I saw the Queen's Chest

Christian wakes up with a sharp clarity, last night's revelations settling into something tangible. His mind hums with calculations as he mentally constructs the fridge from scratch, going over every detail—insulation, cooling coils, a mana-powered compressor, and the necessary wiring. The pieces fit together in his mental blueprint, forming something efficient and self-sustaining.

He smirks.

It's time.

A brief memory flashes in his mind—Sylwen, effortlessly hoisting coils of heavy wiring over her shoulder, barely breaking a sweat as she carried them all the way to the estate. Christian had stared in mute amazement before muttering

"Why do I even struggle?"

Later that night, Sylwen had unfolded a map, pointing to a marked location.

"Four kilometers from here" she had said.

"If you need more, this is where you'll find them and us." 

Then, without another word, she had vanished into the night.

Now, standing in the quiet kitchen, Christian knows exactly where to go when he needs more supplies.

The air is still, the early morning silence broken only by his own steady breathing. He rolls up his sleeves, flexing his fingers, and gets to work.

Piece by piece, the fridge takes shape. The outer casing forms first, sleek and sturdy. Inside, the insulation layers settle into place, followed by carefully coiled metal tubing to conduct the cold. A compressor forms, powered by a mana conduit he designs on the spot, converting stored energy into a regulated cooling effect.

Even with his ??? mana, the mental strain is unlike anything he has faced before. Constructing weapons had been easy—solid, simple. But this? This is a system, a delicate, interconnected machine that demands precision.

A headache creeps in, his vision swimming slightly, but he grits his teeth. Not stopping now.

The last of the components slide into place. With a deep breath, Christian steps back, staring at the newly formed fridge standing proudly in the kitchen.

A silent prayer forms in his mind as he connects it to the hidden wiring he had installed in the dead of night.

The moment he flips the switch, a soft hum fills the air.

It works.

A triumphant grin stretches across his face, exhaustion threatening to pull his down, but he refuses to fall.

He grabs the butter they had been keeping in a simple cloth wrap and places it inside the fridge, watching in satisfaction as the cool air envelopes it. Before he can revel in his accomplishment, Genesis suddenly bursts into view, showering his with glowing confetti.

[Milestone Achieved!]

[First Major Infrastructure Complete!]

[New Title Unlocked: 'Architect of Innovation']

[Effect: Increased efficiency in large-scale magical construction. Slight reduction in mana strain when creating complex structures.]

[Task Completed: Create a Sustainable Storage System!]

[Level Up!] [Creation Magic -> Level 23] 

[New Stat Boosts: Intelligence +5, Mana Control +3]

His status updates flicker before his eyes, showing his growth:

Strength: G (0/10)

Speed: G+ (5/20)

Durability: G- (0/5)

Intelligence: S (8/2000)

Mana: ??? (???/???)

Mana Control: S+ (5/2000)

At precisely 8am, a loud scream echoes from the kitchen, followed by frantic shouting.

Christian, who had been lounging in the drawing room, bolts upright.

"Oh, what now?" he mutters before rushing to check it out.

He arrives to find the maids and butlers staring at the fridge, eyes wide with shock. Cold air drifts from the slightly open door, mist curling around their hands as they cautiously reach inside.

Seraphina steps forward, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "What... is that?"

Christian still slightly out of breath, grins. "A fridge. It keeps food cold and fresh for longer, which means no more spoiling ingredients or wasting supplies."

The staff murmurs among themselves, astonished, before one finally asks

"But what about the butter? We can't rely on Mr. Christian to create it for us forever."

Christian blinks, completely dumbfounded.

Wait... they don't know how to make butter?

Before he can respond, Genesis flickers to life with an exaggerated [Knock Knock] notification, as if knocking his head.

[Reminder: You are in an older world. Technological advancements do not exist yet.]

He groans, facepalming. "Alright, listen up! Butter is made from milk. Here's how you do it:

Separate the cream from fresh milk by letting it sit so the fat rises to the top. Churn the cream by shaking, stirring, or using a butter churn until the fat clumps together. Drain the buttermilk that separates from the solid butter. Rinse the butter with cold water to remove excess buttermilk. Knead and add salt if you want it to last longer. It's that simple.''

The staff listens, eyes filled with awe and curiosity. Seraphina studies him carefully before exhaling. 

"You truly are something else."

Christian waves a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, now if you'll excuse me, I've got a stove to build."

The staff exchanges puzzled looks. "A stove?" one of the maids asks.

"What does it do?"

Christian sighs, rubbing his forehead. "It generates controlled heat to cook food more efficiently. Instead of open flames and unreliable temperatures, you can adjust the heat as needed. Think of it as fire, but smarter."

He watches as their expressions remain blank before throwing his hands up.

"Oh, what the hell—I'll just make one."

With a deep breath, he focuses, mentally constructing the stove. Using the same principles that power the fridge, he channels energy from the hydro-generator, ensuring stable and adjustable heat levels. The metal forms under his hands, smooth and sleek, complete with temperature dials and a heating element designed to simulate controlled flames.

As the final piece solidifies, the stove materializes in front of his, appearing from shimmering particles before landing with a loud thud against the floor.

Christian blinks. "Oh yeah... I forgot how heavy it is."

He places his hands on his hips, taking a deep breath before attempting to push it into place. It doesn't budge. He grits his teeth, trying again, only for Genesis to flicker into view with an obnoxiously dramatic sigh.

[Observation: You possess the intelligence of a genius, yet the strength of a particularly frail twig.]

Christian groans.

Thanks, Genesis. Love the encouragement.

Seraphina and her son, Adam, step forward, arms crossed. 

Seraphina raises an eyebrow. "Move aside, Christian. Before you collapse."

Too exhausted to argue, he steps back and watches as they effortlessly shift the stove into position.

He exhales, looking worse than a corpse, before turning to the group.

 "Alright. Now, let me show you how it works."

He flips the switch, and within seconds, the heating element glows, emanating a steady warmth.

"This dial controls the temperature. No more worrying about unstable flames or burned food. It's powered by the hydro-generator, meaning it'll last long-term. Just keep it clean and don't mess with the wiring."

The gathered staff stares at the humming stove in awe, the realization dawning that their cooking methods have just been revolutionized.

[New Title Unlocked: 'Bringer of Modern Flame']

[Effect: Increased efficiency when creating fire-based technology. Slight boost in structural durability of crafted items.]

[Task Completed: Develop an Efficient Cooking Tool!]

[Level Up!]

[Christian is now Level 3]

[New Stat Boosts: Intelligence +4, Mana Control +3]

His status updates flicker before his eyes, showing his continued growth:

Strength: G (0/10)

Speed: G+ (5/20)

Durability: G- (0/5)

Intelligence: S (12/2000)

Mana: ??? (???/???)

Mana Control: S+ (8/2000)

Despite the exhaustion gnawing at him, a sense of accomplishment settles in. He had brought something new into the world—again.

Later that evening, Christian sits alone in his room, savouring the flavours of a well-cooked meal for the first time in ages. The stew is rich and perfectly seasoned, the roasted vegetables crisp and flavourful, and the buttered bread melts on his tongue in a way that feels almost sinful. He leans back with a satisfied sigh, reveling in the taste of food that no longer suffered from a lack of proper cooking techniques.

As he relaxes, a thought creeps into his mind.

Genesis, what does sanitation in this world look like?

Genesis flickers to life, responding immediately.

[Current Sanitation Standards: Varying by region. Nobility often have access to limited indoor plumbing, while common areas rely on chamber pots, outhouses, and natural waterways for waste disposal. Public sanitation is minimal, leading to common outbreaks of disease.]

Christian frowns, crossing his arms. "So basically, filth everywhere. Great."

He taps his fingers against his thigh, mind whirling with possibilities. "Alright. We need something better. Latrines with proper waste management, a clean water source that doesn't involve people dumping their waste right back into it, maybe even a basic sewage system..."

He exhales sharply. 

"Yeah, this one's gonna be tough."

[Genesis: Vance, you are in a fantasy world. Don't you think there are ways to solve this without relying on actual science?]

Christian hisses "How dare you—!"

Before pausing, the gears in his mind shifting.

Maybe Genesis had a point. Maybe I'm limiting myself by thinking only in terms of modern engineering.

With renewed determination, he pushes off the bed and calls for one of the maids.

"Where's Queen Seraphina?"

Minutes later, he strides into her study like he owns the place—only to freeze.

Seraphina stands shirtless by the fireplace, her muscular frame illuminated by the warm glow, a long scar running across her chest.

Christian swallows hard, his thoughts grinding to a halt.

He is drooling mentally.

Genesis shrieks into his mind with a deafening drumroll.

[Snap out of it!]

Christian jolts upright, wiping his mouth as Seraphina raises an eyebrow while swiftly covering her breast with a towel.

"Are you... alright?"

He clears his throat, pretending nothing happened.

"Uh, yes. Actually, I have a question—what kinds of species exist in this world?"

Seraphina, still weirded out, slowly begins to explain.

"The world is home to many species. Humans, of course, but also dwarves and elder dwarves—who are shorter but master craftsmen. Elves, including dark elves, who have a more complex history, often at odds with humans but now maintaining fragile peace. Then, there are dragons, who rarely appear but are said to have wisdom beyond all others."

She leans back slightly, watching Christian's reaction.

"Mixed humans—half-elves, half-orcs, even half-demons—are scattered, often shunned by purists but proving their worth in different ways. Demons, while once seen as enemies, have some factions that work alongside humans. Ogres, cyclopes, and orcs tend to live in their own clans, many still wary of human expansion."

Christian listens intently. "And they're all just... coexisting?"

Seraphina chuckles darkly.

"Not easily. After the Great War—the one that purged all the so-called heroes—most of the races had no choice but to negotiate. The war left everyone too weak to fight another one. Treaties were signed, but tensions remain. Some alliances are strong, others are brittle. Peace is more of an uneasy agreement than true unity."