Kays Translations

Chapter 281: Expanding Dreams

Since Brother Alex and the others were already gathered, I decided to ask about something that had been on my mind during my date.

"Brother Alex, yesterday I noticed magic potions being sold at a general store for commoners. Is that permitted?"

"What? Hmm, that is not good. Magic potions can cause serious problems if they are used incorrectly."

Brother Alex was right. In an extreme case, someone who had been poisoned might continue drinking healing potions, even though they would not cure the poison. Moreover, ordinary people could not tell whether the potions being sold were genuine. I could, because I had the ability to appraise them.

"We issued a notice stating that magic potions should only be sold in shops capable of explaining their proper use, but it appears that the rule is not being followed."

"So it really was improper. The potions there were cheaper than those sold in specialist potion shops, but their quality was lower. They were genuine magic potions, though."

Brother Alex frowned. As the future head of the family, he was understandably concerned about such unauthorised activity in the territorial capital. From what he had said, however, House Heine had only issued a notice and imposed no actual penalties.

Would imposing penalties provoke a backlash? Some people probably needed magic potions but could not afford the better ones. It was a difficult problem. Perhaps it would ease if the citizens became more prosperous.

"For now, we will have to inspect the shops regularly and make sure that no dangerous magic potions are being sold. If people know that the lord is conducting inspections, they may refrain from dishonest practices."

"I wish we could make magic potions more affordable for poor people."

"Yes. The territory is gradually becoming wealthier, but we still have a long way to go."

Making potions widely available to ordinary people would require mass production and lower costs. In other words, it would require industrialisation. Our present technology might make that possible, but it was probably too soon.

For now, the best course was to make the territory steadily more prosperous. The first step was establishing the Heine Trading Company, which would sell a range of products and earn profits for the territory.

The company would also create manufacturing jobs. Its finished goods could be sold both within and beyond the territory, bringing in money that would return to the citizens as wages. Repeating that cycle might eventually lead to industrialisation.

To accomplish that, we needed to introduce one new product after another. In that sense, the glass pen I was about to make was surprisingly important.

A glass pen was a crafted item rather than a magic potion or magic tool. Once craftspeople acquired the necessary skills, anyone could make one. If it succeeded, the next step would be the fountain pen. The possibilities were endless.

Julius-branded magic potions could produce enormous profits… but selling them might draw the ire of the Magic Pharmacists' Guild. I had no desire to undermine the guild.

I left the salon for the workshop and immediately began making glass pens. I put that day's sword training on hold. I needed to produce something quickly enough to reassure Brother Alex, or he might develop a stomach ulcer.

Come to think of it, I should make him an especially effective stomach medicine. That might ease his stress a little.

I wanted a gas burner for shaping the glass, but there was no convenient supply of flammable gas. I therefore decided to make a magic-stone burner first.

I modified a fire-producing magic circle so that its flame would concentrate at a single point. I did not need a large flame, so it should also be highly energy-efficient.

I rolled a thick iron plate into a cylinder and fixed it to a base. I placed the magic circle at the tip of the cylinder so that the flame would emerge from it. As a safety measure, the burner would extinguish itself if its base lifted from the work surface, preventing a fire if it toppled over.

"The prototype is finished. Let us test it immediately."

"Brother Julius, what is that?"

"This is… ta-da! A magic-stone burner!"

Clap, clap, clap. Nero, Rosalia, Mira and Lelie applauded. When had Rosalia, Mira and Lelie entered the workshop? I had been so absorbed in my work that I had not noticed them.

"Press this switch to ignite it. Here we go."

With a whoosh, a vigorous five-centimetre flame sprang up. It burned red, which should be safe. A high-temperature blue flame might melt the iron body of the burner.

The upper part of the metal glowed faintly red, but the flame was not touching it directly, so it should withstand the heat.

"It is hot."

"It is, so do not touch it. I am going to use it to shape the glass."

I brought over several glass rods prepared as materials for magic tools and held one near the flame. Once it glowed red and softened, I joined it to another glass rod.

The Craft skill was useful at times like this. Although it was my first attempt, the glass took shape exactly as I imagined. It moved smoothly in my hands, almost as though it possessed a will of its own.

Without much difficulty, I completed the glass pen I had envisioned. I had used whatever glass was already available, so the colour scheme was not ideal. I would keep this one for myself.

"Something like this, I suppose."

"Impressive."

"Amazing."

"Nero? Lelie?"

Nero and Lelie stared at me wide-eyed, as though they had witnessed something unbelievable. As expected of siblings, their expressions were identical.

Rosalia and Mira puffed out their chests as though they had accomplished the feat themselves. But I was the one who had made the glass pen. Why were those two looking so proud?

"Brother Julius, I want to try next!"

"Kyu!"

"All right, Rosalia. Mira, however, cannot do it alone."

"Kyuuu~!"

Mira gave me an indignant headbutt, but I stood firm. It was simply impossible with such tiny forepaws. Rosalia began making a pen of her own while I guided Mira's movements by holding their forepaws from above. In truth, I did most of the work on Mira's glass pen.

Mira seemed satisfied, so that was good enough for me.

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