A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 169

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“Hmm, yes. Well, once we return to the royal capital, I’ll bring up discussions on the Royal Tactics Laboratory and our defense plan against the Katoranda Empire,” said the king. 

“Yes. Well, if we don’t get financial support from the royal capital, we’ll just continue what we’ve been doing, so it’s not much of an issue,” said Takeo. 

“Ah, so you’re not hoping it will happen?” asked the king?

“No. Hoping for something won’t help it happen. There’s no problem with me just continuing to invent things as a hobby,” said Takeo. 

“I see. Well, you can look forward to finding out how the discussions turn out. So, to get back to the conversation, you said you would develop the rifle as a weapon, but what about the bullets?” asked the king. 

“Yes. It would be very inconvenient if another country had bullets stocked up, and we didn’t, so I’ve had Shopkeeper Taylor remodel the rifle so that the bullets could be made for it with magic,” said Takeo. 

“Ah, so any mage should be able to use it?” asked the king. 

“They could use it, but… to fire one shot requires 150 magical power, so its efficiency isn’t really there,” said Takeo. 

“Wait, what? That’s way too much magical power required,” said the king.

“Yes. Shopkeeper Taylor also deemed it ‘a wasteful use of magical power.’ He said that using “Fire” magic would cost 70 magical power and provide the same damage. So, the rifle is basically just for my personal use,” said Takeo, smiling bitterly. 

“That makes sense,” said the king. 

“Paired with your special magic attributes, the rifle becomes a weapon,” said Layla. 

“Yes. I can use about 25 magic at one time, so I use a process of layering that. That results in me being able to use an extraordinary amount of magical power,” said Takeo. 

“An average person wouldn’t be able to use this weapon,” said the king. 

“Right,” said William. 

King Azupal and William nodded.

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“Hmm, yes, well. Have you talked to Takeo enough, now?” Grandpa Elvis asked King Azupal. 

“Yes. I’ve gotten to know his personality. It seems Alice has found a good partner,” said King Azupal, and William nodded. 

“Yes, I’m relieved about that, too. But…” said Layla.

“Hm? Are you unsure about something, Layla?” asked the king. 

“I’m jealous that she gets to eat tastier meals than I do,” said Layla. 

“You’re right about that! It’s unfair!” said King Azupal. 

Layla and King Azupal laughed, together. 

“P…Princess Layla…” said Alice, with a worried expression. 

Layla laughed softly, and said, “Don’t worry. I think Takeo-san is a good person, too, so I have no problem with him.”

“I see. Takeo, you’ve passed the sister test,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“It appears so. Thank you very much,” Takeo said gratefully to Layla. 

“How long do you all plan to stay, Layla?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“We were thinking two nights,” said Layla. 

“Hmm, all right… Well, actually, there’s one problem,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“What is it?” asked Layla. 

“It’s just that, during the day, we meet up in this parlor, but the bedrooms…” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“You can put us anywhere, you know?” asked Layla. 

King Azupal and William nodded in agreement. 

“Hmm… Is that right? Still… what should we do with you, Takeo?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Why are you asking me? …Well… It’s true that our room is across the manor from the room that is meant to be for the person next in line to succeeding the manor,” said Takeo. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“Hmm, yes,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Well, then… It might be inconvenient, but how about Alan-san and William-san use that room, and Layla-san goes with Lady Alice? I will sleep in the study,” said Takeo. 

“What?!” shouted King Azupal and William in surprise. 

“Good idea!” said Layla, in agreement. 

Grandpa Elvis hung his head in silence, thinking, “I made a mistake asking him.”

“W…Wait a second, Takeo. Why would I sleep in the same room as my son?” asked the king. 

“What? You’re father and son, right? When William was a child, you two slept in the same room, right?” asked Takeo. 

“But that was when William was little… We’re adults, now. We can’t sleep in the same room,” said the king. 

“It’s a good opportunity for you two to talk about all sorts of things. Oh, and don’t argue with each other, okay? Also, Layla’s back home for the first time in a while. Don’t you think she wants to spend time with her sister?” asked Takeo. 

“Yes, Takeo-san, that’s a good idea!” said Layla. 

“L…Layla, you’re okay with not being with William?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Yes. I’m fine with that. Wouldn’t it be a good thing for father and son to spend time together, once in a while? I will sleep in Alice’s room,” said Layla. 

It seemed Layla had already decided that she would be sleeping in Alice’s room. 

“If Layla’s already decided on the matter, there’s nothing we can do. Father, we need to give up,” said William, with a bitter smile. 

“You, too William?… Ah, it should be all right to sleep in the same room as you, once in a while,” said the king. 

“Yes. As Takeo-san just said, we don’t get much one-on-one time anymore, after all,” said William. 

King Azupal and William smiled, bitterly.

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As usual, when Grandpa Elvis said, “All right, let’s get to bed,” everyone left the parlor. Takeo, Alice, and Layla returned to the bedroom. 

Takeo prepared the bath.

When Layla and Alice got back to the bedroom, they sat around the desk, drinking tea and waiting. 

“Alice, Takeo prepares your tub for you, too?” asked Layla. 

“Yes. Takeo-sama told me, ‘Preparing a tub is hard work, so whenever I’m around, I’ll do it.’ So, Takeo will prepare a tub for us to use,” said Alice. 

“Really? There aren’t many people who would use their magic for that,” said Layla. 

“Yes. I told him so, too, but he just casually responded, ‘Oh, really?’,” said Alice, giggling softly to herself. 

Then, there was a knock at the door, and after Alice said, “Come in,” Takeo entered the room. 

“Layla-san, Lady Alice. The bath has been prepared,” said Takeo. 

“All right,” said Alice. 

“And what is a bath??” asked Layla. 

“That’s what they call a tub where Takeo-sama comes from, sister. Shall we go in?” asked Alice. 

“Oh, really? That sounds good,” said Layla, happily. 

“I will go to the kitchen, now, so when I return, I will dry your hair,” said Takeo. 

“All right,” said Alice. 

“Dry your hair?” asked Layla. 

“Yes. When Lady Alice finishes bathing, I usually lightly dry her hair,” said Takeo. 

“Oh, really! Would you do mine, too?” asked Layla. 

“You expect me to?” asked Takeo, laughing.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]