Chapter 15

After becoming a "trainee" royal alchemist and starting to receive guidance from Senpai Rina, a few days had passed. We were undergoing training in a small laboratory designated for trainees when Arnold suddenly visited.

"Oh, Arnold. Is there something you need?"

"You're in the way... Ampere."

With that, Arnold entered the laboratory. He approached me without any hesitation, as if he didn't know the meaning of the word "consideration."

"Mr. Arnold, good work today."

I forced a smile, but Arnold didn't even show any sign of responding. Instead, he took the container of the healing potion I was working on and tilted it back, drinking it all in one go. Shocked by his sudden action, I instinctively grabbed his arm. However, he didn't even bother to shake off my hand and finished drinking it all.

After drinking, he adjusted his glasses in a cool manner. Then, he said something to me, who was dumbfounded—along with Chelsea and Senpai Rina, who were also stunned.

"...You're still as annoying as ever, aren't you?"

—You, you're so annoying.

The voice that echoed in my mind made me recall a few years ago. No matter what, this person hasn't changed, I thought, and without realizing it, my lips curved into a smile.

"...Mr. Arnold hasn't changed either."

"...What do you mean?"

"Nothing, just a thought."

I was caught off guard by my own words, but I smiled to deflect the question. I no longer flinched at Arnold's rude words—rather, a feeling of resignation had taken over, as if I had accepted him for who he was.

Unfriendly—according to Mercedes, he was shy—and with a sharp tongue, high pride, but actually, he had feelings appropriate for his age. And because his emotions were hard to read, he often did unexpected things.

That's what Arnold was like.

As I came to this conclusion, the bell signaling the time rang. It was already evening—the end of the training session.

"I'll show you around the herb garden in the castle."

After hearing the bell, Arnold said this out of the blue. It was another sudden statement.

Ignoring my wide-eyed surprise, Arnold grabbed my wrist and pulled me roughly, making me stumble forward.

The warmth of his grip was different from Lukas's—rather than making my heart skip a beat, it made me feel more annoyed than anything else.

But before I could voice my complaint, Arnold was already heading out of the laboratory. I had no choice but to swallow my words and, to Chelsea and Senpai Rina, who were watching us in shock,

"Good work today!"

I called out as loudly as I could, managing to greet them.

After leaving the laboratory, Arnold slowed his pace, and my wrist was released.

I peeked at Arnold's profile a few steps ahead. He was a "genius" who became the youngest royal alchemist, but did he have the time to show a trainee around the herb garden? I asked this question without any intention of mocking, purely out of curiosity.

"...Do you have a lot of time?"

"Yeah, sure."

He nodded lightly, but it wasn't a firm nod. It was more like a nod to change the subject. From his reaction, it seemed he didn't have that much time.

Why did he offer to show me around the herb garden in the first place? Even if he didn't guide me personally, I would have plenty of opportunities to visit it during my training.

This question also slipped out before I could stop it.

"Why are you showing me around?"

At this question, Arnold stopped in his tracks.

Oops, I thought, having blurted out my thoughts. My words might have sounded self-important, as if I believed Arnold was making a special effort for me.

I hurried to stand beside him and tried to gauge his reaction—his expression was very serious, almost pained, but not angry. It was filled with deep sorrow.

To my surprise, he said,

"...In the near future, I want to borrow your talent."

I wasn't sure what "near future" he was referring to, and he didn't elaborate on how he wanted to use my talent. But I realized that Arnold had a clear "purpose" and was getting close to me to achieve it.

However, regardless of his intentions, the tour of the herb garden was genuinely helpful. I decided to accept his kindness for now, and when the "near future" arrived, I would do my best to help, even if I wasn't sure how useful I would be. That was all I could do.

—From then on, Arnold often visited me around the time my training ended in the evening. He would take me to the herb garden and sometimes even show me how recovery potions were sold in the capital.

"In the near future, I want to borrow your talent."

Arnold's words, his voice, were etched in my eardrums. I didn't know what he was hiding in his heart, but one thing was clear.

The person who recognized my talent the most was, without a doubt—Arnold.

***

A few months after becoming a "trainee" royal alchemist, I had finally gotten used to my life at the castle, and my training was progressing smoothly. One day, after training, Senpai Rina stopped me.

"Laura, you're close with Arnold, right?"

I stopped putting away my tools.

Senpai Rina had been very enthusiastic in her guidance. She acknowledged my skills and taught me the basics that my previous master, who was a laissez-faire type, had neglected, such as the correct way to clean the alchemy tools, without any complaints.

However, when I recalled her intimidating smile from our first meeting, I reacted excessively to her mentioning "Arnold." I could sense that she had some feelings for him, but it wasn't clear if they were positive.

Her voice was as clear and considerate as always.

"Maybe because our masters were teacher and student, he cares... My master is a very kind person, so he might have told him to look after me."

I reflexively added, "We're not that close," to set the record straight. It was embarrassing.

Senpai Rina seemed to think for a few seconds, then looked around nervously. She then said,

"Chelsea, I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you pick a small amount of this herb for me?"

She handed Chelsea, who was also putting away the tools, a herb and a basket.

Surprised by the sudden request, Chelsea took the herb but tilted her head in confusion.

"O-Okay..."

"I'm sorry, I forgot about a request from Casper. I'll finish Chelsea's cleanup for her."

When she said it was a request from Casper, Chelsea had no choice but to agree. She nodded and hurried out of the laboratory.

The sound of her footsteps faded away. After confirming she was gone, Senpai Rina quickly approached me.

"...I know this is a bit underhanded, but..."

Senpai Rina whispered, frowning, looking very apologetic.

—This wasn't what I expected.

When Senpai Rina dismissed Chelsea, I thought she might interrogate me about Arnold. But I couldn't sense any hostility in her voice or expression, and she was even leaning in closer to me. It was a behavior that wouldn't be done to someone she disliked.

"Have you heard about Arnold's... magical power?"

—Arnold's... magical power?

The topic Senpai Rina brought up was completely different from what I had imagined.

Feeling confused, I honestly shook my head and said, "No, I haven't."

Senpai Rina covered her mouth and seemed to think again.

"I thought you might have heard something... I'm sorry for asking such a strange question."

She gave me her usual gentle smile.

I replied, "No, it's fine," but I was curious. What was this talk about Arnold's magical power?

I hesitated for a moment but couldn't hold back my question.

"Um, what kind of talk about magical power?"

Senpai Rina answered without hesitation, but in an even lower voice.

"Arnold has very strong magical power... There's a rumor that he might join the knights as a mage."

—Surprised, I almost dropped the container I was holding.

Arnold has strong magical power?

That made sense. He was an elf, and elves were known to have stronger magical power than humans. His sister, the genius mage Elvira, was a prime example.

I could understand that much, but—what did it mean to join the knights as a mage? I had heard that the Shvaria Knights had mages, but I wasn't sure if that was still the case.

"A little before you and the others joined, Arnold was called by the Knight Commander. It wasn't a regular meeting."

Senpai Rina continued, despite my shock.

The Knight Commander was—Veik. Another one of the future heroes.

"He became the youngest royal alchemist, right? Ever since he joined, he's been the center of attention, and I've been compared to him... And he's so arrogant! I'm always feeling frustrated!"

Her voice rose in frustration, but she quickly regained her composure and shrank back.

It seemed Senpai Rina didn't have feelings for Arnold—rather, she was more like an adversary. But considering her position, I could understand her feelings.

A young man called a genius, who became the youngest royal alchemist. If he was my contemporary—I might have been compared to him and sometimes labeled as incompetent.

Add to that, Arnold's personality. Honestly, I couldn't think of anything to say about his personality except that he wasn't a bad person.

"So, when he was called by the Knight Commander, everyone was buzzing about it... But when asked what it was about, he just said, 'Nothing much!' That's so frustrating! He's so smug!"

Senpai Rina glared at the air, probably imagining Arnold's arrogant face.

Despite her composed demeanor, I found her emotional display endearing. She was still just 16 years old.

Also, a mystery from a few months ago was solved.

When we first met, she had a tense atmosphere and seemed to be checking the truth of a rumor. It wasn't because she was jealous of me, who was rumored to be Arnold's girlfriend, but because she had a competitive spirit against Arnold. She might have also been curious about what kind of person his girlfriend was.

Moreover, our meeting coincided with the period right after Arnold was called by the Knight Commander, when her competitive spirit was at its peak.

"Determined not to be left behind, I started investigating the reason he was called, even though I thought it was foolish."

Senpai Rina lowered her voice again. I nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"Then I heard a rumor among the knights. ...The Knight Commander himself asked the famous alchemist, Arnold Roco, to join the knights as a mage."

—Arnold said he wanted to borrow my talent, but he was far more talented. The idea that he might have magical talent as well was surprising. Of course, it was just a rumor.

I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. "I just can't help but laugh," I admitted, and Senpai Rina nodded, saying, "God is so unfair."

It made sense that Arnold, an elf and the brother of the genius mage Elvira, would have strong magical power. But I had subconsciously assumed he didn't have magical talent because he had left home at a young age to become Mercedes's apprentice. I was genuinely surprised by what Senpai Rina told me.

Arnold was a character who didn't exist in my memories. I had no idea what path he would take in the future—realizing this, I also realized that the same was true for Senpai Rina, Chelsea, and Casper.

Senpai Rina and I were truly meeting for the first time, and I didn't know what kind of people they were, what they thought of me, or how we would interact in the future.

The future was full of "unknowns," but that was what I had hoped for.

"By the way, this rumor is a secret, okay? I might have talked too much, but..."

Senpai Rina smiled, a young, age-appropriate smile. She wasn't as mature as I had thought, and today she showed me a more youthful side.

I nodded in agreement and resumed cleaning up.

Still, the youngest royal alchemist and a talented mage (if the rumor was true)—Arnold had been given quite a prestigious role.