The sight of Diana imitating twinkling stars with her hands was very cute, but the Duchess couldn’t help but smile. Just as her young child felt favored at first sight, it was clear that Ascarte would also be attracted to Askart’s goodness and kindness.
“What? Ascarte wouldn’t know what Lia is…”
At that time, Allen, who was about to bluntly refute Diana’s words, stopped.
“But… It seems a bit like that when I smile.”
The Duchess asked, surprised by those words.
“Allen. When Lia smiles, does she seem to sparkle?”
“Well, not often, but sometimes? And if I don’t see her, I worry about where she is and keep looking for her.”
As soon as Allen finished speaking, Taise, who was escorting her next to her, glanced at Jack, who had recently become her son. Jack didn’t seem to want to show his expression, but his slightly shaking pupils and tense jaw clearly showed that he was embarrassed. Then Allen added some words.
“I think it’s because she’s Diana’s favorite maid! Right?”
“…”
“…”
In contrast to Allen’s confident voice, as if he was sure of the correct answer, the atmosphere around her sank into an awkward atmosphere. That was when Allen tilted his head and wondered.
“Right.”
Allen smiled brightly with excitement at the affirmation of her older brother, whom she always thought was the smartest person in the world. As Allen’s smile deepened, the Duchess’s eyes turned towards Lucio with a hint of incredulity.
“It’s my sister!”
Diana shouted. Everyone turned their heads to see Ascarte and Lia walking, holding hands affectionately.
“Sister, I missed you!”
“Miss, me too!”
The Duchess breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Lia immediately letting go of Ascarte’s hand and running towards her, but a part of her heart was still pounding.
“Hello, Duchess. Long time no see.”
In the meantime, Ascarte, who was greeting her politely, was shining brightly as if there was a halo shining from behind. As the Duchess had been staying at the estate continuously, it was her first time seeing Ascarte when she was very young. It was then that she received her warm greeting and asked after the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess.
“How come your luggage has increased? What is that again?”
Allen was away for a few hours, she asked Leah, who was circling with Diana and sharing her afterlife. It wasn’t that she wasn’t, but she was already holding a pocket full of accessories she had scavenged from her stall when she entered her academy. She was holding a thin, off-white paper bag in her arms as if it were an even more precious treasure… Allen, who was pouting his lips as he looked at Lia, who was just smiling even when she asked her, asked subtly.
“Tell me honestly. Did you regret going to the library? It was really boring, wasn’t it?”
“No, I really, really had fun!”
Lia, who answered her question immediately, looked up at Ascarte with her sparkling eyes.
“It was so good that I thought several times that it was a good thing I came to the academy today. It was really great.”
At that moment, Lucio’s expression instantly distorted.
* * *
A few hours ago.
“Grand Duke, then please solve this problem!”
Ascarte looked surprised at the words he shouted as if he had been waiting. But even then, he said, “Anything I can do to help.” He smiled leisurely. And Ascarte, who had been listening to her explanation for a long time, spoke.
“Therefore… You’re saying I only have to infuse mana into certain items?”
“Yes! And it shouldn’t affect the surrounding area.”
The reason I requested Ascarte’s help was none other than the research on Splessia cultivation, which the members and wizards of the Duke of Elad are currently putting their lives at risk. In fact, not long ago, when I met Viscount Bardot and the head wizard Thelin and learned about the progress of Splessia’s research, I was greatly embarrassed. Since I had a conversation with Viscount Bardot earlier, I expected that Splessia’s efficacy was not even being properly cultivated, let alone studied, but… Because I didn’t know there would be this much progress. Splessia was just brought to the Mana Greenhouse in the same form as the weed when I discovered it. It seemed like raising them properly was the priority so they couldn’t even think about doing any other research. When Splessia is fully grown, light pink flowers bloom, and the flowers, leaves, stems, and roots can all be dried and used as medicine. But knowing such details as I lived at the orphanage was still strange. After thinking about it, I lightly hinted to Viscount Bardot that it was effective when I chewed the leaves or roots as is. In the end, despite regretting it, the Viscount took off some of his leaves for study. Next it was the wizards’ turn. The biggest reason why cultivation research is currently blocked is because it has not been possible to solve the problem of bringing ‘warm energy’ into the cold, frozen ground. At first, the wizards thought this was simple and placed an artifact to control the temperature, but if they warmed up the frozen ground from the beginning, it would no longer be cold, so the basic requirement was eliminated. In the end, I learned that injecting warm mana was the solution, but that was the beginning of the difficulties. Mana had to be injected into the roots, not the ground, and it was difficult to design new magic circles and artifacts that could make such detailed adjustments. I hinted at the possibility of injecting mana directly into the ground like I had done in the past, but he shook his head, saying it was impossible for any wizard to manipulate his mana like that without a calculated magic circle.
‘So I thought about going out and seeing it myself…’
If I did that, not only would my abilities be revealed, but I might also have to stay confined to the greenhouse from now on. In the end, it was concluded that it was right to develop magic circles and artifacts for long-term cultivation. However, I only knew how to manipulate mana directly, but I was virtually illiterate in the field of magic circles and artifacts. I started studying at the library late, but I only felt more disconnected from what I originally knew, and I was just realizing the limitations of self-study. Meanwhile, my eyes widened when Ascart of the Principality of Belus, who was skilled in magic, offered to help.
“It’s a little tricky, but it’s not impossible.”
At that time, Ascarte explained in a tone that it was no big deal. Simple artifacts are designed by engraving a gin containing simple magic formulas and infusing them with magic stones or magical energy, but it is also said that higher-level artifacts are made taking these difficult conditions into consideration. As expected, it was an explanation befitting the Grand Duke of the Principality of Belus, where artifacts are commercially available to ordinary citizens.
“Well, then what should I do to create the artifact I described using this magic circle?”
“Well, you want to maintain the surrounding temperature and inject only warm mana.”
When I showed him the magic circle I had been thinking about while reading the book for the past few days, Ascarte immediately got the point right away. He already had a dazzling appearance, but for a moment it seemed like a halo was shining behind him.
* * *
Ascarte Bellus, this man was a true genius. I kept glancing at him and left the library. They say the fireworks will start soon, and Askart said he would take them to his group. I wasn’t able to visit the library at all because I was busy making magic circles for artifacts for Splessia, but I had no regrets at all.
‘How much can I convert this into money?’
I shook my head as I thought about the magic circle Ascarte had completed that I was holding in my arms. Money. Its value cannot simply be calculated in money. At first, I thought it was unbecoming and ostentatious, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like the magic level of the Principality of Belus was incomparable to that of the Empire, just as Askart had said.
‘Perhaps my curiosity about the magic I learned or the Master could be answered in the Principality of Belus…’
“Tell me honestly. Did you regret going to the library? It was really boring, wasn’t it?”
Allen, whom I met again then, asked me.
“No, I really had fun! “It was so good that I thought several times that it was a good thing I came to the academy today.”
I can’t believe that the basis for the business was easily prepared and even the problem I was struggling with was solved like this. It was no exaggeration to say that it was the best day. But as soon as I finished answering, not only Allen but also the Duchess looked at me with a shocked expression.
“Ma’am, I’ll just go back now.”
Then Ascarte spoke to the Duchess. Ascarte, who made eye contact with Allen and Diana and greeted them affectionately, looked at me one last time.
“Lia, it was really nice to meet you today. See you again. Don’t forget what I said.”
After a quick nod, he gently rolled his eyes and turned around. Perhaps because I didn’t expect him to leave so suddenly, I felt a sense of regret.
“Lia, what did you do at the library that was so fun?”
At that time, Jack came next to me and asked in a low voice.
“The Grand Duke taught me a lot about magic.”
I answered casually.
“And you want to invite me to the Principality of Belus.”
“What?!”
“Oh, surprise!”
I was startled by a loud noise and touched my ears. I was really surprised that Jack, not anyone else, suddenly shouted. Jack also looked embarrassed, probably surprised by the sound he made. It was then.
“You, you, you, be, are you going to the Principality of Belus?”
“Yes?”
I was the one who was surprised, but Allen shouted in a very shocked tone.
“Are you going to the Principality of Belus?”
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
Next post will be released on February, 10.
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