In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Chapter 101 Do You Really Want To Be A Knight?

Julian draped a cloak over Michael's shoulders and guided him to the source of the commotion.

"You're doing it wrong! How many times do I have to tell you? You need to put the exact amount of clay into the mold. If it's uneven like this, it won't work!" one artisan bellowed.

A flustered mage, unused to such reprimands, shouted back,

"I've never done this kind of work before!"

"The heir to the territory instructed me to teach you the process. I'm just following orders. You need to understand every step to make proper bricks!" the artisan countered.

Watching the escalating argument, Michael stepped forward to mediate.

"Alright, everyone, calm down," Michael said, stepping into the tense scene. "You there, brickmaker, your name is...?"

"I am Vernon, my lord," replied the startled artisan, dropping to the ground in a hurried bow.

Michael helped him back to his feet. "No need for formalities, Vernon. You don't need to explain every single step of the brick-making process to them."

"But how will they learn to make proper bricks then, my lord?" Vernon asked, bewildered.

"Which part of the process absolutely requires a craftsman's touch? Specifically, the parts the mages seem to struggle with?" Michael inquired.

"Well... mixing water with the soil and shaping the bricks in the molds are tricky. We rely on intuition for that, which makes it hard to explain," Vernon admitted.

"Not everyone needs to participate in every part of the process. Split your team into two groups: one to mix the soil and water, and the other to shape the bricks in the molds. Leave the rest to the mages."

"Would that really work?" Vernon asked hesitantly.

"It will be enough," Michael assured him.

Turning to the mages, Michael addressed a young man standing nearby.

"And which school are you from?"

"I am Niki, Master Elius's apprentice and the supervisor for the Geomancy school's mages," he replied confidently.

"Very well, Niki. The Geomancy school will extract soil from the lakeside and highlands, purify it, and deliver it to the artisans. Once they've mixed it with water, your task will be to knead the mixture. Can you manage that?"

"That's what we Geomancy mages excel at. Of course, we can," Niki replied with a brightened expression.

"Good. Like the artisans, divide your team into two groups to increase efficiency," Michael instructed.

With newfound clarity, Niki led the Geomancy mages off to collect soil, visibly relieved that their role had been clarified. Michael watched them go, glad to have avoided further lectures on brick-making.

He then turned his attention to the Pyromancy school, where murmurs of confusion were audible. A sharp-eyed mage stepped forward.

"I am Eric, Master Vulkan's apprentice. How can we help?"

"Eric, you and the Pyromancy mages will handle the drying and firing of the bricks after the artisans have shaped them. Maintain a consistent temperature to prevent the bricks from cracking."

"Temperature control is our specialty. Consider it done," Eric said confidently.

"Good. Divide into two groups and share the workload. This will help everyone become more efficient in their tasks."

"Understood. A brilliant plan—it will definitely improve productivity," Eric said with approval.

With the brick-making process divided into six clear stages, Michael rubbed his tired eyes and turned to Julian.

"If they use magic, the bricks should be finished by the end of the day. As soon as they're ready, instruct the plasterers to start repairing the village," Michael said.

"Understood, my lord. Shall we prioritize the castle repairs after the village?" Julian asked.

"No, focus on the village first. The castle can wait until we have a proper design plan for the repairs," Michael replied.

Julian nodded.

"Very well, my lord. I'll see to it."

"You're doing an excellent job, as always. Thank you, Julian. But tell me, do you truly wish to become a knight?" Michael asked suddenly.

The question startled Julian, who stiffened.

"I… I know I lack the aptitude for knighthood, but my family has been knights for generations..."

"I don't distinguish between knights and administrators. Frankly, you're better suited to administrative work than knighthood. You should stop knight training and learn practical governance from Arnan. I believe even your father would prefer that," Michael said gently.

Julian's eyes glistened, but he managed to keep his composure. "Do you truly mean that, my lord?"

"I do. You have the potential to excel as an administrator," Michael said firmly.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Julian bowed deeply and strode off to find Arnan. He didn't know that Michael held back a thought: "You'll be my eternal workhorse… I mean, my loyal chancellor."

As Michael watched Julian walk away, he turned his attention to the other schools.

The Hydromancy and Mist schools, as expected, were demonstrating their hidden prowess in cleaning. The Volcanology mages were wandering the village, bickering as they searched for groundwater. Meanwhile, the Cryomancy school repeatedly froze and thawed the ground, while the Metallurgy masters were deep in a heated discussion about pipe design and thickness.

Watching them diligently carry out their assigned tasks, Michael felt it was worth leveraging Marcus and Miaomiao to motivate them.

When Michael arrived at the fertilizer station, the Aeromancy and Biomancy schools were in the middle of their research. Marcus's droppings were prominently displayed, and the mages seemed genuinely thrilled.

How can they be so happy over dragon dung? Michael thought, bemused. Still, knowing that the success of their work would boost the territory's agricultural output made him appreciate their enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, the Beastmastery mages were busy training rare, high-grade beasts to transport supplies. Nearby, knights nervously hovered over their beasts, worried they might get injured.

By now, the Geomancy mages had already departed to gather soil.

"Excellent work, everyone," Michael said, addressing the gathered mages and knights. "The Geomancy school will soon bring soil. Which team—Beastmastery or Aeromancy—will transport it first?"

The Aeromancy master, Nirke, eagerly raised his hand. "The Aeromancy school is ready anytime! Will Marcus assist with the first transport?"

Michael offered a kind smile.

"Of course. This is a significant first transport, so Marcus will certainly participate."

Overcome with excitement, Nirke clasped his hands together like a giddy child.

"What an honor! I'll personally assist with the first transport."

Michael leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially,

"Marcus loves jewels. If you reward him with one after each transport, he'll be delighted."

"Jewels? That's no problem at all. Thank you for the valuable advice!" Nirke exclaimed. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

As Nirke beamed, Michael smiled to himself. He had secured jewels for Marcus with minimal effort.

After surveying the bustling village, Michael climbed to the top of the castle's watchtower. Smoke rose from various areas, and the village teemed with activity. The lively scene filled his heart with pride.

This is it—Crassus' new domain.