There are only two days left until the Sacred Tree Festival. We’re planning to leave the day before it starts, so we’ll be heading to the Elf Forest tomorrow.
The Elven Forest is said to be an incredibly lush place, and since this will be my first time leaving Symphonia’s royal capital, I’m really looking forward to the trip.
I also managed to get Kuro to teach me some new magic—specifically, a form of self-defense I’ve been thinking about for a while. So, I should be able to protect myself if the need arises… right?
[Unnn. I think it’s starting to take shape, but… Kaito-kun, using this magic too much is not a good idea, okay? It puts a heavy burden on your body. Well, I guess you’re already starting to feel that now…]
[…My whole body hurts.]
[See? I’ll cast Recovery Magic on you, so just stay still.]
After learning the new magic, I ended up lying on the floor, my body aching from muscle pain. Seeing me like that, Kuro gave a wry smile before casting Recovery Magic on me.
A warm light enveloped my body, and the numbing pain slowly eased.
The magic Kuro taught me is a combat-oriented Magic that utilizes my Sympathy Magic, but it also comes with a backlash. Since I don’t have that much magic power, I can’t use it for long periods, so it’s really something I can only rely on in emergencies.
However, it does meet the needs I had in mind, and it’s had some fairly interesting effects… Well, I just hope I won’t have to use it too much.
[By the way, Kuro, there’s something I wanted to ask.]
[Unnn?]
[Is there a magic tool in this world that acts like a machine from my world called a calculator?]
[Kalkulator? What kind of teknolojikal mashin is that?]
It seems that calculators haven’t been passed down by the previous people who held the role of Hero, so I started explaining what a calculator is to Kuro.
For a moment, I wondered why they had passed down things like mayonnaise but not a calculator. But then I realized—it never occurred to me until I saw Lilia-san struggling with her calculations.
The reason is that as soon as I came to this world, I entrusted my technological items to them. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had the preconceived notion that technological items wouldn’t work here, and I didn’t think it would be possible to recreate such things using magic tools because I didn’t know magic tools could be individually crafted.
The previous Heroes probably shared the same assumptions. Most importantly, I’ve heard that, unlike me, the current Hero is quite busy. They travel around the world giving speeches year-round, so they’d be more focused on food and clothing during their travels. Considering the books and entertainment they might encounter, I think it would be nearly impossible for them to get involved in anything related to accounting.
Thinking about all this, I told Kuro about the calculator and asked her if something similar existed here. If not, I asked if it was possible to recreate it.
[……Is that something Kaito-kun thought of?]
[Eh? No, it was just a common tool back in my world.]
[……………………]
After hearing my explanation, Kuro looked surprised at first, then put her hand on her chin and thought for a while.
[……I think it can be recreated. However, it’s something I never thought about. It’s true that if you record the formula, you could calculate in an instant, but…]
[But?]
[I didn’t think about that at all. Magic and mathematics are two different things, and the idea of using magic to assist with calculations never crossed my mind. Now that you mention it, I’m just wondering why I didn’t think of it before.]
Now that she mentioned it, I think I can somewhat understand.
The technological machines we use back in our world… were products of science, and in a sense, they were inherently tied to mathematics from the start.
However, the magic in this world is entirely separate from science, and it seems they’ve never thought to connect it with mathematics.
In that sense, the person who first invented the calculator and computers must have been a real genius…
Kuro fell silent again for a while, then took out a piece of paper and a pen, beginning to write something on it.
Once she was done, her black coat spread out like a curtain, and she called out to it.
[Sechs, you there?]
[What’s the matter? Oya? Isn’t this Miyama-dono? It’s been a while.]
[It’s been a long time, Sechs-san.]
From behind her coat, Sechs-san appeared, wearing a mask that looked like something a tribe might use in a ritual. Even though we had met before, I was still surprised when a bony hand reached out.
As I recall from what I heard when I first met him, he usually wears the ceremonial mask to distinguish himself from other liches.
It certainly makes him stand out, though it does give off a carnival vibe. Well, if that’s his personal style, I won’t interfere.
After exchanging a brief greeting with Sechs-san, Kuro handed him the piece of paper she had just written on.
[This is a magic tool that Kaito-kun came up with, and I’ve written down the technique needed to create it…]
[…This is… quite a brilliant idea!]
No, that’s not really my idea. I just gave her the details of a tool I had been using back in my previous world…
[What do you think?]
[……This would start a revolution.]
[Can we start mass production?]
[Yes, as expected of Kuromu-sama. With this technique, we could make it fairly cheap.]
Errr, what the heck is happening? I feel like the situation is spiraling out of control.
As for me, I was just hoping I could get Kuro to make a calculator-like magic tool and give it to Lilia-san, but Kuro and Sechs-san’s reactions seem… unusual.
[Kaito-kun. Can I make and sell this kalkulator at my company?]
[Eh? Ah, yeah. I don’t really mind… or rather, it’s not like I invented it.]
Kuro asked me with a somewhat serious expression, and I replied that it was obviously fine with me.
She nodded once and then turned to Sechs-san.
[Thank you. Then, Sechs.]
[Yes, regarding Miyama-dono’s right… How about “half of the net profit” from this magic tool?]
[……Huh?]
Arehh? The flow of the conversation somehow took a strange turn. Half of the net profit? Does that mean I’m getting paid?
[Basically, you’ll be paid on a monthly basis.]
[Eh, no, could you please wait a sec!? I’m telling you, this isn’t something I invented. It’s something that came from my previous world…]
[That might be so. But in this world, Kaito-kun is the one who invented it.]
[Huh?]
W-What should I do? So, in short, this means I’m the one who holds the patent rights for the calculator, right…? Patents are supposed to bring in huge amounts of money, aren’t they?
No, it’s not that I wouldn’t mind getting paid… but I’m only going to be in this world for a year, and honestly, I’m not even sure I can spend all the money Lilia-san gave me… Lilia-san? Ah, I can do that.
[For example, would it be fine if I were to hand over the rights to Lilia-san… or to Duchess Albert?]
[Yes, of course, that’s fine. What you do with your rights is up to you, Miyama-dono. But if you want to go down this route, I think it’d be better to involve Duchess Albert in this conversation as well.]
[You’re right. Ah, that’s right. Sechs, you’re going to visit Lilia-chan next time, right? Why don’t you bring Kaito-kun into the discussion then?]
[Fumu, that could work… For now, let’s focus on making this magic tool and see it in action.]
[Ah, that would be great.]
It seems like it’s settled that they’ll make a calculator (temp) for me, which should make Lilia-san’s job a lot easier.
To be honest, I just need enough money to enjoy my time in this world, and if Lilia-san doesn’t mind it, I’m perfectly fine with handing over all the rights to her.
Dear Mom, Dad—when I talked about getting Kuro to make me a calculator, we ended up discussing rights and all that, and the situation has grown larger than I expected. The bottom line is, if we do make a calculator in this world—It seems that I will be its patent holder.
The sound of the pen echoing in the quiet office stopped, and Lilia lifted her gaze from the documents she had been looking at.
[……What in the world was that? I swear I just felt a horrible chill run down my spine…]
Her face turned slightly pale as she muttered. That unsettling premonition wouldn’t come to pass for a few days yet…
<Author’s Notes>
The protagonist has begun to attack the economy as well…… What would happen in the Duchess’s future!?
It’s finally the Sacred Tree Festival, go check it next time!
T/N: 8/13…