Chapter 76 – The Magician's Game

Once I had transcribed the incantation, the rest became Alfred and Viola’s job. All that remained was to wait for the prototype of the aerial combat equipment to be completed.

The magical power recovery potions were already finished, so while I was letting them cool before transferring them into small bottles using a funnel, I noticed Marian peeking at me from behind something at the edge of my vision.

Alfred was working, and Grace and the others seemed busy with measurements, so maybe that was why?

When I looked toward where the measurements were being taken, I met Ashley’s gaze as she was watching Marian, and she smiled at me.

Understood. I’ll take care of Marian.

When I turned my gaze toward her, she pulled her head back behind cover. Though she looked quite serious for someone who was supposed to be playing… Ah. Is it because the potion is glowing purple and looks mysterious?

It does look poisonous… but if it were traumatic for her, she probably wouldn’t want to get close at all. The fact that she’s watching might mean she’s worried about what it’s for.

“…Hmm.”

After holding the small bottle up to the sunlight and giving it a light shake, I opened the lid and drank it all in one go.

Marian made a face that seemed to say “Ah!”

…Even though I made it myself, honestly the taste is questionable. Given the materials, it has a unique grassy smell.

It feels like a nutritional drink, with warmth spreading from deep within my body after drinking it. The effect is definitely working.

“I’m making potions. Drinking them can heal wounds or recover magical power,” I told Marian, who was watching me.

Marian seemed to understand, nodding solemnly with a serious expression. She still seemed somewhat cautious, but appeared to have lowered her guard a bit. When I offered her a chair a short distance away, she timidly sat down and watched me work.

“I’ll be finished here soon.”

Once I finished transferring today’s batch into small bottles and sealing them, my work would be done.

Grace and the others seemed like they would take a bit longer. They appeared to be discussing what kind of equipment to actually make. Since it relates to their fighting styles and coordination, it’s natural they’d be serious about it.

Marian was looking at the mixing equipment with interest. Indeed, these are things you wouldn’t see in the royal castle. She strikes me as a child who’s timid but has strong curiosity.

…Hmm. Since I’ve been entrusted with this, why not provide some entertainment not seen in the royal castle? Given how oppressed she is there, I hope this can serve as a distraction.

“Marian, do you know this?”

I folded a piece of paper from the desk and showed her a paper airplane. Marian shook her head. Well, that makes sense. It’s a simple toy, but in this world, I’ve never heard of paper airplanes.

When I gently threw the paper airplane and made it fly through the air, Marian’s eyes widened as she followed its path through the room with her gaze. Seems I got her attention well.

As it started to lose altitude, I used wind magic to create an updraft and made it U-turn, flying it in circles around Marian.

Then I manipulated water magic to make water bubbles float in the air, making the plane fly through them. By this point, I realized not just Marian but everyone was watching.

Hmm. Seems I’ve made them stop working, so I might as well meet their expectations and make it more spectacular.

I made the bubbles follow the trail of the paper airplane’s path, then used light magic to sprinkle various colored sparkles throughout.

This was my first time using magic for such entertainment purposes… but it created a much more fantastical scene than I expected. It’s more like magic tricks or illusions than magic. But I suppose this is fitting for a magician too.

After letting it fly around the room like that for a while, I finally made the paper airplane crash-land on my palm, and when I snapped the fingers of my other hand, the water bubbles and sparkling lights disappeared as if they were lies, along with some smoke.

I handed the paper airplane to Marian, who was looking up at me with sparkling eyes.

“You can have that. Even without using magic, you can make it fly short distances.”

Marian looked back and forth between the paper airplane in her hands and my face, and for the first time showed me a happy smile. She hugged the paper airplane to her chest as if it were precious and ran quickly over to Alfred.

“That’s good, Marian,” Alfred said with a gentle smile, then told me, “Thank you, Theo-kun. That was interesting to watch.”

“Did it work well for an improvisation?”

“That was improvisation…? You really do surprise me.”

Using magic, I could make paper fly indefinitely, and maybe something like an origami crane would have looked better for flying. I’ll try that next time if there’s an opportunity.

“That’s interesting. Does it fly even without magic?”

“Yeah. If you fold it like this… See? It’s easy to make.”

This time, I demonstrated to everyone how to fold a paper airplane from the beginning, then flew it without using any magic.

Everyone seems more interested than I expected. I guess the earlier magic performance served as good promotion.

I meant it as just a simple diversion… but I ended up stopping work for quite a while.

“Is this all the luggage?”

“Yes. We’ve mostly moved all the small things into the rooms.”

“Is there anything else to do?”

“Well… We’ll handle unpacking ourselves… Yeah. That should be all. Thank you, Theodore-kun.”

When I spoke to Irmhild, who had returned from the carriage parked in front of the house and was now inside, she nodded. Since the work seemed mostly finished, I looked up at the sky and saw it was already evening.

Since the arrangements were settled, we moved their luggage by carriage from the house in the western district where Sheila and Irmhild had been living. They didn’t have that many household goods, and for large items like beds and wardrobes, we could use levitation to bring them through the windows into the rooms. It didn’t take much time or effort.

“Dinner is ready too,” Grace called from the kitchen, so we decided to have our evening meal first. After dusting ourselves off lightly and washing our faces and hands with water, we moved to the dining area.

The table was lined with colorful dishes. Since it was the two of them moving in today, we’d discussed making it a welcome party of sorts, or at least a bit more lavish.

“Mmm. Grace’s cooking is delicious.”

Pasta with sauce, white bread, simmered fish, vegetable soup, baked shellfish, salad. And the black sausage—that’s a sausage made by mixing in blood and roasting it.

I’ve heard of similar dishes on Earth’s side, but she probably searched for and bought this specifically for Irmhild. Knowing Grace, she might start making it homemade soon.

“Oh my. This is delicious.”

Irmhild seemed to like it too—when she cut a piece and ate it, her face broke into a smile.

“I’m glad. I’ve heard about several other dishes like this, so I’ll serve them on different days.”

“Really? I’m happy, Grace-chan. Could you teach me too?”

“Gladly. Let’s all make it together next time.”

“I want to learn too.”

Since both Sheila and Irmhild had long experience cooking for themselves, they said they could cook. They’d apparently been dressing poultry and fish themselves. They must have been procuring meals for Irmhild too.

I continued eating peacefully with everyone for a while, but then someone knocked at the door.

“Who is it?”

When I went out to check, there was a man in civil official attire.

“Good evening. Is this the residence of Theodore Gartner-sama?”

“Yes, it is.”

Though it’s not really big enough to be called a residence.

“I’ve come as a messenger from the royal family,” the man said, bowing and introducing himself. A messenger from the royal castle, huh.

“His Majesty Melvin would like to invite Theodore-sama to dinner three days from now. This is the invitation. He requests that Grace-dono accompany you. The attendance of other individuals is left to Theodore-sama’s discretion.”

Dinner, huh. King Melvin did say he’d invite me sometime.

Grace’s accompaniment, huh. Hmm.

“His Majesty said this is an invitation to a private dinner without others present, so I don’t think you need to be too formal about it. He also mentioned he has several matters to discuss and consult with you about.”

“Understood. I will definitely attend.”

“Thank you. I’m relieved to have fulfilled my duty.”

The messenger bowed, then got into his carriage and left.

“Who was it?”

“A messenger from the royal family. He said they want to invite me to dinner three days from now.”

Discussion and consultation, huh. He said without others present, private, and such.

Reading between the lines, that means we can discuss matters that can’t be made public. At this timing… there might have been some progress regarding the sealed door. I wonder what topics will come up, including the details that had been kept secret.