"I hereby reward you with a reward for the rescue of my country's princess, Shelia. The reward is the ordination of a viscount to Leonce Forster, and the betrothal of Shelia to Rihanna.


　About six months have gone by since then.
　I'm nine years old now, and I'm about to finish my first year.
　When the Emperor announced his engagement to Shelly and Lena, people looked at me like I was the envy of the world.
　I became famous as the youngest person ever to become a viscount, the youngest person ever to be betrothed to a princess, and I was the envy of the nobility, who knew me.

　At school, Shelly used to be my sister and now I am.
　So I'm surrounded by my peers all day long.

Put me in the inner sanctum.
　or something like that
Take me under your wing.
　etc., etc.
　It was really loud.

　Well, I couldn't resist.
''I'm not recruiting for the inner sanctum and my men!　If you're going to be any louder, I'm never going to get along with you! if I said
　Nobody came near me the next day.

　So now it's peaceful.
　At school, I spend most of my time with Hermann and Frank.
　I don't talk to Sherry and Lena much more than a morning hello at school because of the noise around them.
　So they end up playing at my house after school.

　Every day, I wasn't doing anything in particular, just talking and helping them train for magic.
　They've both learned to use non-attribute magic in the last six months.

　And I've heard that Sherry's uncle and Leena's saint teach them magic on a daily basis.
　I'm sure they're all improving in their specialties and I'll be asking them to show me the results.

　Seeing the two of them, I felt that I had some free time and wanted to be able to do something.
　I'm in the commercial district of the imperial capital.

　I'm going to research a magic tool I've been curious about.

　A magic tool is similar to but completely different from the magic items I make.
　The magic items I create can only be made by me and I don't need to replenish my magic stones.
　A tool can be made by anyone with the right skills, but the magic stones need to be replaced occasionally.

　They're like battery-powered conveniences in a previous life.
　So, in that analogy, a magic stone is like a battery.

　They make water boil and brighten a room, like they're essential in this world.

　I don't know how to make magic tools like that, so I'll learn how to make them if I'm not busy!
　I came out of the house alone on holiday thinking something like ...... .

　Well, I can use creation magic, so I don't have to .......
　I just thought maybe it would be useful ...... and see if it would help me.
　Plus, it's a great way to pass the time.


　Now I'm in front of our store.
"Fermor Trading Company

　Fermor has the largest share of magic tools in the world.
　I used to live in my house and it's the top.
　There were so many people inside that it was easy to see the store was thriving.

　When I walked in, a beautiful lady was there to help me.
"Welcome ...... me, where is your father and mother?

No, I'm here alone.

So, how can I help you?　What did he ask you to do?

No, nothing in particular: ......

Okay, goodbye. You don't want to disturb our guests.

Hey, hey, I'm your friend from .............
　He let me out before I could finish.

"What ....... You could at least listen to me. ......

''Huh, let's see what we're going to do now: ....... Either find another store that sells magic tools around here or ......
　Sighing, he began to stroll through the commercial district.



'I don't see it anywhere!
　I've searched everywhere but couldn't find ...... a shop like that.
　Apparently, Fermor's Trading Company is so powerful that no one sells magic tools in the Imperial City: .......

What's wrong with me?　Are you lost, by any chance?
　Maybe I was talking too loud?
　A concerned young woman came over to talk to me.

'What?　No, no, sir.

'So what don't you see then?'

Actually, I'm looking for a shop that sells magic tools.

'A magic tool?　Then the Fermor Trading Company is right over there in plain sight.

No, I'm looking for a store other than the Fermor Trading Company.

Other than Fermor and Company?　I don't know if there was anything else: ...... Oh, there was one!　It's a little shop at the end of a commercial district. It's kind of hard to find, so I'll show you where it is.
　Seriously!

Oh, really?　Thank you!


　And so I had to ask a kind lady to show me around, I guess.
　Well, even if this woman wanted to kidnap me, I'd be okay.


Here. You know, that rundown little shop.
　The woman pointed in the direction of ...... a seedy shop that would convince me that it had already gone out of business .

''Oh, is that it?　Okay. ...... Thank you very much.
　Oh, are they really open for business?

No. Bye.
　I bowed my head and the woman said it and walked away.

"Okay, let's go in. ....... Hello!
　He pushed the heavy door open and went in.

'Hmm?　What are you?
　When I entered, a stern old man with a beard who looked like he was a craftsman was looking bored.

''Well, um, ...... can I have a look at the magic tools?''

Hmm?　Client!　Oh, how many months has it been?

Yeah, is that how few people are coming in?
　How can you not want to quit for months?
　What's going on in your life, anyway?

Yeah, they're not coming. We'll figure something out.
　The owner overlooked my concerns and dismissed them optimistically.

"Oh, really? ......
　Is it okay to shop at ...... this store?

Everyone else is going to Fermat's. ...... You came here instead of over there?

'Well ...... I went over there and they kicked me out because I was a kid.

'What!　Geez, how big of a deal to choose ...... customers, Mr. Big Commerce .......

''Well, ......, can I see your magic tool?''

Oh. What kind of stuff are you looking for?

'Well, ......, there's nothing in particular: ......'

Okay. Well, you can look around all you want.

Thank you.

　Well, I'll take a look.
　The interior of the store is just as dirty and dusty as the outside.

　The merchandise is arranged in a mess, so it's hard to see what's there.
　I dusted off the dust and pulled out an item in front of me.

"What's this?
　I asked as I showed the owner the black sphere.

'Huh?　This is ......, I believe, the one where dark magic is used to make you sleepy just looking at it.

Huh?　Can a magic tool do that?　So what is this then?
　Now he pulled out a white sphere.

''This one has holy magic in it, and I find it relaxing to look at.

Li, relax: ...... Is there any other magic tool you can say this is awesome?

'Then how about this ......?　It's a stick that uses lightning magic and chirps when you touch it.
　Then the owner pulled out a stick with a buzzing tip and said, "What is it used for?

What can you use it for ......?

Well... ...... How about a massage or something?　Oh, and ...... you can turn it into a weapon if you turn up the output.



It opens: ......

Wow!

The Flaming Surprise Box. Come on, I'll give you a discount.

'Oh, that was a close one ...... and you're almost out of bangs. ...... That's one hell of a surprise box ......

Not really.

I didn't compliment you!

'There's other lightning bolts and water popping out of the air.
　Then he brought out a bunch of boxes just like that.

'Yes, I don't want any of them. And ...... I'm beginning to understand why this store is not selling well.

'Don't you want ...... I thought I'd finally get my money's worth. ...... What?　The reason it's not selling?　Of course it's Fermat's fault.

No, I suppose that's part of it, but this place is even worse than that.

'Oh?　You think my shop is terrible?

Yes, sir. The shop is dirty and hard to get into. You don't know what it's like to go in there and see what it's all about. People get hurt when they try them. Here's why it's so bad.



"Ugh, ugh ....... d*mn ...... I can't talk back to you. ......
　I knew that.

So I've got a suggestion.

What?

Can you teach me how to make a magic tool?

What?　Why?　What does that have to do with the store's sales?
　The owner raised his voice.

'If you tell me ...... I'll change this store.

I see. ......
　The owner grinned.

"So, will you teach me?

'Yes, ...... apprentice or ...... yeah ......, well, I'm not busy anyway, so I'll take it as a trick.'

Are you sure?　Thank you!

'Yeah, and I'm going to teach you better than that, okay?　Don't run off in the middle of the road?

'Don't worry, I'm used to teaching Sparta.
　There's no Spartans that can beat Grandma and Grandpa.

Okay. Well, you'll be here in the morning.

That's why I can't do it in the morning except on my days off because of ...... school.

School?　How old are you?

'What?　I'm nine years old.

'You're nine years old and at school ...... you're a nobleman!

Yes?
　What's the problem?

'Why is a nobleman's child pacing around here alone!

My house is not very tight.
　Besides, I'm the master of the house.

What?　What the hell kind of aristocrat is that? ...... Come to think of it, I hadn't heard your name yet. What do you say?

Oh, Leons Forster. You can call me Leo.
　If you ask me, it was rude of me not to tell you my name.

"Well, ...... is a brave man's house, isn't it!　Well, something makes sense: ...... Leo or ...... then I'm Horant . Call me whatever you want.

'Okay, ...... Mr. Holland, ...... Master!