Today I couldn't sleep; I spent half the night thinking about what experiment I could do to extract the units of measurement from the International System. For the meter and the gram, I came up with several ideas, but for one of the most important ones the second I couldn't think of anything. I guess using my lovely girlfriend, who always wakes up at the same time every day, doesn't count.
As usual, she woke me up by shoving me so I could open the subdimension door and let her use the bathroom. Breakfast was calm, with Sana teasing Levi and Selena rushing as always.
I headed to the company, where everyone was waiting at the door. Once the new schedule was clarified, I met in private under Levi's watchful gaze with Pudiente. My intention was to pay for the hour out of my own salary, but Pudiente offered to cover it with his, and in the end, we agreed to split it evenly: one quarter Neo, one quarter Pudiente, another the company, and the last quarter me. According to Pudiente, that's the fairest way to do things, since it was a mistake made by two or three of us. It's worth mentioning that Neo doesn't want to take an active role, so he gave me full consent to act.
I returned to the writers' group and quickly reviewed the book they had created. While we were discussing certain grammar explanations, Pudiente arrived after a brief visit to Neo. He asked for money to buy clay. I sent one of the secretaries to handle Pudiente's request.
The book they made was actually pretty good, for a child from Earth in 4th or 5th grade. But even so, we had the issue that people didn't know how to match letters to sounds. I ordered them to make pamphlets on how to pronounce each letter and common words. For that, I asked for help from a few workers in the merchants' group—just in case. I think the ones in administration are a bit posh and snobby, so they might miss the common people's vocabulary, but the merchants know them all.
I went to the office I shared with Pudiente and Neo to think about how to measure the second. (Wait, but all measurements have to be taken at 25 degrees, right? I guess I have to start with the Kelvin degree. Modern thermometers in our world work with two plates made of... That won't work. Maybe an alcohol or mercury thermometer will do. This part is easier. But I'd need a glass capillary. Are there glassblowers in this world?)
I spent several minutes pacing the office back and forth in complete silence, and suddenly I shouted, I know what to do!, Poor Levi, who had just sat on the couch, got startled.
I went out into the city with Levi and one of the girls from the general group. Halfway there, we ran into Pudiente's group. He sent his people to deliver the clay to Neo while the rest of us went to find the only glassblower in the city. And this is supposed to be the second largest city in the kingdom!
― Pudiente ― Excuse me, is Mr. Steve Sticla home? ―
― Mia ― My father's in bed; he had an accident the other day. ―
■ ― I'm really sorry to hear that. Is there anything we can do to help you? ―
― Mia ― What do you want from my father? It's not normal for someone to come offer help. ―
― Pudiente ― Mia, is your older sister at home? ―
― Mia ― No, she's out working in the fields. At least she has a real job. ―
■ ― Don't belittle your father's work. We had to come all the way from the other side of the city because he's the only one who can help us. ―
― Mia ― Of course, you just want to laugh at how my dad's cheeks get all swollen. You're all sons of a. —
■ ― Stop before you say something that could hurt your father. ―
― Steve ― What's all this noise? ―
― Pudiente ― Mr. Emiliano, how are you? ―
― Steve ― Good, good. And your father? I see he finally sold the company. ―
They both talked about Orlan and how good friends they were, about the impossible commissions… They spoke for a good fifteen minutes without realizing I was even there.
― Steve ― But tell me, Pudiente, who is this young man we have here? ―
― Pudiente ― He's the new owner of my father's company, Mr. Hunt. ―
I introduced myself as best I could, and the man started praising me for acquiring the company… he asked how I managed it… and in the end, I had to show him the mark on my stomach…
■ ― I have a job for you, Mr. Sticla. I need you to make this. ― I took out a paper with the drawing of a thermometer. ― It's a new invention of mine not a big deal but I need your help with it. ―
― Emiliano ― Let me see. ― He looked at it from every angle front, back, upright, upside-down. ― This is complicated… and this inner part, is this pure alcohol, dyed red? Hmm… interesting. ― He tried to rub his hands together, but they were bandaged. The moment he touched his palms, he pulled them away quickly, as if he had forgotten they were injured. ― I don't think I can make this… Mr. Hunt, not in my current condition. ―
■ ― Of course, you can't if you don't try. I think I can do something about those hands. ―
I stepped closer to Pudiente, and Levi leaned in to listen as well
■ ― I'll pay for a healer to cure your hands with magic. Send someone to find a capable doctor. ―
Pudiente left the small workshop and began giving orders. Meanwhile, I made myself comfortable in a chair and started talking with the gentleman about his creations… His daughter, Mia, who didn't seem to like me much, still brought us a bucket of clean water and some wooden cups. She asked if we wanted water it had just been drawn from the well…
Since the cups were already on the table, I used some fluid magic to fill them. I pulled water tentacles from the bucket to pour the water. The girl was so surprised she asked me to teach her.
― Live ― Can you use water magic too? ― she whispered in my ear.
■ ― I can use all three types of magic solid, fluids, and combustion ― I said while playing with the water.
After a while, Pudiente came in from outside with a healer.
― Harmi ― Good morning. I'm Harmi, level 5 healer. ―
― Emiliano ― I didn't call any healer. Leave. I can't even afford a small cut treatment… ― he said, getting up from his chair, but I grabbed him by the shoulder and sat him down again.
■ ― I told this little one that I can help. ― I said while ruffling Mia's hair.
Harmi sat in front of Emiliano and carefully began removing the bandages from his hands, little by little.
The wound was very, very bad. I couldn't bear to look at it and stepped outside. Levi came with me.
― Levi ― Are you okay? ―
■ ― Yeah… I… sorry, it just shocked me a bit. ―
After a good while, Harmi came out. In the background, we could hear the father and daughter's joyful shouts.
― Harmi ― I won't lie to you. I used up a lot of mana I had to go up to level 2, which is my limit. And even then, he'll have some scars. Also… it won't be cheap. At least 3 or 4 silver coins… sir. ―
(Whew… 4 silver coins. I was expecting 5 gold or something.)
― Pudiente ― Hunt, that's a lot of money, ― he whispered to me.
(Levi, as usual, had his ear tuned in.)
■ ― Just pay him. Thanks to him, we're going to make a lot of money. ―
― Pudiente ― Are you sure? ―
■ ― Trust me. Give him 5 silver coins and 5 copper for the trouble. ―
Pudiente didn't say anything else and paid the healer. Levi came over to question me, and after all his questions…
■ ― You're here to see what I do, not to question me. Or am I wrong? ―
Levi lowered his head and said nothing more. (My actions may seem strange to him, but that's how it is, and he'll just have to deal with it.)
Emiliano came out of his house afterward to celebrate and picked me up by the waist, lifting me into the air and shaking me with joy.
Between laughter and a few tears from a future great water mage—yes, I can see it—we returned to the workshop.
■ ― The only thing left is for you to try making this. ― I showed him the paper again.
― Emiliano ― That's freshly chewed meat. Give me a second. ― (Freshly chewed meat… not a piece of cake… hmm…)
The man got to work with such energy he forgot we were even there. It was like watching someone in their element. He shaped the glass with a precision that left me speechless he turned it, cooled it, and molded it with a skill that didn't seem of this world. And just as Mia had said, his cheeks puffed out when blowing into the steel tube, but he didn't stop for a second.
While he worked with the capillary tube, I took care of preparing the mixture—the high-purity alcohol that one of Pudiente's assistants brought (incredibly expensive, by the way), and the red dye I had personally requested. Yes, it's pricey, but the thermometer is worth it.
When the piece was ready, I asked Emiliano to make a small drop of glass. On the tip of a metal pick, he melted a perfect droplet. I explained that, once I gave the signal, he would have to seal the tube as fast as possible. I held the thin glass tube with both hands. It was cold. Without thinking, I brought it to my mouth. (Come on, if old scientists licked mercury and touched radioactive stuff, what's the worst that can happen from tasting a little tinted alcohol?)
I gently inhaled, causing the liquid to rise slowly. Once it reached the right level, I plugged the opening with my finger. I showed the tube to Emiliano and gave him a nod.
We moved to the table, I set down the thermometer, removed my finger, and in a split second, he sealed the glass. After that tense moment, I asked him to cool it properly. I asked Mia to bring another bucket of water. Everything was going just as I had imagined.
The girl took a while to return. When she finally came in, she had her head down and a hand pressed to her forehead. At first, we said nothing, but one look was enough to realize she was trying to hide a small bleeding wound.
With some patience, and without pushing her, we got her to tell us what had happened: some kids from the neighborhood had made fun of her, laughing at her father, calling him useless and worse… My blood boiled, but Levi was the first to explode. He slammed the table with a sharp blow that echoed through the workshop. He didn't say a word. He stood up, looked at us, and said:
― Levi ― Close your eyes. ―
We obeyed. I heard him approach Mia, and then I felt how the mana moved through the air. When he let us open our eyes, the girl's wound had completely vanished. We all looked at him, astonished, but he turned his gaze away.
― Levi ― Don't look at me… it was our Lord who healed her… ― he whispered, though he didn't finish the sentence.
I didn't press him. Maybe he belongs to a different religion or an order I don't know. It wasn't the time for questions. I leaned toward his ear and said.
■ ― Thank you so much. I owe you one. ―
The tense atmosphere shifted with that small moment of joy. I stood in front of everyone and, like a medieval physics professor, raised my hand with a knife in one and a bowl in the other. I made a few large droplets rise from the bucket. One by one, I turned them into ice using level 1 magic. I did it slowly, to make it more impressive.
I placed the thermometer into Mia's bowl, right where I had dropped the ice. It marked the exact point I wanted—zero on the scale I had just invented. Then, I moved on to the next step.
I created a small flame above the bucket of water. Levi, faster than me, extinguished it with a flick of his hand.
■ ― Let me do it. It's part of the process. ― I said, but he shook his head.
So he took care of it himself. He heated the water in the bucket until it began to boil. The thermometer marked much higher this time.
Once everything was ready, I proudly explained what this new instrument was that we had just created. Some understood, others didn't but all were amazed. Even Levi, though as usual, he hid it behind his serious demeanor.
And with the care the moment deserved, I stored the thermometer inside the subdimension. It was a first step.
I handed the paper with the thermometer design to Emiliano.
■ ― Emiliano, I need five or six more of these. Do you think we can make them? ―
― Emiliano ― Yes, of course, sir. Right away. ―
■ ― Not right now. I have to go. But what if you come tomorrow to Orlan's company with the tubes, and we finish them there? What do you think? ―
― Emiliano ― Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I'll be there with 20 of those tubes made. ―
■ ― Whoa, no need for that many! Six will be enough for now ― I said with a laugh. ― Here's the plan tomorrow around (8:00), come with however many you've managed to make, and we'll finish them together, alright? Oh, and by the way, Pudiente still needs to register this, so please don't tell anyone about it yet. ― I winked at Mia.― Yes. ―
I turned around, and as we all slowly began to leave, we said our goodbyes—he stood at the door, and Mia was talking to Levi.
Without Pudiente noticing, I walked up to Emiliano and handed him 5 silver coins.
■ ― I think this is enough for today's work, right? Go have dinner with your family and buy them some new clothes, okay? ― I patted him on the back, and before he could say anything, I caught up with Pudiente and nudged him to get going we still had to prepare dinner.
The man shouted a heartfelt thank you through a tear or two.
…
After dinner, I stayed with the general service crew to wash the dishes. Pudiente stayed too, although he didn't want to do anything.
While I worked, we talked about the thermometer and the mayonnaise. We started scheming a plan to add it to the dishes served to the city's bourgeoisie.
Pudiente asked me if I wanted to patent the recipes we'd created and the cooking methods. He called for Neo, and we decided by vote though it was pointless, since we all voted yes.
― Pudiente ― What if we sell this mayonnaise to the rich? ―
He explained his plans for patenting and producing the mayonnaise. He told us he planned to make it in the kitchen with the merchants who are like his personal minions, more or less and sell it in clay jars.
But we refused, and instead proposed doing it in glass jars. He was surprised at first. But after thinking it over for a while, he realized it was the best thing we could do: an expensive product in an expensive container.
In the end, we had no choice but to make another visit to Emiliano. On the way to his workshop, I saw the field laborers returning home; the midday heat was starting to be overwhelming. (At least they're not forced to work in the scorching heat.)
I saw the workshop door was open, so I leaned on the top of the frame with one hand and peeked inside to call out.
■― Helloooo. ―
― Sumi ― Hello, do you need something, sir? ― said a girl of barely 17, who looked tired.
― Emiliano ― Mr. Hunt, what brings you here again? ―
■― I need to talk to you all for a moment, I don't know if it will be possible. ―
We sat at the table: Pudiente, Emiliano, and me. While we talked, Sumi and Mia started cooking some grilled meats.
― Pudiente ― Just as my father recognized your talent with glasswork, we do the same. ―
■― Besides the thermometer, we've come up with another invention that needs glass. ―
― Emiliano ― As long as you leave me the plans, I can make anything. ―
― Pudiente ― Our problem isn't whether you can do it or not. I'll say it straight: we want you to join our company. We can offer you a fixed salary of 5 silver coins a month. ―
Sumi dropped the food preparation and came rushing over, interrupting any negotiation attempts, and whispered something to her father.
After a few moments of silence, Emiliano stood up and almost shouted:
― Emiliano ― It will be a pleasure to work for you all. ―
Then he approached Pudiente to give him a hug, and afterward followed me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw smoke beginning to come from the kitchen, and with a nod, Elena, who was accompanying us, quickly entered to prevent the food from burning. Then she started scolding Sumi for her recklessness…
■― Elena ― She startled and almost ran to stand in front of me. ― What do you think of the girl? Do you think she'll be helpful to the company? ―
Elena pointed to herself with a finger, almost unable to believe she was being asked for her opinion.
― Elena ― I knew her mother, and if she's half as diligent as her, she'll be very useful to us. ―
■― Pudiente, you squeezed her. ― She nodded at me. ― Then Mr. Emiliano and Miss Sumi, we expect you tomorrow at around (8:30) at the company.
― Sumi ― What? Me too? But I already have a job in the fields, I couldn't… ―
― Elena ― You'll shut up if he tells you that tomorrow you're working for him, you thank him and say nothing. Any other job is better than going to the fields. ―
We left them talking while I slipped away with Pudiente and Levi out of sight. We sent Marte, who was also with us, to handle the paperwork for the tartrate. The three of them and Emilio went to the public work guild.
Back at the company, I reviewed the writers' work and, after giving it the okay, we began formatting it for printing. Basically, I told them to rewrite everything, but in rows of 80 characters, including spaces.
While they worked, I saw Pudiente rushing to our office; apparently, the numbers didn't add up to make the payment for the previous month. So, with a little secret help from the supercomputer and a spreadsheet, I redid the calculations, and just as I expected, he was adding them wrong.
Seeing him so confused, I decided to explain another new invention to him: the slide rule. Since the abacus exists in this world, combining both tools would increase productivity and accuracy.
…
When I got home, Selene and Sena hadn't arrived yet, so I set about cooking with Lisa and Hemer. After dinner, I went straight to the room with Selene, and without much thought, we went to the subdimension. There, enjoying the cool air, Neo and Dalia appeared.