The night party hosted by the Dukes of Solistea, which can hardly be called a ...... event, ended successfully. In the event that you're not sure what to do, you can always ask for help.
　The nobles who came from far away stayed for a few days, while others stayed for other reasons.
　These were the nobles who participated in the secret talks with the Duke of Delsacis, and those who stayed behind to take time to put together a plan for the Mage Musketeers.
　But what about the other nobles?
　For example, Christine de Elwell, who is also a viscountess.

Now, I have some business to attend to before I return to the estate.

　Christine mutters to herself as she packs her bags.
　On the bed was a large bag with a change of clothes that she had just put away, and next to it was only a palm-sized package.
　Christine's reason for attending the soiree was technically in her mother's name, but the real reason was that she had business here in the city of Santor. To be precise, she was a skilled blacksmith in the city.

"...... Orihalcon. I wish I had a blacksmith who could handle this.

[Orihalcon].
　On its own, it's just a soft clay-like mineral, but this mineral has special properties.
　It is a dream medium that can be mixed with other metals to change the hardness and conductivity of magic power, making it possible to create more powerful weapons. It is a legendary mineral that can easily cut through a lump of iron if used in a sword, but it requires a skilled blacksmith.
　Of course, the wielder of the sword is also essential.
　Aside from the skill of the wielder, as a knightly noble family, having a sword as a family heirloom is a kind of status. In particular, if you have a sword that was given to you by the king, it is said that you will be safe until the end of the country, unless you commit a crime that could lead to the breakup of the family.
　The Viscount Elwell did not have such a weapon.
　Orichalcon was found by chance in an abandoned mine in Arhan, but the trouble was that there were no craftsmen in the territory who could handle this kind of mineral.
　At first, he was adamant about using an orichalcone sword for himself, but when he could not find a craftsman, he gave up and made a mithril sword first and left it for a while.
　However, the lure of the orichalcone sword was irresistible, and when he received the invitation to the night party, he was rekindled and went to the city of Santor, where there were many craftsmen, in order to at least have a sword that would become a family heirloom.
　In any case, the skills of the craftsmen in the city of Santor are well known even in other countries, and there are even holy knights from Metis who visit the city to train their swords.
　If there's a problem, it's this.

If there's a problem, it's ...... what if it's a dwarf?

　--Yes, if the craftsman is a dwarf.
　A dwarf with a craftsman's temperament is uncompromising. If they get their hands on an unknown mineral, they will happily start forging their swords at an uncanny pace.
　They will ignore your requests and the work you are doing.
　They will work with such zeal that even if it is the client who is in the way, they will be met with a fist bump. Christine is afraid of that.
　It's a well-known fact that you will never get anywhere with a dwarven craftsman who hums and slants common sense. That's how widely known their race traits are.

"No, no, no, no!　It's a good idea to have a family heirloom sword to give your family a bit of credibility, and if it's the best one, you can offer it to the royal family and somehow keep your family alive. ......

　There were two reasons for forging the Orichalcon sword.
　The first was to forge the family heirloom sword, as mentioned earlier, and the second was to get introductions to influential noblemen to adopt sons-in-law to ensure the survival of the family.
　In particular, there are many children of noblemen who are not attached to a family, such as second or third sons, and there are many upper class noblemen who do not care where they are adopted as long as they are adopted into a noble family.
　In the event that you've got a lot more than one, you'll be able to take a look at a lot more than one.

I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you have.

　Christine has accepted a political marriage for the sake of her family, but she never thought she was falling in love.
　The problem is that she grew up in an environment where all the men around her were men, except for her mother, so she didn't notice these changes in her emotions. And I can't notice them.
　She had grown up to be a pure, earnest, insensitive girl. She has grown up to be a pure, serious, and insensitive girl. 　

...... Calm down and take a deep breath. ....... Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ～～～～. Okay, let's get ourselves together and go to the artisan district. Doctor, are you awake?

　Christine left the guest room of the mansion with her luggage in her hands.
　This is where it all goes wrong.

"Aah!
What?

　As soon as I left the room, I bumped into Zveit.

"Hey, ......, Christine. Are you okay?
"Mr. Zwait!　No, I'm fine!
What are you freaking out about?　I'm fine. - Why are you freaking out? - Well, I'm fine, but you're not hurt at ......, are you?
I'm fine. It's just a little pain in the butt. ......
Can you stand up?　Here.
Huh?

　Christine couldn't help but feel her heart palpitating at the casual touch of Zveit's hand.
　Without knowing her change of heart, Zveit pulled Christine's hand and made her stand up.
　Inwardly, Christine is panicking, "What's wrong with me? I'm not sure if you've seen this before.

It was my fault for looking away, but you should be careful too. By the way, why did you come out so fast?
"What?　What? Was it that vigorous?　I think I just came out the door like a normal person. ......
You didn't notice?　I came out of the door. ......
I'm sorry!　I didn't notice at all.

　Christine, unaware of her first love, left the room unconsciously and quickly when she remembered Zveit's face in the room.
　There was embarrassment, embarrassment, and an indescribable emotional turmoil, but her conscious mind fooled her into thinking she was normal. But my conscious mind fooled me into thinking that I was the same as usual, and this caused me to make a mistake that I usually don't make.


　And in front of Zveit's eyes.
　She was too embarrassed and upset to speak.
　Unaware of her state of mind, Zveit saw the package lying on the floor and picked it up.
　As soon as he held it, he could feel that it was strangely soft.

"What the hell is this, it's soft. ....... Is it clay?
Oh, it's ...... orichalcone...
Huh?　Oh, orichalcone?

　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.
　Orichalcon is a mineral of legend, a rare mineral with a frighteningly high affinity for magic. If you are a mage, you would want to acquire it even if you have to borrow money.
　If you divert it into a magic tool, you can make something quite powerful, but few people have actually had their hands on it.
　Zveit shouted in surprise, almost screaming.

What the hell are you doing with that?　Is this really an orichalcon?
I had an accident while mining in the ruins of an abandoned mine in Arhan, and when I was rescued, I found it at the lowest level. The person who rescued me had mined quite a lot, though.

　At her words, the image of an insane mage popped into Zveit's mind.

"The lowest level ....... I'm not sure what to make of this.　He uses magic of inordinate power. ......
I'm not sure if you've heard of Xellos!　I wanted to thank him for that time, but I didn't know where he lived.
I knew it!　The only person I can think of who would be insane enough to find something like an orichalcon is that guy. ....... No, now there's another one.

　I'm not sure. I'm not sure what to make of this.
　I'm not sure what to make of this. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　He thought, "Anything is possible with a master," and his perception was generally correct.

'Master Zwait, please let me see Mr. Xelloss!　I really want to thank you for what you did for me.
"Master... ...... I don't mind, but you'd better be prepared.
"What, prepared?　What kind of preparation?
From what I've heard, Master's house is insane in many ways. ....... You never know what might happen.
"What?　Yeah, ～～～～～～～～～?
I'm sure Master will be able to process the orichalcone easily. I don't know what you're going to use it for, but you might as well ask Master.
"You mean Master Xelloss? I found an unexpected connection with a great person. I'd like to ask him about that too.
"Well, let's get going. I was planning to go to the master too.

　Thus, Christine was led by Zveit to the house where he lived to thank him for the lingering pain in her heart.
　As they descended the stairs to leave the house, they were greeted by a man at the front door.

When they descended the stairs to leave the house, they found a man at the door. Do something about those uselessly bulging muscles. You're ruining my refreshing mood.
"Hmm, nice to see you back from your early morning workout, Creston. Unlike you, who's been sitting in a chair, I've been working out to keep my body young. A good sweat in the morning is the only way to stay healthy.
"I suppose that sweaty smell is the reason you can't marry again. Is that why you can't marry again? Do you always have to show off your body odor?
I'm just going to wash up. I'm about to wash up. I know basic etiquette, even if you don't tell me!
Well, you've grown up. You've grown up. In the past, you trained and then stayed put. ....... I wonder if it's because I was once run off by my wife. You never know what you're going to get.
Are you trying to fight me this morning?
Interesting, let's have some light exercise before breakfast. Let's finish what we started last night.
Come on!

　And so begins round two.
　The front lobby of the villa has been transformed into a battleground between two old mages.
　Just like last night, the two old men were happily talking with their fists.
　The sound of blows was too much for two best friends joking around.

"........., sir.
"......... Grandpa. What are you doing?

　A ritual of mutual friendship, not mutual hatred.
　Talking with friends is not only about words.
　However, as a blood relative and a student, I am ashamed.
　Zveit and Christine sneaked out of the house before the commotion became too big.

　...



　Kurosmithing is the art of communicating with fire and iron.
　The power of the fire is judged, the condition of the heated iron is judged, and the hammer is struck precisely at the right moment.
　Sparks fly, a high-pitched metallic sound is heard, and by judging the sound, the condition of the iron to be forged is determined.
　The iron is then passed through vegetable oil and repeatedly heated and forged over the fire. Sometimes rice straw is added to add carbon, and the iron is bent and stretched to become strong and tenacious. It's easy to say, but it takes a lot of years to do.

"......... still sweet.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing. This was the first time he had actually done it, though he had enough knowledge.

"......... Mister Zeroth. Why do you have a forge?
"I made it myself in my spare time. I made it myself in my spare time. It was a bit of a rush job, though.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　The sound of gold echoed in tempo.

"By the way, what can I do for you?　Mr. Croisus.
I've completed a prototype weapon. I would have loved to hear your opinion, Xellos, but it seems that you're in the middle of something. I'll make an appointment before I come back.
I'll make an appointment and come back later." "I'm not in the middle of an appointment. Wait a minute, okay?

　I put the iron ingot in a pail of water to cool it down, pulled it out immediately, and placed it haphazardly on the anvil.
　After washing his face and hands with a bucket of water that he had already drawn, and wiping them with a towel that he had hung up, Xellos turned to Croisus.

I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not.　It's something long,......, no way!
You can find a lot of people who are interested in this type of product. I'm sure you can figure it out without even checking, Lord Xelloss.
"Magic gun, huh. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
The dwarven craftsmen did their best.
Dwarves. ......

　In the back of Xellos' mind...

"Get on with making the parts!　The gaskets are already in place.
I can't, I need a break!
"Rest?　If you want, you can rest forever. I'll make you comfortable right now!
Don't be absurd, I'm carving such a fine technique!
Don't be absurd.　I'm not sure what to do.
I'm a mage, not a craftsman.
We're all craftsmen when we're here. I'm not going to listen to any whining or crying. I'm not going to listen to any whining or crying.
I don't know.

　--I thought I heard a conversation between a craftsman and a mage.
　This is because Xellos himself knows better than anyone else that once the dwarves get involved, the place will turn into a screaming hell.

The mages ...... must have had a rough time of it.
I enjoyed it, though. I had a lot of free time after I completed the necessary formulas, so I spent a lot of time researching until I finished the prototype. Fortunately, I had a lot of interesting research materials.
You seem to be getting along surprisingly well with those workaholics. Pity about the victims. ......

　Having experienced the insanity of the dwarves, Xellos felt sorry for the mages who had been killed.
　For some reason, tears naturally welled up in his eyes.
　There are two ways to go with them. Either you will become a workaholic like them, or you will collapse from overwork.
　Worst of all, you will be mentally trapped to the point of wanting to die, that's for sure.
　Even Xelloss wants to say, "Hurry up and enact the Labor Standards Law! Xelloss would like to say.

The victim's story notwithstanding, I'd like to see it. I'm a little curious myself.
Here, take this package.
Here you go.

　Unwrap the package you received from Croisus and hand the magic gun inside to Xellos.
　You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life.

"Can you shoot this?
"Here are the bullets. I think it could be a little bigger, but the dwarf insisted on the shape, so it was rejected. It would be more efficient to increase the number of bullets, but how irrational.

　When you receive the metal magazine, you insert it into the hole in front of the trigger and pull the lever.

The magazine is manually loaded and there is no rapid-fire mechanism. The only question is how powerful it is, but if you shoot it normally, it's not good.
It would be bad if a stray bullet hit a house. I don't want anyone to get killed trying it out, so let's just shoot it into the sky.
"I don't know if I can see the performance with this...

　"I don't know if this is a good way to see the performance of the gun," he said, but fired the magic gun into the sky.
　The feeling is that it has enough killing power.



"Isn't the barrel going to jump up when you shoot this?　Wouldn't it be better to support the gun on your shoulder so that you can get a better hit rate and be more stable the next time you shoot?
It's true that the barrel bounces up and down every time you use it. There was a suggestion to extend the fixture from the grip and hold it at the shoulder, but the dwarves were not convinced.
"Ah~ ......, they have a strange obsession. It's also possible that they'll put in a play that prioritizes appearance over function.

　The reason why the dwarves went to the trouble of appropriating the shape of the flintlock rifle.
　The reason why the dwarves went to the trouble of appropriating the shape of the flintlock rifle is none other than the playfulness of the craftsmen. They abandoned the convenience of a stable gunstock in favor of nostalgia.
　The Zeroth, for example, would have preferred the lean, refined form of a modern heavy weapon to the unstable shape of a flintlock. Dwarves, on the other hand, are the opposite.
　It's not clear if it's because they just don't like making weapons that are easy to use, or if it's because they're trying to pursue an artistic point of view, but they deliberately chose designs that are difficult to handle.
　This may be the will of the craftsman to the work of art, as if the painter is depicting the inner workings of the court as a message in the painting.
　But I don't know what kind of message he put into the gun. Even if the craftsman's thoughts were put into it, the average person would have no way of guessing.
　In all likelihood, the magic gun is a lethal weapon designed only to kill the enemy.

In the original design stage, it had a more rational shape. "In the original design, it had a more streamlined shape, but we took the shape of an excavated magic gun and adapted it.
"If the Dwarves chose this shape, there's nothing we can say. They want their weapons to be artistic. They'll beat you up if you say anything they don't want you to hear. ......
I don't know what they're thinking either. Is that because I'm a snob?
Huh?　I don't know, .......

　It is true that in Japan, flintlock guns are valuable as works of art and are sometimes displayed in museums.
　Although it is a weapon used for warfare, it is decorated, and you can see the playfulness in the skills of the gunsmiths of the time. This may be because weapons and people were closely connected.
　In the West, too, there are musketry guns with ornate decorations on display in museums, so perhaps technology and art are inseparable.

The dwarves may prioritize beauty of form.

　While thinking about this, Xellos shot his magic gun into the sky.
　The impact from the firepower in his hands gave him a vague understanding of the full power of the prototype.
　It wasn't as powerful as the heavy weapons Xelloss had made, but it was enough to kill.
　If we have enough of them, the enemy will not be able to attack us easily.
　If used in defense of forts and fortifications, it could be expected to have a considerable defensive effect, and if given to infantry, it could be expected to produce sufficient results in the field. However, there is a high possibility that war will turn into something quite inhumane.

The times they are a-changin': ....... Now that it has taken shape, it would be a bad idea to hurry up with legislation to control firearms. They will need to be strictly controlled as military equipment.
I'm not sure if it's dangerous to spread it throughout society.　Is it dangerous to spread it in the society? It could contribute enough to defeating demons.
The problem is that it's so easy to use. For example, if we miniaturize this, what if it's used in a crime?　It's hard to identify the culprit at the moment.
I think you can manage that by getting certified.
If they say it was stolen, that's it. I think the number of crimes that go cold turkey will only increase if they are sold under that pretext. I think you have to make it so severe that if you sell even one gun, you will get the maximum penalty.
That's for my father to think about, but I'll let him know.
Please. But I'm worried that you might forget to tell him for some other reason.
I won't deny it.

　I'm not going to deny it," he said.
　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　Xelloss has also had the experience of pursuing what he wanted to when he was young, and it was only after he was given a position of responsibility that he began to care about the people around him.
　It can be said that being selected for a position of responsibility has given me a safety net.

I finally made a male gender reassignment potion the other day. I have the recipe, would you like it?

　The moment he heard Xelloss's words, Croisus's glasses shone faintly.

I'd love to know!　What are the ingredients?　What is the difference between this and a female gender reassignment potion?　I've tried several times with different materials, but I couldn't make a potion that turns you into a man!　Please tell me!　Right now!　Come on, come on!　Come on!
"...... You've got a big appetite. Do you remember what you were going to say to Lord Delsasis?
What are you talking about?　What are you talking about? - Besides, the quest for knowledge is a mage's first priority. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, do you?
"Mr. Croisus: ....... You've already forgotten something you shouldn't have.
I'm sure it's not a big deal to forget something right away. Give me the recipe right now. I want to test some things. I don't have time for this!

　Mr. Croisus was a man with an insatiable appetite for knowledge.
　He is a good-looking man, but the gap between his good looks and his bad looks is so big that even the old man is turned off.

But first, I want you to tell Mister Delsacis that we have to enact this gun law.　That's the story you just forgot. You can verify the recipe after you do what you have to do. ......


That's true. Yes, but we need to see if it really works. Let's test the prototype on the maids, shall we?
Don't let them drink it undiluted or they'll be fixed as men!
Wouldn't a female-to-male gender reassignment potion reverse that?
You shouldn't bother the public when you don't know what the side effects will be. If you're going to do it, try it on a death row inmate.
"...... Indeed. It's not good to sacrifice innocent servants for the sake of research. I'll ask your father to prepare a few death row inmates for me. s*x offenders would be good anyway.

　If the old man was outrageous in his suggestions, Croesus was also quite outrageous.
　Well, if you're a s*x offender, it's your own fault, so there's no problem at all even if they use a male-transforming drug after feminizing you as an experiment. In fact, they have no choice.
　It is a fact that in the experiments of new drugs, prisoners on death row for serious crimes were used as test subjects to verify various medication experiments. In a world where science and technology have not yet developed, such inhumane acts are tolerated. This is the common sense of today.
　However, the conscience of these two men may be somewhat broken, as they can say such words without hesitation.
　Or maybe it's too late.

"By the way, Mister Xellos, ......
What is it?
"I heard from your father that Lord Xellos has been working on a magic gun.　I'd like to take a look at it myself, if you don't mind.
"............ Really?

　It was in a neighboring country that Xellos and Ado fought with guns.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help. It's a terrifying information network.
　It's true that they may have felt a little threatened by the firearms of the Holy Law Goddess Kingdom of Metis, but if they knew how to deal with them, they would not be a threat to mages.
　However, it seems that the catalyst for the development of the magic gun so quickly was Xelloss himself. The old man knew this right away.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in your life. But how many agents does he have out there?

　You can find a lot more information on the web.
　It's not that he was underestimating or careless, but he still didn't notice the agent. There seemed to be more skilled people than he had imagined under Delsasis' command.
　But it was too late for that now, since they were already making deals with the magical Mortar Carriage.
　The old men have long since moved on with the times.

"Come on, let me see it!　I heard it's pretty powerful. Come on!　Come on!
"...... Don't come so close, I'll show you. I'll show you. You're a good-looking guy, but why are you so indifferent when it comes to magic?　Your eyes are so bloodshot it's scary. ......
It's a blissful time for a mage to be able to touch even a small piece of wisdom!　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
Yes, yes. ....... This is it.

　In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the following web site: .......

"Hey!

　The handgun Desert Eagle was heavier than Croisus had perceived it to be.
　No, it was too heavy.
　The weight was too much for him to bend over.

"What the ...... is this thing that weighs so much?
"Is it heavy?　Me and Mr. Ad can easily carry it. ......
"If you look at it as a weapon, ...... it's too heavy... d*mn, it's not for everyone. ......
"Really?　Well, I think it's a little heavy because it's made of Damascus steel and other heavy metals, but that much?
Damascus ...... is the heaviest metal in minerals. ....... Plus, it takes away your magic power and makes you dizzy. ......
Oh. ......

　In the event that you have any kind of questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.
　In other words, the magic power of the user is forcibly taken away.
　Furthermore, the durability of the gun itself is increased by strengthening magic, and the overflow of excess magic increases the power of not only the gun itself but also the bullets. To put it simply, it was a flaw.
　What I'm trying to say is that Croisus, who is a recluse and has far less physical and magical strength than Xelloss, can't handle the old man's Desert Eagle at all.
　On the contrary, he cannot hold the weight of the gun with his arms alone. Even if he had been able to shoot the Desert Eagle, his body would have been blown away by its power.

Couldn't handle it...
"Well, I'm out of magic power. ....... I haven't even shot it yet. ......
I'm sorry, I made this weapon according to my standards, so it seems to be too hard for you, Croisus. I'm sorry, I forgot.

　I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it or not, but I'm sure you've heard of it. It was a forcible and crude weapon that relied on Xellos' vast magical power.
　In other words, there is no one in this world who can handle it, so in a sense, it's as if safety is assured, but you can't rest assured.
　Magic power is energy that can be stored. If someone were to make a magic battery, this safety would be overturned.
　Well, that's a long way off. .......

A powerful weapon requires the right amount of magic power: ....... I've experienced it firsthand.


"If this doesn't work, I guess the others won't either. But then again, you don't have much magic or physical strength, do you?
"Researchers must be physically strong, too. ....... I should really start working out. ......
It's impossible, isn't it?　If you had the time, you'd probably be working on your research.
It's hard to deny.

　In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at a few of the best ways to get the most out of your home.
　As a researcher, it's frustrating.

I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the recipe for the male gender reassignment potion. If you keep looking at unnecessary things, you'll lose sight of what you're working on, won't you?
Is it a case of "two rabbits chasing one another"?　That may be true. ....... That's all I can do for now, let's just accept it for now. I guess it's too early for me.
I'm afraid it's too early for me." "...... for today? You're not so keen on the magic gun I made?
Of course not!　In addition to the prototype I developed, there are other types of magic guns out there, you know?　Isn't it natural that a researcher would want to look into it?
The basic idea is the same, though~. Oops, I forgot. Here's the recipe for the male gender reassignment drug. You can make it all you want, but please don't even think about trying it on the people around you.
A reminder?　I'm good in that area. I'll have you find a suitable criminal, so there won't be any casualties. Maybe .......
Probably?　Hey, you. Didn't you just say "probably"?

　I was going to ask him a lot of in-depth questions, but when Croisus received the recipe, he was so excited that he didn't even listen to what people were saying.
　His cool exterior was shattered, and he left without saying goodbye, jumping up and down with joy.
　It would be useless to chase after him in such a state.
　The old man regretted a little that he had given a dangerous recipe to a dangerous person.

I don't care what you say, but you forgot the prototype magic gun. ......

　After Croisus left, only the prototype magic gun was left behind.
　When you have a research subject in front of you, you immediately forget about everything else. That is the young man named Croisus Van Solstair.
　With the prototype magic gun, which was probably classified, in his hands, the old man was wondering what he should do with it.