Adriana found herself struck by surprise the moment dinner began.
"W-What on earth is this glass...?"
The drink had been served in a vessel of remarkable clarity. It wasn't crystal, nor was it standard glass. She discreetly cast Analyze, but even that magic failed to identify substances she didn't already recognize. At best, she could tell it contained oxygen and zirconium, along with trace amounts of calcium and magnesium.
"Haha, it's a transparent material we find on rare occasions in this region," Bashako explained.
Looking closer, Adriana noticed the windows were made of the same substance.
"A change of scenery brings new wonders, it seems," she remarked, her admiration genuine.
She then stated her intentions openly: she had come to this village to further her studies.
"Oh? A 'Magi Craft Meister'?"
Bashako looked impressed, and even the taciturn Saitos showed a flicker of interest.
"Magi-engineering specialized in craftsmanship... how intriguing."
"Dear, if that is the case, why don't you show her the village repository?" Zamia suggested.
"Hmm, I suppose. However, that place also houses the secret treasures of our ancestors. Before we go that far, perhaps I should show her our family's personal storehouse first?"
"Oh, that sounds like a wonderful idea."
The conversation proceeded rapidly without Adriana’s input. Apparently, the letters of introduction had been quite detailed.
"Th-Thank you so much..." was all she could manage to say.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Well then, please take a look."
Bashako, ever the personable host, led the way. After dinner, he guided her to the storehouse located at the rear of the manor. As he swung open the heavy doors, lights flickered to life within.
"Luminescence powered by free ether," Adriana noted instantly.
"Oh, is that how it works?" Bashako asked, sounding impressed.
His reaction gave Adriana pause. Oh? she wondered, but she kept the thought to herself. The contents of the storehouse had already seized her full attention.
"Incredible...!"
"Impressive, isn't it? These items have been passed down through the generations of the All-Creation Clan Chief's family."
A vast array of magic tools lay before her. Some were of the sort commonly referred to as artifacts.
"May I pick them up?"
When Adriana asked, Bashako nodded.
"Just please don't break anything," he added with a playful grin.
"Yes, of course."
Adriana gave a brief nod and reached for the nearest tool.
"...Remarkable. Such intricate detail. I wonder if this was carved by hand or engraved with magic..."
Bashako watched with a wry smile as she turned the object over and over, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she muttered to herself. He eventually pulled up a nearby chair and sat down.
Though Adriana held a simple floor-model magi-lamp, it was the craftsmanship that had her so captivated.
"...Design really does matter, doesn't it?"
Adriana had always struggled with original design. While she excelled at creating realistic replicas if she had a model to follow, being told to create something from scratch usually left her at a loss.
"Father used to say it all the time. 'The first step to mastery is observing many high-quality works to develop an aesthetic eye.'...Yes, I'll take this chance to see everything I can and sharpen my instincts!"
The next item she examined was another small magic tool, likely another floor-model.
"Wait, what is this? Something this small can handle heating? Well, of course it can. Honestly, I'm still such an amateur—I'm letting my own preconceptions of what a heater looks like limit me."
Seeing a heating device no larger than an alarm clock forced Adriana to realize the importance of dispelling her fixed ideas.
"And this is...?"
She found herself staring at a painting. It was a painting, yet it was also a golem. A two-dimensional golem, one might say. It was roughly the thickness of a liquid crystal display and set in a magnificent frame. But it was undeniably a golem.
"I never would have thought of this... I wonder if it's used as a sentry?"
She etched the concept into her mind: golems did not have to be humanoid.
"This is a fascinating concept, too..."
She had found what could best be described as a spherical vacuum cleaner. By rolling the sphere—roughly forty centimeters in diameter—around a room, dirt would adhere to its surface, where magic similar to Cleanup would then neutralize it.
"It might be fun if it could roll around on its own... though I suppose at that point, it would be faster just to have a golem do the cleaning."
Even so, the tool served as a reminder that a sense of playfulness was sometimes necessary in engineering.
From that point on, Adriana analyzed every item she could reach, and for those she couldn't, she scrutinized them from the front, side, top, and back with pure academic fervor.
She didn't stop until Bashako finally spoke up.
"...Er, Lady Adriana? I'm truly glad you're having such a marvelous time, but the night is quite late. Perhaps we could save the rest for tomorrow?"
Adriana snapped back to her senses.
"Is it that time already?...My apologies. Thank you so much; this has been incredibly educational."
"I'm glad to hear it. I'll show you the rest tomorrow, so please, get some rest for tonight."
"I will. Thank you."
Adriana returned to the guest room Zamia had prepared.
"Let's see... she said there was hot water ready."
Apparently, the people here didn't have a habit of "bathing." It was standard to wipe the body with hot water, and actually soaking in a tub was a luxury reserved for a few times a year.
"It doesn't seem like they're short on water. Is it just a local custom?"
Adriana wasn't as obsessed with baths as Shuuki had been, so it didn't bother her. She removed her outer layers, wiped herself down, and felt a sudden wave of exhaustion hit her. Changing into the guest sleepwear, she crawled into the futon.
She barely had time to register that the bedding seemed to be made of some kind of animal fur before she drifted into a deep sleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, Adriana hoistered herself back in the storehouse the moment breakfast was over. Except for mealtimes, she was utterly absorbed in observing and deconstructing the stored magic tools. After dinner, she would return to her room and organize her thoughts into meticulous notes.
This routine continued for three days.
On the morning of the fourth day, Bashako made a new proposal.
"Lady Adriana, today I shall take you to the village repository."
Having been assured by Bashako that she was not the sort to break or steal their treasures, Saitos had finally granted his permission.