Chapter 56

Thank you for the evaluation and bookmark.

In the end, while trying to calm down the crying Victor and doing various things, the sweet potatoes were buried in the glowing fire by Sansan and Lala, turning into warm and sweet baked sweet potatoes.

Yeah, well, I enjoyed them.

I was surprised to learn that elves can have runny noses.

Anyway, it seems that Kousuke decided to go home once.

However, since he will still learn magic from Victor with Regulus, he will stay at Sansan's place every three days and come together.

In the midst of all this, I ended up making friends with Regulus.

The wind gradually grew stronger and colder, and the season was heading towards winter.

Before that, there was something I wanted to do.

The study of magic starts with meditation to cultivate concentration and to promote the growth and stabilization of the magic element nerves.

I was originally an indoor person, so it wasn't too difficult for me, but it seemed quite tough for the outdoor types, Kousuke and Regulus, to sit still for a certain amount of time.

Anticipating this, Victor had them meditate for short periods, show them the principles of magic through practice and experiments, and then meditate again, repeating short bursts of concentration.

During this time, I asked Elise to get me some yarn and started knitting a neck warmer.

Before the real winter arrives, I want to prepare winter clothes for Regulus.

Utsunomiya seems to have brought some clothes, but unfortunately, children grow quickly, and most of last year's clothes won't fit.

I have some hand-me-downs, but I asked Elise to shorten the hems and sleeves without cutting them. I apparently was always small, so Regulus should be able to stretch the hems and sleeves and wear them comfortably for a while.

If that person could earn some money for Regulus's upbringing, that would be great.

During the negotiations, it was decided that until he makes a profit, all the expenses for Regulus's life would be added to my father's debt. I don't mind taking on the debt, but if Regulus has to bear it when he becomes an adult, that's a different story.

I need to save and try to minimize the debt as much as possible.

Incidentally, my upbringing expenses are apparently covered by Mr. Romanov, who has arranged for me to use as much as I want within a reasonable range.

So, I'm buying a mountain of yarn as a hobby and turning it into Regulus's scarves, neck warmers, gloves, and sweaters, which is almost cheating.

Thanks to my skills, I can knit neck warmers quickly. I need at least two sets of scarves, neck warmers, gloves, and sweaters for everyday use and as spares, and I need more sweaters. I also need to make vests, hats, and socks.

Since I'm participating in the theoretical lessons, I completed the first neck warmer while watching the two of them learn magic.

When I put it on Regulus, who had just finished meditating, he buried his face in the yarn and exclaimed, "Kyaa!"

"It's warm!"

"Yeah, I'll add a button to fasten it when you wrap it later."

"Okay!"

I left a little extra room, so it's a bit fluffy.

When I put on the sweater and gloves, it feels like a full outfit.

For playing outside, a neck warmer is better than a scarf. A scarf can get caught on something and be dangerous.

While I was thinking about this, Victor and Kousuke were touching the neck warmer.

"Hey, what's this?"

"Huh? It's a neck warmer."

"Neck warmer? Like a scarf? But this is super fluffy and feels so good."

"Ah... yeah. The spirits gather and make it fluffy. And it seems to have [Ice Resistance]. Are you going to fight an ice dragon, Leitan?"

Why is that?

Until now, embroidery could boost magic, but that was because I used special elf patterns.

But the neck warmer is just ordinary yarn. I got it a little cheaper by buying it in bulk.

As I blinked, Victor looked at me intently and furrowed his brow.

"Ah, you might be specialized in enchantment magic."

"Enchantment magic?"

"Fuyo, majutsu?"

"What's fuyo?"

Not only I, but Regulus and Kousuke also tilted their heads, as if questions had sprouted in their minds.

"Ah... Enchantment means giving some effect to an object or person. For example..."

Perhaps thinking it was faster to show than to explain, Victor had Kousuke carry Regulus. Of course, it was heavy. But then he gently held Kousuke's hand and mumbled something in Elvish or some other language I hadn't heard before.

After that, he had Kousuke carry Regulus again.

"Whoa!? It's so light!"

"I gave Kousuke's arms strength. In simple terms, this is enchantment magic."

Regulus, who was being tossed up and down by Kousuke, was laughing happily, and Kousuke, who was tossing him, was also laughing. It was very cute.

No way, it's so heartwarming.

The atmosphere in the large hall where we were having the magic lesson brightened up.

Then, the sound of a knock came from the door, and when I looked, Lala was leaning against the opened door, a slight smile on her lips and a cool glance.

She always looks so cool.

"I'll be a bit of a bother."

"Sure, come in."

The high-fives stopped, and both Regulus and Kousuke looked at Lala.

According to Kousuke, he can't help but be captivated by the thought of becoming like her in the future. I understand the feeling. I really do.

"What's up, Lala?"

"Yeah, I got a letter from Marie. She says she has a request for you, Maman."

"For me?"

She held the letter loosely in her fingers and walked with a straight back, looking truly beautiful.

Regulus and Kousuke, who are also taking lessons in how to walk from Lala, would be motivated to learn if they could walk like this.

The letter I received contained an unexpected request.

The Empress wanted a hairpin made with the tsumami technique.

"...A tsumami hairpin... such a..."

"Yeah, I didn't expect it to catch the Empress's eye."

"Wow... that's amazing. The Empress has no desire for material things. Even the Emperor had trouble choosing a birthday gift for her. When he finally asked her what she wanted, she said, 'A holiday with just the family.' She has no desire for material things."

"Yet she says she wants it if it's available... wow..."

I was troubled.

I can make tsumami hairpins, but I don't have enough of the fabric I used for the one I gave to Maria.

What should I do?

As I was thinking, Lala suddenly pointed to something around Regulus's neck.

"Maman, what's that?"

"That's a neck warmer, a cold-weather accessory for the neck."

"Hmm, do they sell these around here?"

"I don't think so..."

As I was struggling to answer, Kousuke, who was playing with Regulus, answered, "I've never seen one. I go to town often, but I've never seen one."

"Apparently not."

"So, it's Maman's original design?"

I'm not sure.

I pulled this design from my past life's memory, so I can't say it's completely original.

As I was thinking, the conversation moved on.

"Can you make one for me? I'll provide the materials."

"Uh, sure. Why?"

"I'm also an adventurer when I'm not teaching. A neck warmer seems safer than a scarf for an adventurer. It's dangerous if it gets pulled during a fight, so I don't wear scarves, but I don't like being cold."

"I see..."

This could be a business opportunity.

I perked up and asked for confirmation.

"If these were for sale, do you think adventurers would buy them?"

"Yeah... if they were reasonably priced, they might. Not everyone can afford fur or fur-lined scarves."

"Then, one more thing. If the hairpin I gave to Maria were presented to the Empress, do you think more people would want it?"

"Hmm, I haven't seen the hairpin, but fashion trends often spread from the upper class to the lower class. There might be demand."

If that's the case, can I train enough people to make them in time? Since they are handmade, even if they become popular, the number I can provide will be limited, so I need to extend the trend.

But if that happens, there might be knock-offs...

No, to counter that, I need to consider protecting the technology and rights.

Or...

"Training and protecting the craftsmen, and the laws to protect them... what else? What else do I need?"

"A, Maman? What's wrong?"

Oh, no. My head hurts.

I haven't had a headache like this in a while, and I feel dizzy.

But before I lose consciousness, I need someone to remember what I need to do.

A small hand grabbed my shoulder.

The worried face of Kousuke appeared in my blurry vision.

"Kousuke, please remember. Training and protecting the craftsmen, and the laws to protect them..."

"Got it! Got it, so stay with us!"

I gripped the hand on my shoulder, and he squeezed back tightly.

Feeling reassured by his strength, I let go of consciousness.

Thank you for reading.

I would be grateful for any evaluations, comments, or reviews.

I also write various activity reports, so please feel free to check them out.