Around noon, four days after Ryoma and Perdor Beckentain had finalized their contract, the members of the Ducal House arrived at Ryoma's home in Gana Forest.
Reinhardt, the current Duke; his wife, Elise; the former Duke, Reinbach; and the head butler, Sebas, stood before the entrance. Accompanied by four guards, the group collectively straightened their posture as they read the signpost placed before the door.
"Experiment in progress. Please follow the instructions to proceed."
"Is everyone ready?" Reinhardt asked.
"The last time was a fluke," Hughes muttered, taking the lead. "At least this shouldn't be dangerous."
They entered the familiar, modest room and found a note left on the desk.
"It says, 'Please follow the arrows to the back. The final destination is the warehouse,'" Hughes read.
"The warehouse... Ah, that's where we helped with the cleaning during our second visit," Camille noted.
"That was back when we first brought Ryoma to the city," Jill added. "It feels like a lifetime ago. Still, if he’s specifically calling us to the warehouse, he must have something significant planned."
The group followed the arrows and soon reached the designated warehouse. Upon opening the door, they were greeted by a fan-shaped desk positioned in the center of the room, divided by cross-shaped partitions.
In the front of the partition was a large opening resembling a window frame. While there were doors and large drawers on the sides to allow passage further back, the space beyond the window frame appeared empty.
Puzzled, Hughes approached the chairs arranged along the curve of the desk and found another note tucked into a shadowed corner.
"Oh, another one. 'Please ring this bell to call me,' it says."
"I feel like he’s teasing us today... Hughes, do the honors," Reinhardt said.
"You got it."
Hughes rang the bell. A few seconds later, as the chime echoed through the stone chamber, Ryoma appeared on the other side of the window frame. He sat at a fan-shaped desk identical to their own. The group initially assumed he had used Space Magic to teleport, but something felt off.
"Long time no see, everyone! Can you see and hear me clearly?"
There was a strange quality to Ryoma’s behavior—it was as if he couldn't actually see them directly.
"It has been a while, Ryoma-kun," Elise replied. "We can see and hear you perfectly, but..."
"What exactly is the nature of this experiment?" Reinbach asked.
"Perhaps 'introduction' is a better word than 'experiment,'" Ryoma explained. "I believe I mentioned this before, but I’ve successfully used Curse Magic to summon Kormi—the house fairy I tamed in the Sea of Trees—to this location. One reason for today's meeting is to introduce him to you. The other is to demonstrate what I can achieve by utilizing his power. That’s why I’ve asked you to gather in this way. I’ll explain the rest once the other two participants arrive—oh, it looks like they’re here."
Just as the group wondered who else was coming, Ryoma’s subordinates, Yudam and Eleanora, appeared to the left and right, offering polite bows. They, too, were seated at identical fan-shaped desks. As the four desks aligned across the partitions, the entire setup resembled a single, seamless round table.
"So the other participants were you two," Reinhardt said. "I’ve heard the reports; it sounds like you’ve been an immense help to Ryoma-kun."
As Reinhardt addressed them, he noticed something peculiar. It wasn't just the two subordinates and their desks that had appeared. Although the partitions obscured part of the view, the background behind them was not the stone wall of the warehouse.
Behind Yudam was a narrow, windowless room that appeared to be underground. Eleanora's background was even more startling; there was a window behind her, and through it, Reinhardt could see the roofs and walls of neighboring houses.
At that moment, Reinhardt realized the true nature of Ryoma’s "experiment."
"Ryoma-kun... is it possible that none of you are actually here?"
"A keen observation, Reinhardt-san," Ryoma replied. "I am currently speaking to you from my home in the abandoned mine in Gimul."
"I am in the dressing room on the second floor of Master Takebayashi’s office," Eleanora added.
"And I am in the hidden basement of the laundry shop’s first branch," Yudam concluded.
After they confirmed their locations, Ryoma provided a more detailed explanation.
Kormi’s abilities were divided into three main categories: Necromancy, which allowed him to control the undead; Mind Reading, which let him perceive the thoughts of anyone within his main body or a building serving as his medium; and incredibly powerful Illusions.
Ryoma explained that this remote conference, where people in distant locations could converse as if gathered around a single table, was made possible by Kormi projecting these images and sounds across the different buildings.
"There are partitions in front of you because that area is technically outside Kormi’s territory," Ryoma explained. "His Mind Reading ability cannot reach you there. His illusions, however, can extend slightly beyond his borders. By having Kormi replicate the sights and sounds he perceives, we can communicate across the distance."
"So the partition was a courtesy for our privacy," Elise remarked.
The Ducal House’s reaction was surprisingly understated. Yudam and Eleanora momentarily wondered if the group was unimpressed, but Reinbach let out an amused chuckle.
"It truly feels as though you are right here before us," the old man said. "I can sense not only your voices and expressions, but even the subtle shifts in your presence. We might have been surprised at first, but we have grown quite used to your wonders, Ryoma. Besides, once the initial shock wears off, one learns to stay calm."
"Please forgive our lack of composure," Yudam said.
"It seems our understanding of Master Takebayashi was still shallow," Eleanora added.
"I’m not sure how to take that..." Ryoma muttered, his expression complicated.
Reinhardt then shifted the subject. "If Kormi-kun is the one facilitating this, does that mean he is watching us as well?"
"That’s right! I almost forgot. Kormi, show yourself. These people are friends."
"Okay!"
At Ryoma's call, a young boy who looked like a smaller, younger version of Ryoma appeared beside him.
"Oh! So you are Kormi-chan? I am Elise, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"I’m Kormi! Nice to meet you too!"
"I am Reinhardt. It's a pleasure," the Duke said, smiling.
Kormi nervously but politely introduced himself to everyone in the room. Seeing the boy smile with such genuine joy, Ryoma felt a sense of satisfaction. Once the introductions were complete, the guards and subordinates stepped out to allow for a private discussion.
"Now then, there are many things to discuss... but Kormi-kun is aware of Ryoma-kun’s circumstances, isn't he?" Reinhardt asked.
"Yes. Since our first meeting involved the Gods, I’ve explained everything to him, including my status as a Child of God. Thanks to his Mind Reading, he understands things very quickly. Kormi probably knows more about my situation than anyone else in this world. As for keeping secrets, I’ve had him read my own wariness and the potential risks directly so that he understands the gravity of the matter."
"I only talk about the Child of God stuff to the people Ryoma tells me to," Kormi added. "Mostly, I only do it when Ryoma is around."
"I see. Then we can speak freely."
"Yes. First, I’d like to consult you about Kormi’s future," Ryoma said, pulling a document from his Item Box. "I would like the Ducal House to take custody of this Last Will and Testament."
"A will? At your age?" Reinbach asked, surprised.
"It might seem premature, but it is a precaution. The Curse Magic I used to bring Kormi out relies heavily on the legal recognition of 'Ownership Rights' over the property he inhabits."
"I see," Reinhardt said. "You’re worried that if something happened to you and the property rights were left in limbo, the spell anchoring Kormi-kun would break."
"Exactly. I asked the former legal officer, Sanchez-sama, to draft a formal document stating that ownership of Kormi’s main body and his residential properties shall be transferred to the Ducal House in the event of my death. I’ve placed a spell on this document as well to act as insurance for Kormi’s future. Since this involves transferring assets and Kormi’s well-being, I couldn't entrust it to anyone else."
Before Ryoma could even finish his request, the Duke and Duchess exchanged smiles and nodded.
"Thank you for trusting us," Reinhardt said. "We will gladly take custody of it."
"But remember, Ryoma-kun, this is only a fallback," Elise added gently. "You mustn't push yourself so hard that it ever becomes necessary."
Ryoma gave a wry smile, cast a finalizing spell on the document, and placed it inside an envelope. He slid the envelope into one of the side drawers and closed it. A moment later, a soft click came from a drawer in the room where the Ducal Couple sat.
"It should be there now. Please check."
"To think you can even send physical objects," Elise marveled.
"The transfer is part of my Space Magic. I’ve recently learned how to teleport using my tamed monsters as beacons. Eventually, Kormi might be able to do this on his own. Being a fairy, his sensitivity to mana is far greater than a human's; he’s already mastered every Dark Magic spell I know."
"I just looked at Ryoma's memories, and once I got the hang of it, I could do it!" Kormi chirped. "But changing the attributes is still a little tricky~"
"Kormi-kun is quite the prodigy himself," Reinhardt said. "Sebas, keep this safe at the mansion."
"Understood, Your Grace," Sebas replied, tucking the envelope away with his own Space Magic.
The conversation then turned to Kormi’s desire to create a place where people gathered. Ryoma discussed his plan for a "Dagashi Shop" and the production of starch syrup. He sent samples of the syrup and summarized his discussion with Pioro.
Reinhardt listened intently, weighing the economic and political implications.
"This is a significant proposal, but it is well worth the effort," Reinhardt decided. "Regarding the starch syrup, we will proceed as you suggested: Pioro will act as the face of the business, and the Ducal House will provide the official backing. However, I must ask you to wait a little longer before Kormi-kun interacts with the public. His abilities are rare and powerful; if they become common knowledge, people will inevitably try to exploit him. Furthermore, fairies are still classified as monsters. We need to prepare the way so people don't react with fear."
"I think it’s best if he starts by interacting with us and other trustworthy individuals," Elise agreed. "He can learn the ways of people in a safe environment, and we can move forward in stages."
"Thank you," Ryoma said. "I’ll be able to give Pioro-san a positive report. Kormi is also in agreement. Right?"
"Yeah! It's okay!" Kormi beamed. "There are already so many people here now. It's fun!"
Seeing the boy's pure, innocent smile, the tension in the room dissipated.
"Still, to think such sweetness could be derived from barley," Reinhardt mused.
"Malt contains an enzyme called 'amylase'—at least, that was the term used in my home country," Ryoma explained. "It converts grain starch into sugar. While the flavors differ, starch syrup can be made from any crop rich in starch, including inexpensive tubers like potatoes."
"If potatoes can be turned into a sweetener that rivals sugar, the demand will skyrocket," Reinhardt noted. "We’ll need to manage cultivation carefully to balance the market, but this could significantly improve the lives of our farmers."
"It will offer more culinary freedom for everyone," Elise added. "Sugar can remain a luxury for the nobility, while starch syrup becomes an affordable option for the common people. They can easily coexist."
"I do think we should prepare educational materials regarding nutrition," Ryoma suggested. "In Japan, everyone could enjoy sweets, but it led to health issues like diabetes becoming a major social problem."
"Hmm... it sounds like what we call the 'Noble's Disease,'" Reinbach noted. "It is well-known as an affliction of the wealthy here. We should prepare for the possibility of it spreading as sugar becomes more accessible."
"Noble's Disease is usually a result of a person's lifestyle and lack of moderation," Sebas observed. "The food itself is not the culprit. We will need to be diligent in our warnings, but the advancement of cuisine enriches the lives of all. These snacks are quite excellent; it’s hard to believe they were made for mass production. My only regret is that they aren't quite suited for a formal tea party."
"I noticed that too," Ryoma admitted. "They’re either a bit noisy to eat or they tend to make your mouth very dry."
The group continued their lighthearted conversation for some time, sampling the snacks Ryoma had sent as they discussed the future.