「A magic teacher?」
「Yes.」
「Hmm.」
The king, also known as the old ero, folded his arms and sank into thought.
I had dumped that matter on Papa and moved on to the urgent discussion.
I was about to head home when I received a summons from the top brass of the country.
Apparently, some of the generals had finally admitted how difficult clerical work was and raised the white flag.
As a result, the progress on the printing press we had been secretly developing suddenly became top priority.
「Why did you separate the printing characters one by one?」
The handsome prime minister brother asked while reading the explanation of the prototype.
「Because if they can be swapped around, you can create any text you want. Of course, you’ll need people to gather and arrange them, but that can create new employment for those who can read and write.
Even women and children can do the simple task of reading the letters, so it should be quite useful.」
「I see. For documents used in the castle, we could have the maids who work here handle it. If it spreads throughout the country later, doing it that way would indeed generate employment.」
Ikemen onii-chan looked deeply impressed.
But this isn’t really my own wisdom.
I’ve heard stories from old people about collecting and arranging printing stamps. That’s all.
「The problem is that although we made them through simultaneous work, only three are currently usable.
Two more are being repaired, and three others are probably better off scrapped.」
「So in practice, only three can be used.」
They’re at a level where they can “actually be used”.
I just repeated trial and error based on vague memories until I somehow reached a usable state.
After all… the only things I know about printing are copy machines at convenience stores.
The ones I worked hard to make are the result of desperately squeezing out half-remembered knowledge and recollections of woodblock printing.
「Honestly, from here on it might be faster to hand it over to people with proper technical skills and let them compete.」
「That is one option, but…」
Is there some problem? Did you actually notice that part?
My brother answered my question.
「This kind of technology will definitely be wanted by the Republic. If we spread it, that country will steal it.」
The issue of plagiarism, huh.
「Isn’t that fine? If the Republic makes a good version, we can just use it as a reference and build a new one.」
「Shouldn’t we keep the printing technology secret?」
Onii-chan looked at me in surprise. Did I say something weird?
「There’s no point in keeping it secret when the technology already exists in the western part of the continent. And since it’s the Republic we’re talking about, they probably already know about printing, right? The moment Univance starts using it, they’ll definitely copy it.」
「That makes sense.」
「Then instead of hiding it, we should loudly advertise it. If there’s a problem, it would be…」
「It would be?」
This is still in the planning stage, so I don’t really want to say it out loud.
Besides, I need magical knowledge to confirm it properly.
「I want to learn magic so I can give a definite answer. Is there anyone who can teach me?」
「Hmm. There is currently only one person qualified to teach the royal family. However, that person has moved to a regional city.」
「Why?」
The king, who had been thinking deeply, showed a sour expression.
「Her disciple… a person named Islerose. Do you know her?」
「Only the name.」
She was a woman whose name appeared in the reports of the incident from ten years ago.
She was one of the infamous witches in Univance history, feared for developing the worst kind of magic.
「Islerose loved intellectual games and, thanks to her talent, created spell formulas that no one else had ever made. She was a rare genius called the 『Witch of Spell Formations』. I thought her master would be suitable, but… the Islerose incident became the most tragic event in our history. She took responsibility for it and left the capital. She now lives in seclusion.」
「I see.」
So that also revealed the identity of the person who had moved Noie the other day.
I should prepare a wire puzzle or something next time. She’ll probably take the bait.
「Is there anyone else?」
「There are others in terms of pure ability, but when it comes to personality as well, it becomes difficult.」
「That’s troublesome.」
No choice. Time to use the last resort.
「By the way, Argusta.」
「Yes?」
The king continued with a sour look on his face.
「What exactly is your concern regarding the printing?」
Ah～. Well, whatever. Maybe if we all think about it together, something will come up.
「I’m not sure without asking a specialist, but I wondered if printing could lead to mass production of 『spell formulas』… That’s what I thought.」
That witch mentioned it, right?
『We carve the spell formula onto platinum plates and embed them inside the body.』
In theory, it should be possible to substitute paper instead. I still don’t understand the theory behind it, though.
At those words, both the king and my brother froze with difficult expressions.
「If it turns out to be possible, I think pushing it forward quickly could actually serve as a deterrent against our enemies.」
Is that the way to handle it?
But the king’s expression grew even more sour.
「It might give rise to unnecessary misunderstandings and become a spark for conflict.」
「Yes. If they realize it can be used as a weapon, the Empire will definitely make a fuss.」
Onii-chan’s point was exactly what worried me.
「That is quite possible. Schnitt.」
「Yes.」
「Immediately confirm with the court mages.」
At the king’s order, onii-chan now wore a sour expression.
「If we’re not careful, some might try to use it. Are you sure?」
「Of course. But we must confirm it. We are far too ignorant about magic.」
「Understood.」
After that, it was decided that all the currently usable printing presses would be brought into the castle.
「Huh?」
「……」
After dealing with nothing but mentally exhausting topics, I returned to the office with a slight headache.
Noie was waiting there all alone.
Sitting on the sofa in the dimly lit room, hugging her knees, she looked so fragile and incredibly cute.
「Sorry I’m late.」
「……」
Then I noticed.
The color of her eyes was different. Literally a completely different color. A deep, vivid red.
She gazed at me with sleepy eyes. Who is this?
「Nice to meet you, Prince.」
「……Who are you?」
「I believe I am the person you most wanted to meet right now.」
There was only one person who came to mind.
「……Islerose-san?」
Her answer was a faint smile, with only the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
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