Reply Letter

The sky outside was beginning to brighten, and the supplementary lights on the shop roof grew ever brighter.

The "Magic Lamp" Princess Andrea had seen back then was actually sunlight Edward had drawn down from the mountain behind the shop using fiberglass. As an Alchemist, he could make as much fiberglass as he wanted, producing it by the ton every day. But he really could not make a pure white Light Source.

That supplementary lamp could emit a bright yellow light at night because Edward had built an incandescent bulb into it. There was no need to mess around with carbonized bamboo filaments; a tungsten filament would do just fine. And thanks to alchemy, the air inside the bulb had been extracted completely clean. Edward felt that incandescent bulb could last a hundred years without any problem.

Incidentally, the metal tungsten was called Adamantite in this world. Because this world had Magic Power, alloys made by mixing tungsten into steel displayed physical properties far superior to alloys from his Previous Life, leaving Edward utterly amazed. It was just that people in this world only had a superficial grasp of chemistry and physics, making tungsten extraction extremely difficult. That was why Adamantite had become a rare metal comparable to Mithril and gold.

In truth, Edward could have become rich just by selling materials. But he did not want others to grow suspicious of him and investigate his secrets. So he would rather put out the patent for Cement to free himself than make money by selling materials.

Edward brewed a cup of Black Tea, sat down on the tall chair behind the counter, and took out paper and pen to write a reply. Of course, he did not want to send it out immediately; that would make him seem too eager. Letting the adorable Wilson wait anxiously for two days before receiving his reply seemed like a good choice.

He had only written two lines when the shop door was pulled open and a red-haired young man in blue Denim Overalls walked in.

"Hi, Edward." The young man rubbed his freckled nose.

"Hi, Harry. Not driving today?" Edward recognized his childhood companion, Harry, Delton's youngest son.

Harry was two years younger than Edward and had been Edward's little tagalong when they were children.

"I lost my job." With both hands tucked into his side pockets, the young man shrugged and continued.

"A family of relatives came from our hometown in Transylvania. They have no income, so my old man kindly gave them the carriage route I used to drive. Better than going to mine on the West Side. So now I'm unemployed. I came over to look around your place."

Edward looked up at the sky and thought, Whatever I want just appears. Does that mean if I'm ever short a wife, all I need to do is shout at the sky, and you'll arrange one for me?

"Edward, is there something on the roof?"

"Oh, no. Just stretching my neck." Edward hurriedly came back to his senses and continued.

"Harry, how much can you make driving a carriage each month?"

"Five or six silver coins, maybe, but I have to work from dawn till dusk," Harry said.

"Then how about coming to work for me, Harry? I'll pay you seven silver coins a month. We open at nine in the morning and close at five in the afternoon. You get one day off every week. Of course, if you have something to do, two days off is fine too. Lunch is included."

"Really? That would be wonderful. There's no wind or rain in here, it's warm in winter and cool in summer. I'd be willing even if the pay were lower." Harry smiled.

"Then let me make this clear first. If you work as a clerk here, you need to be able to write and do sums. Do you still remember the numbers and letters I taught you when we were kids? Can you add and subtract?"

"Yes, I remember them all." Harry nodded repeatedly. "I used to apply for clerk and bookkeeper jobs at trading houses, but they thought I hadn't attended General Knowledge School and were only willing to hire me as a shop hand. Being a shop hand is so exhausting; I'd rather drive a Rental Carriage."

Edward took out paper and pen and had Harry write a few words. That was enough for him to pass the test.

Then Edward began his first employee training session. He taught Harry how to keep a daily ledger, then led him around the shop and told him the names and prices of all the goods. Finally, he added,

"Go home and tell Aunt today. You can come to work tomorrow."

"No need. I'll tell her when I get home tonight. Let me start work today." When Harry heard that lunch was included, he remembered yesterday's Hot Pot. He could not wait to start working.

Edward nodded. "Then I'll be busy in the back. If anyone comes to repair pots or mend basins and they're in a hurry, press that red button behind the counter and I'll come out. If they're not in a hurry, have them leave it here and come back tomorrow."

"Then you go ahead and get busy, Mage. I'll watch the place for you." Harry grinned.

Edward punched Harry lightly and turned toward the Backyard with a smile. Then he suddenly turned back and added,

"Don't go directly into the Backyard. I have the Defense Magic Array activated there. If anything comes up, just press that red button. We're having lobster for lunch."

Two days passed just like that. Harry became a competent clerk, sitting by the counter and yawning every day. Four or five customers a day was already pretty good. He handled them with ease. Lunch had been lavish these past two days, and Edward's appetite had increased again, which was a normal reaction after advancing. Harry, who benefited alongside him, ate until his belly was round. Edward flipped through the Account Book and did some mental arithmetic. At this rate, he could still make a profit every month after paying Harry's Salary. He was thoroughly satisfied.

Aside from finishing his reply over the past two days, Edward had been tinkering with his vehicle. Having a house and a car was his basic dream. He had achieved it in his Previous Life, although the house had been bought with a mortgage and the car belonged to the company.

Edward had been an old hand behind the wheel in his Previous Life. Aside from buses and specialized construction vehicles, his license allowed him to drive anything. He had driven twelve-speed semis and the legendary Red Light, BMWs and Mini Penguins. He had even ridden motorcycles, tricycles, and electric scooters. He had truly grown numb to vehicles. In his Previous Life, he had driven so much he felt like vomiting. So what vehicle had he never driven? Aside from those absurdly expensive sports cars, there really was one type he had never driven! That was it.

On the morning of the third day, Edward wheeled a gleaming silver vehicle out through the Back Door. By the time he pushed it to the front of the shop, Harry happened to arrive. Edward quickly called out to him,

"Hi, Harry. Watch the shop. I'm heading out."

"Edward, I almost didn't recognize you dressed like that." Harry came over with his hands in his pockets.

Edward wore a fitted brown Leather Jacket with a Furry Collar, and his Leather Hat had a huge pair of Goggles on it. He looked exactly like a World War II American pilot from his Previous Life. He also wore a leather Crossbody Bag of the same color slung diagonally across his body.

"But that outfit really is handsome! Are you going on a date? Is that thing you're pushing a vehicle? It looks so strange." Harry looked Edward and the vehicle up and down.

The vehicle was asymmetrical. It had one wheel in front, another directly behind it, and a third wheel on the side supporting a passenger compartment that was clearly meant for someone to sit in. On the other side were two seats like saddles. The entire body seemed to be made of polished silver, shining as brightly as a mirror. At the front was a large, round lamp. The sky was already bright, so it was not turned on. Above the headlight was something like the handle of a plow, with two pitch-black lines connected to it. The most remarkable part was the Wheels: metal hubs and spokes, with some black material wrapped around their outer rims.

"Yes, I made this vehicle using alchemy. Its name is Sidecar!" Edward introduced his ride with a smile.

Harry curled his lip.

"Edward, you're terrible at naming things. Such a handsome vehicle, wasted on that name. And what material are the Wheels made from? I've never seen it before." A professional's eye always landed on the important details.

"Rubber. Carriages in the Central Lands have already started using these tires. It should make its way here before long."

"People who have studied abroad really are fashionable." Harry looked on enviously.

"All right, this is a test drive. I haven't ridden it before either. Once I get it tuned up, I'll let you take it for a ride too. Giving you one wouldn't be a problem." Edward mounted the Sidecar and started it. A putt-putt sound came from the vehicle, somewhat like a motorcycle engine from his Previous Life.

"One more thing, Harry. I'm going to the Mage Guild. Do you know the way?"

"Take the street west of the Duke's Mansion. Turn directly west from the city gate and keep going. After Fountain Square, you'll reach the Duke's Mansion." The professional offered professional advice.

"Get inside. It's awfully cold." Edward put on his Goggles and swerved his way onto the road. It was not until he reached the city gate that he got the vehicle under control. His singing drifted faintly through the wind.

"Riding my beloved little motorcycle, because it never gets stuck in traffic..."

With nothing much to do today, Princess Andrea came to find Alice after finishing her morning sword practice, hugging her beloved Precious Sword. The two asked a maid for a pot of Black Tea and opened the last box of Cookies Edward had given them.

The girl with wine-red hair sat on a tall chair, swinging her little legs back and forth. As she nibbled on a Chocolate Cookie, she asked,

"Andrea, how is your practice with that sword going?"

"It's still somewhat difficult. This sword only feels natural in the hands of a Sky Knight. They have reached the realm where their Battle Qi endlessly regenerates, so they can spend it freely. Right now, I can only release Battle Qi for two seconds at a time, and I can make thirteen consecutive strikes at most before I need to rest and recover."

"What's your goal, then?"

"One instant. Only then can I fight continuously. I can't aim too high yet, so I'll set my goal at one second first. I plan to master it within this month."

"So who's stronger now, you or Lainhardt?"

"Right now? With this sword, it should only take one strike..."

"Oh..." The girl sucked in a breath. "Could that sword really be that powerful?"

"It is a Semi-divine Artifact, after all. If it couldn't fight above its rank, why would it be called a Semi-divine Artifact? Against a Sky Knight who has only just advanced, one strike would be enough."

"Andrea... We're almost out of cookies..." the girl said with a pout.

The princess smoothed the loose golden strands by her temple, narrowed her eyes, and curled her lips as she looked at her female cousin.

"So?"

"Why don't we go to that guy's place again? Everything he makes is so delicious, so he must have other tasty pastries. And I want him to help me design a pretty dress!" The girl perked up.

The Knight Princess deliberately drew out her words and said with a smile,

"Be reserved—Alice. Do you understand restraint? As a noble, you should have a Lady's reserve. You should make him come find you instead of always going to find him."

"What reason would that guy have to come here? If you never go, maybe he'll never come at all." The girl pouted as she looked at her female cousin.

"Uh..." Andrea's expression darkened. Alice had pointed out the crucial detail she had overlooked.

At that moment, a maid knocked and entered, bowing slightly.

"Miss Alice, there is a gentleman outside named Edward Smith. He claims to be an Alchemist, and says he wants to send a letter..."