A few minutes later, Erik stepped into the village's forge, the smell of hot metal and coal dust immediately assaulting his nostrils. A couple of blacksmith villagers were pounding away at metal, adding a clamor to the ambience. The sight was surprisingly comforting to Erik, reminding him of the simpler times before his unexpected departure from Earth.

He spotted the dwarf chatting with a big and burly blacksmith, their expressions serious as they discussed something with animated gestures. Grom noticed Erik and strode over, his thick beard bobbing with each step.

"Erik, my friend!" Grom boomed, slapping him on the back. "I've seen the success of your projects! Impressive structures, I must say."

Erik winced at the painful thump. "Thanks, Grom. I appreciate that."

"Hello, Burger King. I don't believe we've formally met yet," the blacksmith said, turning to Erik. He was a robust man with a thick beard and arms that looked like they could bend iron bars. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he offered a firm handshake. "I'm Kinnesthe Tragluar."

"Nice to meet you, Kin," Erik replied, gripping the blacksmith's hand firmly. "Just Erik's fine."

Kinnesthe nodded approvingly. "So, you're the one who's been stirring things up around here. I've heard quite a bit about your... innovations."

Erik grinned. "Yep, you got me. I like to keep things interesting."

"Well, your burgers are certainly that," Kinnesthe chuckled. "But we're not here to talk about fast food. Grom tells me you've got a proposition worked out."

"Indeed," Erik's eyes suddenly glinted with a demonic greed. "I'm sure you've taken note of the rune generators I've distributed around the village and in my projects?"

Kinnesthe nodded. "They're quite the talk of the town. A bit too... unorthodox for some of the old-timers, but I've seen their efficiency firsthand. The village hasn't had a power shortage since you set them up."

"That's because people who can manage any type of lightning magic can power it themselves every so now and then," Erik pulled out his journal. "However, in my world, magic doesn't exist. Therefore, we've had to think of other ways to produce electricity."

He cracked it open to show the two designs of machinery, one powered by the rune stones and the other by a fossil fuel combustion engine. "I've been thinking, if we can combine the efficiency of these rune generators with the power of my world's knowledge, it'd result in power to last practically forever. Solar energy, wind, turbines, hydroelectric, all of it."

Grom's eyes lit up with excitement. "A perpetual motion machine! The guilds would pay handsomely for such technology!"

Erik's eyes flashed brighter at the mention of payment. "Oh? So I can expand this outside of regular civilians? Perfect..."

The two men exchanged a knowing look. Kinnesthe nodded towards Grom. "Let's talk more over a pint. We can discuss your... proposals in detail."

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At the village tavern, Erik explained his proposal to the blacksmith and the dwarf. He would provide the rune generators and schematics for other sources of electrical production in return for a cut of the profits Grom would make distributing the power sources. Following that, he tentatively inquired asking the two their thoughts of constructing a mass-production facility.

"What exactly is such a building? And what would we mass-produce?" Grom asked, his curiosity piqued.

"A building that eliminates the need for hands-on effort," Erik explained with a smirk. "It uses automation- machines that do the work for you. As for what, we can literally mass-produce anything we set our minds to."

Both Grom and Kinnesthe frowned.

"You're asking us, two individuals who believe in pouring time and effort into our work, to abandon our principles and go for quantity over quality?" Kinnesthe asked, a bit offended.

Erik shook his head. "By no means am I asking that of you. I have enough common sense not to encroach upon your works by making cheap copies. Instead, I thought we'd produce tools. Things that would help you in your crafts."

Grom's interest was piqued. "What kind of tools?"

Erik dramatically stood with a grand gesture, ignoring the looks of the other patrons. "Both here and in my world, hammers are universal. But, what if you had a rune-infused hammer? Something that wouldn't break or bend no matter how hard you strike it? A hammer that could double, even triple your work efficiency!"

Grom's eyes widened with excitement, while Kinnesthe looked skeptical. "It sounds... incredible. But, how do we make such a thing if one cannot use rune magic?"

Erik sat back down, clasping his hands together and leaning towards the two. "That's where our production factory comes into play. Instead of a regular old facility like the ones in my world, it's a hybrid. Combining science and technology to produce a completely different kind of rune-infused tool. We'd use machines to handle the brute force and precision needed, leaving the magic to enhance the end product."

He paused, using the moment to sip from his mug for effect. "But why stop at magical tools? Why not magical gear? A welding mask that you can see through that also protects your face from sparks. Gloves that are heat, piercing, and impact resistant. The list goes on."

Kinnesthe's skepticism slowly morphed into intrigue. "And what would you get from this... partnership?"

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"I'm going to be blunt with you two: I only care about the money. I'll get you guys started with ideas, but I'm expecting you two to take charge after you get the hang of it," Erik nodded sagely. "Alyssa, my first masterpiece, turned my small little burger shack into the talk of the town. Ric helped with the water park's construction and maintenance, now acting as the central manager for the successful attraction. Therefore, from Grom, my expectations are quality, handmade products as well as the connection and distribution of such products outside of Restia Village and Dwarfhold. For you, Kin, I want you to act as the supervisor for our production factory, in the event you two agreed to my conditions."

Grom's eyes gleamed with greed. "I like the sound of that. More gold, more power, and more recognition. What do you say, Kinnesthe?"

The blacksmith took a moment to ponder, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It's true that our village could use more advanced tools. And if these... machines of yours can help us produce more without compromising quality, then I'm willing to give it a try."

"Excellent," Erik smiled devilishly, slamming his hand down on the table. "Now, let's talk numbers."

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The talk initially started well, but as Grom and Kinnesthe got more excited, they ordered more alcohol to match the mood. At some point, Erik found himself playing a strange tavern game, intoxicated and surrounded by the sound of clinking mugs and laughter.

"Okay... okay, guys... I gotta... I gotta go to the, uh, main burger shack... now," Erik slurred, trying to stand up from the table. His legs felt like they were made of gelatin, and the room spun around him like a carousel gone mad.

"Farewell, Burger King! You know... for a human... you can drink... as well as a dwarf!" Grom drunkenly roared, slapping Erik on the back. Kinnesthe nodded in agreement, his cheeks red from the ale.

Erik stumbled outside of the tavern, clutching the bone charm necklace around his neck. Then he patted his pockets several times, ensuring that his journal and pen were on him. He took a shaky deep breath.

"Okay... one foot forward-" Erik immediately face-planted into the dirt outside the tavern. "Or... maybe not."

He wasn't sure if his intoxication was playing tricks on him, but Erik heard soft padding coming up to him. There was a familiar, indignant huff, followed by a gentle clamp on the back of his shirt. Erik felt himself being lifted up and carried somewhere.

"Oh... hey Illyanth, buddy," Erik mumbled, his vision blurring as the dragon infant glanced at him with eyes full of judgment. "You... carrying me back to the burger shack?"

The dragon pup's grip tightened around his shirt, and he could feel the heat from the creature's breath as it huffed again. Erik slightly swung back and forth in Illyanth's maw as they walked. The dragon was definitely not pleased with his state.

"You know, you don't have to carry me like this," Erik slurred, his words barely coherent. "I can walk."

Illyanth huffed again, as if he didn't trust Erik's drunken state to get him anywhere safely. The dragon's steps were surprisingly graceful for his size, and the way his tail swayed side to side was almost mesmerizing. Erik felt like he was being cradled by a giant, scaly baby that could roast him alive if it so desired.

"Thanks... Illyanth," Erik murmured, fighting to stay awake. "I know... we don't really get along, but I've come to trust you a lot sometimes. You've helped... me and Talia more times... than I can count."

The baby dragon remained silent as he continued padding along. Erik wasn't sure if he understood him or not.

"But I do have one question for you," Erik slurred. "Why are you always so... grumpy?"

Illyanth suddenly dropped him on the ground unceremoniously, and for a second, Erik thought he had offended the dragon. As he slowly clambered up to his feet, he drunkenly realized he was at the main burger shack, which was bustling with activity.

"Thanks, buddy-" Erik turned to say his gratitude, but Illyanth was already padding off.

The burger shack was in full swing, with Alyssa expertly juggling orders and the villagers working in harmony. The smell of grilled meat and freshly baked buns filled the air, making Erik's stomach growl. Despite his drunken state, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at the successful business he had created.

"Well, this is... rather amusing. Usually it's me that gets drunk first," Talia's voice teased from the shadows as she emerged, holding a tray of food. "But here you are, stumbling back like a lost kitten."

Erik scowled, staggering over to the remains of their old hut and sliding down the wall to sit on the ground. He was tired, his head spinning from the drinks, and his stomach was demanding food. "I'm not a kitten," he slurred, though he couldn't argue with the 'lost' part.

Talia set the tray down in front of him, filled with steaming burgers and a side of crispy fries. "You're certainly not acting like a grown man," she said with a smirk, handing him a burger. "Here, eat. You'll feel better."

Erik took the burger gratefully, biting into it with a sloppy smile. The juicy meat and cheese hit his taste buds like a warm embrace from a long-lost friend. As he chewed, his eyes grew heavy, and he leaned back against the wall, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the night sky.

"Where's... Myr?" Erik mumbled through a mouthful of burger, his eyes barely open.

"She's still with the village children," Talia replied, taking a seat beside him. "They've all become quite fond of her. For an elf, she's really good at playing with children. Perhaps she'd be a good doctor after all."

"Good... if medicine grows big... can introduce healthcare... equals more money..." Erik's words slurred together as he leaned back against the walls of the shoddy hut.

Talia chuckled. "Your business mind never stops, does it?"

"My world... says... grind never stops..." Erik mumbled, his eyes slipping shut.

Talia stared up at the night sky. "So, what happens when you achieve your dreams, Erik? When you get rich and famous?"

Erik cracked open one eye. "Huh?"

"You're always talking about getting rich, making a name for yourself. What do you do when you finally get there?" Talia asked, a curious glint in her eye.

He snorted, his head bowing down towards his chest. "Duh... make sure... you achieve... your dreams... too..."

Talia raised an eyebrow. "And what are my dreams? I'm basically already on the path to being a medical sorceress."

"Not that one... when we first met... you wanted to bring... your family's name back..."

For the first time in her life, Talia was speechless. Erik had remembered something she had mentioned in passing. It was a fleeting hope she had shared during their first encounter, something she hadn't even allowed herself to fully believe was possible. Her dream of restoring her family's honor and wealth was so distant that it had almost been forgotten amidst the whirlwind of their adventures.

"You remembered," she murmured softly.

Erik didn't reply. It seemed as if he had already fallen asleep.

Talia stared at him, a mix of emotions swirling within her. She felt a strange warmth in her chest, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a very long time. It was a feeling of belonging, of being understood. She knew that Erik was a man of many facets, a man who had been through hell and back, but she never expected him to remember something so personal about her.

She sighed, shaking her head and clearing her mind. "Let me grab Illyanth and carry you to bed."