Reporting to Richard-sama

When we got back to the estate, Richard-sama had already returned home, which was unusual. Lucien and I decided to visit Richard-sama's room and give our report.

There was still more than an hour until dinner, so we had plenty of time.

"It's unusual for the two of you to have something to discuss with me. What is it?"

"Grandfather-sama, today at the magic-item research club, we succeeded in creating a Purification magic item."

When Lucien said that, Richard-sama froze, looking extremely surprised.

"What...? I knew you were researching it, but I never imagined you would succeed. It had been researched for decades, only to fail in the end..."

"Actually, we developed a method for further increasing the mana efficiency of magic items, and using that method, we made the Purification magic item practical."

"You managed to increase the mana efficiency of magic items!? Is this a method that can be applied to magic of every attribute?"

"Yes. We still need to conduct various tests, but we have confirmed that it can be applied to other attributes. However, there was no one with the Earth or Wind attributes, so we haven't tested those yet. Marcel-dono came to the research club today, but he said we should report this before proceeding with further testing. That's why we're reporting it to you, Grandfather-sama. Stefan-sama and Martine-sama are reporting to His Majesty."

The magic-item research club has a lot of people with the Recovery attribute and very few with other attributes. The Recovery attribute is supposed to be the rarest in general, so it's an unusual research club.

"I see... In any case, thank you for reporting this. I don't know much about it yet, since I haven't seen the actual item, but it seems best to avoid making it public without careful consideration. How much has the mana efficiency increased?"

"The Purification magic item increased it by more than tenfold, but some of the other attributes had an even greater effect. Fire was about twentyfold, I think."

"Twenty times!?"

Richard-sama shouted and stood up from the sofa. Was it really that shocking...? Well, I suppose it was. We could now use twenty times as much magic as before. When I thought about it that way, perhaps we had created something incredibly dangerous.

"Is that really true!?"

"Yes. However, we're still in the middle of testing, so it may increase even further."

"I-I see... Even further..."

This time, Richard-sama muttered those words before sinking weakly into the sofa.

Was it really that shocking? We had been more overwhelmed by the joy of finally succeeding, and hadn't considered objectively how incredible this was.

"In any case, could you make one here and now? The magic stones and magic iron can be prepared immediately."

"I don't have much mana left, but Leon can make one."

Lucien declared that confidently as he looked at me. Lucien thinks my mana is infinite, doesn't he? Technically, my mana can run out too, you know. Though I'm still perfectly fine for now.

"Yes. I still have plenty of mana, so I can make one."

"Then try making one."

After saying that, Richard-sama called in an attendant and had him prepare magic stones and magic iron. I've always wondered about this, but does this estate keep magic stones and magic iron in stock?

Well, this was the ducal household, and Richard-sama was the chancellor, so perhaps it made sense for them to keep such things in stock. Still, no one seemed to have a hobby of making magic items.

"Then, Leon-kun, could you try making one?"

"Certainly."

From there, I explained how it was constructed while making it. It wasn't particularly difficult to make, so it was finished in no time.

"This functions like a single magic stone. It currently consists of five magic stones, but by testing different numbers, we may be able to improve its effectiveness even further."

As I said that, I handed it to Richard-sama.

"How did you ever think of this? For this to increase mana efficiency twentyfold... It's truly remarkable technology. However, spreading it could have harmful effects as well. Have the two of you realized that?"

"Yes. Marcel-dono told us. It could make it easier to destroy evidence of crimes and increase the number of casualties in wars and other conflicts, for example?"

"Exactly. Those are the things that immediately come to mind. Of course, there are many benefits as well. Once the Purification magic item becomes practical, sewage treatment and the disposal of noncombustible waste will become considerably easier. In addition, the fact that various magic items will need to have their mana replenished less often would be a major convenience."

So those were the benefits after all.

"However, we must also consider the drawbacks. The greatest problem would be the creation of attack magic items and their use in conflicts. However, magic stones and magic iron are controlled by the royal family, so considering that, this could also be an advantageous technology for the royal family."

That was how it turned out, I suppose. Whoever controlled the materials would have a considerable advantage. But it wasn't as if the other side would have no way of obtaining them. They could also modify the magic items they already possessed. Magic items were readily available for purchase among the nobility, after all.

"As for destroying evidence of crimes, people have already been using Purification to eliminate poison. Someone with a large amount of mana can eliminate a truly small amount of poison. Therefore, this would not change things all that much from how they are now."

After saying that, Richard-sama fell silent and seemed to be organizing his thoughts. He was probably considering whether it was all right to spread this technology.

While Richard-sama was thinking, I thought about poison. I had been meaning to test whether Recovery magic could remove poison, but I still hadn't tried it.

That was because I would have to eat poison to find out whether it could be removed with Recovery magic. The thought had depressed me so much that I kept putting it off. Even a weak poison strong enough to upset my stomach would be painful...

...Wait. But the Sterilization magic item could remove bacteria from eggs, right? If so, couldn't it remove poison before I ate it? For that matter, aren't bacteria and poison basically the same thing?

Why hadn't I realized that before...? From now on, I should try channeling Recovery-attribute mana through anything before I eat it. There was no need to fear being poisoned after all!

Could I make a magic item like that too? The Sterilization magic item had such poor mana efficiency that its applications had to be limited. But with the magic-stone linking technology, we could make a magic item that removed everything harmful to the human body.

And that magic item would probably remove poison too... Why hadn't I realized this until now?

Maybe I should make this magic item and give it to Richard-sama and Alexis-sama. They probably had food tasters, but using a magic item in addition to that should make things even safer.

Once I had sorted out my thoughts and raised my head, I found Richard-sama staring at me, and our eyes met.

Um... had he been waiting for me!?

"Um, were you waiting for me? I'm sorry..."

"No, it's all right. But what were you thinking about so intently?"

"Our earlier discussion about poison reminded me of magic that can remove it... I may be able to make a magic item that removes poison."

"Another new piece of information..."

Richard-sama said that and gazed off into the distance. I had burdened Richard-sama with far too much... I'm sorry, Richard-sama!