LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 92.2
“Will we be able to meet the demand?”
“We can.”
“…?”
At my confident reply, Mary tilted her head before suddenly realizing.
“Ah! We recently discovered more Magic Stone mines thanks to the Arad Radar, right? And production has surged with the mining trains!”
If a magical engine were available, low- and mid-grade Magic Stones could be artificially synthesized into higher grades, but for now, magical engines weren’t feasible.
Thus, acquiring mid- and high-grade Magic Stones required mining.
In this regard, the radar and steam engines I had developed during Mary’s blessing incident played a pivotal role.
“Exactly. The Arad Radar, steam engines, and above all, the unrestricted witches—these three factors made this level of production and pricing possible.”
“So how much will you sell these for?”
“Considering labor and other costs… around this much.”
“Hmm… It’s not exactly cheap.”
“Expecting it to be cheaper would be shameless.”
“I was just thinking from the perspective of ordinary folks!”
Of Course, That Didn’t Mean Prices Had Dropped Drastically
Prices were still far from “cheap.”
However, the current Northerners could afford to splurge on them if they made up their minds.
“With the Northerners’ incomes increasing and their livelihoods improving, it’s time to start collecting. Hahaha!”
As wealth flowed into the North, inflation naturally followed.
Up until now, overwhelming production and controlled development had kept it in check, but the strain was starting to show.
“This development couldn’t have come at a better time.”
With Bluetooth Showerheads, Bluetooth Toilets, Bluetooth Bathtubs, and Bluetooth Sinks—all utilizing subspace magic to the extreme—the people now had things to spend their money on.
“And if the price becomes an issue, there’s always installments or subscription promotions.”
I wasn’t even slightly worried that high prices would hurt sales.
“In the original Age of Silver 1, these magical household items never became widespread. At best, they were luxuries for nobles or wealthy commoners because they heavily relied on highly skilled magical engineers.”
But things were different in this world.
Unlike the original Age of Silver 1, the North—more specifically, Arad Company—could employ highly skilled magical workers at dirt-cheap—no, no—at “reasonable” wages.
“Recently, thanks to my personalized lessons, the magical engineering skills of the Magic Association mages have improved dramatically. That’s what made large-scale production possible.”
And that wasn’t all. Unlike the closed-off magical engineering academies of the Age of Silver 1, the North forcibly recruited anyone with talent—half-kidnapping them into the Renslet Academy, where they were trained as magical engineers.
“Plus, if we bring Academy students into the field under the guise of internships… we’d only have to pay them pocket money.”
I inwardly grinned with sinister satisfaction.
“This place is a paradise for entrepreneurs!”
No taxes, no regulations because of my status as an official business, and no concerns about expensive labor or unions.
It truly felt like living in a video game world.
The beginning had been a bit frustrating and difficult, but as the stacks piled up, making money became fun.
What other amusement could match this?
“Jarvis Will Be Pleased.”
As I basked in my thoughts, Mary spoke up as if she’d suddenly remembered something.
“Jarvis, the building manager, will probably be happy. Most of his tasks are going away.”
“Will he, though?”
“?”
“That also means his side income will decrease.”
“Ah…!”
“Still, he won’t quit. This building manager job is still better than most positions out there.”
“Hmm… I guess technological progress isn’t always entirely good.”
“That’s how it is. You gain some, you lose some.”
One Week Later
At the Renslet Cathedral within the inner walls of the High Tower, the wedding ceremony was reaching its climax.
“I hereby declare the eternal love of these two before the fervent ancestors of Renslet.”
The long speech of the High Priest of the Renslet Church was finally coming to an end.
This marked the moment Theo Shapiro, head of Arad Company’s Management Support Division, officially became a married man.
Woooooo!
“All who are present bear witness to this vow of love. You may seal your promises with a kiss. Renslet Rune Renslet!”
With the couple’s kiss, the iconic chant of the Renslet Church resounded.
“Renslet Rune Renslet!”
“Renslet Rune Renslet!”
“Renslet Rune Renslet!”
Theo, wearing a black silk tunic, and Maria, in a pure white dress, smiled brighter than anyone.
The bride’s slightly rounded belly beneath her dress, a telltale sign of a speedy wedding, left a strong impression.
Clap clap clap!
“You two look perfect together!”
“So jealous!”
“Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!”
Cheers and applause filled the room.
A Western-Style Bouquet Toss
“It’s not over yet! Hahaha! We still have something for the unmarried ladies!”
The High Priest laughed jovially, cutting through the noise of the applause.
Maria, holding a small bouquet, stepped into the open area.
From the pure white dress to the ring exchange ceremony and the bouquet toss—the wedding traditions of this world bore a striking resemblance to Western-style weddings on Earth.
“Ready for the bouquet toss?”
As Maria prepared to toss the bouquet, the unmarried female guests eagerly lined up behind her with determined faces.
The group included Magic Association mages, female priests of the Renslet Church, and Arad Company employees.
Among them was Mary.
Whoosh
When Maria threw the bouquet, Mary, true to her reputation as a skilled magic swordsman, caught it with agile precision.
“…”
She then silently fixed her gaze on a particular spot.
Following her line of sight, everyone saw her staring straight at Arad Jin.
The crowd knowingly nodded, unsurprised. After all, the nature of their relationship was well-known—not just within the High Tower, but across the entire North.
***
The Prototype Camera
Meanwhile, Arad, the subject of the crowd’s gaze, was entirely focused on something else.
“So, you operate it like this and it works like that.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
“Good, Jarvis. I’m counting on you. Oh, here’s your tip—earnings must’ve gone down lately, right?”
Handing Jarvis, the building manager, half a silver coin, Arad turned toward the newlyweds.
“Alright, everyone! Line up over here! Tall people in the back, shorter ones in the front!”
For Arad, this wedding was the perfect opportunity to showcase a new invention.
The product? A camera.
The camera was a box as large as a person’s torso, adorned with mid-grade Magic Stones of light, darkness, and non-attribute elements that shimmered brightly.
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