"I'm making bottles, but I just can't blow them into the right shape. Anyway, while those people were helping me, they spotted this old man. He's pretty good with his hands-he made Kohaku's sturdy shield. I asked him to help, but he thought I'd destroyed his work and refused, so I had him tied up and brought here," Senku said, looking at the old man beside him, who was bound up like a roly-poly toy.
"His work?" Chen Yu looked puzzled. As he was now, he couldn't recall details that weren't especially important.
"The bridge! He destroyed the bridge. There's no way I'm helping him," Kaseki said angrily.
"All right, then get to work. Miwa, Reiko, take a break. Come over and watch if you're curious," Chen Yu called out.
Then Chen Yu and the others stood nearby as Senku pulled a red, viscous substance from a furnace.
"What's that? It looks a little familiar," Gen asked curiously.
"Glass," Chen Yu explained.
"Glass?" Reiko, Gen, and Miwa looked at Chen Yu in surprise.
Chen Yu said no more, simply watching what was happening ahead.
The others fell silent too, watching Senku work.
Kaseki also watched Senku with interest. He had been quite curious at first, but when he saw Chrome's clumsy movements completely waste this new material, he became furious.
His mood had been fairly good, but watching Senku and Chrome work made him stamp his feet in anger.
"A man devoted to craftsmanship couldn't possibly sit still when faced with something as irresistible as glasswork, could he, old man Kaseki?" Senku said, looking at Kaseki mockingly.
(I made a typo, and none of you said anything to correct me.)
Hearing Senku's tone, Kaseki seethed. "I can't stand watching this anymore!"
Then he strained with his entire body and snapped the ropes, revealing his muscular upper body.
"I'll take your bait. Let me do it," Kaseki said.
That startled Chrome and Senku beside him, as well as Chen Yu.
Especially Reiko and Miwa.
Reiko stared blankly at Kaseki, seemingly unable to understand how he had suddenly snapped the ropes.
Miwa, meanwhile, studied Kaseki closely. Those muscles looked like they came from martial arts training or working out.
And from what they had said, this man had made the shield for someone named Kohaku. If these people valued it so highly, his shield-making skills had to be good. Did that mean she finally had someone who could make her dagger?
"Seriously? Those muscles?" Senku said awkwardly.
Then they watched old man Kaseki take Chrome's rod, draw out a little of the liquid, and make glass bottles one after another.
"He... he made them?" Reiko stared in surprise at the bottles sitting on the ground ahead.
"Well? Now you can see that your dagger can be made, right?" Chen Yu said to Miwa beside him.
"Yes." Miwa nodded.
Although the dagger being made now wouldn't be her father's, being able to have one again was still something to be grateful for at the moment.
Watching them, Chen Yu smiled faintly. His gaze shifted to old man Kaseki, and he suddenly remembered that when Kaseki had been revived, there seemed to have been a piece missing from his backside-and the shape of that piece hadn't been particularly flattering.
Fortunately, a doctor always needed to maintain a smile, so no other expression showed. If he had laughed, they would have grilled him about why.
Then they stayed up all night making glass bottles, and by the next morning, they had produced a sufficient number.
After Chen Yu woke up, he gave them all a checkup, told them to get some proper rest, and went back to sleep.
Not getting enough sleep could kill you.
When Chen Yu woke up again, he happened to see Senku. He asked what was wrong and rubbed his eyes, then heard Senku ask him, "Can herbal medicine replace sulfonamide drugs?"
"Sulfonamide drugs?" Chen Yu didn't understand at first, but then suddenly remembered that they seemed to be needed for Ruri's illness.
"It can, but the odds are pretty low. After all, Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a long time, unlike Western Medicine, which works quickly. Still, once most people are cured with Traditional Chinese Medicine, similar illnesses rarely return, while with Western Medicine, certain conditions can recur. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. If you can make that drug, do your best to make it. And since you're asking, she must be running out of time, right? She needs it as soon as possible. All I can do is try my best to keep her alive a little longer."
"All right. Sorry for the trouble." Senku had thought that with Chen Yu around, things wouldn't have to be so complicated. After all, Tsukasa would attack soon. If he relied solely on Chen Yu and the others to keep him hidden, he would be exposed sooner or later.
Watching Senku leave, Chen Yu yawned.
I can treat her, and I can make it work quickly too. But without this wonder drug, Senku, how will you win over Ishigami Village and get them to help you fight Tsukasa? Take it slowly. After all, the process leading up to a result will always help you somehow. Whether it's the experience or something else, it'll become an important part of your life.
Watching Senku's retreating back, he really did feel sorry for him.
He was all alone in this stone age. His father had died thousands of years ago, leaving only him to fight on his own.
No, he wasn't entirely fighting alone. After all, he left you an important gift.
The Hundred Tales, and that vital platinum...
Chen Yu suddenly thought of his parents in this life. He wondered whether their stone statues were still intact...
Oh well. If I get the chance later, I'll tell Senku, "Look, some of these people are related to you by blood. You're not alone. You still have them, and us."
The next day or two passed with old man Kaseki making containers, Kinro and Ginro training, and everyone generating electricity.
Chen Yu had also offered to treat Kinro, but Kinro refused.
Chen Yu didn't know why they were still training. Logically, Magma should have stopped competing, so what was going on now?
Forget it. It's too early to think about that.
When Kinro and Ginro finished training, he went over to examine them and said, "You need to rest. Your muscles are overworked. If you keep this up, you'll damage them."
"But we can't let Magma marry Ruri," Kinro explained.
"Oh?" Hearing that, Chen Yu thought that it really was Magma after all. He also wanted to see what had changed about Magma.
"Kinro..." Chen Yu looked at Kinro and was about to persuade him, only to be interrupted.
"Say no more. I'm fine," Kinro said firmly.
"All right, then I'll just have to wait until you realize it before I deal with it." Chen Yu waved a hand and left.
(I took a look, and the plot seems a bit forced and like it's falling apart. So frustrating.)
Before you continue