Chapter 528: Riding Dirty.
Roland pulled the cloth away, unveiling a three-wheeled, buggy-like contraption. Its frame was a blend of metal and wood, reinforced with engraved runic symbols that shimmered faintly in the light. At the back was a blocky, rune-powered battery engine, connected to the glistening runic framework within. A lightweight metal casing concealed the inner workings, keeping them hidden from prying eyes.
“Ah, so we’re finally doing something with this old thing?”
Bernir said, scratching his beard. His gaze settled on the large wheels, or rather, what they were missing.
“Yes. With these, we should be able to get it running, it did shake a lot in the past.”
Roland glanced at the metal wheels attached to his old creation. The concept had originated after he built the first runic bike powered by his own mana. In the past, he had intended to complete it as a means of traveling to and from the city. However, he eventually abandoned the project to focus on his golemic inventions. With Bernir’s assistance and Arthur’s help, he no longer needed to make frequent trips to the city and materials were regularly delivered to his workshop. Additionally, using a machine would prevent him from leveling up skills like running or dashing.
Even so, whenever he had free time, he found himself tinkering with the design. Now, it was nearly complete. This vehicle featured two wheels in the front and one in the back. While he could have opted for a four-wheeled design, the three-wheeled configuration saved space and reduced production costs. Though he wasn’t much of a gearhead in his original world, he had learned that the “Tadpole configuration” he chose offered greater stability, better traction, and improved braking over the “Delta” type which had other pros. If this project proved successful, he might eventually create the other designs he had in mind, including a proper four-wheeler.
He reached for one of the black, rubber-like objects Rastix had crafted, holding it up to inspect its craftsmanship. The material stretched slightly under his grip, and its surface featured a faint, textured pattern designed for better traction.
“These tires should cushion the ride and provide better grip”
Roland explained to Bernir, who was watching with growing enthusiasm. Carriages existed in this world, but their suspension systems relied on enchantments that absorbed and dispersed shocks, rather than materials like rubber. Cheaper models used large, basic springs, but Roland wanted his creation to be more efficient. By minimizing reliance on enchantments, he could focus all the available power on generating torque to spin the wheels and propel the vehicle forward. Once the basis was in order, he would look into lowering the shaking through magic.