’All I need to do is make the electric charges flow in a specific direction along my palm...’

All sleepiness now gone, Rorschach grabbed a small iron knife to test his theory. As expected, it exerted a weak pull.

Indeed, the magnetic force was very weak, as air is not a magnetic conductor. Rorschach grew more adept with his "Charge Drive." It was no longer limited to simply sticking things to his hand; he was gradually extending an electric field throughout the surrounding air. If he could generate a continuous charge strong enough to break down the air, he could theoretically replicate the Third Ring Shaping Power Magic, [Lightning Bolt].

Following the same principle, by controlling an electric field to form a vertical discharge channel in the sky during a thunderstorm, he could guide a lightning strike to a location of the Caster’s choosing. The effect would be equivalent to the [Thunder Summoning Technique] from the Curse Magic System.

These were all potential applications Rorschach had deduced based on the common scientific knowledge from his past life. He had no idea how this world’s [Lightning Bolt] or [Thunder Summoning Technique] were actually cast. The latter was a common offensive spell for a Natural Mage—perhaps they invoked some ’Spirit of the Thunder Element’?

As for an electromagnetic railgun... that was a matter of efficiency. He could use Magic Power to generate a current and construct accelerator coils to launch a steel nail at high speed, but for the same amount of Magic Power, it was far less effective than the [Flying Arrow Skill].

’If a mage proficient in Thunder Spells were to go to my original world,’ Rorschach mused, ’besides being able to ’cure’ people’s internet addictions, they’d probably have much better job prospects studying electrical engineering, or even microelectronics...’

His mental tangent complete, Rorschach turned his attention back to the knife in his hand. He focused the electric field, narrowing the flow of the charge and concentrating it through the blade. ’It must be carbon steel.’ Rorschach’s guess was correct. He tossed the dagger at his dorm’s cast-iron door knocker, and it stuck fast. The knife was magnetized!

[Rorschach’s Magnetic Technique (Blue)]: Grants certain materials magnetic properties.

It was a useless but interesting spell. If he ever needed to apply it in the real world, Rorschach would absolutely just build an electromagnet rather than construct the corresponding Magic Array for this spell.

’Unless I could grant any object magnetism, turning it into a permanent magnet...’

...

The wired telegraph development project was still ongoing. Simply confirming the theory was feasible wasn’t enough for Kano. While he generously funded the project, he also demanded that the laboratory—dedicated to developing non-magical alternatives—produce more than just prototypes and half-finished products. He wanted something that could be rapidly deployed and rolled out across the entire Kingdom.

Thus, the lab was always busy, bogged down in establishing technical standards, manufacturing the machines, and wrestling with the problems of cost and mass production.

The basic principles of electricity had been crudely grasped by a shamanistic Dwarf, but now they needed to be properly quantified. They had to define units of measurement for resistance, capacitance, frequency, and wavelength, and find suitable metrics for them all...

Rorschach could only keep giving them hints. "Obviously, the two are directly proportional... For capacitance, we need to define a quantity to describe its ability to store charge..."

With him around, the lab experienced one eureka moment after another.

Most of the team members supporting the project were generalists. Their early educations often stopped at alchemy or natural history. Fortunately, everyone there possessed a decent mathematical background, especially the instructors from the Artillery Academy—calculating trajectories required a considerable amount of knowledge in both mechanics and mathematics.

The people who emerged from this lab would likely become the world’s first electrical experts, though their theories were still rudimentary. And in a world with Magic, it was questionable just how far this particular branch of the technology tree would even grow.

With the "Rorschach-Brand R&D Catalyst" on hand, the project progressed quite smoothly. There was, however, one minor incident:

That evening, as the team members took the magically wind-powered skiffs back to the city one by one, Snow remained standing by the banks of the Seine River, watching the sunset. He was waiting for someone.

After the others had departed, the person he was waiting for finally appeared. It was an instructor from the Artillery Academy who still carried himself like a soldier, despite the fact the Kingdom hadn’t paid his salary in quite some time.

"You wished to see me, sir?" Snow had received the man’s confidential letter, which had requested a private meeting.

"Is there anyone else here? No listening... Magic?"

Master Snow’s interest in the coming conversation grew. He wanted to know why this man was being so cautious. "There isn’t. I assure you."

"Excellent. Master Snow, you are the highest authority here. Out of loyalty to the Kingdom, I must discuss a serious matter with you. I’ve heard a rumor... that the Rorschach Mage is from the Empire."

Snow was deeply disappointed. "Allow me to correct you—that’s not a rumor. The Rorschach Mage is from the Empire Royal Magic Academy. If this is what you wished to discuss, you are wasting my time."

The instructor couldn’t understand Snow’s attitude. "You’re ignoring the risk! If he’s a spy for the Empire, then our work will be leaked, posing a grave threat to the security of the Holy Kingdom."

"Are you suggesting that Rorschach would leak technology that he himself proposed, and whose invention he has personally led?" Snow looked as if he’d heard a bad joke, and his only response was a cold snort.

"You don’t understand!" The instructor was starting to lose his composure, his temper flaring. "You Mages are always so nonchalant, like you’re floating on a cloud! My father died fighting the Empire, and I am prepared to die for the Kingdom at any moment! And yet you people are completely unguarded..."

"Then by all means, go die now," Snow said, his expression turning to ice. "Your accusations against the Rorschach Mage and our Magic Guild are baseless. They are built on nothing more than rumors and your own biased conjecture.

"The Rorschach Mage’s reliability was conclusively verified within our Guild some time ago, a process witnessed by two Great Mages. Furthermore, even if he were a ’person of special interest,’ his brilliant mind has already made immense contributions. Perhaps, for the Kingdom, a brilliant mind is more beneficial than a hot head that has lost all reason."

"You are insulting my honor, sir," the instructor said, his face flushing red.

The Mage gave him an ultimatum. "Because you’ve made baseless assumptions about one of our most important members. If you cannot accept this and set aside your prejudice, then please, take your pride and leave."

"My name is Baditz de Grifval, Mr. Snow. I am leaving this place, and I will prove that you were wrong today." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"I’ll be waiting. Preferably before I forget your name."

But Snow was indeed wrong, and Baditz’s concerns were not entirely unfounded. The moment Rorschach returned to his dormitory, he immediately began recording the day’s experimental results.

Of course, he wasn’t preparing this report for the Mechanical Director or His Majesty the Emperor. He intended to bring this "gift" to the Bayern Kingdom.

The Magic Guild’s Communication System was clearly too expensive, and it required at least a Magic Apprentice to operate. If he couldn’t rely on the Guild, setting up a telegraph network was the only dependable alternative.

Rorschach was essentially borrowing Kano’s hen to lay his own eggs. After he proposed the concept, the brilliant minds Kano had assembled turned it into a replicable reality. Rorschach, in his convenient position, was able to both drive the research forward and pluck the ripened fruit for himself.

Baditz hadn’t yet displayed any irreplaceable talent; the work he did was just auxiliary tasks, similar to an Apprentice. Without him, the lab had merely lost a human calculating unit. Someone noticed his absence, but the matter was quickly forgotten.

The only postscript to this small incident was the founding of a secret society in Valuva. Its creed: "Reject theology and Magic; reason is supreme." Its founder: Baditz de Grifval.