Chapter 70: Princess Marlene
The labyrinth exploration took a short break for a few days, and they had decided to meet at the Brightwell Workshop. Theodore wanted to express his gratitude to Alfred for making him shoes on short notice and had plans to inquire about crafting flight equipment in the future.
As he brewed potions as usual, he was informed by Sheila and the others that there was a hole in the roof of their house.
"Well, it does improve the ventilation."
"That cottage can get quite stuffy this season."
Irmhild seemed strangely delighted, but was this a moment to be cheerful?
"Is it really okay to have a hole in the roof?" Grace asked Sheila, tilting her head slightly.
"Well, as long as it doesn't rain."
"Perhaps we could acquire some material like a canopy before then, just in case?"
"Huh? Are you planning to live there as it is?"
"They seem willing to make repairs, and having the water source nearby is convenient."
It was still in the western district, though. Having a hole in the roof might pose a security issue. Even though Sheila and Irmhild could easily detect any suspicious individuals, it wasn't ideal for burglars to enter when they were absent. Theodore felt somewhat responsible for this situation since he owned half of the house.
"Well... maybe I should consult with Grace and Ashley first."
"That sounds good. It's easier to make plans that way."
"I think it's a good idea too. We can practice sparring and coordination all the time."
When he asked the two of them, they provided very practical answers. It might be because they had a favorable impression of him as a party member.
"Well, it depends on what Sheila and Irmhild think."
With that said, he turned to Sheila and Irmhild for their opinions.
"That's... well, we appreciate it, but won't we be in the way?"
"...It's a bit late to worry about that now, isn't it? Besides, it seems like they don't mind much."
Their lives had been stable lately, and considering the house, they should think about what to do next. Should they keep renting the place or buy it outright? With their adventures in the labyrinth, they were making a profit each month, not to mention other rewards and income.
"If we pay rent, we won't have to worry too much, will we?"
"Indeed... that might be a good option."
Sheila and Irmhild nodded. Their situation was different from being engaged, after all. Well, they could have them bring over the necessary belongings later.
"Oh, everyone is here together."
As the discussion seemed to be settling, Viola, the resident blacksmith of the workshop, appeared.
"Good morning, Viola."
"Good morning. Theodore, it seems you've been quite active. I'm relieved you're safe, but do you have any injuries?"
"Well, as you can see," Theodore replied, showing his abdomen, where the burns had mostly healed.
"That's good to hear. Are you here to see Alfred today?"
"I wanted to thank him for doing some work for me, but he doesn't seem to have arrived yet."
"Alfred mentioned that he would stop by the workshop today. However, when I saw him yesterday, he said he was going home to sleep after staying up all night, so his schedule might be a bit off."
Alfred didn't seem accustomed to staying up all night. Viola usually crafted weapons, incorporating magic stones into the guards and handles when Alfred didn't specify any particular designs. It served as Viola's training in blacksmithing and ensured that she could provide magical tools quickly when orders came in.
"He complained that it would have been nice if there were shoes made for using magic stones."
Viola chuckled. Well, they had ended up doing emergency repairs that way.
"I came to discuss that matter today. If we had such tools, it might make fighting the magical beings easier."
"I see. But is it okay? I've heard that magic users tend to keep such applications of magic concealed. It seems like the kind of knowledge they don't like to share."
"Magic Shield is quite common, so I think any skilled mage could do it. If they understand the principles of flight magic, it's just a matter of time."
Once you grasped the basics of recognizing and manipulating magical energy, it became possible to execute actions through incantations. Magic Shield was a relatively simple spell, so the difficulty of casting it wasn't high. What mattered more was what you could do with it.
For example, the relative position with the practitioner who generates the shield, whether it can be handled as a shield or remains in place like a wall. The duration of maintaining the shield, its size, and the strength changes due to output adjustment. These are the areas where a magician can demonstrate their skill by making adjustments.
If you want to apply it as a flight technique, you need to make arrangements so that it can serve as a foothold. Alfred had been adjusting that part overnight.
Magical tools generally produce effects as described, so magicians can't freely improvise with them. Therefore, if you intend to use it as a foothold, you need to adjust it to be versatile.
Normally, this would require research, but I disclosed the core information and rushed to complete it. Magicians tend to keep such applied techniques secret because it could diminish their advantage over magical tools.
However, the theory is simple. Since flight techniques are now known, someone will probably develop them. It's only a matter of time before they become magical tools.
So, disclosing the information itself doesn't have much significance.
In short, it's better to claim the original or main source before it gets imitated, that's all.
"Some magical tools can assist in flying—however, Theo-kun goes beyond that by doing it all on his own, even in combat," Alfred said, appearing at the doorway.
"Good morning. Young master."
"Yeah, good morning."
"Good morning. Thank you for yesterday."
"No problem, I'm glad I could help."
As Alfred said this, a small girl peeked out from behind him. In her hand, she held a disguise ring. She was Princess Marleen, Prince Albert's sister.
It's normal to bring her to the workshop, but is it really okay?
"This is my relative, Marian. She was causing a fuss when I was about to leave, so I brought her along for a change of scenery. She's well-behaved and won't be a bother, I think."
Causing a fuss, huh? Despite their weak foundation, Prince Albert and Princess Marleen are still royalty. They have limited options for causing trouble. Bringing the small Marleen along, despite the risk of her disguise being exposed, might mean that Prince Albert is confident enough in this group that even if information leaks, it won't be a problem. Or... maybe he knows Marleen won't slip up.
"Nice to meet you, Marian."
Grace and the others smiled at Marian while introducing themselves. Marian nodded slightly but didn't say anything.
She seems cautious, or maybe she's scared. With Sheila, Ilmhillt, and Viola among the faces she's meeting for the first time, that's understandable. Nevertheless, when Alfred entered the room, she followed him inside.
"Sorry about that. Marian doesn't talk much. Please don't take it the wrong way."
Alfred chuckled.
None of the women seem to be offended. In fact, they seem to have sensed something.
Well... Grace was close to me, and Ashley has been through a lot on her own. Sheila and Ilmhillt also come from an orphanage background.
I don't know Viola's past, but... she doesn't seem to have any hostile expression towards Marian. Maybe Alfred brought her just because she's someone Prince Albert trusts.
"Marian, come over here. Are you interested in embroidery?"
Grace actively engaged Marian in conversation. Today, they were at the workshop to adjust and take measurements for flight-assist magical tools, so Grace expected to have some free time and brought her embroidery tools.
"Sheila-san, can I watch your embroidery today too?"
"Mm."
Ashley had initially said she'd practice martial arts with Sheila in the workshop courtyard, but it seemed she had chosen to spend time with Marian instead.
Sheila and Ilmhillt also agreed. When our eyes met, we nodded at each other. Ilmhillt had brought her musical instrument, after all. They say that talent can come in handy. If Marian's mood needs lifting, Ilmhillt is probably the perfect person for the job.
Marian hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Grace's group before timidly joining the circle. Alfred, watching this scene, seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief.