Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 28 Glast’s request 3

Mom and Dad came back a few tens of minutes later.

“We did it!”

The refinement of the Thunder stone was completed.

Glast wiped the sweat from his forehead.

On the table, there were two ingots.

They had just been taken out after being put in a mold made of sand and clay and cooled.

They looked different from before.

When it was refined with just fire, it was blue, but this time it was red.

Clearly, some kind of change had occurred.

With hope and anxiety in my heart, I looked at Glast.

Glast nodded and held a piece of mica cloth, bringing the two metals close.

Then, a sharp sound, “Bachii,” was produced, and the room was briefly illuminated.

“Whoa!?”

Glast was surprised and staggered, but he didn’t drop the metals.

For a moment, I saw the path of thorns.

However, the power itself was not that significant compared to the reactions between minerals.

However, minerals have a considerable weight and mass, and the size of the metal bar Glast is holding is about the size of a koban.

In this compact state, if there is electricity generation, it should be sufficient.

“So, an electrical reaction occurred, right!?”

“Yes!”

My sister, dad, and mom all applauded simultaneously. Even though we didn’t quite understand what had just happened, Glast-san and I scratched the back of our heads, feeling a bit awkward.

“So, what is this going to become?”

Glast-san’s question was certainly valid, but I also wondered if the person who was so delighted would be the one to ask this question. I gave a wry smile and approached the table.

“Could you lend me that cloth for a moment?”

“Sure.”

I borrowed the mica cloth and touched the metal. Upon closer observation, it seemed that there was no individual electrical reaction from the metal. In other words, there was an interaction between them, but it didn’t seem to generate electricity intermittently at the individual level. I placed the mica aside and tried touching the metal directly.

For a moment, I could tell that my family was about to say something, but I continued to hold the metal without paying them any attention. There was still no reaction. It appeared that there was no longer any generation at the individual level. However, my hair seemed to be ever so slightly standing on end. It felt like the sensation when static electricity was present. So, it wasn’t entirely devoid of electrical reactions; it seemed like charge transfer was happening, like being in a constantly charged state.

I held the metal with mica and brought it close to iron. Nothing happened. This meant that it would only react with the same type of metal. However, it did have an effect on the human body. It was quite an unusual outcome. But, in a way, it could be considered a more significant achievement than I had initially thought.

“What are you doing?”

“I tried various things. Yes, I see now.”

My father, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up.

“So, what have you found, Shion?”

“Well, for starters, it seems like there’s potential for some business with this metal. There are other possibilities, but this one might sell quite well, I think.”

My father and Glast-san exchanged puzzled glances. These two really get along well.

“However, we don’t have much time, so we’ll need to work quite diligently.”

“Oh, yeah, if it’s about three days, I can work without sleep. What do we need to do?”

“Um… well, it’s a bit late to ask, but is it okay to believe a story from someone like me, a child?”

“To be honest, I had some doubts, but you’ve shown us various things. Besides, I’ve been struggling with trial and error on my own, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a child or an adult.”

Glast-san grinned and ruffled my head. He may have rough language, but he’s a generous person. People like him might succeed in various fields. I nodded vigorously and began my explanation.

“First of all, let’s call this metal… um, for now, let’s name it ‘Tekurai.’ We’ll need to create Tekurai from all the Thunder stones, so it will take a considerable amount of time. I want you to make two types of Tekurai. One is small and round. A spherical shape should be good. The other is a rectangular Tekurai, similar to the one we made earlier. Then…”

While I explained, everyone listened attentively.

“That’s it. Can you do it?”

“Probably. Well, processing everything in three days might be a bit challenging, but for prototype pieces, I think we can make them quickly.”

“Alright, then. Let’s do our best.”

I clenched my fist, and Glast-san also showed his fist. We bumped fists and nodded to each other.

“I’ll go and crush the ores and bring them.”

“Huh? No, are you planning to help?”

“Yes, I am.”

Glast-san opened his mouth in surprise and seemed exasperated.

“I only asked you for ideas. Going further is a bit much.”

“But I think doing it alone would be difficult. Besides, if problems arise along the way and you can’t solve them alone, my ideas might be needed. So, isn’t it natural for us to work together until the end?”

My sister nodded multiple times beside me, seemingly excited and breathing heavily for some reason. From behind, we heard two sighs, and from the front, there was a hint of anxiety.

“When Shion starts talking, there’s no stopping him. Besides, Shion’s point is valid. Let’s agree to accompany him for three days. We’ve already informed the villagers that we might be absent.”

“Oh my, it’s been a while since we stayed in Istria. It’s quite exciting, isn’t it? Hehe.”

“I’ll help a lot! Glast, uncle, just tell me anything!”

The whole family was cooperative.

“…Sorry for the trouble, then. Oh, and don’t push yourselves too hard. Your help is greatly appreciated.”

“Yes, it’s okay. I don’t intend to overdo it.”

Glast-san seemed surprised but smiled happily.

And from that day on, our battle began.

○●○

The division of roles was clear.

Dad’s role was to crush the Thunder Stones. It was quite a physically demanding task, so it would take too long for me and my sister, who were children. After crushing the Thunder Stones, my sister and I carried them to Glast-san’s shop, which was quite a distance away. It was quite challenging.

Since transportation took more time than crushing, even after finishing crushing the ore, Dad helped with the transportation. Glast-san diligently continued the refinement of the gathered Thunder Stones. This was the most time-consuming part, requiring patience and expertise.

The refining furnace wasn’t very large, so it could only handle a few Thunder stones at a time. Moreover, one had to be near the furnace, which had substantial firepower, making it physically demanding. This was due to the need to add charcoal and materials multiple times.

Glast-san continued this tirelessly. Even though it must have been tough for him, he didn’t say a word and showed what it meant to be a man.

As for Mom, her role would become apparent on the third day.

Three days of work had passed. We had finished processing all the Thunder stones.

And…

“Oh, it’s done…”

Glast-san, my sister, and I collapsed on the ground.

Dad and Mom also seemed quite exhausted, with no energy left in their faces. And for a good reason. Glast-san, having stayed awake for three days and nights, was undoubtedly the most fatigued. However, transporting the Thunder stones took more time than expected, and ultimately, we also spent a significant amount of working hours. Despite getting enough sleep, our child bodies lacked the stamina. Among our family members, I think Dad worked the hardest. He did our share of the work as well. Even so, it was quite a close call, so we had to hurry during the later stages.

“Finally, I’m so tired… But first, let’s check the finished products,” Glast-san said, forcing himself to get up and stretch his back.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. While we’ve created a few prototypes and performed functionality tests, it’s always better to be thorough.”

We left the forge and headed to the warehouse in the back of the shop. Unlike the large warehouse where the Thunder stones were stored, this one was relatively small, but a warehouse nonetheless. It held the fruits of our labor.

Upon opening the door to the approximately eight-tatami-sized warehouse, we found numerous wooden crates. We took each one out and inspected its contents.

There were two types of finished products. The first one was called ‘Thunderlight.’ It consisted of two slightly elongated rectangular Tekurai arranged at a certain distance, with multiple layers of mica acting as insulators between them. The two Tekurai formed the walls of the device. They were connected with a curved glass that bridged them. Naturally, insulating materials were placed on the grounding surface to ensure there was no accidental contact. On top, there was a piece of mica suspended like a curtain. Hanging from the center of the circular lid, when the lid was closed, it naturally interrupted the flow of electricity. The lower part had a handle for easy placement.

It resembled glass, but it was slightly larger. Nothing happened while the mica lid was closed. However, when you opened it, the Tekurai interacted, causing an electric current to flow. Normally, it was unstable to pass electricity, making it somewhat challenging to use as a light source. Still, the resonance discharge between the Tekurai was relatively stable, allowing a substantial cylindrical electrical flow. Therefore, it should be sufficient as a light source, although we didn’t know how long it would last.

The second one was called ‘Lightning Stone.’ It was almost like a portable flint. At the tip of the metal, which had a shape similar to short tongs, a Tekurai was embedded. This device utilized the characteristic of the Tekurai, which didn’t discharge to other metals. Igniting a spark with flint and steel was not an easy task. So, I proposed an apparatus where Tekurai was used to create an electric spark, making it easy to start a fire even without using magic. Flint and steel were fragile, but since the Lightning Stone didn’t involve any impact, it should last a while.

Mom took care of the detailed work and sewing-related tasks. She was quite skilled and had the skills of an artisan.

These two products were my proposals. Lighting and ignition. Both were essential for daily life. I thought these products would make life much more convenient. After using them, I found them quite useful, and the reactions from everyone were positive.

We all examined the products together, and there didn’t seem to be any issues.

“This time, it’s really over! Thank you, everyone. You’ve worked hard!”

When Glast-san raised his voice, everyone showed relieved expressions. It was unusual for us, but the whole family sat down in the garden.

It seemed that Dad and Mom were too fatigued to muster the energy to get up.

“But seriously, Shion… it’s amazing to come up with something like this.”

“Yeah, it’s quite something. I’m proud of you too.”

“Shion-chan is really clever. I’d even like to brag about it.”

Being honestly praised by the three adults felt nice, but also somewhat uncomfortable. Suddenly, I became curious about Marie’s reaction. I thought she might be jealous again. However, Marie was inexplicably snorting proudly. I wondered why she was reacting like that. Girls are really hard to understand.

“But, we don’t know if it will sell.”

“It’s definitely going to sell. It’s so convenient. Plus, even if it doesn’t sell, it’s okay. I think this is an amazing invention. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, especially Shion. Thanks to you, we were able to come this far.”

Glast-san expressed his sincere gratitude and bowed to us. He was genuinely a generous and straightforward person. Well, there was a bit of self-inflicted trouble, but that was another matter. I didn’t think there were many people who could express their gratitude so openly to others.

“It’s alright. I had fun, and I learned a lot too.”

“Yeah, that’s right! I had fun too.”

“Hehe, I remembered my youth. Achieving something together with everyone was so much fun.”

“Don’t worry, Glast. Your feelings of gratitude are more than enough.”

Even though Glast-san didn’t lift his head despite our words, a few seconds later, he slowly showed his face. At that moment, all four of us simultaneously shivered and trembled, our shoulders twitching.

“Y-you guys are too g-g-great! I’m really a lucky m-man. Th-thank you, thank you! Uwaaaaah!”

He was sobbing, truly sobbing. It could be described as a “manly cry,” but he was crying intensely. We were glad to have moved him to tears, but he was crying so much that we didn’t know what to do, and we exchanged glances.

However, for some reason, laughter bubbled up within us. It wasn’t mocking, just a warm feeling that made us laugh. We laughed together, while Glast-san continued to cry. It was a chaotic scene, but for some reason, it was also a happy one.

○●○

The next morning, after taking a day of rest, we got ready and were on a carriage.

“Are we really leaving already? It’s making me feel kinda lonely,” Marie said.

“You’re unusually downcast. Are you worried it won’t sell? Sorry, but we can’t stay to deal with that. We have to get back to the village,” Glast-san replied.

“I-I know! I’m nervous. Everyone helped, and I’m worried about what will happen if it doesn’t sell,” Marie responded.

Dad sighed and said, “This goods won’t spoil, will they? If they don’t sell, we can always come back to help.”

“Hey, cut it out! If you keep saying stuff like that, he might start crying again,”

Glast-san seemed on the verge of tears.

“Alright, we’re off. See you, Glast.”

“Take care, Glast-san!”

“Glast-kun, take care of yourself! Eat properly and get enough rest!”

As the three of us bid our farewells, Glast-san tightly pursed his lips and waved his hand.

“Thank you! Thank you so much! You’ve been a real help!”

The carriage began to move, and the distance between us and Glast-san grew.

“Shion! You’re truly an amazing guy! If anything happens, let me know right away! I’ll definitely come to help! I’ll properly express my gratitude! Goodbye! See you!”

Glast-san waved his arms vigorously, as if they might break. He continued to wave even as our figures became smaller and smaller. Soon, our presence disappeared, hidden by the passersby and carriages on the road.

“I’m going to miss him.”

“Yeah. But we’ll see him again soon.”

“Yeah…”

I found myself lost in sentiment. While it’s unusual for me, it seems I’ve grown fonder of Glast-san than I initially thought.

Well, there are certainly emotional aspects to it, but there’s another part that has piqued my interest. Now, will Glast-san fulfill my request? I’ve already communicated my desires to him after the completion. If Glast-san were to fulfill that request, there’s no doubt my “magic” would undergo a dramatic transformation. For now, I’ll embrace this sense of accomplishment and take it as a moment of rest.