Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 22. I Want to See Craftsmanship!
“Grandpa Jill, what kind of craftsman are you?”
Since I was curious, I decided to ask directly.
“Hm. It’s that one, that one,” he replied.
He pointed to a lamp illuminating the dining table. The lamp had a decorative design resembling a plant bud, giving it a slightly antique and very cute appearance.
“Lamp maker?”
“More precisely, the mechanism part of it is my work,”
This lamp’s light isn’t from fire, which means…
“Magical tool craftsman!?”
That’s a profession I really admire— Is it the one where you embed magic stones together and wire circuits? Is it that one!?
I can’t help but stare at him with sparkling eyes. That’s amazing.
“Hm,” he nodded.
“so, the room you said was good here is—”
There was one room that was off-limits during the cleanup.
“It was the workshop,”
I see. That’s incredible. Just having a skilled profession is admirable, but a magical tool craftsman—wow. If I get the chance, I’d love to see the work being done. Wait, that was in past tense?
“I can’t see small things up close anymore. I’m getting old.”
Jill-san said, holding up his fingers in front of his face. He wouldn’t be able to see the fingerprints on his fingers unless he moved his hands closer, which I think is presbyopia.
Presbyopia can come as early as your 30s. It came. It’s here.
I was surprised when I couldn’t thread a needle on my sewing machine I hadn’t used in a long time—couldn’t see well enough. I remember struggling for more than 10 minutes with my eyesight being so poor that it was almost laughable, and that’s when I realized I had farsightedness.
“Can’t you use reading glasses or a magnifying glass?”
I tried using one of those colorful three-packs that are placed at the counters of government offices and banks, and my vision improved dramatically, which just further confirmed things were worse.
I tried those colorful sets of three that are available at government offices and bank counters and was able to see very well and was further encouraged by the fact that I could see very well.
I thought I was still okay, but I was definitely farsighted. I don’t want to admit it.
“Reading glasses? What the hell are those? I’ve used the ones that make things look bigger, but they make me feel sick,”
Huh? You don’t know about reading glasses?
“They’re glasses that help you see close up, but you’ve never used them?”
“Is there such a thing? I don’t know,”
Wait, hold on. I’ve bought reading glasses before—just a cheap pair from the 100-yen shop. The strength was 1, but it’s probably better than nothing. I also bought a 1.5 strength pair at a hardware store for 798 yen. I don’t remember buying anything stronger.
Which is better? With my current budget, 798 yen is a bit tight.
For now, I’ll just buy the 100-yen glasses. Even if they don’t suit him perfectly, I can use them myself.
I reached into my bag, opened it, and bought the presbyopia glasses inside. I took them out and showed the glasses to Jill-san.
“This is it. I want you to try them on.”
First, I unfold the strings of the glasses and try them on myself to show him how they fit, then handed them over.
Jill-san, mimicking me, put on the glasses, held his hands in front of him and slowly brought his hand and fingers closer to his eyes.
“I can see,” he said, utterly amazed.
“I can see now!” His voice grew louder.
That’s good. But I still feel like his fingers are still bit far from his eyes. Maybe the 1.5 strength would’ve been better.
Yes, now that he can focus on close objects that would be blurry before, he can see clearly. It’s something that’s been progressing gradually, it’s normal for it to be hard to see. When your vision sharpens suddenly, it’s quite a surprise how well you can see.
“Since you’ve been so kind to me, I’d like you to use it. It’s my way of paying you back,”
I also received quite a few things during cleanup, so it’s fair.
“Is that okay?” he hesitated slightly, but I reassured him. I thought I’d also try the 1.5 pair when I have more time.
“In return, if you don’t mind, could I see your work sometime? Just a little,”
I want to see it. I really want to see Jill-san at work. I’m really interested in the materials and tools used to make magical tools.
“Sure,” he said with a smile.
Jill-san’s smile was cool. The glasses suited him perfectly.
Until now, he always seemed a bit shabby, but now, with that confident look on his face, I felt a little flutter. I love handsome older men, but I also like handsome old men.
My first impression of Jill-san’s workshop was that it was cluttered yet organized.
It may seem contradictory, but even though there are a lot of things, you can see that everything was in its proper place.
His house might be messy, but this workshop maintained his personal order.
There were shelves lining the entire wall.
In the middle of the room was a large workbench, with a gentle curve. It was densely packed with numerous small tools and machines of some kind.
There was also some kind of machine covered with a cloth in the corner of the room.
It was a true craftsman’s workshop. How exciting.
Jill-san, sitting in front of the workbench, was carefully inspecting the grip of a tool he had picked up.
“It’s already dark, so I can’t do much,”
He had turned on the light, but the sun had already set long ago. Now that I think about it, it’s also one of the characteristics of my farsightedness that it becomes harder to see as evening approaches. Maybe I should come back on another day.
While I was thinking that, Jill-san, with practiced ease, took out a small silver plate, wire, and a small red stone, arranging them carefully. He switched between multiple tools, carving delicate patterns into the plate and wrapping the wire around the stone with a skillful, mysterious technique, fixing everything in place.
Wait, Jill-san! That’s too fast and too detailed for me to follow. Why is that like that? Is that a magic circle!?
Show me again!
Before I knew it, he seemed to have finished. I didn’t understand everything, but at the end, it sparkled brightly.
Stunned, I watched as the delicate, elegantly crafted item was presented to me.
“It’s a simple amulet. It’s pretty dull now and not sellable. I’ll give it to you,”
Even as he said this, Grandpa Jill was smiling.
Our relationship isn’t a very long one, but I can tell this is a genuine item. I can’t imagine he would give something he himself wasn’t satisfied with to someone else.
Perhaps it was expensive in its own right. Still, I was so happy and didn’t hesitate to put out my hand .
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it,”
The amulet in my hand was slightly warm.