Chapter 7
◆ Disposal of Flowers
In the production of perfume, the disposal of flowers had grown into a massive burden.
The disposal cost included transportation fees, labor, and depreciation.
Yoshio had been wondering whether there was any way to reduce those expenses.
And in this world, paper was extremely expensive.
That was when he began to consider whether the discarded flowers could be repurposed.
Behind the workshop, mountains of flower remnants from perfume production were piled up—stems, leaves, scraps of petals, and faded blossoms.
Until now, they had been loaded onto wagons and taken to a disposal site, where they were burned or buried.
Each trip required two wagons, and the combined transport and labor cost exceeded one hundred G.
Yoshio stared at the pile, deep in thought. There was an abundance of discarded flowers, and they were moist and fibrous.
Modern paper was made from wood pulp—but what if he could use these flower remnants instead?
Paper in this world was costly. Parchment and wooden tablets were common, while plant‑based paper was a luxury only nobles and wealthy merchants could afford.
If he could create inexpensive paper from flowers, it would open a new business opportunity.
The problem was the manufacturing method. Yoshio had no knowledge of papermaking.
But this world had magic.
Could he use magic to break down the flower fibers, beat them, and stretch them thin and evenly?
The next day, Yoshio visited Gardos again.
“Master Gardos, I want to make paper from discarded flowers. Do you know any good method?”
Gardos frowned.
“Paper from flowers? Never heard of such a thing.”
The old mage asked Yoshio for a detailed explanation.
After hearing Yoshio’s rough idea—moist fibrous flower waste, loosened and spread evenly with magic—Gardos fell silent for a moment.
“…In theory, it isn’t impossible. Wind magic could unravel the fibers, and water magic could maintain moisture while compressing them.
Essentially, magical papermaking. But there’s a problem.”
Gardos raised one finger.
“Simultaneous control of wind and water. You’d need to continuously channel two attributes of magic with delicate precision. I can do it, but mass production is impossible.”
Then his eyes sharpened.
“…Wait. You infused magic into those perfumes, didn’t you? What if you made a device that applies magic in the same way?
Embed magic stones and automate the process. No need for skilled craftsmen—mass production becomes feasible.”
A magic‑powered papermaking machine.
In modern terms, something like a magic‑driven pulp processor.
If realized, flower disposal costs would drop to zero, and a new market for cheap paper would open.
Yoshio leaned forward at Gardos’s proposal.
“That’s it! Please—will you help me develop it?”
Gardos snorted.
“Hmph, you bite quickly. Very well. I was getting bored anyway.”
◆ Magic‑Powered Papermaking Device
And so, the joint development of the magic‑powered papermaking device began.
Yoshio had experience with magic infusion, and Gardos possessed the theoretical knowledge to control dual‑attribute magic.
It was a good division of roles.
A week later, the first prototype was installed in the workshop.
It was a wooden box about one meter tall, with two magic stones embedded inside and an opening at the top for inserting flower remnants.
Its power source was a magic stone charged by Yoshio, giving it a runtime of about three hours.
In the experiment, the discarded flowers were first soaked in water to soften the fibers.
Then wind and water magic were channeled into the mixture simultaneously.
From the bottom of the box, thin sheet‑like material peeled off.
The thickness was far from uniform, but it was undeniably paper.
Gardos muttered, “Hmm… it works.”
But problems soon appeared.
If the wind magic was too strong, the fibers tore apart; too weak, and they wouldn’t loosen.
Too much water caused the paper to swell, while too little left the fibers tangled.
Finding the optimal balance required trial and error.
Yoshio and Gardos stayed at the workshop for several days, improving the prototype.
Two weeks later, they finally completed a papermaking device they were satisfied with.
When flower petals were fed into it, thin, sturdy sheets of washi‑like paper emerged at a steady pace.
The mechanism operated automatically, powered by a magical tool that supplied a constant flow of magic.
This magical tool was also developed jointly by the two of them.
It was Gardos’s idea: by sandwiching a magic‑infused metal plate between the supply magic stones, the output magic remained stable.
“It worked better than I expected.”
“It really did! I can’t believe it turned out this well… Gardos, you’re a genius!”
Yoshio praised him with shining eyes.
Gardos cleared his throat and looked away, though the slight upward curl of his lips betrayed him.
“Genius is overstating it. But… it’s not a bad piece of work.”
The completed device exceeded expectations.
From inserting the flower waste to producing sheets of paper took about thirty minutes.
Each batch yielded around twenty sheets.
The quality resembled washi—lighter and sturdier than parchment—and the cost was estimated to be less than one‑tenth.
When they tested writing on the paper, the ink adhered well.
It was perfectly suitable for documents, ledgers, and memo sheets.
The workshop immediately began using it for estimates and delivery forms.
Soon, Gustav from the Merchant Guild rushed over after hearing about the new paper.
He picked up a sheet.
“This… cheaper and lighter than parchment. And you can produce it in large quantities? Lord Yoshio, you’ve created something extraordinary!”
◆ Recycling
“We will sell this high‑quality paper to the royal palace and noble households.
And since we are already working on methods for mass production, we plan to eventually make paper available to common citizens as well.”
Gustav could barely contain his excitement.
“If paper reaches the common folk, commerce will be transformed! Contracts, invoices, inventory records—every document will be on paper. For a merchant, this is the greatest news imaginable!”
He was already drawing up business plans in his mind, firing off rapid‑fire questions about wholesale pricing and distribution routes.
Meanwhile, rumors of the paper reached the royal palace.
When Princess Martina held a sample in her hands, she marveled at its thinness and durability, and immediately reported it to the king.
A few days later, an official letter arrived from the palace.
The king himself wished to hear a direct explanation regarding the paper’s quality and its potential for mass production.
This time, not only Yoshio but also Gardos was summoned.
The meeting took place not in the audience chamber but in a reception room.
The king, a man in his mid‑fifties, had an imposing presence but was clearly reasonable.
Beside him stood the Minister of Finance.
The king placed the test sheet on the table.
“This was made from flowers?”
Yoshio bowed slightly.
“What we are currently considering is mass production of paper.
A manufacturing device powered by magic stones that provide stable magical output.
As for materials, we are exploring whether paper can be made from the husks of barley, wheat, or rice.
Grain husks are discarded in enormous quantities.
If we can recycle them, it would serve two purposes at once.”
The king leaned forward.
“Recycle?”
Beside him, the Minister of Finance narrowed his eyes behind his glasses.
The concept of “recycling” did not exist in this world.
Waste was burned, buried, or simply thrown away.
The idea of collecting discarded material and reusing it as a resource clearly shocked the two statesmen.
In a low voice, the minister said:
“Grain husks are discarded in vast amounts in rural villages.
If they can be turned into paper… the cost of raw materials would be nearly zero.”
He touched his chin thoughtfully.
“The annual barley harvest across the kingdom reaches several million sacks.
The husks alone would be considerable. …Now, regarding the manufacturing device and magic stones.”
The king turned his gaze to Gardos.
The old mage bowed and spoke.
“If we improve the current device, it can be adapted for grain husks as well.
However, since husks have tougher fibers than flowers, the wind magic will need to be strengthened.
If granted two weeks, we can produce a prototype.”
The king nodded, satisfied.
“Very well. I will provide the necessary funds and personnel. Proceed.”
◆ Adjusting Magic Output
After leaving the royal palace, Yoshio consulted Gardos.
He wanted to develop a device that could extract a controlled, constant amount of magic from a magic stone.
If the device could display the magic output and allow adjustment with a dial, infusing magic into potions would become much easier.
It would also allow other workers—not just Yoshio—to handle the process.
And it would be useful for papermaking as well.
Gardos scratched his forehead.
“What goes on in that head of yours? One idea after another…”
His tone was exasperated, but his eyes were smiling.
He leaned back deeply in his chair, tapping the desk with his fingers as he thought.
“Extracting and controlling magic, huh. Essentially a faucet.
Install a valve on the magic flowing out of the magic stone, and adjust the amount with a dial.
The theory is simple—the precision is the problem.”
Until now, magic stones had only two states: use or use up.
No device existed that could maintain a controlled, intermediate output.
Even Gardos himself infused magic by touching the stone directly and adjusting the amount by feel.
“But you made a magic‑infusion device before, didn’t you?
If we apply the magic‑supply mechanism from that… it might work.”
The device Yoshio had previously created for infusing magic into perfume had a mechanism that drew a fixed amount of magic from a magic stone.
However, it had no adjustment function—it simply released a constant flow.
If they added a flow‑control mechanism, it could become the prototype of a magic‑output regulator.
“But there’s a problem,” Gardos added.
“The parts for the adjustment mechanism require mithril silver—high magic conductivity. And we don’t have any.”
“Where can we get mithril silver?”
Gardos folded his arms.
“The northern mining town, Nordis. It’s the only place where mithril ore is found.
And only a handful of craftsmen can refine it.”
Nordis was a mountainous town about five days by wagon from the capital, known for its blacksmiths and mining industry.
However, rumors said monsters had begun appearing around the town recently, disrupting logistics.
The Merchant Guild’s bulletin board had been filled with escort requests.
“There’s one more issue,” Gardos continued.
“On the road to Nordis, there have been sightings of wyverns in the mountain pass.
The Adventurers’ Guild should have posted a subjugation request.”
Wyverns—winged dragons the size of a wagon—were dangerous monsters known for attacking trade caravans with fiery breath from the air.
Even a B‑rank adventurer party struggled against them.
Traveling without an escort would be tantamount to suicide.
◆ Wyvern
“A wyvern, huh… Do we have any hunters? I’d like to hire one as an escort.”
Yoshio turned to Silky, the maid in Gardos’s household.
The tall, silver‑haired maid bowed quietly.
“If it’s a hunter you need, I know of someone.
An adventurer who once stayed at this estate mentioned he was looking for escort work toward Nordis.”
Silky continued in her calm tone.
“His name is Leon. A B‑rank swordsman, leader of the party Fangs of Dawn.
Four members—two frontliners and two in the rear.
They’re based in this city, so if you post the request through the guild, they should accept.”
Gardos stood up.
“Leon, huh. That guy’s reliable.”
The next day, Yoshio officially posted the escort request at the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Round‑trip escort to Nordis. Reward: 500 G per person per day.”
By midday, a response arrived—Fangs of Dawn accepted. Departure was set for the next morning.
Departure
The following morning, four adventurers gathered in front of the workshop.
A red‑haired young man extended his hand.
“So you’re the client? I’m Leon. Good to work with you.”
Yoshio called out mentally: Is there a way to tame a wyvern?
The familiar voice answered inside his consciousness.
Heaven’s Voice, calm and matter‑of‑fact:
“Wyverns are intelligent and highly sensitive to power hierarchy.
If you demonstrate overwhelming strength or make them acknowledge you as a superior, they may submit.
Possible methods include:
Confront directly and intimidate with magic.
Disable their flight by targeting wings or legs with magic‑infused attacks.
Weaken them with magic‑infused bait or potions, then apply a subjugation spell.
Negotiate with the leader of the flock and join under its banner.
In all cases, you must be capable of neutralizing a wyvern alone.”
In other words, whether escorts were necessary depended entirely on Yoshio.
If he subdued the wyvern himself, the escort would be pointless—though the party would still expect payment.
Yoshio asked Leon to add an archer and a mage to the escort team, and to attach magic stones to the arrowheads.
He also requested a large net and ropes.
Leon tilted his head.
“Magic stones on arrows? Strange request… but fine. If it improves our odds, I won’t complain. I’ll get the net and ropes too.”
Three days later, an elven archer named Leena and a young mage named Tomas joined the party.
Both were B‑rank and highly capable.
Small magic stones were tied to the arrowheads—when struck with magic, they would explode on impact.
The net and ropes were loaded onto the wagon, and the six‑person group departed the capital.
Encounter in the Canyon
The northern road grew more mountainous, and by the fourth day, they entered a canyon flanked by steep cliffs.
The wagon driver suddenly pulled the reins.
“Sir! Look!”
A massive shadow circled above the cliff.
Its wingspan exceeded ten meters.
A red‑black scaled wyvern glared down at them with golden eyes.
Leon drew his sword.
“It’s here! Everyone, take positions!”
Yoshio instructed the group to watch the sky carefully and, when the wyvern approached, to infuse magic into the stones and aim for the wings.
The party moved the wagon into the shelter of a rock outcrop and formed a defensive line.
Leon and the other frontliner guarded the front, while Leena and Tomas watched the sky from the rear.
The wyvern circled lower and lower, evaluating its prey.
Its roar shook the air, and the horses panicked.
Leena drew her bowstring tight.
“It’s coming closer… just a bit more.”
The moment the wyvern entered a dive, Leena released her arrow.
Tomas infused magic into the stone, and the arrow shone white as it struck the wing joint.
A burst of light.
Part of the wing membrane burned away, and the wyvern faltered mid‑air.
But it was far from a fatal blow.
Its enraged roar echoed through the canyon, flames swirling in its throat.
“Brace yourselves! It’s going to breathe!”
A torrent of fire blasted toward the wagon.
Thanks to the rock cover, they avoided a direct hit, but the heat wave sent the horses into a frenzy.
The wyvern’s slowed wing movements made this the perfect moment to throw the net.
Leon shouted, and the two frontliners hurled the net.
The damaged wing prevented the wyvern from dodging.
The net tangled around it, and Yoshio rushed forward, channeling magic into the ropes.
Where the rope touched, the wyvern’s body convulsed.
It thrashed its tail, but the combined restraint of net and rope immobilized its wings and legs.
Its mouth was bound, leaving it only muffled growls.
Leon panted.
“You’re kidding… we actually caught it.”
Leena lowered her bow.
“I can’t believe it. We were supposed to weaken it first, then capture it with the net…”
The wyvern continued struggling, the ropes creaking ominously.
If this continued, they might snap.
Yoshio recalled the knowledge from the summoned voice.
If he wanted to establish dominance, now was the moment.
He unleashed a subjugation spell.
Magic burst from his palm, enveloping the wyvern.
Golden light crawled across its massive body, sinking into each scale.
The wyvern’s eyes widened—fear and confusion flickering in its golden pupils.
Its tail stopped thrashing, its wings drooped.
After several seconds of silence, it released a low rumbling roar and bowed its head to the ground.
Submission.
When the light faded, the once‑raging wyvern lay still, eyes closed, completely docile.
A subjugation mark appeared on its forehead.
Leon froze, sword in hand.
“…What?”
Tomas adjusted his glasses repeatedly.
“That was… a subjugation spell, right? You subdued a wyvern alone?”
Leena’s long ears twitched.
“Impossible. Normally it takes multiple casters performing a ritual.”
Leon shook his head.
“Hold on—wait. We’re the escorts, right? Did we even do anything?”
“Your cooperation made this possible. Thank you.
Since the wyvern is now subdued, you may remove the net and ropes.”
Leon snorted as he untangled the net.
“Cooperation, huh… well, let’s say we earned our pay.”
Freed from the ropes, the wyvern slowly lifted its head and looked at Yoshio.
Its ferocity had vanished—replaced by a dog‑like obedience.
It nudged Yoshio’s hand with its snout, letting out a soft, affectionate rumble.
Leena stepped back.
“No way! That wyvern is acting cute!”
Tomas scribbled notes with trembling hands.
“This is… academically priceless…”
The net and ropes could now serve as a means of transport.
If they tethered the wyvern to the wagon, they might even fly to Nordis.
A five‑day journey on foot could become a one‑day flight.
The group boarded the wagon again, but traveling with a massive wyvern overhead shocked everyone they passed.
Merchants on the road collapsed in fear, and innkeepers stared slack‑jawed from windows.
Yoshio had once dreamed of subduing a wolf—but never imagined he would tame a wyvern.
Once they reached Nordis, they would begin mining mithril silver.
◆ Rock Lizards
By the evening of the next day, the town of Nordis came into view.
Stone buildings clung to the mountainside, and white smoke rose constantly from countless chimneys.
At the town’s entrance stood an iron gate shaped like a blacksmith’s hammer.
But as they approached, signs of trouble became obvious.
Part of the outer wall had collapsed and was left half‑repaired.
Twice the usual number of armed guards stood at the gate, tension thick in the air.
Yoshio stepped down from the wagon.
“Looks like the rumors were true—monster attacks have been ongoing.”
One guard raised his spear at the sight of the wyvern, but upon noticing the subjugation mark, he hurriedly lowered his weapon.
Inside the town, miners rushed about, and shouts mixed with angry arguments spilled out from the tavern.
It seemed a monster nest had formed deep inside the mining tunnels, halting operations.
After securing lodging, they visited a blacksmith workshop called Silver Pit.
A white‑bearded dwarf emerged from the back—he introduced himself as the only craftsman capable of refining mithril.
He pointed a thick finger at Yoshio.
“You want mithril? You’ll need more than a handful. What’s it for?”
Yoshio explained that it was for a device to regulate magic extraction from magic stones.
The dwarf narrowed his eyes.
“A magic‑output regulator? Never heard of such a thing.”
But despite his confusion, the craftsman—Dorg—was clearly intrigued.
“Well, whatever. Sounds interesting. How much do you need?”
They needed about five kilograms of refined mithril silver.
According to Gardos’s estimate, that would be enough.
Dorg calculated the cost and replied:
“Ten thousand G, including refining.”
He stroked his beard.
“But there’s a problem. The mine’s blocked. A bunch of Rock Lizards have taken up residence deep inside the tunnels.
Several miners have been injured.
Clear them out, and I’ll waive the refining fee.”
Rock Lizards—large lizard‑type monsters that camouflage as stone.
Their tough scales made them difficult to cut, and they moved in packs.
The narrow tunnels made fighting them even harder.
Leon chimed in.
“So this is an additional request, huh?”
He shrugged.
“Honestly, they’re a pain. Hard scales, they swarm, and in tight tunnels they can’t use breath attacks—but neither can we. We’ll have to chip away at them.”
Leena raised a finger.
“But magic‑stone arrows might work. If the magic pierces their scales, we can finish them quickly.”
Tomas nodded.
“My fire magic can be focused in narrow spaces. If it’s one at a time, I can handle it.”
The four adventurers began planning with practiced ease.
Frontliners would pin down one target while the rear attacked with magic and magic‑stone arrows.
Simple but reliable.
The problem was the numbers.
Dorg had said there were at least ten.
To the Mine Tunnel
The next morning, fully equipped, the group stood at the mine entrance.
The torchlit tunnel grew darker the deeper they went, damp air clinging to their skin.
After a dozen steps, a section of the wall shifted slightly.
Leon whispered:
“Stop. Three rocks ahead just moved.”
Leena readied her bow with a magic‑stone arrow.
Magic flowed into the bow, forming a pale blue glow.
They waited until the Rock Lizards fully revealed themselves.
Silence tightened the air.
Shadows writhed with each flicker of the torches.
Three lumps of “rock” slowly peeled away from the wall.
Beneath them emerged gray lizards about two meters long.
Vertical yellow eyes locked onto the group, emitting a grating hiss.
The other two separated from the wall and crept forward.
Leon opened his right hand silently—don’t shoot yet.
He waited for the moment all three were fully exposed.
One Rock Lizard raised its head in a threat display.
A small patch of soft skin appeared at its throat.
Leena whispered:
“Now.”
Leena and Yoshio released their arrows simultaneously.
Twin streaks of light tore through the tunnel, striking the lead Rock Lizard’s throat and torso.
Scales burst apart, fluids splattering.
It died before it could even scream.
The remaining two charged with enraged roars.
Tomas began chanting.
Leon lunged from the side, driving his sword deep into one lizard’s neck gap.
The other was engulfed by Tomas’s fireball and fled deeper into the tunnel ablaze.
Leon twisted his blade, carving through the vulnerable spot.
Blood sprayed across the tunnel walls as the second lizard collapsed.
Just then, a rumbling vibration echoed from deeper inside.
The rest had heard their comrades’ death cries.
Leena nocked another arrow.
“There’s more coming. Five or six.”
Tomas wiped sweat from his brow.
“The tunnel narrows ahead. Only two can stand side by side.”
The ceiling lowered as they advanced, the floor turning into exposed bedrock.
Leon wiped his sword clean and took the lead.
Something shifted in the darkness beyond the torchlight.
He halted.
“Ambush. Around the bend.”
Tomas prepared another fire spell.
Leena retied the magic stone to her arrow.
Yoshio infused magic into the next shot.
They had to thin the numbers with the next strike—otherwise the narrow tunnel would become chaos.
The moment Tomas’s chant echoed, Yoshio fired.
His shot pierced one Rock Lizard’s head, dropping it instantly.
“Leena, Leon—go!”
Leena’s magic‑stone arrows followed.
One struck a lizard’s flank; the other missed and embedded in the ceiling.
Tomas’s fireball hit another behind the fallen one, sending it thrashing in flames.
The remaining three were overwhelmed by Leon and the other frontliner.
In the cramped tunnel, the Rock Lizards couldn’t maneuver.
One had its wing‑like limbs severed, and the last was crushed under Leon’s boot.
Silence returned.
The air reeked of burnt flesh and blood.
Leon steadied his breathing.
“Confirmed. All ten.”
Tomas slumped against the wall.
“I’m completely out of magic…”
Leena peered into her quiver.
“Only two arrows left. The trip back is going to be scary.”
◆ Refining Mithril
They had fulfilled their promise to Dorg.
All that remained was to refine the mithril silver and bring it back to the capital.
But when they returned to Dorg’s workshop, the old dwarf shook his head.
“To refine mithril, I need three magic stones burning in the furnace.
With all the monster trouble lately, my stockpile’s run dry.”
“Do you have any used magic stones?
I can infuse magic into them.”
Dorg’s eyes widened.
“Infuse magic… into a magic stone?
Never heard of such a thing.”
Still skeptical, he rummaged through the back of the workshop and returned with five spent magic stones.
Each was completely drained of magic—transparent and useless.
Normally they would be discarded or crushed into fertilizer.
He lined them up on the counter.
“These are worthless as they are. Do whatever you want.”
Five empty magic stones sat before Yoshio.
According to the summoned knowledge, if he infused magic while converting its attribute, they could be reused as elemental magic stones.
But there was one issue:
Dorg’s refining furnace required fire‑attribute magic stones.
Yoshio had no affinity for fire magic.
However, he did possess a fire spirit stone.
If used as a catalyst, it might allow him to generate fire‑attribute magic.
Dorg folded his arms.
“If you can pull this off, it’ll be impressive.
If you fail, I won’t complain. Go on—try it.”
Yoshio placed the five empty magic stones and the fire spirit stone on the workbench.
The spirit stone glowed faintly red.
Following the summoned knowledge, he first drew magic from the fire spirit stone.
Red light gathered at his fingertips.
Using it as a catalyst, he poured magic into the empty stones.
The spirit stone acted as a filter, giving the infused magic the nature of fire.
The first stone began to glow red.
Then the second, the third—each a success.
During the fourth, the magic wavered, but Yoshio refocused and completed the infusion.
Dorg leaned forward.
“Hey… you’re actually doing it.
And the purity—this is incredible.”
All five stones were fully charged.
They now functioned perfectly as fire‑attribute magic stones.
Dorg held one up to the light.
“This is remarkable.
Even a magic‑stone craftsman couldn’t achieve purity like this.
All right—just as promised, I’ll refine your mithril.
It’ll be ready by tomorrow morning.”
When Yoshio reported to the others, Tomas’s hands trembled with excitement.
Reusing magic stones was an academically groundbreaking discovery.
He begged to include it in his guild report, but the decision was Yoshio’s to make.
◆ The Completed Potion
The next morning, after receiving the refined mithril silver, Yoshio and the adventurers mounted the wyvern and began the journey home.
As the sunrise lit the mountains of Nordis, Dorg delivered the promised five kilograms of mithril silver.
The silvery‑white metal gleamed with a weight far greater than its appearance suggested.
Attaching the wagon and cargo to the wyvern took half a day, but the subdued wyvern obeyed every instruction quietly.
They fitted a simple harness made from nets and ropes to its wings and placed a wooden board on its back as a makeshift saddle.
Leon and the others were skeptical—until the wyvern lifted off smoothly, prompting cheers.
Leena gazed down from the sky.
“I’ve never seen a view like this…”
The wyvern beat its wings powerfully, soaring over the mountain range toward the capital.
Below stretched vast forests, winding rivers, and scattered villages.
A five‑day journey on foot was reduced to half a day.
The wind was cold, but the flight was comfortable.
By late afternoon, the southern gate of the capital came into view.
They landed in the grasslands outside the walls, and although the gate guards rushed over with weapons drawn, they froze in astonishment upon seeing the wyvern’s subjugation mark.
Leon stepped onto the ground and groaned.
“I’m never taking an escort job like this again. My heart won’t survive it.”
After reporting to the guild and settling the payment, Yoshio delivered the mithril silver to the Gardos Company.
Six days remained.
With the blueprints and magic stones ready, only the assembly of the regulation device was left.
The magic‑output regulator was completed.
It took trial and error, but the final device exceeded expectations.
Using it, Yoshio trained the workshop workers in infusing magic into beauty potions.
Thanks to the device, anyone could now produce high‑quality beauty potions with ease.
Each time magic flowed through the mithril silver, it pulsed with a silver glow, smoothly handling the extraction and conversion of magic from the stones.
The prototype had nearly gone out of control several times, but adjustments stabilized its operation.
The final device was a one‑meter‑tall cylinder with a slot at the top for inserting magic stones and a dial on the side to adjust output.
The workers were hesitant at first, but since the device automatically regulated the magic flow, every potion came out with identical quality regardless of who operated it.
Yoshio held a finished potion up to the light.
“Excellent. Uniform magic concentration, no inconsistencies. This can be sold as a luxury product.”
Beauty potion sales began at the planned price, and orders flooded in from the first day.
Noblewomen and daughters of wealthy merchants rushed to buy them, and the Gardos storefront was soon covered wall‑to‑wall with reservation lists.
As promised, Gardos continued paying Yoshio twenty percent of the profits.
He also formally requested Yoshio to join the company as an advisor.
On the evening of the ninth day, Yoshio returned to his rented house.
A sealed envelope from the guild lay on his desk.
Inside was a short message—and a letter of recommendation signed by the guildmaster.
"Please let me know if there are any mistakes in the translation."