Published: September 6, 2025
“Then, shall we begin?”
I glanced at the magic paper and tools lined up on the workshop table. Using the devices Ferdinand had for measuring the attributes and quality of materials, I started examining the properties of each magic paper. Since it would be a waste to experiment with the scarce papers, I planned to first experiment with the more abundant Aiphon paper and Nanceve paper to see how much their quality could be improved, and then move on to the rare Trombe paper.
“Are you going to make this the highest quality?”
Clarissa picked up a small piece of magic paper made from Aiphon that had been cut for quality inspection and looked troubled. Magic paper made by commoners without using mana was of low quality as a magic tool. Trombe paper was high quality among demon tree papers, but there were plenty of even higher-quality ones like the beast-leather parchment made from demonic beast skins that had long been used as magic paper.
“If there is no restriction on the magic paper material, wouldn’t it be much easier to collect demonic beast skins as before and then improve their quality?”
The recipe for magic paper made from demonic beast skins was taught at the noble academy. This paper was used to draw magic circles and assist in alchemy and magic. To use it for advanced magic, high-quality materials were necessary, which meant hunting strong demonic beasts for their skins. Therefore, making the highest quality magic paper was no easy task.
“Using demonic beast skins would indeed be easier for improving quality, but Lord Ferdinand requires at least three hundred sheets. Who knows how many skins that would take? If aiming for the highest quality, we cannot compromise on the material quality, right? How many strong demonic beasts do you think we would need to capture?”
Though Ferdinand’s workshop had many materials, none were in quantities sufficient to make three hundred sheets of demonic beast parchment each. Hartmut nodded at my words.
“If the demonic beasts are killed outright, we can’t obtain their skins, so gathering such a large quantity would be very difficult. Even if all of Lady Rosemine’s Guard Knights were deployed, I doubt the necessary materials could be procured within the deadline.”
“I don’t think it’s impossible.”
Clarissa’s blue eyes sparkled with determination, but would Dunkelfelger go hunting demonic beasts? If the deadline were around three years away, hunting to gradually gather materials would be acceptable, but there was no time for hunting amid the busy transition period. Therefore, I think Ferdinand asked me to raise the quality of the demon tree paper.
“Still, more than three hundred sheets of the highest quality… I wonder what Lord Ferdinand intends to use them for?”
“Clarissa, Lord Ferdinand doesn’t hesitate to generously use high-quality magic paper to make alchemy easier. He’s different from ordinary people.”
I couldn’t easily imagine a situation where the magic paper must be of the highest quality.
But Ferdinand frequently used high-quality magic paper during alchemy. I learned not to trust Ferdinand’s common sense about alchemy.
“For now, let’s refer to the joint research with Drevannel and try to improve the quality of the demon tree paper we have as much as possible.”
I stirred the mixing pot, trying to remove impure mana and add high-quality materials of the same attribute to raise the quality of each magic paper. Both Aiphon paper and Nanceve paper improved from low to about normal quality.
“…The quality is still too low.”
The improvement was painfully slow, like a turtle’s pace. Doing the same kind of alchemy repeatedly was frustrating. Until now, I had either used Ferdinand’s carefully refined recipes as they were or asked Raimund for improvements, so I had never continued refining a magic tool recipe myself until I was satisfied.
“How can Lord Ferdinand create or improve magic tools so easily? I feel like my spirit is breaking.”
“Lady Rosemine, please don’t be so down. It’s only the first day, and there has been progress. The magic paper that produces sound has become considerably smoother, and the paper that gathers by itself has started to move faster.”