After dinner, I returned to the inn in a pleasant mood.
I shared the ale I had bought as a souvenir with the slimes, and with a drink in our own hands, Serge and I picked up where we had left off.
"Regarding the music boxes, it would be best to outsource their production entirely," Serge suggested.
"I agree. That seems like the most reasonable approach."
I didn't have enough hands to do it myself, nor did I have the specialized expertise. But that raised the question of who to hire. Even if sales were left to Serge and the Morgan Company, we still needed a craftsman.
"I have several candidates in mind, but perhaps you should speak with Lord Dinome first? His skills are impeccable, and his work on the magic cars shows he has both the knowledge and the flexibility to understand these kinds of magic tools. He is also someone who simply enjoys new things. Since you have already met him, Lord Ryoma, I imagine you would feel more at ease."
"True... but would it be too much of a burden for his workshop?"
"That depends on how we handle it, but it should be fine. Lord Dinome has three disciples under him. Furthermore, even I could grasp the structure of this music box; once it goes on sale, imitations are bound to appear almost immediately. To prevent that and protect the inventor's rights, we have patents. I believe we discussed this regarding the waterproof cloth?"
"I remember."
The explanation I had received about patents made them sound essentially identical to the ones on Earth. If you registered with the Craftsman Guild and received certification, the guild would crack down on unauthorized use. However, to facilitate this, the details of the item and the technology used were circulated throughout the entire guild. You couldn't opt out of this information sharing if you wanted the protection. Then, if someone paid a usage fee and received permission, they could legally use the technology.
Whether to go public with a patent or keep the technology a secret was the rights holder's choice. In the case of the waterproof cloth, Serge had already established a sales channel, making it easy to secure customers. We had chosen secrecy for that reason—though I also secretly hoped that if the manufacturing method did leak, it might finally shed some light on the utility of slimes.
"So, if the music boxes sell well, other workshops will likely jump in as well. That means there's little chance of Lord Dinome being overwhelmed by a total monopoly on orders."
"Exactly."
Serge voiced his opinion that we should definitely apply for a patent this time, but I hesitated.
"Is something weighing on your mind?"
"It’s just... you mentioned that to apply, I first have to register with the Craftsman Guild, right?"
"Yes, that is the procedure."
"Registering just to file an application feels a bit... well, as you know, I'm already registered with the Tamer Guild. But I have no work I can actually do for them. It feels wrong to belong to an organization without contributing to it."
The specialized couriers handled letter delivery, which was the only thing my Rimul Birds could really do for the guild, and the slimes were out of the question. Branch Master Taylor had been so kind to me that my sense of guilt only intensified.
I wanted to do at least a minimum amount of work if I were to register anywhere else, but honestly, I already had my hands full with being an adventurer and running my shop. I thought I might manage if I pushed myself, but the members of the Ducal House had strictly warned me against overworking. I had no intention of ignoring their advice.
I never would have entertained such thoughts in my previous life. Back then, if I thought I could manage a task by pushing myself just a bit harder, I would have dove right in just to get it over with. Perhaps this was a sign of growth.
"I have an idea. Since I'm outsourcing the work anyway, could the person who ultimately produces the items file the application? That would save me the trouble of registering."
"That... is possible. But... hmmm..." Serge suddenly clutched his head. Was there a problem? "It doesn't matter who the applicant is in a legal sense. However, if it’s Lord Dinome... there is a slight possibility he might refuse, shouting something like, 'As if I could ever steal credit for another man's work!'"
It was a matter of pride, then.
"Furthermore, if you appoint a proxy, the rights will no longer belong to you after the application is filed. In the worst-case scenario, you might lose all profits. How do you feel about that?"
"I suppose it depends on the situation, but..."
If I traced the rights back to their ultimate source, I technically had no right to the profits either. That right belonged to some anonymous person from the distant past on Earth. I had simply tried making a copy of it here, and it happened to look like a viable product. There was no one here to complain. It was just another windfall, even more so than the cleaner slimes.
I wasn't particularly attached to the rights or the profits from the music boxes. However, I didn't possess the saintly sense of justice or the stubborn pride to flatly reject money, either. Simply put, if something was useful, I would use it. If not, so be it. I felt a little bad for Serge, but that was how I viewed the matter.
With that in mind, I answered his question.
"Regardless of who the final partner is, I don't intend to demand much profit. If the partner is a magic tool craftsman, I’m sure I'll eventually need things for my adventurer work. It would be enough if they could consult with me on tools or give me preferential treatment as a customer. I don't intend to make a fuss over minor issues, but... if that partner were to respond with an utterly disrespectful attitude, I actually have an idea for a similar item."
"I assume you don't just mean a different song."
"I haven't even made a prototype for it yet, and I don't know if it will even work. But if it does, it has the potential to be far superior to the music box. Enough to diminish the music box's value entirely."
Serge placed his hand on his chin, seemingly ruminating on my words.
The items I'd been thinking about at the shop were the phonograph and the record. On Earth, both were developed after the music box and eventually replaced it. If I could reproduce them perfectly...
"So you're saying that even if the music box rights were stolen, you have a plan to crush the competition..."
"It's merely a possibility."
On Earth, there were magazines that included simple phonograph kits for children as supplements, so I knew the structure reasonably well. With magic, it didn't seem impossible to build. However, the problem was the records. My knowledge of how to manufacture them was vague, and I wasn't sure how well I could reproduce the technology. There was no guarantee I could make something of professional quality.
"If I can't hold my own, then it’ll simply be the result of my poor judgment, lack of foresight, and insufficient knowledge. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
In the end, I wouldn't know until I tried.
Hearing that, Serge let out a long sigh. "I understand. Let's proceed in that direction, then."
"Are you sure?"
"It's fine. However, I must say I was a little surprised."
"By what?"
The question must have shown on my face, as he smiled.
"Partly by the fact that you have an idea for a product superior to the music box... but also because it was unexpected to hear such a hardline stance from you. I've always thought of you as someone who preferred to settle things as peacefully as possible."
"In general, I do, but I'm capable of taking hardline measures when necessary—like when I'm attacked. I won't deny that I'm usually quite laid back, though."
"It seems I am still immature as well. I appear to have misread you slightly. But this, too, makes things interesting."
"What are you talking about now?"
"Hehe... only that my expectations for your future have grown, Lord Ryoma."
I wasn't sure what he saw in me, or if he was just a little drunk. Since we had reached a conclusion and I was getting tired, we called it a night. I saw Serge to his room, confirmed our plans for the next day, and returned to my own.
The next morning.
After a leisurely breakfast, we headed out into the city. The main street was even more bustling than it had been the day before. We pushed through the narrow sidewalks where carriages passed within inches of the growing crowds and finally reached the central square.
"This is the venue for the regular fair. Phew..."
In the square, dozens of tents were set up in orderly rows. Carriages were prohibited from entering the area. Goods were being transferred from wagons to handcarts, and pedestrians wandered freely between the stalls.
"Hey there, sir! Come take a look at our shop!"
"Young master, we have all sorts of interesting toys!"
"Latest designs from the royal capital right here! Our magic tools are the height of fashion!"
"There are so many hawkers it's hard to decide where to go. What’s the plan?" I asked.
"I usually just wander into whatever place catches my eye. Is there anything specific you're looking for, Lord Ryoma?"
"Not really, though I'm planning to build a stove at my home soon, so something useful for that would be nice. Or anything that might help with maintaining the abandoned mine or making travel easier."
"Then let's browse casually while keeping an eye out for those sorts of tools."
We strolled between the tents.
"This stall seems to be nothing but farming tools."
"They are enchanted with physical strengthening magic. Infusing them with mana makes the labor much easier, so there is always a steady demand for them."
"Heh... these look like they'd be great for clearing land."
"Welcome, young man! Looking for something?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Do you have an axe for felling trees and a scythe for cutting grass?"
"We have a few types of axes, but this is the only scythe left."
"A great scythe?"
"The small ones are easy enough to use without enchantments, so those sold out immediately. This is all I have in stock."
It looked like it could mow a huge area at once. I figured I could just get used to the size as I worked.
"That's fine. I'll take the great scythe and the axe. Oh, and that pitchfork over there as well."
"I have two types: one that uses mana stones and one that runs on your own mana. Which do you prefer?"
"One that uses my own mana, please."
"That'll be twenty-nine thousand suut."
"Here you go. Change, please."
"Thanks for the business!"
I paid with three small gold coins and received my change in medium silver coins. I tucked the items into my item box and we moved on to the next shop.
"What do you think these are?"
Rows of items I couldn't identify just by looking were lined up on the counter.
"Hmm... this seems to be a shop for professionals. For instance, this tool is used in construction."
It was a metal rod with seven round lumps spaced at regular intervals. I couldn't imagine how it was used.
"Each of these round segments is imbued with an earth magic 'Break Rock' spell at a different power level. By using them in sequence against stone or walls, a mason can measure the material's resistance to earth magic. Even if a magic-resistant coating is used, the effect will diminish over time if it isn't maintained."
"They actually have tools for that?"
"Indeed. By the way, regarding the stone material you sold me before, Lord Ryoma—when I tested it with a similar device, it showed remarkably high resistance."
"That feels like a lifetime ago."
"It hasn't even been a year yet... hm?"
"Is something wrong?"
"I've found an interesting shop."
Following Serge, I saw him crouch down in front of a small display at the corner of the square. A few items were spread out on a simple rug.
"May I examine these?" Serge asked.
"Y-Yes!" the young man tending the stall stammered. He looked incredibly nervous.
He watched Serge with wide eyes as the merchant examined the products with a look of intense concentration.
"This stone mill... did you apply the 'Spin' enchantment yourself?"
"Yes! Everything here is my own work!"
"If you don't mind my asking, which workshop do you belong to?"
"I... I'm not with anyone right now..."
Hearing that, a smile spread across Serge's face. He bought the small stone mill, then handed the man a slip of paper from his pocket. The young man stared at it and bowed deeply as we walked away.
"Serge-san, that mill looks heavy. I can put it in my item box for you."
"That would be a great help."
"It's no trouble. But what was that all about?"
"His shop didn't have a tent, did it? Those tents are provided by the fair management committee to registered workshops and stores. Not having one is proof that a craftsman is exhibiting as an individual. Often, it's also a signal that they are looking for an employer or a place to apprentice."
"I see."
"He was likely dismissed from a workshop for being a slow learner. His control is still a bit clumsy, but the speed he achieved with that stone mill was quite impressive. He seemed earnest, too. If he continues his training in the right environment, he might turn into something special."
So Serge had scouted a talent. "I take it that paper was a letter of recommendation?"
"Exactly. I've sent him to the Dinome Workshop."
"Do you intend to have him work on the magic cars?"
"I have high hopes for him in the future."
Even if he were hired, it would be a long time before he was ready for such high-level work. Serge really was a shrewd businessman.
Talking as we went, we continued our journey through the magic tool fair.