Ainsworth’s successor

 
 In the Heilland Kingdom, it isn’t unusual for nobles to possess multiple title.
 
 In fact, we have two title ourselves.
 
 One of them is the Owleyes Earl title.
 The other is the Ainsworth Baron title.
 
 The former is a title with an accompanying territory, but the latter is an honorary title without territory.
 When referring to a noble by their title name, the title of higher standing is used, so the territory-less [Baron Ainsworth] title rarely came out in conversations, even amongst relatives.
 
 However, a peerage is a peerage.
 
 Owleyes has been legally decided to be succeeded by Graham-nii-sama.
 Ainsworth can be succeeded by someone within three degrees of kinship, regardless of gender.
 
 In other words, even I should be able to inherit the latter.
 
 
 
 ”You thought it through, huh, Letty.”
 
 Dad lifted his face from the royal certificate, and looked at me in a somewhat excited state. It’s rare for Dad to show this much emotion.
 
 ”Certainly, with this regulation, even you could probably inherit it.”
 
 Dad sat down once again, and spread the royal certificate on the desk.
 
 ”However, you seriously remembered the baron title, huh. Even close relatives aren’t aware of it.”
 
 ”It’s an honorary title, but it’s the origin of our House’s founding, so isn’t it important? At the very least, I don’t think it’s something to make light of, you know?”
 
 ”That’s true, but… I didn’t expect you to even have an understanding of the provisions for succession.”
 
 At Dad’s words, I said “Actually…” and averted my gaze.
 
 ”I also heard this from my teacher, but ——— to begin with, the wartime peerage royal certificates issued in that era have almost the same text. Therefore, wouldn’t our provisions also be the same…”
 
 ”Huh?”
 
 I unconsciously smiled wryly at my dumbfounded Dad.
 

 ☆

 
 Baron Ainsworth.
 
 The very first peerage which our House earned, which was originally commoners.
 And in the kingdom’s history, it’s a term that points to the lone prodigious magic-toolmaker who guided them to victory in the war which led to the nation’s founding.
 
 The first generation of the Owleyes Countship, Ethan Ainsworth.
 
 200 years ago.
 Born as the eldest son of a magic-toolmaker in the royal capital of that time, he inherited his father’s workshop at a young age to follow in the footsteps of his father who died suddenly, and made a set of magic-armaments for his younger brother who was drafted for the war.
 
 One was a magic sword with a blade of magic power clad on its blade, which possessed the power of a two-handed sword despite being one-handed.
 Another was a buckler that, when clad in magic power, becomes a tower shield that could also defend against magic.
 
 Speaking of magic-armaments, it was an era in which they could only fire something amounting to the power of a low-level fireball or windblade when wielded.
 Strengthening the base armament was a novel idea, which transcended the era.
 
 Leaving for the battlefield wearing those armaments, his younger brother’s efforts were like those of a demonic god, and before long, he caught the attention of the one leading the army, the Heilland Duke… who later became the founding king.
 
 When the duke learnt the secret behind the armaments, he immediately summoned the elder brother, Ethan. He was bestowed the Ainsworth Baronship and established the Magic-toolmaker’s Guild, mass-producing similar magic-armaments.
 
 After that, with the Heilland Duke equipped with up-and-coming magic-armaments, they had successive victories.
 The new king usurped the royal authority of the foolish king of the former kingdom, and bestowed Ethan with the Owleyes Countship for his great contribution to the victory.
 
 ——— the above-mentioned are the origins of the Ainsworth House.
 
 Incidentally, [Ainsworth] was not originally the family name, but rather the trade name of the magic-tool workshop which their ancestors had used for generations.
 

 ☆

 
 ”………”
 
 Dad pondered in silence for a while.
 
 ——— his daughter succeeds the Ainsworth Baronship.
 
 This should have confirmed that there aren’t any legal problems.
 Next would be the [various] other problems Dad spoke of.
 
 I remained silent while waiting for Dad’s next words.
 
 Dad pondered with his eyes closed and his elbows upon the desk, but soon after, he lifted his face.
 
 ”Letty.”
 
 ”Yes, Otou-sama.”
 
 Me and my father’s gazes cross.
 
 ”If you are to succeed the Ainsworth Baronship, there’s one thing you absolutely need.”
 
 ”What is it?”
 
 ”A reason for your succession, achievements.”
 
 ”Achievements, is it?”
 
 To my question, Dad silently nodded.
 
 ”According to the regulations, it is I who nominates the baronship’s successor, but this time I’ll have to decline a proposal from His Majesty the king. A shallow reason will likely be seen through as [An excuse to refuse the engagement]. As such…”
 
 ”So what you’re saying is, in order to show that I’m suitable to succeed the baronship, I need achievements as proof such that everyone agrees, right?”
 
 ”Right. And in addition to that, it’ll have to be in the short time before your next audience with His Majesty.”
 
 After having said all that, Dad let out a deep sigh.
 
 ”The royal palace has come enquiring frequently about your health. Even taking into account the fact that you passed out, we’ll probably only be able to delay it up to a month at most. We don’t have enough time to get you to make any sort of achievements.”
 
 It apparently seems Dad was thinking of ways for me to make achievements.
 
 That thought honestly made me happy.
 
 
 
 ”As for an achievement, for example, would [A revolutionary magic-tool’s development that nobody has seen before] or something be alright?”
 
 Dad’s eyes widened at my words.
 
 ”Of course it’s alright… but can you make something like that?”
 
 ”Actually, I’ve been sitting on an idea since a while ago.”
 
 So that I could deal with negotiating with Dad, we also brought up the issue of my [achievements] at the Council of Bears.
 And so, what magic-tools I could also make.
 
 The current me doesn’t only have the experience of this world, but also the experience of Miyanohara Mizuki, an engineer from the world in the dream, [Japan]^[1]
 
 What can be made, and how to make it.
 What materials would be needed to make it.
 How much time would be needed.
 
 I’ve roughly got it all planned out.
 The next thing I need is…
 
 ”Otou-sama, could I use the laboratory, please?”
 
 ”The laboratory? Of course I don’t mind, but… it hasn’t been used in a while, so it’s full of dust.”
 
 ”No problem. It’s a good opportunity to do some cleaning.”
 
 A smile unconsciously escapes.
 
 This mansion… the Count’s estate in the royal capital, is a single detached building.
 The building, whose outer appearance looks like that of a single-storied private home, is actually a laboratory for the exclusive use of the Ainsworth Family’s head.
 In my previous life, I spent a lot of private time in that place.
 
 In that room, though it isn’t as great as the laboratories in the Owleyes territory, there’s a complete set of drafting tools implements for manufacturing magic-tools.
 If I want to make a magic-tool in a short time, I absolutely have to get that laboratory usable.
 
 And one other thing.
 
 ”Please send out a notice to the workshop in the royal capital to assist me.”
 
 The Ainsworth magic-tool workshop, the Royal Capital Workshop.
 
 It is a medium-sized workshop in the craftsmen’s district in the royal capital Sanakia, known as the place where the former first-generation Count Owleyes made the magic armaments, and our House’s [Place of Origins].
 
 It now operates as a workshop for repairs and maintenance of magic-tools it sold.
 
 ”… you’re serious, huh.”
 
 The corners of Dad’s mouth lifted slightly.
 
 
 
 I turned to face Dad again.
 
 ”The Ainsworths have made a living as magic-tool makers for generations, and have become known worldwide due to those developments. For the sake of becoming someone suitable to succeed that family name, I will prove my own skill. I will show you results in three weeks. I shall do all within what little power I have, so please cooperate with me.”
 
 While still sitting, I deeply bow my head.
 
 When I raise my head, my gase once again crosses with Dad’s.
 Dad sighs with a laugh, and gives me a small nod.
 
 ”Got it. From this moment on, our House shall support you for the next three weeks with all we’ve got. The mansion’s equipment, the royal capital’s workshop, the Owleyes territory’s workshop and laboratory, all of it will help you.”
 
 Dad stood up, came over here and knelt down.
 And with his hand, he stroked my head.
 
 ”Please aim as far as you can. The one with the strongest passion for magic-tools amongst you siblings, is you. I’m sure you can do it.”
 
 ”Papa…!”
 
 I hugged Dad with all my might.
 

TL Notes:

[1]the way it’s phrased, it seems she’s calling that entire world Japan. That nuance might help you understand things a bit better. ↩