After finishing my productive conversation with Lucien-sama and Dominic-san, I gave a light bow and prepared to move toward the next table. But first, I decided to grab a drink. I’d been talking non-stop, and my throat was parched.
I took a fresh glass from a passing waiter and sipped slowly while scanning the room. My next destination was where the Valentine couple and Serge were standing. I could overhear a specialized discussion regarding procurement of new dress fabrics and the latest trends in the Royal Capital.
It was a field I had very little connection to, so I figured I’d treat this as a learning opportunity. As I approached, Serge was the first to notice me and beckoned me over.
"Ryoma-sama, perfect timing. Please, come join us."
"Thank you for the invitation."
As I modestly joined the group, the Valentine couple graciously made space for me. Almost immediately after our greetings, Serge naturally steered the topic in my direction.
"Ryoma-sama, these two were just asking me about the procurement of your Slime Rayon."
"Oh? Were the two of you already familiar with it?"
"I heard about it from Serge previously and was quite intrigued," Celestine replied. "However, the samples I received at the time weren't enough to actually make a garment. If it’s possible to purchase more, I’d love to experiment with it."
"I see. I have stock available, and I can certainly prepare more if necessary. How much were you looking for?"
"I’d like about fifty hanks, if possible."
I glanced at Serge to gauge the volume; he gave a small nod, indicating it wasn't a problem.
"In that case, I can fulfill that from my current stock. I could even have it delivered today."
"Oh, how wonderful. And what will the price be?"
"I’ve left the sales side of things to Serge, but what is the going market rate?" I asked.
"Since it’s still a new product, there isn't really a set rate yet," Serge explained. "Because the fiber is so similar to silk, selling it poorly could lead to a negative impression that it’s a 'fake.' For that reason, I’ve limited discussions to trustworthy individuals like the Valentines."
"I see... In that case, Celestine-sama, instead of payment, would you mind sharing how you envision using Slime Rayon? I must admit my knowledge of fashion is lacking, so I’d like to use this opportunity to learn as much as I can."
"Offsetting the cost as a tuition fee? If you’re satisfied with that, then I certainly am. I wanted to consult with the developer regarding its uses anyway, so this is quite a bargain."
"Then it’s a deal."
"A deal it is. Also, please just call me Celestine. Using our surname is confusing when there are two of us."
"And please, call me Albert."
"Understood, Celestine-sama, Albert-sama."
In Celestine-sama’s elegant smile, I caught a glimpse of genuine curiosity. Whether it was aimed at the new material as a craftswoman or at me as its creator, I wasn't entirely sure, but the impression was a positive one.
I set my glass on the table, turning to face them properly to show I was ready to listen.
"Well then, I’ll start with my initial impressions," Celestine began. "Slime Rayon is certainly similar to silk. It has an elegant, graceful luster, and it takes dye very well. The texture is smooth and pleasant, but the moment you touch it, you know it isn't silk. It lacks that moist, supple sensation of silk that seems to melt into the skin."
"The tactile difference comes down to the components of the manufacturing process," I explained. "Silk, as you know, is an insect thread composed mainly of proteins—the same basic building blocks as human skin and hair. Slime Rayon, however, is made from the fluff of a specific slime species or plant materials. Since its main component is cellulose, silk is naturally closer to human skin on a material level. That doesn't mean Slime Rayon is bad for the skin, but silk will always be less irritating. Additionally, Slime Rayon loses strength when wet and tends to shrink easily. It’s also not particularly resistant to friction, so laundry requires a delicate touch."
As I listed its properties and flaws without reservation, Celestine-sama nodded deeply, clearly having already realized much of this. She began to ponder the possibilities from her perspective as a designer.
"It’s well within the range of usability for clothing, though we’ll need to make those points known if we sell it... Even so, it cannot be used for formal noble attire or social dresses."
"Because it would be regarded as a fake?"
"I’m afraid that’s the likely outcome. Even if we’re honest and state that it’s a different material, the fact remains that the textures are similar. Comparison is inevitable. Traditional silk has a history that a new material simply cannot match, and if mass production is possible, people will label it as 'cheap.'"
"Regardless of the material’s actual quality," Albert-sama added, summarizing frankly, "there are too many factors that would lead a noble to judge it as 'unsuitable for public appearance.'"
His explanation was very clear, and his phrasing gave me an idea. "Does that mean there’s a chance for success with garments not intended for public use?"
"Precisely," Albert-sama said. "Even nobles don't wear formal regalia all day long. As long as the quality is high, I believe many would wear it in private settings, such as indoor wear. Though they may seem to lead glamorous lives, it’s not uncommon for nobles to be quite frugal behind closed doors. We believe that if we market it correctly and choose our buyers carefully, the demand will certainly be there."
"I think Slime Rayon clothes would sell well to the wealthier commoners too," Celestine-sama added, "but we should establish it among the nobility first. Otherwise, the 'cheap' impression will only become more entrenched."
The way they logically constructed a sales strategy—choosing the right targets and priorities based on noble culture and psychology—made it obvious just how much experience they had. They likely monitored marketing trends as naturally as they breathed.
"If we focus on indoor wear, we should start with designs that highlight the material’s natural quality rather than flashiness," Celestine-sama continued. "Using the basic white along with vibrantly dyed threads, combined with that unique luster and smooth texture, would be a potent weapon. It would also be excellent for decorations or accessories. Oh, what about parasols?"
"Parasols?"
That was an application I hadn't considered. While different from umbrellas meant for the rain, they were still used outdoors, meaning the risk of getting wet wasn't zero. Friction and wrinkles would also be an issue during storage.
"That would depend on the design and how they’re used... but the demand is there," she explained. "Parasols are a common accessory for noblewomen, and there was even a time when it was trendy to heavily decorate them. Umbrellas with fluttering ornaments are still quite popular."
"It certainly sounds graceful. However, it would be counterproductive for a parasol if it didn't actually offer protection. Rayon doesn't inherently block Ultraviolet Rays, so we would need to apply a specialized treatment for that."
The conversation suddenly ground to a halt. The Valentines exchanged a quick glance, and even Serge looked puzzled.
"Ryoma-sama," Serge asked, "what are these 'Ultraviolet Rays'? Are they something different from sunlight?"
"Sunlight isn't just one thing; it’s divided into Visible Light and Invisible Light. Ultraviolet Rays are a form of Invisible Light. They’re the primary cause of sunburns and skin spots."
"I’ve never heard of such a thing in all my years..." Albert-sama murmured.
"Categorizing light into visible and invisible is new to me as well," Celestine-sama said. "When we see light, we perceive it as brightness. Is there truly more to it?"
It seemed the concept of UV rays didn't exist here yet. People simply thought that blocking the sun’s brightness was sufficient. Come to think of it, UV rays weren't discovered on Earth until the early 1800s. Since they are part of sunlight, blocking the sun's glare does help, so their intuition wasn't entirely wrong.
Maybe Big Sis Remily or someone else well-versed in Light Magic would know, but the explanation was more important than the source.
"Serge-san, it would be easier to explain if I could perform a simple experiment. Is there a way for me to use magic here?"
"Is it something that might cause damage?"
"Not at all. It’s just that I heard magic was prohibited in a venue like this."
"Ah... those rules are mainly to ensure safety at formal noble galas. At our meetings, anything dangerous is forbidden, but safe demonstrations are allowed as long as you give the people around you a heads-up. We are merchants, after all. Many of us use Space Magic or Magic Tools to show off goods, so things are relatively lax here."
Since I had permission, I called out to the neighboring tables. The attendants for the Valentines and Serge moved in a little closer to watch, but otherwise, there were no objections.
I used Water Magic to create a triangular prism in the air and then froze it with Ice Magic. I made sure to imagine pure water and took great care to keep impurities out during the freezing process. The result was a highly transparent prism made of ice.
It was the sort of experiment usually done in schools with glass or crystal, but this would work. I placed the ice prism on a table where the sunlight was hitting it, then lifted a section of the tablecloth on the opposite side to create a "white wall." The results appeared instantly.
The light passing through the prism was faintly colored, though it was hard to see clearly in the bright room. To fix that, I used Dark Magic to dim the area around the prism and the cloth, narrowing the incoming light into a thin slit.
With a final fine adjustment of the ice's angle, the refracted light split into seven distinct colors, casting a clear, vivid spectrum across the cloth.
"It’s a rainbow," Albert-sama whispered.
"And that light is coming directly from the window," Celestine-sama added.
"To think that a simple block of ice could split light into seven colors," Serge marveled.
Now that the results were undeniable, I continued the explanation.
"The color of light is different from the color of paint. When all these colors are mixed together, they become white—the sunlight we’re familiar with. This experiment uses the properties of dispersion and refractive indices to prove that sunlight is actually a mixture of different colors.
"The seven colors you see now are Visible Light—light that the human eye can perceive. This experiment originally led to the question: 'If there is light we can see, is it possible there is light we cannot see?' That inquiry led to the concept of Invisible Light. Through research, past scholars discovered Ultraviolet Rays existing beyond the violet end of the spectrum, and Infrared Rays existing beyond the red."
"Unfortunately, I don't have the tools here to prove the existence of Invisible Light, but does this help you see that sunlight isn't a single entity?"
Celestine-sama looked up from the prism, a look of realization on her face. "It’s a new concept, but I believe I understand. So, by blocking these Ultraviolet Rays, a parasol would be much more effective at protecting the skin?"
"Precisely. For further context, Infrared Rays are primarily responsible for the sensation of heat, while Visible Light is what we perceive as glare. Blocking sunlight as a whole addresses all of them, but by understanding the specific components, we can tailor our materials to be even more effective."
"Thank you. I’ll certainly take that into account. Since we’re on the subject... do you happen to know of any materials or treatments that can block these Ultraviolet Rays?"
"Well... I learned medicine from my grandmother, and I know a few recipes for sunscreens. Some of those Magic Medicines likely work by filtering UV rays. However, treating fabric is a bit different... Honestly, it might be faster to incorporate a Magic Tool. Since Ultraviolet Rays are still a form of light, we could use the light attribute to deflect them, or the dark attribute to filter them out."
As a test, I used Dark Magic again to create a lens-like film over my palm, attempting to filter the light. Since UV rays are invisible, there was no visual confirmation, so I shifted my mental image to filter out everything except blue, then everything except red. My hand was instantly dyed in the colors I allowed through. If I could filter visible light like this, I could certainly do the same for UV and IR.
I concluded that if it worked as magic, it could likely be turned into a Magic Tool. Albert-sama let out a long, impressed groan.
"I am truly floored. I can see now why you have been so successful. You possess a far more remarkable set of skills than I had imagined."
"I’m honored to hear that."
"I don't say it lightly. You might say fashion is outside your expertise, and while that may be technically true, your ability to accumulate knowledge and apply it as needed is a formidable strength. This light experiment was fascinating."
Albert-sama stared at the ice prism on the table, nodding with deep conviction. "As I was listening, I couldn't help but wonder—does this experiment also explain the brilliance of gemstones?"
"Most likely. Depending on how a diamond is cut, you’ll see flashes of different colors as the light refracts. It’s a combination of refraction, total internal reflection, and several other factors that create that beauty."
"I knew it! Good heavens, to think I would learn a fundamental mystery of my own trade at this age. I would very much like to hear more about the properties of light when we have another chance."
Perhaps because of his profession as a jeweler, Albert-sama seemed completely captivated. He refrained from asking more questions right then, likely out of consideration for my time. Since it was my first time attending and there were still people I hadn't met, it was only polite not to monopolize one group for too long.
He gave me an opening to leave with a warm smile, so I decided to wrap up our talk. I felt like I’d ended up lecturing them on my own interests, but it seemed to have been a hit, so I counted it as a win.
"Thank you. I’ve had a wonderful time talking with you both."
As I turned to head toward the final table, Serge called out to me.
"Ryoma-sama." He followed me, his tone becoming a bit more formal.
"Is something wrong?"
"It’s about Calm and Carla. I truly cannot thank you enough for taking them in. I’ve heard you treat them well and trust them with the shop, but I wanted to thank you specifically for bringing them here today. Getting to see this environment and interact with these people will be an invaluable experience for their futures."
Serge’s gaze shifted toward the twins. They had finished their conversation with Elmira and were currently being led around by Griselda, talking to Dominic-san as if they were full-fledged participants. They seemed to be receiving some pointers from him as well.
I’d have to get the full story later, but it was clear they were learning a lot.
"I appreciate the thanks, but I simply chose them because they were the most suitable for a business setting. I didn't have any secret intentions beyond that."
"Even so, the opportunity to step foot in this room is rare."
"Well, I suppose that’s true..."
Most of the participants were people of high status, so their attendants were usually there as guards. Aside from people like Oresto being introduced as successors, those slots were typically reserved for establishing connections with key industry figures. I had given those spots to the two of them. To any merchant looking for an "in" with this group, their position was something to be envied.
Still...
"As for protection, I have my coachman with me, and I doubt anyone’s going to start a brawl here," I said with a shrug and a grin. "And if something did happen, it would be faster for me to handle it myself anyway."
Serge laughed. "I suppose that’s true. With the strength to treat the Sea of Trees like a backyard, you hardly need standard guards."
"I’m the one who should be thanking you, Serge, for sending such excellent people my way. I look forward to continuing our business together alongside them."
"As do I."
I gave Serge a grateful bow and shared a final nod with the Valentines before walking away.
Finally, I braced myself and stepped toward my very last target of the day.