After receiving information about Parthanium from the Grand Duke, I immediately took action.
I made sure to send a message to the Mage Tower explaining that I would be using my wish token as soon as possible, as well as a detailed explanation of the cup's design and functions.
I was worried that it might take a long time, but as expected, the mysterious magic power did not betray me.
“Miss! Something has arrived from the Wizards Tower!”
Has it been about two days?
I was having tea with Ashley while the Grand Duke remained secluded inside the palace when the long-awaited news made me jump.
"actually?"
"Yes! Huff, huff... here you go!"
Bonita, panting as if she had run all the way, placed a letter and a medium-sized box on the table.
I opened the sealed envelope first.
The message read: “We have accepted your request using your security code and will provide the necessary amount of parthanium.” The message also stated that they sent a sample they produced for testing.
“I knew breaking the pulp was worth the risk.”
Recalling my previous suffering, I smiled with relief.
Then it was the fund's turn.
After removing the soft lining material, I revealed a metal cup nestled inside, exuding an enchanting presence.
“Oh my God, from the outside it looks like any regular cup.”
“I thought its design would be more luxurious because it is supposed to have a magical ability to maintain the temperature of its contents.”
“Haha… this is just a sample. Once the design is finished, it will be much prettier.”
I laughed lightly at Bonita's excited reaction and gently ran my fingers over the surface of the mug.
The slight blue sheen to the outside of the cup was different from the stainless steel cups I was used to.
But somehow, it made it fit the fantasy aesthetic better.
She lifted the specimen with trembling hands, and looked at Bonita and Ashley with a delighted expression.
“Once we engrave an illustration and the Ghost Duke’s signature here, the work will be complete.”
Of course, I still needed to test whether the sample worked properly and complete the design…
Haha, anyway, the finish line is in sight.
I didn't need to produce a large quantity.
Refining parthanium required large initial costs, and limited edition merchandise flourished thanks to its exclusivity.
Releasing too much at once can be counterproductive.
“A reasonable number is 100. Is that appropriate?”
For a moment, I was worried that the number was too small. Then I remembered the chaos surrounding the blackout curtains from earlier.
Influx of requests from readers. The workshop works non-stop.
Those days when I was so immersed in work that I barely found time to sleep.
“…It's supposed to be okay, right?”
I forcibly ignored the anxiety creeping into me, and hugged the cold cup tightly to my chest.
* * *
That day, I hurriedly started trying the cup under the pretext of a tea-time break.
“Okay, let's take a look at this.”
I was holding in my hands a pot of tea that had just finished boiling.
I need to pour the tea and wait a little...
She tilted the teapot, letting the hot liquid flow into the cup.
drip.
Once the bowl was about half full and I was sure there were no signs of contamination inside, I closed the lid.
Now, all I have to do is wait a few hours and check the results.
“Huh, I hope it works out.”
I felt a sudden wave of exhaustion, so I instinctively headed toward my bed.
Then I noticed that my bed was a complete mess.
Scraps of paper from writing letters, books about Parthanium, drafts of Wizard Tower contracts…
It was truly a battlefield that required persistent effort.
She sighed, then tidied up the mess and sat down in the vacated space.
Shortly after, Bonita entered the room carrying a tray of snacks.
“Miss, I made some simple sandwiches.”
“Thank you, Bonita.”
At this point, even eating meals in my bed has become normal.
I took a big bite of my sandwich, and thought to myself.
I'll put the mug aside for now and focus on finalizing the design drawings.
As Bonita removed the empty plate, she glanced at the drawings scattered on the table and asked:
“Oh, did you draw all of these yourself?”
"a little?"
"You're amazing, miss! There's nothing you can't do."
When she heard Bonita's sincere admiration, she let out an embarrassed laugh.
“Bonita, in the hellish Korean corporate world, you either learn to do everything or you won’t survive.”
In a place where people used to joke that accountants would somehow end up being design professors… that joke was based on reality.
An unexpected wave of nostalgia for my past life came over me, so I shook my head and forced myself to focus.
There are many mug design ideas, but which one will be the most practical here?
To make it easier to carry, something smaller—enough to hold one cup of water—seemed like the perfect choice.
But in my past life, I lived on coffee in Venti-sized cups, practically replacing it with an IV drip.
A cup that was too small felt like a waste.
After agonizing over this dilemma for some time, I decided to ask Bonita, who was waiting nearby.
“Bonita.”
“Yes, miss?”
“If you had to hold a cup like this, would you prefer a big cup or a small cup?”
Bonita thought for a moment before answering.
“I think it's small? If you have to carry a big cup, you'll also need a big bag, and that'll be annoying.”
Hmm, she had a point.
Considering the culture of this world, people were not accustomed to walking around with large cups in their hands.
Nobles and commoners rarely carried bags, so a cup larger than a Venti was more likely to be a burden than a convenience.
Using Bonita's input as a reference, I began drawing smaller cup designs.
After only God knows how many drawings, my vision began to blur, so I rubbed my tired eyes.
Outside, the sky had already turned a dark orange color.
“Oh no, how about tea?”
Realizing that more time had passed than expected, I quickly examined the cup.
I took a deep breath, then carefully placed my hand on the lid.
The result was…
“Oh…!”
wow.
Faint white steam rose from the cup, covering my face with a fine mist.
It may even be more effective than the one I used in Korea.
Who would have thought that parthanium, which seemed useless, would turn into a highly practical substance?
I celebrated silently, then raised the glass to my lips.
The reward for patience was always sweet.
After enjoying my tea for a moment, I pointed to Bonita.
“Bonita, can you get me a new piece of stationery?”
“Yes! Immediately!”
After passing the function test, the next step was the official operation of the Mage Tower.
Once I received the stationery, I quickly wrote a thank you note for their quick work and got to work.
Tumbler model functionality confirmed.
Design and external engraving: attached.
The most important part is the quantity.
But...is a hundred really enough?
I settled on this number to ensure uniqueness, but I still had doubts.
As the dilemma itself swirled around like a Möbius strip, I clutched my hair in frustration.
Should I prioritize scarcity or pursue greater profit through mass production?
I frowned and wrote firmly on the letter:
Order quantity of cups: 100 units.
In order to avoid unnecessary workload.
After suppressing my growing anxiety, I folded the letter containing the design drawings and sealed it in an envelope.
“Bonita, can you send this for me?”
“Yes, I'll take it right away!”
When the envelope left my hand, I felt enormous relief as if I had conquered a mountain.
I won't work anymore...
Jingle.
I collapsed on my bed.
I didn't realize that I would soon regret this decision.