Chapter 52 - Recent Status and Research Report
The Princess's Shelter Inn has been open for several dozen days now, and as expected, the trouble and attacks started just as we predicted.
Of course, our vigilant defenses worked wonders. We quickly dealt with anyone who tried to cause a scene or pick a fight inside the inn, and we repelled unwelcome visitors at night without a hitch. We even managed to recover our losses on the spot, sometimes even turning a profit, which effectively dampened their enthusiasm.
In particular, the way we handled the intruders during business hours became a spectacle in its own right. The overwhelming power and precision of our responses turned these incidents into a kind of show, and some customers even started looking forward to the excitement.
For those who planned the attacks, it was a double blow. Their attempts at harassment ended up benefiting us instead.
From Sophie's perspective as the inn's manager, I'm sure she's grateful for the unintentional boost to business.
Meanwhile, Lily, who I entrusted with the flower shop, has been making remarkable progress. She's not just selling flowers as they are anymore; she's been getting creative. After showing her a simple flower arrangement I made, she's now creating far more beautiful and intricate designs that sell like hotcakes. The shop is even considering opening a second location.
In any case, sales have been excellent. Both the flower shop and the inn have settled into a steady rhythm, generating substantial profits. With so many repeat customers, we have high hopes for the future.
We're also distributing the profits back to the members, which has greatly improved everyone's financial situation. They're spending their newfound wealth freely, and the Kikyo Society has gained a reputation for being generous.
For now, everything seems to be in a positive cycle. However, there are concerns. The Kikyo Society members are facing a lot of temptation, and it's only a matter of time before more serious issues arise.
Another issue is the increasing number of requests to lift the ban on visiting gambling dens.
Hmm, what to do about that...
Additionally, we've decided to send Sarah-chan and the younger members of the former Girl Gang to Exembra's school. This decision was made after discussing it with Sophie and the girls themselves. We want to give them a wide range of opportunities.
What worries me is how the specialized education they've received at the Kikyo Society will affect their experience at school. They've been trained far beyond their peers, and I'm concerned about how well they'll fit in.
Despite these concerns, the overall success of the Kikyo Society is attracting more people. Wealthy and ambitious individuals are starting to show interest, and we're also seeing an influx of homeless and struggling individuals.
While it's tempting to turn them away, we're finding that many of them have potential. The number of apprentices is growing beyond our initial expectations, which presents a new challenge.
However, the initial members, who have been handling the education of the apprentices, no longer need to be as hands-on. The kind and nurturing Graylease and the former noble ladies have taken over much of the responsibility, making things easier for us.
This has also led to a need for more space, and we're considering expanding to a branch location.
Life isn't perfect, but problems are part of the package. The new members are no longer really "new" and are taking on more responsibilities. The combat unit candidates are performing well, and even the non-combat members are finding their roles and contributing.
We're also starting to see the potential in members with unique magical abilities and skills, such as inscription magic, shadow magic, and negotiation techniques. These talents are beginning to find their place, and we have high hopes for the future.
With the new members taking on more tasks, I'm finding myself with a bit more free time. Right now, I'm in the office, practicing magic with a plain spear. I'm gradually engraving intricate floral patterns onto it, a task that requires precise imagery and advanced magic control. It's a mundane but effective training exercise.
"Still up to your tricks, I see," Rosabel-san says, sounding a bit exasperated.
She's busy with her own experiments, and several crystal vials I made for her are lined up on her desk.
"Onee-sama, when are we leaving?" Valeria asks, watching my magic with a bored expression. We're planning to visit the library today.
"Let's go then. Rosabel-san, take care while we're gone."
"Bring back a roll cake."
I nod and head out with Valeria. We've been to the library a few times, and it's located near the entrance of the administrative district. Despite its name, the library doesn't lend books; you can only read them inside. If you need a specific book, you can always buy it from a bookstore.
At the entrance, we show our Records and enter. The scent of books is always comforting. The vast interior is filled with countless shelves, a testament to the city's prolific publishing industry.
I start browsing, looking for books on applied magic, practical magic theory, the lineage of traditional magic, adventure stories from the Romariel Mountains, unexplored territories and the sea of magic, and a travel guide to the hot springs of the demi-human country. I make a list and start reading through them, knowing I can't finish everything in one visit.
I also take a quick look at some magazines, including the latest fashion catalogs and gossip magazines. It seems that Berliza, the infamous princess, is still as active as ever, even if the stories are a bit exaggerated.
Valeria, meanwhile, is engrossed in a series of pirate-inspired novels. I'm always curious about what someone is so passionate about, so I might read them sometime.
We stay at the library until closing time, then head back to the headquarters after dinner. Oh, I forgot the roll cake. I only remembered when I saw Rosabel-san's face.
I promise to make it up to her next time and chat with her while Frederica, looking unusually excited, rushes into the office.
"Yukari! I did it!"
"Calm down. What did you do?"
Frederica, who is usually calm, is red-faced and fidgeting with her glasses. It's a bit annoying.
"Can you calm down? Magic! I can now use a fifth-tier appraisal spell!"
Ah, I had been pressuring her to practice. Being able to use a higher-level spell is a big deal.
"Wow, an intermediate-level appraiser. You'll be in high demand. Thinking about changing careers?"
"Of course not!"
She quickly dismissed the idea of a potentially lucrative career. That's my friend, all right.
"Frederica, well done. Why don't you try appraising this?"
"Sure, let's do it!"
The key to her level-up was trying to understand the mechanism of the Magic-Sealing Bracelet. Ignoring the surprised looks of the others, we moved to my room, with Valeria tagging along.
"Here it is."
I handed her the Magic-Sealing Bracelet, which had been sitting on a shelf for a while.
"As I said before, a detailed appraisal is impossible, but I can analyze the general flow of magic and the internal structure. I'll need some time, so I'll keep it for a while."
"Do what you need to."
I don't fully understand the nuances of appraisal magic, but this should give us a significant step forward.
If Frederica's magic can provide a clue, we can use it to develop a method to counteract the bracelet's effects. That would be a major breakthrough.
Sure enough, after Frederica's appraisal and my subsequent research, we uncovered the mechanism of the Magic-Sealing Bracelet.
We're quite proud of this achievement. The bracelet is extremely durable and difficult to break physically without magic or special tools. It works by emitting a tiny, specific waveform of magic from the magic stone inside, which interferes with the wearer's ability to cast spells. The magic is replenished by the wearer's own magic.
The magic flows through the body like waves. If we can identify the specific waveform, we can counteract it with a corresponding waveform of our own. In theory, anyway.
It requires precise magic perception and control, but once we understand the principle, practice will make it possible.
This is how we discovered a method to break the Magic-Sealing Bracelet. It's a complex task, but if we know how to do it, we can achieve it.
While we're at it, maybe we can apply this principle to other hindrance spells. If we can break the seal, we might be able to use those spells regardless of our aptitude. It's worth testing someday.
"Break a Magic-Sealing Bracelet?"
"Is that even possible?"
"No way, that's impossible."
"But it's Yukari, after all."
"Onee-sama can do it."
"Hmm, intriguing."
"Hehe, always up to something interesting."
"President, I'll help too!"
"If you can do it, that would be amazing."
When I mentioned this to the members, they were skeptical, to say the least.
I want everyone to be able to do this, not just me. But it's a challenge, and I need to master it first.
"When the time comes, we'll all train together until we can do it."
"Onee-sama, your face looks a bit scary."
With renewed determination, I tackle the new challenge. These daily struggles will only make us stronger.