Chapter 107
Today was my first Recovery Day since enrolling at the Royal Academy.
I got up early and was heading to the Royal Academy's main gate. Today, I was going with Longo-sensei to register them.
I had planned to walk there, but Roger insisted on bringing out a carriage and coming along, so in the end, I was riding there in a carriage.
"Roger, you really didn't have to. I could have walked."
"My job is to help Leon-sama live comfortably. There is no need for you to hold back."
Well, it was true that I had held back because I felt bad making Roger accompany me for personal reasons.
I just can't help holding back. I still can't shake my commoner's mindset. Well, I'm still a commoner now, but my lifestyle isn't common at all...
"I was holding back a little, but..."
"You need not hold back with me."
"But wouldn't you dislike it if I started giving you all sorts of instructions?"
"No. On the contrary, if you do not rely on me, I end up thinking that I am useless."
Really!?
"I've never thought of you as useless, Roger!"
"Thank you."
Roger's expression seemed to relax slightly. I'd been holding back out of consideration for him, but it had the opposite effect.
From now on, I would make a point of relying on him without holding back.
"I'll stop holding back from now on."
"Please do."
When we arrived at the Royal Academy's main gate, Longo-sensei was already waiting. I'd wanted to arrive first and wait for him!
I followed Roger out of the carriage.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Longo-sensei."
"No... That's all right, but..."
Longo-sensei looked extremely surprised. He seemed frozen with his mouth hanging open. Um... What was he surprised about?
"Longo-sensei, is something wrong?"
"No... I had heard that you were a commoner affiliated with the Townsend ducal family, Leon, but I was surprised that you are treated so favorably that they lend you a carriage with a coachman and attendant whenever you go out..."
That was what surprised him!? Come to think of it, I'd never really considered it, but even with the ducal family's backing, was this exceptionally preferential treatment?
I had no idea how it compared to other examples, but if it was enough to surprise him this much, then I must be receiving incredibly generous treatment. Well, I did feel they treated me so well that I felt guilty.
I really could never thank them enough.
"Everyone in the ducal family has been incredibly kind to me."
"It would seem so..."
"Well, there's no reason to stay here, so shall we go? Roger, thank you for bringing me this far. I'll be fine making my own way home."
"Leon-sama, I can take both you and Longo-sama to the Royal Palace in the carriage as well."
Huh? He meant he would take us all the way to the Royal Palace, not just here?
"Is that all right...?"
"Of course."
"I see... In that case, perhaps I'll accept your offer. Longo-sensei, we'll take you to the Royal Palace in the carriage, so please get in."
When I said that, Longo-sensei looked startled and began to fluster.
"N-no, I couldn't possibly ride in a carriage belonging to the ducal family..."
Was riding in a ducal carriage really such a big deal that even a noble like Longo-sensei would get this flustered?
I rode in one all the time...
"Please don't hold back. Go ahead."
When I said that, Roger opened the carriage door, and Longo climbed in looking very tense.
"E-excuse me..."
"Now then, Leon-sama, please get in as well."
"Thank you."
"Then let us depart for the Royal Palace."
After traveling in the carriage for a while, we arrived at a large building near the Royal Palace. Apparently, registrations and the like could be done in this building. Longo had been rigid with tension until we arrived; I hoped he was all right.
"We have arrived."
Roger got out first, followed by me and then Longo-sensei. The guest was supposed to get out last in situations like this. I was glad I'd learned etiquette.
Longo seemed to relax a little after getting out.
"Leon, let us go. This way."
Following Longo, we came to a somewhat large door. Inside, it was laid out much like Central Church. The only difference was that this place was a little smaller, I think.
The three of us walked to an unoccupied reception desk. It seemed the desks weren't divided by purpose here, so we could go to any of them.
"How may I help you today?"
"I would like to register an improvement to a magic tool and a technology today."
"Certainly. In that case, please allow me to show you to a private room."
The male receptionist came out from behind the counter and led us to a parlor.
"Please wait here for a moment."
Once inside the parlor, Longo-sensei and I sat on the sofa, while Roger stood behind me.
After we'd waited like that for a while, the receptionist from earlier returned with a very elderly woman and a serious-looking man who appeared to be in his forties.
"These people are in charge of magic tool registration and technology registration."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is ours."
They bowed to us, so we bowed as well and exchanged greetings.
"First, we will inspect the items themselves. Please take out the magic tool and device you wish to register."
"Certainly. However, they're the same thing, so I only have one."
Saying that, Longo placed the improved light orb on the table. It was a small rectangular box with a switch on top. If I'd seen this in a park in Japan, I would have reported it as a suspicious object.
"Leon here came up with this, so I will have Leon explain it. Go ahead, Leon."
"Certainly."
You could have told me beforehand that I would be the one explaining it!! I was shaken inside, but carefully kept it off my face as I began my explanation.
"This is an improved version of the light orb. There is a raised section and a recessed section on top. I call this the switch function. Pressing the right side of the switch makes a light orb appear, while pressing the left side makes it disappear. Please try it."
When I said that, the two of them cautiously picked up the magic tool, and the man pressed the switch first.
A light orb appeared on the ceiling.
They both looked up at the ceiling, their faces filled with surprise.
"How is this possible?"
"M-may I press the left side?"
The woman asked the man excitedly.
"G-go ahead."
"Thank you!"
This time, the woman pressed the left side of the switch.
"This is... truly a magnificent improvement! What principle does it use?"
The woman asked me. At first, I had thought she was a stern person, but now her expression was full of curiosity.
"It uses the same principle as fire-magic tools. I thought that if fire magic could be manifested away from a magic stone, the same should be possible with light."
"That is certainly true... But the flexibility of thought required to come up with that is remarkable."
"Thank you."
As we continued talking, the man, who had been overwhelmed by the woman's enthusiasm, spoke up.
"The magic tool is wonderful, but this switch function is remarkable as well. Is there a magic stone attached to the back of the iron plate?"
"Yes. Also, only the bottom of the box is made of magic iron. I thought it would be convenient to add this function to other magic tools, such as water taps and flush toilets, so I would like to register the technology."
"That is wonderful! It will make things much more convenient."
"Thank you."
The response was very positive, which was reassuring. I'd been fairly nervous, so I was glad. As I breathed a sigh of relief, the receptionist placed two sheets of paper and a pen in front of me, then asked the man and woman:
"Then, shall we proceed with the registration?"
"Of course."
"Naturally."
"Understood. Leon-sama, please fill out these forms."
"Yes."
The forms asked for a great deal of information, including my name, affiliation, current occupation, and bank account. This was definitely more thorough than the food-stall vendor's permit. Well, that was only natural.
"I've finished."
"Let me check them. ...Thank you. There are no omissions, so we will accept them as submitted."
"Thank you."
"For the improved magic tool registration, thirty percent of the usage fees will be deposited into Leon-sama's account. For the technology registration, the entire usage fee will be deposited there, so please check it regularly. The payments will be made during the first and ninth weeks of every month."
"Understood."
Now I would have money coming in regularly, so maybe I wouldn't have to worry as much about money as before!
That was a little reassuring.
"Then the registration is complete. We will take this as a sample; is that all right?"
So they were taking the magic tool I'd brought as a sample. Was that okay...?
I glanced at Longo-sensei, and he nodded, so I gave them my consent.
"Please, go ahead and take it."
"Thank you."
We left the parlor immediately afterward, bringing the registration process to a complete end.
I was glad everything had gone smoothly.