Kays Translations

Chapter 111: Chime

When I returned to my room, a long sigh escaped me. I collapsed onto the bed. Anyone who saw a noble child sprawled like this would probably scold me.

At least I seemed to have survived my conversation with Father. Judging from his response, he would likely approve a workshop for making magic tools. Then I could finally keep my promise to Rosalia.

A dull thump sounded against the door.

That had to be Mira. They had once scratched the expensive wood while trying to enter, and after being scolded, they had begun knocking with their head instead.

Repeated headbutts couldn’t be healthy. I should make a chime.

I opened the door, and Mira immediately launched themself into my arms.

“What is it, Mira?”

Their fur was dry, so they hadn’t bathed yet. Mother had said that she and Rosalia would go first, but apparently Mira had slipped away before joining them.

“Kyu, kyu.”

“I still can’t understand that. Do you want to bathe with me?”

“Kyu!”

Correct.

I wished Mira would someday learn telepathy. The game had no tamer profession or communication skill that I could use as a guide, so all I could do was wait.

I carried Mira to the bathing room just as Mother and Rosalia emerged.

“I wondered where Mira had gone,” Rosalia said. “They went to find Big brother.”

“Oh my,” Mother said. “You wanted to bathe with Julius?”

“Kyu!”

Mira received several affectionate pats before I carried them inside.

Perhaps they thought I would be lonely bathing alone. I wasn’t, but the concern was sweet.

“Mira, Father is placing Mount Claire under my supervision,” I said while washing them. “That means you’ll be able to play there freely whenever conditions are safe.”

“Kyu!”

Mira raised both forepaws in celebration.

They clearly understood ordinary speech. That meant teaching them to use a door chime should be simple.

“Mira, paw.”

They placed one forepaw on my palm.

Perfect.

After the bath, I left Mother and Rosalia to dry Mira while I hurried back to my room.

The chime itself was a very simple magic tool. Pressing a button would send mana through a wire to a small sound-producing unit on the opposite side of the door.

“I shouldn’t drill into an expensive door,” I muttered. “But replacing a damaged door would cost more than making one small hole.”

Having convinced myself, I carefully bored through the decorated wood. A worried servant came to investigate, but relaxed after I explained that the device would protect Mira’s head and the door itself.

Soon the chime was installed slightly above the handle. Mira could fly, so the height would be convenient while remaining easy for other people to notice.

Rosalia returned with Mira just as I finished.

“Excellent timing. Mira, press this button.”

“Kyu?”

They tilted their head, then pushed it.

A deep, rather inelegant boing sounded inside the room.

I hadn’t had time to create a pleasant melody, but a crude signal was better than headbutting the door.

“Kyu! Kyu!”

Mira pressed the button repeatedly. Boing, boing, boing.

Rosalia joined in and listened with growing interest.

“Big brother, what’s this?”

“It lets Mira announce that they’re outside without striking the door. We don’t want them to hurt their head.”

Mira promptly tackled my stomach, perhaps objecting to being treated like a fool.

Rosalia, meanwhile, stared at the chime with a serious expression.

“When did you make this new magic tool?”

“Just now.”

She looked frustrated. Perhaps she disliked that I had produced another idea before she did.

The truth was that I hadn’t invented the concept. I was merely reproducing something commonplace in my previous world. I could hardly explain that to her.

“Big brother, I want one on my door too.”

“Certainly. I’ll draw the blueprint, and you can make it yourself. The structure is simple.”

“I will!”

I completed a basic design and handed it to her. Rosalia immediately hurried away to begin construction.

Her enthusiasm was remarkable. She would undoubtedly become an exceptional magic-tool maker. Mother might blame me for drawing her deeper into the craft, but useful inventions could create considerable income for House Heine. The potions I eventually introduced would do the same.

Nothing about that should be bad.

“Mira likes it,” I said.

“Kyu!”

They were still pressing the button.

I decided to improve the sound. A bright two-note chime would be far more pleasant than the current boing.

Thus began my unexpected research into magic tools that could produce different tones.

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