Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Ideas for magical tools and a bank.

I first decided to think about what I wanted.

For starters, a refrigerator and a freezer, then a microwave, hairdryer, air conditioning, and it would be convenient to have something like a stove. But someone must have thought of a stove before, right? Maybe it wasn't successful?

"Marcel-san, may I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Hasn't there been any magical equipment developed for cooking, like a magic tool that generates fire?"

"Oh, they've been researching that for a long time, but it hasn't been successful."

"Why is that?"

"Well, magic tools operate by embedding magic stones into magic iron. You can't just use either one alone. And with fire magic, it melts the magic iron. Maybe magic iron is weak against magical fire. So even if you make a magical tool with fire magic, it would break quickly and be useless."

"I see."

So magic iron is weak against magical fire... that makes it difficult. But what if something like an insulator was put between the magic iron and the magic stone?

No, but if the magic stone doesn't touch the magic iron, it won't activate... with my current knowledge, this is impossible. Let's think of another magical tool.

First, a refrigerator. Since there doesn't seem to be any ice magic in this world, let's try to think of a way to make it using water magic.

"Marcel-san, is it impossible to make the water produced by water magic cold enough to freeze?"

"It's not possible... You can change the temperature of the water produced by magic, but you can't create ice. That's what we've known so far. But there might be a possibility."

"What attribute are you, Marcel-san?"

"I'm a recovery attribute, so I can't try it right now."

So Marcel-san is a recovery attribute. Come to think of it, there doesn't seem to be anyone else in this workshop.

"What do you do when making magical tools with other attributes?"

"When buying materials from the palace, we ask them to put magic power into the magic stones beforehand."

That's what it means... Even if I say I can imbue magic in water below zero degrees, it's something that nobody would understand. It can't be helped that I can't try it now, but let's remember that we can change the temperature of water produced by water magic for now.

I remember seeing an experiment with water below zero degrees on TV. They said it would freeze instantly if there was some sort of stimulation.

If you can create that water, I think you could make fine ice by using water magic to produce it and wind magic to provide the stimulation... but there's no way to try it.

If I were a water attribute, I could try it, but it might be better to go to the church first and find out my magic attribute.

"Marcel-san, I've come up with some ideas, but I think it would be more efficient to know my magic attribute and how to use magic before trying them out. Can I go to the church and get my magic power measured before coming back?"

"Ah, I don't mind at all. But before that, can we talk about the reward?"

"Yes, I would like to know that."

"Since Leon came up with the idea, I've been thinking about it. I'll pay a gold coin for any idea I think is good. And if Leon's idea becomes a magical tool and is registered at the royal palace, I'll pay five platinum coins. How does that sound?"

"Um, one gold coin and five platinum coins... how much are they worth? I only knew about copper coins."

"I see, sorry about that. I forget that Leon is a commoner."

Marcel-san then kindly explained about the value of money. To summarize, it went something like this:

Iron coin: 10 yen

Small copper coin: 100 yen

Copper coin: 1,000 yen

Silver coin: 10,000 yen

Gold coin: 100,000 yen

Platinum coin: 1,000,000 yen

From Leon's memory, the iron coin was worth about 10 yen, and all the coins were in increments of ten, so when converted to Japanese yen, it would be like this. However, this was just a rough estimate, so it might not be accurate.

Based on this value, one gold coin is worth 100,000 yen, and five platinum coins are worth 5 million yen.

100,000 yen and 5 million yen... Can I really accept this much? Isn't it too much?

"Marcel-san, isn't one gold coin and five platinum coins too much!?"

"No, this is not enough. Magic tools are expensive because nobles buy them. And the usage fee is quite high. That's why magic tools are profitable. Especially when you develop a new magic tool, a lot of money comes in."

Is that so? I thought the raw materials were also valuable and expensive... amazing.

For now, I'll accept whatever I can get.

"Thank you very much, Marcel-san. I will do my best to come up with a new magic tool!"

"Hmph, if Leon can't come up with anything, I won't pay even one iron coin."

Marcel-san is looking at me challengingly. I will definitely come up with a good magic tool!!

"I will definitely come up with something, so please prepare the money!"

I said that and thought about it. By the way, how do I get the money...? I would be too scared to have that much money. Is there a banking system?

"Marcel-san, how do I get the money? I'm too scared to have gold or platinum coins."

"Oh, I see. Leon doesn't have an account. You need to make one."

"An account...?"

"Ah, although it may not be well-known among commoners, this country has a system where you can deposit money and withdraw it anytime."

Marcel-san explained various things, and it turns out that there is a national bank in this country. Anyone who is a citizen of this country can create an account and deposit money, but only wealthy merchants and nobles really use it because commoners don't usually have much money to save. All nobles and their servants who work in their estates have an account.

The bank's headquarters are located near the royal castle in the center of the capital city, and branches are located in the capital cities of each noble's territory. Creating an account and depositing or withdrawing money can be done anywhere.

"So, I need to create an account?"

"Yes, if you have an account, I can transfer money directly from my account to yours. It's safer that way."

An account seems convenient, so I should definitely make one. But if I do that, I'll have to go to the city center at least once... Can a child make an account?

"Can I create an account even if I go?"

"You can create one, but if a commoner like you without noble status goes, it might look suspicious. And Leon doesn't look like he's wealthy just by his appearance. Well, it'll be fine if you go with me."

"Really? You'll come with me?"

"Yeah, while we're at it, we'll get the magic tools in my house refueled."

He said it was just a side trip, but he would definitely come with me out of kindness. Marcel-san is kind...

I didn't say it because he would definitely deny it, but I was desperately trying to hold back my grin while thinking about it.

"When should we go to the city center?"

"Whenever Leon can go."

Hmm... My free time is only from after the daytime business until the nighttime business, so I only have about four hours. My mother said it takes about two hours by shared carriage to get to the city center, so it would be impossible to go and come back during break time.

In that case, I have to ask my mother if I can take a break from helping with the daytime business to know when I can go.

"I'll ask my mother for a day when we can leave the house, so can we decide on the schedule after that?"

"I'm fine with that."

"Thank you! Then I'll come back again. If I can, I'll go to the church before that."

"Yeah, anytime is fine."

"Okay! Then I'll be going home for today."

"Take care."

"Thank you for teaching me a lot!" 

I said goodbye to Marcel-san, left the workshop, and hurried home. Before the nighttime business, I wanted to decide on a day to go to the church and a day when I can go to the city center.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"

"Oh, Leon, you're back early."

My mother appeared from the kitchen. I walked over to the counter and sat down on a chair, talking to her.

"Mom, I want to go somewhere next time. Can I take a break from helping with lunch?"

"Somewhere? It's okay to take a break from helping, but where do you want to go? Are you going alone?"

Well, of course she would ask. What should I say? If I tell her the truth, she'll definitely say it's not allowed.

She looked scary when I talked about the nobles the other day.

"Um... I'm going to the city center. The old man I became friends with today said he has something to do there and he said he'll take me with him. Can I go?"

My mother looked difficult for a while, but she said, "Well, Leon is eight years old, so it's okay."

In this country, the age of adulthood is fifteen, but it is believed that if you are over eight years old, you can live alone. It is probably related to learning magic when you are eight years old.

"Thank you, Mom!"

"Have fun. But let's go to the church before you go to the city center. It's convenient to be able to use magic even a little."

"The church! Yes! When are we going?"

I was excited that I could finally use magic. My mother replied, "Let's skip tomorrow night's business and go tomorrow afternoon with everyone."

"Okay! Can I go to the city center the day after tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Oh, so you're going to the church tomorrow, right?" My father joined in the conversation, perhaps finished with his work.

"Yes, we were talking about skipping tomorrow night's business and going to the church tomorrow afternoon."

"That's going to be fun. You're lucky, Leon."

"Yeah!"

My father gently patted my head with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, my mother told him that I was also going to the city center.

"Leon, there are a lot of nobles in the city center, so be careful not to get noticed. Don't do anything that stands out. Can you promise me?"

My father looked me in the eye with a serious expression.

"Yes, I promise."

I answered with a serious expression too, and my father returned to his usual gentle smile.

"Have fun."

"Yeah!"

I started preparing for the night business with a light step, looking forward to tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.