Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 21

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 21   Thunderstone

As the winter approaches, the air is becoming dry.

It’s quite cold, and I’ve changed my clothing to winter wear.

I don’t mind the cold. Somehow, it feels fantastical and refreshing to my soul.

Now, I’ve put my research on flares on hold, but I’ve already decided on the next research topic.

Electricity.

There’s a reason I chose electricity after fire.

In terms of magical attributes, there’s fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, darkness, and light. Earth and water aren’t phenomena but substances, and darkness and light are a bit hard to understand.

That leaves fire, wind, and lightning. Considering how magic reacts to fire, it’s reasonable to assume it reacts to phenomena.

Wind doesn’t change the atmosphere and is all around us; it might already have some magical influence.

I did try infusing magic into earth and water, but there was no change.

So, the only option left is lightning.

Now, you might have a question at this point.

The formal name for the sparks created by flint and steel is “spark discharge.”

In other words, the spark is electricity, not fire attribute; strictly speaking, it’s lightning attribute.

However, in reality, when you infuse magic into the spark, a blue flame is born.

At this point, I tentatively arrived at one answer.

The science and physical laws I’m considering might not be universal in this world, or perhaps magic doesn’t adhere to those laws.

The concept of magic is determining the spark discharge to be a “fire attribute.”

It’s an unreasonable theory in terms of Earth’s scientific knowledge, but this world is different; it’s not Earth.

I’ve thought about it many times before, but getting too caught up in common sense and norms can make you lose sight of the answer.

In the first place, I don’t really understand what magic itself is.

Anyway, in my classification, the spark discharge falls under the fire attribute.

Well, combustion and lightning are both plasma, so broadly speaking, they belong to the same category.

And I’ve come to the thought that perhaps a distinct electric current needs to be generated.

There’s a worry that it might only react to fire, and I hope that’s not the case, as it would deviate from the magic I desire.

Anyway, it’s still in the experimental stage.

So, I’ve decided to start the experiment of infusing magic into an electric current.

The problem is, in this era, there’s no electricity.

Of course.

So, it seems I have to create it from scratch.

If we’re talking about electricity that an individual can easily create, it would likely be static electricity.

You can charge a metal or glass rod by rubbing it against materials like wool, silk, or sheep’s wool.

However, easily accessible metals like iron are conductors, so I’ll need an insulator.

Rubber immediately comes to mind. But such a thing doesn’t exist here.

Wait, is glass an insulator? Is it a material that doesn’t conduct electricity well?

In the first place, even if I rub the rod to generate static electricity and discharge it all at once, will enough charge move to create sparks?

It would be great if there were neon tubes, but there aren’t. And if we reach that point, electricity would likely already exist conventionally.

If we’re going for something like “electrostatic generator” in the style of Hiraga Gennai, then a Leyden jar would be necessary.

First of all, I need to find out whether the glass in this world is the same as the glass I know, or if other substances have the same properties.

It would be easy if there were creatures like electric catfish or electric eels.

There’s also the option of trying everything, but that seems like it would cost quite a bit of money.

Custom glass and metal processing seem to have exorbitant fees.

It’s quite expensive for a seven-year-old to beg for, and I feel sorry for my father and the others.

It would be good to have some device that generates electricity or something similar without costing too much.

Making a friction generator would be more certain, but without synthetic fibers or synthetic resins, generating enough static electricity that’s visible is going to be quite a challenge.

I’ve heard that people in the past didn’t struggle much with static electricity.

Now, what should I do?

I’m hitting a wall quite quickly.

For now, I’ll ask my father.

I left the room and headed towards the living room.

Today, my father seemed to have a day off and was relaxing at home.

“What’s wrong, Shion? Is magic research not going well today?”

“Yeah. I’m a bit stuck. That’s why I wanted to ask you, Dad. Do you know of any living beings or tools that generate electricity?”

My father said, absentmindedly playing with his chin, “Electricity, what’s that?”

Ah, I see.

There isn’t even a term like “electricity.”

“Um, about a phenomenon like lightning.”

“There are no organisms or tools that generate lightning… What about the lightning itself?”

“Lightning is too irregular and, above all, dangerous. Even if we set up a lightning rod and wait, we wouldn’t know when it’s coming.”

“I don’t quite understand, but I think I got it. However, electricity… Not as intense as lightning, but I’ve heard of a similar phenomenon.”

Could it be static electricity?

If it’s visible, it means a considerable amount of electricity is being generated.

I wonder how they’re generating it.

But since they mentioned ‘phenomenon,’ it seems natural.

“I feel like Glast mentioned something like that.”

“Alright. It’s still morning, so shall we go to Istria today?”

“Yes, I want to go!”

Today, Mom is out.

I don’t know where she’s gone, though.

My sister said she wants to stay to practice swordsmanship.

Since that day, she’s been practicing swordsmanship constantly.

I’ve been studying magic, and it doesn’t strain my body much.

But practicing swordsmanship is quite exhausting.

Is it okay to keep doing that for a long time?

It worries me, and my parents sometimes tell her to take breaks.

Ever since it got a little awkward, I couldn’t talk about swordsmanship.

I’m not different on a regular basis. I talk normally.

But when it comes to swordsmanship, my sister clearly dislikes it.

I didn’t want to see her like that, so naturally, I stopped talking much about swordsmanship.

Perhaps my sister is cornering herself.

For now, there’s no major problem, so I’m keeping an eye on her.

So, my father and I decided to go out into town together.

After preparing, when we went outside, it seemed like Dad was getting the horse ready.

“Oh? We’re not taking the carriage today?”

“Yeah. Since we don’t have plans for shopping today. It’s faster to move with just the horse. We’ll arrive in half the time it takes with the carriage.”

I see.

But this is my first time riding a horse.

It’s a little scary, maybe.

“Here, hop on.”

My father lifted me up and placed me on the horse.

It’s stiffer than I thought.

This might be quite hard on the backside.

Dad got on behind me, pulled the reins, and started the horse walking.

“I-It’s quite bumpy.”

“Your backside will hurt until you get used to it. Endure it for a bit. Hang in there.”

For the people of this world, an hour seems longer.

The sense of time is strange.

Maybe it’s because they don’t have as much entertainment as on Earth.

“Hold on.”

I crouched down while grabbing onto a protrusion in the carriage.

Fast.

Too fast.

Are horses usually this fast?

It’s more like gliding on the ground than running.

Totally different from when a person runs.

But still, I can feel the vibrations, and my buttocks hurt.

At first, it was bearable.

After a few minutes, it started stinging.

Gradually, the pain reached my bones, and I tried to slightly raise my hips.

“Keep your posture low.”

I couldn’t say anything when my father told me that.

The swaying is so intense that forcing my posture higher would make me fall.

I understand that, and my father is holding onto my body while urging the horse to run.

So, in terms of speed, it’s not that fast.

Still, it’s fast, and my buttocks hurt.

I wonder what would happen if the horse were to run at full speed.

Would my buttocks explode?

Enduring it somehow for about an hour.

By the time we arrived in Istria, my buttocks were numb, and I was utterly exhausted.

I even thought it might have been better to travel by carriage.

“I dislike horses…”

“What are you saying? If you can’t ride a horse, it’ll be a problem when you become an adult. I can’t always be the one putting you on a horse.”

I imagined it.

An adult man riding on a horse controlled by his father.

It felt somehow unpleasant.

It seems practicing horseback riding is necessary.

Though I think it’s not needed for me right now, given that I’m still too short.

Anyway, we have arrived in Istria.

I’ll stop complaining now.

My father went out of his way to bring me here; it would be inappropriate to grumble.

So, we headed to Glast-san’s shop.

○●○

I went into Glast-san’s shop with my father.

“Welcome… Oh, it’s you, Gawain. Is it just the two of you today?”

“Yeah, I have a few things I wanted to ask. Is now a good time?”

Glast sighed and spread his arms.

“Do I look busy? It’s so slow that I’ve been considering closing the shop.”

It seemed a bit early to decide that, even though it was still before noon, but it was apparently just a joke.

“So, what’s up?”

“You mentioned before about a mineral that causes lightning-like phenomena. Do you remember that?”

“Ah, you mean the Thunderstone. I remember. What about it?”

“Well, I’m somewhat interested. I’m wondering if it’s possible to obtain that Thunderstone.”

Huh? Did we really discuss that?

I only asked if such a creature or object existed.

But my father seemed eager to acquire it.

He beat me to the punch.

I will feel bad if it costs too much money.

Not knowing my thoughts, my father continued with the conversation.

“The Thunderstone, huh? That’s difficult.”

“Is it rare?”

“No, it’s quite common. You can find it in mines, and you can get permission for mining without a problem. But, you see, mining it is impossible. It can’t be transported. The Thunderstone is constantly emitting lightning, so you can’t touch it. That’s why it’s just left where it is. It’s a nuisance and dangerous, but since it can’t be moved, it’s left alone. There were attempts to use it for tourism when it was first discovered, but it’s dangerous, and it just keeps sparkling, so it quickly lost its appeal.”

My father sent a glance my way.

It seemed like he was asking about the situation and what to do.

From Glast’s story, it seems like there’s a mineral with electricity phenomena.

Truly feels like a different world.

But the electricity is intense, making it untouchable and inaccessible. There’s no way to use it, so it’s left alone.

For me, it’s not about investigating the thunderstone itself; I just want to see its reaction when infused with magical power.

What should I do?

I have some ideas, but I’m feeling uneasy about it.

Because, you see, the Thunderstone essentially functions as a generator.

If something so convenient existed on Earth, it could lead to breakthroughs in various fields.

In this era, electricity hasn’t been discovered, and there’s no thought or technology to utilize it.

At most, it would be just transporting the Thunderstone.

Probably just a spectacle or using it for lighting, I think.

I hope there won’t be any problems. Probably.

For now, I don’t know if it exists, but I’ll ask.

“Grast-san, do you know of any trees that exude a white, sticky sap?

I think they have a unique smell.”

“…No, I don’t know. A botanists might know.”

I wonder if there’s a rubber tree. Or perhaps it hasn’t been discovered yet.

It’s a different world, so it’s not guaranteed to have the same things as Earth.

For now, let’s put rubber on hold.

“Then, how about mica, or rather, muscovite? It’s a type of mineral, a bit special, with multiple layers that can be easily peeled off.

It should have a crystalline appearance. Somewhat transparent, maybe?”

More precisely, white mica. An insulating mineral still widely used even in modern times.

In this civilization, the only other thing similar might be glass.

At worst, we might have to forcefully carry it by layering silk fabric.

We don’t know how much power it holds, so it’s dangerous.

“Muscovite? No… I don’t know the name. But there’s a mineral with similar characteristics. It’s completely unusable and not utilized. Mica, right? Wait a moment. I’m pretty sure I have some that I collected in the past.”

Glast went to the back of the shop and quickly returned. In his hand, he held a mineral. It had a look with a mix of white and yellow.

“Is this it? The shape is interesting, and it looks beautiful, so I kept it. Well, it’s not something rare, just for display.”

“Could you show it to me?”

“Yeah, sure, I don’t mind.”

I received the mica and muscovite from Glast and examined them closely. The more I looked, the more they resembled each other. I wasn’t sure if this is the mineral, given what I knew.

However, materials used in everyday items essentially had names similar to those on Earth—hemp, cotton, iron, copper.

So, if the features were the same, there was a high possibility they were the same thing.

However, considering there were special items like the thunderstone, caution was needed.

The problem was how to process the mica.

Processing mica manually involved peeling and assembling. At least, that’s all I knew.

Mica could be thinly peeled and then layered to create a single sheet. In the past, this method of utilizing it as an insulator was used.

The common method now was to crush the mica and create a single sheet using a paper-making technique.

However, making a completely single sheet through paper-making was stronger and more resilient than just layering.

In other words, it became more resistant to breakage and allowed for some degree of deformation.

But then again, I wasn’t sure if there was something to layer it with.

Moreover, I wasn’t sure if mica could simply be crushed and paper-made for processing.

I wondered if there were other necessary raw materials.

And the tools needed for paper-making were also required.

So, did we need a wooden frame?

And we would need to crush a large amount of mica, put it in water, and work while scooping.

We needed more mica.

By the way, does crushed mica float?

Despite being a mineral. Assuming minerals are heavy because they’re minerals might be a preconception.

But in this world, I wasn’t sure if my knowledge would hold.

In the first place, I had my doubts about whether my knowledge was correct.

Knowledge from my student days is forgotten when you become a working adult, and I don’t need this kind of knowledge.

Or maybe, is this really mica?

Ah, no. I feel like I’m going in circles.

While I was pondering, Glast said something to my father.

“So, what are you up to?”

“I don’t know. I don’t quite understand my son’s thoughts.”

“Shion’s thoughts? I don’t really understand what kids do.”

“Well… I’m not so sure about that. It’s not certain that Shion is the one behind those thoughts.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see if you observe. Probably.”

While I was contemplating, my father and Glast waited for me.

“Hmm, no need to force myself to create it. My purpose is elsewhere.”

“Alright! Hey, Glast-san. Is there a bigger piece of this mineral?”

“There is. Usually about this size.”

He showed me the size by spreading his hands.

Roughly around sixty, seventy centimeters.

It’s big. Is there really mica this size?

Maybe it’s something that exists only in this otherworld.

But if there’s a piece that large, it should be no problem.

“Well then, I’d like that.”

“Ah, well, it’s not like we don’t have it, but it’s quite expensive, you know? It’s just for display and not really useful.”

Expensive, huh.

Hmm, I don’t get an allowance, and when I want to buy something, I have to ask my father.

But it might not be a price to nag a kid for.

What should I do?

“How much is it?”

“It’s 4,000 Lirem.”

“There’s a saying about a single potato for 50 Lirem.”

“Potatoes can be harvested even in times of poor yield, so their price tends to remain stable.”

“Thus, they are often used as a price reference.”

“In other words, the price of eighty potatoes.”

“That’s quite expensive, isn’t it?”

“Understood. Where can I buy them?”

Before I could say anything, my father calmly asked Glast.

“At the market. They’ve been there for a while, so I don’t think the price has changed.”

“Nobody really buys them, and it seems they’re not very popular even as ornamental plants.”

I hurriedly tugged at my father’s clothes.

“S-so, Dad, you’re really going to buy them?”

“Hm? Of course. You need them, right?”

“W-well, yeah. But they’re expensive.”

“Don’t worry about the price, my child. Besides, Shion, have you ever asked for something before?

I’ve provided for Marie reasonably, so it’s not a problem.

Listen, Shion. It’s okay to be a little selfish with your father.

If it’s not possible, I’ll say so, and if it’s okay, I’ll say it’s okay. You don’t have to endure without saying anything.”

My father put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle smile.

I truly thought it was good that this person was my father.

When I become a father, I can’t imagine being able to do this.

“…You’re quite the doting father.”

“Enough of that, Glast. I’m a father. It would be strange not to dote on my child. Now then, Shion. Shall we head to the market?”

“Ah, before that, I want to try something.”

“Try something? Come to think of it, I didn’t ask what you plan to use this ore for.”

To provide without even asking about its purpose. I chuckled and responded.

“This ore is an insulator, well, not for electricity, but… it has the potential to block things like lightning. So, I thought of using it to transport Thunderstone.”

Assuming there are Thunderstone in the mining site, we could infuse them with magic there and conduct research. But that would attract attention and break the promise with my father. Magical research has to be done discreetly. I don’t intend to flaunt magic, so I have no objections. I just want to use magic.

Upon hearing my answer, my father and Glast exchanged glances.

“Is that true, Shion?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I want to try.”

“Even if I ask how you know about it, it wouldn’t make a difference, would it?”

“……Yeah.”

I’m a seven-year-old child. It’s natural for people to be skeptical if I have knowledge they don’t. Even if children say peculiar things, it’s within the realm of common sense. The content of what I’m saying is clearly abnormal and not ordinary. The fact that my father has accepted it so far is simply because he’s generous. A normal person might find me creepy. It’s more sensible to inquire further and consider stopping magical research. But my father just thought for a moment and casually said,

“I see. Well, I suppose it’s fine. Shall we try it at the mining site? It’s nearby, right?”

I had a vague idea, but I couldn’t help but feel grateful. I thought to the depths of my heart that it was great to be reincarnated as the child of such a good father. Glast scratched the back of his head, looking pensive, but he didn’t ask me any questions.

“Yeah, it’s within walking distance. Let’s go then.”

Glast patted my head, closed and locked the store’s door, and hung the “closed” sign on the door.

I wondered if it was okay, but Glast didn’t say anything, so I didn’t either. I just felt a bit uneasy for some reason, probably because things were going so smoothly. Well, there’s probably no need to worry. Thinking that, I followed after my father and the others.