Chapter 173
Modifying the Magic Power Circuit engraved on an accessory was not an easy task. This was especially true for an item that had been crafted by such an artisan.
It was a realm one could barely step into, only by combining not just magical knowledge but also manual dexterity.
“Then shall I get started…”
Muttering to himself, Franz placed the necessary items on the table in the Research Lab.
A hammer and a needle, high-purity mana stone powder, and finally, the most important item, Arian’s earring.
It would be convenient to just whip it up with magic, but unfortunately, the path of crafting magic tools was not so smooth.
As Franz drew up his magic power, the items on the table floated into the air.
Ordinary accessory crafting artisans worked directly with their hands, but for Franz, moving things with magic power instead of his hands allowed for more meticulous manipulation.
Tap, tap, tap-.
The hammer lightly tapped the needle to scrape out the mana stone powder embedded in the earring.
Afterward, he modified the circuit and filled it with the prepared high-purity mana stone powder.
It was a very important task because if it caused needless interference with other circuits, he might have to modify the entire circuit of the earring.
Much time had passed like that.
Due to intense concentration, beads of sweat had formed on Franz’s forehead.
“Now this is the last of it.”
Franz drew up his magic power and completely bonded the filled mana stone powder to the earring.
The earring completed in this way definitely performed better than before. If it were put up for auction, wide-eyed Mages would try to offer their entire fortunes for it.
'It’s been a really long time since I did this, so that’s a relief.'
The last time he handled accessories was when he was earning pocket money as a child. After entering the Magic Tower, he had been busy doing chores; and after that, it was the subjugation of the Demon Lord, the duties of the Magic Tower lord, and the Goddess’s errand boy…
“Now that I think about it, this is really too much.”
How could all of those be experienced by a single person? The fact that it was currently even ongoing made his heart ache even more.
If a god saw this, they would gladly take pity and unconditionally send him to heaven, though that wasn’t necessary.
Franz stopped thinking about it, because if it was a heaven provided by the Goddess Luan, it would surely be full of strange things.
If he became an errand boy even after death, there wouldn’t be anywhere to run away to then, would there? That would be the true beginning of hell.
Anyway, today’s work was done and the earring’s adjustment finished, so it was time to call it a day.
Franz immediately left the Research Lab.
Time passed since then, and it was the next morning.
“Magic Tower master, good morning.”
Arian came to work humming a tune. Two little kids followed closely behind her, and they were none other than Seri-ah and Zeni-ah.
“Arian, you’re here earlier than usual?”
“Ah, yes. I thought I’d have a sandwich for breakfast. I met Seri-ah and Zeni-ah there too. They were both buying sandwiches.”
Arian said so and waved the paper-wrapped sandwich.
Seri-ah and Zeni-ah also had a sandwich in their hands, so it seemed the two really liked sandwiches quite a bit.
“Magic Tower master, come over here too. Let’s eat together.”
How on earth did the Magic Tower Lord’s Office turn into a dining room.
However, their actions were so natural that it was difficult to even say anything.
'Well, they bought my share too, so I’ll let it slide just for today.'
Franz thought so and approached them.
“Wait a moment. I’ll go make some tea really quickly.”
As Arian said that and stood up from her seat, Seri-ah jumped up at the same time.
“Sister, I’ll do it.”
“I’d be thankful if you did.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Seri-ah headed to the tea room with quick, short steps.
Watching her back, Franz suddenly felt a sense of anxiety.
Because he had never seen Seri-ah make tea before, even if she made tea well, he felt she would play some kind of prank.
But contrary to those concerns, there was no problem at all with the tea Seri-ah made. No, it was actually delicious.
“Seri-ah, you’re good at making tea?”
“Heh,, you can praise me a little more.”
Zeni-ah puffed out her chest and put on a triumphant expression.
Thanks to that, Franz, whose desire to praise had completely vanished, tried to sip his tea in silence, but decided instead to praise them excessively in reverse.
Because that seemed like a way to land a blow on them.
“The temperature is just right, and the timing was proper, so the flavor steeped very well. It’s especially hard to bring out this subtle sweetness, but you did a really great job.”
“R-right…! I did do… a pretty good job.”
Zeni-ah’s voice gradually decreased until it was almost a whisper at the end. It seemed she was embarrassed by the praise.
It was the moment Franz was about to rejoice at the fact that he had properly landed a blow.
“You’ve never praised me like that before…”
Arian grumbled, sticking her lips out in a pout.
'T-this wasn’t what I intended…?'
Franz panicked for a moment, but hurriedly racked his brain to come up with a secret plan.
“I just didn’t say it out loud, but I’ve always enjoyed it.”
“Really?”
“Of course. At the very least, I’ve never left any of the tea you made unfinished, right?”
“That’s true. Still, please say it out loud from now on. There’s a saying that praise can work wonders, you know.”
Her mood lifted, and Arian showed a bright smile.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.”
Franz inwardly let out a sigh of relief that nothing had happened. If Arian had sulked, he wouldn’t have been able to strike up a conversation with her for a few days, so it was a real relief.
Afterward, Franz relaxed and made a meal of the tea and sandwich. He had been feeling a bit hungry anyway, so it could be said that the timing was perfect.
After finishing the meal like that, Arian was about to stand up from her seat.
“Arian, take this.”
Franz handed the earring to her.
Receiving the earring with the snowflake-shaped ornament, Arian smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Magic Tower master. I will cherish it.”
“Just wear it comfortably. I didn’t make it for you to save it.”
“Then I’ll do that.”
Arian took off the earrings she was wearing and put on the one she received from Franz.
The combination of the ducal daughter of the House of Duke Phrygia and the blue snowflake suited her well, as expected.
“How is it? Does it look okay?”
“Yeah, it suits you well.”
“Thank you.”
Arian bowed her head in greeting.
He had merely told the truth, so there was no particular reason to receive thanks, but…
Even so, there was no reason to refuse it either. Good is good, so he could just let it pass.
That was when Franz was thinking.
“It’s unfair that only Sister gets a present.”
“That’s right. We want to wear earrings too.”
Seri-ah and Zeni-ah, who had been watching the situation from the side, grumbled.
There weren’t even pierced holes in their ears, let alone earrings.
In the first place, the two hated showing their ears. Because they had cut off their long Half-Elf ears with a knife, the scars remained.
Perhaps those wounds have healed a little by now.
“Then let’s go get your ears pierced together this weekend.”
Saying so, Arian took the two and left the Magic Tower Lord’s Office.
Even though they were a little scared, it was a relief that they seemed to follow Arian well.
“I wish they would follow me that well too, though…”
Franz grumbled inwardly and stood up from his seat because it seemed he needed to slowly prepare for work.
That afternoon, having finished his work appropriately, Franz visited the secretary’s office.
“Arian.”
“Magic Tower master? What brings you all the way here?”
Arian, who had been fighting a desperate battle with a pile of documents, tilted her head.
“I think I’ll have to step out for a moment.”
“Where are you going? Is it a woman by any chance?”
How on earth did it come to that conclusion?
He had no track record of going out to meet a woman so far, so her misunderstanding was simply unfair.
“I’m going to the Imperial Palace to report what happened in Ganiphus.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t even know that and…”
At the mention of the Imperial Palace, Arian immediately became contrite. It was because she knew how much Franz suffered at the Imperial Palace.
“Anyway, I’ll be away, so if anyone comes looking for me, just send them away appropriately.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“All right, keep up the hard work.”
With those words, Franz waved his hand and exited the secretary’s office.
Snap-.
As he snapped his fingers, a magic circle was drawn beneath his feet, and soon light flashed as his figure disappeared from the corridor.
Soon, Franz soon arrived in front of the Imperial Palace.
In his heart, he wanted to barge straight into the emperor’s Office, but he was in a position where he had to maintain minimal etiquette, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Magic Tower master? What brings you to the Imperial Palace…?”
A guard who recognized Franz immediately spoke to him.
“I have come to see Your Majesty.”
“Understood. I will open the gates immediately.”
The tightly closed gates of the Imperial Palace opened, and Franz took a step toward the other side of the gates.
Not long after that, Franz, who arrived in front of the emperor’s Office, desperately wished inwardly.
Please, I beg you, let there be no errands this time.
Of course, there was no way such a wish would come true.
“I have found the location of the Seven Great Evils.”
Ah, please.