Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Fountain Pen (6)
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The fountain pen sales were progressing better than expected.
For one, Pretina and Esili had shown interest, but more importantly, Professor Herman's sales efforts had paid off.
"Edn! About thirty people expressed interest. If we let them try it out before the official sale, that'll be even better, right?"
"That's great. I showed it to Pretina and Esili. They seemed interested."
The professor didn't seem particularly surprised.
"I see. Well, they've been hanging around you since the academy days. But you didn't happen to give a handkerchief to one of them—"
"Don't talk nonsense, Professor."
This time, I shot back immediately, unlike before.
He frowned at my expression and averted his gaze, looking sheepish.
"Ahem, sorry about that. Anyway, what are you going to do now? Since you're already in the capital, why not build some connections or at least sightsee a bit?"
Connections, huh.
To be honest, talking to people is a bit tough for me.
Friends are fine, but building rapport with strangers is mentally exhausting.
So I shook my head.
"Building connections is a bit much. I'll just do some sightseeing before I go. Who knows? I might get some inspiration."
"Got it. Then I'll hurry back to ramp up fountain pen production."
With that, we parted ways.
The professor planned to meet a few more nobles for sales pitches before heading to the factory.
As for me, I was doing exactly as I said—sightseeing the capital.
With Biena, of course.
"Whoa, this is the capital, alright. So many wonders."
"Indeed. It feels even more varied than before."
The capital, which I hadn't visited in a long time, was full of even more marvels than I remembered.
For example, artifacts had become more refined, or products made with my inventions were on display.
Just to clarify, the invention in question here wasn't the engine I mentioned earlier.
It was mana alloy.
This was the alloy I developed specifically for making my engines.
Back when I was working on the engines, I needed something sturdy yet cheap, lightweight with guaranteed productivity.
But nothing on the market satisfied me.
Mana alloys existed before, but they varied by smithy, and high-quality ones were hard to find.
So, through the professor, I got introduced to a smithy.
After days of research with the blacksmiths there, we established the mana alloy standard.
Thanks to that, low-quality alloys vanished, productivity rose, and prices stabilized.
"I heard about it from the professor back then."
At the time, I just thought, "Oh, really?" and moved on.
But seeing the capital now, I could tell my hard work had paid off.
While wandering the capital like that, I spotted something truly intriguing.
It was a pendant-shaped artifact—something you don't see every day.
"What is this?"
As I examined the pendant, the resting merchant approached me.
He apologized with a salesman's smile tinged with regret.
"Oh dear, young noble. This item isn't for sale."
What kind of talk was that?
I gave him a puzzled look, and he rubbed his hands together, flashing yellowed teeth.
"That pendant has been bought by many people over the years, but every single one has come back to me."
"A cursed pendant? Did the buyers die or something?"
A cursed item?
That sounded a bit ominous.
But the merchant shook his head, saying it was only half-true.
"They didn't die. But they all returned it in a panic of fear. They even said I didn't need to refund them."
What, some illusion magic engraved on it?
Pendant artifacts aren't common anyway, so maybe I should grab it.
"I'll buy it."
"But..."
The merchant gave an awkward smile, looking troubled.
But my curiosity was just as strong, so I had to have it.
I glanced at Biena, who had been standing quietly behind me.
Sorry, Biena, but I need to use you a bit here.
"Biena. Help me out a little."
"How, young master?"
I whispered softly, and she tilted her head.
I told her just to go along with me, then placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Y-Young master...?!"
"Haha, I really want to gift it to her."
I draped my arm around Biena's shoulders and pulled her close.
A flustered squeak came from below, but I just smiled.
"How can I say no to that? I'll pay any price."
"Urgh."
The merchant groaned as if agonizing over it.
He looked down thoughtfully for a moment, then sighed.
"If you're that set on it, fine. Just one gold coin."
"That's really all?"
"Yes. It'll probably come back anyway."
Man, this merchant was practically cursing it.
Of course, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible, so I handed over the gold coin obediently.
The merchant took the money with a delighted smile and waved goodbye.
I greeted him back and turned away with Biena.
As we walked a short distance, Biena spoke in a trembling voice.
"Y-Young master. You can let go now..."
"Ah, sorry."
I released my arm, revealing her face flushed bright red.
I felt really bad, like I'd done something awful.
"S-Sorry, for real."
"N-No, it's fine. I was just surprised."
Biena placed a hand on her chest and took a small breath.
I waited without disturbing her until she calmed down.
In the meantime, maybe I should inspect the pendant?
I peered into the pendant I'd bought from the merchant.
The pendant itself was beautiful, but the mana circuits and structure engraved on it were even more exquisite.
It felt like looking at a semiconductor designed with stunning precision.
Wow, now I want to make an artifact myself.
"Well, I've made something similar."
The engine counts as an artifact, I suppose.
Strictly speaking, it's different, but whatever.
"No idea what it is."
I infused it with mana, but got no useful information.
Normally, that would activate the artifact or reveal the magic circuits.
"Is it a magic I don't know, or a familiar one hidden in the circuits?"
Any mage can analyze an artifact.
Of course, it requires a certain skill level, and hands-on experience making them helps.
Either way, this artifact held something unknown to me.
"Young master."
"Feeling better?"
I looked up at Biena.
Fortunately, she seemed calm now; the flustered blush had faded.
Though her cheeks still held a faint warmth.
"...Yes, sorry about that."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry."
I told the apologizing Biena not to apologize.
To be honest, she was cute.
Her usual calm, serene face rarely showed this embarrassed side.
Of course, saying so would just fluster her more, so I kept quiet.
Plus, I was getting hungry by then.
I found a restaurant with Biena following calmly as ever.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Unfortunately, fountain pen production would take some time.
In the meantime, the second Sherlock Holmes series, The Sign of the Four, was published.
Jenectra Publishing House, building on past experience, printed 3,000 copies for the first run.
And they sold out in a single day.
"...We're doomed. The protests are going to get worse."
"You're telling me. Though from my position, I don't get why they're protesting."
"What don't you get? Even with all the circus acts, people get bored. Plenty join in just to kill time."
"What idle folks."
As the president said, fierce waves of protest gathered in front of Jenectra.
No riots had breached the building yet, but the noise was loud enough to disrupt work.
The president started looking into noise-cancellation artifacts.
Meanwhile, those who bought the book dove in happily.
But this book was markedly different from the previous one.
No, distinctly so.
It was filled with the love story between a wounded soldier and a beautiful woman.
The structure was similar to the first, but it featured plenty of romance between Dr. Watson and Mary Morstan.
Thanks to that, Sherlock Holmes gained popularity even among married women, despite being a mystery series.
It had mostly trended among men and young people before.
But this one hooked young wives too.
The fresh, youthful love was enough to touch their hearts.
In salons where noblewomen gathered, talk of the mystery took a backseat to the couple's romance.
"Oh my, holding hands. I wish my husband would do that."
"Isn't that pretty standard?"
"Ugh, even holding hands is a chore. No wonder bed's where we touch most."
"That's a bit much."
And so, Sherlock Holmes became the hot topic within a week.
Just as the first book's buzz was fading after a month.
But a second one already?
People praised the Sherlock Holmes author, Prometheus.
With housewives joining in, he skyrocketed to instant fame.
From rising star to proven talent.
Jenectra eyed this chance to expand into the capital.
"Oh, a love story this time."
Hepiriya, the saintess who hadn't left Jenectra yet, got to read the new book.
Fortunate to snag a copy, she smiled happily.
"I was about to leave, but luck was on my side. Thank you, Goddess."
She offered thanks to the Goddess who guided her to this happy fate.
As the saintess opened the book and read carefully, her cheeks flushed pink.
"So beautiful. Especially Watson agonizing over how to confess—it's heartbreaking yet fun."
Hepiriya closed the book with a contented sigh.
But her expression held a touch of regret too.
"Holmes turning to drugs... It's not wrong, but his health worries me."
The Holy Kingdom didn't strictly forbid it.
Still, as a saintess who lived devoutly, frugally, and spread love, she couldn't help worrying.
If Edn had heard, he'd have been shocked.
Earth knows well how dangerous that is.
"Surely the author hasn't touched it himself?"
Unaware of Edn's circumstances, she naturally leaned that way.
"Anyway, I hope not. Goddess, please keep that man from the wrong path."
She prayed once more and stood.
Now she really had to leave for Rlangbur.
Saintesses can't stay away from the Holy Kingdom long.
Even now, it was precarious; she needed to hurry back.
"Until we meet again, perhaps."
The saintess bestowed Goddess's blessing on Edn and rose.
Then she suddenly recalled the man deeply troubled by the fountain earlier.
"I wonder if that gentleman solved his problem?"
Prometheus and Edn are the same person.
But the saintess, unaware, saw them as separate.
"He must have. He probably read Sherlock Holmes like me."
Not knowing they were one, she simply hoped for the best.
And once again, the saintess's blessing gently settled on Edn.