Chapter 140 Product Planning Meeting Iv
Since they were talking about books, Sara decided to check on the progress of the materials being put together by Alicia the Alchemist Girl and Amelia the Pharmacist Girl.
"How are the materials you two are working on coming along?"
Alicia the Alchemist Girl replied with a slightly troubled expression.
"The materials on Paracelsus are way too huge, so it's going to take quite a while to organize everything. Just like when I found that sound-making box, I accidentally end up spending time on research for things I want to create. This might be because of my personality."
Alicia the Alchemist Girl is probably the type of person who gets caught up in reading when she's organizing books.
"That magic tool is amazing, isn't it? I really want to turn it into a product for selling."
"Then we need to stabilize the supply of magic stones, Miss Sara. That magic tool has magic circles engraved on both the box and the magic stone, but the magic stone has to be of a certain quality for the engraving to work well. The box is relatively easy, though."
"By the way, can anyone copy it just by looking at the engraving?"
"It is possible to hide it by encrypting the magic circle before engraving it, but to activate the hidden magic circle, you need another magic circle and a magic stone as a key. Without that, you can't decode the encrypted content. Of course, the key's magic stone needs to be of good quality too."
'So, there is a magic circle engraved on the box, and there is a magic circle to engrave on the magic stone. If we hide these magic circles, then another magic stone is needed to activate it, right?'
"I think that magic tool will become an expensive item, so it doesn't matter how many good quality magic stones one use. What I'm worried about is if someone will try to copy and make similar tools."
"I see. Hiding a magic circle isn't that difficult of a technique, but once it's hidden, decoding it becomes quite hard. The key can activate the magic circle, but it can't read the original magic circle from there."
"By the way, what happens if I accidentally lose the key?"
"I think it's good to keep a spare key on hand. Making a copy of the key is possible. However, a new magic stone will be needed, so it will be pretty costly."
Marquis threw a question at Alicia the Alchemist Girl's explanation.
"I understand the quality of the magic stone, but what about its size?"
"It depends on how long the sound needs to be recorded. If a long recording is needed, then a bigger size is necessary. The size of the magic stone that I put in the box that contained the Elma brandy the other day can only record for 10 minutes."
"I see. Does the box need any special processing?"
"The box is just a normal wooden box, but it needs a special chemical applied to blend the magic circle. Since the box from the other day was a prototype, it only had a simple restoration magic circle engraved on it, but it is possible to create a box with engravings that improve sound quality or enhance acoustic effects."
'That's not an organ pipe, it's an audio device...
"Ah, so it's possible to set various magic stones in a box that has improved sound quality and play different songs, right?"
"Uh... According to Paracelsus's designs, the box and magic stone don't match. But, just like Ms. Sara said, I think it's possible to modify it. It'll take some time to add my own design, though..."
'What to do... The product is really attractive, but I think the price would be too high if I released it to the market right away. First, I should make the organ-pipe-like box popular, and then gradually introduce the new audio-like box... Anyway, it's better if I ask Ms. Alicia to research the technology of recording and playing sounds right now.'
"Ms. Alicia, if we're going to continue Paracelsus's research, it would be very difficult, but can I have you research and develop magic tools for recording and playing sounds for a little while?"
Alicia the Alchemist Girl smiled and took Sara's hand.
"Miss Sara, that's not an impossible request. To be honest, I've been eager to do this research, but I was worried about how to fund it, since so many magic stones are needed."
"Of course, the research development fee can be paid by the merchant guild."
"Yay!"
"But, what about organizing Paracelsus's data?"
"It's just too massive, I don't know how to handle it. I think I'll need to take a break and come back to it after clearing my head..."
"I agree with that. Besides, I don't think the work should be done by just one alchemy magician. It might be better to find fellow alchemy magicians."
'However, I don't want to let too many unfamiliar people in the Maiden's Tower.'
Since the Maiden's Tower might become her home in the future, she really resist having too many unfamiliar people coming and going.
"Ms. Amelia (Pharmacist Girl) is going to be busy with product development, such as herbal tea, for a while. I'm sorry for keeping you busy with the merchant guild's work because of my selfishness. But it seems difficult to arrange an assistant right away..."
"Miss Sara, we came to this tower to develop the products you requested. We are receiving compensation for our research and development here, so there's no need to apologize. I even think it's so much fun to make this our job. I'm sure Ms. Alicia feels the same way."
"That's right. I'm having so much fun researching new magic tools! And Teresa (Blacksmith Girl) is probably busy thinking about weapons for Miss Sara right now, don't you think? She might just leave the alchemy cauldron to Fran."
Amelia the Pharmacist Girl and Alicia the Alchemist Girl smiled at Sara.
"Thank you. I'm so happy."
"However, Sara, if we need to prioritize product development, it would be better to decide on the product we will showcase at the hunting tournament as soon as possible. There isn't much time left. The most important thing is the product we will present, right?"
"That's true, Grandfather!"
Sara decided to think while checking things one by one.
"I still don't fully understand the details of the tournament, but I assume nobles will be coming to Grandchester Castle separately, right?"
"I haven't confirmed all the replies to the invitations yet, but a considerable number of people should participate in the hunting tournament. Influential nobles will stay in one of the buildings within Grandchester Castle, so the servants are busy with repairs and cleaning. Others may use inns near the hunting ground or rent out guesthouses from wealthy merchants."
"I see. Then let's prioritize making potpourri, sachets, and aroma candles so they can be used there. It's fine to request the orphanage to do the handiwork."
Maria, who was beside Sara, took notes.
"For these productions, Ms. Amelia should only give instructions on the selection of types and production methods. Blending herbal tea and extracting essential oils are more important. Please suggest a few blends that we would like to showcase during the tournament and some herbal tea blends to give as gifts. We have a classroom session here tomorrow, so let's do a tasting after class."
"Understood."
"I would like to print out small papers describing the effects and attach them, so could you also provide a simple draft?"
"Yes, Miss Sara."
'Even if it's not a catalog, it should at least be some material about what kinds are available.'
"The night before the tournament is the ball, right? I can't attend, though."
"That's right. It's an annual event. This year, we will announce Robert and Rebecca's engagement."
"In that case, let's prepare some new drinks for the toast. Since it's a celebration for the two of them."
'Hmmm. Should I have Mike work hard on making cider?'
"It doesn't seem like it'll be Elma brandy."
"That depends on grandfather's social skills. Please make sure to promote it as a 'special drink' in places like the playroom."
"Of course."
"To do that, I need to have more drinks made..."
Sara thought for a moment.
"Grandfather, could I borrow a few of the apprentice servants?"
"That's fine, but what will you do with them?"
"I need help to distill Elma liquor. Right now, Mr. Fran is quietly working on it, but he needs to make a new distillation furnace. Since this is the Maiden's Tower, I prefer not to hire anyone from outside the castle."
"You'd like to have mostly women working, right?"
"While that might be better, I don't mind their gender as long as they work seriously. Since they'll be working here, their identities should be clear."
She then turned to the maids.
"Could you please get the servants' room ready for their arrival? It would be better for them to stay here while working. Oh, what about the cook...?"
"I'll take care of that, so don't worry."
The Marquis lightly patted Sara on the head.
"Grandfather, can you quickly prepare the facility for the Elma brandy we talked about this morning? If we are going to showcase it at the hunting tournament, it should help in the social season as your weapon. We also need to hurry up and make the deliveries for the royal family."
"That's true. It looks like we need to involve a bit of bureaucracy to discuss this."
"If that's the case, please let me join you. I want to meet Mr. James too."
"You want to see not James but his fiancée, right?"
"Well, yes."
"Then I will arrange for that girl to come here first."
"Huh, so suddenly? She might have other plans, it could be a bother."
"The benefit of the territory comes first. If calling her causes any loss, I will cover it with money."
Immediately, one of the attendants standing behind the Marquis moved and left the room at the Marquis's order. It seems he is arranging a carriage to pick her up.
'Seeing this makes me think that my grandfather is definitely a lord.'
"And about the oak barrels I asked Jeff for, those are urgent too, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I'll give him a kick if it takes too long, but if needed, I'll arrange it and deduct the cost from his salary."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
"Please be gentle."
Since it was about his father, Scott couldn't help but comment.
"Don't worry. If he just pay up, I won't kick him."
The Marquis wore a mischievous smile. It seems he's holding a grudge because only Jeffrey wasn't scolded by Sara this morning.
"Next is the magic stones for the sound-making magic tools. I think it would be good to check with Mr. Castor about the situation at the new magic stone mine."
"Hmm..."
"And Ms. Alicia (Alchemist Girl)."
"Yes?"
"How long would it take to create that magic tool, assuming all materials are gathered?"
"Does the recording box come with it?"
"For now, I'm fine with just the playback box. Can the recording box be used multiple times, right?"
"Yes. It wasn't designed with durability in mind, but it should last for a while since it's sturdy enough."
"In that case, if we include the creation of a disguise and a key, we should be able to complete it in just an hour. The time for recording music is separate, though."
"Oh, and can a magic stone used to record music be duplicated?"
"Since the duplication tool isn't particularly difficult, I can make it right away. However, magic power is required to activate the tool."
'Can you copy the recorded music multiple times once it's been recorded?'
"Sara, it would be better to have a carpenter arranged. If it's going to be a high-quality item, we shouldn't skip the fine craftsmanship of the box."
"Indeed, as the grandfather said!"
"Ms. Alicia, please write down the minimum specifications for the box. We'll need them when ordering from the carpenter."
"Understood."
Thus, the sudden product planning meeting ended successfully.
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