Published: September 6, 2025
“This is wonderful. Very educational. The skill to improve quality while minimizing the use of expensive materials and reducing mana consumption really shows the difference that experience makes.”
Hartmut sighed with admiration as he looked over the improved recipe by Ferdinand that I had copied from the letter. It seemed that by using materials and procedures that Hartmut and Clarissa hadn’t noticed, the amount of mana and cost needed to concoct the highest quality magic paper were greatly reduced.
“But in exchange, the number of steps in the concoction has increased, and the types of materials required have also expanded, haven’t they?”
Ferdinand’s improved recipe was a bit more troublesome. When I pointed out that my recipe could be made faster, Hartmut gave a wry smile.
“Unlike Lady Rosemine, who has ample mana, if Clarissa or I were to make it, Ferdinand’s recipe would be much quicker to complete.”
My recipe took too long to mass-produce the absolutely necessary gold dust, and without healing potions, you couldn’t proceed to the next step. Because not only gold dust but also the materials and concoction of healing potions were required, apparently no one else could make my recipe.
“Lady Rosemine’s recipe hardly allows for any assistance, but with Ferdinand’s carefully combined materials compensating for quality, we can assist to some extent.”
It seemed that only with Ferdinand’s improved version did the mana level required become something upper-level clerks could handle in places. I realized just how much mana my recipe consumed, and how troublesome Ferdinand’s request really was.
“According to this recipe, it looks like Ferdinand himself will perform the final synthesis.”
Clarissa, peering into the recipe, said so. Upon closer look, it seemed Ferdinand wanted the paper prepared up to just before the final synthesis, not the full three hundred sheets of the highest quality magic paper.
“He probably judged it’s more efficient in terms of mana and materials to do the final synthesis himself. And since Lady Rosemine helped secure the workshop, that might be why the plan changed.”
I nodded at Hartmut’s words. Doing the final synthesis myself would affect the amount of fireproof paper needed. Since I had gotten my own workshop in Arensbach, Ferdinand could handle this crucial step personally, leading to the change in instructions.
“Fireproof paper is expensive and rare, so to cut costs, we want to reduce its use as much as possible.”
Clarissa said this as she glanced at the fireproof paper stored in the workshop. If they were to make the amount Ferdinand specified, what they had on hand was insufficient.
“Lady Rosemine purchased all the fireproof paper available at the Plantin Trading Company, right? What will you do about the shortage?”
Clarissa murmured, wondering how to get more after buying all that was available at the Plantin Trading Company. I looked at her blankly.
“What else is there to do… if it doesn’t exist, then we make it.”
“The materials are rare, though. How will you manage that?”
Clarissa asked with a surprised look, but I smiled faintly and shook my head. I wasn’t going to reveal everything here.
“It’s still a secret, and I only plan to share it with those who can keep the secret. Anyway, let’s finish tidying up quickly. We can’t concoct without gathering materials.”
Together with Grethia, I sorted the items gifted by Leticia, tasting seasonings and spices little by little while checking letters and cooking recipes. Hartmut and the others tidied up, thinking carefully about how to arrange the materials for easier use next time.
“Lady Rosemine, we’ve finished tidying these materials. What shall we do next?”
“We’ll return to the temple. We need to prepare for the starbinding ceremony, and if Hartmut and I don’t get back soon, Melchior and the others will be troubled, won’t they?”
We couldn’t afford to leave the temple unattended for long. I had Judith deliver replies to letters I had finished writing in the secret room to the castle, and the seasonings, spices, and Arensbach recipes would be sent to the temple kitchen.