Published: September 4, 2025
※Correction of typos made on 2/11.
This is Satou. When expectations are too high, if reality doesn’t match up, the feeling of being betrayed is intense. I often experienced this with movies that made the whole US cry, but even in another world, disappointment still happens.
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“Blow darts~?”
“They’re inflating.”
Pochi and Tama, tucked under Liza’s arm, were pointing anxiously at the craftsmen in the workshop.
Where Pochi and Tama were pointing, craftsmen holding blowpipes in their mouths were making glass vessels. The viewing corridor was cooled by charm casters’ magic, so it wasn’t hot, but beads of sweat dotted the craftsmen’s faces.
Seeing the glass vessels inflate, Nana was about to wobble out from the viewing corridor, so Lulu and I grabbed her arms from both sides to stop her.
“Master, I recommend detailed observation.”
“Observation is from here.”
“Nana, please endure it. You’ll disturb the craftsmen.”
In contrast to the curious Nana, Arisa showed no interest and yawned.
Well, I understand. We were told it was the Oak Grass workshop, so I expected some kind of fantasy-style workshop, but it was just an ordinary glass workshop.
“If you’re interested, would you like to try it after the inspection?”
“Yes, if possible, definitely.”
The shabby-looking man guiding us was apparently the Oak Grass workshop master. A very thin man in his late fifties with curtain-style hair.
The next place he showed us was where they processed the raw materials for glass. Everyone working there had cloths wrapped over their mouths and noses — probably to protect against dust.
“Here, we crush stones like granite and silica rock, which are raw materials for glass, into powder. Then, by mixing in this blue-gray powder made from crushed Oakstone and heating it, we create glass fragments — the base of glass.”
Oakstone?
Could it be a fantasy mineral after all?
“This ore is mined near Grape Mountain in the North. When powdered and dissolved in water, it releases bubbles. These bubbles are—”
Listening to the master, I understood it was something like carbonic acid or natural soda. I can’t recall the name, but I think such minerals existed in the original world too. I’m happy to gain this knowledge, but I wonder if giving such a technical explanation to visiting nobles might annoy them.
The final room in the tour seemed to be the main attraction.
“This is the magical artifact for manufacturing flat glass here.”
Apparently, this magical tool is a relic from the Oak Empire that existed before the Shiga Kingdom.
“Looks like a press machine.”
I understood what Arisa meant. On a base measuring 1.5 meters short side by 2 meters long, they pour in molten glass, then press it from above like a press to make flat glass.
I recall from a video I saw before that glass was made by pouring molten glass over molten metal, but here, they probably use a magic power field as a membrane to create flat sheets of glass.
Using cubes or something might make this surprisingly easy.
Next, they showed us how mirrors made from that flat glass were created, using something called silver nitrate. The finished mirrors resembled those from the original world. Since alchemy materials include how to make silver nitrate, if I get some Oakstone, I might be able to handcraft mirrors.
“Two Pochis~?”
“Tama is over there!”
Pochi and Tama, in Liza’s arms, were pointing excitedly at the mirror. They used copper mirrors back home, after all. I thought so, but their points of surprise were slightly different.
“It’s just like Solna’s hand mirror.”
“It’s so big~”
Ah, they must have seen that at the eldest daughter Solna-san’s place in Muno Castle. They were simply amazed because it reflects the whole body.
Not only Arisa and Mia, but also Nana and Liza struck poses in front of the full-length mirror. Maybe I’ll buy one on the way back.
But only Lulu kept her face down, avoiding looking. Poor thing.
I wonder if there’s a way to help Lulu not hate her appearance. I’ll ask Arisa about it next time.