The Editor Is the Novel’s Extra

Three Springs (4)

Kleio focused on his champagne as he realized he couldn’t stop them from talking about him. Dione’s beauty standards were still difficult to understand, but Kleio was considerably tall. Recently, there had been growing pains on his knees. However, as a result, it made it easier to move as his physique became more like that of his previous life.

‘And now I can look down at Vlad…’

Kleio, who resembled Gideon, was about two fingers taller than Vlad, who resembled Thelma. On the night he saw Vlad, who was in charge of the trading post of Meridis, his brother had realized he had to look up at his younger brother. The expression he had at that moment was pretty satisfying.

“Well, look at Lei.”

“By the way, could the young master continue with all of your morning training?”

“Ah! Lady Dione, we didn’t do morning training together, only the warm-up and some running.”

“Lei looked like he was going to die, hahahaha.”

“He was crying too.”

“Lippi, Leticia… still, there is that [Reduction] magic I place on you when you suffer from growing pains. Can’t you consider my honor a little?”

“That’s that; this is this.”

“Right.”

As Kleio sat upright, both twins looked like deer in the headlights. Kleio would use his magic to help them deal with the pains of growing every evening.

‘Well, not that I could follow through on that threat…’

“Before I get more drunk, take this paperwork.”

“What is it, Lady Dione?”

“Patent fee settlement documents and receipts for making magic tools. The wine opener was so popular that it’s being used at the newly opened department store in front of the station. Patent fees are also high this year; Mr. Levi was thrilled. Where do you come up with all these thoughts?”

“Luck, I suppose.”

It wasn’t possible to design an air condition or invent penicillin, but he could create a lever-style wine opener. It felt good as what Kleio made for his own needs also earned him some additional pocket money.

“Oh, but what is this momentary portrait made with silver and echo amplifier? Are you not trying to commercialize it? Making a mana stone that can hear sound from afar would be an asset for a sorcerer that could fight.”

Dione could make no excuses, as she cared for all of Kleio’s expenses. She scratched her head and laughed awkwardly. The items she criticized were, in fact, the magic tools that Kleio and Fran had collaborated on. The polaroid camera named Momentary Portrait, and the short-range wireless wiretap named Echo Amplifier, were all items made with the help of Fran’s genius. When Kleio looked at their blueprints, he had no idea of how they worked and had no intention of trying to understand.

‘Only Fran needs to use it, anyway.’

Fran’s ether level was still only 2, and he had no intention of training as a wizard, so he needed magic to correct his abilities. The reason behind his level was obvious. At level 3, wizards had the duty to report their place of residence.

‘That is not possible for him. Maybe, in the very far future… not being a high-level wizard might be good.’

So, without complaint, Kleio had provided Fran with enormous amounts of money and resources.

“I made it all because I needed it, so don’t worry. Anyway, please tell Levy that I am very grateful for always doing things so neatly. I will pay him a bonus, so please take care of it.”

Professor Maria’s book had been a huge hit. Dione’s secretary, Levy, who was in charge of the task, left the Grayer Chamber of Commerce to establish Levy Limited. His primary investors were Dione and Kleio, with his main job being to oversee Kleio’s patents and publication revenue. Dione was still managing the real estate income, but the amount of money going in and out of the other sectors was growing, so that decision was necessary.

‘Fortunately, I was able to write an ether contract with Levy just in time.’

While publishing and reviewing the book, Levy tried to imitate the etheric cycling and developed ether sensitivity. The number of those with ether sensitivity in this world seemed to be larger than previously thought, with most of them living without knowing they had it because it was too weak, and they weren’t trained. It was a fact he realized thanks to Levy, who discovered his abilities over the age of thirty. Even though he was a low level, he was capable of writing an ether contract. Instead of risking his life, like with Dione, it was a contract that heavily obligated monetary compensation. Kleio calculated that Levi, who cared for his three children, wouldn’t violate the agreement.

‘It’s good to have it, but I didn’t know it would be this big.’

Bartleby’s printing house was placed under the control of Levy Limited. Kleio barely bothered with the management aspects, but it was quite helpful that they were always on schedule when printing.

‘Money brings in more money; it seems.’

With the opening of the Lundane Cooperative earlier this year, the land price of Lundane had risen once more. It felt like every day he woke up not knowing how much his fortune had grown. Katarina, whose new hotel was tremendously successful, had announced her intent to purchase the property a couple of times, but Dione had excitedly refused her requests each time. Although Katarina and Dione were in a subtle war, a different relationship was being built with Cel, Arthur, and Kleio. As he considered these things, Behemoth, emptying his water bowl, proudly called out.

“Meow! (More alcohol!)”

Kleio poured more cold champagne into Behemoth’s water bowls with the skill of a seasoned attendant. Behemoth gazed happily at the white foam at the edges of his bowl before lapping it up. Arthur’s eyes narrowed as he scratched at his head.

“By the way, was the cat originally this color?”

“I don’t know. I mean, this isn’t a normal cat.”

Cel narrowed her eyes as she looked down at Behemoth. Her common sense that animals couldn’t drink alcohol was being challenged. Kleio pretended to be unaware of it.

‘He looks like a cat at the very least. He’s so fluffy and cute.’

He’d asked Behemoth before what it meant that the world was divided into nine and what his identity was. Behemoth was unable to speak to anyone for the next week after trying to answer. For Kleio, who always started his morning with Behemoth, it was a lonely time. Afraid of how long he would become unable to speak, he had never asked that type of question again. Perhaps, if one day he became a full member of this world, he might learn. Either way, it didn’t matter much. People in this world were given their own place and calling, becoming the basis for an anxiety-free life.

‘Man is an animal of their environment. Since I’ve been in school, working with these kids, my thoughts have become simpler, and my mental age feels lower.’

The twins were now heatedly discussing school work. Viscount Angellium was a strict father, so the twins had to perform well. With that, Isiel delivered an announcement.

“Considering that the practice has been lengthened, it is said that we only need to take the practical midterm exam for the major subjects. In the case of common and elective courses, attendance is being replaced by the missed assignments. The contents of the assignments…”

The twins, at level 4, Isiel and Cel, at level 5, and Arthur, at level 6, weren’t afraid to take a major exam. However, other subjects made the twins want to cry. Isiel studied until the middle of the night, so she was undefeated, and Cel was unconcerned about her grades, but Arthur… his grades in the writing class were still low.

“Then, what subject assignments should I do?”

“History, Classics, Carolingian, Geography…”

“Ah, Cel, please help me translate Carolingian.”

“No. Do your own homework.”

As far as Kleio could tell, his grades were good enough to avoid compulsory service. Introduction to magic and the practice of magic went well, of course, but Carolinger, history, and geography were all also going splendidly. Originally, he was good at memorizing subjects, which enabled him to do well on the SAT. Now, with Promise, he was functionally an expert. The subject that lowered his grades was still Classics. The classics teacher, Gavin Bard, didn’t expect anything from Kleio, so he just gave him grades so that he wouldn’t fall. For Arthur, he was good at mathematics, but his memorization abilities were a mess.

“Oh, the flowers are so pretty, but we have work to do.”

“Lippi, I want another drink.”

“Me too, Leticia.”

“You guys, you’ll become like that prince and this wizard.”

“I don’t know, Cel! Please follow me.”

“Huh.”

The wind blew through the courtyard, causing the light purple lilac petals to flutter in the air. Dione’s lace hat rose like those petals in the wind, but Isiel was quick to catch it before it flew off. Behemoth, drunk, licked at an olive on the floor while Lippi and Leticia played with him. The liquor was fragrant, the laughter was good to hear, and the sun was bright.

Days like this had come before, and with some luck, they would come again.