Chapter 203: Procuring Materials Early

　After saying goodbye to the two, I returned to the compounding room once again. After checking each team’s pots, I create an activity schedule for the royal potion masters. I ask them to take breaks according to this chart.

“Julius-sensei, is there anything I can help you with?”

“It’s okay, Giovanni-sama. Yes, I will make a schedule for everyone’s activities, and I would like to instruct you to follow it as much as possible.”

“Of course we will. I will strictly enforce it.”

　His eyes are serious!　I didn’t say that much. I’m sure Giovanni-sama,  just like me, wanted to make those who don’t take a break take a break. Let’s think so.

“I would like to order some materials I’ll use to improve the icehouse, but who should I discuss this with?”

“I will be your contact person. I am still the head of the Royal Magic Potions Division. I am responsible for the facilities we use.”

　Giovanni-sams said so clearly. I was relieved. It would have been better if he could have restrained the sparkle in his eyes a little more, as if he were looking at that God.

“Now then, I would like you to gather these materials for me.”

　I handed him a list of materials I had prepared. Giovanni-sama nodded as he looked at it. As one would expect from the head of the Royal Palace Potions Division, he seems to be very knowledgeable about the materials.

“We must hurry to procure the wood. It will be difficult to get it once winter arrived in earnest. It’s a tree that’s not often used much in construction, so I’m not sure if it’s available in the market.…… anyway I will arrange it right away.”

“Thank you”

　Wasn’t insulating wood a common wood? Wouldn’t it be durable?　I don’t expect durability to be much of an issue in this case, since I’m just putting It between the walls, but I need to be careful.

　I also ordered steel plates, magic ink, and magic stones for drawing magic circles.

　Now everything is ready for the icehouse renovation. All I have to do now is wait for the materials to arrive.

　Now let’s have lunch and head for magic training in the afternoon. Ijidol should be waiting for me.

　After magic training was over, we gathered in the common room as usual. Ijidol had become much better at magic in a short period of time. After all, he is very good at controlling magic. He must have been training secretly using light magic every night, just like I had taught him.

　While I was drinking tea, a servant brought me a letter. It was a letter from Daniela-sama. I immediately checked inside and found that it said that the icehouse would be fine as long as it was completed by the end of this season. It also said that if the icehouse performed as planned, he would like me to make some more at a later date.

“Are you going to build a lot of icehouses? It looks like they could be used to store food.”

“Axel is right, they will probably be used to store food. Maybe they are going to build them in the territories along the border in preparation for a battle. Then I guess I’ll have to go there. I don’t like that.”

“That sounds like a lot of work. If that happens, will we have to go along as escorts?”

“Maybe.”

　I wonder if that’s possible. If it did, it would be quite a burden on both of them, wouldn’t it? Before that happens, it might be better to sell the blueprints for the icehouse to the magical tools guild in here in the capital.

　But what are we going to do about the freezing magic circle? I don’t know if I should send out the original magic circle that I created into the world?. I’ll have to find it in the library somehow. I’ll have to stay holed up in the royal library. Oh, that’s more work to do.

“Julius-sensei, aren’t you staying the night?”

“You’re right, I’m not staying here. There doesn’t seem to be a problem with creating the magic potion. I don’t see the need for me to be here.”

“I see. It was kind of fun, the sleepover.”

“It’s not every day you get a chance to do something like this.”

　Axel and Ijidol look a little disappointed. Maybe it was liberating being away from parental supervision. Maybe they thought freedom was wonderful.

“Won’t you be forced to camp for knight training someday?”

“Ugh, that seems likely.”

　I said that in a slightly mean-spirited way, and Axel gave me a disgusted look. If you’re going to have a sleepover, a fluffy bed is what you want. I laughed along with Ijidol.

　I greeted the royal potion masters in the mixing room and left the castle. They all looked disappointed, but since there was no particular problem, they had no reason to keep me at the castle.

　When I returned to the townhouse for the first time in a day, my brother Alex had already returned.

“Good job, Julius.”

“I’m back.”

　He made me a cup of tea and I told him about what happened at the royal castle. I’m sure the servants will hear about it, but it would be better if I told them about it myself. I made sure to tell him about Axel and Ijidol in particular. I strongly appealed to him that he should thank them both.

“The social season is about to kick into full swing.  It seems like everyone is worried about the cold going around. But they still think it won’t be a big deal because they have their magic potions.”

“I suppose that may be true, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to rely too much on magic potions. You never know how fast a cold can spread. If there is a pandemic, we may run out of magic potions.”

　My brother nodded his head in agreement. It seems that he is concerned about the same thing. Perhaps he wants the social gatherings to be reduced or cancelled.

“Yes, but there are many aristocrats who look forward to the social season. It would be impossible to stop that trend. Then I suppose we should take precautions, but I don’t know if they’ll be thorough about washing their hands and gargling.”

　Nobles wear gloves and makeup, you know. They might not like it.

“How’s the academy?”

“The spread of the cold is under control, thanks to the hand-washing and gargling.”

“Social gatherings are also very crowded.”

“And people often talk to each other face to face. It might spread rapidly.”

　My brother looks depressed. Since I’m the potion master, I know what’s going on, so I seem to know a lot more about it than he does. It seems I have put an unnecessary burden on him.

　I’m sorry about that. I wonder if I’m putting a burden on Daniela-sama as well. I think I should apologize to her later.

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