Cesar, King of Cerroa, thanked Jin for his lecture and presented him with 10 kilograms of mithril silver. The market value of the gift was 50 million dollars.

Upon receiving the gift, Jin had a flash of inspiration.

Since he was planning to stay overnight in the Kingdom of Selroa that day, he returned to the guest room he had been given and began consulting with Elsa and Reiko.

"I just noticed that magic materials are very expensive, aren't they?

"Well, as I recall, mithril silver is 4 to 5 million tolls per kilo, adamantite is around 10 million tolls, and mithril silver is around 10 million tolls per kilo. Adamantite is about 10 million tolls, and light silver is ......

"That's about 3 million tolls per kilo."

Reiko added.

"Yes. I heard that regular silver is about 50,000 tolls per kilo, so it's 100 times more expensive. I think this is because it is difficult to refine rather than because of the scarcity of magical materials."

The reserves are not 100 times greater.

However, the materials that have become <> are difficult to separate from the ore.

Therefore, they cannot be refined without the use of magic, which makes them expensive.

"Considering the future, I think we should think about cost reduction.

"Yes, I understand.

"But if we cut costs all at once, it will probably confuse distributors, won't it?

"...... sure."

Father, why don't you leave that to the politicians?

Reiko has a point. Jin is an engineer, and it would be better to leave the operation of the system to the experts.

"The best is the one who makes the best, right?"

Jin decided to follow the advice and leave the further work for tomorrow.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next day, the 14th, Jin, Erza, and Reiko left the Kingdom of Celuloa with their hair pulled back by the pleas of King Cesar and many other magecraftsmen to stay longer.

"Shall we continue on to Reinhardt's?"

After the diplomacy the other day, he should have returned to his estate the day before yesterday.

"Hmm. I'd like to see Bertsche and Yuri, too.

"Yes.

After reaching an agreement, <> went to the Shoro Kingdom. They skip over Lake Tosmo and head for the village of Kaltz in Reinhardt's territory.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Welcome, Jin, Erza!

Welcome, Jin-sama, Erza-san.

"Hello, Bertsche. Thank you for the other day, Reinhard.

"Hello, Berthe. ...... Yuri, you've grown up."

She is now sitting on her head and even crawling.

They exchanged brief greetings and soon started talking. They were concerned about Reinhardt's busy schedule.

"Actually, ......"

Jin told them about his hope to increase the distribution of magical metal materials and lower their prices. Reinhardt reacted immediately.

"I understand what Jin is saying. If we are going to do this all at once, we should first transfer it to the national government.

"You mean monopoly?"

"That's one way. For the time being, the national government should stockpile the materials and release them while gradually reforming the distribution system.

"I see."

As expected of Reinhardt, he seemed to have come up with a strategy in an instant.

"I'm sure there are other ways. Anyway, it would be bad for the distributors to suddenly lose their business.

We must avoid mass unemployment, Reinhardt reiterated.

"I understand. Employment is important.

"Yes. It's not up to Jin, but to the government to think about it.

"I see. That's very helpful. Thank you.

Jin thanked Reinhardt.

"By the way, as far as I know..."

"What?"

"Mithril silver is only about one-fifth the size of regular silver. On the other hand, light silver can be mined in fairly large quantities, but it's very difficult to refine.

As a lord, Reinhardt seems to have accumulated this kind of knowledge.

is the old name for aluminum on earth, but on this world it is titanium.

Titanium exists as an oxide such as <>, and if the oxygen bonded to titanium is removed, it becomes titanium (light silver), but this is very difficult to do.

Even on the modern earth, the direct reduction is not carried out, but a two-step refining process is used, though the details are omitted.

However, there is magic in this world, and it is possible to refine the metal titanium by means of a powerful <>.

However, the number of mages who can use this engineering magic is limited, which is the reason for the small amount in circulation (and also the reason for the high price).

"Would it be possible to create a refining device that uses <>?"

"That would be the way to go. Djinn would be easy to make, but be careful how you operate it, okay?"

I know. Thank you."

It is not Jin's intention to make more people unemployed.

"I'll ask Saki a few questions, and then I'll go see His Majesty."

* * * *

After returning to Horai Island through the warp gate of , Jin and Erza visited Saki who was analyzing the debris of the long period planet Moderne.

"Oh Jin, Erza. What are you two doing here today?

"Oh, actually ......"

Jin explains that he is thinking of various ways to reduce the unit cost of metal materials.

"Yeah, yeah, that's a good idea!　Jin has more materials than he can use here in Hourai Island, so he may not realize it, but the lower price of materials is something that researchers can't wish for."

Saki agreed with me with open arms.

"Distribution is one thing, but from an alchemical point of view, I'm glad that the unit price of mithril silver is going down."

Saki also expressed her own opinion. As for Jin, since it is necessary for making Magi alloys, he intends to proceed with this as well.

"Well then, let's try to lower the unit price of mithril silver and light silver."

I will not mention gold and silver.

In a world on the gold standard, a decline in the value of gold would mean the ruin of the economy.

"I hope things will change little by little, but I'm not even a novice in economics."

Jin himself was well aware that he was not a leader of the economy.

Anyway, the direction of the project was decided, and Jin immediately set to work on the production.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Brother Jin, how is your progress?

Erza came to the workshop.

"Yes, it is almost finished. All we have to do now is to put the ore in and test it.

"Well then, I'm ready for dinner.

He looked at his watch and saw that it was already twelve o'clock.

"Oh, it's that time already. Then we'll have the test in the afternoon."

"Father, would you like me to do the test?"

Reiko offered, but Jin stopped her.

"No, I'll do it after lunch. There is no need to rush.

"Yes, I understand."

With that, Jin left the workshop with Elsa and Reiko.