Chapter 1:If It Doesn't Exist, I'll Just Make It.

Chapter 1: If It Doesn’t Exist, I’ll Just Make It.
“…It’s hot.”
The words slipped out of my mouth unbidden, and the paper in my hand fluttered slightly.
Letting out a sigh — I’d lost count of how many by now — I gazed down at the blueprint spread across my desk.
“At this rate, I’m not going to come up with any good ideas…”
Things that were completely ordinary in my past life simply don’t exist in this world.
So if they don’t exist, I’ll just have to make them myself.
That’s the mindset that led me to pursue becoming a magic tool artificer — but still…
“Up until last year, a fan was enough to stay comfortable, but this year, I get the feeling that alone won’t be enough to get through summer…”
Incidentally, the reason this world even has something as groundbreaking as an electric fan is thanks to my grandfather.
Fifteen years ago, the device he invented spread like wildfire, and now it’s become so widespread that not just nobles, but even commoners’ households have one.
“Is this summer just unusually hot… or is it global warming?!”
No, wait — this isn’t Japan, let alone Earth.
There’s no way that’s actually a thing here.
Come to think of it, after Grandpa invented the fan, he kept improving it — adding adjustable airflow settings, making it quieter, and so on.
But even so — a magic tool that actually produces cold air still doesn’t exist.
…Strange, isn’t it.
If you can generate wind, it seems like you should be able to lower the temperature too.
If only I had something like the air conditioner from my past life — something I relied on so heavily back then — this summer could be comfortable too.
…If I had one?
No.
Since I don’t have one—
“Guess I’ll just make one, then…”
If I apply the same magical circuitry used in the fan, generating cold air itself shouldn’t be too difficult.
The real challenge is temperature regulation.
If all I wanted was to blow out cold air, that would be achievable with current technology. But that alone would end up over-cooling the room.
“To keep things comfortable, I’ll need to maintain a consistent temperature…”
I studied the blueprint further.
But still—
“This control magic circle is the tricky part…”
No use agonizing over it forever. Let’s start by putting something together first.
For a room this size — about the size of this workshop — a single small magic core should be enough. Well, if it’s not, I can always adjust later.
A small magic core also means lower consumption. Should be perfect for a prototype.
Now then, the real issue is the main unit.
“Probably easiest to shape an iron plate — easy to work with — into a box form…”
The air conditioners from my past life were the kind mounted on walls.
But this is the Marquis House’s mansion, located in the royal capital. I can’t just go drilling holes into the walls without permission.
…If I asked Father, he might grant permission.
But since this is just a prototype to begin with, I should plan for the possibility of failure.
In that case, a freestanding unit makes more sense.
Still, there’s the issue of what to do with the heat generated during the cooling process.
Air conditioners in my past life had a unit for venting that heat outside.
“I’ll need a magic circle to serve the role of an outdoor unit as well…”
Well, I’ll think about that later — for now, let’s focus on shaping the main body.
I wrapped the iron plate in magical energy. As the hard metal gradually softened, I carefully shaped it. Bending it by force alone would cause distortion. Keeping the magical energy output steady, I gradually reshaped it, bit by bit.
Slowly bending it, forming it into a box shape.
Next came the fins for adjusting airflow direction.
“Three louvers on the front should be enough, I think…”
I attached three thin, elongated fins to the main body. Channeling magic through the joints, I fused the metal pieces together seamlessly.
Then I made fine adjustments so the fins would move smoothly.
The remaining steps were integrating the magical circuitry and the control magic circle.
This part was the true heart of the device.
“Alright… this is where it really counts.”
Just as that thought crossed my mind—
Knock knock.
At the sound of someone knocking on the door, I looked up.
“Master Finn, it’s time for lunch.”
A servant’s voice came from beyond the workshop door.
“Already that time, huh…”
Checking the magical clock, I realized noon had nearly come and gone without my noticing.
Losing track of time whenever I get absorbed in something — that hasn’t changed since way back when.
“Got it. I’m coming.”
I put away the blueprint and stood up.
The new magic tool crafting project starting today.
For now, all I wanted was to get through this hot summer a little more comfortably.
That’s the lighthearted mindset I was supposed to have started this with.