It felt like this entire week was going to be about slime. Slime powder was actually quite the complex material.
“I think this ratio is good,” Caesar announced.
After lots of trial and error, we’d finally settled on an ideal ratio of slime powder to charcoal. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of our journey to creating tires.
“I want to fill the tires with air,” I explained.
In order to do that, I first had to make a pump, as well as a metallic valve stem and cap. I thought back to the tires from my previous life as I drew out the details of the parts.
“I see, so this is how you get the air inside.” Once he understood, President Caesar seemed fired up, and he proceeded to make the pump, as well as the valve parts. “You try making the tires,” he instructed. “You need to make them the right size to fit the existing wheel.”
Usually, a bicycle tire was a tube separate from the rim, but for now we were making a solid piece that was attached to the wheel we had. This was a point that could be improved in the future.
I set the metal wheel and valve parts in front of our slime-charcoal mixture, then visualized a tire from my previous life.
“Become tires!” I incanted, pouring a good deal of mana into my casting.
“Whoa, so this is a tire!” Caesar exclaimed while inspecting one. “Let’s try filling it with air!”
I never would have imagined I’d find myself in another world using an air pump to fill bicycle tires. As I worked to inflate the tires, Benjamin suddenly demanded I switch with him, so he took over the pumping.
Man, I have no stamina at all! I thought as I caught my breath.
As Benjamin worked on the tires, I decided to make three more hot water bottles and several needle threaders, since I wanted to bring them with me to the palace on Friday.
“The tires aren’t filling up with air,” Caesar remarked. “We may need to rethink the construction of this pump.”
It seemed like air was leaking from somewhere, and Benjamin was also exhausted.
“Yes, but for now, let’s attach the wheels to the bicycle!” I said.
“We absolutely should!”
The three of us worked together to attach the wheels to the bicycle, then we stuffed the leather seat with some soft slime. We used the hard slime mixture for the brake pads, and we also added some thin strips of leather to the handles.
It’s getting a lot closer to the bicycles I remember!
“Try riding it, Patience,” Caesar encouraged.
Both our president and Benjamin could only waddle forward with their feet, so I hopped onto the bicycle and pedaled it around our clubroom.
“It’s quite good,” I commented.
It was then that I ran out of time. I had to head to Embroidery III, where I wanted to learn some more needle painting skills before I allowed myself to use household magic.
“You could afford to skip your classes just a little bit, Patience,” Benjamin said.
I was completely flabbergasted by his comment. Even if I were okay with skipping class in principle, I actually wanted to take embroidery. It helped me get side jobs, and I enjoyed doing it.
“No, I will go to class!” I responded firmly, then left the club.
Though I’d acted like a diligent student at alchemy club, the truth was that there was a part of me still thinking about other possible uses of slime powder during embroidery class. Not only could it be used for cushions and balls, but if it had similar properties to rubber, then it could also be used to create elastic for use in fabric. If we could turn it into a water-repellent material, we could make capes, tents, and covers for wagons!
“I’ll be giving you a certificate of completion, Patience,” Ms. McNally said.
Shoot! I got so wrapped up in thinking about how to profit from slime powder that I unconsciously used household magic! I’d accidentally finished up my needle painting piece.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. McNally. I accidentally used my household magic. I still have much to learn about needle painting, so a certificate of completion at this point would be problematic.”
Ms. McNally inspected the entirety of the landscape I’d needle painted.
“I have nothing left to teach you,” she insisted. “Also, I wanted to tell you that these needle threaders are amazing. I’ve spoken to the sewing instructor about them as well. Please let the Burns Trading Company know that we’d like them in stock as soon as possible.”
My needle threaders seemed to be quite popular with those who did needlework. I hope they sell well! Of course, I asked for them to be priced affordably, so I’m only going to make a small profit off of each one.
This world seemed tough for both children and women. Needlework didn’t earn you a lot of money, but it was a job that even older women could do, so I had hopes for the needle threaders to be useful for those who would need them.
Convex glasses for the elderly might also be a good invention!
“Ms. McNally, you mentioned before that wives used to embroider their husbands’ surcoats. Is it all right for someone who is neither a wife nor a fiancée to embroider a cape and gift it?”
Ms. McNally seemed to be the type to love anything romance related. She squealed with joy and clasped her hands together like an innocent schoolgirl. Even the other students couldn’t help themselves from listening in on our conversation.
“That is absolutely fine, but if you are not careful, the recipient may think you are fond of him.”
“Um, I was actually thinking of giving a cape to my cousin, but would that be inappropriate? He gives my brothers sword fighting lessons, and I’d like to thank him with a gift.”
The room filled with sighs of obvious disappointment. I didn’t realize people liked discussing romance this much. I guess it’s fair, since there isn’t much in terms of entertainment in this world.
“There is nothing wrong with gifting your cousin with a cape,” Ms. McNally assured me. “Oh, I have an idea! I heard in the teachers’ office that you’re also enrolled in mage track electives. If I recall correctly, there is supposedly a magic circle that grants protection that you can embroider onto a cape. I remember reading about it in a historic tale about knights.”
I hope this historical romance about knights is accurate...
Though I wasn’t sure if it was even real, it certainly would be nice to add a magic circle of protection onto the cape. I also wanted to use slime powder to make it water-repellent! After all, Lord Salius would visit us at least twice a month, and serving him tea didn’t feel like enough of an expression of gratitude.
For Lucene, who sent her daughter’s riding instructor over for the boys, I wanted to prepare a hair iron and a needle painting. I think her husband’s from a port town, so maybe a seascape would be good.
A hair iron alone would probably be enough of a gift for my aunts. Oh, but if they’re going to visit their husbands’ territories, maybe it would be good to give them the slime seat cushions too. I bet their butts hurt during their travels. It’ll also serve as a free sample that can be field-tested.
Over the weekend, I would be delivering the signed contract for hot water bottles and needle threaders back to the Burns Trading Company. While I was there, I wanted to buy some leather, as well as a cheap cape to experiment with a water-repellant slime coating. If the experiment went well, I planned on giving the cape to George, since he also served as our family’s carriage driver. The passengers were fine in the rain, but the driver got soaking wet, so it would be nice if he could have a protective cape.
Since I’d gotten a certificate of completion, I left embroidery and went to find Mr. Kubrick, who taught magic circles. I asked him if there was a magic circle of protection.