Chapter 65

Summary of the previous chapter ------------------------------------------------------

We went to Aera's shop for lunch.

It was a relief to see that there were quite a few customers.

Yuki successfully copied the "Appraisal" skill.

"Well, we've decided to try making a magic bag... Can we do it, Haruka?"

Toya and Natsuki went out for training, leaving me, Haruka, and Yuki in this room. Yuki has already copied "Alchemy" and "Time-Space Magic" from me and Haruka, but she still can't use them.

"I've been reading the book and doing some experiments, so I think it should be possible. As for the magic bag, it seems that Nao's part is more difficult. I think it will be okay."

"No, no, I've been practicing ever since I came here. I hope it will be okay..."

Seriously, I've spent a lot of time on it.

I've also been practicing fire magic, but the focus has been more on time-space magic.

Both require control of magic power, but time-space magic is much more difficult.

As a result, fire magic improves even without much practice, which is a bit sad. It's easy, but compared to time-space magic, which doesn't give much feedback...

But since I got the magic book, things have improved a lot. I can feel the effect of "Spatial Expansion" at level 3, so I think it will be possible soon.

"First, I'll do the preliminary work. Yuki, you'll do it with me."

"Yes, teacher!"

Yuki raised her hand with determination. She's ready.

"First, we'll transfer this magic array to the item we want to make into a magic bag. Usually, we use special ink, but this time we'll use this thread to embroider it."

"Embroider? Can't we use ink? Isn't that the usual way?"

"Well, let me explain. The reason we use special ink to write the magic array is to channel magic power through the lines. Now, which do you think is easier for magic power to pass through: lines written with ink or lines connected by a single thread?"

"Of course, the thread. It makes sense."

"Exactly. This is based on research results in the book, so it's reliable. The more easily magic power can pass through, the better the effect. So there's no reason not to do it."

"I see. But it's not the usual way, right?"

"Even if the effect improves, the production efficiency is different. Yuki, how many times faster is it to draw lines with a pen compared to embroidering?"

"More than 10 times. --I see, even if the effect improves a little, it won't sell if it takes 10 times longer."

"Especially for magic bags, which sell quickly, there's no point in putting in the extra effort."

I've heard that magic bags are always in short supply.

If there's competition, there's a reason to make a slightly better product, but if it sells anyway, there's no point in reducing production efficiency. If we were to make one, it would be for a special order where performance is needed regardless of cost, but that's not the case for a "general" product.

"In our case, we're inexperienced, so we want to improve the effect as much as possible."

"I see. I understand. So, I just need to embroider this, right? But does it make sense for me to do it? I can't use alchemy yet."

"About that, I talked with Nao before. I think it's not that 'you can do it because you have the skill,' but rather 'you get the skill as a result of being able to do it.' For example, Natsuki can cook even though she doesn't have the cooking skill, right?"

"That's true. I haven't reached level 1, but I can still do alchemy-like actions."

Most skills are probably like that, except for special skills like "Help" and "Skill Copy."

Actually, the skill notation seems quite arbitrary. It's more like a general guideline.

In reality, no one in this world knows how the system works. If it only affects classmates, that evil god might just say, "It's fine as long as it's a guideline."

"For now, I'll write the magic array with ink for Yuki, and Yuki can embroider it. Is that okay?"

"Hmm... Then, why don't we get Natsuki to help? Natsuki can embroider even though she doesn't have the "Sewing" skill, right?"

"...That's true?"

Yes, Haruka nodded and looked at me.

Okay, got it.

So, I brought Natsuki back.

Toya, who can't contribute, continued training alone. Of course, I can't contribute to embroidery either.

"There's something I can help with..."

Natsuki, who had cleaned herself with "Purification," sat on the bed and said this.

"Yeah. Natsuki, can you embroider?"

"Yes, I can do it normally."

She humbly said this, but I doubt it's true. Natsuki, who is at a high level of elegance, wouldn't be satisfied with just normal (my bias).

By the way, what level is "normal" embroidery? Can normal people embroider?

At least I can't. I can only do a simple running stitch.

"I'll write the magic array, and I want you to trace it with embroidery. Can you do that?"

"That's fine, but will it work? It's alchemy, right?"

"Yes, probably. ...If it doesn't work, I'll have wasted your time, Natsuki."

"That's okay. If there's a possibility, it's worth trying."

Natsuki smiled.

If it were me, I'd get angry if I were made to embroider a complicated magic array and then told, "It didn't work. Teehee♪" ...No, Haruka wouldn't say "Teehee♪," but Yuki might.

"First, we need to decide what to embroider on."

"Hmm? Why don't we embroider on our backpacks?"

"That's not as simple as it sounds. If we represent the relationship between each item, it would look like this:"

The size of the magic array = Energy

Energy = Difficulty (Magic Control) × Magic Power

Energy = Range × Effect Level

"Hmm. In other words, you can't make a large bag without a lot of energy, and the effect will be low. The larger the energy, the harder it is to make."

"That's right. If we don't consider the size of the magic array first, we might end up with something that can't be used even after all the effort of embroidery."

"Then, how about this: Haruka embroiders on the backpack, I do a medium-sized jute bag, and Natsuki does a small jute bag. Even if we fail, we can just leave it until we level up."

"That's a good idea. It won't be a complete waste."

Indeed. If we fail to add the effect to the backpack, we can make the jute bag a magic bag and use it for now.

"Oh, by the way, what happens if we put a magic bag with 'Lightweight' into a magic bag with 'Time Delay'?"

"That won't work. They'll interfere with each other and neither will function."

"I see. It's not that simple, then."

"Exactly. Especially, if you put it into a magic bag with 'Spatial Expansion,' it could be disastrous."

"Why... Oh, I see. The capacity expansion will be lost, so the bag will burst or the contents will be a mess."

"Expensive magic bags will be damaged, and it's dangerous."

"We can remake them, but for ordinary buyers, it would be a disaster."

"If you put raw meat in, it would be a mess. Blood and flesh would be scattered everywhere."

Yuki laughed, "Kupu."

Is she making a pun with "disaster" and "scattered"? It's a bit subtle.

"---Well, let's start by writing the magic array on Natsuki's bag."

"Sure. Please do."

Haruka quickly took out the bag, pen, and ink.

"Hey, can you at least react a little? Please."

"Since I went out of my way to ignore you. 5 points. Not worth it."

"Too harsh!? Natsuki~"

"For a pun, it lacks elegance. The scene is too dirty."

"Too harsh!? Nao~"

"Ah, yeah. ...Kind of funny?"

I tried to support the embarrassed Yuki, but it didn't go well.

"Thanks for your concern. But, I wish you had made it a bit harder to understand. It didn't get any laughs."

Can't help it. It didn't get any laughs.

As Natsuki said, the image that comes to mind is too dirty. We are, after all, planning to transport raw meat.

"Yuki, watch this. I'll write it."

"Yes! --Did you buy this ink? Do you know the ingredients?"

"Yes. It's written in the book. The method is also there. Basically, it's crushed magic stones and glue."

"Is that so? It's like Japanese painting."

"Speaking of which, Japanese painting pigments are also made from mineral powders and glue. But, this has other processing as well. As you can see, it's in an ink pot."

The book says that if you just mix glue and pigment, it won't keep well.

This ink that Haruka bought has solved those problems and is easy to use.

"It seems you can make it quite easily if you're going to use it right away. If you have the tools, you don't need to buy it..."

While saying this, Haruka started to write the magic array.

Despite its complexity, she wrote it freehand beautifully.

"You write well, Haruka. It's so complex."

"Hmm, it's a feeling of the hand? Like weapon skills, I've practiced writing these magic arrays to some extent, even at level 1."

It's the same feeling as when I use a spear, where my body moves naturally.

"Okay. Natsuki, use this thread to trace the magic array with embroidery. It's better if it's one continuous thread, so use plenty of thread to avoid having to join it in the middle."

"Understood. Did you buy this thread too?"

"Yes. But, it's just ordinary thread that I dyed with the ink."

The manufacturing method is surprisingly simple. Since embroidery is not common and it's easy to make, this thread is not sold.

Haruka then drew the magic arrays for Yuki and herself and started embroidering.

I have nothing to do, so I reviewed the magic book. I'd like to practice, but it consumes magic power.

"I wish we had an embroidery hoop."

"Yeah, but do they exist? They use small screws, so they might be hard to make."

"In my case, the fabric is thick, so I'm not sure if it will fit."

Ah, an embroidery hoop, the round one.

Indeed, everyone seems to find embroidery difficult. They hold the fabric with their feet or pull it with their hands.

"Can I help?"

"Ah, sure..."

I said this, and Haruka looked at Yuki and Natsuki, hesitating.

"Can you help Haruka? She seems to be having the hardest time."

"Yeah, ours are still manageable."

"Got it."

Haruka, who was embroidering on the backpack, indeed seemed to be having the hardest time.

"Can you hold this part and pull it? Yes, like that. Thank you."

When I held it with both hands, Haruka's hands were free, and it became much easier. The embroidery speed also increased.

The fabric used for the backpack is quite thick, but it's not tightly woven, so it doesn't require much force to pierce it with a needle.

After helping Haruka with the embroidery for a while...

"I'm done."

Natsuki was the first to finish.

Although she doesn't have the "Sewing" skill, her magic array was the smallest, so she finished quickly.

"Good job. Let's pause this for now and try adding the effect to Natsuki's bag. It will consume magic power."

"Yeah. That way, we can take a break to recover."

Since we don't know how much magic power it will consume, it's better to take a break.

"First, let's do a rehearsal. Let's confirm the procedure. First, Haruka and I will place our hands on the magic array."

"Okay."

Haruka placed her hand on the edge of the magic array, and I did the same.

"Haruka will channel magic power into the magic array to put it in standby mode. Next is Nao."

"I'll keep the 'Time Delay' spell in a state just before activation and slowly channel the magic power."

"Haruka will adjust the channeled magic power and transition the magic array to the end state when it's done."

"That's it. Got it. Just mental preparation!"

I have thoroughly read the magic book.

I've also practiced keeping the spell and controlling the magic power.

Now, it's time for the real thing.

---Can we do it? ...No, we can.

I have talent. I spent points on it!

"Let's do it. Yuki, watch carefully."

"Okay."

"Sure."

"Let's... Nn!"

After confirming that I had placed my hand, Haruka started channeling magic power into the magic array. I activated the spell at the same time.

I channeled the maximum amount of magic power I can control now, and I did it as carefully as possible.

The book says that if the control is unstable or the magic power leaks out, the performance will decrease, so I focused. However, I wasn't sure if the smooth flow of magic power was correct.

I glanced at Haruka, who was staring intently at the magic array with a serious expression, her lips tightly pressed together.

---Just a little