“Egads...”
“Unbelievable!” Her audience leaned over the edges of their seats, their eyes shocked wide open.
“Sir Volfred of the Order of Beast Hunters proposed that this material might be viable for impact absorption. Other potential uses include carriage seat cushions, for example. However, a potential problem is that this can only be made with grade-A and B yellow slime, which drives the costs up—”
Dahlia proceeded with a thorough explanation of this new product, while Ivano distributed information packets regarding yellow slime, the market price of its powder, and details about the other components. The company provided estimated prices per square meter of the fabric and for the cushion-sized version, though they were higher than Dahlia would have liked; it would never become affordable to the masses if not mass-produced. She had experimented with lesser quality yellow slime, though her tests made with grade-C and below had turned out to crumble too easily.
“You needn’t worry—the longicollis feather-stuffed cushions that nobles enjoy are easily double this price.” Forto gave a shocking revelation; Dahlia hadn’t expected it based on her experience with longicollis stew.
“Knights will not adopt it at this price.” The former vice-captain had a good point. They were likely to spend big money on shields and armor, but this would be a different story.
“May I, Madam Rossetti?” With permission, Guido took the sample, then Dahlia placed another two on the table for him to compare. “I would like to test out what Volf had said about it being good for shock absorption, Madam Rossetti. Would it be fine if I potentially damage these?”
“Not a problem; I have more.”
Guido took the cushion-like model and squeezed it a bit before handing it to his attendant. “Jonas, strike it hard.”
From the corner of the room, Jonas brought a simple table he had already prepared, onto which he placed the yellow slime cushion. “Excuse me.” Thwump! He sunk his right fist into it. He did not pull his punch, yet the material came out unchanged. The only thing that changed was his brow, which furrowed.
“Excuse me,” he said again, bringing the table back. Jonas removed the glove on his right hand, then slammed his fist down again. Thunk! Dahlia tensed up at the sound, but the cushion rebounded to its form. Jonas grimaced again. “It is rather durable.”
“Very interesting. Allow me to try it out as well.” Something must’ve struck a chord with Guido, and he, along with all the other men aside from Ivano, lined up to smack the material. With how springy it is, it shouldn’t have hurt their hands. It left everyone with furrowed brows, but maybe it was etiquette or something that noblemen all had to suffer the same way; Dahlia could but watch in silence.
Thwomp, thud! Amid the thunderous punching, Lucia tugged at Dahlia’s sleeve. “Hey, Dahlia, this might be good as a seat cushion, but it would also be comfy as a pillow.”
“Wouldn’t it be too stuffy?”
“I think it’ll be okay if you make the surface bumpy and throw a zephyricloth cover on it. It might work if you mix in regular pillow material too.” A brilliant idea—Lucia had come up with the memory foam pillow and a way to make it work with the materials of this world.
Jonas and Bernigi returned to the round table. “I agree that this material will do wonders combined with armor.”
“Might you mean to line the inside of armor?”
“Yes, correct. It would work as padding for the elbows, knees, and buttocks as well. If made replaceable, then a less-durable version would be viable as well.”
“Mm, good thinking. It could line the backs of broad shields too.”
“Oh! It’d be really good for padding the chest and buttocks for women, as well as shoulders for men—people can enhance their features this way!” They were apparently speaking Lucia’s language too. “As is, it would be fine for the buttocks and shoulders, but it might be better if it’s stiffer for menswear. Make it softer for the chest and it’d feel just right. Then again, I might have to sew it on some garments, put it on, and feel it for myself...”
Lucia was having fun—perhaps too much so—talking to herself; it was Dahlia’s time to tug on the couturier’s sleeve. “L-Lucia, maybe you could save this talk for later...” It wasn’t as though she was wrong per se, but talking about this kind of thing out loud here might make her too conspicuous; Dahlia would rather Lucia save it for when they conducted the practical experiments later.
“Heh heh, it feels like a slime, but I could squish this all day and it wouldn’t burn my hand. It’s so wonderful, I would want to cover my room with this.” Idaea, diagonally across from Dahlia, had been enraptured too. Maybe she’d like a mattress made of this material.
“The texture of this material would be good for supporting parts of the body that were lost to injuries or sickness,” Bernigi noted.
“I see. That would certainly be feasible,” Guido agreed.
“This should keep the body warmer than stuffing it with cotton. Old injuries ache in the cold, you see...”
“Oh, yes, the cold of winter is indeed quite troubling. I would enjoy it as well,” Jonas added.
Healing magic indeed didn’t work on injuries that were too old or on illnesses. However, the thought of using this material for medical purposes had never crossed Dahlia’s mind; a little upset at herself for being shallow, she quietly listened to their conversation.
Bernigi leaned over to Guido. “Times sure have changed. Back then, we used to say that one would know during a dance.”
“Erm, is it that obvious?”
“By the way they move, it is easy to tell whether they are the genuine article, and it is even more apparent up close. But with this material, no one would be the wiser.”
Hold on. What are they talking about? The two men were trying their best to whisper, but their timbres meant their voices carried far too well. This topic had Lucia engrossed, however. Meanwhile, Idaea had a deathly smile as she kept squeezing the cushion—one might have gotten the wrong idea.
“It seems the age of knowing by feel is over.”
Sitting next to Dahlia, Ivano coughed into his empty teacup.
Guido had the right idea changing topics after that summary. “Now then, I believe we have gained a good understanding of what we are dealing with. From here, we shall split into two groups—the production side and the business side of the matter. The production party will be heading to the workshop, and it consists of Madam Rossetti, Head Manager Fano, and Chief Nicoletti. We will need someone to show them the workshop as well as demonstrate some weapons, so please attend them, Jonas.”
“Understood, my lord.”
“Would you mind if I joined them, Guido? I have no head for business, and I should like to see the weapons as soon as possible.”
“By all means, Lord Bernigi.”