Chapter 60

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After a while, Isalco returned.

"This rod is amazing. It's revolutionary."

Isalco was a bit excited.

"I agree it's revolutionary, but wasn't it a bit difficult to use?"

"…Yeah. I felt it was harder to control the magic."

"Is that so? It seems the attribute color rod might be a rod that chooses its user."

Isalco's face became serious as he thought and then announced his conclusion.

"It might be, but the reduction in catalyst usage and the increase in power are attractive to magicians. How many attribute color rods can you make per month, Matou-san?"

Ricardo did not intend to mass-produce the attribute color rods.

"Special processing is required, so the number that can be produced per month is not large."

"I see… That makes sense. Such an amazing rod can't be made easily."

Ricardo returned the [Water] attribute color rod.

"You said you were researching. Do you plan to write a paper on the attribute color rod?"

"I don't plan to write a paper on the manufacturing method."

"I also think it's better not to disclose the manufacturing method of the attribute color rod."

"What do you mean?"

"This technology could influence the power of a nation."

Ricardo thought it was an exaggeration, but Isalco seemed to be serious.

"But, Master Matou said it's difficult to manufacture and can't be made in large quantities."

Even Ricardo, who had the method of restoring magic power through probe meditation, needed years to learn the technique of changing magic power into four attribute colors without a catalyst. He still hadn't mastered the [Life] attribute color. Even if he taught the manufacturing method to others, it would take a long time of training to be able to make it.

"It might be so now, but technology advances day by day. A method for mass production might be discovered in the future."

Ricardo thought that a weapon that couldn't be mass-produced wouldn't have such an impact, but he changed his mind, thinking Isalco's view was correct.

When the magic cannon staff was developed, it caused a stir.

When the magic cannon staff developed by Emilia's master was put up for sale, other influential nobles and foreign countries competed to buy it and started researching the magic cannon staff.

"At that time, many magic engineers wanted to become apprentices at the workshop where it was developed, causing a big commotion."

"Were those who wanted to become apprentices spies from other nobles and foreign countries?"

"Most of them were targeting the manufacturing technology of the magic cannon staff."

Ricardo made a displeased face.

"I don't want such a commotion to happen."

Isalco opened his mouth with a serious face.

"Maybe we should consult with the Crown Prince."

"Do I have to go to the Yorgul territory again?"

Ricardo sighed.

"No, the Crown Prince should return in eight days."

"Is something happening?"

"There's the king's birthday celebration. All the royal family members will gather."

After discussing with Isalco, Ricardo decided to consult with the Crown Prince when he returned. He remembered that he had promised to give a gift to the Crown Prince.

"In eight days, I have enough time to prepare the gift."

Isalco didn't seem to hear Ricardo's mutter.

"I'll contact General Samuele and ask him to arrange a meeting with the Crown Prince."

"Thank you."

After finishing his business, Isalco left the laboratory. Ricardo took out a super-sized magic vine from the storage aquamarine.

"Even if I just magic-coat it and incorporate it into a magic gun, it will have power, but that would be a waste."

Ricardo was unsure how to process the super-sized magic vine, which was about twice as long as a regular one.

In the end, he couldn't decide, so he thought he would process the wave generator tube with attribute color magic coating, incorporate it into a magic gun, and then decide after thoroughly investigating its power.

However, the super-sized magic vine was too large to be made into a pistol and would be difficult to handle with one hand. So, he decided to make it in the shape of a rifle. It would be shorter and thicker than a rifle, and Ricardo thought it might look like a grenade launcher he had seen in action movies.

Ricardo drew the 'magic rifle' using the super-sized magic vine on paper. Although it wasn't a very good drawing, it was a sufficient appearance diagram.

He thought about going to the Emilia workshop with the appearance diagram, but since it was getting late, he decided to go the next day.

Ricardo returned home, feeling a bit tired. Serge, Pamela, and Monta welcomed him. Monta climbed onto Ricardo's body, sat on his shoulder, and spoke.

"Monta, I found a mole in the garden."

His way of speaking had improved a bit.

"Pamela played with Monta a lot."

His younger sister smiled happily and started explaining today's events.

While listening to the story, he went to the dining room, where Antonio was already waiting, which was unusual.

"Ricardo, I have something to talk about."

"What is it, brother?"

"The number of employees at the breeding ground has increased, so we talked about building employee dormitories. If we don't start soon, we won't be able to finish before winter."

"But, Master Romano said he could build it in five months."

Antonio sighed.

"That was before the magic beasts appeared and rampaged in the capital. Now, it seems to take longer because the materials and workers are not available."

The capital is trying to rebuild the destroyed houses and shops all at once, so it seems there are not enough materials and workers.

Ricardo discussed with Antonio and decided to ask Master Romano immediately.

The next morning, Ricardo went to the Emilia workshop.

Emilia seemed to have been staying at the workshop to make a magic cannon staff with an attribute color rod. She was adjusting the magic circuit of the magic cannon staff in a wrinkled outfit.

"Good morning."

Emilia seemed to be absorbed in making the magic cannon staff and didn't notice Ricardo until he spoke.

"Ah, good morning. The magic cannon staff with the attribute color rod was activated with a catalyst cartridge that reduced the catalyst by thirty percent."

"The same as when using magic. It's the expected result."

"But, I'm trying to incorporate the [Fire] attribute color rod into the magic cannon staff, and it doesn't fly straight."

After saying that, she made some changes to the magic circuit and reassembled it into the original magic cannon staff.

"Let's go to the test range."

There was a long, narrow test range about twenty meters long in the basement of the workshop.

Ricardo and Emilia, who went down to the test range, stood facing the target made of sandbags and boards.

"Last time, the flame projectile curved to the right halfway. This time, let's see."

Emilia aimed the magic cannon staff and pulled the trigger.

A larger flame ball than usual was born from the tip of the magic cannon staff and flew toward the target. It started to curve to the left halfway and hit a place far from the target.

"It didn't work."

Emilia was disappointed and dropped her shoulders.

Ricardo, who had been watching the movement of the flame projectile, remembered a baseball knuckleball. A knuckleball is a ball thrown with almost no spin to make it move irregularly.

"Emilia, what if you give the flame ball a spin?"

Emilia didn't seem to understand.

"Why should it be given a spin?"

"…It's a hunch. I feel it might work well."

Since the gyro effect and other discoveries hadn't been made in this world, he decided to call it a hunch.

"Okay, let's try it."

She went upstairs, made changes to the magic circuit, and returned to the test range.

Emilia, who aimed the magic cannon staff in the same way as before, pulled the trigger. A spinning flame projectile was born from the tip of the magic cannon staff, flew toward the target, and hit the center.

"It worked. Why?"

"I don't know the reason, but since it worked, it's fine, isn't it?"

"You're right. I'll investigate the reason later."

The two returned to the workshop and sat on a long chair in the corner to start talking.

Ricardo told Emilia about the content of his conversation with Isalco regarding the attribute color rod and asked her not to disclose information about the attribute color rod.

"I see, I understand why Isalco is worried. A technology that can reduce catalyst consumption would be desired by the military."

"Was it the same with the magic cannon staff?"

"Yes, the Duke of Melvis and the Duke of Octavius seem to have trained magic engineers to make magic cannon staffs."

"They will probably start making magic guns too."

"Definitely, they will."

Ricardo brought up the purpose of his visit to the workshop.

"I want four sets of magic gun parts. Do you have them?"

"Yes, I always prepare ten sets as spares."

"Also, I want you to make this."

Ricardo showed Emilia the appearance diagram of the magic rifle he had drawn yesterday and the super-sized magic vine.

"Did you capture the elder of the demon tree Tamiel?"

It seems that a particularly large individual among demon trees is called an 'elder'.

"I captured a large one, but I didn't know it was an elder."

Emilia took the appearance diagram and carefully examined it.

"Looking at this diagram, it looks similar to a magic cannon staff."

"Perhaps more magic power is needed than a regular magic gun."

"Does that mean it will have more power?"

"It will definitely have more power than a regular magic gun."

Emilia promised to make the magic rifle.

After that, Ricardo bought the magic gun parts and left the workshop, heading to the research laboratory of the Magician's Association.

In the laboratory, he assembled the wave generator tube coated with attribute color magic and the magic gun parts, completing the magic guns of each attribute color.

Just as he was thinking about testing them, he realized that the time to go to the Boniperti Duke's party was approaching.

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At the same time, at the Boniperti Duke's residence in the east of Vizel Castle, preparations for the party were underway.

This party was to celebrate the fifteenth birthday of the Duke's eldest son, Silvano.

While watching the servants running around busily, Greta, the third daughter of the Duke's family, looked gloomy.

"What are you doing? You need to get ready for the party too."

Greta's older sister, Miranda, scolded her.

"I don't want to go to the party."

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's boring."

Greta had been a bit different since she was a child. She learned to speak early and also learned to read and write early. This made her parents happy, but when she started to take an interest in magic and magic engineering, she began to frequently ask questions to her family and servants.

At first, the questions were simple, but after she started reading books and acquiring basic knowledge, they included questions that ordinary adults couldn't answer.

Her troubled parents began to buy expensive specialized books and tell her to look them up herself.

Greta spent more time in her room, reading the specialized books she was given.

When it was time for Greta to learn the etiquette and culture necessary for a noble daughter, a tutor was assigned to teach her, but it took her a long time to learn the etiquette.

She didn't seem to understand the necessity of learning etiquette and couldn't concentrate on it.

Miranda looked at her odd sister with a glare and said.

"There's a possibility that a fiancé will be decided from among the gentlemen attending this party. If you don't behave properly, you might end up marrying a problematic gentleman."

"What kind of problematic gentleman?"

"A difficult gentleman or a gentleman who is not good with women. There's even the possibility of becoming a second wife to an older gentleman."

Greta shuddered, remembering the middle-aged nobles she had been introduced to at a previous party.

"I absolutely don't want to."

"If you think so, you should find a good person early."

With that, Miranda left.

Eleven-year-old Greta thought marriage was a distant matter.

Sighing, Greta returned to her room to get ready.

With the help of her maid, she put on a dress and waited for the party to start.

As the time for the party approached, the invited guests arrived one after another. Most of the invited nobles were barons or below who held important positions in the capital's administrative agencies.

The party began, and the main guest, the eldest son Silvano, and Greta were introduced.

The guests approached the Duke of Boniperti and Silvano one after another, offering congratulations and gifts.

"Thank you all for coming for my son."

As the Duke of Boniperti thanked them, the tax collection department director, Cerso, started a conversation with the Duke. Cerso was a relative of the Duke of Octavius and a formidable figure.

"Your Excellency, I heard you have three daughters. Viscount Crispino is looking for a second wife. What do you think?"

The Duke looked troubled. Viscount Crispino was a noble with a small territory in the northeast of the capital. Forming an alliance would be politically beneficial, but the only daughter without a fiancé was Greta.

He thought it would be pitiful to betroth eleven-year-old Greta to forty-two-year-old Viscount Crispino.

When the Duke looked behind him, he saw Greta with a pale, tearful face.

At that moment, a merchant named Bernardo and a boy who looked like a magician came.

The Duke, who was thinking of a reason to decline the marriage proposal, had an idea when he saw the boy in a robe.

"That's a fine offer, but my daughters have already decided their futures."

Cerso tilted his head.

"I heard that your eldest daughter, Enrica, and your second daughter, Miranda, have already decided their fiancés, but I thought your third daughter, Greta, was still without a fiancé."

"Yes, she doesn't have a fiancé, but Greta has a special talent. She has decided to become an apprentice to a magician."

In noble families, children with great magical talent are often apprenticed to famous magicians to enhance the family's military power. Such children often receive a