“Magic bestowal?”
“Huh? You didn’t notice?”
It began with a single word from Jude early one afternoon.
Apparently my hair ornament was bestowed with magic.
It was only natural. I’ve never seen things that have been bestowed with magic in Japan, so naturally I didn’t notice.
“Can you tell what kind of effect was attached?”
“I don’t know but I can tell that magic was bestowed to it. It’s reacting to Sei’s magic power.”
“Reacting? You can tell that kind of thing?”
“Yeah, it takes some practice.”
“Really?”
When I ask Jude in detail he told me that you couldn’t find out what magic had been bestowed without using a magic called 『Appraisal』.
There were very few people who could use appraisal magic. There was a big firm in town with some people who could and even within the Court Mage Division there were only a few people who could use it.
By the way if the level of appraisal magic was high enough, it seems that it could be used on people as well.
However, if the person who casts it doesn’t have the consent of the person they are casting it on, it could repel. It would almost always repel if the person it was casted on was high levelled.
And now, magic bestowal.
Magic can be bestowed on things like weapons, armour, accessories, etc.
The core of things like gems are used as a premise for magic bestowal. The magic is embedded into the core and it becomes a magic bestowed tool.
Of course it’s okay to insert the magic embedded core into tools.
The effects of the magic bestowed tool manifest themselves by reacting to the magic of the person in possession of it.
There aren’t many people who could use magic but magic power itself vary greatly and everyone seems to have it.
Therefore those who have trained their magic perception can sense when something has been bestowed with magic.
When Jude was at the Royal Academy he trained his magic perception. It seems his training is still essential when helping out with his family business.
He’s so diligent.
“It sounds interesting, doesn’t it?”
“What does?”
“Magic bestowal.”
“Eh? Don’t tell me you want to try it out?”
“Ara, you understand me well.”
Jude looked subtly disgusted so I smile sweetly at him.
What’s with that face?
I couldn’t bestow magic in Japan so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I want to try it.
“It’s not easy to bestow an item with magic.”
“Really?”
“First of all, the cores are expensive.”
There are various core materials like gems and rare crystals so it seems that even though they’re small they’re quite expensive.
Also since magic is needed to bestow an item with magic, there are only a limited amount of people who can do it.
Therefore there was a huge difference in price between items with that have been bestowed with magic and items that haven’t.
Yes, there was a huge difference.
And this hair ornament was bestowed with magic.
………………。
…………。
……。
“Why’re you making a racket?”
The Director spoke to me as he was walking passed when I was thinking about the price of my hair ornament.
“We are talking about magic bestowal.”
“Magic bestowal?”
“I heard that this hair ornament was bestowed with magic, so I was a little interested in magic bestowal.”
“Oh.”
Director, this is nonchalant, but did you noticed that the hair ornament was bestowed with magic?
Because your eyes shook when I said, “Hair ornament”.
Neither the Director nor Liz told me how much it was but I wonder if this is one of those things that aren’t expensive to aristocrats.
I don’t know if the items at the store front were bestowed with magic but since there’s a huge difference in price they probably weren’t, huh?
If I think like that then I dreaded the price of my hair ornament.
How do I return his gratitude……?
When I was about to hold onto my head again, the Director came up with an unexpected proposal.
“Do you want to try it?”
“Eh?”
“Magic bestowal. You’re interested, right?”
Jude and I were flabbergasted at the Director’s proposal.
Eh? Is it that easy to do?
I look at Jude who was next to me, he was shaking his head side to side as if he knew my intentions.
“I have connections. What do you want to do?”
“I will do it.”
It was a great proposal so I went with it.
I am interested in it.
The place that the Director took me to is the Court Mage Division’s barracks.
Err, we’re bestowing magic right?
Ah, is it because it’s magic?
Since this is the Mage Division, there are a lot of people wearing robes everywhere. The Director and I am a bit out of place.
Now that I think about it that robe… The people who summoned me here were also wearing those robes, right?
I wonder if they participated in the ceremony?
The Court Mage Division’s barracks is quite far from the research institute, so the Director and I rode a carriage here.
It was further than the 3rd Knight Order’s barracks so it would be difficult to walk here.
Because of the Director’s order, Jude is house-sitting.
He said he preferred to work, but was it okay for me to come?
The norm of this world is a mystery.
“Sei, it’s this way.”
“Yes.”
I stand at the entrance of the room and look at the Director, who had entered ahead, he beckons at me.
The room I am in has a workbench like the one at the research institute. The Director stands in the middle of the room, in front of the workbench.
Standing on the other side of the Director at the workbench is a robe wearing man who looks like a Mage.
When I bow and say, “I look forward to working with you” to the nervous looking Mage, he also bows in a rush.
Huh? Is he afraid of something?
“Well then, I will explain about bestowal.”
The Mage smiles a little stiffly and began explaining about bestowal.
Why is he stiff?
Well, it’s not like I can do anything about it even if I worry.
On top of the workbench on the side was a divider box.
It seems that there are a variety of small gems and crystals in the box.
In order to bestowal magic, you have to hold the small core in your hands, think of the effect you want to give and expose it to your magic power.
The magic bestowed depended on the attribute of the person doing the bestowal. For example, if it was someone who used fire attribute magic then it would be bestowed with fire magic; if it was someone who used water attribute magic then it would be bestowed with water magic.
For items which raised offensive and defensive power, commonly referred to as support magic, it was necessary to use holy attribute magic.
There also seems to be compatible materials for the kind of affects you want to bestow. The Mage told me, “If you use support magic then the gems here are recommended”.
“What kind of effects will you bestow?”
“Let’s see……”
What should I do?
Support magic, support magic……
“It is possible to bestow unattributed magic?”
“Unattributed magic……?”
I think about it and suddenly remember about the Salamander that appeared in the West Forest.
It looked like a lizard that blew out fire. I thought it would be impossible to defend against that fire.
After the Mage thinks for a while he said, “It might not be possible to do unattributed magic, but I think you can reduce the magic attribute.”
I see.
Then let’s think of a way to reduce the magic attribute.
“Well, I will do that.”
“Then you probably want the gems around here.”
I receive the core material from the Mage and cover it with both my hands.
Even if I said I covered it, the material itself is only about 3mm in diameter so when I join my hands together you can’t see it at all.
I imagine the effect I want to bestow and expose my magic to it.
If I’m going to do this without fire attribute magic, I wonder if reducing the magic attribute is enough.
If I do that, could I raise magic resistance?
Yep, I think I can do it.
I image it and expose it to my magic power.
*Crack*
………………。
I, it broke?!
Yup, it’s broken.
It’s broken.
The impact runs through my palm and I timidly peak inside. It was just as I had felt, the material had broken in two.
While I was worrying about what to do the Mage asks me, “What is wrong?”
“Mhmmm, it seems that it has broken.”
It couldn’t be helped even if I keep silent, so I timidly told him the truth and show him the broken material. He has a surprise look on his face while exclaiming, “Eh!?”
The Mages all simultaneously look this way when they heard his exclamation.
Eh, what’s with that, it’s scary.
Don’t look over here.
The Mages and the Director stiffen. The Mage looks at my palm and mutter in surprise, “It is broken”.
And while still muttering, the Mage also stiffen.
No, anyone’s fine, so someone do something.
“Did you try to reduce the magic you were bestowing?”
A heavenly voice came from behind me and I turn around. There stood an Intelligent Glasses-sama. He had a familiar pair of blue-grey eyes and silky silver hair.
I instinctively called him, “Sama” because of the cool attitude he had and the heavenly voice that called out to me just now.
Intelligent Glasses-sama ignores me and picks up the material in my palm. He closely examines it.
“Are you really just reducing the magic attribute?”
“Ah, no……”
He glances at me coldly and I spontaneously straighten my back.
The feeling was like that of a student and teacher.
“What did you try to bestow?”
“Mhm, well…… I thought that raising the magic resistance would have nothing to do with the magic attribute, so I……”
“Then this material would be insufficient.”
Intelligent Glasses-sama said as he chooses a different material from the box on top of the table.
He chose a black gem around 5 to 6 mm in diameter.
It was twice as big as the gem from before. Am I allowed to use materials of this size?
A gem this big must be really expensive, right?
I look at the Mage, who’s also surprised.
The Director was surprised too.
“Is it okay?”
I ask while comparing Intelligent Glasses-sama’s face with the materials. He nods and presents the materials before my eyes.
I receive it and just like before, I wrap my hands around it. I pray for the magic resistance to rise and expose it to my magic.
The materials instantly heated up before settling.
Was it successful?
I timidly open up my hands and this time it wasn’t broken. The materials were still in one piece.
Since the material looks the same, I’m uncertain if it actually succeeded.
I stare at the material and Intelligent Glasses-sama picks up the material in my palm just like before.
“『Appraisal』”
The magic that he quietly chanted was one that few people could use, appraisal magic.
I heard that only a few people at the Court Mage Division could use it and Intelligent Glasses—sama seems to be one of them.
As expected of him.
After he spoke with his heavenly voice. Intelligent Glasses-sama’s expressionless face was like a Noh mask and then the corners of his mouth rise a little.
His faint smile quickly disappears and his face is like a Noh mask again then he said, “It was successful”.
Hearing that, the surrounding Mages cheers.
That’s good, I was successful this time.
I, who was feeling relieved, was presented with another material.
The one holding it was of course, Intelligent Glasses-sama. I tilt my head in confusion and he said, “Next is……”
Eh, we’re continuing?
For the time being, I receive the material. It’s as big as the first material I used.
“Poison resistance.”
“Yes.”
He said in a voice that I couldn’t refuse so I nod my head.
This time I’ll bestow it with the effect that he told me to.
Intelligent Glasses-sama’s judgement was correct. The magic bestowal finished without the gem breaking.
When I finish bestowing magic, I open my palm and Intelligent Glasses-sama picks up the finished core and uses appraisal magic on it.
The bestowment must have been completed without a hitch because he nods in satisfaction and presents the next material to me.
I take the gem and he frankly told me what effects he wanted.
I obediently bestow it with the effects he wanted. I must have done well because Intelligent Glasses-sama hands me materials one after another in the same way.
Thus I continue to bestow magic effects one after another.
He casted appraisal magic on the cores I bestowed with magic and confirmed that the effects were all bestowed correctly.
We continued this routine work the whole time.
Well, magic bestowal didn’t take up that much time, you know.
What are you going to do with all these?
He initially told me to bestow them with poison resistance and different types of magic resistance and before I knew it he mixed in poison nullification and paralysis nullification. It ended with adding two effects simultaneously.
My MP was exhausted while I was bestowing magic and when they had noticed, someone placed an intermediate MP potions in front of me.
It seems that the Mage who was watching this series of actions, gave me the MP potions.
Five of them……
It was a really good amount of MP potions but I drank them all.
While taking a break.
Well, since potions don’t accumulate in my stomach I can drink as many as I want without worrying.
Even so, there was quite a few of them.
Yes.
There was someone waiting next to me holding the next material while I was drinking.
I was chugging it down, you know. I was chugging it down.
“How long am I going to continue doing this?”
After bestowing some gems with magic, I thought I should head back to the research institute and called out to Intelligent Glasses-sama.
The magic bestowed cores were carried to him like a conveyor belt and were all beautifully lined up in front of him.
Intelligent Glasses-sama looked at the number of cores and nodded his head before moving. He went to a locked shelf by the wall and took out a large material from the shelf.
It was a transparent stone over 1 cm in diameter.
It’s not a diamond, right?
The size of the material presented to me made the surrounding Mages gulp.
Director, your mouth is open, you know?
“This is the last of it. I want; abnormal status nullification, magic nullification and attack nullification.”
Eh? Three of them?
Moreover they’re all nullification?
I was surprised when he told me and all the surrounding Mages were also surprised.
I wanted to tell them that if they opened their eyes that big their eyes would fall out, you know?
For the time being I think about whether I could do as I’m told, but it’s unlikely that both magic nullification and attack nullification would be compatible.
Well, if it was magic and attack resistance I could probably bestowal all three onto the jewel.
“It is unlikely that both magic nullification and attack nullification would be compatible. But I could probably raise magic and attack resistance.”
“I see. Let’s do that.”
I was told that my proposal was okay so I went ahead and bestow it with abnormal status nullification, magic resistance and attack resistance.
The heat in my palms is higher than before and it took a long time to cool but it seems that I was successful.
When I gave the completed core to Intelligent Glasses-sama. He cast appraisal onto it and confirm that the magic bestowal was successful.
The corners of his mouth raised up a little, so it seems that I was able to bestow it just like he told me to.
The Mages who gulped and watched me bestow magic, instantly cause a ruckus.
I sigh in relief and said to the Director, “Thank you”.
Yeah, I was feeling more tensed than usual and I’m a bit tired now.
I want to return to the research institute soon to have a cup of tea.
“Today’s reward.”
When the Director and I tried to leave the Mage Division’s noisy barracks, Intelligent Glasses-sama gave me a black stone.
It’s the stone that I first bestowed with magic resistance.
Reward…… If this was for sale then it’ll be really expensive, right?
Is it fine?
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t mind. You worked quite a bit today.”
“Is that so?”
He said it was fine so I receive it, gratefully.
I have a feeling the gem in my palm momentary flashed.
◊♦◊♦◊♦◊
It has been one week since I performed magic bestowal at the Court Mage Division.
I heard from a researcher that the Captain called for me and when I went to the Director’s room an unexpected person was there.
It was Intelligent Glasses-sama.
“…… Excuse me.”
“Have a seat, Sei.”
The Director urged me to sit next to him and told me the reason why I was called.
It seems that a few days ago someone leaked out that there was a large amount of magic bestowed cores at the Court Mage Division. The knights who heard this asked for the cores.
The cores they asked for was of course the magic bestowed cores.
Therein lies the problem. They also heard that the current Court Mage Division couldn’t make the cores that the knights wanted.
If the mages couldn’t make it then it was okay to refuse but because the real thing was at the Court Mage Division, they couldn’t refuse.
Yup, I’m the ones who created the cores at the Court Mage Division.
It was one of the many cores I made a week ago.
It seems that Intelligent Glasses-sama refused at first.
Somehow the knights knew that the real thing was at the Court Mage Division and didn’t believe that the mages couldn’t make it.
In this country, the Court Mage Division was a place where the most excellent mages gathered so the cores weren’t purchased from the outside.
If the Court Mages couldn’t make the core then there was no way that people working at ordinary shops could.
Since things were stalled between the knights and the mages, Intelligent Glasses-sama came to the research institute to ask if I, the creator, could help him.
“I know I can’t ask this of you but could you lend me a hand?”
“I do not mind, but……?”
I was the one who originally wanted to bestow magic at the Court Mage Division, because of that something like this happened so I didn’t mind helping out. But since I’m a member of the research institute it’s important to get the Director’s approval, right?
Ah, he might say it’s alright if it’s after work hours?
I glance at the Director. Intelligent Glasses-sama notices me doing so, also glances at the Director.
“Just this once. Of course we’ll be receiving compensation for it.”
“Thank you.”
Intelligent Glasses-sama remained emotionless like usual but unlike the time when we met at the Court Mage Division, I think that he looks really apologetic because he’s looking down casted.
After that the Director and Intelligent Glasses-sama talk and it’s decided that starting from tomorrow, I will be working at the Court Mage Division.
The next morning when I finish my preparations and left, a carriage from the Court Mage Division arrives.
According to the Director, it seems that Intelligent Glasses-sama prepared it.
It seems that the carriage will be picking me up and dropping me off every day until I finish production.
This is really helpful since the Court Mage Division is very far.
When the carriage moved towards the Court Mage Division, Intelligent Glasses-sama waits at the entrance, especially for me.
“Good morning.”
“You have a lot of luggage with you.”
He said after our rushed greetings. I look at the box in my hands and proudly point out.
“These are MP potions. It is better if I have them, right?”
It seems that Intelligent Glasses-sama agrees with what I said. He nods and takes the box from me.
“Ah, I can carry it by myself?”
“There’s no need for a woman to carry heavy things.”
It wasn’t that heavy. He quickly enters the building after he takes the box from me.
I trot after him.
Then when I enter the same room that I performed magic bestowal in, the mages were already bestowing magic inside.
“Huh? Does the Court Mage Division start earlier than the research institute?”
“Nope.”
I was planning to arrive at the Court Mage Division’s barracks before they started work but when I arrive the Mages are already rushing around and working.
According to Intelligent Glasses-sama, work starts at the same time for both the research institute and the Court Mage Division but they received a lot of requests from the Knight Order so they’ve been working since early morning.
I ask if I should come to work earlier starting from tomorrow, but they were the ones who asked me to do this so they tell me that it’s alright for me to arrive at the same time as today.
“Is the deadline soon?”
“We were told to have it done in time for the next subjugation.”
When I asked out of concern, I found out that the deadline was too short for the amount of items requested.
I was scared when I saw a vein pop out of Intelligent Glasses-sama’s temple so I pretend not to see it.
The place where I was working was the inner most part of the room.
The preparations had already been prepared by another Mage and the box with the cores is sitting on the work bench.
I place the box with the MP potions at my feet and immediately start bestowing magic.
At first I wait and see and Intelligent Glasses-sama is standing next to me.
“Is the request from the 3rd Knight Order?”
“No…… It’s from the 1st Knight Order.”
I got used to it after a few times since I only had to bestow one type of magic so it wasn’t a problem for me to bestow magic and talk at the same time.
I think there are people who work silently because it’s work but there’s a person standing next to me so it’s a little bit awkward. There was something that I was curious about so I thought I’d ask.
The Director and Intelligent Glasses-sama only said that it was a request from the Knight Order so I’m a bit curious about who put in the request.
I glance sideways at Intelligent Glasses-sama since it was a Knight Order that I had no relations to and he has a sour look on his face.
Is he on bad terms with that Knight Order?
“Sorry. I’ve been ordered to remain silent about this but it might have leaked out somehow.”
He muttered in a low voice as if he was crawling on the ground and chills run down my back.
It seems that I wasn’t the only one. The other Mages also look pale.
I feel the temperature dropping but it’s just my imagination, right?
“No, it might have also been leaked by someone in the research institute since there are researchers who know that I performed magic bestowal here.”
“Do they also know what you bestowed?”
“Ah, no they did not……”
I tried to change the cold atmosphere but it backfired.
I only talked about magic bestowal with Jude so I said something like that. The Director forbade me from talking about the kind of bestowal I did, so only the Director and I know about it.
In that case there was a high possibility that one of the mages leaked the information about magic bestowal that only I can do.
The Director was probably sullen yesterday when Intelligent Glasses-sama came to the research institute because he knew about this.
Moreover since the atmosphere was cold, I think it might be better not to talk any further so I decide to silently concentrate on my work.
After a while Intelligent Glasses-sama must have thought that it was fine for me to work alone and left.
The atmosphere changed at once.
However since I was allocated a rather large amount, I continue working one after the other without talking.
Because I was concentrating on my work, I didn’t notice that the lunch bell had rang. I finally noticed that it was lunch when Intelligent Glasses-sama called out to me.
“Are you not going to the dining hall?”
“Eh?”
I look around when he called out to me and everyone had already moved to the royal palace.
“Is it already lunch time?”
“Yes.”
It’s a bad habit of mine not to notice anything around me while I’m concentrating.
When I tell him that I brought a sandwich here from the research institute, we decide to have lunch together.
The last time when I did magic bestowal here, Intelligent Glasses-sama only talked to me when necessary so I’m worried that lunch is going to be awkward. He is mindful of it and this time we chat a little.
Fortunately Intelligent Glasses-sama and I talk about things related to work so I think it got a bit lively.
If we talk about trendy clothes or sweets, I don’t think I would be able to follow it at all.
I’m sorry I’m not like a woman.
Then as soon as lunch finishes, I return to work.
I work until closing time while taking MP potions in between my breaks. I was able to finish 80% of the requested amount.
It seems that I’ll be able to finish this by tomorrow.
When I sigh in relief, Intelligent Glasses-sama came to check the current situation.
“Have you already finished?”
“Yes.”
When he sees the amount I had bestowed, his eyes open in surprise. He picks up some of the finished items and use appraisal magic on it.
It’s important to check if the magic was bestowed correctly.
There didn’t seem to be any problems with the random items he checked and my work ends for the day.
“You did really well. I’ll rely on you tomorrow too.”
His face soften, it wasn’t just his mouth but also his eyes as well. I’m surprise that he didn’t have his usual emotionless expression.
The surrounding people are also in shock and a commotion occurs.
It’s a bit disappointing that his smile disappeared when the commotion occurred.
The next day, I bestowed some more cores and the Court Mage Division was able to successfully complete the 1st Knight Order’s request.
◊♦◊♦◊♦◊
I knock on the director’s office door.
As soon as I hear a reply from within I say, “Excuse me” and enter. The Director is reading some documents at his desk.
“Excuse me. I want to discuss something with you, do you have any time?”
“I don’t mind, what is it?”
The Director turns away from the documents and looks at me.
There is something that I want so I want to discuss if we are able to order it.
“It is about this. Would you be able to order it?”
I said as I pass the memo to the Director.
The Director reads it and looks dubious.
I thought so.
The things written on the memo have nothing to do with work.
“Honey, sugar and lemon. What on earth are you using it for?”
“I thought about making some sweets.”
“Sweets?”
Yes, the ingredients written on the memo are for making sweets.
Honestly, I was worried about whether or not this world had the ingredients I wanted but I confirmed it with Jude so I thought I should finally make it.
When I was a student I always made sweets at home.
After becoming a working adult, I stopped making them.
“I was thinking about making it for myself so I am planning to pay for it. I thought that I could purchase it together with the food for the dining hall.”
“For yourself? So you’ll be the only one eating it?”
The things I plan to make this time are for myself so I planned on properly paying for the expenses but that wasn’t the part that the Director caught onto.
No, I didn’t plan on eating it by myself, you know?
Do you also want to eat it, Director?
I see.
Well then should I ask the Chef to help me out and make some for the researchers as well?
“If it is like that then the ingredients written on the memo are not enough.”
“Then add the necessary ingredients to the dining hall ordering form and bring it to me.”
“Is that alright? I thought that honey and sugar is expensive?”
“It’s fine.”
“I will only pay for myself, you know?”
“Who said that you’d pay?”
“No way, are you taking it from……”
“There’s no way I’ll do that.”
The Director sighs in amazement.
But Jude told me that sweet ingredients like honey and sugar is precious in this world so it’s really expensive.
I think it’d be quite expensive if we purchased such high-quality food for the researchers as well, you know?
The dining hall has a food budget, right? So it’s impossible to include those ingredients in the budget, right? Therefore it wasn’t strange for me to think that it’d be taken from the research funds.
Ha!
Will the Director personally pay for it?
“Well, you don’t have to worry about it.”
The Director saw that I’m worrying over who was paying for the ingredients, smiles wryly and waves his hands as if telling me to leave.
The ingredients that I asked the Director for arrives a few days later.
Early in the morning on my day off, I go to the corner of the kitchen and begin preparing the ingredients.
Of course it’s difficult for me to make everything for the researchers as well so I cook with the Chef.
Previously when I told him about making sweets he asked me to tell him the recipe so this is perfectly.
Oh yeah at the beginning there was only one Chef at the dining hall but now there are five.
They work in a rotation of three so not all five Chefs are here at once.
The rumour that the research institute’s dining hall has delicious food seems to have spread to the royal palace and they dispatched people here to learn.
In addition to that, since this morning I put in a lot of effort to make sweets with the Chef.
I made simple cookies and pound cakes with honey and lemon.
I only vaguely remember the recipe but it seems that it came together nicely.
I’m glad. That’s good.
The pound cakes that I take out from the oven are nicely baked.
The other Chefs who were preparing lunch also sample it with me. It tastes good.
A nice smell drifted from the oven so the chefs who were preparing lunch kept glancing over here.
They seemed curious so I decided to invite them to sample it with me.
The cake sample tasted perfect so I cool the rest down and cut it up before putting it in a basket. Now it’s ready.
I’ll entrust the rest to the Chef to give to the Director and researchers. My goal today is to go to the 3rd Knight Order barracks. Let’s go!
Yup, is my spirit too high?
If it wasn’t this high then I can’t go!
Today I’m going to the 3rd Knight Order barracks for a certain reason.
I thought about giving my thanks to the Captain.
I’ve been worrying over it ever since Jude told me about the price. I thought it was too much.
Even if the other party favours me, it’s still too much.
Then I got a core from magic bestowal so I used it to make an accessory for him.
I was troubled over various things but I made a necklace.
Since he wields a sword, I thought a ring would be troublesome and I have a feeling that he didn’t have piercings so he couldn’t wear earrings. I thought that necklaces wouldn’t get in the way of anything.
I don’t know which designs were common in this world but I made it into a dog tag so that men can wear it.
I engraved a cross in the middle and embed the core into the middle of that.
I think that it’s an acceptable design.
Still I couldn’t make it by myself so I outsourced it.
The shop was introduced to me by the Director.
He had a frightful smirk on his face though.
It was a little embarrassing just to take the necklace with me so I also brought cookies and the pound cake.
I think that it’s fine just to give him the basket.
I arrive at the Captain’s office.
The Knight standing at the door smiles at me and announces my presence. He didn’t mistake me for a suspicious person.
What does it mean when I haven’t even introduced myself yet and he’s already announced my presence?
I don’t remember sending a messenger from the research institute to tell them I was coming.
It’s probably that, right? I shouldn’t always go horse riding with the Captain.
I know it isn’t good to do so since rumours float about, but it’s hard to refuse him when he invites me so I continue to go horse riding with him.
Uoh……
“Excuse me.”
Soon after bracing myself at the entrance, the Knight opened the door and I enter. The Captain is doing paper work at his desk like usual.
Even if they’re a Knight Order they don’t always train and go on monster subjugations. The people at the top have a lot of paper work to do.
“What’s wrong today?”
“I made some sweets so I came to share them with you.”
As I said the words I prepared in advance, the Captain’s face softens.
Yup, sorry, I can’t look at you directly.
Why?
Please don’t ask me!
When I give the Captain the basket, he takes off the cloth and looks inside.
At first glance it looks like there are only cookies and pound cake inside.
Actually the box containing the necklace is thrusted into the corner. It’s hidden by the cookie so he can’t see it.
“It looks delicious. Let’s hurry up and eat it.”
The Captain confirms that there are cookies and pound cake inside and stands up with the basket.
Did I come when he was taking his break?
I hope I didn’t disturb him.
Well then, I’ve handed over the basket so I suppose I should head back now.
As I think that and try to say my farewells he says to me, “If you don’t mind, would you like to join me?”
No, I want to leave before you notice the necklace inside of the basket……
………………。
I couldn’t win against the smiling face of the Captain……
I give up and sit on the sofa as advised.
…………。
Mhm, why are you sitting next to me?
There are sofas over there too, you know?
Was it weird for me to sit on a three seater sofa? The Captain sat next to me.
I’m perplexed by the distance between us but I didn’t feel the need to run away like before. Did I get used to the distance while horse riding with him?
I’m scared of getting used to it.
I don’t know, it feels like the places I can escape to have been steadily decreasing.
A while later, the tea was brought out and the gentle smell of tea hangs in the air.
The Knight standing at the door seemed to have noticed and requested for a maid.
The amber liquid in front of my eyes was a luxury good that I haven’t drank since coming here.
I take a sip of my drink. The bitter taste was good and it’s very easy to drink.
As expected of tea from the royal palace.
They use good tea leaves, huh?
For some reason the maid brought some plates so I take out the cookies and pound cake from the basket and hand it to the Captain.
Mr. Knight at the entrance, did you notice that I brought sweets with me?
Ah, did you notice from the smell?
“I’m not really good with sweet food but this is delicious.”
“Thank you.”
The Captain seems to favour the mildly sweet cookies. He took a bite of the cookie and smiled.
Of course I’m glad he’s so pleased with it.
When I saw that, I was also caught up in the mood and smile. The Captain looks at me and his smile deepens.
An ikemen’s smile has high attack power.
I feel my face getting a little hot.
No, no, looking at him in the eyes is bad.
“By the way, it’s been bothering me for a while but……”
The Captain takes the necklace box out of the basket while drinking tea after he finished eating.
I choke but I want someone to compliment me because I didn’t spurt out any tea.
I hid it so why did he notice?!
“It feels that this has been bestowed with magic. What is it?”
“Mhmmm ~……”
My eyes wonder about as I try to think of an explanation.
Uoh ーーーーー.
This is useless. I can’t think of anything.
I glance at the Captain and he looks like he’s happily anticipating something while staring at me.
“That is also for you. It is my thanks for the hair ornament.”
I’m making no progress even if I think about it so I answer honestly.
As soon as I told him that, the Captain’s smile becomes wider, he nods and asks, “Can I open it?”
“I went to the Court Mage Division the other day and did magic bestowal. I made that core but……”
It’s painful for me to wait silently for the Captain to open the box, so I told him that I made the core.
As soon as the Captain opens the box and sees what’s inside, his eyes widen.
“The core is bestowed to increase magic resistance. I thought that you could use it when you go out on subjugations.”
I could tell that my face is burning while I’m explaining it to him.
It’s embarrassing so I look away from the Captain and because I was thinking about tomorrow I didn’t notice until it was too late.
I return my gaze when I feel something touch my right hand. The Captain is about to lift my hand.
Even though he didn’t do it in slow motion, I feel as if it was in slow motion.
Looking at the Captain’s eyelashes I carelessly think, “It’s long”. I’m definitely escaping from reality.
I feel it afterwards. A soft feeling touches my fingertips.
The Captain’s feverish look as he releases his lips from my fingertips.
That’s all I remember.
After that I don’t know how I returned to the research institute.
“Magic bestowal?”
“Huh? You didn’t notice?”
It began with a single word from Jude early one afternoon.
Apparently my hair ornament was bestowed with magic.
It was only natural. I’ve never seen things that have been bestowed with magic in Japan, so naturally I didn’t notice.
“Can you tell what kind of effect was attached?”
“I don’t know but I can tell that magic was bestowed to it. It’s reacting to Sei’s magic power.”
“Reacting? You can tell that kind of thing?”
“Yeah, it takes some practice.”
“Really?”
When I ask Jude in detail he told me that you couldn’t find out what magic had been bestowed without using a magic called 『Appraisal』.
There were very few people who could use appraisal magic. There was a big firm in town with some people who could and even within the Court Mage Division there were only a few people who could use it.
By the way if the level of appraisal magic was high enough, it seems that it could be used on people as well.
However, if the person who casts it doesn’t have the consent of the person they are casting it on, it could repel. It would almost always repel if the person it was casted on was high levelled.
And now, magic bestowal.
Magic can be bestowed on things like weapons, armour, accessories, etc.
The core of things like gems are used as a premise for magic bestowal. The magic is embedded into the core and it becomes a magic bestowed tool.
Of course it’s okay to insert the magic embedded core into tools.
The effects of the magic bestowed tool manifest themselves by reacting to the magic of the person in possession of it.
There aren’t many people who could use magic but magic power itself vary greatly and everyone seems to have it.
Therefore those who have trained their magic perception can sense when something has been bestowed with magic.
When Jude was at the Royal Academy he trained his magic perception. It seems his training is still essential when helping out with his family business.
He’s so diligent.
“It sounds interesting, doesn’t it?”
“What does?”
“Magic bestowal.”
“Eh? Don’t tell me you want to try it out?”
“Ara, you understand me well.”
Jude looked subtly disgusted so I smile sweetly at him.
What’s with that face?
I couldn’t bestow magic in Japan so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I want to try it.
“It’s not easy to bestow an item with magic.”
“Really?”
“First of all, the cores are expensive.”
There are various core materials like gems and rare crystals so it seems that even though they’re small they’re quite expensive.
Also since magic is needed to bestow an item with magic, there are only a limited amount of people who can do it.
Therefore there was a huge difference in price between items with that have been bestowed with magic and items that haven’t.
Yes, there was a huge difference.
And this hair ornament was bestowed with magic.
………………。
…………。
……。
“Why’re you making a racket?”
The Director spoke to me as he was walking passed when I was thinking about the price of my hair ornament.
“We are talking about magic bestowal.”
“Magic bestowal?”
“I heard that this hair ornament was bestowed with magic, so I was a little interested in magic bestowal.”
“Oh.”
Director, this is nonchalant, but did you noticed that the hair ornament was bestowed with magic?
Because your eyes shook when I said, “Hair ornament”.
Neither the Director nor Liz told me how much it was but I wonder if this is one of those things that aren’t expensive to aristocrats.
I don’t know if the items at the store front were bestowed with magic but since there’s a huge difference in price they probably weren’t, huh?
If I think like that then I dreaded the price of my hair ornament.
How do I return his gratitude……?
When I was about to hold onto my head again, the Director came up with an unexpected proposal.
“Do you want to try it?”
“Eh?”
“Magic bestowal. You’re interested, right?”
Jude and I were flabbergasted at the Director’s proposal.
Eh? Is it that easy to do?
I look at Jude who was next to me, he was shaking his head side to side as if he knew my intentions.
“I have connections. What do you want to do?”
“I will do it.”
It was a great proposal so I went with it.
I am interested in it.
The place that the Director took me to is the Court Mage Division’s barracks.
Err, we’re bestowing magic right?
Ah, is it because it’s magic?
Since this is the Mage Division, there are a lot of people wearing robes everywhere. The Director and I am a bit out of place.
Now that I think about it that robe… The people who summoned me here were also wearing those robes, right?
I wonder if they participated in the ceremony?
The Court Mage Division’s barracks is quite far from the research institute, so the Director and I rode a carriage here.
It was further than the 3rd Knight Order’s barracks so it would be difficult to walk here.
Because of the Director’s order, Jude is house-sitting.
He said he preferred to work, but was it okay for me to come?
The norm of this world is a mystery.
“Sei, it’s this way.”
“Yes.”
I stand at the entrance of the room and look at the Director, who had entered ahead, he beckons at me.
The room I am in has a workbench like the one at the research institute. The Director stands in the middle of the room, in front of the workbench.
Standing on the other side of the Director at the workbench is a robe wearing man who looks like a Mage.
When I bow and say, “I look forward to working with you” to the nervous looking Mage, he also bows in a rush.
Huh? Is he afraid of something?
“Well then, I will explain about bestowal.”
The Mage smiles a little stiffly and began explaining about bestowal.
Why is he stiff?
Well, it’s not like I can do anything about it even if I worry.
On top of the workbench on the side was a divider box.
It seems that there are a variety of small gems and crystals in the box.
In order to bestowal magic, you have to hold the small core in your hands, think of the effect you want to give and expose it to your magic power.
The magic bestowed depended on the attribute of the person doing the bestowal. For example, if it was someone who used fire attribute magic then it would be bestowed with fire magic; if it was someone who used water attribute magic then it would be bestowed with water magic.
For items which raised offensive and defensive power, commonly referred to as support magic, it was necessary to use holy attribute magic.
There also seems to be compatible materials for the kind of affects you want to bestow. The Mage told me, “If you use support magic then the gems here are recommended”.
“What kind of effects will you bestow?”
“Let’s see……”
What should I do?
Support magic, support magic……
“It is possible to bestow unattributed magic?”
“Unattributed magic……?”
I think about it and suddenly remember about the Salamander that appeared in the West Forest.
It looked like a lizard that blew out fire. I thought it would be impossible to defend against that fire.
After the Mage thinks for a while he said, “It might not be possible to do unattributed magic, but I think you can reduce the magic attribute.”
I see.
Then let’s think of a way to reduce the magic attribute.
“Well, I will do that.”
“Then you probably want the gems around here.”
I receive the core material from the Mage and cover it with both my hands.
Even if I said I covered it, the material itself is only about 3mm in diameter so when I join my hands together you can’t see it at all.
I imagine the effect I want to bestow and expose my magic to it.
If I’m going to do this without fire attribute magic, I wonder if reducing the magic attribute is enough.
If I do that, could I raise magic resistance?
Yep, I think I can do it.
I image it and expose it to my magic power.
*Crack*
………………。
I, it broke?!
Yup, it’s broken.
It’s broken.
The impact runs through my palm and I timidly peak inside. It was just as I had felt, the material had broken in two.
While I was worrying about what to do the Mage asks me, “What is wrong?”
“Mhmmm, it seems that it has broken.”
It couldn’t be helped even if I keep silent, so I timidly told him the truth and show him the broken material. He has a surprise look on his face while exclaiming, “Eh!?”
The Mages all simultaneously look this way when they heard his exclamation.
Eh, what’s with that, it’s scary.
Don’t look over here.
The Mages and the Director stiffen. The Mage looks at my palm and mutter in surprise, “It is broken”.
And while still muttering, the Mage also stiffen.
No, anyone’s fine, so someone do something.
“Did you try to reduce the magic you were bestowing?”
A heavenly voice came from behind me and I turn around. There stood an Intelligent Glasses-sama. He had a familiar pair of blue-grey eyes and silky silver hair.
I instinctively called him, “Sama” because of the cool attitude he had and the heavenly voice that called out to me just now.
Intelligent Glasses-sama ignores me and picks up the material in my palm. He closely examines it.
“Are you really just reducing the magic attribute?”
“Ah, no……”
He glances at me coldly and I spontaneously straighten my back.
The feeling was like that of a student and teacher.
“What did you try to bestow?”
“Mhm, well…… I thought that raising the magic resistance would have nothing to do with the magic attribute, so I……”
“Then this material would be insufficient.”
Intelligent Glasses-sama said as he chooses a different material from the box on top of the table.
He chose a black gem around 5 to 6 mm in diameter.
It was twice as big as the gem from before. Am I allowed to use materials of this size?
A gem this big must be really expensive, right?
I look at the Mage, who’s also surprised.
The Director was surprised too.
“Is it okay?”
I ask while comparing Intelligent Glasses-sama’s face with the materials. He nods and presents the materials before my eyes.
I receive it and just like before, I wrap my hands around it. I pray for the magic resistance to rise and expose it to my magic.
The materials instantly heated up before settling.
Was it successful?
I timidly open up my hands and this time it wasn’t broken. The materials were still in one piece.
Since the material looks the same, I’m uncertain if it actually succeeded.
I stare at the material and Intelligent Glasses-sama picks up the material in my palm just like before.
“『Appraisal』”
The magic that he quietly chanted was one that few people could use, appraisal magic.
I heard that only a few people at the Court Mage Division could use it and Intelligent Glasses—sama seems to be one of them.
As expected of him.
After he spoke with his heavenly voice. Intelligent Glasses-sama’s expressionless face was like a Noh mask and then the corners of his mouth rise a little.
His faint smile quickly disappears and his face is like a Noh mask again then he said, “It was successful”.
Hearing that, the surrounding Mages cheers.
That’s good, I was successful this time.
I, who was feeling relieved, was presented with another material.
The one holding it was of course, Intelligent Glasses-sama. I tilt my head in confusion and he said, “Next is……”
Eh, we’re continuing?
For the time being, I receive the material. It’s as big as the first material I used.
“Poison resistance.”
“Yes.”
He said in a voice that I couldn’t refuse so I nod my head.
This time I’ll bestow it with the effect that he told me to.
Intelligent Glasses-sama’s judgement was correct. The magic bestowal finished without the gem breaking.
When I finish bestowing magic, I open my palm and Intelligent Glasses-sama picks up the finished core and uses appraisal magic on it.
The bestowment must have been completed without a hitch because he nods in satisfaction and presents the next material to me.
I take the gem and he frankly told me what effects he wanted.
I obediently bestow it with the effects he wanted. I must have done well because Intelligent Glasses-sama hands me materials one after another in the same way.
Thus I continue to bestow magic effects one after another.
He casted appraisal magic on the cores I bestowed with magic and confirmed that the effects were all bestowed correctly.
We continued this routine work the whole time.
Well, magic bestowal didn’t take up that much time, you know.
What are you going to do with all these?
He initially told me to bestow them with poison resistance and different types of magic resistance and before I knew it he mixed in poison nullification and paralysis nullification. It ended with adding two effects simultaneously.
My MP was exhausted while I was bestowing magic and when they had noticed, someone placed an intermediate MP potions in front of me.
It seems that the Mage who was watching this series of actions, gave me the MP potions.
Five of them……
It was a really good amount of MP potions but I drank them all.
While taking a break.
Well, since potions don’t accumulate in my stomach I can drink as many as I want without worrying.
Even so, there was quite a few of them.
Yes.
There was someone waiting next to me holding the next material while I was drinking.
I was chugging it down, you know. I was chugging it down.
“How long am I going to continue doing this?”
After bestowing some gems with magic, I thought I should head back to the research institute and called out to Intelligent Glasses-sama.
The magic bestowed cores were carried to him like a conveyor belt and were all beautifully lined up in front of him.
Intelligent Glasses-sama looked at the number of cores and nodded his head before moving. He went to a locked shelf by the wall and took out a large material from the shelf.
It was a transparent stone over 1 cm in diameter.
It’s not a diamond, right?
The size of the material presented to me made the surrounding Mages gulp.
Director, your mouth is open, you know?
“This is the last of it. I want; abnormal status nullification, magic nullification and attack nullification.”
Eh? Three of them?
Moreover they’re all nullification?
I was surprised when he told me and all the surrounding Mages were also surprised.
I wanted to tell them that if they opened their eyes that big their eyes would fall out, you know?
For the time being I think about whether I could do as I’m told, but it’s unlikely that both magic nullification and attack nullification would be compatible.
Well, if it was magic and attack resistance I could probably bestowal all three onto the jewel.
“It is unlikely that both magic nullification and attack nullification would be compatible. But I could probably raise magic and attack resistance.”
“I see. Let’s do that.”
I was told that my proposal was okay so I went ahead and bestow it with abnormal status nullification, magic resistance and attack resistance.
The heat in my palms is higher than before and it took a long time to cool but it seems that I was successful.
When I gave the completed core to Intelligent Glasses-sama. He cast appraisal onto it and confirm that the magic bestowal was successful.
The corners of his mouth raised up a little, so it seems that I was able to bestow it just like he told me to.
The Mages who gulped and watched me bestow magic, instantly cause a ruckus.
I sigh in relief and said to the Director, “Thank you”.
Yeah, I was feeling more tensed than usual and I’m a bit tired now.
I want to return to the research institute soon to have a cup of tea.
“Today’s reward.”
When the Director and I tried to leave the Mage Division’s noisy barracks, Intelligent Glasses-sama gave me a black stone.
It’s the stone that I first bestowed with magic resistance.
Reward…… If this was for sale then it’ll be really expensive, right?
Is it fine?
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t mind. You worked quite a bit today.”
“Is that so?”
He said it was fine so I receive it, gratefully.
I have a feeling the gem in my palm momentary flashed.
◊♦◊♦◊♦◊
It has been one week since I performed magic bestowal at the Court Mage Division.
I heard from a researcher that the Captain called for me and when I went to the Director’s room an unexpected person was there.
It was Intelligent Glasses-sama.
“…… Excuse me.”
“Have a seat, Sei.”
The Director urged me to sit next to him and told me the reason why I was called.
It seems that a few days ago someone leaked out that there was a large amount of magic bestowed cores at the Court Mage Division. The knights who heard this asked for the cores.
The cores they asked for was of course the magic bestowed cores.
Therein lies the problem. They also heard that the current Court Mage Division couldn’t make the cores that the knights wanted.
If the mages couldn’t make it then it was okay to refuse but because the real thing was at the Court Mage Division, they couldn’t refuse.
Yup, I’m the ones who created the cores at the Court Mage Division.
It was one of the many cores I made a week ago.
It seems that Intelligent Glasses-sama refused at first.
Somehow the knights knew that the real thing was at the Court Mage Division and didn’t believe that the mages couldn’t make it.
In this country, the Court Mage Division was a place where the most excellent mages gathered so the cores weren’t purchased from the outside.
If the Court Mages couldn’t make the core then there was no way that people working at ordinary shops could.
Since things were stalled between the knights and the mages, Intelligent Glasses-sama came to the research institute to ask if I, the creator, could help him.
“I know I can’t ask this of you but could you lend me a hand?”
“I do not mind, but……?”
I was the one who originally wanted to bestow magic at the Court Mage Division, because of that something like this happened so I didn’t mind helping out. But since I’m a member of the research institute it’s important to get the Director’s approval, right?
Ah, he might say it’s alright if it’s after work hours?
I glance at the Director. Intelligent Glasses-sama notices me doing so, also glances at the Director.
“Just this once. Of course we’ll be receiving compensation for it.”
“Thank you.”
Intelligent Glasses-sama remained emotionless like usual but unlike the time when we met at the Court Mage Division, I think that he looks really apologetic because he’s looking down casted.
After that the Director and Intelligent Glasses-sama talk and it’s decided that starting from tomorrow, I will be working at the Court Mage Division.
The next morning when I finish my preparations and left, a carriage from the Court Mage Division arrives.
According to the Director, it seems that Intelligent Glasses-sama prepared it.
It seems that the carriage will be picking me up and dropping me off every day until I finish production.
This is really helpful since the Court Mage Division is very far.
When the carriage moved towards the Court Mage Division, Intelligent Glasses-sama waits at the entrance, especially for me.
“Good morning.”
“You have a lot of luggage with you.”
He said after our rushed greetings. I look at the box in my hands and proudly point out.
“These are MP potions. It is better if I have them, right?”
It seems that Intelligent Glasses-sama agrees with what I said. He nods and takes the box from me.
“Ah, I can carry it by myself?”
“There’s no need for a woman to carry heavy things.”
It wasn’t that heavy. He quickly enters the building after he takes the box from me.
I trot after him.
Then when I enter the same room that I performed magic bestowal in, the mages were already bestowing magic inside.
“Huh? Does the Court Mage Division start earlier than the research institute?”
“Nope.”
I was planning to arrive at the Court Mage Division’s barracks before they started work but when I arrive the Mages are already rushing around and working.
According to Intelligent Glasses-sama, work starts at the same time for both the research institute and the Court Mage Division but they received a lot of requests from the Knight Order so they’ve been working since early morning.
I ask if I should come to work earlier starting from tomorrow, but they were the ones who asked me to do this so they tell me that it’s alright for me to arrive at the same time as today.
“Is the deadline soon?”
“We were told to have it done in time for the next subjugation.”
When I asked out of concern, I found out that the deadline was too short for the amount of items requested.
I was scared when I saw a vein pop out of Intelligent Glasses-sama’s temple so I pretend not to see it.
The place where I was working was the inner most part of the room.
The preparations had already been prepared by another Mage and the box with the cores is sitting on the work bench.
I place the box with the MP potions at my feet and immediately start bestowing magic.
At first I wait and see and Intelligent Glasses-sama is standing next to me.
“Is the request from the 3rd Knight Order?”
“No…… It’s from the 1st Knight Order.”
I got used to it after a few times since I only had to bestow one type of magic so it wasn’t a problem for me to bestow magic and talk at the same time.
I think there are people who work silently because it’s work but there’s a person standing next to me so it’s a little bit awkward. There was something that I was curious about so I thought I’d ask.
The Director and Intelligent Glasses-sama only said that it was a request from the Knight Order so I’m a bit curious about who put in the request.
I glance sideways at Intelligent Glasses-sama since it was a Knight Order that I had no relations to and he has a sour look on his face.
Is he on bad terms with that Knight Order?
“Sorry. I’ve been ordered to remain silent about this but it might have leaked out somehow.”
He muttered in a low voice as if he was crawling on the ground and chills run down my back.
It seems that I wasn’t the only one. The other Mages also look pale.
I feel the temperature dropping but it’s just my imagination, right?
“No, it might have also been leaked by someone in the research institute since there are researchers who know that I performed magic bestowal here.”
“Do they also know what you bestowed?”
“Ah, no they did not……”
I tried to change the cold atmosphere but it backfired.
I only talked about magic bestowal with Jude so I said something like that. The Director forbade me from talking about the kind of bestowal I did, so only the Director and I know about it.
In that case there was a high possibility that one of the mages leaked the information about magic bestowal that only I can do.
The Director was probably sullen yesterday when Intelligent Glasses-sama came to the research institute because he knew about this.
Moreover since the atmosphere was cold, I think it might be better not to talk any further so I decide to silently concentrate on my work.
After a while Intelligent Glasses-sama must have thought that it was fine for me to work alone and left.
The atmosphere changed at once.
However since I was allocated a rather large amount, I continue working one after the other without talking.
Because I was concentrating on my work, I didn’t notice that the lunch bell had rang. I finally noticed that it was lunch when Intelligent Glasses-sama called out to me.
“Are you not going to the dining hall?”
“Eh?”
I look around when he called out to me and everyone had already moved to the royal palace.
“Is it already lunch time?”
“Yes.”
It’s a bad habit of mine not to notice anything around me while I’m concentrating.
When I tell him that I brought a sandwich here from the research institute, we decide to have lunch together.
The last time when I did magic bestowal here, Intelligent Glasses-sama only talked to me when necessary so I’m worried that lunch is going to be awkward. He is mindful of it and this time we chat a little.
Fortunately Intelligent Glasses-sama and I talk about things related to work so I think it got a bit lively.
If we talk about trendy clothes or sweets, I don’t think I would be able to follow it at all.
I’m sorry I’m not like a woman.
Then as soon as lunch finishes, I return to work.
I work until closing time while taking MP potions in between my breaks. I was able to finish 80% of the requested amount.
It seems that I’ll be able to finish this by tomorrow.
When I sigh in relief, Intelligent Glasses-sama came to check the current situation.
“Have you already finished?”
“Yes.”
When he sees the amount I had bestowed, his eyes open in surprise. He picks up some of the finished items and use appraisal magic on it.
It’s important to check if the magic was bestowed correctly.
There didn’t seem to be any problems with the random items he checked and my work ends for the day.
“You did really well. I’ll rely on you tomorrow too.”
His face soften, it wasn’t just his mouth but also his eyes as well. I’m surprise that he didn’t have his usual emotionless expression.
The surrounding people are also in shock and a commotion occurs.
It’s a bit disappointing that his smile disappeared when the commotion occurred.
The next day, I bestowed some more cores and the Court Mage Division was able to successfully complete the 1st Knight Order’s request.
◊♦◊♦◊♦◊
I knock on the director’s office door.
As soon as I hear a reply from within I say, “Excuse me” and enter. The Director is reading some documents at his desk.
“Excuse me. I want to discuss something with you, do you have any time?”
“I don’t mind, what is it?”
The Director turns away from the documents and looks at me.
There is something that I want so I want to discuss if we are able to order it.
“It is about this. Would you be able to order it?”
I said as I pass the memo to the Director.
The Director reads it and looks dubious.
I thought so.
The things written on the memo have nothing to do with work.
“Honey, sugar and lemon. What on earth are you using it for?”
“I thought about making some sweets.”
“Sweets?”
Yes, the ingredients written on the memo are for making sweets.
Honestly, I was worried about whether or not this world had the ingredients I wanted but I confirmed it with Jude so I thought I should finally make it.
When I was a student I always made sweets at home.
After becoming a working adult, I stopped making them.
“I was thinking about making it for myself so I am planning to pay for it. I thought that I could purchase it together with the food for the dining hall.”
“For yourself? So you’ll be the only one eating it?”
The things I plan to make this time are for myself so I planned on properly paying for the expenses but that wasn’t the part that the Director caught onto.
No, I didn’t plan on eating it by myself, you know?
Do you also want to eat it, Director?
I see.
Well then should I ask the Chef to help me out and make some for the researchers as well?
“If it is like that then the ingredients written on the memo are not enough.”
“Then add the necessary ingredients to the dining hall ordering form and bring it to me.”
“Is that alright? I thought that honey and sugar is expensive?”
“It’s fine.”
“I will only pay for myself, you know?”
“Who said that you’d pay?”
“No way, are you taking it from……”
“There’s no way I’ll do that.”
The Director sighs in amazement.
But Jude told me that sweet ingredients like honey and sugar is precious in this world so it’s really expensive.
I think it’d be quite expensive if we purchased such high-quality food for the researchers as well, you know?
The dining hall has a food budget, right? So it’s impossible to include those ingredients in the budget, right? Therefore it wasn’t strange for me to think that it’d be taken from the research funds.
Ha!
Will the Director personally pay for it?
“Well, you don’t have to worry about it.”
The Director saw that I’m worrying over who was paying for the ingredients, smiles wryly and waves his hands as if telling me to leave.
The ingredients that I asked the Director for arrives a few days later.
Early in the morning on my day off, I go to the corner of the kitchen and begin preparing the ingredients.
Of course it’s difficult for me to make everything for the researchers as well so I cook with the Chef.
Previously when I told him about making sweets he asked me to tell him the recipe so this is perfectly.
Oh yeah at the beginning there was only one Chef at the dining hall but now there are five.
They work in a rotation of three so not all five Chefs are here at once.
The rumour that the research institute’s dining hall has delicious food seems to have spread to the royal palace and they dispatched people here to learn.
In addition to that, since this morning I put in a lot of effort to make sweets with the Chef.
I made simple cookies and pound cakes with honey and lemon.
I only vaguely remember the recipe but it seems that it came together nicely.
I’m glad. That’s good.
The pound cakes that I take out from the oven are nicely baked.
The other Chefs who were preparing lunch also sample it with me. It tastes good.
A nice smell drifted from the oven so the chefs who were preparing lunch kept glancing over here.
They seemed curious so I decided to invite them to sample it with me.
The cake sample tasted perfect so I cool the rest down and cut it up before putting it in a basket. Now it’s ready.
I’ll entrust the rest to the Chef to give to the Director and researchers. My goal today is to go to the 3rd Knight Order barracks. Let’s go!
Yup, is my spirit too high?
If it wasn’t this high then I can’t go!
Today I’m going to the 3rd Knight Order barracks for a certain reason.
I thought about giving my thanks to the Captain.
I’ve been worrying over it ever since Jude told me about the price. I thought it was too much.
Even if the other party favours me, it’s still too much.
Then I got a core from magic bestowal so I used it to make an accessory for him.
I was troubled over various things but I made a necklace.
Since he wields a sword, I thought a ring would be troublesome and I have a feeling that he didn’t have piercings so he couldn’t wear earrings. I thought that necklaces wouldn’t get in the way of anything.
I don’t know which designs were common in this world but I made it into a dog tag so that men can wear it.
I engraved a cross in the middle and embed the core into the middle of that.
I think that it’s an acceptable design.
Still I couldn’t make it by myself so I outsourced it.
The shop was introduced to me by the Director.
He had a frightful smirk on his face though.
It was a little embarrassing just to take the necklace with me so I also brought cookies and the pound cake.
I think that it’s fine just to give him the basket.
I arrive at the Captain’s office.
The Knight standing at the door smiles at me and announces my presence. He didn’t mistake me for a suspicious person.
What does it mean when I haven’t even introduced myself yet and he’s already announced my presence?
I don’t remember sending a messenger from the research institute to tell them I was coming.
It’s probably that, right? I shouldn’t always go horse riding with the Captain.
I know it isn’t good to do so since rumours float about, but it’s hard to refuse him when he invites me so I continue to go horse riding with him.
Uoh……
“Excuse me.”
Soon after bracing myself at the entrance, the Knight opened the door and I enter. The Captain is doing paper work at his desk like usual.
Even if they’re a Knight Order they don’t always train and go on monster subjugations. The people at the top have a lot of paper work to do.
“What’s wrong today?”
“I made some sweets so I came to share them with you.”
As I said the words I prepared in advance, the Captain’s face softens.
Yup, sorry, I can’t look at you directly.
Why?
Please don’t ask me!
When I give the Captain the basket, he takes off the cloth and looks inside.
At first glance it looks like there are only cookies and pound cake inside.
Actually the box containing the necklace is thrusted into the corner. It’s hidden by the cookie so he can’t see it.
“It looks delicious. Let’s hurry up and eat it.”
The Captain confirms that there are cookies and pound cake inside and stands up with the basket.
Did I come when he was taking his break?
I hope I didn’t disturb him.
Well then, I’ve handed over the basket so I suppose I should head back now.
As I think that and try to say my farewells he says to me, “If you don’t mind, would you like to join me?”
No, I want to leave before you notice the necklace inside of the basket……
………………。
I couldn’t win against the smiling face of the Captain……
I give up and sit on the sofa as advised.
…………。
Mhm, why are you sitting next to me?
There are sofas over there too, you know?
Was it weird for me to sit on a three seater sofa? The Captain sat next to me.
I’m perplexed by the distance between us but I didn’t feel the need to run away like before. Did I get used to the distance while horse riding with him?
I’m scared of getting used to it.
I don’t know, it feels like the places I can escape to have been steadily decreasing.
A while later, the tea was brought out and the gentle smell of tea hangs in the air.
The Knight standing at the door seemed to have noticed and requested for a maid.
The amber liquid in front of my eyes was a luxury good that I haven’t drank since coming here.
I take a sip of my drink. The bitter taste was good and it’s very easy to drink.
As expected of tea from the royal palace.
They use good tea leaves, huh?
For some reason the maid brought some plates so I take out the cookies and pound cake from the basket and hand it to the Captain.
Mr. Knight at the entrance, did you notice that I brought sweets with me?
Ah, did you notice from the smell?
“I’m not really good with sweet food but this is delicious.”
“Thank you.”
The Captain seems to favour the mildly sweet cookies. He took a bite of the cookie and smiled.
Of course I’m glad he’s so pleased with it.
When I saw that, I was also caught up in the mood and smile. The Captain looks at me and his smile deepens.
An ikemen’s smile has high attack power.
I feel my face getting a little hot.
No, no, looking at him in the eyes is bad.
“By the way, it’s been bothering me for a while but……”
The Captain takes the necklace box out of the basket while drinking tea after he finished eating.
I choke but I want someone to compliment me because I didn’t spurt out any tea.
I hid it so why did he notice?!
“It feels that this has been bestowed with magic. What is it?”
“Mhmmm ~……”
My eyes wonder about as I try to think of an explanation.
Uoh ーーーーー.
This is useless. I can’t think of anything.
I glance at the Captain and he looks like he’s happily anticipating something while staring at me.
“That is also for you. It is my thanks for the hair ornament.”
I’m making no progress even if I think about it so I answer honestly.
As soon as I told him that, the Captain’s smile becomes wider, he nods and asks, “Can I open it?”
“I went to the Court Mage Division the other day and did magic bestowal. I made that core but……”
It’s painful for me to wait silently for the Captain to open the box, so I told him that I made the core.
As soon as the Captain opens the box and sees what’s inside, his eyes widen.
“The core is bestowed to increase magic resistance. I thought that you could use it when you go out on subjugations.”
I could tell that my face is burning while I’m explaining it to him.
It’s embarrassing so I look away from the Captain and because I was thinking about tomorrow I didn’t notice until it was too late.
I return my gaze when I feel something touch my right hand. The Captain is about to lift my hand.
Even though he didn’t do it in slow motion, I feel as if it was in slow motion.
Looking at the Captain’s eyelashes I carelessly think, “It’s long”. I’m definitely escaping from reality.
I feel it afterwards. A soft feeling touches my fingertips.
The Captain’s feverish look as he releases his lips from my fingertips.
That’s all I remember.
After that I don’t know how I returned to the research institute.
