Chapter 32

"Sir Craft, the preparations of the Margrave are complete. This way, please."

"Ah, yes."

I walked down the corridor that seemed to lead to confusion and entered the room I was guided to.

Of course, the one waiting there was Margrave Orthros.

"Excuse me."

"Hmm. Come in."

The butler prepared tea, bowed, and left the room.

Eh? There's not even a guard?

I used to be an adventurer, you know? I could kill someone with my bare hands if I wanted to!

I wouldn't, but this is way too careless, right!?

"..."

"..."

The tense silence is killing me!

Say something!

"Craft Worgen. The Alchemist of Twilight, I presume."

"Y-Yes."

"Let's finish the business talk first. The details of the elixir."

"Y-Yes."

That's right. The dragon incident made everything hazy.

I explained the usage and effects in detail.

During this time, Margrave Orthros only nodded.

"---That's all."

"I see. Well done."

I sighed inwardly.

The mysterious presence of Orthros made me so nervous that I forgot all my dislike for nobles. I wouldn't have been nervous at all with Zaid.

"..."

"..."

Why am I being glared at so intensely!?

Did I overdo it?

But, I made it, so there's no helping it, right!

After it was made, I realized it was dangerous, so I didn't release it to the market and instead presented it as an offering!

If I had released those elixirs to the market without thinking, it would have caused a huge uproar in the country.

No matter which route the elixirs took, most of them would end up in the hands of nobles, and if the nobles got them, they would definitely start asking where they came from.

If a noble with a sick family member couldn't get the elixir, they would try to get it by any means necessary, even by framing the noble who had it.

It might have even led to a cold war among the nobles.

Oh, I was right to present it as an offering...

So don't look at me like that!

Margrave Orthros, your middle-aged face is scary!

"Zaid has an alchemist named Jabeel Halayan."

"…Eh? Jabeel, as in Lord Jabeel?"

"I expected you to know."

"Of course I know. He's a famous alchemist. I… I'm studying from his books."

That's right. Jabeel the alchemist is one of the top alchemists in this country.

He revolutionized agricultural fertilizers, and his parents were also great alchemists.

Since my emblem changed to that of an alchemist, I've been collecting and reading Jabeel's books. There are many things that can't be understood just from the knowledge of the emblem.

The books available are few and expensive, though.

He is undoubtedly a respectable person.

However, of all people, he's with Zaid.

"Jabeel wants to talk to you. Go to Jabeel's mansion now."

"Understood."

Honestly, I'd do anything to escape this tense situation!

I awkwardly bowed and stood up to leave the room. Just as I turned my back, I heard:

"Take care of Kail."

For a moment, I thought it was a hallucination and turned back, but the Margrave was just standing there with a stern face.

I bowed again and left the room this time.

◆

"Are you Craft?"

"Yes!"

Guided by the butler, I arrived at a magnificent mansion after a carriage ride.

It was a magnificent mansion, exuding a unique eerie atmosphere typical of alchemists.

The walls and the mansion were covered with ivy, and the garden was overgrown with weeds. However, the herb garden was meticulously maintained.

Here and there in the garden were eerie stone statues of winged creatures.

Ah, these are gargoyles.

Stone guardians.

One of the standard enemies in dungeons.

These gargoyles are a type of monster, but they fall into the category of artificial monsters. I know this because they can be created through alchemy.

It requires a very high level of alchemy, which shows how great Jabeel is.

By the way, I can make them now, but I'm a bit short on materials.

By the way, golems are also artificial monsters. Since I can probably get the missing materials in Gandal, I might try making one next time?

While thinking about such things, I passed through the eerie garden and entered the completely neglected entrance.

Then, a life-sized wooden puppet walked out from inside.

My left hand's emblem reacted slightly.

This is probably an original artificial monster!

The wooden puppet's face was a simple oval with basic eyes and a mouth, and its body was a wooden marionette.

There are no strings coming from the ceiling, right?

"Please come this way, Sir Craft."

"Eh? Ah, yes."

The butler, who seemed used to it, bowed and left.

He looked like he was running away.

"Please follow me."

"Um, thank you."

The inside of the mansion was surprisingly tidy. Is this artificial monster puppet cleaning it?

This is cool...

I was led to the basement, where a sturdy iron door greeted me.

The artificial monster puppet knocked on the door.

"Master, I have brought Sir Craft."

"Hmm? You're late! Bring him in!"

"Yes. Please come in, Sir Craft."

"Y-Yes."

I hesitantly entered, and there it was, a true alchemist's room.

Beakers and flasks lined the shelves, and the herb cabinets against the walls were filled with rare materials.

Old books that looked like rare editions were scattered on the table.

A girl with a bad expression turned around, boiling a mysterious liquid over an alcohol lamp.

Eh!?

A girl!?

I was surprised for a moment, but the alchemist's emblem on her left hand and her aura confirmed that she was indeed the famous Mr. Jabeel.

"Are you Craft?"

No greeting.

"Yes!"

I couldn't help but answer enthusiastically.

I was genuinely very happy.

Since becoming an alchemist, I've grown through the knowledge of the emblem and Mr. Jabeel's books.

He is my idol.

"Hmm? You're quite young... How old are you?"

"Twenty years old!"

I thought she looked younger, but I reconsidered based on her background.

She must be using Amrita regularly.

"Hmm... You're quite... different from what I imagined..."

"Eh? Did you say something?"

"No, nothing."

"Ah! I'm sorry for not greeting you earlier! I... I am Craft Worgen! I have long admired your reputation! I have read all the books I could get my hands on until they were worn out! I am very happy to meet you!"

I couldn't help but grab Jabeel's hand. It felt strangely soft.

Was I too familiar for a first meeting?

But I was that excited. You understand, right?

"Hmm!? S-Sure. That's great."

"Yes!"

For some reason, Mr. Jabeel seemed taken aback.

Am I imagining things?

"S-Sure, you're young, but you seem to know a lot."

"Actually, I recently became an alchemist, and I was struggling, relying only on the voice of the emblem, but after getting your books, I finally felt like I understood the basics of alchemy."

"Hmm, hmm. I see, I see."

Everything I saw, the materials and equipment, was so rare that I couldn't contain my interest.

My eyes were drawn to a ceramic kettle on the fire, which I had only seen in diagrams in books.

"Is this...?"

"That's a lambic."

"This is the device you invented to create purer water than river water!"

"Hmm. You're a diligent student. It can produce enough pure water for experiments, though not in large quantities."

"I've never seen the real thing before!"

"That's the latest model, which can produce three times as much pure water as the previous one."

"Amazing!"

Of course, it's possible to create pure water with magic, but if you do it all the time, your magic power will run out, and you won't have enough for important experiments.

Being able to get pure water without using magic is crucial.

"I see, I see. There's a lot to see here."

"Thank you! The completion of the elixir was only possible with the whispers of the emblem and the knowledge from your books! Especially, the alchemy potion was made more efficiently thanks to your books! Oh... How happy I would be if I could become your disciple..."

By reading your books, the whispers of the emblem changed, and I was able to create valuable alchemy potions with fewer materials than originally planned. I am truly grateful.

Jabeel stopped moving at my words and began to think with her thin arms crossed.

Did I say something strange?

"I see... I see... If that's the case, it would be... appropriate..."

Jabeel muttered to herself.

"Um? Mr. Jabeel?"

"Alright. Craft Worgen. I will take you on as a special disciple."

"Eh!?"

I was so surprised by the words of my idol that I shouted without thinking.

I'm sorry for the long update gap.

I had some real-life issues.

I'll try my best to keep updating, so please support me <(_ _)>