Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 989

989. The Madman with Clear Eyes (14)

“Hmm…”

With a soft hum, Hyang meticulously examined the sketch submitted by Da Vinci.

‘As expected, it has changed!’

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the helicopter sketched by Da Vinci had a drill-like rotor. However, the helicopter Da Vinci submitted now had a rotor resembling a windmill, similar to those made in the 20th century.

‘This is fun in its own way. Checking what has changed.’

Hiding his thoughts, Hyang looked at Da Vinci and asked, “Does this windmill help it rise higher?”

“Yes, it does.”

“Hmm, interesting. How did you come up with this idea?”

“The idea of a flying machine with ‘Spirali’ wings has been in my mind for a while. However, I was able to develop it greatly after meeting Gong Yejang in the Empire.”

* * *

Just as Michelangelo was busy in Gyeongju, Da Vinci was also bustling in Seoul. He was responsible for illustrations in various illustrated books made by the Medical Institute, as well as drawing illustrations for the encyclopedia and supervising others. However, Da Vinci’s favorite place was still Area 51. Therefore, Da Vinci spent time in Area 51 whenever he had the chance.

“Oh! Brother Da, it’s been a while!”

“Oh! Brother Gong!”

Gong Yejang, the most senior and skilled blacksmith working in Area 51, greeted him warmly, and Da Vinci also greeted him happily. At some point, Gong Yejang became the person Da Vinci got along with best in Area 51. They were of similar age, and their skills complemented each other perfectly.

If Da Vinci had a brilliant idea, Gong Yejang would turn it into a real object. The two men shook hands warmly and soon moved to Da Vinci’s workshop.

“What brings you here, busy with all sorts of things outside?”

“I came to deliver something to you, Brother Gong, and to say hello.”

“To me? No way!”

Da Vinci handed Gong Yejang a piece of paper.

“I’ve drawn a frame for the portrait, as we discussed before.”

“Oh! Oh ho! Amazing! I should tell Soga to make it like this! Thank you so much!”

“It’s nothing. I’m the one who envies you, to have such a precious heirloom.”

Gong Yejang sincerely expressed his gratitude after seeing the design drawn on the paper. However, Da Vinci envied Gong Yejang for a different reason: Gong Yejang’s grandfather had received a handwritten prayer from Hyang when he was the Crown Prince. It was a treasure among treasures, complete with Hyang’s handprint. After that, the two men sat across from each other at a small table and continued their conversation.

“By the way, you come up with so many amazing things. You remind me of Jang Yeong-sil of the old days.”

At Gong Yejang’s words, Da Vinci quickly waved his hand.

“Don’t say that anywhere else. I’ll get a bad reputation.”

This was Da Vinci’s sincere feeling.

* * *

Before coming to the Empire, or rather, before seeing part of the Book of Challenges after meeting Hyang, Da Vinci had no doubt about his genius.

‘The world’s technology cannot keep up with my mind! It’s frustrating!’

Da Vinci, who was so arrogant, realized his shortcomings after seeing the Empire’s civilization and the Book of Challenges. However, it was not a complete surrender.

‘The Empire’s technology is so advanced that they can make what I’ve imagined. Now the world will know how much of a genius I am!’

However, after seeing Jang Yeong-sil’s works in Area 51 of Seoul, Da Vinci humbled himself.

“I was arrogant! I didn’t know how vast this world is, how many talented people there are!”

After that, Da Vinci humbled himself. Instead, he gained people.

* * *

“Right? I went too far, didn’t I? It was a joke. Anyway…”

At Da Vinci’s reaction, Gong Yejang looked around, trying to change the subject. As he looked at the sketches around him, his eyes suddenly fixed on one sketch.

“What is that? I haven’t seen it before?”

“Ah, that? I found it while organizing my drawing tools for the illustration work I’m doing these days.”

“Let me see for a moment. Hmm…”

Gong Yejang was interested in the sketch of the helicopter that Da Vinci had conceived in Italy.

“This roof-like thing looks like a spiral drill bit attached to a fire drill.”

“It’s not a roof, it’s a wing. It rotates to fly upwards.”

“Ah…”

Gong Yejang nodded at Da Vinci’s explanation, then chuckled and teased Da Vinci.

“So, is this wing a ‘drill that pierces the sky’? ‘My wing is a drill that pierces the sky!’, something like that?”

“Maybe? Haha!”

“Hahaha!”

They started with a light laugh, but soon they were seriously discussing the possibilities.

“The wing should be covered with cloth, right?”

“I guess so.”

“To float properly, it would have to spin incredibly fast, which means a steam engine would be needed. Considering the size and weight, could the cloth covering the wings withstand it?”

“Then what about using iron?”

“It would become too heavy, wouldn’t it?”

“Hmm…”

As the two men were pondering how to create a flying machine that could actually fly, the outside became noisy.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“A kite fight! A kite fight!”

“The windmill kite fight has begun!”

The sounds of gongs, cymbals, and people shouting mixed together, and Da Vinci looked at Gong Yejang.

“What’s going on? Is it an accident?”

“No, it’s like a traditional event in Area 51. A children’s fight has turned into an adult fight.”

“Huh?”

* * *

Windmills, or pinwheels, were children’s toys with a long history. Usually, the way to play with windmills was to attach paper-folded wings to a branch and hold it in hand or run with it in the mouth. Another method was to attach wings carved from thin bamboo or wood to a handle, then turn the handle to make the wings soar into the sky. In this case, the wing that flew the highest won.

This was where the children’s fight turned into an adult fight. Regardless of the era or place, there were always children with particularly strong competitive spirits, and there were always parents who would grant their children’s wishes. This was also the case with the artisans of Area 51. The artisans of Area 51 lived in the villages around Area 51. Therefore, most of the children in the village were children of the artisans of Area 51.

At some point, a child who lost in a kite fight started to whine, and one of the artisans made a windmill for the child. Even if it was made roughly, it was made by a skilled artisan, so it was far superior to what the children made, and naturally, the victory went to that child. And this made the other children whine to their parents.

“So-and-so’s dad made a windmill for them, what about me! Make one for me too!”

Tired of the children’s constant whining, the fathers made windmills for them. However, there were still winners and losers, and the children who lost whined to their fathers again.

“I lost to so-and-so’s windmill! You said you were good! You said you were good!”

“Damn it! Alright. Good! I’ll show you what I’m made of!”

This is how it became an adult fight with the pride of the adults at stake. As things got bigger, Hyang naturally found out, and Hyang issued an order regarding this.

-I will not stop you, but I will not tolerate the cart being put before the horse.

-Therefore, I order as follows.

-I will only allow kite fights once a year, on the day of the Great Full Moon of the New Year.

-I allow the use of all materials except gunpowder.

-I also allow participating in teams, not alone.

-Anyone who steals or interferes with another person’s ideas will be disqualified immediately upon discovery.

-I will give 3 silver coins as a prize to the one who flies the highest.

By creating a ‘competition’ like this, Hyang smiled slyly.

“This much prize money is enough to encourage moderate competition that is neither too much nor too little. And who knows… maybe a helicopter will come out before Leonardo da Vinci?”

However, a helicopter did not appear until Da Vinci came to the Empire.

* * *

After hearing Gong Yejang’s explanation of the origin of the kite fight, Da Vinci expressed his doubts.

“It’s been several years since I came to the Empire, why didn’t I know about this until now?”

“Who’s the one who’s been holed up in the workshop, cultivating the Tao [a Daoist practice of self-cultivation]?”

“Ah…”

Da Vinci nodded without realizing it and got up from his seat.

“I’ve heard the story, so I should go and see it.”

“It’ll be fun.”

The two men left the workshop and headed to where the kite fight was taking place.

“But how do they judge who goes higher? If the kite fight gets this big, there needs to be a fair judgment.”

“That’s why they do it at the artillery test site. There’s a watchtower there, and they attach a string to the wings. They check the distance the string has unwound.”

“Ah…”

“Wow!!!!”

“Whoa!!!!!”

Amidst their conversation, the shouts continued.

“It’s flying!”

“It’s already started. Let’s go quickly.”

“Let’s go.”

* * *

The two men headed to where all the artisans and officials of Area 51 were gathered. Crown Prince Woo also attended to watch the kite fight, as it was one of the few spectacles of the year. After paying their respects to Woo, the two men took their places and began to watch the kite fight. Gong Yejang explained to Da Vinci in more detail.

“It’s been decades since this kite fight started. Thanks to that, everyone usually participates in teams these days.”

“I see. You can’t make something that big alone.”

Da Vinci nodded as he looked at the windmills with wings that spanned the width of an average adult’s outstretched arms. In the following kite fight, the artisans showcased all kinds of windmills. There were windmills with three or four wings, and windmills with wings that looked like fan blades. Or, there were windmills with wings that looked like trays.

“Wow!”

“It’s flying!”

Every time those windmills soared into the sky, the artisans shouted and applauded. Among them were Crown Prince Woo and Da Vinci.

Chug chug! Chug chug!

“Huh? A steam engine? Why?”

Woo and the artisans expressed their doubts at the sight of a tractor suddenly appearing in the kite fight arena.

“Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Yes, I hope you show me good results.”

The artisans who paid their respects to Woo connected the attachments on the tractor to the pole with the windmill wings with a leather belt. After confirming that the leather belt was properly connected, the artisan gestured to his colleague standing next to the tractor. The colleague operated the lever attached to the attachment.

Clang!

The attachment on the tractor used the power of the steam engine to spin the leather belt furiously, and the wings of the windmill began to spin so fast that they were invisible. At some point, the artisan near the wings moved the lever connected to the pole, and at that moment, the windmill soared high into the sky.

“It’s up!”

“It’s high!”

“It’s the best! The best has come out!”

As the artisans stood up and shouted, Da Vinci and Gong Yejang looked at each other.

“That’s it!”