In the garden of the villa, in front of the flowerbed I was picking flowers.

　I would plant the flowers, magically stimulate their growth, and then pluck them as they grew.
　After plucking, I would plant new ones to stimulate their growth - the process was repeated endlessly throughout the morning.

　The goal was to make the flowers grow exactly as I intended.
　It took me half a day to finally grow some of the flowers I had in mind.

Mr. Alec, you have a visitor.

　When Angel, who was trotting from the mansion, noticed what I was doing, he stopped and nodded his head.

What are you doing, Master Alec? Are you divining flowers?
"It's a grand fortune-telling. But no. I wanted to grow these flowers.

　Show Angier the flowers you've been aiming to grow.

Wow, ...... it's beautiful.
Do you like it?
"Yes, it's very beautiful.
Then this one is for Angier.

　I plucked the flower and put it over Angel's ear.

Oh, ......
Yes, it looks good on you, Angel.
"Thank you, Mr. Alec. ......

　Angier grinned happily.

By the way, what do you want from me?
Oh, yes, of course. Mr. Alec has a visitor.
Who's that?
"How," says the person.

　　　　　*

　In the parlor of the mansion, Howe came to the room where the maid had been sent.

"Sorry to keep you waiting,
"Oh.

　Howe, who only looked up while gobbling up the cake and sweets the maids would have served.
　When I saw the piles of plates that would have been refilled and the fact that she hadn't touched her tea, I thought to myself, "Do you like sweets?

"Do you like sweets?
"Oh.
I'll have them bring you more.
"No, that's enough for now.

　Howe shoved the last piece of cake into his mouth and swallowed it into his belly with a mighty gulp.

"Gosso-san.
Sorry. So, what can I do for you today?
I brought it because I made the thing.
"Yeah, what's it like?

　The thing, of course, is a tool that utilizes the magic of the solar flower, which I have asked Howe to research and develop.

　I'm excited to see what he's going to make.

　Howe took the parcel at his feet, put it on the table and opened it.
　A round, glass ball-like object was revealed.

　The glass ball was placed on a stand with a spiral-shaped indentation dug into the stand.

What is this thing?　Crystal Ball of Divination?
I'm not going to make that crap. Darken the room.
"Okay. Please.

　I summoned two maids from the shadows.
　The maids pulled down all the curtains in the parlor and then went back into the shadows.

　When Howe saw the maids' summons, he had a reasonable "hmmm" reaction, but he was not surprised or interested.

　On the other hand, the room became darker as the curtains were pulled down.

Is that okay?
Enough for now.

　Howe then took a vial from his pocket.
　Inside the vial is a liquid.

The magic of the solar flower.
"Oh, if you put this in here--

　Howe dripped a drop of magic onto the glass ball base, a spiral groove.
　The drop circled around and around along the spiral groove, gradually moving closer and closer to the center of the glass ball.
　Eventually, when the drop was directly under the glass ball, it caught.

　The glass ball, which was transparent and empty, glowed.
　The darkened room suddenly becomes bright.

　It's as bright as if the curtains had been drawn in broad daylight.

This is the first prototype that uses the magic drop you gave me. It will make the room as bright at night as it is in daylight.
It's amazing.
"And it's magical, unlike wax or grease, it doesn't smell or soot your room.
"I love it. . and best of all, I like this groove.
"Groove?　Oh, now I can make sure that I spend that extra money slowly--
No, I can do better than that.
"Hmm?
You know what a plumbing is, right?


Oh, you mean those things you see in the mansions of the nobility and rich people?
Yes, a device that provides a steady supply of water. Don't you think that if we pulled a tube from the flower garden, for example, and connected it directly to this kind of device, we wouldn't need to replenish our magical power?
"--Ha!

　Howe's eyes widened and he was shocked.

'Sure, that would be more convenient.

　Immediately after, he slumped down, did his chin to his hand and grumbled.

"Oh, I see. I can transfer the technology from the water supply. Mmm, I should have thought of that when I saw that magic could be liquefied!

　Grumbling to Howe, I ask.

How's that?　I wonder if I can do it.
"Oh, I can do it. . ...... No, not after all.
"Hmm?　Why?
"This guy's made of solar flowers,

　Lift the vial and ask me, I nodded.

Yes,
Solar flowers only produce drops during the day. This lighting would rather be used at night, so automating the supply in that way would not be of much benefit.
"I've just solved that one for you.
"What?

　I took a flower out of my pocket.

　A relative of the solar flower, which I have been planting and plucking since this morning to accelerate its growth and improve its breeding (、、、、).

What's that?
I just made it today. I don't have a name for it, but yeah, I think I'll just use the normal moonflower.
"Moonflower ...... no way!
"Yes.

　I nodded quietly.

"This one produces magic drops by moonlight. When combined with the solar flower, we can have a non-stop supply of magic all day long.
"...... wow!

　Howe was unable to open his mouth.