Demonstration (8)

Reed spoke to one of the people around him.

"Your Majesty, would you please come up?"

"Are you talking to me?"

"It would be an honor if Your Majesty Huppercould be the first subject of my recording."

"Why are you bothering an old man like me...?"

Morgan chuckled as he rose from his seat.

He said so, but he didn't seem to mind.

Reed smiled and handed him the recording device.

"Now, would you like to speak into this?"

"Do I talk into this?"

"Yes, please say anything."

Morgan, after a moment's hesitation, spoke exactly what came to his mind.

"For the endless prosperity of the HupperKingdom! ...Ha, I can't get used to this."

Morgan turned his head towards the audience and grinned smugly.

"Now, we're not done yet. Could you please press here?"

Morgan pressed the button Reed was pointing at.

-For the endless prosperity of the HupperKingdom!

His voice echoed vividly.

The nobles in the audience swallowed their admiration.

"Whose voice does this sound like?"

"Well... whose voice is it?"

People often recognize their own voice.

When Morgan tilted his head, everyone in the audience chimed in.

"What are you talking about? It's your voice, Your Majesty."

"Yes, no doubt, haha."

"Ah, is that so?"

Morgan, hearing this, smiled amicably and nodded.

"Haha, since everyone says so, this voice must undoubtedly be mine."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Your Majesty."

As Reed bowed politely, Morgan returned to his seat.

"The purpose of this device is as follows. It can hold not only music but also your voices and all sounds. You can do it directly without accompanying a magician."

"Being able to do it directly without a magician..."

They were drawn in.

The hearts of the nobles and bourgeoisie began to burn even more.

Reed smiled at their reaction.

"The introduction was too long. I sounded like a merchant rather than a mage, haha."

Eventually, the recorder activated and the music of the elves and druids filled the spacious banquet hall.

It was a music demonstration that lasted an hour, but it was so overwhelming that no one could complain about being bored.

The music demonstration was successful.

The songs of the elves and druids hit the audience's hearts perfectly.

Even if they didn't feel joy from it, just having heard the songs of the elves and druids was a huge bragging point.

When all the songs ended, the audience raised their hands and asked Reed questions.

"Master of the Silence Tower, do you have any intentions of selling the recorder and the music?"

Everyone put their hands down, as if they all had the same thought.

Reed nodded.

"This device is not very meaningful to me, who can use magic. As I mentioned earlier, magic engineering is a technology for all of you, it's pointless if only I have it."

Before any additional questions followed, Reed continued speaking.

"And, I will be selling the recording spheres containing all the music you heard today, along with separately recorded orchestra music and music from bards."

"Ho, then we can listen to the music of the bards at any time."

It's always possible to call an orchestra if you have the money, but hiring talented wandering bards is always difficult.

Their adventure stories, delivered in sweet voices, were always a source of joy as they visited only limited places.

Moreover, the price of the recording sphere containing the music of the elves and druids was not expensive.

An additional fee was added to the original cost of 5,000 UP for the magic record sphere.

Record Sphere with Elf and Druid Music - 8,000 UP

Orchestra Vol.1 - 7,000 UP

Collection of Bard Songs Vol.1 - 7,000 UP

If you buy everything, you need a total of 22,000 UP.

In the world of mages where information is life, a recording sphere containing information should be several times more expensive than this, but Reed was not stingy with music.

Instead, he set a high price for the recorderthat playedthe music.

The cost of the recorder was 30,000 UP, while the original cost was 500 UP.

And the case shown by Reed had a price of 3,000 UP. Considering the retail price without the distribution process, 4,000 UP would have been an appropriate amount, but Reed boldly raised it to 26,000 UP.

This was not the realm of business.

'It's more about increasing value than doing business.'

To increase the value of the tower selling the goods and the nobles buying them, the price must be high.

The nobles liked valuable items and preferred them the more expensive they were.

Because they believe those things make them special.

Flaunting wealth was one of the ways to showcase their status and wealth, so they didn't hesitate.

'Negotiating price is tantamount to tarnishing one's own reputation.'

So, the nobles wouldn't say anything.

Like being swept away by a big wave, everyone wrote their names and the items they wanted to purchase in the reservation book.

Reed ordered his servants to collect the book under the pretext of tidying up after the demonstration, and brought out the three little kids hiding under the table.

"Did you hear everything?"

"Yes!"

"The music was fantastic."

"It was, really wonderful."

Morgan the Second had a satisfied face, and it was unclear whether Yuria was satisfied or not because her face was red.

'I wonder if it went in her ears.'

"Prince and Miss Frenda, it's time to go back. Would you follow me?"

"Yes, yes!"

Yuria nodded and responded, but there was no answer from Morgan the Second.

When Reed turned his head, Morgan the Second was staring blankly somewhere.

His gaze was directed towards a gap in the curtains.

And there was Adonis.

Adonis, as beautiful as a delicately adorned flower.

"...Is that my sister by any chance?"

Morgan the Second, who belatedly noticed Reed's gaze, asked.

Reed nodded his head, and upon hearing the answer, Morgan the Second looked at her again.

"That's correct. It's your eldest daughter, Princess Adonis Hupper."

"She's truly...beautiful."

"Is that so?"

"I've only ever seen her in armor...I never imagined she could be so beautiful."

Morgan the Second's reaction made Reed a bit taken aback.

'Does this guy have a sister complex?'

It was indeed surprising that the beast had turned into a beauty, but it was odd to lose oneself looking at a sibling.

However, Reed's thought was mistaken.

"Excuse me, tower master... This may be a rude question, but do I resemble her?"

"Whom... are you referring to?"

"People say that my sister and I resemble our mother a lot."

Morgan the Second raised his head and asked Reed.

There was a sense of loneliness in his eyes.

"Would my mother have been as beautiful as this if she were alive?"

Only Adonis and Morgan remembered the queen.

Since Morgan the Second was raised by his nannies, the absence of the queen was greatly felt.

Morgan the Second, who had been looking up quietly, wiped his eyes with his sleeve and turned his head.

His eyes were red, but he smiled bravely and spoke to Reed.

"I got carried away with my thoughts. Let's go back quickly."

The night grew late.

Those who had fast means of transportation like sky carriages returned home immediately, and those with poor transportation stayed in the reception room of Cohen Castle.

Since Reed had come by sky carriage, all he needed to do was return.

'I'm tired.'

He felt like he could sleep as soon as he closed his eyes because he had to worry about various things until late at night.

At least he was able to overcome sleepiness because Rosaria was shaking him wildly with her small hands.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes! A l-l-lot!"

"Did you make a lot of friends?"

"I made a lot. I went on an adventure with Yuria and Morgan!"

"So, are you friends?"

"People who go on adventures with heroes are all friends."

"I see. I was short-sighted."

Whether because he was out of it, Reed didn't have the energy to say anything else.

He just wanted to go and sleep.

That's when someone blocked his path.

The man standing in front of him was a middle-aged man with red hair and a uniform.

Seeing Yuria Frenda standing next to him, he realized that he was the head of the household, Zekeheil Frenda.

'Indeed, the magician of the Empire...'

The Empire, where all talents gather.

The chief magician of its workshop is comparable to the tower lords just by his aura.

"Tower Master of Silence, your item was truly impressive today."

Zekeheil threw the first word, and Reed pulled himself together and answered politely.

"I'm very grateful that the magician of the Empire's workshop would say so."

"I'm not sure if my daughter has greeted you. The rumor is that she has the potential to become the next 'Archmage'."

'He's bragging about his daughter.'

Being a magician of the Empire, he must have heard about Rosaria's actions to the point of being tired.

There was no doubt that it was a check against that.

'I'm well aware of your daughter as I've accompanied her more than enough.'

He wanted to say that, but if he did, it would obviously lead to an ugly fight, so Reed simply smiled and said.

"That's truly impressive. Indeed, the Frenda family is a renowned magical lineage."

"I've heard that the Master of the Wallin Tower occasionally supervises your daughter's studies. She may be a genius of the century, but I'm not sure if there will be growth with just one visit per week."

"I don't mind if my daughter doesn't become an Archmage. I just hope she can find her own path."

"An education that is free, not typical of a noble. Less strict than a rigorous education, but not bad."

Zekeheil nodded his head as if to admit easily, but his words contained the nuance that his own method of education was superior.

Reed understood his sentiment that his own daughter was prettier, but as a father, he felt a bit annoyed.

Reed smiled gently and looked down at Yuria.

Yuria, who had been quietly looking up at Reed, quickly bowed her head as their eyes met.

"Miss Yuria, are you okay?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Your face is very red."

"What, me?"

Yuria covered her face.

She felt her cheeks burning hot the moment her cold hand touched them.

"The night wind is cold. Be careful not to catch a cold."

"Ah, that, I, that, that....."

Yuria, who had been stuttering, could no longer continue her words, and she hid behind Zekeheil.

He thought he would undoubtedly be embarrassed at his daughter's awkward appearance.

"Heh, our daughter is quite shy."

"...I see."

He was a tougher opponent than expected.

Zekeheil, with a satisfied smile, stroked the head of his daughter hiding behind him.

Not wanting to be outdone as a doting father, Reed couldn't hide his annoyed expression at his actions.

"The night breeze is cold. Make sure your daughter doesn't catch a cold either."

"Thank you."

The demonstration ended successfully.

Rosaria, who climbed into the sky carriage, fell dead asleep in the sky carriage.

***

A few days later, in the office of the 3rd Knight Commander of the HupperKingdom.

After the banquet, Adonis Hupperresumed her duties as the Knight Commander.

"Salute! Squire James Bren has come to see Sir Adonis Hupper."

"Come in."

Wondering why the squire had come, Adonis raised his head and asked James.

"What's the matter?"

"I submitted my withdrawal confirmation today. So, I came to greet you, Commander Adonis Hupper."

"You've decided to withdraw?"

"Yes."

Adonis didn't understand why he came to greet him, but what concerned him more was his face.

"You seem relieved."

Most of those who faced their limits and decided to quit being a knight had faces as if their world had collapsed.

Especially James Bren, who belonged to a noble family that had become nobility due to its founding contribution to the country, had to succeed to maintain his family.

James explained the reason.

"That's it. I found out at the banquet that I have a talent for mana."

"You're referring to yourself?"

"Yes, I was always worried because I wasn't strong enough to perform as a squire... 'Trigger Hypnosis', is it? They said it forcibly brought up the latent mana in my body."

"I don't know the details... But it won't be easy to follow the path of a magician this late, right?"

"Still, I think this is my path. And I told my father yesterday. Although I can't glorify my family as a knight...."

James hit his chest and spoke proudly.

"I'm really fortunate to be able to show my loyalty to the HupperKingdom in this way."

James Bren spoke with a smile.

Adonis, who knew nothing, simply admired his loyalty.

"Anyway, congratulations on finding your own path. I hope to see you at the magic workshop."

"Thank you, Commander!"

James, who was about to leave, turned back and spoke again.

"Oh, by the way, I'll return this to you."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's the napkin that was in my pocket. It has the commander's name on it, so I thought it might be yours."

'A napkin?'

Adonis looked at the napkin James handed over.

On that napkin, there was a message written along with his own name.

-Please come out to the flower bed secretly. I will follow.

"Ah."

Adonis let out a short exclamation.

"So it wasn't the commander who sent it after all."

"Was there a problem?"

"I'm not sure. When I woke up, the Tower Masters were there. It seems the Tower Master of Silence saved me."

"I see."

Having finished what he had to say, James saluted again and left the room.

Left alone in the office.

Adonis lowered her head again and looked at the message.

It wasn't a problem that someone had impersonated her.

No, it was a problem, but she didn't care.

The style of this message that Adonis was looking at.

It was a very familiar style.