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When I asked about the patent thing that had caught my attention earlier, I learned that the Empire also had a system granting inventors exclusive rights to use their inventions for a certain period of time.
The term was ten years. It had originally been only three, but had gradually been extended over time.

Apparently, this system was established thanks to the fifth Duke of Jurnova, Vasily, who persuaded the emperor of his time to create it. Back then, he had invited a renowned inventor from another country to Jurnova lands, where the man’s inventions greatly improved mining and ironworking. To persuade him to stay permanently, Vasily had a law enacted as part of a generous package of privileges, guaranteeing the inventor exclusive rights to his creations.
Since no other countries, including the inventor’s homeland, had a patent system at the time, it made perfect sense that he would want to remain in the Empire, where his rights were protected. A clever strategy indeed.
Though it does make you feel how desperate they must’ve been.

“However, registering under this system doesn’t always work to one’s advantage. You’re required to disclose the manufacturing methods and principles when registering, meaning you reveal everything about how it works. Once the term expires, everyone can freely copy it.”

Ah, that’s the same as patents in my previous life! I remembered learning that the purpose of patents was both to protect inventors’ rights and to encourage innovation by making their discoveries public and widely usable.

“Consult carefully with the craftsman and Daniil to decide whether a ten-year monopoly is worth it.”

Daniil—Daniil Rygal, the Jurnova family’s legal advisor. I’d heard his name often, though I’d never actually met him.

“Yes, thank you, Onii-sama. I’ve heard that Lord Daniil is an exceptionally capable man. I’d very much like to seek his advice.”
“Is there something in particular you’re concerned about?”
“I’m thinking of establishing regulations for the workshop, following the example of our ancestor Duke Vasily, to attract good craftsmen. Rules not just for those who work, but also for me—the employer—to abide by. Regarding working hours and pay, for instance… I want to prohibit excessive working hours, guarantee a minimum wage, and provide bonuses or profit-sharing when the workshop earns surplus revenue. I intend to make these conditions explicit in a written contract. I’d like to consult Lord Daniil to ensure none of this conflicts with Imperial law.”

The story about the fifth Duke gave me the idea, but as a former corporate slave, I couldn’t help wanting to set up proper work regulations and employment contracts if I was going to become an employer.

In my previous world, there had been a debate once—“Who does a company belong to?” The shareholders who provide capital? The employees who work there? Or the customers?
I think the practical answer had already been clear back then: companies belonged to the shareholders. The ones with money held all the power. And that power imbalance only kept growing, especially in the West. Even the structure of society itself was slowly reshaping to favor the wealthy.
But when I first heard that question—“Who does a company belong to?”—I remember thinking, *Why even debate it? Isn’t the answer obvious?* It should belong to all three. Shareholders, employees, and customers each have their own rights and obligations, and a company should exist as a balance among those forces.

And yet, despite thinking that way, I ended up as one of those overworked employees discarded and left to die. Maybe that’s exactly why now, I want to build an organization where that balance exists. To avenge my past life, in a way! Even if it’s… well, quite far from Edo or Nagasaki! ¹

In this world, employers have even more power than they did in my previous one. That world had centuries of progress establishing workers’ rights.
Still, it’s not as though workers here have no rights at all. From what I’ve overheard while helping in my brother’s office, laws and customs offer at least *some* protection. I’d like to ask an expert about it properly.

“Do as you see fit. Duke Vasily himself would surely praise you. I too wish to see what results your experiment yields. Your ideas are truly splendid.”

Aleksei smiled.
Forgive me, Onii-sama—it’s not my idea, it’s something people in my past life argued about.

“…It’s been only four months since you first entered the society, and yet you’ve already become an irreplaceable member of the ducal house—not just to me personally, but to all of Jurnova. You’ve contributed so much to our work, and more than that, your kindness and affection have brought me such joy. I could never thank you enough.”
“…”

Oh no.
That came out of nowhere. I’m shaking… ahhh, I’m so happy!

“Onii-sama… your words mean more to me than anything.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”

Then Aleksei’s expression changed, becoming serious.

“—It’s been not quite a year since I inherited the title of duke. There is still much to be done, but there is something I’ve long wanted to undertake once things settle down. It’s something our grandfather once sought to begin, though he passed away before realizing it. It could be called his legacy—and I intend to carry it on. In time, it may become a grand enterprise that will require the full strength of Jurnova. …Will you lend me your aid?”
“Of course, Onii-sama! To join you in such an endeavor would be the greatest honor. And since it is something inherited from Grandfather, I’ll gladly devote myself to it.”

If it’s something my brother wants to do, I’ll support him unconditionally. And something passed down from our grandfather—another grand project? Sounds like the kind of Project Something dream I *live* for.

“Aaron.”

When Aleksei called, the mine overseer, Aaron Kail, promptly stood up. He had arrived to replace Khalil, holding in his hands a fine leather folder.

“My lady, please take a look at this first. It is a paper written by your great-uncle, Sir Professor Isaac.”

He presented it with ceremonious care. Aaron, who looked every bit the scholar, was a mineral enthusiast and seemed to revere Great-Uncle Isaac, who was a mineralogist himself. For him, his great-uncle’s papers were probably something like holy scripture.
Still, “first,” he said—but this paper alone is quite a hefty one…
Ah, and the contents too. Full of technical terms—definitely the serious kind.
But I’ll do my best. I’ll pick out what I can understand and piece it together somehow.

For the time being, the title reads *“Sustaining the Activation of Magic—On the Contained Magical Power of Prismite and the Use of Magic Circles.”*
I was told that prismites are believed to be minerals condensed with magic power.
And magic circles! Romantic as they sound from the perspective of someone from my previous world, in this world… Well, they’ve been studied time and again, appearing in most books on magic control. But since they require a lot of time and effort for very little amplification effect, they’ve practically fallen out of use.

But what if this is about using the magic of prismites instead of human magic? With magic circles? Is that even possible—how would that work?
Oh, right—the treasured sword of Duke Sergei, the first lord of Jurnova. It’s inlaid with prismites, and when held by someone with magic power, the blade’s weight-reduction enchantment activates. That means, already about four hundred years ago, there existed technology that made use of prismites.
However, that sword’s activation condition depends on human magic and only functions while being held. But if one could sustain such activated magic through a magic circle and prismites—that’s incredible, isn’t it?

‘Chapter One: Examples of Prismite Magic Use.’
Starting with Duke Sergei’s sword, it lists numerous cases throughout the Empire where prismites’ magic power was utilized. Amazing—how did he find so many? Great-Uncle Isaac must have been a fieldwork fanatic.

‘Chapter Two: The Effects of Magic Circles.’
Ugh… tough going for me. I can’t follow all of it. But I do understand the conclusion: though magic circles were mainly researched for amplifying magic power, if one can continuously supply magic to them, it’s possible to sustain already-activated magic through the circle.

‘Chapter Three: Connecting Prismite Magic and Magic Circles.’
Right, this is the key part. When a human channels magic into a magic circle, their own power flows into it, allowing the circle’s effects to be added to their magic. But how do you link the magic within prismites to a circle?
…Ah, by incorporating the stones directly into the circle. It turns out there are specific flow points where the magic enters; if you precisely set the prismite at one of those points, the stone’s magic can be supplied to the circle.

‘Chapter Four: The Practice of Prismite Magic Circles.’
The actual conditions for activation—wow, holy smokes, the amount! You need this much prismite for that?!
And the quality, too. Apparently, it’s best if the condensed magic is of the same type and highly pure. Gathering that many high-purity prismites of matching type…
And the circle itself is massive. Who’s even going to draw all that, without a single mistake…?

But, I’m starting to piece things together—
The meaning of extracting and sustaining magic from minerals.
This—this corresponds to something that once changed the world.

Ah, my hands are trembling. What an unbelievable thing.
This will, without doubt, change the world.

Ekaterina lowered the leather folder onto the table. Her trembling hands made it clatter faintly against the surface.

This is—an industrial revolution.