared of change or outlandish manatech. She could have gotten in quite some trouble if she had revealed everything before she built up her influence. What better place to hide everything than in the gold hills of a moody dragonkin?
Then how was it revealed? I mean, all of you know about it now. The Church of Bleilda even forbade entry into it, Kyouya asked.
Hrm, I dont know the details. The Revolution Queen never mentioned it, but we presumed the drake and her got into a fight some time before her death. Manethala told us tazongs everything that happened outside of their last meeting, and that was how we knew about her workshop. Bleidla probably knew about the workshop through his godsight, but probably was forbidden from saying anything until it was revealed. His followers latched onto it immediately.
Gods werent supposed to meddle in mortal affairs, essentially. What a life Chihiro led, huh?
Unpausing the video, Broggi continued, Haha, but I guess ya cant fool a drake. He was quite mad when he found us out. Nearly would have cooked us if you hadnt thought of throwing away some of the items we got from her workshop. Manethala was more worried about his stuff getting taken than us. Good riddance.
Haha ten years on the road. Ah, the eleventh is coming soon. Grimnir smiled, reminiscing. However, that joy quickly disappeared, turning into a frown. Almost two years since you died.
Hey, cuoso. Grimnirs slightly wet eyes snapped back to the video. The diary I cant take back what I wrote there. But I can say that it was an honor to travel with you through that dungeon. To adventure with you. I always thought you were just a blacksmith my talented cousin. That you were only useful as a hammerer and craftsman I have never been that wrong.
Broggi Grimnirs tears dropped on the recorders screen, blurring the image.
I Ive found more than the blueprints and this recorder in that vault. I found my blood-brother. It is an honor to have been exiled with you! Broggart stood up, smacking his chest thrice.
Grimnir followed it up, trying his best to hold back his remaining tears. Dammit! Ya couldve written that bladdarg in ya diary! It wouldnt have been so confusing! I thought ya lied to me all this time all those ten years. Bladdarg.
Even now, Grimnir couldnt help but grumble. I caressed his back, happy to see our grumble machine was back.
I hope we managed to finish building that gun together. We hadda, Broggi begun.
Took us too fucking long! Eight whole years just to make sure it didnt blow the whole thing up! Ya stupid idea to keep it contained in a small gun form was just impossible with how ambitious it was! We didnt have the money or equipment to make more precise stuff! He then turned to us, his teary eyes squinted in rage. Aye, could you believe that?! This fool was too tunnel-visioned in the perfect recreation, instead of adapting a bit. It took me so long to persuade him to make this hammer!
He swung his blasthammer around, before pounding the thing on the ground. The rest of us could only smile wryly as he was the one now giving a tantrum.
Bladdarg, not to mention how often you just wanted to try something new. Dropping the gun creation to try and make one of ya old tools! We didnt have the money! I couldnt get a job at the blacksmith guild, and nobody wanted to meet with an Inko who hadnt bathed in two weeks! Bladdarg, all that monster killing just to feed ourselves! Like cousins, they showed the same behavior. Just like Broggart, Grimnir couldnt help but complain and complain, only to slow down eventually.
He fell on his butt. He closed his eyes and raised his head, showing off his shivering lips. Eventually, the muscles in his face began to spasm out of control, looking like was in pain. He hid his eyes with his left hand, grunting a bit as he tried to hold back the last lock holding his tears back.
B-but, you idiot Ya just had to try to try to get back in Bleidlas good graces. Just cuz I believed that damn god cursed us, didnt mean you had to! Bladdarg, bladdarg, bladdarg! B-Broggi Im so sorry, cuoso. He couldnt stop them any longer. B-Broggi, Im so sorry. Why did ya have to pull that stupid stunt? Bladdarg! Why? Why? What a stupid accident Did the gods really want him dead and was that just fates whim? Oooh
Master! Ellaine hugged him, holding him tightly while Daichi patted him on his shoulder, unable to say anything. Ellaine, on the other hand, tried her best to soothe him. Its alright, Master Grimnir. He wont blame you. Accidents happen It isnt your fault.
I KNOW THAT! Grimnir shouted, but he didnt shaked her off. I know that I know that now. Bleidla wasnt at fault, he didnt curse us all this time. Me trying to anger Bleidla with the lasss ideas and inventions was just my way to cope with everything That his death had more meaning than just a random, unfortunate twist of fate. That it wasnt just an accident. A man like him deserved a better death.
He took his hand off his face, showing himself sniffling and red. I deluded myself all these years just because I was angry. He took away my [Blacksmiths Eyes], and that was it. Why would he care for us tiny mortals? That skill to me was like a badge that said I am a great blacksmith. I told myself and everybody else but I honestly thought I didnt deserve it. That is why I blamed Bleidla for everything. Why I wanted to get a laugh at his expense.
He stood up, thanking both Ellaine and Daichi for their time before wiping away the tears and snot. But Im okay now. Im done hating myself and portraying it as Bleidla. Im happy to be here with all of you Happy to have two apprentices willing to learn from this fool. If I really was cursed by Bleidla, how did I deserve to join Aurora?
Oooh, Grimnir! Now I was the one to hug him, including the other girls who hadnt given the guy one. Well, except Haruka, who was a bit too withdrawn to do so.
Once we were done, the boys came over to pat him on the back, encouraging him how he was an excellent blacksmith and how they wouldnt have wanted anybody else.
Crustacias twin locks, stop it! At this point, all of this will just Urgh! I waved his hands around, looking both embarrassed and annoyed. He then looked away as we all laughed. Bladdarg.
Once he dried his second set of tears, he let the video continue, allowing his cousin to speak his last message.
Cuoso, do me a favor, yeah? Whether I am dead or gone, dont give up on the dream we had. The gun blueprints. If ya ask me, guns might become a good weapon for warriors as a secondary weapon. I probably told you about it.
All too much. Thats why you wanted it to stay in a gun form, Grimnir explained, shaking his head.
If, however, we failed, then it might be time to seek her workshop once again. Grimnir scoffed at the mention, telling us the Broggart he knew during his travels had mostly given up on the idea. In any case, do what you need to, cuoso. Keep the video recorder safe, yeah? The card on the right side is a memory card. It saves data for these videos to watch again. However, it has a capacity, but you can free it up with a crystal. Even save some of them.
What? Daichi raised an eyebrow. We can use a crystal for this? Wait, hold on, if that is the case, then couldnt we do something like streaming? If we can make more of these memory cards, or even better, adjust them a bit to the ones on Earth, we can probably start spreading videos!
And music.
My eyes widened when Haruka said that. I snapped my head around, looking at her as if she knew how to do it.
Haruka, on the other hand, just shrugged. I wont know. Im not an artificer or engineer. Youre better off asking Ellaine or Daichi.
Right, Daichi was born the son of two tech-savant parents. He probably knew something.
However, he could shake his head. This is more than just hardware, and I am a builder. I can make you a PC, but I cant write you the program to make apps and such work. Thats why I like blacksmithing and why I havent asked Ellaine to teach me. However
He then looked at Haruka. The thing is, this video recorder somehow works with the party bracelets, and only them! Meaning, the Revolution Queen did something to make her tech work with dungeon cores. Work within the Divine System. If we want to make the whole streaming and music CDs work for Hestia-san, then we need to either reverse engineer the Revolution Queens work, or
We need to figure it out ourselves, Nishio answered, but grimaced.
How long would that take, though? Haruka added. How complicated? If this is like software, then I wouldnt be as useful as you think, Daichi-san.
But youre good with math! Kyouya tried to persuade her. Algorithms! Logic. Thats all part of being a programmer, right? I mean, the fact you remember Brailleand didnt you mention Morse code, too? Anyways, you have a good memory. I mean, the demonkins gave you [Foxian Slyness] for a reason.
Right, Haruka had the only [Identify Blocker] defying unique skill, right? Kazumi stated as she turned to me. Before we joined, Haruka did all the appraisals for us. She would scan everybody and send it to everybody with [Telepathy]. She has a really good memory.
If it was true, then she was doing all of that without [Parallel Thoughts]. My parallel minds had been a real boon to me not only with recalling information, but also with appraisals. Working through an entire Profile was quite exhausting. There was soooo much information to look out for.
Kohaku nodded as I acknowledged her talent. She wasnt a fighter, but I always valued her ability with numbers. Besides, if we cant figure it out, there really isnt anything to worry about, Haruka-chan. If you cant do it, then we know exactly who already did it.
Hold on Grimnir murmured. You kids arent thinking?
Yup. Tatsuya smirked. Chihiro-samas workshop.
Hmm? Wait, it turned on?
In a loud metropolitan city filled with skyscrapers and vivid lights expelling the darkness inside this night city, a woman suddenly jumped off her bed, walking over to her desk. She stared at the screen placed there, noticing a notification with the P sign.
She then grabbed her mouse and clicked the sign, opening up a screen of a video. There, she saw more than she expected.
Kufufu! Oh, Goddess Aurena sure did something now. Haha, I really should update myself on them. Hmm.
She stared at the crimson haired girl, looking at her horns and tail before turning around to her companions, noticing who they were. Now understanding what was happening, she opened up another screen, this time about the disappearance of an entire school class and the death of their classroom teacher. An earthquake had happened during that time, so most people, outside of the parents, had mostly forgotten about this story.
The woman smirked.
Now this is interesting.
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