Marie headed to the storage room near the mansion’s entrance with her maid to inspect the return gift that had arrived for her.
"It’s quite a large box," Marie noted. "And is this... a sealing formula?"
"Yes, milady. I expect the key to release the seal is in the letter. Since it was addressed personally to you, we haven't checked the contents ourselves."
Usually, any correspondence or packages sent to the house were screened by the servants before the family was notified. However, while the letters from the Lord Trading Company, Rasal, and Erne were addressed to the Baron house generally, this specific letter was for Marie alone. The maids couldn't just open it on their own, so they had only checked it for dangerous formulas before calling for her.
"Let's start by reading the letter, then."
Marie nervously opened the letter from Kaito. She suspected it held the answers to the chaos currently unfolding. It started with simple greetings, followed by his thanks for the Riples and a note that he had shared them with his friends.
"It’s a relief to know Kaito-sama Miyama took a liking to our Riples. Now, here's the part about the return gift... 'I remembered you mentioning that travel was difficult for you, Marie-san, so I bought the materials and, with a few friends' help, created a teleportation magic tool. Please accept it as my thanks.' ...Wait, what?"
"A... teleportation magic tool?"
Unable to believe what she was reading, Marie instinctively looked up from the letter at her maid, completely stunned. The maid looked just as incredulous. Almost simultaneously, their gazes drifted to the box.
"Um... how much do teleportation magic tools cost, usually?"
"Even a second-hand one with an outdated formula... I believe it would be well over 10 Platinum Coins, milady."
"Wait, hold on... this is far too shocking to take in. This is impossible! The value of the Riples I sent compared to this is... it's absurd!"
"S-Since he said he purchased the raw materials and built it himself, I-I think the cost might have been kept down to some extent," the maid offered, trying to be helpful. "It would certainly explain why it was sent in a sealed box, given how precious such a tool is."
Teleportation magic tools were among the most exorbitantly priced items in existence. Ownership was usually limited to high-ranking nobility. While the Rich Baron House could technically have scraped together the funds for a low-performance, second-hand model, it would have been a waste of money; such items were plagued by deteriorating magic crystals and short lifespans.
"This is getting scary... but let's finish the letter. Oh, here's a part about the other mail."
Marie continued reading. According to the letter, one of Isis's subordinates had fallen in love with the Riples, and the Death King Faction wanted to secure a bulk supply. Rasal Marfik, their business representative, would be visiting soon to discuss the details.
"So that explains why Rasal Marfik-sama of the Death King Faction is coming. In that case, I'll need to make sure my sister is there alongside Father to handle the negotiations... But... there's nothing here about the Lord Trading Company or the Goddess of Fertility. Hmm. Well, at least knowing the reason for one of them makes me feel a tiny bit better."
While the reason for Rasal's visit was clarified, there was no mention of the others, leaving Marie bewildered. Still, with one mystery solved before her parents returned, she felt a slight sense of relief.
"Ah, here's the passcode to release the formula. If you please."
"Of course. I don't believe anything dangerous would be inside, but please step back just in case, Milady Marie."
The maid touched the box to release the sealing formula once Marie was at a safe distance. After a quick nod of confirmation, she lifted the lid.
"Ababababa... h-heee...!"
"Milady Marie! Pull yourself together!"
"I-I-I-I can't... It's impossible."
At the sight of the gift inside, the strength left Marie's body and she collapsed onto the floor, a strangled cry escaping her twitching lips.
They had both assumed it would be some budget, low-performance model. Instead, they were staring at a breathtakingly beautiful magic tool powered by a huge black magic crystal.
"Please... tell me my eyes are lying. That looks like a black magic crystal to me."
"Milady, I share your shock... and my own trembling will not stop. But there is no mistake. That is a highest-grade magic crystal with over 90% purity."
Marie and the maid stared at each other, their faces drained of color. Marie felt her stomach twisting in agony, but she was past the point of doing anything about it. She could only stare blankly at the teleportation magic tool.
Serious-senpai: "Are you going to be okay? Marie's stomach is going to give out before her parents even get home..."