Half holiday, half work. The days spent doing exactly what I wanted lasted longer than I expected, and before I knew it, a month had passed. The summer heat had faded away, and these days were quite pleasant. Once again, I was at the log house on the Experiment Ground with Yudam.
"It’s almost time. Are the preparations for our guests..."
"They're all set. Still, I wonder what happened..."
The ones arriving were Sebas and Master Rosenberg. After Master Rosenberg had safely returned from his business trip, the message I had previously asked Arone to relay reached him, and he had agreed to once again provide guidance on miasma management and curse magic.
However, the situation at the site of his business trip was apparently even worse than I had heard. In the letter from the Ducal House, in addition to thanking me for how useful my cursed tools had been, there was also a note mentioning that there was "something they wished to discuss."
That was why I had hurried to coordinate our schedules. I wondered just how dire the situation was for it to be troublesome even for a place overseen by the high-ranking nobility who served as the Overseer of Curse Specialists in this country.
"Ah, speak of the devil."
I felt the mana of what was likely Sebas’s teleportation magic outside. When I hurried to open the door, the two of them were indeed standing on the mountain path. Master Rosenberg looked a bit haggard, so it seemed something significant really had occurred. For now, I welcomed them in and served the tea I had prepared so they could take a breather.
"Thank you very much for coming all this way."
"No, no, it was quite easy thanks to Sebas. Coming here means being treated well, and teaching you takes almost no effort at all. I feel as though I’m on vacation."
"Please, do take your time and relax. Actually, since I had a bit of time recently, I’ve put some work into this place. I’m thinking of improving the environment and convenience of the lodging, perhaps turning it into something that can be used as a resort. But as I thought about it, the list of things I wanted to build just kept growing... For now, all I have are better quality bedding and a large bathhouse I built out back."
"To be able to sleep soundly and soak in a bath—is that not luxury enough? I am already looking forward to it."
Yeah... I had thought this before they even arrived, but I really caught the vibe of an overworked corporate slave coming from Master Rosenberg. I could empathize. When you're truly busy, just being able to sleep soundly is something to be profoundly grateful for.
I wanted to ask what had happened, but I thought maybe I should let him rest without talking about work for a while longer. Just as that thought crossed my mind, Rosenberg spoke.
"Fufu, thank you for your concern. But do not worry. Even when resting, one can relax more mentally after finishing what needs to be done."
"True, it’s hard to relax when you feel like there’s work hanging over your head. In that case, shall we clear up the troublesome talk?"
At Master Rosenberg’s words, which seemed to have perceived my thoughts, the discussion began.
"First, a thank you to Ryoma-kun. The cursed tools you made were remarkably effective and were a great help to us. Please understand that this is the consensus not only of myself but of all the curse specialists who were at the site. I have been entrusted with a Letter of Appreciation from the individual who took command as the representative—the head of the House of Karshel."
"A Letter of Appreciation? And the consensus of all the participants? Hasn't this situation grown unexpectedly large?"
"It is only appropriate. It is the result of your cursed tools and your ability to mass-produce them being properly evaluated. As for the format of a Letter of Appreciation, please consider it to contain a certain amount of noble calculation."
"Calculation?"
"To begin with, when I distributed your cursed tools, I only told them three things: that I recently took on a new disciple, that he is talented and has already become able to make protective cursed tools, and that I brought them because I judged the effects to be sufficient. This applies even to the House of Karshel. However, the other party is also nobility, and they know that I serve the Jamil Ducal House. Combined with the information they already had, they saw through the fact that my new disciple is Ryoma Takebayashi. It seems you have been quite the topic of conversation among the nobles lately, haven't you?"
"So it seems."
Given the matters with Glen and the heating business, it wasn't surprising that other ducal houses knew my name. As for how they connected me to being a new disciple, they probably saw that Master Rosenberg, who works for the Jamil Ducal House, was dedicating time to teach me, so they assumed there was mediation and permission.
Since I didn't know how far a ducal house-level information network could investigate, I’d set that aside for now.
"What is the connection between them discovering I'm your disciple and the Letter of Appreciation?"
"The House of Karshel is, so to speak, the coordinator for curse specialists in this country. Even setting that aside, it is only natural for nobility to want a connection with a capable practitioner. However, it is a well-known fact that you are a Ducal House Technician for the Jamil family and are highly valued. It would be troublesome if they reached out poorly and were thought to be attempting to headhunt you. In short... while clearly showing their goodwill toward you via the Letter of Appreciation, they are also clearly asserting that this is not a headhunting operation. By the way, while they did not suggest you register with the curse specialist mutual aid society, I was also asked to tell you that if anything happens in the course of your activities as a curse specialist, they are available for consultation. This is for the same reason."
"To think a single Letter of Appreciation could hold that much meaning."
When I thought about how it was heavily laden with noble political intent, the envelope placed gently on the table looked quite heavy.
"Ryoma-sama, please put your mind at ease. Regarding this Letter of Appreciation, both I and the Master grasp its contents. It is merely out of consideration for their relationship with our house, and it truly stems from the other party’s gratitude and goodwill," Sebas added.
"So I may take it at face value. Then I shall gratefully and honestly accept it. I have also received the message from them."
With Sebas’s follow-up, I found myself relaxing my body, which had reflexively tensed up.
"But did my misangas really help that much? From what I’ve heard, it seemed like quite an elite and experienced group of curse specialists had gathered."
"It is precisely because skilled curse specialists gathered that they were able to infer your aptitude from the cursed tools without me having to give detailed explanations. Certainly, if it were only about the effect of preventing curses, there are many practitioners who can make things with even higher efficacy. However, even if they had the preparations ready, there are not many people who can prepare a thousand items at once. Moreover, every single one of them was of high quality. Even if the effect is only decent, a person with high and stable production capacity is an extremely valuable existence. All the more so if they are cooperative with others, to the extent of providing them without stint when needed."
I had heard before that the entire industry was shorthanded and that producing cursed tools took time. It seemed the industry's circumstances were also a factor in this evaluation.
"Personally, I think you could be evaluated even more highly. I feel it is still a bit low..."
"Higher than this?"
"Of course. Earlier, I said there are many people who can make things with higher efficacy, but Ryoma-kun, if you really wanted to, you could make them with even higher efficacy."
"Well, that’s certainly true."
"I was present when you used the Hand of Kesho, after all. Compared to that, I can see that the spells imbued in those cursed tools weren't at your full power, and considering the speed at which you create new techniques, I cannot believe you are unable to increase their potency. I haven't gone into detail because I can't explain that without permission, and I don't think they would understand it easily anyway... but the other party likely perceives it as you having mastered the protective spell and practicing by making cursed tools. They likely assume you didn't make them in a night, but released a stockpile you'd been making since becoming a disciple. With that level of understanding, their judgment is that sending a Letter of Appreciation is just the right amount."
After asserting that the evaluation should actually be higher, Master Rosenberg moved the conversation toward the requested discussion.
"To speak frankly, I would like you to continue delivering your cursed tools periodically. There is also a guarantee from the House of Karshel that they will pay three times the previous price."
"The production system is already in place, so it is possible to deliver them continuously. In fact, we’ve already started increasing production of the misangas before the curse is applied, and at this point, we have a stockpile of five thousand units."
"...It’s a great help that you’re so quick to catch on, but do you really have that many ready?"
"I figured that if there was a discussion from Master Rosenberg, the only realistic possibility I could think of was preparing additional cursed tools, so I made sure to have them ready. Even if I was wrong, misangas aren't difficult to store."
My position as a Ducal House Technician was one thing, but more than that, no matter how powerful a spell I could use, a child who had only just started learning curse magic would likely not be told to come and work at a site where even veterans were struggling. If they were an organized group, there would surely be internal backlash.
"Also, there was a bit of luck. The Orphanage Children who I’ve asked to produce the misangas are quite motivated. Apparently, there are a few children whose graduation is near, and the younger children have united because they want to give them some financial leeway for after they graduate."
"The earliest one is in two months, right? For a child who will live in the orphanage for another ten years, they could save up slowly, but there isn't that kind of time right before graduation. Still, they can't just throw away their graduation preparations to focus on making misangas either," Yudam added.
As Yudam subtly added, there were children who couldn't earn enough through my request due to time constraints. They were children who took good care of the younger ones in the orphanage and were admired by them. So, the younger ones with more time were working hard as if to pour their gratitude into the work.
"When they timidly asked me if I would be able to buy all of them, I couldn't help but smile."
"My, what a heartwarming story that is."
"I heard that you also hired many slaves for the production of rope... If the production of cursed tools is benefiting many people, then that is a wonderful thing."
"I think I’ve managed to create a virtuous cycle, if I do say so myself. In order to maintain this cycle, it helps for the cursed tools to sell. Therefore, I believe this discussion is beneficial to me as well. ...However, the fact that protective cursed tools are needed means there are people being exposed to danger, so I can't be entirely happy about it... Nevertheless, if my cursed tools can be of use, I want to help as much as I can."
When I said that, Master Rosenberg showed a smile that seemed to say a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Thank you again and again. Especially this time, given the situation, the demand for protective cursed tools has become exceptionally high, so it is truly appreciated."
"As I thought, the situation is quite bad, isn't it? Bad enough that a group of curse specialists with organizational power would have trouble dealing with it even when they get serious."
"At first, it was fine. From the area near the entrance to around the center of the facility, it was possible to cope, albeit with difficulty. However, from around the center, the difficulty increased further, and upon reaching a certain section... one party that had been investigating ahead of the processing was wiped out. Based on later investigation, it’s highly likely that the cursed objects left in that section already had their curses inseparably mixed together... and what’s even more troublesome is that facility defense and anti-theft spells, which were likely the work of the first-generation head who was a capable curse specialist, had also become mixed into the mass of curses."
"If defense spells are mixed in, then..."
"It isn't just sitting there as a mass of curses; it carried out a curse-based attack against intruders—in this case, toward the investigators. With the internal curses added on top of it..."
"The situation has worsened even further..."
The first-generation person wasn't at fault at all. They were just trying to fulfill their duties as a curse specialist and a facility manager with the utmost seriousness. It was the fault of the successors, especially the third generation, who abandoned management and covered it up.
I think Master Rosenberg and the others involved in this matter felt the same way. Precisely because it was the result of a legitimate judgment and action that would normally be perfectly fine, it left a complicated feeling. Even if they felt resentment, they couldn't direct it anywhere. Just remembering it made them look bitter.
"Umm, what about those who were caught in it?"
"First, the six members of the investigation party collapsed simultaneously. Furthermore, in the follow-up party that witnessed this and performed the rescue, three members were affected and are seriously ill. They are conscious, but I hear their bodies gradually stopped moving during the escape, and they are suffering and thrashing while letting out strange cries. The key to the activation was entering a specific section. The power weakened as they moved away from the section, and there was no damage to those who were not present at the time of activation."
Although treatment was being carried out, at the time Master Rosenberg left the site, there was reportedly no prospect of recovery.
"All of them are experienced and certain experts. Also, since there are those who covet cursed objects for wicked purposes, the possibility of anti-theft spells in a storage facility was within our expectations. This was the result even though they challenged it with the utmost caution. It could be said that because they were experts and preparations for treatment were ready in case an accident occurred, they escaped with just comas or serious conditions. If there had even been one oversight, they would have lost their lives on the spot."
"Should we call that a blessing in disguise?"
If they were thrashing about, I found myself wondering if the pain was so great that they might be better off dead... but I couldn't say that, and I didn't want to.
"That will depend on the skill of the curse physicians and the efforts of the individuals. Such risks are present to a greater or lesser degree as long as one handles curse magic. Ryoma-kun, please be careful too, okay? Especially since you possess both powerful techniques and the dexterity to create new ones."
"I will keep in mind that the convenience and danger of curse magic are two sides of the same coin."
Furthermore, in the investigation after the accident, the generation of miasma was also confirmed, and the Field Manager judged that a short-term resolution of the problem was impossible. The top priority for the facility became its closure and isolation from the world.
"Specifically, it has been decided to clear the forest around the facility and build a castle wall surrounding it, along with a fort as a base for the personnel who will handle management and work. For that purpose, naturally, far more laborers will be moved than for the simple base built for this investigation. Of course, we will not allow anyone who isn't a curse specialist to enter the storage area, but preparations are necessary. We want as many protective cursed tools as we can get. The more there are, the more breathing room it creates for the curse specialists on-site."
"And that leads to the request for me."
"Your misangas were also evaluated for the fact that they can be used just by putting them on your wrist, making them easy to use and unlikely to interfere with activities. Many curse specialists have restrictions on their attire, after all."
"Hearing you say that gives me motivation. Right, shall we make them right away? It’s just a matter of applying the spell, and it will be more reassuring to confirm they are in your hands."
With that, I took out five boxes of misangas I had prepared from my Item Box. Each box contained a thousand units. To make the contents easy to understand, the top lids were branded with a misanga seal. They were well-finished boxes made at the Mosh Woodworking Workshop.
I took out one misanga from one of the boxes and applied the spell with a bit of extra strength.
"Master Rosenberg, how is this quality? Please check it."
"Ho, this is... you have become even more accustomed to handling the spell. It is clearly faster and more stable than before. The effect is also stronger than the previous ones."
"It’s the same for curse magic, but among the things I’ve been training lately is mana manipulation, so that might be an influence."
"I know you’re involved in various activities, but you are diligent... I have confirmed it. Please provide them with the same quality as this misanga."
"Understood. Then, right away... Spell Copying."
I took back the misanga whose quality had been confirmed and used it as a base to copy the spell onto the remaining 999 misangas. With this, all thousand misangas in one box became misangas with protective curse magic applied. By the way, I had made the name of the spell concise and plausible-sounding.
Even though I had imagined it as a copy-paste, "Copy-Paste" just didn't feel right. It was a matter of mood.
"I’ve finished a thousand for now. Please check them once more."
"So this is the curse magic for mass production that I heard about before. ...Wonderful, they are certainly cursed, and just like last time, they are uniform. There is no unevenness in the effect."
"In terms of quality, that’s normal given the image of the spell. There might be a possibility of defective products appearing, but it would be a problem if several were found."
The image was copy-paste, but in terms of quality, it felt close to the difference between a manual process and automation. Master Rosenberg’s method of confirmation was also to check a hundred randomly selected ones rather than all of them. It was exactly like a sampling inspection performed in a factory.
Looking at his expression as he carefully and quickly checked them by tracing the misangas with his fingers, it seemed they were all passes. The items he checked were returned to the box one after another, and eventually, the last one was put back. Now, if I used the box of a thousand as a base once more and copied the curse onto the four thousand in the remaining four boxes—
"There, all five thousand are completed."
"I see. So long as the specifications are standardized, you can even copy them by the box, can't you?"
"That’s right. I strengthened the effect this time, so just to be safe, I tried it with a small amount first to check the consumption of mana."
"True, this spell would likely drain one’s mana all at once if the targets were too many."
I was making sure to pay attention where attention was due. But to be honest, I wasn't consuming much mana for curse magic. Due to the nature of curse magic, which uses negative emotions to amplify mana, a sufficient effect could be obtained with less mana than ordinary magic.
Then again, based on Master Rosenberg’s teachings and reactions, the fact that I could handle it so freely with so little consumption was likely because curse magic suited me exceptionally well. More to the point, it was almost certainly due to various things from my previous life.
Thinking about it that way made me feel a bit complicated... but what's done is done. Even if it wasn't intended, it was the result of training that literally cost me my life; I might as well have it be useful from now on.
"I’ve used up my current stock for now, but will this be enough? If additional ones are needed, I’ll need a bit of time."
"It is sufficient. Both the quantity and quality are beyond expectations. With this, I can give a good reply as well."
His expression, which had been brightening since the confirmation, finally became clear. It's a happy thing for a creator when people are this pleased.
"It was a help. There is the increase in work, but more than that, the atmosphere at the site was desperate, with everyone saying that a demon would appear."
"Eh, are there demons?"
I hadn't heard of them before, but did demons exist in this world too? Since there are monsters, it wouldn't be strange—or so I thought, but Rosenberg clarified.
"Ah, my apologies, 'demon' is a metaphor sometimes used among curse specialists. There is a phrase in an old anecdote: 'Where there is a terrifying curse, a demon clad in miasma shall be born,' and it has become a word to describe a disaster like this one. It is said that it was originally intended to carry an admonition for handling curse magic—to appeal to the danger of curses, to not mishandle curse magic, and to not neglect the management of cursed objects. In short, it is an idiom used by curse specialists."
"Which means there are no demons."
"At least I have never seen one. I have experienced several sites that were beyond handling, but that was all. However, since plants and animals exposed to mana can undergo mutations, I cannot deny the possibility that something existing on the spot could accidentally transform into something worthy of being called a 'demon' due to a powerful curse. That said, the anecdote itself is a story from hundreds of years ago, and since no one in the modern era has actually seen one, almost no one believes in them seriously. It is generally recognized as a folktale containing lessons from the past."
I thought it was possible since magic and monsters exist, but it seemed to be a superstition that was only just barely plausible.
"Is that so... Hm?"
Suddenly, I noticed a lukewarm gaze from the three adults.
...This was that. The look one gives a child whose eyes sparkle as they believe in a fairy tale. I must have been misunderstood because I bit into the story of the nonexistent demons. I only thought it might be a possibility, but even if I tried to explain myself, it would only lead to a more child-like reaction.
"Umm, right. So that completes the delivery request for the cursed tools for now. Any additions can wait for another day. Next, based on the previous lesson, I would like to report on the training and tasks I’ve performed here, and also discuss various things from recent discoveries to future plans."
"Yes, of course, that is fine. That is what I came for, after all."
"Well then, this is where the Real Thing begins," Yudam noted.
"I shall assist as well," Sebas added.
Yeah, this also felt like I was just changing the subject. Explaining wouldn't help, but isn't this more or less the same?
I wondered if I was being treated as a child for the first time in a long while...