On February 15, Jin, Erza, and Reinhard were at the advanced workshop in the Imperial Palace of Shoro.

They were there to report to the queen on the completion of the . She was accompanied only by her knights Reiko and Edgar.

Reiko is carrying the prototype, and Edgar is carrying the ore for testing.

The advanced workshop with them is the most important research workshop in Miyagi, and is usually closed.

It is used for special events such as this.

"Jin, Erza, Reinhard, welcome!"

"Jin-dono, I've heard a little bit about this. Is this the magic tool of refining?"

In attendance are Shoro Chancellor Jung Forss von K?bsler and..,

"If this is mass-produced, it will be a great thing.

Degauz Furt von Manischlas, Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire.

"This is a prototype, so it is small, but if we make a bigger one, the production volume will go up.

The prototype is a 60-centimeter square cube, large enough to fit on a workbench.

The upper surface was mostly ore, with an outlet for the refined metal at the bottom of the front side, and an outlet for the non-metallic components on the opposite side.

"Ummm, would you let me try it out?"

"Yes, of course. Edgar, please.

Yes, Master Jin.

He takes out the ore he has prepared with that intention.

"You don't have to break it up into small pieces, just large enough to fit in this slot.

This time, he prepared an ore the size of his fist.

This is an ore containing light silver. Now let's put it in.

He puts the ore into the slot.

"One is too little, so I'll put it in ......."

Jin puts 10 ores in total,

"I'm going to activate it."

He presses the push-button. < is so that non-mages can use them.

Then the magic tool starts to move. .......

A minute later, a piece of light silver about half the size of a fist was refined and produced.

"Oh!"

From the other side, 10 pieces of are ejected.

"Only the light silver has been extracted from the ore and smelted.

"Amazing!"

The ore used is very similar to what is called on Earth. The main component is FeTiO3, a mineral composed of oxides of iron and light silver.

The light silver content is about 10 percent by weight. It is the most common ore of light silver in the world.

On Earth, ilmenite is collected in the form of sand, but on this world it is obtained as a ragged block of rock.

The Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Degauze, was looking at the refined light silver with a keen eye,

"It is of excellent purity," he said with a small sigh.

he said with a small sigh.

After these amazements had subsided a little.

"So, what do you want to do with it, Jin?

the Empress asked Jin.

"Yes, Reinhardt has advised me that if we put it on the market, the price of the material will plummet and the economy will be in turmoil. ......"

"Hmm, that is true."

The Prime Minister nodded in admiration.

"So I have come to the conclusion that it would be better to leave the matter to the government.

"I see."

The queen nodded.

"So, is it possible to make this for other metals?"

"Yes, it is possible. I am thinking of making one for mithril silver and adamantite.

"Hmm, magic materials. It might be a good idea.

It would be better to sell them exclusively in the country in the beginning.

"Yes, that's right. Then we can lower the price little by little.

Yes, we also need to give priority to the public development sector to get cheaper materials.

"I don't think it will have much effect on the unit price of mining."

The heavyweights immediately begin discussing the issue.

Just as they are about to begin, they stop talking.

"Let's discuss this in the conference room.

I agree.

"I agree." "No objections."

Then they turn to Jin and the others.

"Jin-dono, thank you for this wonderful development.

Leave the operation to us.

"I hope that in time, the nations will also benefit."

The Prime Minister, the Minister of Magical Technology, and the Empress were respectively the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magical Technology, and the Empress.

Jin did not want this technology to be monopolized by only one country, so he was relieved to hear the words of the female emperor.

"Then I will leave it to you.

"Yes. I will let you know the prize later.

With a bow, Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Reiko, and Edgar left the advanced workshop.

Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Reiko, and Edgar left the advanced workshop.

"Jin, it looks like it's going to work out."

Reinhardt said to Jin on the way back from Miyagi by .

"Ah, I guess Reinhardt was right, it's a good thing we talked to Her Majesty the Emperor."

"Yes. I didn't even think about the ...... miners. You're really great!"

"That's for sure."

The price of ore varies a little with rarity and ease of mining, but that's about it.

Gold and silver are expensive because of their rarity, while iron and copper are cheap.

The unit price of light silver ore, < (= ilmenite), is lower than that of iron. This is because light silver ore is brittle and crumbles easily, making it easy to mine.

This is why light silver becomes expensive at the refining stage.

"So if the price of light silver falls and demand increases, the demand for light silver ore will also increase, and as a result, mines and miners will be enriched."

Reinhard explained a little happily.

"I see......... I guess lowering the unit price of materials has a lot of effects on the surroundings."

"That's the way it is."

While they were talking, arrived at the village of Kurtz in Reinhardt's territory.

"Well then, Jin, Erza, see you later."

"Yes, see you later."

"Take care, brother Rai."

The ship carrying Jin and the others soared into the sky again.

"Well, let's head back to Horai Island. I'm sure the old man is tracking what the survey team from the old Leonard Kingdom is doing there.

"Interesting."

Erza agrees, so <> speeds up and heads for Horai Island.