I Have to Keep an Eye on You
“Georges, what happens to the aluminum used for the cans?”
I leaned back in the reclining chair inside the greenhouse as I asked.
“It’s reused.”
“Like iron?”
“Yes. If we clean the used aluminum cans thoroughly and take them to the Guild, they’ll buy them from us.”
“And what does the Guild do with them?”
“They hand them over to recycling companies.”
“The Guild collects them because they make a profit too, right?”
“I believe they take a brokerage fee.”
“If there’s an aluminum recycling company in the capital, I’d like to visit it.”
“May I ask what you’ve thought of?”
“I’m just curious what they make out of recycled aluminum.”
“Then what exactly did you think of?”
His tone grew sharper as he pressed the question again. Hmm. Lately, both Raziel and Georges have been a bit harsh toward me.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on me?”
“If we aren’t, you’ll just give us more work, won’t you?”
“I can’t help it when I come up with ideas, can I?”
“Why phrase that like a question?”
“If I said it too firmly, I thought you’d get angrier.”
“So you do understand.”
This was turning into a lecture, so I decided to come clean.
“I’m looking for bags like the ones for shrimp chips.”
“Bags made of aluminum?”
In my previous life, I think the insides of oil snack bags were made of processed aluminum. That’s why I wanted to visit the factory—maybe I could find some inspiration.
Three days later, we were allowed to tour an aluminum recycling factory. When we arrived, Fred and Camille were waiting for us.
“Huh? What are you two doing here?”
“The chairman couldn’t come, so we were instructed to accompany you, Young Master Reinhardt.”
Even though the two of them run the new district’s specialty store, it’s not like a bag will necessarily be made, you know…
Inside the factory, there were not only used cans but also heaps of old magic tool parts and cookware.
One large box was filled with aluminum scraps—pieces shaved off during shaping. They said these were melted in a big pot, mixed with new aluminum, and reused.
Nothing went to waste.
I thought about suggesting they make aluminum foil, but aside from wrapping baked sweet potatoes, I couldn’t think of much use for it—and it would just be disposable—so I dropped the idea.
Too bad.
It felt wasteful to leave right away, so when I heard that Master Zaccaria’s workshop was nearby, I decided to stop by and ask Nanally how the toothpick project was going.
“You come by suddenly, just like Maria.”
“I was nearby, so I thought I’d stop on the way back.”
“… Fine. What brings you today?”
“I came to ask how the toothpick project is progressing.”
“I haven’t received the design from Maria yet.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
That’s unusual for Maria. She hasn’t given me the detailed specs for the bath additive magic tool either.
“Did you get any feedback from the female knight who used the sword you made?”
“Yes, it was very informative. I gathered her requests, so I’m planning to have her test an improved version.”
“That’s good. Keep it up.”
“Thank you.”
She really lights up when it comes to swords.
But what I’m asking about is more on the practical side of things.
Ah, right.
“Nanally, can you make something like this?”
She looked at the sketch I drew on rough paper and tilted her head.
“It’s a circle, 8 centimeters in diameter and 1.5 centimeters deep. Ten by four of them lined up in rows,” I explained.
“Should I make it with iron?”
“Copper, please.”
I drew more diagrams as I explained—a heating base with adjustable temperature, a tool for pouring the batter made from flour into the circular molds, and a long thin one for adding red bean paste.
“This looks like something anyone could make,” she said, sounding less than enthusiastic.
“Maybe, but all forty circles need to be exactly the same diameter and depth. It’s delicate work—something that really calls for a woman’s touch.”
“A woman’s touch, huh.”
That seemed to pique her interest a little.
“The batter dispenser has to be built so that when you release the handle, it drops just enough to fill the molds to a height of one centimeter. Simple in theory, but tricky in execution.”
“Simple in theory, but tricky in execution.”
Almost there.
“Nanally, do you like sweets?”
“I don’t dislike them. I liked the dorayaki Maria secretly gave me.”
So Maria’s been bribing her too.
“This is a new type of sweet-making machine. It uses the same red bean filling as dorayaki.”
“Really?”
Nanally leaned forward eagerly on the sofa. Looks like she’s quite fond of dorayaki.
“I’m not lying. All right, once this machine is done, I’ll invite you to the first tasting.”
“I’m in! And if you throw in some to take home, I’ll start working on it right away!”
Inside the carriage afterward—
“Hardt, didn’t you say you couldn’t make any more new recipes and to stop asking you?”
It was Lucas, who’d been quiet until now, speaking in a low, slightly irritated tone. Yikes. He sounded just like Raziel when he’s furious.
“I did say that. But this time it’s different—the dessert machine I asked for is for a sweet the Smithing God himself told me to make. It can’t be done without special tools.”
“Is that so.”
Mentioning the Smithing God seemed to calm him down a little.
“That’s why, when Mother asked me if it was hard to make, I told her it was. It’s the same sweet.”
“I see… Fine. I understand this time. But Hardt, you keep saying you can’t make new recipes—and then you do. I guess I really do have to keep an eye on you.”
Lucas shook his head with an exasperated sigh.
“Keep an eye on me?”
I didn’t miss that.
“Ah—no, I mean, we should, uh, stay together, that’s all.”
“What he means,” Atre said, “is that he wants to be the first to taste your new creations.”
I couldn’t tell if that was a cover or a confession.
“I’m not angry. Honestly, there are many things I know of but can’t make properly without the right ingredients or details. Even if someone asks, sometimes it’s just not possible.”
“I see. You could’ve said that from the start.”
Well, it’s not like anyone asked…
“Let’s wait for Nanally’s tool to be finished.”
“Can’t wait to see it.” “Me too.”
What do you think about this chapter?
