kscans

Chapter 109 - The Magic Stone Tool Incident

"Teach them how to make those stone tools?"

"Are you serious, Yuri-kun?"

"Yes. Although, I’m not sure about the reproducibility… whether I can teach it successfully."

What Yuri, Adon, and Old Man Audel were discussing was the manufacturing method of the Magic Stone Tools.

On the way to Chippo Village, Yuri had heard from the two half-elves of "Lucky Footsteps" about the various troubles the Magic Stone Tools were likely to cause, and in order to protect his peaceful life, he had decided to make the manufacturing method public. The thought of hordes of elves and magicians seeking the Magic Stone Tools visiting him was nothing short of a nightmare for the reclusive and slightly socially anxious Yuri. However, since the two half-elves had already written about it in a letter to their village, he could not keep the existence of the Magic Stone Tools a secret. Eventually, his own involvement would come to light. But even if he could not hide the tools themselves, if he left the manufacturing and sales to someone else, he might be able to stay out of the commotion.

"But… even so, aren’t you giving up a bit too quickly?"

"According to those young ladies, your involvement hasn’t been leaked yet, has it?"

"In my country, there’s a proverb that says, ‘A staff for before you fall.’ Once the information is out, it’s too late."

Seeing Yuri’s resolute declaration, Adon became aware of the difference between himself as a merchant and the boy. A respectable merchant would be prepared to take some risks for the sake of profit, but this boy seemed to be the type who could throw away enormous profits to avoid risk and remain completely unfazed. …That said, if the matter did become public…

"...It could turn into a huge uproar…"

"Yes, elves, magicians, adventurers, and even cooks would likely scramble to get their hands on one."

"Um… I can understand the others… but cooks…?"

Adon explained the situation to the puzzled Yuri.

"Basically, it doesn’t have a metallic smell. That’s why the head chef, Mand, was praising it to the heavens, saying it doesn’t make the ingredients taste metallic. He really couldn’t say enough good things about it."

Yuri nodded in understanding, feeling a little dejected as he wondered if it had such an effect. He thought he had created a convenient blade, but right now, that convenience was a source of frustration.

"If that thing becomes public knowledge, related parties will surely search for it with bloodshot eyes… Considering that, it might be safer to make a move early…"

"Indeed. Even if everyone kept their mouths shut, it would inevitably attract attention if they used it."

"Considering that… yes, just as Yuri-kun says, the best strategy might be to move early and secure the initiative…"

Adon, who had been lost in thought for a while, suddenly looked up and stared at Yuri with sharp eyes.

"Yuri-kun, are you really sure about this?"

"Yes. I’m already making a sufficient profit from my other things. Any more than this…"

"...It’s true, you are standing out quite a bit with those other things…"

"You’re standing out too much… indeed…"

The rights to the Magic Stone Tool would bring enormous profits, but the scrutiny that came with it would be severe. As an elder, he could not agree to expose the underage Yuri to that.

"Yuri-kun, the fact that you’ve told me this means…"

"I have no connections to other magicians. The exception is Katra-san from ‘Lucky Footsteps,’ but she doesn’t have Earth Magic, so she can’t be involved in making the stone tools. To find a trustworthy Earth Magic user, I can’t think of any other way than to borrow your strength, Adon-san."

After saying that much, he took a breath and continued.

"Once you find an Earth Magic user, I will tell them how to make it in as much detail as possible. As for the subsequent distribution and other matters, I would like to leave it to you, Adon-san, though I know it will be a lot of trouble."

It was, without exaggeration, a massive undertaking.

Just how attached to peace was Yuri, to so easily let go of such valuable rights… or so he had thought, but now Adon was seized by a strange sense of dissonance. It was as if… there was some fundamental discrepancy in the perceptions of Yuri and themselves, an incongruous impression he could not shake.

The sense of unease Adon felt was caused by Yuri’s misunderstanding, his underestimation of himself. In Yuri’s mind, he held the strange conviction that, "since someone at the very bottom like me can do it, anyone should be able to do it if I just teach them the knack"… and because of that, he held no particular attachment to either the pencil or the Magic Stone Tool. In addition, Yuri was a shy, slightly socially anxious person. His own peace was his top priority. He had no need for money, fame, or status. He was even considering retreating to the mountains. In fact, he had been scouting for a suitable plot of land for that purpose on the side of Salt-Sour Mountain. His image was that of a shelter or a secret base from his past life on Earth, though it might be treated as a dungeon in this world. He had even already purchased a barrier magic tool as a sample. If he could use this as a reference, he might even be able to put up his long-cherished barrier.

A man, no matter how old he gets, though he was twelve, is a creature who never forgets the heart of a boy.