Chapter 12: You’re so doing this on purpose, aren’t you?

“—And that’s why! His research isn’t just about making things usable with low magic power. The real value lies in ‘converting heat into motion’!”

“…Hmmm.”

A few days later.

Lululu-neesama and I were once again visiting King Chichiue.

“Is it feasible?”

“It absolutely is. The minimum viable model is almost complete.”

“How long will development take?”

“If the budget’s approved properly, I’d say it could be done within a few years.”

“What about cost-effectiveness?”

“It’s impossible to calculate. Even a rough estimate puts it at around ten times the national budget.”

Lululu answered Father’s questions crisply and confidently.

Totally different from some certain someone’s “We’ve made a super amazing invention, teehee~!” kind of presentation.

“But even if you say budget out of nowhere… we don’t have the resources…”

“Cut the budget for magi-coaches and enchanted tools. Once the steam engine is finished, we won’t need those anymore.”

“Hrmmm.”

“Besides, didn’t I say I’d chip in from my own pocket? You could sell off one or two of those paintings from your hobby, couldn’t you?”

“D-Don’t be r-r-ridiculous! Those are going to be extremely valuable someday!”

“You’re such a tight-ass.”

As expected, asking Lululu for help was the right move.

She’s sharp and articulate.

“I’m saying this research is worth a hundred times more than one of those paintings.”

She presented clear, objective reasons why the budget should be approved.

Her argument made it impossible to say no—anyone would be convinced.

“Hmmmm, I didn’t realize this research was that advanced…”

“Father-sama, you should try trusting Rishali a little more. She’s got a keen eye for people.”

“Mmh. Come to think of it, she always has.”

Father said that, glancing briefly in my direction.

I gave him a graceful, princess-like bow in return.

“Everyone Rishali’s ever taken a liking to has turned out to be trustworthy. Maybe that’s its own kind of talent.”

“Looks like she’s hit the jackpot again.”

“All right, I understand. I’ll have Juugi gather the kingdom’s engineers and form a dedicated research team.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Officially, make it look like Juugi’s been demoted due to serious health issues. Don’t let other nations catch on.”

“’Kay!”

Listening to Lululu’s arguments, Father finally got up off his metaphorical throne.

Looks like we succeeded in persuading him.

“Well, well… to think there was a goldmine like that sleeping in the research lab.”

“Maybe stop leaving everything to your subordinates and go inspect things yourself now and then, Father.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

After hearing Lululu’s gentle scolding, Father scratched his head sheepishly.

“But you have to start attending society functions yourself too, got it?”

“Ugh!”

He shot that back at her with a smug grin.

And just like that, the Kingdom of Saripa began full-scale development of the steam engine.

---

“And that’s how—‘I’ managed to talk Father-sama around!!”

“Th-thank you so much, Lady Lululu.”

“As expected of Aneue (Big Sister).”

When we told Juugi that the budget had been approved, he began to shed tears.

I was also quietly relieved to have kept my promise.

“For now, we’ll gather around ten people and form a research team. Juugi, you’ll be the team leader.”

“This is… such an honor…”

“But! Your research is now classified as a state secret! Don’t talk about it with anyone outside the team!”

“Understood.”

“I want a progress report within three years. Based on that, we’ll decide on the next round of funding.”

“By your will.”

With this, Juugi’s status was upgraded from “sidelined researcher” to “chief of a classified national project.”

He couldn’t go public with his results yet, but his dream had come true nonetheless.

“Make sure you work hard enough to justify that budget. I don’t want to look like a fool for vouching for you.”

“Of course. I will not squander this opportunity.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Don’t worry, if anything happens, I’ll protect you.”

“I-I’ll do my best to meet your expectations, Lady Rishali!”

And now, he was surrounded and praised by two beautiful royal princesses.

As a man, it must have felt like living a dream.

“All right then! Once everything’s ready, time to set out! Devote your talents to your country!”

“Y-yes!”

“Juugi-san, please make sure to take care of your health. Be extra cautious about the smoke exposure.”

“…Lady Rishali…”

Still, if he pushed himself too hard trying to live up to expectations and died young, it’d be tragic.

Juugi seems like the earnest type—he might overdo it and collapse.

Coal dust is dangerous. He’ll need to take proper precautions.

“Juugi-san, your research will change the world. It will surely reduce discrimination based on magic power rankings.”

“…Yes.”

“But the one who should enjoy that new world more than anyone—is you, Juugi-san.”

Right now, Juugi’s sickly thin frame is probably due to the dust exposure.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he already had pneumoconiosis.

“I’ve arranged for an ample number of healing mages to accompany you. From now on, don’t just work for the nation—do it for yourself too.”

“…”

“This Rishali will spare no effort to support you.”

I said that and firmly took Juugi’s hand.

Lung disease is terrifying. One moment of negligence and it will kill you instantly.

“Let’s make up for all the suffering you’ve endured. Let yourself be truly happy.”

Humans aren’t so fragile that they die easily…

But when the lungs or heart give out, it usually is the end.

“Y-yes… Until now… I’ve lived through such frustrating days…”

“You truly did your best. Finally, the day your endurance is rewarded has come.”

“Just because I lacked magic… even my character was denied…!”

“You are a worthy man. Even if the world denies you, I shall recognize your worth.”

“Uuh… uuh…”

Coal dust doesn’t just affect him—it’s an environmental issue too.

We’ll need to make sure he fully understands how harmful black smoke is.

If we just start building factories without any plan, the entire ecosystem could collapse.

“Y-yes, that’s right! Take care of yourself, Juugi!”

“Y-yes! I will etch your words into my heart, both of you!”

“You promised, all right?”

It seems my warning had gotten through.

With a tearful smile, Juugi nodded firmly.

---

“So… Juugi’s finally been kicked out, huh.”

“About time. Now we can finally do our research in peace.”

And so, the day of Juugi’s departure arrived.

Not a single fellow researcher showed up to see him off.

“Good thing we asked Lady Rishali to persuade him.”

“To think she managed to talk that stubborn mule down—just what you’d expect from Lady Rishali.”

All of his research equipment was carefully loaded up by the kingdom’s soldiers.

Along with a newly assembled research team, he was sent to the “mining town of Coal Town.”

“Ha! To get booted off to a village with absolutely nothing.”

“Juugi can spend the rest of his life rotting in the middle of nowhere.”

“A real shame. If he’d just stuck to studying magic tools, he could’ve become a professor someday.”

The people of this world still don’t understand the value of coal.

To them, the mining town of Coal Town is nothing more than a backwater with a strange local resource called “burning stone.”

“Don’t you ever end up like that fool.”

“Make sure you pick a research theme that actually means something.”

To everyone, Juugi’s transfer could only be seen as a demotion.

Princess Rishali heard the desperate pleas of troubled researchers and exiled Juugi.

That’s how things were understood by the researchers—who weren’t told anything else.

“Lady Rishali… Meeting you, and having you believe in me—I will never forget it, for as long as I live.”

But that mining town? It’s only “rural” for now.

Soon, development will surge forward, and it will grow into a full-fledged commercial city.

“Just a little longer. Please wait for me. I swear I’ll make the kingdom you love—Saripa—prosper even more, with this technology you believed in.”

If the development goes well, the mining town of Coal Town will officially be recognized as territory of the Wett family—Juugi’s family.

And that land will become the most prosperous city in all of the Saripa Kingdom.

If that happens, he might even return as heir to the Wett family.

I was there, at the moment when a genius shifted the course of an era.

“Lady Rishali… Would you allow me one small selfish request?”

That extraordinary genius, Juugi, came up to me just before parting ways.

He hesitated, just for a moment.

“If I may… your hand, please.”

“…Of course.”

Blushing furiously, he said it.

“To my gentle and wise Lady Rishali—I pledge my loyalty.”

Juugi knelt and kissed the back of my hand.

A ritual that, in this world, signifies “lifelong loyalty.”

It was his declaration of resolve as a man of technology.

“I, Rishali, accept your loyalty.”

“…Thank you. I, Juugi, will never forget that I met you────”

This man—he’ll probably have steam locomotives running in no time.

More than that, he may very well invent even more modern systems.

The day the name Juugi, Master of Steam, echoes across the world is surely not far off.

---

“Rishali, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

My older sister, who had shown no expression while I accepted Juugi’s pledge of loyalty—

Waited until he was out of sight, and then tugged my cheek hard.