Chapter 495: Teaching Them How to Use It

Fabienne and Nero seemed to have taken an interest in the calculation method I’d shown them earlier using dried fruit. They listened patiently, even to my clumsy explanation.
“Words alone can be hard to grasp, so let me give you a demonstration. Nero, write down some numbers on this sheet—anything at all.”
“Understood.”
Nero began scribbling numbers across the paper with a pencil. They really did seem random—different digits, different lengths. Perfect. It looked like the kind of problem that would take a fair bit of time if you tried to solve it entirely in your head.
“Alright then, I’ll add all of these numbers together for you.”
Saying so, I started flicking the beads of the abacus. Since it was still new to them, I spoke each number aloud and moved the beads slowly. The two of them leaned forward, their eyes fixed intently on my fingers.
Once I finished the calculation, I double-checked by adding the numbers again, one by one, to confirm the result.
“Good. The totals match.”
“It’s true.”
“Incredible… You’re imagining this abacus inside your mind and doing the calculations there, aren’t you?”
“That’s right. Now, the two of you should give it a try.”
I guided them through the basics, working through simple problems together. They both learned quickly, their speed improving little by little. Satisfied, I decided it was time to make the remaining abacuses.
The second one went faster—naturally, the first always takes the longest.
By the time I’d finished the other three with ease, both of them had completely mastered how to use the abacus. From here on, all they needed was practice to sharpen their speed.
“I’ve finished everyone’s abacus. Fabienne, Nero, which one would you like? Though honestly, they’re all practically the same.”
The wood varied slightly in shade, but the shapes were identical. Any of them would do, but I wanted the two of them to choose for themselves. After all, they were special to me.
“In that case, I’ll take the one Julius-sama made first.”
“Then I’ll choose this one.”
Nero picked the second one I’d crafted. Had he been secretly watching me as I worked? Well, either way, they both looked pleased, and that was enough for me.
After some more practice with the abacus, I escorted Fabienne home in the evening.
At dinnertime, I headed as usual to the dining room. There, already seated, were my elder brother Alex and my sister-in-law Daniela, who normally arrived later. Perhaps their work at the trading company had wrapped up early today.
“Alex-niisan, Sister-in-law Daniela, the supporting tools I mentioned earlier today are finished. I’ll bring them to the office tomorrow.”
“You’ve already completed them? As expected of you, Julius. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“I’m eager to see them as well.”
The two smiled warmly. If Rosalia were here, she would surely have asked, “What’s that?” But she wasn’t present. It seemed her work in the workshop had kept her longer than expected—or rather, she simply refused to return from there.
“Rosalia, how many times have I told you? You must come back a little earlier.”
“I’m sorry, Mother…”
As I thought. Mother entered with a troubled look, Rosalia beside her with a guilty expression. Her passion for crafting was still burning strong. At this rate, she might end up facing Mother’s full wrath someday.
“It looks like we’re all gathered tonight.”
That cheerful voice belonged to Father, entering the dining room with a pleased expression. No doubt he was glad to see Alex-niisan and Sister-in-law Daniela present on time for once. Perhaps he felt a sense of relief, believing the Heine Trading Company’s affairs had finally settled down.
“Julius helped us with the company’s work today. Thanks to him, we finally managed to catch up on the backlog.”
“Oh? Julius, is it? And just what sort of work did you have him do?”
Father’s eyes narrowed, his gaze probing me suspiciously. Why was he looking at me like that, as though I’d done something wrong? Feeling awkward, I quietly turned to Nero to ask about tonight’s meal.
“Accounting documents, Father. Those are something only we ourselves can handle.”
“Accounting documents… I recall there being quite a mountain of them.”
Indeed, in Alex-niisan’s and Sister-in-law Daniela’s absence, Father had been dealing with those papers himself. He must have recognized the stack—his eyes grew distant at the memory.
Judging by his expression, Father must have worked very hard on them. Still, he hadn’t been able to clear them away.
“Julius took care of all of it in no time. Thanks to him, we only needed to run a final check for errors.”
“Even with breaks in between, he finished everything in about two hours. His speed was astonishing.”
“Two hours!”
Father’s eyes flew wide open as he stared at me. I immediately turned my attention to the meal being served. Sister-in-law Daniela, on the other hand, was practically glowing with pride. I really wished she wouldn’t spread this too much—it would probably just give Father another headache.
But Sister-in-law Daniela clearly meant no harm. If anything, she sounded as though she were boasting about her brother-in-law’s talent. I couldn’t fault her for that. Things would simply have to play out however they would.
“Just as Daniela says, he returned home after about that much time. His speed was so great that I asked him how he calculated so quickly.”
“…And?”
“He made us a tool to help learn the method.”
Ah—Alex-niisan, did you really have to say that? And here, of all times?
Rosalia’s eyes immediately lit up. Mother set her food aside and looked at me with a smile—but there was something unsettling behind that smile.
Of course. She had just finished scolding Rosalia for overindulging in her crafts. And now here I was, encouraging it. No wonder her smile looked so frightening.