Chapter 14 - Foaming Pump Bottle
Dahlia replaced the magic stone in the magic lantern and hung it in the workshop.
It was still raining outside.
The magic lantern was said to be the first magical tool her grandfather had created.
Instead of oil, it used a fire magic stone, and both the lantern itself and its performance were made more compact and efficient. With just one magic stone, it could last for long periods, making it especially useful for traveling or night watch duties.
When her grandfather first made it, oil was cheaper, but with the widespread use of magic stones, the maintenance costs were now about the same. The purchase price of an oil lantern was cheaper, but considering safety and maintenance, the magic lantern was favored, with people using them accordingly.
The field of magical tools most developed in this country was lifestyle-related magical tools, which Dahlia considered akin to "home appliances."
These magical tools related to home appliances had rapidly advanced since her grandfather's time, likely due to research and widespread use of magic stones, as her father had said.
Dahlia laid out various parts on the workbench and began organizing her thoughts, jotting notes on off-white paper.
In this country, paper made from plants and writing instruments resembling pencils were somewhat expensive but commonly available. The writing tools had a thin charcoal core in the center, with a hard paper covering the outside.
While contracts were traditionally written on parchment, Dahlia had heard from the Merchant Guild that the use of paper documents had recently increased.
Since the day after her engagement had been broken, Dahlia had been thinking about creating a foaming pump bottle for liquid soap.
It wasn’t a magical tool, but it offered a bit of nostalgia and a chance to unwind, so she decided to make it.
The main components of the foaming pump bottle included the container itself, the push part on the lid, the lid, and the pump attached to the lid.
By pressing the lid, pressure was applied inside the container, forcing the liquid through the pump, then through a mesh filter to create foam, which was then pushed out. The mechanism also required a spring to return the pressed portion back to its original position.
Fortunately, she had disassembled and reassembled objects in her school lessons, so she remembered the basics. Even after joining a company, she had seen designs for foaming pump bottles, so she decided to try making a prototype.
As she began working, Dahlia was acutely aware of how convenient magic was in this world.
The hardness and shape of the components of magic tools could be altered to some extent through magic.
There were various types of metals, including those from her previous life, as well as mithril, magic silver, and orichalcum.
Although plastic didn't exist, there were materials from monsters such as slimes and krakens that could serve as substitutes.
Dahlia had learned the basics of combining these materials in her magical tools course at the high academy, but unexpected combinations and processing often proved to be highly effective.
The process of trial and error, of finding the answers she was looking for, was something Dahlia found utterly enjoyable.
She made parts, adjusted them with magic, checked the design, and assembled them, all while taking notes.
The rainbow-colored light that appeared during processing, and its distinctive glow shone repeatedly in the workshop at night.
She disassembled, rebuilt, and adjusted, repeatedly taking notes, all while working mindlessly.
By the way, Dahlia’s magic power was considered to be somewhat above average for a commoner.
This was likely due to her ancestors, who had worked as magical toolmakers, and her mother, who came from a noble background.
However, Dahlia had never known her mother’s face.
Her mother had married her father almost by force, returned to her family to give birth to Dahlia, and never returned. Dahlia was sent back to her father, and that’s how she ended up where she was now.
While her magic power was higher than most commoners, it was considered average at the high academy and could never compare to that of high-ranking nobles’.
After hearing about the flashy magic used by mages, she had often thought that she wanted to possess magic cheat powers since she was reincarnated.
However, Dahlia did have a special ability: she could maintain a steady, weak output of magic for long periods. This was extremely useful for creating and adjusting small parts and made her well-suited for becoming a magical toolmaker.
She was deeply grateful for this now.
As she repeated her trial and error, time seemed to fly by.
She had struggled with adjusting the pump and spring, and by the time she finished, it was almost dawn, but she had managed to create two prototypes.
The only remaining task was to test the foam consistency in the bathroom by adjusting the liquid soap concentration and making further tweaks as needed.
Dahlia took a break and reached for the glass of wine she had set on the side table.
The wine had grown lukewarm.
On her way back after returning the carriage, she had intended to buy red wine but had ended up purchasing white wine instead.
As the wine slipped down her throat, she remembered the man who had been enthusiastically discussing magic swords.
Although it had only been a few hours, talking with him had been very enjoyable.
She found herself laughing as she replayed their conversations in her mind.
If she had been a man, or if Volf had been a woman, she was sure they would have exchanged contact information.
The chances of meeting him again in the vast royal capital were slim.
Even if they did cross paths, with his vision still blurry, he wouldn’t recognize Dahlia as Dahli.
Thinking they would likely never meet again, Dahlia quietly prayed for his recovery.
"...I hope Volf-san’s eyes heal properly..."
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