Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 6: The Decision

After deflecting Princess Heralesse's desires for tools of war from the otherworld, which both Daniel and Rikuto agreed to feign ignorance on, Daniel managed to distract her with other helpful processes, such as desalinating and purifying seawater and other impure water, a design for firefighting carts using wind crystals and water vessels on the carts. Because she's a humanitarian more than a warlord, her interest is easily piqued by such designs. He's also able to pick her brain about applications of fire and heat that could be improved, such as central air units. The cooling room at the apothecary was the right basic idea, but because of the inefficient designs, this world doesn't yet have a way to circulate air across large areas.

Just as he's getting into desalinating water, the Court mages return, and Rikuto pulls Heralesse away.

“Noooo! This could be a major game changer for our farms and coastal cities!”

Daniel chuckles and bows. He's becoming rather afraid that his new life is going to be even busier than his older one.

Wenlianna takes center front once more. “Thank you all for your patience! The results of this duel have been decided. Count-…”

“I have a question.” The man who spoke stands up. He was seated at Gunther's end of the crowd, and his expression is rather stern. Gunther looked nervous, but he spoke out of turn, “Yes, Father?”

Gunther's father glares at him, and Wenlianna, a little caught off guard, asks, “Earl Norsonji? If it's about the presentations…”

“I won't be long.”

She hesitates for only a moment, but ultimately smiles and nods. He looks at Daniel with his stern eyes, but Daniel has been glared at by all rank and file of people, save royalty of his world. While his fate is more tenuous in this semi-medieval world, a gaze is just a gaze.

“You there, otherworlder.”

Daniel bows, “Yes, my Lord?”

“I want your untempered words. How did this duel come to be?”

Daniel hesitates. He’s not interested in bus-chucking anyone. Gunther’s frustration is understandable, if self-destructive should he lose. Wenlianna risked her career for her faith in Daniel’s ability -at least, she supposedly did-. He has no reason to doubt that. But, most importantly, embarrassing either of them would look bad. Daniel tries to reply diplomatically, “My Lord, I’m afraid my word would carry little weight,...”

“Answer the question.”

Daniel hesitates, but he notices Wenlianna smile and nod.

He sighs. “Very well, my Lord. Lady Wenlianna commissioned me to work as her assistant about two weeks ago. In fact, we were discussing this very design, though I hadn’t elaborated on the full design with her before Lord Gunther arrived. He… presented a gift to Lady Wenlianna as he arrived to resume his apprenticeship, and from what I witnessed, Lady Wenlianna judged him suitable enough to finish his apprenticeship and signed his apprenticeship card. This didn’t seem satisfactory to Lord Gunther, as we hadn’t yet been introduced, and he demanded to know who I was. Once Lady Wenlianna explained, he appeared to feel somehow cheated, in spite of meeting the requirements to finish his apprenticeship. As I understood it, Lady Wenlianna gave him a minimal passing grade for reasons I wouldn’t dare speculate on, and this, coupled with my status as a commoner, appeared to be what upset him. The duel was Lady Wenlianna’s idea as, what I believe to be a trial by fire of my abilities, and a chance for Lord Gunther to prove what he learned in the apprenticeship. That is how I saw events, my Lord.”

The audience members murmur in surprise. It seems, specifically from words he can pick out, they aren’t sure what to consider him, since he’s an otherworlder, so commoner doesn’t quite fit, but nor does noble. Rikuto looks and acts the part of a noble, while Daniel looks and acts the part of a commoner -a particularly dirty one at that, at present-.

Gunther bursts out, “Lady Wenlianna specifically left out that he was the other-otherworlder!”

“Silence, boy, before you embarrass me any further.”

Gunther tenses and falls silent. Wenlianna defends herself innocently, saying sweetly, “I had no idea you didn’t know, Lord Gunther. Honest. I had heard that you were at the ritual, holding the book for Lord Crosserly as he attempted the language comprehension spell on Daniel. I would have mentioned it if I thought you didn’t know.”

Earl Montarre glares at Wenlianna. It’s pretty obvious to anyone that she’s faking her own innocence, but the point she’s making by saying anything at all is that it couldn’t possibly be anyone else’s but Gunther’s mistake, since one of the mages -Lord Crosserly, presumably-, averts his gaze as he stands by in the crowd. He’s one of the Court Mages who has yet to speak.

The Earl continues, “Otherworlder,... Daniel, was it? What gift did my son present to the lady?”

Daniel hesitates. It’d be pretty shocking if no one else told him, but Daniel realizes the weight of admitting it was his own chair.

Daniel replies as neutrally as he can, “It… was a chair. My Lord.”

The crowd is dead silent, and King Greydald puts his hand on his forehead. Daniel doubts the king is the one who sold it, but he also didn’t take proper measures to protect it, either. Daniel’s computer chair is unique in their world; it has an airy mesh back, reclining and height adjustments, and wheel casters to allow easy movement all over the place. 

King Greydald asks, “Where is the chair now?”

Before anyone else speaks, Daniel replies, “It’s still in Lady Wenlianna’s possession, your Majesty, and I’d like it to stay that way. It was a gift, after all, and she acknowledged it. I’d likely have given it to her myself, had she asked for it, in thanks for her support. Should it benefit Lord Gunther as well, all the better.”

Some of the audience members murmur, trying to be quiet, but the awkward moment is otherwise so quiet, any noise at all can be heard.

Greydald waves his hand to signal the end of the matter. “Very well, Mister Daniel. Thank you for being diplomatic in this matter. It shall not go unrewarded.” He gestures dismissively for Wenlianna to continue, and she looks at Earl Montarre. “Anything else, my Lord?”

Earl Montarre sighs in disgust. “One last thing before the decision is read, if you’d please.”

She nods respectfully. He faces Gunther, saying, “Gunther. You should strongly consider conceding on your own terms.” His words shock everyone, including Daniel and Gunther. The young Lord stares at his father in disbelief, mouth agape and unable to form words. Earl Montarre sits back down, crossing his arms with his eyes closed. He seems to feel he said all he needs to say.

Gunther looks at Daniel, who tries to keep his expression sympathetic, but Gunther glares at him anyway. He turns his glare at Wenlianna, stating confidently, “I will not. I will not be stained by a pathetic grade due to a commoner. Even if he is from another world.”

Wenlianna looks at Earl Montarre, but the Earl simply sighs in disgust.

Wenlianna says, “Very well, then. Without any further ado, Lady Syaroa, would you like to read the final decision?”

The Court Mage stands up, unrolling a small scroll. “In regards to presentation, the clear winner was…” She hesitates, saying a little softly, “Lord Gunther. In regards to innovation… both contestants presented valuable ideas. According to this Court, the advantages of Lord Gunther’s design outweighed those of Mister Daniel’s.” She hesitates for a long time, indicating that the decision was neither unanimous nor unbiased. But, Daniel expected as much. He’s in a cutthroat political and nobility-centric society, now. He’ll be lucky if they don’t kill him just out of spite. He can only listen on as she reads off the other sections they graded the two on, some of which are superficial at best.

However, to his surprise, the one that seems most displeased is Earl Montarre, who massages his temples with his right hand as he listens.

“Lastly, the final category judged… was Etiquette. The winner, Lord Gunther. As such, given the totality of the grades, this court finds the winner of the duel to be… Lord Gunther.”

Gunther straightens his posture with a relieved sigh, while most of the audience is silent. Earl Montarre simply stands up and walks away. Gunther, surprised, asks, “Father?”

But, the Earl ignores him.

Daniel looks at Wenlianna with concern, but she simply shrugs with a simple smile. She withdraws Gunther’s apprenticeship card, correcting his grade to a perfect 10, and handing it to him with a smile. “Good work, Gunther. Best of luck on all of your endeavors.”

He is still stunned by his father’s departure, and he looks at her. He tries to regain his composure, adding, “Thank you, my Lady. I hope I will make you proud.”

She smiles cryptically. “May you endeavor forever.” She then about-faces and approaches the Royal family. She bows, saying confidently, “As part of the conditions of the Duel, I hereby retire from the Royal Court as Magic Artisan of the Court, Your Majesty. May my replacement serve you well.”

This stuns the entire audience, including the other Court Mages, who apparently didn’t know the stakes. However, Wenlianna straightens and smiles, “I’ll clear my personal effects out of the relic room by Ninday, your Majesty. Should I need to vacate sooner, I’d like to request servants to…”

Rikuto glances around himself at the other Royal Court members for help, realizes as everyone else does that she’s not joking, and that it’s dumbfounding for everyone. Greydald quickly says, “No no! I… I don’t understand. Explain this, Wenlianna. This was supposed to be a duel between Daniel and Gunther. How…?”

“While the participants were Daniel and Gunther, your Majesty, the stakes were my faith in Daniel against my lack of faith in Lord Gunther. It seems I was… well, ‘wrong’ isn’t quite the right word.” She shrugs, seemingly having not one care in the world. “I’ll establish a new lab and continue to serve the kingdom, your Majesty. King Rikuto, I look forward to a long and prosperous future under your reign. Now, if you’ll excuse me and my assistant, we should begin cleaning out the relic room.”

She walks towards Daniel, saying warmly, “Let’s go, Daniel.”

“Wait!” Baroness Veriuv jumps up and walks briskly around to the front. She kneels before the two kings, pleading, “Your Majesty! You can’t allow this! Mister Daniel helped my husband and I’s apothecary, and he did it for a fraction of the cost of an artificer. He’s the one who created and installed the pump at Cobbler’s Bank, and he even improved the Adventurer’s guild’s oven. After only a week with the Lady Artisan, he helped out the town even more, improving the magic lanterns in the market square so the traders can stay open longer, even while he was working on his presentation.”

Rikuto glances at Daniel, but Daniel shakes his head. While what she says is true, a king violating a contract, a duel no less, would set a bad precedent.

Wenlianna eases her concerns, “You’re speaking as if we’re skipping town, Baroness. The conditions of the duel were for me to give Lord Gunther a prestigious grade and to retire from the Court. I’m not quitting being an artisan or leaving. I’ll simply be returning to my family’s estate for the time being.” She looks directly at Gunther, saying proudly, “And, I’ll be taking my assistant with me.”

He grits his teeth, but King Greydald asks, “Is this true, Mister Daniel? You continued to perform extra duties during your time meant for the presentation?”

Daniel answers with a respectful nod, “Yes, your Majesty.”

“You seem to be claiming quite a bit of work, then. It would take sixteen of the twenty nine hours of the day to perform so much, wouldn’t it?”

Daniel shrugs, “I didn’t keep track. I started work before sun-up and worked until after dark. If I was approached for help, I did what I could as quickly as possible. I think I only skipped sleep on the second and fourth days… I don’t really remember now.”

The group stares at him, and Rikuto sighs. He grumbles, “You’re one of those, huh?”

Daniel chuckles, saying in English, “[Still beats my days in the military.]” 

Rikuto sighs. He remarks, “It’s a phrase from his home country. Daniel, don’t push yourself so hard.”

Princess Heralesse asks, “You believe him?”

Rikuto confirms. “I do. Remember how you were worried about me working too hard? Well, it’s actually a little too common in our world. That said, he does seem to have made it through alright.”

The crowd is silent, and Daniel adds, “My Lady Baroness, my goal in working with Lady Wenlianna is to improve what I’ve already been able to do. If Lady Wenlianna is alright with the current events, then I will continue to work with her.”

Veriuv hesitates, but she bows her head. She apologizes, “Please forgive my outburst.” She retreats to her seat in the back.

Kings Greydald and Rikuto whisper to each other for a moment, and Heralesse tries to listen in.

Rikuto sighs. “Because the duel was sealed in contract, I can’t overlook it. Very well, Lady Wenlianna. Your retirement from the Court is accepted. Your final payment will be calculated and provided as soon as possible. Should your replacement need any basic guidance to get started, we should like to consult you; for a fee, of course. As for Mister Daniel, you are free to do as you please within the bounds of the law.”

Daniel and Wenlianna both bow. “Thank you, your Majesty.”

Daniel remarks sincerely, “If I may, your Majesty; I can remove the pump at any time, or it can be installed, if you so desire. I only ask that if my assistance is required, I be afforded time to assist Lady Wenlianna in transitioning to a new workspace.”

Rikuto nods in agreement. “I see no problem with leaving the pump here. I’ll inform the guards not to allow it’s movement until we figure out how best to use it. I’d like to install it as soon as possible and begin construction of a storage vessel on the roof, if you truly believe it can reach.”

“I believe so, but I shall endeavor to make it so regardless.”

Rikuto concludes, “Then, this congregation is dismissed.”

Gunther watches in disbelief as no one asks him about his water station, while the entirety of the Court Mages follow Wenlianna and Daniel, picking their brains about his bulky, noisy device. He looks at his apprenticeship card, which now has a perfect 10 for a score under Magic Artisanry.

It doesn’t feel as satisfying as he thought, even though he won.

It doesn’t make sense.

****************

Daniel is quiet as he carries boxes of books into Wenlianna’s family mansion. It turns out, her mother is a widow, and the Grand Duchess of the kingdom, about a single step below the King in power. Because both families only have daughters, a union between their houses became impossible, and Wenlianna was permitted to pursue her whims, since her younger sisters all have fiances from varying lesser noble houses. Returning home, Wenlianna is greeted with a warm welcome, though her sisters all have more feminine personalities and take great pride in their appearances. It seems Wenlianna was the black sheep due to her obsessive pursuit of knowledge, and once settled in, she is essentially benevolently neglected. Few seem interested in intruding in her lab to get to know what she’s doing, and they’ve long-since abandoned inviting her to formal events. The very fact that she was a Court Mage carries an air of pride, but like a computer programmer in a room full of models, they struggle to find common ground to speak on.

With one exception.

“Soooo, Wenlie found a husband!? This is so exciting!” Yanidere, the next eldest daughter of the Grand Duchess under Wenlianna, teases her warmly.

“He’s not my husband, Yani. He’s my assistant.”

Yani flirtatiously tugs at Daniel’s sleeves. He’s since cleaned up since the presentation, but he still looks rather common. “Don’t mind her prickliness, Daniel. If you keep trying, I’m sure she’ll fall in love. You’re the furthest along, after all.”

Wenlianna pulls him away from her sister. “Go prowl your banquet, Yani. We’re working.”

Yani follows them regardless. “Mother will have to approve, you know. After all, you’re the only one of us with omni-affinity.”

“Yeah, and with it, I can out-live your grandchildren. Let us work in peace.”

Still, the slightly junior sister gushes, “Oh, Wenlie. If you just want your alone time right away, just say so! I’ll tell the maids not to intrude…”

“Daniel’s a commoner. So there. He’ll only ever be my assistant. Are you happy?”

“We haven’t seen you in months, Wenlie! Then, we find out you’ve retired from the Court Mages and bring home a man!? What are we supposed to think?”

“Ugh! I don’t care! Just let me and Daniel work while you do it!”

Yani pouts, but she finally backs off, and Wenlianna leads Daniel to her lab. She murmurs, “Sorry about that. Get used to it, I guess. They all want me to get married and have children.”

Daniel chuckles. “It’s fine. I was going to convince you to elope when we do fall in love.”

She blushes, glancing up at him. “I-I’ll fire you right now, Daniel! Don’t be stupid like them!”

He laughs, and she elbows his gut. She doesn’t try to hurt him or knock the books out of his hands, only to express her frustration.

Wenlianna’s old lab is surprisingly well-kept, likely thanks to the maids at least dusting what isn’t covered. She sets right to work organizing.

“I’ll go…”

“Wait, Daniel. I can’t let you walk through there alone. They’ll set upon you like ravenous skorvs. Just wait a minute. I’m just figuring out where I want everything.”

Daniel nods in understanding. However, now seems like an alright time to address the obvious unspoken elephant in the room. “Wenlianna… About… the Court.”

“Don’t worry about it. I could have easily flipped that decision by informing them ahead of time what the stakes were. The results proved what I always knew would be true. Integrity has a price. I don’t really care to work in such a place. You were the clear winner there. Everyone knew it. But, they wanted Earl Montarre’s favor more. And, to my surprise, I think they failed.” She smiles up at Daniel. “I want to make the best magical equipment. Things people can’t live without. Things that make life easy for anyone and everyone. I have a few inventions to my name, but when I saw these books…” She pets one of the books bound in the style Daniel brought from the other world and secretly implemented. “Someone who could change MY life was in reach. Come to find out, not only are you able to work with near-artisan levels of skill and wisdom, you happen to be the same strange otherworlder who defies all we know about magic. I won’t be able to check every day if you’re still devoid of magic, but I CAN work with you to shape the future of this kingdom. I intend to jump right back in. I’ll have a little less liquid finances for now, but The Grand Duchess has always supported my work. If we can get a business started, I imagine we won’t even need her help within a few months. So, start binding your mana and…” She flinches. “Sorry…”

Daniel chuckles. “I think I understood the meaning, Wenlianna. But,... Should I be calling you ‘Duchess’? Or do you carry…?”

She glares at him. He holds his hands up in surrender. She sighs, “For everyone but my mother, you can just call me Wenlianna. When my mother is present, please continue to refer to me as ‘my Lady’. That will be sufficient. If it comes up, though, I don’t carry a formal title. My next eldest sister will inherit the household formally, since I have no prospects of marriage and no interest for now.”

“Understood. I’ll continue to be mindful of setting, then.”

“Thank you. Alright, I think I know where everything will go, and we should have enough room. Let’s go get a few more things.”

Daniel agrees and follows her lead.

Together, they unload the carriage, which includes Daniel’s former computer chair, which now officially belongs to the Magic Artisan. 

Just as they’re getting everything unpacked and stored, a knock comes at the door.

Wenlianna whispers, “Ignore it. They invite me to dinner when I’m home as a formality. They know I’ll eat when I’m hungry.”

“Lady Wenlianna, dinner is ready.”

“Thanks! I’m in the middle of something.”

“The Grand Duchess insists, Lady Wenlianna.”

“Insists? I don’t believe you. I’ll get something to eat later.”

The woman on the other side of the door sighs. “I’m not leaving, Lady Wenlianna. The Grand Duchess wishes to meet your suitor.”

“HE’S NOT MY SUITOR! HE’S MY ASSISTANT!”

“Regardless, if he is to stay in this household, the Grand Duchess insists on meeting him.”

Wenlianna storms to the door, flinging it open as she shouts, “My work is-urk!” She halts, recoiling into the room a little. “M-Mother!?”

The senior woman smirks. Her dress is extravagant, layered with elegant designs. She wears a similar head-piece to what Wenlianna’s glasses hang from, minus the glasses. Daniel flinches and hesitates. He bows quickly, unsure what to do. “Grand Duchess! Please forgive my intrusion, your Grace.”

The Grand Duchess smiles with amusement at Daniel. “Myyy.” She looks at Wenlianna, remarking dryly, “I see your time in the castle has caused you to forget the voice of your own mother, Wenlianna. I do insist you join us for dinner.”

Wenlianna fumbles for words; a rare sight to see her truly flustered. “B-B-But, I haven’t unpacked any dresses, and Daniel’s exhausted and doesn’t have anything to wear…”

The Grand Duchess smirks with a haughty, but matronly air. “As Grand Duchess, I shall allow an exception to be made. Will you be introducing your companion?”

The Magic Artisan flinches, and she says, “Y-Yes, Mother! Please allow me to introduce my assistant, Daniel. Daniel, you are in the presence of Grand Duchess Aramellianna kos Stalvaltan, my esteemed mother and for whom I am named. Mother, please show leniency to Daniel’s etiquette. He is not from the Kingdom, and is still learning our cultural intricacies.”

The Grand Duchess offers her hand, and Daniel takes the cue quickly, kissing the back of her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, your Grace. I am grateful to Lady Wenlianna for the opportunity to research magical equipment in this kingdom.”

Aramellianna smiles. “Tell me, Daniel. From where do you hail? Another world, perhaps?”

Wenlianna flinches, asking in a low tone, “How did you know that?”

“Just because I wasn’t present at your little game, dear Wenlianna, does not mean words do not reach my ears.”

Wenlianna pouts, and Aramellianna studies Daniel for a moment. “Besides. I was beginning to think there wasn’t a man in this world that could catch your eye. Seems I was right.”

“MOTHER! You’re intentionally misunderstanding!”

“Come, Wenlianna, Daniel. We shall catch up at dinner.”

“B-But… You’ve met him…”

“Wenlianna…”

The Magic Artisan sighs. “Coming, Mother.” She whispers to Daniel, “Sorry… Please do your best to endure what’s about to happen.”

Daniel chuckles. “I feel like I should be more worried about you.”

She blushes and pouts, “You’re probably not wrong. They’re incorrigible.”

Together, they join Wenlianna’s extended family for dinner. In spite of the reclusive and eccentric Artisan’s reservations, the family is surprisingly kind. It seems family became even more important when the Grand Duke suddenly passed away, which is why they dote on Wenlianna with great affection. Her youngest sisters, both teenagers, ask her about her time in the castle, and her older two sisters ask about the duel and any projects she’s working on. Daniel comes up, but it quickly turns to describing his life in the other world and what it’s like. They also ask how he manages to survive in the world without magic, which is less glamorous than it sounds, since he’s still able to do manual labor, which caught Wenlianna’s attention. 

Finally, Aramellianna asks the big question; “Daniel; are you not distressed that you cost my daughter her career?”

“Mother!”

Daniel replies for himself, “That was never my intention, Grand Duchess. I gave the best effort possible in producing something worthy of presenting.”

Wenlianna grumbles, “I didn’t invoke your name, Mother. I had hoped integrity was a bit more valuable, but I didn’t feel like stirring up a political mess.”

The Grand Duchess asks coyly, “Do you mean to suggest, Dear Wenlianna, that the nobles your companion was competing against sided with fellow nobles?”

Wenlianna crosses her arms and looks away.

Yormolett, the third eldest daughter, adds skeptically, “My fiance heard Lord Gunther had the gall to steal the design for his presentation. How could they still let him win?”

Wenlianna replies, “You have no idea, Yor! He even tried to use a water crystal!” She begins laughing, “As if that amateur button polisher could make something no one else has perfected work!”

The Grand Duchess asks Daniel, “Daniel; is this true?”

Daniel knows what she’s fishing for, but he intentionally misinterprets the question. “I’ve actually been meaning to ask about that. I surmised during the presentation that magic crystals are made of some type of salt, and hence dissolve under water, but I’ve been curious as to why salt must be used.”

Wenlianna whirls to face him, just about to speak excitedly when her mother states, “I’m sure you both can talk above our heads on that, Wenlianna. However, I meant, Daniel; was the design for Gunther’s magic device stolen?”

Daniel clears his throat, and Wenlianna wants to answer, but her mother shoots a glare at her. Cornered, he reluctantly replies, “I can only say that I built a manual pump with a design I’ve never seen in this world, and Gunther’s magical device matched its appearance. In any case, the functions are simple. The manual pump can only move water. Gunther’s water station, in theory, could produce water from a compact form.”

Wenlianna sighs, “The water and mana crystal alone can do that. It was useless for him to make the shell. And, to steal it no less.”

Aramellianna remarks with a curious smile. “You are hesitant to cast blame, Daniel. Don’t think I didn’t notice. I can understand trying to be diplomatic with your relatively low station, but I fail to understand why your station is so low. You are from the other world, are you not?”

“I am, your Grace.”

Wenlianna explains, “It’s mainly because he is completely devoid of magic. It’s not just that he can’t use it himself, it’s completely absent from his body.”

“Yes, I had heard, though I suppose I may have assumed he merely couldn’t use magic. Regardless, you seem to have quite a sharp mind for being able to figure out magic technology in spite of your disadvantage.”

Daniel chuckles. “Your Grace, you flatter me, as do others. I am merely fortunate the skills I learned in my world translate well to the magic technology here. Much of it is functionally similar to our electricity, but with different sources for energy. The futuristic research W-... Lady Wenlianna pursues is in some ways common technology in our world, and I’ve become familiar with it in order to repair it. With the right circumstances, in no small part thanks to Lady Wenlianna and this household, we can bring some of that technology to fruition here. Picking my brain as I pick hers, the pump I made for the presentation is just a taste of what we might be able to do.” He blushes and chuckles. “Apologies for speaking so long. I get wordy when I get excited.”

Yanidere teases as her husband chuckles, “That’s something you two share.”

“Yani!” whines Wenlianna.

Bunnrimae, the fourth daughter, asks, “Mister Daniel; do you miss your world?”

Daniel hesitates. He thinks for a moment, and he replies sincerely, “To be honest… I haven’t really thought about it much since coming here. I guess that means I don’t.”

“But, your mother and father are still there, aren’t they?”

He smiles softly. “One, I haven’t spoken to in over ten years, and the others… have been waiting for me in the afterlife for almost as long. I miss some of the creature comforts I had, but I’ve been consistently more satisfied with life over here.” With a chuckle, he adds, “I haven’t even had… uh… [alcohol] since coming over here. Huh.”

Bunnrimae asks with her head cocked, doing her best to pronounce the English word he hasn’t needed to translate yet, “Al-ko-haul?”

Daniel chuckles, “Apologies… Uh…” He looks at Wenlianna, asking at a whisper, “Is… there some kind of fermented drink here that dulls the senses?”

She recoils a little. “What? Why would anyone drink something like that?”

He laughs nervously, “So, that’s a no?”

“What is it?” asks Aramellianna.

Wenlianna replies, “He’s asking if there’s a drink that dulls the senses in our world.”

“I… it’s…” Daniel crosses his arms, trying to think of what he saw the adventurers drinking at the guild. The Grand Duchess replies, “I’ve heard of no such thing. Why WOULD someone drink something like that?”

Daniel scoffs, “Please forgive my rudeness and my candor for a moment. In my old world, our society almost wouldn’t function without it. It’s a drink made from fermenting various grains or fruits with sugar, and it… uh… makes depression less heavy.” He clears his throat as they all stare at him with glassy stares. “It’s, uh… a common way to relax. It’s not smart, but it’s common. In fact, in our world’s history, it was intentionally fed to slaves in some ancient cultures to dull their drive to rebel. My own personal belief is that it’s remained lawful to consume -for adults- because it does the same for the working class as well. It’s a cheap and dirty method for making the mundane machinations of life suck less.” He scratches his cheek, replying, “Though, I suppose I shouldn’t…”

“So, it is some sort of potion?” asks Yanidere.

“Hmm? Oh, uh… Actually, it’s more akin to a poison. But, we don’t have to keep talking about…”

Wenlianna states, “Could you make it?”

“What?”

“Wenlianna!?” exclaims Aramellianna.

Wenlianna looks at her with a sincere and serious expression, “Scientific research is all about challenging the known unknown. I now know of something I don’t know. I’d simply like to understand it a little better. Additionally, if I understood correctly, it is something Daniel has drank before, and yet, seems fully functional. Additionally, depending on his Majesty Rikuto, it could be key to Daniel’s absent magic.”

Daniel counters nervously, “I sincerely doubt that, my Lady.”

“Regardless, it was merely a curiosity. Daniel?”

“I… uh.. I understand the basic processes. Though, the appropriate yeasts for brewing for good flavor might prove difficult.” He sighs. “Actually, it could benefit us. Alcohol in general is a pretty good cleaning solution. It’s great against… ah… I suppose you haven’t discovered them yet.”

Wenlianna slams the table to sit up and lean over him, eagerly asking, “DISCOVERED WHAT!?”

“Wenlianna!” Aramellianna is growing impatient, and the Magic Artisan reluctantly sits down. “Pardon me, Mother.”

The Grand Duchess sighs with a smirk. “Daniel, I’ll not allow you to perform anything that endangers my daughter. So, tell me now, this… ‘poison cleaning solution’; alcohol; is it more dangerous or beneficial?”

Daniel sighs. “In the grand scheme, your Grace, certain alcohols have benefits we can’t ignore. Drinking alcohols apparently don’t need to exist, but I would consider the others beneficial.”

She sighs in return. “Very well. In return, I expect any profits to be made will benefit the Stalvaltan family.”

“Of course. Though, it’s a long process, and in the meantime, I’d like to prioritize other projects.”

“I see. Then, for now, you have my blessing and support.” She wipes her mouth with her napkin, having sated her appetite. “Wenlianna, dear…”

“Yes, Mother?”

“I trust you understand how fortunate you are to have met a kindred spirit.”

“WHA-!? I know that!”

Everyone laughs together, and Wenlianna sighs. She laughs as well. It’s a rather warm and wonderful dinner in the end.

**************