Kays Translations

Chapter 285: Liquid Glue

When I returned to the mansion, I immediately began the day's work. First, however, I asked Nero to deliver a letter.

"The letter is for Lady Fabienne, correct? Understood. I shall see that it is sent immediately."

Nero moved efficiently in his child-sized butler uniform. Although he had joined the household only recently, he already seemed completely at home as my attendant.

I began with the workshop's magic tools. We needed another magic-stone burner, so I drew its blueprints while explaining the construction process to Rosalia.

"This is the basic design. Do you think you can make one?"

"Leave it to me!"

After that enthusiastic reply, Rosalia immediately began working with Lelie beside her. Lelie watched with intense interest. Just as I had suspected the previous day, she appeared fascinated by magic-tool making. Did she want to try it herself? I would ask Nero when he returned.

While Rosalia worked on the magic-stone burner, I went to the compounding room to make glue. Nero had just returned from arranging the letter, so he accompanied me.

"Nero, Lelie seems interested in making magic tools. Has she ever mentioned it to you?"

Nero frowned awkwardly. Evidently, he knew something.

"She once said that she wanted to try it as well. At the time, I told her to concentrate properly on the duties she had already been given…"

He sounded apologetic. For Nero and Lelie, obtaining positions in House Heine was already an extraordinary opportunity. Perhaps he feared that pursuing a new interest might distract Lelie from her original responsibilities.

"I understand. Lelie is still training to become Rosalia's personal attendant. It may be best for her to concentrate on that until her training is complete."

"I agree. There is no need to hurry, and for now she should focus on serving Lady Rosalia properly."

As an elder brother myself, I understood his concern for his younger sister. I had brought Nero and Lelie into the household rather forcefully, so naturally I wanted both of them to be happy.

"Very well. I shall concentrate on what I can do for now, beginning with the glue."

"Glue, my lord?"

"Yes. Sealing every envelope with wax takes time and effort, does it not?"

"That is true."

Nero still did not seem to understand why the inconvenience bothered me so much. That could not be helped. Unlike me, he had not experienced a modern world filled with convenient tools.

I immediately began making the glue. Since it was an ordinary household product rather than a magic potion, anyone should be able to reproduce it once they knew the method.

I would begin with a small trial batch. If it worked, we could increase production later.

I heated distilled water in a saucepan, added glutinous rice and kneaded the mixture thoroughly. I then blended in pine resin to adjust its tackiness and adhesive strength. The result was an attractive amber-coloured liquid adhesive.

I poured it into a jar, stretched a piece of cloth over the opening and secured it beneath a glass lid. That completed the container.

"Here it is: liquid glue. Let us test it immediately. Nero, would you bring me some paper?"

"Understood."

I spread a thin layer of glue over one of the two sheets Nero brought and pressed the other sheet on top. After several minutes, the paper was firmly bonded without any problems. It would be more than adequate for sealing envelopes.

"Good. It works."

"I never imagined paper could be joined so easily. Now I understand what you meant when you said that sealing wax was troublesome, Lord Julius."

Nero sounded impressed, although I suspected that he now regarded me as someone obsessed with convenience. That had not been my intention. I merely wanted to make daily life easier. This world was inconvenient compared with modern life, and once a person had experienced convenience, returning to the old way was difficult.

I placed the finished liquid glue in House Heine's most prestigious salon, where the family often gathered. The jar was elegant enough not to spoil the room's atmosphere.

Beneath it, I left written instructions and the two joined sheets as a sample. Looking forward to everyone's reactions, I returned to the workshop in high spirits.

Rosalia was still struggling with the magic-stone burner. Nearby, Mira, who had received little attention, caught my eye.

"Kyu!"

"There, there. You must be bored."

While stroking Mira, I considered what to do next. Rosalia would need some time to finish the burner. In that case, perhaps I should begin the fountain pen.

I also needed to make the glass pens ordered by the knights, but it would be better to wait for the coloured glass so that I could experiment with several designs.

"All right. Let us make it."

"Kyu?"

"Mira, we shall make it together!"

"Kyu!"

Mira looked delighted. Their presence would not prevent me from working; I could play with Mira and craft at the same time. This was the composure of a true expert. Wahaha.

Still petting Mira, I prepared the pine wood for the body. I also needed metal for the nib, particularly a suitable alloy for the tip, since that would greatly affect how smoothly the pen wrote.

With Mira beside me, I moved around the workshop gathering the necessary materials.

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