Strange Tales (1)
Once, a job posting at the Central Imperial Magic Library shook the entire capital.
Citizens still remembered the sight of hundreds lining up daily.
But as with all things in the world...
Once people realized it wasn't for demonstrating a grand spell of the century, recruiting explorers for the uncharted continent beyond the Silent Sea, or—God forbid—the strip show of the great archmage Arkythia they'd half-hoped for, interest quickly faded.
It was just another ordinary day in the empire.
Weeks passed like that.
Then, strange rumors began circulating from the Adventurer's Guild.
"Hey, you hear the talk?"
"What talk?"
"That... the guild's head instructor. The guy who wrecked a pro Diamond-rank adventurer in the last Guildmaster Tournament."
"Oh yeah, I remember! Name was Eaton Charleston, right? Asked an old-timer ex-adventurer, and he said Eaton hit Platinum rank overall but had pure combat skills at Diamond level."
Eaton, who handled combat level design and quest planning for City of the Dead Mages—aka Dead Mage City—was still a big name even now.
Anyone who'd swung a sword in the capital had heard of him.
"Yeah, a legend among us folks our age. Semi-retired, so he wasn't taking commissions anymore. But word is, he's heading out on a short expedition."
"Short expedition? Where to?"
"The demon lands in the east."
"...The guild washed their hands of that place ages ago 'cause it's too dangerous."
"Exactly. We figured he just wanted one last big hurrah before full retirement! That was before the expedition roster dropped."
"What, he sweeping up every Diamond-rank in the capital?"
"Nah, even bigger names. Pioneer King Mikrel and Hunter Jacob." The friend's eyes went wide at the man's tale.
In truth, I'd skimmed their resumes, but those two were celebrities on par with Eaton and Dante.
Mikrel, the first on the continent to chart the northern polar route, explorer and navigator extraordinaire.
Jacob, who bagged a whopping 48 "Drakes"—ferocious sea dragons rivaling true dragons—and earned the title Drake Killer.
"Those three teaming up? They hunting a black dragon or something?"
"Who knows... With rumors of black mage remnants stirring, maybe they're off to clean that up."
Just the three of them grouping up was enough to rock the Adventurer's Guild.
Of course, to Yujin Feltro—who saw them as "the artist with wanderlust" and "hatchling-hunting slayer"—it went right over his head.
He was a proper mage, after all.
Inherently socially challenged types.
"And get this—Lyn Ashford put in to join too. Sixth-circle mage, disciple of the Green Tower Lord not long ago."
"Whoa..."
His friend shivered and rubbed his arms, and the excited man piled on with a juicy reaction.
"But here's the real secret—just between us, okay? They all got one thing in common...!!"
"Common what?"
"Remember that ad? The one from the Central Imperial Magic Library."
Legends who defined an era, rising stars too.
All orbiting the library.
To imperial citizens whose only dopamine hits were Path of Gold and Liana Merchant Guild's recent release Liar Malveron—the masked killer hunt game—it was hot gossip once more.
"The library? Isn't that just for mages?"
"Come on, don't be dense! The librarian there's this young mage named Yujin Feltro. Word is his skills rival an archmage."
"Not even on the council registry, and Arkythia's treating him like a treasured heirloom disciple."
"Whoa... So the expedition's really happening? Across the Silent Sea?"
"Heard it's some time-transcending spell! Lets you jump 500 years into the future!"
"No way! If that existed, Arkythia would've flipped the mage towers upside down by now!"
"Who said it's done? Probably still prepping. That's why they're going—bet it's all connected."
"Arkythia's been raising a monster. No wonder the other tower lords squirm around her."
Yujin Feltro's fame was rising without his knowledge.
But the problem was, it wasn't entirely baseless.
The source of these bizarre rumors wasn't just the Adventurer's Guild.
"Alright, let's tackle today's workload. Agenda: 32 patent applications submitted yesterday."
The Imperial Property Management Office.
This public institution oversaw all intellectual, material, and human assets in the empire.
Long under the Prime Minister—who handled imperial finances and administration—it recently added a "patent" system amid booming tech and magic.
—As the era changes rapidly, even the continent's heart, our empire, must adapt swiftly, no?
—Grant exclusive rights to the empire for first developers of tech and spells, levy patent tax on their revenues— it'll streamline and enrich our coffers.
—Oh ho, that's... quite the enticing proposal. As expected of the Golden Duke, haha!
The Prime Minister had embraced the push from Liana Merchant Guild and Golden Duke Pavel.
So, who was the top beneficiary—and most prolific filer—of this two-month-old system?
—Nothing more rewarding than filling the imperial coffers. My daughter's loyalty to the empire runs deep.
—The Golden Duke truly has exceptional heirs. But where did Liana Merchant Guild dig up this gem?
The librarian at the Central Imperial Magic Library, Yujin Feltro.
"Patent submissions. Eighteen in total."
"...Again today?"
"Lady Arkythia's back, so research is ramping up."
"Even so, fifty in two days is too much... isn't it?"
"Haha! Of course it is. Take this mana rifle—its functions vary wildly by form and structure. All deserve protection."
The clerk recoiled, but I just grinned and explained.
"See, this is the standard mana rifle."
"This one's a cavalry carbine."
"This for long-range mana rifle shots."
"And this here's the double-barrel mana shotgun. Once commercialized, the kickback will be killer."
"Aren't they all just mana rifles???"
Sigh. Tried to play nice.
As the (self-proclaimed) inventor holding all these patents, I couldn't let it slide.
I scowled at the clerk.
"What do you mean? They're all different!! Seriously, this is why magic engineering noobs can't be trusted!! Look closer!"
"...W-well, they are slightly different."
I shoved the rough blueprints and 1/4-scale Shape Memory Branch models in his face; he adjusted his glasses and conceded.
"Slightly? Their functions are totally different! You can't fire this on horseback! This one you can!"
"Understood... I'll add these to the review queue..."
"Thanks, hang in there! Probably none tomorrow!"
"R-really!!"
"Yeah, but next week? Way more. Guild's gearing up, and Master's getting serious too."
"Ah..."
"Anyway, I'm out."
I left the rollercoaster-faced clerk behind and exited the office.
Life's been delicious lately.
Yeah. This is the real isekai reincarnator perk!
No money or talent as a kid? Now I've got partners covering both in spades.
I could finally realize all those "magitech" gadgets I'd jotted as bare concepts.
Like refrigerators. Nobles-only so far.
Unlike widespread Clean spells, food chilling had niche civilian demand.
But Hanna spotted potential in my mini-fridge idea, suggested patents, and soon we were filing blueprints and models for anything plausible.
Models? Reused my game modeling assets.
Blueprints? Functions? Not my problem.
—It's the mana gun concept. A compact staff for non-mages? Load lead or iron, attach mana stones engraved with mini-explosion or compressed spray arrays—way deadlier than arrows.
—Whoa, total game-changer! Northern empire borders need weapons bad; test sales could rake in fortunes!
—Right? So make 'em.
—Huh?
—Make them. No blueprints yet.
—Eek...
Liana Merchant Guild bites, passes to dev team—alchemists and engineers crank out designs yelling "Eureka!"
Isn't this the real cheat...?
What was kid-me thinking, wasting time on crappy novels?
Liana deserved massive credit, of course.
Can't thank her enough.
Once City of the Dead Mages wrapped, I'd gift her something personal.
Details later.
Off to my next errand.
Honestly, more important than patents.
"Yujin, tomorrow's a library holiday—shall we stroll the streets together after so long? Capital's got all sorts of new spots... But if you're busy, no helping it."
"Busy, sure, but I'll make time. Was gonna ask anyway. You've treated me forever... Now I've got cash to burn! My treat this time, big time—Master!!"
"Hehe... A treat from Yujin? Looking forward to it."
First date with Master in nearly a year.