New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Gifts

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“Congratulations, Charlotte. Cheers!” (Duncan)

It had been a little over two hours since we arrived at Duncan-jiisan’s home. The celebratory feast commenced.

“““Congratulations, Lotte!””” (Everyone)

Everyone raised their glasses to Lotte.

“Thank you.” (Lotte)

She was enveloped in applause, her face radiant with a beaming smile.

According to Adele, in preparation for the entrance examination to the opera training academy, she had exerted extraordinary effort in singing and dancing, and so her joy must surely be all the greater.

“Congratulations, Lotte.” (Leon)

“Yes. Leon-kun, thank you for celebrating with me. Oh, listen! Just now, I received this from Leon-kun.” (Lotte)

“Oh?” (Duncan)

“Hehh, that box? And inside?” (Adele)

Adele seemed brimming with curiosity.

“I do not yet know. I thought to open it after everyone was gathered together.” (Lotte)

“Oh. For you, Lotte, that is an unusually sound idea.” (Adele)

No, Adele said that, but at the same time shot a sharp glance at me.

“Well then, I shall open it.” (Lotte)

Lotte carefully untied the ribbon and opened the long narrow box.

“Waaah.” (Lotte)

Lotte’s eyes widened.

“My, how beautiful!” (Adele)

Adele, peering inside as well, was astonished.

“Okaa-san, look at this.” (Lotte)

Extending the box for Blanche to see, Duncan-san, who was seated beside her, also rose to his feet.

“My, transparent, with a faint bluish tint of refined color. Truly beautiful. But what might this be, dear?” (Blanche)

“What, what is it?” (Yohan)

Yohan, peering inside, began to grow excited as well.

“Hmm. It is a crystallization of magic. Most likely from the horn of an Almirage. It resembles a staff used for magic art, but it is not quite the same.” (Duncan)

As expected of Duncan-san.

“What, a staff? No, I cannot use magic art at all.” (Lotte)

Lotte looked back at me.

“As Jii-san said, the material is indeed the horn of an Almirage, but it is not a staff.” (Leon)

“Ah, yes, indeed. A staff would never have such a sharpened point at its tip. And these grooves, so many spiraling twists, elegant in design, yet unlike anything I have seen. I do not know what this is. What is it, Leon?” (Duncan)

“That is…” (Leon)

“A pen?!” (Yohan)

Yohan cried out.

“It looks like a pen!” (Yohan)

“Well now, a pen, you say?” (Duncan)

“Well, in form, perhaps.” (Adele)

“Yohan, you are correct. This is a pen.” (Leon)

“““A pen?””” (Everyone)

Everyone turned toward me.

“Yes! I was right!” (Yohan)

“No, but, a pen?” (Duncan)

“Yes. It is a kind of dip pen. And now, since I also have another pen made as a practice piece, I shall show it as well.” (Leon)

“You made it?” (Duncan)

“You mean to say, Leon-kun, you made this?” (Adele)

“Yes.” (Leon)

Saying so, I drew from my bag another pen along with a sheaf of paper.

“Jii-san, may I borrow this inkwell?” (Leon)

“Ah, that is fine.” (Duncan)

Rising from the table, I fetched the small pot that had been upon the side table near the wall and opened its lid.

“Like this. Dip the tip of the pen lightly into the ink.” (Leon)

“Wow. The pen has drawn up the ink. Is this magic art?” (Adele)

The transparent tip of the pen was streaked with multiple dark blue lines that spiraled upward.

“No, it is not.” (Leon)

“I see. The grooves draw it upward.” (Duncan)

Indeed. Capillary action.

“The ink does not drip.” (Blanche)

Even when the pen was raised, the ink did not fall.

“And now, let me show you.” (Leon)

While everyone leaned forward, I brought the pen to the paper and let the tip dance in smooth circles across it.

“Amazing. It writes!” (Adele)

“It truly is a pen.” (Blanche)

Indeed, it was. This was the glass pen from Reo’s memory, only fashioned not from glass but from magic crystal.

A glass pen was said to be made by heating a glass rod in fierce flame until just before it melts, then twisting it. This pen, however, was made by applying engraving magic art.

“Oh, may I try with the pen I received?” (Lotte)

“Of course.” (Leon)

Lotte took the pen from its box, dipped it carefully into the inkwell, and began to write upon the paper in the same way.

“Amazing. So smooth. The sensation is exquisite. Leon-kun, what is this pen called?” (Lotte)

A name. It was not a glass pen, after all.

“It is called a Crystal Pen.” (Leon)

“The name is lovely as well.” (Lotte)

“Lotte, hey! Let me, let me try it as well!” (Adele)

“Ehhhhh!” (Lotte)

“Just for a little, please!” (Adele)

“Adele.” (Leon)

“What, what is it?” (Adele)

I held out another long narrow box to her.

“I heard you became a research student. Congratulations.” (Leon)

“Ehh? You will give me one as well?” (Adele)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Waaah! Leon-chan, I love you!” (Adele)

She embraced me again. This time even more tightly than before. She pressed me to her.

Ah, such a sweet fragrance.

 

 

—

 

The feast came to an end, and Lotte and Adele departed, saying they would put Yohan to bed.

In the dining room remained only Duncan-ojiisan, Blanche-obasan, and myself. He poured amber-colored liquor into my glass.

“Leon. Return this.” (Duncan)

“Yes.” (Leon)

Since he had asked to see it for a while, I handed him the practice pen. He had written with it and gazed upon it while drinking, but now returned it.

“Hmm. Leon. This pen has considerable value. If you made more of the same, they would sell at a high price.” (Duncan)

“What?” (Leon)

“Dear!” (Blanche)

“No, no. I only made it as a small diversion.” (Leon)

It was more a practice in engraving magic art, and the material was a short Almirage horn that had been refused by buyers.

“Yet, as I see it, if sold in the capital, well, at the very least, one hundred Cecils, which is about one hundred thousand yen.” (Duncan)

“What?” (Leon)

“My, is that true, dear?” (Blanche)

“Though that assumes mass production. That is the minimum price. Not only is it beautiful, it also functions without waste.” (Duncan)

Hmm. So, it is. Though of course, the credit belongs less to me than to Earth’s invention of the glass pen and the idea behind it.

“Sigh.” (Leon)

“If the rarity is used well, an ornate piece like those you gave Adele and Lotte, with elaborate craftsmanship, would fetch ten times that price from a noble. For example, if one incorporated the family crest into the design.” (Duncan)

“Such expensive items, two of them. I feel terribly sorry, Leon.” (Blanche)

“No, please do not worry. They are celebratory gifts and made by my own hand.” (Leon)

“Hmmm. I ought to express thanks to Sister-in-law. She is to visit in October, is she not?” (Blanche)

So, it seems. I had heard it would be someday, but…

“No, that is… hm. I understand your sentiment, but telling Sister-in-law may prove troublesome.” (Duncan)

“Eh?” (Blanche)

“The magical apparatus used for lighting, which Master Valdos employed, that too was made by Leon, was it not?” (Duncan)

“Ugh.” (Leon)

Sharp, so sharp.

“Do not worry. I shall not tell a soul. Blanche, you as well. And do not tell Adele either.” (Duncan)

“Of course.” (Blanche)

“Since I first heard, I suspected it. But with that Crystal Pen, I was certain. Thus, if one were to speak of it, would you not be compelled to make more?” (Duncan)

What a good uncle. Rather than business, he thought first of my well-being.

Kaa-sama, hmm. Well, she does pay me properly. And now I see why she brought me to the theatre. Though she said nothing, she intended to make me realize for myself that the magical apparatus was truly useful. Still. That such value should lie in this pen.

There is no helping it. I must go to the Guild of Intellectual Property and file a public technical report. Though it is not my own achievement, I cannot bear for someone else to take the patent rights.

 

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