*****

The day after the purification potions were completed, we set off by carriage to investigate the cause of the abnormal monster breeding.

His Majesty the King had supposedly arranged for our guards along the way, but their numbers were few—only five men in total. Given that a Court Alchemist was part of the group, I had expected a larger detachment, despite the fact that the Knights were already investigating the site.

However, looking at them, these were clearly elite Kingsguards tasked with protecting the monarch; their expressions were worlds apart from ordinary knights. They radiated an aura of intense vigilance, their eyes sharp for any sign of monsters or suspicious individuals. That tension seeped into the carriage, leaving Master Clein to pore over his reports in silence.

Well... while he worked, the creator of the Bracelet of Power, Leon, and I—eyes sparkling at said item—were significantly more carefree.

「It really is wonderful... An piece of items that makes you super-strong just by putting it on is like a dream come true.」

「I'm humbled to be praised that much...」

While a bashful Leon fidgeted, I stared at the Bracelet of Power with a rapturous, almost entranced gaze.

(...I want strength. The strength to change my daily life, which currently consists of nothing but being sent terrible marriage proposals!)

If I wore this Bracelet of Power, that wish would come true. If only I could say there was nothing to hesitate about... how much easier life would be.

In reality, however, the item was clearly not designed for a girl, making it difficult to wear in my daily life. It might be one thing for a female adventurer to equip, but for a young noble lady, it felt like crossing a line that should never be crossed.

「It's the same shape as the ones the knights were wearing, but is the Bracelet of Power always fixed in this form?」

「If you consider the ease of mana flow, it naturally ends up in this shape. It also helps to keep the effects consistent if they're all identical. I tried experimenting with different forms, but nothing seemed to work out.」

(I was planning to negotiate for a cute design once the investigation was over, but I guess it won't be that simple.)

Knowing Leon, he’d probably try to do it if I begged him, but I couldn't bring myself to be that much of a nuisance.

Sigh... My "Operation: Become a Lady of Herculean Strength and Crush Marriage Proposals with the Bracelet of Power" was a failure.

「Since magic tools like commercially available lamps come in all sorts of shapes, I just assumed you had standardized these for the Knights' convenience.」

「Magic tools and magic items are completely different things, so it's best not to compare them. Unlike magic tools, where the manufacturing technology is well-established, we're still fumbling in the dark when it comes to creating magic Items.」

True, one shouldn't compare magic tools, which many alchemists can make, to magic Items, which can only be crafted by a select few...

「This is just a simple question, but what exactly is the difference between a magic tool and a magic Item?」

It felt strange that the same Enchantment skill could produce such entirely different results.

「The way you draw out the power changes depending on the mana within the materials and the method of Enchantment.」

「Come to think of it, Obaba-sama said something similar. Even a magic stove enchanted with fire attributes can be turned into a bomb just by cranking up the output.」

「Since they become different things just by changing how you control them, you can't compare magic tools and magic Items on the same level. Generally, a finished product where the power of the enchanted mana is drawn out to its absolute limit is what we call a magic Item.」

(Hm? Drawn out to its absolute limit? I feel like I've heard something like that somewhere before... maybe I'm just imagining it.)

While I was pondering that, it seemed Leon’s alchemical soul had caught fire, as he began to speak with great animation.

「There are various complex rules we've discovered; for instance, it won't become a magic Item unless you enchant it with mana from two or more different materials. Not only do the materials and the craftsmanship of the items matter, but when you have to control it while considering the flow and nature of the mana—」

Seeing Leon talk with such glittering eyes, it really hit home that he was a boy after all.

He was speaking so fast I didn't know when to chime in, and honestly, I had no idea what he was talking about anymore. The only thing I understood clearly was that Leon held a deep, passionate admiration for magic items.

And, seeing Master Clein chuckling to himself, I realized with a start: This is probably exactly what I look like most of the time.

*****

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