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

 

 

The End of Year 489

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

It was the end of the year, December 20th.

The university had entered its winter vacation, in other words, the winter break.

I had come to Victor’s Patent Attorney Office, recommended by the Intellectual Property Guild. About 10 days ago, I had already requested their assistance with the patent application and related procedures.

Victor-san was sitting right in front of me. Today was the final review of the specification. He was reading the draft I had written. He appeared to be a serious person. Memories of my previous visit here flashed through my mind.

After explaining the concept with a schematic diagram and the actual product, I had accompanied the guild to conduct a prior art investigation. Surprisingly, patent searches could be conducted fairly easily with an ancient magical apparatus.

“I thought it might already exist, but there surprisingly does not seem to be any prior art.” (Victor)

For reference, prior art refers to information known to unspecified individuals. If such information exists, the patent application loses novelty, and except for certain exceptions, it is usually not recognized as a valid patent. Determining whether information qualifies as prior art is subtle, but if it is documented in the official gazette, it is certainly considered prior art.

“Indeed. Applying moisture to cloth with a sprayer is generally done, so prior art in that area would not be surprising. The blind spot is the idea of spraying steam through magic art. However, once it is registered, such a patent is remarkably strong.” (Victor)

“Is that so?” (Leon)

“Yes. Even if challenged in opposition trials, it remains exceptionally strong.” (Victor)

I recalled the previous expression on Victor-san’s face as he nodded emphatically.

“The review has been completed.” (Victor)

“Oh.” (Leon)

“We will proceed with the application using this draft.” (Victor)

“Very well, please do so.” (Leon)

With that, the specification for the patent application on the steam iron was finalized.

“Then, regarding the applicant. I heard it was deferred last time…” (Victor)

“It has been decided. We will submit jointly with this trading company.” (Leon)

I handed over a paper listing the official name, representative, and location of the Liones Trading Company.

“This is the power of attorney.” (Leon)

It bore Kaa-sama’s signature.

“Understood. Very well. We will complete the procedures within this year. The official gazette should be available around mid-January.” (Victor)

“Thank you very much.” (Leon)

“Accordingly, we will send an invoice after the application, so please pay the agency fee excluding the advance deposit.” (Victor)

 

—

 

The year 489 concluded today. Tomorrow would be the New Year. I had been invited by Uncle Duncan, so I went to his home.

After handing my coat to the maid, I was immediately guided to the dining room.

“Good evening.” (Leon)

“Leon-chan, welcome.” (Adele)

“Leon-niichan!” (Yohan)

Adele-san and Yohan-kun greeted me with beaming smiles.

“Leon, I am glad you came.” (Duncan)

“Welcome, Leon-san.” (Adele)

“Thank you for inviting me. I have brought something with me.” (Leon)

I took a bottle out of my bag.

“Oh? Wine. Thank you.” (Duncan)

“You need not go to such trouble, Leon-san.” (Adele)

“No, it is nothing. Also, Yohan-kun.” (Leon)

“Me? What is it?” (Yohan)

Yohan-kun looked excited at the appearance of wine, though slightly disappointed it was not for him.

“It is a gift.” (Leon)

“A gift! Yay!” (Yohan)

The pen I had given previously was not suitable for Yohan-kun yet, so I had withheld it.

I took a small cloth bag from my bag and handed it to Yohan-kun.

“Thank you, Leon-niichan. I wonder what this is. Ah, one-chan, open it!” (Yohan)

He handed it to Adele-san beside him.

“Now, Yohan. Pull this string here. Yes, hold out your hands.” (Adele)

When Yohan-kun raised his small hands together, Adele-san shook the bag open above them. Two transparent lumps tumbled out.

“They are beautiful. What are these? Toys?” (Yohan)

He picked one up and examined it closely.

“Let me see too. Could these be magic crystals? They are really beautiful. Ah, numbers are engraved.” (Adele)

Indeed, these were magic crystals intricately crafted with engraving magic art, irregularly shaped ten-sided polyhedra. Each face had a digit from 0 to 9 engraved.

“I can read numbers a little. This is 1! This one… hmm, 5! Right?” (Yohan)

“Yes, that is correct.” (Adele)

“Yay!” (Yohan)

“Oh, could these be dice?” (Lotte)

“Dice? But the shape…” (Yohan)

“Yes. These are dice numbered from 0 to 9.” (Leon)

According to my recollection, they were intended for statistical purposes.

“Normally, dice go from 1 to 6, right?” (Adele)

“Indeed, that is unusual.” (Lotte)

“Dice?” (Yohan)

“Yohan, not ‘sairoko’, it is ‘saikoro.’” (Adele)

“Saikoro? What is that?” (Yohan)

“You roll it like this and read the number on the top face. This is 6.” (Leon)

“Ah! I want to try too. Here! Um, 3!” (Yohan)

“Yes, that is 3.” (Leon)

“Yay, I got it!” (Yohan)

“I thought it would help Yohan-kun learn numbers this way.” (Leon)

“Oh, Leon-san. The pen from before and this too, you made them for us. Thank you.” (Adele)

Small children may be hesitant to swallow things, but these were made larger and Yohan-kun would have no problem.

“Oh, it is nothing.” (Leon)

“By the way, Leon-kun, why two of them?” (Lotte)

“There is a bluish one and a reddish one. Once he gets used to it, he can roll two at a time, count to 99, or even add them together. Various exercises can be devised.” (Leon)

“I see!” (Lotte)

“I heard. Yohan, let us roll them together. Ready?” (Leon)

“Here!” (Yohan)

“Yohan, what is the sum?” (Leon)

“One and… six.” (Yohan)

“No, that is the roll itself. I mean addition, addition.” (Leon)

Yohan-kun shook his head.

“It may be a little early. Onee-chan will teach you addition.” (Adele)

“Okay.” (Yohan)

The feast seemed ready.

The wine I had brought, along with juice, was poured into glasses.

“Everyone, are you ready?” (Duncan)

“The year 489 was a wonderful one as Blanche, Adelaide, and Charlotte visited our home. Tomorrow, Charlotte and Leon, who came today, will turn fifteen and formally become adults. Let us all celebrate. Cheers!” (Duncan)

“Cheers!” (Everyone)

We raised our glasses together.

“The grapes are delicious.” (Yohan)

“How old will you be tomorrow, Yohan?” (Leon)

“Five!” (Yohan)

He spread his right hand wide with delight.

“Not five, five years old.” (Adele)

“Five years old.” (Yohan)

“Congratulations.” (Leon)

 

—

 

The meal had reached its midpoint. Meat dishes were served.

“By the way, Oji-san.” (Leon)

“Hmm?” (Duncan)

“Do you remember Emilia’s Leonard Trading Company?” (Leon)

“Ah, of course. They are relatives. They even have a branch in the royal capital.” (Duncan)

“Oh, I see.” (Leon)

“Well, there is hardly any business with them here. So?” (Duncan)

“There is a daughter named Eiru in that family. What about on your side?” (Leon)

“Hmm, I feel like someone was there. What about her?” (Duncan)

“Yes. When Adele-san held her young performers’ recital recently… on the second day, I believe, she was at the theater. Ah, I also attended.” (Leon)

“Oh, I see.” (Duncan)

“Oh, we went on the first day.” (Adele)

I knew that.

“I see. I should have gone on the first day as well. Returning to the topic, Eiru also entered the Salomea Opera Training School this year.” (Leon)

Oji-san and Aunt looked at Adele-san and Lotte.

“Hmm. Lotte, you probably know her. She would be a classmate if she entered this year.” (Duncan)

As expected, Adele-san acted naturally.

“I know her.” (Lotte)

“You know her? What kind of child is she?” (Duncan)

“Quite cute. I have not spoken with her yet, but that must have been what Leon-kun was talking about at that time.” (Lotte)

“Eh?” (Leon)

“Lotte-san, you were at the theater?” (Duncan)

“The first-year students mostly went either in the morning or afternoon. I went to see as well.” (Lotte)

“I did not notice.” (Leon)

“She and Leon-kun looked slightly hostile toward each other.” (Lotte)

Lotte-san had observed carefully.

“Yes. When I went to the theater, people teased me about why I was attending.” (Leon)

“I see.” (Lotte)

“By the way, she seemed to know Adele-san and Lotte-san.” (Leon)

“Really. If I have the chance, I will talk to her.” (Lotte)

“Lotte, tell me later what kind of child she is.” (Leon)

“I wonder. Ufufufu.” (Lotte)

 

—

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