Magical household items like the Bluetooth showerhead existed even during the Silver Age 1 of the original timeline.

Of course, they did. In some areas, the Arcane-punk world was more advanced than Earth.

However, they were incredibly expensive. Only nobles and wealthy commoners could afford them, much like potions.

Since these inventions came about after the advent of plumbing systems, there was little incentive for them to become widespread. At most, the wealthy would carry them during travels or install them on ships where water was scarce.

That was the reality of the late Silver Age, on the cusp of the Platinum Age, a time marked by severe economic and technological polarization.

But things will be different now.

In the North, distributing such devices was not only faster but also more effective.

Sure, plumbing systems would eventually be installed in major Northern cities, but the real issue was how to manage until that time.

Currently, the North was already stretched thin, building factories and roads with its limited workforce. Plumbing construction, while planned, was still a distant future project.

Selling these devices to households as a stopgap until plumbing was installed was far more practical and ideal.

Not to mention, this approach is far more profitable.

I stroked the Bluetooth showerhead in my hand with a sly grin.

"…!"

Mary, seeing my expression, stepped back slightly, startled.

"Ahem. But what mechanism draws the water?"

"Would you like to see another demonstration?"

Instead of answering Mary’s question, I decided to show her something else.

"Until now, disposing of used indoor water has always been a hassle."

After doing dishes or bathing, water was typically dumped outside.

In the Empire and more developed kingdoms, cities equipped with plumbing systems allowed for easy disposal and supply of water indoors.

However, in the underdeveloped North, water was either carried out in large buckets and poured into the yard or drained through small outlets connecting the house and the yard.

"But that’s about to change."

I poured the water from the showerhead into a basin.

This wasn’t just any basin—it was a bathtub made of celadon, coated with mana stones, and reinforced with magic circuits. The drain wasn’t sealed, so all the water I poured flowed seamlessly into it.

"The water…?!"

The problem? This house had no plumbing.

And the spot where I poured the water was far from any drainage outlet connecting to the yard.

"How is this possible?!"

Mary inspected the bathtub from top to bottom, her shock evident as she turned to me with wide eyes.

"The key to this invention lies in subspace magic."

"Subspace magic?"

Unfortunately, it’s not portal technology.

Portals are a highly dangerous and challenging technology, even a hundred years in the future.

What this device uses is extreme subspace technology, allowing me to create a very functional Bluetooth showerhead.

"By configuring subspace circuits to store only specific materials, like water, the storage capacity becomes exponentially larger."

I pointed to a small box attached near the bathtub’s drain.

It was a slim, suitcase-sized metal box coated with mana stones, with several embedded in its surface.

"This box is the core component. It’s detachable, and its weight doesn’t change regardless of how much water is stored inside."

Thanks to subspace magic and lightweight enchantments, the box remained light enough for even a child to carry, no matter how much water it contained.

This compact and lightweight magical box could store all the wastewater from a household, functioning like a water tank.

"Is subspace magic also applied to the showerhead?"

"Exactly. Think of the showerhead as a small subspace box. Its size means it’s usually mounted on a wall for convenience."

The Bluetooth showerhead was indeed larger—about three times the size and length of Earth’s showerheads.

"See here? The fist-sized decorations made of water, void, and dark-attribute mana stones? They aren’t just for storage. With this…"

Whoosh!

"It creates pressure to make the water flow strongly. It even has a gauge to show the remaining water capacity."

"Wow…"

"But that’s not all."

"There’s more?"

Seeing Mary’s enthusiastic reactions only encouraged me to continue showing off my recent inventions.

"In the future, even waste can be managed easily from home."

Next, I introduced her to a toilet made of celadon, enchanted with subspace and purification magic.

"When you dispose of waste in this, it’s the end of the story."

The magical toilet was embedded with mana stones of various attributes—water, void, earth, fire, and light. As I poured food scraps into it as a test, the toilet effortlessly consumed them.

"Behind the toilet is a subspace purification tank. The purification circuit, made of earth and fire-attribute mana stones, bakes the waste into soil-like material. It’ll be easy to empty later."

"Does it require periodic charging?"

"You just need to replace the mana stones, about once every five years."

"Not the mana stones. I meant the water."

"Good question. The storage and disposal capacities are enchanted to accommodate the needs of a six-person household for a week. That’s the limit of what mid-grade mana stones can handle."

The toilet, bathtub, and showerhead all had indicators showing their capacity.

"But one crucial question remains," Mary said, her tone serious after hearing my entire presentation.

"Can this be mass-produced?"

"It’ll be a bit expensive."

"Which means…?"

"Expensive, but not as rare as the Magnum magic revolver or the enchanted bag I gifted Her Highness the Grand Duchess."

"!!"

"Ah! Along with the Bluetooth series, we’ll also produce subspace bags. They’ll be mass-produced, so they won’t match the quality of the one I gave Her Highness, but having subspace at all is a luxury."

Watching Mary’s astonishment filled me with pride.

"Will we be able to meet the demand?"

"We can."

"…?"

Mary tilted her head quizzically before suddenly remembering something.

"Oh! Thanks to the Arad Radar, we recently discovered more mana stone mines, didn’t we? And the mining trains have significantly boosted production!"

If I had access to magic engines, I could artificially refine low- and mid-grade mana stones into higher grades. Unfortunately, without such engines, we were limited to mining natural mana stones for mid- and high-grade use.

The Arad Radar, the steam engine, and, most importantly, the newly liberated witches had all played significant roles in enabling this production capacity and affordability.

"Thanks to these three factors, we can pull it off."

"And how much will these cost?"

"Factoring in labor and materials… this much."

"Hmm… Certainly not cheap."

"Expecting anything cheaper would be unrealistic, wouldn’t it?"

"I was just speaking from the perspective of the average citizen!"

Still, while the prices weren’t dirt-cheap, they were affordable enough for today’s Northerners to purchase with some effort.

"With the North’s rising income, people’s living standards have improved. It’s about time we started cashing in. Hahaha!"

The influx of wealth into the North had naturally led to inflation. Until now, we’d managed to control it through overwhelming production and centralized development, but it was starting to strain resources.

"The timing of this development couldn’t be better."

With Bluetooth showerheads, toilets, bathtubs, sinks, and other subspace-enhanced products, we had found new outlets for spending.

If pricing becomes an issue, there’s always installment plans or subscription promotions.

I had zero concerns about reduced sales due to high prices.

"In the Silver Age 1 of the original timeline, these magical household items never became widespread. At most, they were luxuries for nobles and wealthy commoners because they relied heavily on skilled magical engineers."

But things were different in this world.

Unlike the closed magical engineering academies of the Silver Age 1, the North—more specifically, Arad Company—could now recruit top magical talent for a… reasonable wage.

"Recently, thanks to my personalized tutoring, the magical engineers at the Arcane Society have made leaps in skill, allowing us to consider mass production."

And it wasn’t just that.

Unlike the closed-off academies of the Silver Age 1, the North’s Renslet Academy scouted talented individuals, sometimes aggressively, and trained them as magical engineers.

What’s more, we regularly bring students from the academy into the field for internships. That means labor costs can be reduced to mere allowances.

Chuckling inwardly, I let my sinister grin show for a moment.

This place is a paradise for entrepreneurs!

No taxes, no regulations, and free rein over skilled labor without concerns about unions or exorbitant wages.

It truly felt like living in a game world.

While the initial stages were frustrating and challenging, now that things were stacking up, making money had become an absolute joy.

There’s no other entertainment quite like this.

"Jarvis, who manages the building, will be delighted. Most of his chores will vanish."

Watching me, Mary suddenly spoke, seemingly struck by a thought.

"Will he, though?"

"?"

"The less work there is, the fewer side earnings he’ll have."

"Oh…!"

"Still, I doubt he’ll quit. This job’s perks far outweigh those of most others."

"It seems… not everything about technological progress is entirely positive."

"When you gain something, you always lose something in return."

***

One Week Later

At the Renslet Cathedral, located within the inner castle of the High Citadel:

"I now pronounce the eternal love of these two before the Eternal Flame of Renslet," declared the High Priest of the Renslet Faith, nearing the conclusion of his rather lengthy sermon.

This was the moment when Theo Shapiro, Director of Arad Company’s Operations Support Department, would officially become a married man.

“Waaaaaah!”

"Let all those present bear witness to their love, and let the couple seal their vows with a kiss. Renslet Rune Renslet!"

As the couple kissed, the signature chant of the Renslet Faith rang out to celebrate the union.

"Renslet Rune Renslet!"
"Renslet Rune Renslet!"
"Renslet Rune Renslet!"

Theo, dressed in a black silk tunic, and Maria, adorned in a pure white wedding gown, smiled brighter than anyone in attendance.

Notably, the bride's slightly rounded belly—a telltale sign of a "speeding ticket"—peeked subtly beneath her dress.

Clap, clap, clap!

"They look amazing together!"
"I'm so jealous!"
"Live happily ever after!"

Cheers and applause formed a wave of celebration that reverberated throughout the hall.

"It's not over yet, folks! Hohohoho! We still have something special for the unmarried ladies!"

Through the roar of applause, the officiating priest called out with a warm smile.

At his words, Maria stepped into the open space holding a small bouquet.

From the white wedding dress to the ring exchange ceremony and the bouquet toss, the wedding traditions of this world bore a surprising resemblance to those of Earth's Western culture.

"Get ready! I’m about to toss the bouquet!"

As Maria prepared to throw the bouquet, the unmarried women among the guests lined up with determined expressions.

The group was diverse, including mages from the Arcane Society, priestesses from the Renslet Faith, and female employees of Arad Company.

Among them stood Mary.

Whoosh!

As the bride tossed the bouquet, Mary, a magical swordsman to her core, deftly caught it with precision and agility.

"…"

She stood silently, gazing in a particular direction.

Her eyes were fixed on none other than Arad Jin.

Everyone nodded knowingly, as if to say, Of course. After all, the relationship between the two was an open secret, not only in the High Citadel but across the entire North.

"Now, if you press here and adjust this… that should do it."

But Arad, the focal point of Mary’s gaze, was preoccupied with something else entirely.

"I understand. You can count on me," replied Jarvis, the housekeeper.

"Good. I’m counting on you. Here’s a little something for your trouble. I know your side earnings have been a bit sparse lately," Arad said, handing Jarvis half a silver coin.

Then, turning toward the bride and groom, he raised his voice.

"Everyone, gather over here! Tall people at the back, shorter ones up front!"

This wedding served as a product demonstration for Arad’s latest invention.

The new product? A camera.

A metal box the size of a human torso shimmered with mid-grade mana stones of light, dark, and void attributes, which glowed faintly as it activated.