I Am A Wizard Who Can Travel Between Earth And The Other World-Chapter 75 - 77 The Shield of Dumaire: A Tale of Craft and Deception

The shield's creation advanced seamlessly, flowing like a well-practiced dance of craft and magic. After the second test, Walter proposed a few final improvements. Gin made the adjustments on the spot, refining the enchantments to a state of near perfection.

With the final revisions complete, it was time to mass-produce the shield for sale.

Curiosity flickered in Gin's eyes as he observed the workshop staff. He wondered how non-magicians like Walter and the artisans managed to inscribe complex magical sigils.

The answer revealed itself in the form of an intriguing device—magical inscription equipment.

Gin watched closely as Gin operated the machine with expert precision.

The device projected mana, synchronizing with the embedded magic stones to engrave enchantments onto the shield.

Since the entire process relied on these stones, they acted as both a conduit for mana and a stabilizing focus, eliminating the need for the delicate control that a trained mage might provide.

"It's ready. What do you think?" Walter presented the completed shield to Walter.

Gin swept his mana across the shield, scrutinizing its construction.

A satisfied nod followed. "Perfect. It's identical to the prototype."

Walter sighed with relief but added cautiously, "The complexity of the sigils might slow down production a bit."

"What about the other staff? How skilled are they?" Gin inquired.

"They're not as proficient as I am," Walter admitted honestly, "but they'll manage.

It'll just take them some time to improve."

"So the defect rate might increase," Gin noted.

"Possibly, but don't worry too much. With practice, they'll get better. In this line of work, defects are usually a matter of experience," Walter replied with an optimistic smile.

It was all happening faster than anyone had anticipated. Gin had expected to spend months—perhaps years—perfecting the shield.

He had even considered securing additional funding to cover prolonged development.

But now, those concerns were moot.

All that remained was to ramp up production.

Sales weren't an issue; deals had already been struck with distributors who were ready to buy as soon as the shields were ready.

Better yet, the shield's performance exceeded expectations, meaning they could command a higher price than originally planned.

Still, Walter hesitated for a moment before raising a sensitive issue. "By the way… what about security?"

"Security?" Gin echoed.

"Yes. If we don't protect the sigils, competing workshops will copy them in no time. Magical scanners these days are advanced enough to extract every detail of an enchantment within a day, unless it's protected."

"Magical scanners?" Gin frowned in disbelief.

The idea seemed out of place given the overall level of magic he had encountered in this world.

Walter chuckled at his reaction. "It's not the scanners themselves that are impressive—it's the mages who use them.

Only those with sufficient magical expertise can operate them."

"Do we have access to one of these scanners?" Gin asked, his curiosity deepening.

Walter shook his head with a wry smile. "Unfortunately, no. These devices are rare.

They're considered relics, typically found only in major workshops or underground networks. Ordinary workshops like ours can't afford them."

Gin nodded thoughtfully.

That made sense. The critical issue wasn't the rarity of these devices but the sheer threat they posed.

If a rival managed to extract and replicate the core sigils, it could spell disaster for the original creators.

Many workshops had been ruined by this very scenario.

Nowadays, however, most workshops prioritized enchantment security to protect their intellectual property.

"Usually, security specialists handle this," Walter continued. "They implement enchantment shields and anti-scanning measures. Of course, that comes at a price, so we'll need to negotiate terms.

Since you hold the largest stake in this project, we wanted to discuss it with you."

Gin didn't particularly care about the security measures, but he was curious about the industry practices. He listened intently as Walter explained further.

"Security firms typically charge a percentage of revenue. It's a significant expense, but it's necessary if we want to prevent theft.

There are only a few reputable firms, though…"

"Only a few?" Gin asked.

"Three, to be exact," Walter replied, holding up three fingers. "There are plenty of smaller operations, but they lack credibility. Most can't survive long in the market without a proven track record."

"Sounds like competition in the security industry is fierce," Gin remarked.

"It is. Magical tools are a lucrative business. Once a firm secures a few high-profile clients, they generate steady revenue. Naturally, established firms try to monopolize the market, often by sabotaging newcomers."

"Sabotage?"

"Exactly. They'll go as far as breaking security protections to discredit new players. It's a cutthroat business," Walter said grimly.

Gin chuckled softly. "So, even in a world of magic, some things never change."

Walter gave him a knowing look. "Indeed. Power and profit—those are the true forces driving this world."

Gin leaned back, considering his next steps. The path ahead was clear. Security, production, and distribution would all fall into place soon enough. For now, he had work to do—and a world to shape with his craft.

"Is there compensation if security is breached?" Gin inquired with a calm but piercing gaze.

"Of course," Walter replied promptly. "Security contracts are tailored to fit each situation.

No one would trust a lesser firm without safeguards in place."

"I imagine there have been workshops that collapsed because of compromised security?"

"Absolutely. Most of the smaller workshops that go under usually meet that fate.

But… why the interest? Are you planning to get involved in this sector?"

"I'm interested, yes," Gin admitted, his voice thoughtful. "But for now, it's just curiosity. We have a shield to finish first."

"Understood. So, how do you plan to handle security?"

"It's already taken care of," Gin replied nonchalantly.

Walter blinked in confusion. "Pardon?"

"I integrated security measures into the enchantment from the very beginning. As long as the sigils aren't leaked, we won't have to worry about it."

The dual enchantments within the shield were interwoven so intricately that they naturally formed a defensive barrier.

Anyone trying to extract the sigils would face an uphill battle separating the protective spells from the rest of the enchantment.

To Gin, this was a minor task, but Walter stared at him in stunned silence. He struggled to form words, stammering nonsense before Gin cut him off.

"Also, the shield's dimensions and design must be exact. The enchantment relies on those specifications. Altering the structure will disrupt the magic's functionality."

Walter's eyes widened further. "Wait… is that even possible?"