When lunchtime came around, I headed to the Dining Hall with the folding-fan Magic Tool I'd just finished.
When I opened the Dining Hall door and stepped inside, Mom was already waiting for me.
We ate lunch together, and while we drank our after-meal tea, I handed her the light-purple folding-fan Magic Tool I'd brought along.
"Here, take this and give it a try. I can adjust it right away if needed."
"You already finished it! Thank you."
Mom opened and closed the folding-fan magic tool a few times, then slowly fanned herself with it.
"…It's cool. I really love it. And the way the Magical circuit glows a soft blue is lovely. I'm glad I picked the light-purple fan."
"I'm glad you like it. I worried the Magical circuit's glow might be distracting, so I went back and forth on whether to add something to block the light, but that would've made it heavier."
"Is that so? Well, I'm glad you didn't get rid of this soft glow. And I think it's not just good for everyday use. It'd be great to bring to evening parties too. Compared to a fan covered in tons of decorations, this one would probably get more attention."
"I didn't make it to be an evening-party fan, though. Is that okay?"
"Yes. A folding-fan Magic Tool this beautiful won't be outshone."
"Huh, really? Your dresses for evening parties are always so gorgeous, Mom… I feel like this folding-fan Magic Tool wouldn't match."
"That's exactly why it's good."
"Huh?" I blinked in confusion.
"There are plenty of flashy accessories out there. But a fan with a Magical circuit glowing softly? You've never seen one before, have you?"
"Well, I guess it'd get people talking."
"No," Mom said, staring at the fan and slowly shaking her head. "Forget getting people talking. There will definitely be people who want one just like it."
"Is that so," I mumbled, realizing that if that happens, Uncle Alex is gonna get real busy…. I'll bring him some snacks when that day comes.
"…Finn. You need to be a little more tuned in to trends. At this rate, you won't meet anyone wonderful in the future, you know?"
"I don't really plan on getting married, though."
"Sigh. There you go saying that again…"
"No, it's my brothers you should worry about. Forget marriage. I've never even heard either of them talk about romance."
Both of them are handsome, I think, and above all, we're a Marquis Household. And yet, you never hear any gossip about them.
"Emile has his position as the next Marquis, so I imagine he's being careful. As for Philip… he's always holed up in the Magician Corps, so he probably just doesn't have many chances to meet people."
"Big Brother Philip is more of the social type, honestly, and there are women in the Magician Corps, so you'd think he'd at least have a girlfriend. Well, the bigger problem is he loves magic way too much…"
"That's exactly it. …And I don't think you're one to talk about other people, either?"
"I'm busy making Magic Tools," I countered, though Mom just let out a small sigh and smiled gently.
"You really are so Finn. Still, I think it's a good thing to have something you can lose yourself in."
"Yeah. The time I spend making Magic Tools is the most fun."
"Then at least take good care of your health, please."
She'd nagged me about it again, so I answered, "I know. Well, I'll head back to the Workshop now."
With that, I headed to the Workshop again and murmured, "Now then, what should I make next—"
Oh, I forgot I was thinking about making something like a timer.
If I base it on a Magic clock, it seems like I could make one. Should I give it a try?
First off, what to do about the main body; should I improve an hourglass…? No, it works fine for a few minutes, but once you get to hours, it's rough.
If that's the case, the easiest thing would be to add a timer function to a Magic clock, but….
Really, what I want is a function to automatically operate the Cooling Magic Tool.
If I build the Magic clock's circuit into the Control Panel and combine light-attribute and Non-attribute Magic—
…Ah, no good, it won't fit in the Control Panel.
It might fit if I cram the Magical circuit in to the limit, but… as it gets used, the circuits could end up touching each other.
That would create safety problems, and a Magic Tool meant to make life more convenient that causes accidents would be pointless.
…Rather than forcing it in, rebuilding the Control Panel itself one size bigger is probably the easiest way—
Knock knock—the sound of knocking on the door cut off my thoughts.
"Lord Finn. I have returned. I delivered the specifications and the Magic Tool to Lord Alexis."
"Thank you."
For now, maybe I'll think about the timer a little more….
Trivia:
- The mother's comment about wanting a fan that draws attention at evening parties hints she sees social value in Finn's inventions beyond their practical use, quietly positioning him for noble society relevance.
- Finn's casual mention that Uncle Alex will get busy implies Alex handles distribution or sales of his Magic Tools, suggesting an existing business arrangement behind the scenes.
- The detail that Finn considered adding a light-blocking material but worried about weight shows his design philosophy prioritizes user experience over appearance, which contrasts with typical noble aesthetics.
Notes:
• Alex - Owner of Lilien Trading Company. Called Uncle Alex by Finn. Experienced merchant with an eye for sellable goods and a close, familiar relationship with Finn's family. Practical about product development and eager to commercialize new magical tools.
• Finn - Third son of a marquis family and a magical tool maker. Graduated from an academy and became a full magical tool maker after apprenticing. Currently staying at the family estate during summer. Working on a prototype magical tool that can cool the air, using a fan blower's magical circuit as a base. Has a tendency to forget meals when absorbed in work, though this has improved. Finds the dining room and hallways uncomfortably hot. Wears his shirt with two buttons undone at home. Knows Noah well since childhood. Third son of a marquis family living in the royal capital. Aspiring magical tool maker who retains memories of a past life. Currently working on creating a cooling magical device to deal with an unusually hot summer. Gets absorbed in work and loses track of time.
• Philip - Big Brother to Finn and knight. Loves magic and learned Magic Tool crafting from Grandpa. Serves in the Knight Order and often moves between his room and the Captain's office.
• Emile - Oldest son and knight who lives at the royal castle dorm. Visits the mansion a few times a month. Wants a Magic tool for the knight dorm.
• Alexis - Guild master of Lilien Trading Company and uncle to Finn. Reads through documents in the guild master's office while handling business matters. Shows deep pride in Finn's talent for crafting Magic Tools and thinks strategically about production, pricing tiers for nobles versus commoners, and distribution to the royal family.