Although Badi did not know what Duanmu Huai wanted to do, he still agreed to his request. He brought him to the workshop and began to make a puppet.
"Generally speaking, there are two types of puppets made by puppet technicians. One is relatively simple, and the other is more complex. The simple ones are mainly controlled by the puppeteer through threads, while the complex ones can perform some autonomous actions."
While explaining, Badi picked up his tools and began to make the puppet.
"I have seen the simple ones, but I am very curious about how those autonomously moving puppets are made."
Duanmu Huai had seen the first type of puppet before; for example, Olgis's guardian puppets were manipulated by her using threads. On the other hand, those autonomously moving puppets left him quite baffled. Although Duanmu Huai had used those puppets more than once, but...… to be honest, he still could not understand the principle behind them.
Mechanical soldiers were easier to understand. After all, they were related to machinery, so it made sense if they had some kind of core circuit inside, but what about puppets?
"Actually, apart from the relatively complex internal structure, there isn't much difference."
"What about the materials?"
"Well, most are still made of wood. Of course, some use steel and other special materials, but that's generally for special purposes."
Badi answered Duanmu Huai's questions while his hands never stopped working. Duanmu Huai saw his hands moving 'swish swish swish' on the workbench, and in the blink of an eye, he had carved a piece of wood into the puppet's limbs and torso. Then Badi took out some gears, brackets, and springs, finished assembling them, and then put them together...… hmm, a puppet was quickly formed.
Then Badi took out a key, inserted it into the puppet's back, and turned it a few times. Subsequently, Duanmu Huai saw the puppet open its eyes and slowly raise its head. It then looked up at Badi and spoke.
"Hello, Master."
Seeing the puppet awaken before him, Badi nodded in satisfaction.
"Well, it's done."
"Hold on a minute?!"
Seeing this, Duanmu Huai finally could not hold back anymore.
"How was this done?"
"Just like this, didn't you see it all?"
"I only saw you stuff a bunch of parts into this puppet's body?"
"That's right. That's why I said the automatic puppets are a bit more complicated. If it were a puppet to be manipulated, you would only need to create the body and limbs and then assemble them."
"No...… but...…"
Duanmu Huai certainly knew that pure craftsmanship could sometimes achieve miraculous things, like the wooden oxen and gliding horses, and those wind-up puppets that could walk automatically; the skills of ancient artisans were also quite amazing. But taking a big step back, even if the things they created could move, they only did so by repeating actions according to a fixed pattern.
However, the puppet that Badi had just created could not only walk and talk, but also obey commands.
This was clearly already at the level of a robot, alright!
Where was its information processing center? Could it be that this thing didn't have a core??
"Can I see the materials?"
"Of course."
Duanmu Huai got up and walked to the workbench, carefully examining the materials one by one.
Spring...… an ordinary spring.
Gear...… an ordinary gear.
The other parts were also just simple metal components.
He went to the newly created puppet again, opened its abdomen, and saw the gears inside constantly turning, driving the spools. Duanmu Huai then looked carefully at her head———inside the head, apart from the parts used to control eye movement and opening the mouth to speak, there was nothing.
???
What the hell kind of technology is this?
Duanmu Huai was completely dumbfounded. He admitted he really could not understand this thing...… Where is the power source? Where is the information processor? Why can it obey people's commands and have its own judgment? Why can it speak without a voice box?
This isn't scientific, is it?
But this is very magical.
Holding this thought, Duanmu Huai communicated with the Dwarf technician again, finally resolving some of his questions.
Simply put, this kind of "fully automatic puppet" could act autonomously to a certain extent, but that must be specified by the creator, such as a "puppet specializing in selling goods" or a "puppet specializing in guarding." Puppets like these would perform certain autonomous actions within their scope of duty.
But if you asked them to dance or cook, they would state that they "are not equipped with this function."
As for the topic of "giving a puppet its own heart," Badi gave Duanmu Huai a detailed explanation. Simply put, among puppeteers, this was indeed a topic of great interest, just like how some people research robots with the goal of creating robots identical to humans.
However, for now, there were only two feasible methods.
One was to seize another's soul and insert it into a puppet. Of course, this was essentially turning a person into a puppet. Although such a puppet could be controlled, most people would obviously not choose this method. On one hand, it violated moral ethics; on the other, this method was prone to problems.
The other method was simpler; to put it bluntly...… it was to become a spirit.
That's right, in this world, if a puppet was used for a long enough time, it would indeed slowly develop and awaken self-awareness, eventually becoming a puppet with a heart and complete self-consciousness. But this process usually took at least a hundred years, and it also required the puppet to be in a good environment. Otherwise, if you just made a puppet, threw it in a box, and left it for a few hundred years, it would not change.
Duanmu Huai finally gave up on understanding the puppet-making techniques. However, looking at the puppets Badi had created, an idea suddenly stirred in Duanmu Huai's mind.
"Since you can make moving puppets, what about animals?"
"Of course, that's also possible."
"Then...… can you make a mount for me?"
"A mount??"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's request, Badi was stunned for a moment. Then he looked Duanmu Huai up and down and showed a look of sudden realization.
"You mean...…"
"That's right, a mount that I can ride."
Since the other party had figured it out, Duanmu Huai did not hide it. He did need a mount right now. The previous two-wheeled motor vehicle could run, but it was made to the proportions of a normal person. Duanmu Huai felt as awkward as an adult riding a children's bike, so he gave up after riding it just once.
But now, seeing that Badi could create puppets, and thinking about the mechanical dog he had seen in the puppet district, an inspiration suddenly struck Duanmu Huai.
Indeed, with his size, it was very difficult to find a mount.
But...… he could make one himself!!
Well, of course, Duanmu Huai couldn't make it himself, but he could have it custom-made!
According to Melody's introduction, Badi was the puppet craftsman with the best skills in the puppet district, so manufacturing a mount like this should not be difficult, right?
"Hmm...…"
Badi crossed his arms and carefully sized up Duanmu Huai.
"It's not impossible, but making one for you would be a waste of materials...…"
"Money is not a problem."
Duanmu Huai appeared quite calm. After all, the archbishop had awarded him a large sum of money that he had no place to spend. If he could get a warhorse that matched his size, it would be worth it!
"Alright!!"
Hearing this, Badi slapped his hands together forcefully.
"This is the first time I've taken on such a request. Do you have any requirements?"
"It needs to be fast, agile, and sturdy...… also, make it look good."
"Look good?"
"That's right, appearance is very important."
Duanmu Huai didn't expect to change his own appearance, so he could only work on the mount. If you could build a unicorn or a pegasus, at least it would look the part, right?
It had to be said, Badi was quite surprised by Duanmu Huai's request, but he still nodded.
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
"Then I'll be counting on you."
Hearing Badi's reply, Duanmu Huai also breathed a sigh of relief internally.
At least I've gained something.
(End of this chapter)