Magic revolution of a Young Noblewoman Starting Over ~ The Executed Villainess restores her Ruined Family ~ Restraint? Prudence? I'm more interested in magic tools than that! - Chapter 15
The return of Ainsworth
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On the way back from the workshop.
Having recovered to such a point that my barfing previously seemed like a lie, I was humming a song inside the carriage.
”You seem to be in a good mood, Ojou-sama.”
Anna gazed warmly at the high-spirited me.
”That’s true. At one point I was wondering what would happen… if it’s them, they’ll certainly be able to do it.”
I nodded my head while recalling what just happened.
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After that.[1]
Duncan told me [we’ll help as much as we can], and then called out and gathered all the working craftsmen in the workshop.
The craftsmen came out from the back of the workshop.
Their number, was barely 5.
Furthermore, 3 were uncles in their old age, and the only young person was a yankee-looking 20-ish young man. The last remaining person was a part-time aunty.
”No way…”
I stood stock still, dumbfounded.
Including Duncan and the others, it’d be 8 people in total. The miserable situation in the Royal Capital Workshop was beyond my imagination.
”My, are we eating yet?”
”Didn’t you eat just a short while ago?”
”M-, my back huu…”
If this is how it is, then Duncan had no choice but to take over the position of workshop chief. Since it seems there aren’t any others who could take over.
The Ainsworth Royal Capital Workshop, which once employed over 30 people, was now in a precarious light.
It was while I stood there stock still due to the remaining reality before me that it started.
”What’s this?”
A dignified old man in the middle of the room peered at the diagrams spread across the counter.
”Oh? Is this a new cane?”
”C-, caaane? … my hippsss”
”Ooh? What’s that?!”
”Maybe a clothesline?”
The craftsmen shuffled around the diagrams.
While everyone was discussing [it’s not that] and [it’s not this], the aforementioned dignified old man asked the workshop chief a question.
”Duncan. What’s this? It looks like a weapon to me.”
Correct, master[2]. I also heard this from this lady, but, it seems it’s a magic weapon.”
Huh? M-, master???
Duncan called him master, meaning this old man was the previous workshop chief?!
——— that’s right, he does seem like he’ll collapse.
Age-wise, that is.
As I was being surprised, the previous workshop chief looked over here with gentle eyes.
”These diagrams, did you draw them?”
”Yes. I was thinking of asking everyone here to help me, so I came and visited today.”
”I see, I see.”
Smiling slightly, the predecessor once more looked down at the spread-out diagrams… before noticing my toolbag placed at the end of the counter.
His gaze became nailed to it.
”Hm??”
He stared at what was drawn there.
The crest of ivy and an owl.
The crest of the Owleyes House.
Those eyes, grew wide.
The predecessor turned his eyes to me once more.
”By any chance… are you, from the Count?”
Rattle, rattle.
On the counter, the old man’s hand trembled slightly.
What is it?
That reaction isn’t normal.
”Ehm, yes. I’m the eldest daughter of the Owleyes County, Leticia Ainsworth.”
The moment I gave my name while still confused,
”Oh, ooh…”
Large teardrops fell from the old man before me ——— and collapsed on the spot.
”O-, old man?!”
”Master?!”
”Oi, gramps! What’s wrong?!”
Duncan and I bent over the counter.
Jack rushed over to the flustered predecessor.
The predecessor waves Jack off, then unhurriedly gets up and looks at me.
”I… we’ve been waiting forever. The day someone from the Count’s House visits this workshop once more, and bestows us a presentation of a new magic tool.”
”Waiting, forever?”
I asked, and while still crying, he nodded his head.
The lanky old man standing next to him spoke in his place.
”Back when we had joined as apprentices, the Count at that time… and the one of two generations ago, how many years it’s been, yet they’ve come to unveil a new magic tool. In those days, there were still about 20 craftsmen, and we were all lively… Oouuu”
Having remembered the old days, this old man began crying too.
Seeing that, the old man with a petite build took over talking while still rubbing his back.
”Each time the previous generation is replaced by the current head, the chance someone comes to this workshop decreases… and sales also decreased, and the young people decreased by one, and then decreased by two… Ah, my back!?”
As the old man succumbed to his bad back, the previous workshop chief finally wiped his tears and opened his mouth.
”That’s why, we believed and waited forever. Some day, surely someone from the Count’s House would return, and bestow us a presentation of a new magic tool. And then this workshop, its liveliness, and p-, pride, would surely be, brought back….!!”
Once again, the old men bawl.
Their thoughts and feelings washed over me like a wave.
I wonder, just how long these people must have endured.
Waiting how ever long for new products that never come out.
Sales that continue to decrease.
Disciples quitting, one by one.
Without the lord taking any notice.
In a place where the light doesn’t touch, only simple repairs are entrusted to them.
I wonder, just how much hope would it take for me to endure till this point?
Once I realised, my face was messy with tears.
”Everyone… everyone, I’m sorry! This whole time we haven’t made any new magic tools, you’ve been waiting. I’m really sorry. I’m sorry we betrayed everyone’s expectations… I, promise! This new magic weapon, will absolutely, absolutely, restore this workshop!!”
”O-, Ojou-sama!!!!”
We took each others hands, and wept for a really long time.
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”I see. In other words, this long gun barrel stabilises the trajectory in order to improve the accuracy?”
Once everyone had calmed down.
After giving everyone an explanation of the magic rifle, all members began analysing the diagrams with a serious gaze.
”If the tip is too light, the recoil will cause it to jump and it seems the accuracy will worsen.”
”For now I think we should first make the base big, then finally finish up by shaving the wood to keep the centre of gravity’s balance.”
”If you put too much substance to it it’d be too hard to hold— gah! Oh?”
The craftsmen, successively contributing their opinions.
That sight, caused my heart to tremble.
——— If it’s them, we’ll surely be able to make something good.
It was a scene that made me convinced of such.
TL Notes:
[1]i.e. timeskip/flashback back to after they sent the customer out ↩
[2]I forgot to mention it last time, but “master” here is the same as “teacher”. Not really sure which to go with, since master shows more respect but teacher explains the role better. ↩