Chapter 4: The Tutor

It was a few months after it was revealed that I had been granted the Production Skill. A certain elderly woman visited. “Hello, William. My name is Erica.”

The smiling Erica was the Production Skill tutor my Father had invited. The Production Skill is a slightly rare Skill, and while there were craftsmen with the Skill within the territory’s workshops, there apparently weren’t any experienced enough to be a teacher.

Teacher Erica had led a well-known workshop in the Royal Capital but had recently ceded her position to successors and retired. My Father had reportedly heard about this through others and earnestly begged her to come. I am very grateful for his thoughtfulness in arranging for me to be taught by the best person possible.

“Well then, let’s start learning the Production Skill today.” First, she taught me what a Skill is and what magic is. According to Teacher Erica, the core of the Production Skill is the magic that generates objects. As the Skill grows, related magic will also be learned.

I was taught that magic power resides inside the body, and using it to interfere with the world is what magic is. We started by feeling the magic power inside the body. As the Teacher guided me, I felt something overflowing from the area around my stomach. Is this magic power? I also felt my body getting warm and cozy.

And finally, the Production Skill practice began. “Now, let’s combine this wood to make a small chair for a doll.” Various types of wood brought by the servant were placed before me. “Watch carefully.”

When Teacher Erica concentrated, the area from her wrist to her hand was enveloped in warm light, and an intricate magic circle floated above her palm. Oh, it looks like the magic I saw in anime in my previous life. One of the pieces of wood was also enveloped in the same warm light. And when the light vanished, a small chair appeared.

“In this way, you can skip the manufacturing process and instantly create a finished product.” I see, that’s incredibly convenient. “However, the Skill will not activate properly if you do not understand the structure of the thing you are creating. Furthermore, to make a good object, it is essential to have a firm image of the finished product.”

“Image?” “Yes. Imagine who will use it and how they will use it. I believe the Production Skill is the ‘Skill of Giving Form to Thought‘. The more specific and strongly you think, the better the resulting object will be.”

‘Skill of Giving Form to Thought,’ huh? The idea that one’s thoughts can be reflected in crafting is a dream-like concept. Although my memory is vague, in my original world, I think I was just chased by quotas and forced to sell products. No matter how hard I worked, nothing remained in physical form, and I hardly remember being thanked by customers. That’s why I wanted to do crafting that leaves a physical form when I reincarnated.

The fact that this Skill allows me not only to create something physical but also to think of the user and have that thought take shape is truly wonderful. But according to the Teacher, most people can’t clearly visualize it at first. “It is natural not to be able to do it well from the start, so do not worry if you fail.”

I closed my eyes and concentrated, trying to visualize the finished product exactly as the Teacher had taught me. I imagined the same chair Teacher Erica made in my head. The magic power overflowing from deep within my body gathered at my fingertips. Opening my eyes, the area from my wrist to my right hand was wrapped in light, and a magic circle floated above my palm.

The magic circle floating and glowing in the air is very beautiful. I can’t quite believe I can cast this. “My, to activate the Production Skill right from the start, that’s amazing!” I was happy that the Teacher praised me. I never used to be praised like this in my previous life.

And when the light vanished, a chair for a doll had been created there. “You did very well.” The Teacher praised me. I was glad I managed to make it well, for now.

“Next, try making whatever you want.” “Understood. I’ll try.” Even when talking about chairs, there are various kinds. What came to mind was an antique-style chair I saw in my previous life. Thankfully, I remember it clearly.

Next, I imagined who would use it and how. I want my gentle Father and Mother to sit in a cool, elaborate chair design. The chairs they currently use are made of good wood, but the design is a bit simple. I imagined the two of them sitting in an elaborate, antique-style chair. Can I do this?

I concentrated on the image and activated the Production Skill. My fingertips began to glow again, a magic circle floated up, and warm light enveloped the wood. When the light vanished, an antique-style chair with elaborate decorations, just like the one I saw in my previous life, appeared. I did it! It’s exactly as I imagined.

“Oh my! To be able to create such an elaborate chair! And one that is sized for a person to use.” Teacher Erica was surprised when she saw the chair. And after checking the chair from various angles, the Teacher nodded deeply. “It is a marvelous piece of work. You possess outstanding talent.” I felt a little shy. I was never praised like this in my previous life.

I tried making it one more time, and the exact same object was created. Good. It wasn’t a fluke. Furthermore, I felt like I was able to create it more easily than the first time.

I was wondering what to make next when I heard hurried footsteps and voices from outside the room. “Is it true that Will made a chair?” “Oh my, dear Will might have talent, mightn’t he?”

It seems it’s my Father and Mother. Did a servant inform them? Even so, they both came to see me despite being busy. My parents rushed into the room and immediately spotted the chair.

“Teacher, is this splendid chair the example you created?”

“No, it was made by your son.”

“What, Will made that?”

“My, what a wonderful design. It’s an incredibly elaborate construction.”

“Your son’s talent for the Production Skill is marvelous. I cannot believe this is the first chair he made based on his own image.” My Father and Mother looked extremely happy.

“May we take a closer look?” (Both speak) The two of them approached the chair and began talking, saying things like, “It looks like something made by a veteran craftsman,” and, “It really is well-made.”

The chair was originally made because I wanted my parents to use it. Although I felt timid, I mustered my courage and said, “If you like, I would like to present this chair to Father and Mother.”

“Can we really take it?” “Thank you, dear Will. I will use it carefully.” Yup, I’m glad I took the plunge and said it.