A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 134

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“Shopkeeper Taylor, you said that you trained under the Royal Expert Mage, didn’t you?” asked Takeo.

“Yes,” said Taylor.

“Thinking logically, the Royal Expert Mage… He must be employing more than just two apprentices. He must be directing multiple guards as the leader of his own department,” said Takeo.

“That is correct. There were at last 10 people in the royal guard under his control when I was there,” said Taylor.

“Well, what do those 10 royal guards do during peacetime?” asked Takeo.

“What? Well, they train their magical skills, raise their effectiveness, and learn new ways to combat against new magic, and… Ah…” said Taylor, dropping his head.

“What? Takeo-sama, what does that mean?” asked Alice.

“Hm? It’s simple. The unit employed under the Royal Expert Mage is always researching magic during peacetime,” said Takeo.

“Yes, and?” asked Alice.

“If you’re going to think about methods of defense, you would consider possibilities on how to guard against any kind of move whatsoever, wouldn’t you?” asked Takeo. 

“Yes, presumably,” said Alice.

“How to defend effectively… In other words, they would consider ways to defend a large number of people with just a few people,” said Takeo.

“Obviously,” said Alice.

“Yes, it is obvious. So, don’t you think they would have considered ways to automatically defend against magical attacks, as I previously mentioned?” asked Takeo, “If I could come up with that idea, the royal experts… The top mage unit would surely think of it, too.” 

“Hmm… I see. Even if they haven’t put the idea into practice yet, they surely have considered it,” said Alice.

“Yes. When Mr. Taylor was stationed there, he probably had witnessed something like that. It took just ten people… Just ten people were defending the entire castle or at least one floor. They evidently have been able to defend with a few people, and yet, there’s no known method on how they manage to do so. So, someone must be concealing the information on how to do such a thing,” said Takeo.

“I see,” said Alice. She sipped her tea while nodding.

“Indeed, you are correct that within the royal palace there is a room for special use by the Royal Expert Mage that is large enough for only the mage himself to enter,” said Taylor.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“That must be it,” said Takeo, “On top of that, the method behind this magic must already be established. If they are hiding it, they may have refined to it to such a degree that revealing it to the world would create a huge weak point.”

“That’s possible,” said Taylor, nodding, and frowning in thought.

“Wow, the world of mages is interesting isn’t it?” said Takeo, smiling.

“Hm? Aren’t you disgusted by it?” asked Taylor.

“Why would I be? Trade secrets like that are not exclusive to mages, right?” asked Takeo, “Even in Shopkeeper Ralph’s case, he keeps the know-how of how to make quality clothes to himself. There may be a difference in level of importance, but it does pretty much exist everywhere. It’s probably for the best that the methods that protect the royal palace are only known by a small portion of the populace. There may be spies from other countries about.”

Takeo smiled wryly.

“Well, putting those thoughts of mine aside – I know now that automatic defense is possible…” said Takeo, gazing absent-mindedly at the ceiling and then grinning.

“Takeo-sama, your grin is scaring me,” said Alice, butting into his daydreams, calmly.

“What? Really?” asked Takeo, “I was just thinking how funny it would be if I carried around a staff with 10 or more jewels embedded in it for automatic defense,” said Takeo, smiling wryly again.

“Would it be?” asked Alice.

“Yes. I don’t think it would suit me,” said Takeo. 

Alice thought about what Takeo said, imagined it as well, and joined him in laughing.

..

.

“Lady Alice, have you decided on a ring?” asked Takeo.

“Yes, I have narrowed it down to three candidates,” said Alice, lining up three rings.

The first one had a jewel and a thin band.

The second one had two bands and had a grass-like pattern around it, with a jewel embedded in the center.

The third had a wideband and had a floral pattern. Within one of the blooming flowers was an embedded jewel.

“Which do you think would be best, Takeo-sama?” asked Alice.

Takeo froze… A choice like this might be a dangerous thing, right?

“W-well… Which finger do you plan on wearing it on, Lady Alice?” he asked.

“The pinky on my left hand,” said Alice, holding up her left hand.

“Mr. Taylor, what do you use for jewels?” asked Takeo.

“Ah, well, with what we have in this shop… Amethyst would be best to use for recovery. It’s purple,” said Taylor.

“Hmm…” Takeo was deep in thought… Very deep in thought.

“…Takeo-sama, you don’t have to think about it that hard, you know?” said Alice, smirking.

“…I personally like the second one, but…” Takeo said, very hesitantly.

“Why is that?” asked Alice.

“…I should ask why, I suppose…” said Takeo, disappointed on the inside, “Upon first impression, since the jewel will be purple, I thought it would be the best option for highlighting the jewel with the patterning… I thought.”

“I see, yes. That makes sense,” said Alice, thinking and nodding.

..

.

“All right, I’ll choose the second one,” said Alice. She lifted up the ring she chose. Takeo felt so relieved that he had to calm himself by rubbing his chest.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]