Kays Translations

Chapter 20: Magic-Tool Master?

The private discussion came to an end.

All things considered, I didn’t think the result was bad.

I now had Father’s reassuring support, and it had become much easier to consult Lionel openly. And if I could consult Lionel openly, obtaining ingredients for magic potions would also become much easier.

“Lionel, please secure the materials needed for the Numbness Balls.”

I spoke to him while Father and the rest of us were on our way to the salon.

I’d never made many Numbness Balls because I’d assumed there would be no need for them in large quantities once Father returned.

But now Father had approved their use. In that case, we needed enough to keep them stocked.

“Can’t you grow them yourself?”

“I can, but I need logs, and I don’t have any.”

“Hm. The potion called the Numbness Ball was extremely effective, wasn’t it? Julius, don’t hold back. You may grow the ingredients in your garden.”

Father seemed quite impressed by the potion that had incapacitated ordinary goblins and slowed even the higher-ranking Goblin Generals.

With that settled, I asked Lionel to secure the logs as well.

If I could obtain materials reliably, producing magic potions would become much easier.

“Big brother!”

“Excuse me, Julius. I need to speak with you.”

Mother and Rosalia were waiting in the salon.

In Rosalia’s hands was the Starry Sky magic tool I’d made for her.

Had I done something again?

“What is it?”

Father and I took our seats, while Lionel remained standing behind us.

When I glanced at Father, his expression seemed to say, You were doing other things too? At this point, there’s nothing I can do about you.

“I heard that you made this magic tool.”

“Yes, but…”

“Apparently, it can display the starry sky.”

“That’s right.”

“Oh?”

Father sounded impressed.

It seemed he’d already accepted that I could make not only magic potions, but magic tools as well.

“Rosalia was very proud of it. She said that the magic tool shows her all sorts of stories before she goes to sleep.”

Oh, right.

I’d made up constellations on the spot and told Rosalia stories about them, borrowing bits and pieces from her picture books. She’d loved it.

“Did she?”

“Yes. So, would you mind putting on a display for us tonight?”

Was this turning into something I had to demonstrate in front of the whole family?

It was supposed to be a small present for Rosalia.

“All right.”

“I’m looking forward to it. By the way, Julius, who taught you how to make it?”

“Ah, well… I had the idea when I dismantled a lamp and studied its magic circle. I wondered whether I could use the light-emitting magic circle to project a starry sky across the ceiling and walls at night.”

“Really? You have a habit of clasping your hands whenever you lie, don’t you?”

“What?”

I reflexively looked down at my hands.

They weren’t clasped at all. I’d had them resting on my knees the entire time.

“Of course, that was a lie.”

“…”

“So, what’s the truth?”

Damn it! She tricked me!

Mother was usually so calm. Why was she only frighteningly sharp at times like this?

Was this the power of the Marchioness of Heine?

“Amelia, I’ll explain that later.”

“Father.”

“It’ll be better for Julius as well. The more trustworthy allies he has, the safer he’ll be.”

I nodded silently.

Mother had probably already guessed that something unusual was going on, because she didn’t press the matter any further.

Rosalia, however, must have sensed the ominous atmosphere. She began to tremble.

She was a clever girl. She’d probably realised that the magic tool she’d been proudly showing off had somehow gotten me into trouble.

Rosalia hugged the Starry Sky magic tool protectively, tears gathering in her eyes.

“Oh, Rosalia! No, no, I’m not bullying Julius.”

Mother hurried to reassure her.

Rosalia was Mother’s only daughter, so of course she doted on her. She quickly began soothing the girl before she could start crying.

“Julius, have you made any other magic tools?”

“I made a magic tool for preserving materials.”

“I see. Show it to me later.”

“All right.”

Not only had they discovered that I was making magic potions, they now knew I was making magic tools too.

At this point, I might as well stop trying to hide everything.

“There you are, Julius.”

“Brother Alex! Brother Cain! How was the royal capital?”

“It was incredibly crowded. Compared with the royal capital, our territorial capital still has a long way to go.”

The two of them entered the salon and took empty seats.

That was quite a bold thing to say in front of Father.

It might be true, but it still made me nervous.

Look, even Father was smiling wryly.

“Alex, no city in the kingdom is more prosperous than the royal capital.”

“Perhaps not, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. If we make use of the unique qualities of our city, we should be able to bring it closer.”

“What exactly do you intend to do?”

“Well…”

Brother Alex faltered.

Ideals were easy to talk about. Without concrete proposals, however, nothing would actually change.

I suspected Father was making exactly that point.

“What about you, Cain? Do you have any ideas for making the city livelier?”

Brother Alex was twelve now and would be attending school in the royal capital the following year.

Brother Cain, on the other hand, was ten. It was probably about time for him to put more effort into studying instead of spending all his time playing.

“Let’s see… Nothing in particular comes to mind.”

Brother Cain’s expression clearly said, Brother Alex got me dragged into this!

It was kind of cute.

I felt a little sorry for him.

Hang in there, Brother Cain. Supporting Brother Alex is your job.

“Then what about you, Julius?”

What?

Me?

Why ask the one person here who hasn’t even been to the royal capital?

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