Chapter 16

When I woke up, I got ready and left the house.

Then, as usual, I arrived at the branch office in 30 seconds.

Yesterday, I also returned home in 30 seconds, and there's nothing more convenient than this when working overtime.

To put it more precisely, Erika probably brought me the sandwich because it's so close.

I thought to myself how lucky I was to live in such a good place as I entered the branch office and went up to the second floor.

Sure enough, Erika was already there.

"Ah, good morning."

Erika greeted me with her usual beaming smile.

"Yeah, good morning. Thanks for yesterday. It was delicious."

"It was delicious."

We both expressed our gratitude and returned the washed lunch box.

"No, no. I can't do much else. Oh, by the way, you have a letter from Sieg."

Erika pointed to my desk as she said this.

"A letter?"

On my desk was a pale pink envelope.

"It's from a noble named Adele."

Adele...

"Sieg, it's a reply to your apology and thank-you note."

"Isn't it a bit quick? I sent it the day before yesterday."

It's express delivery.

"Should I read it?"

"I'll read it later. I want to finish the request today."

I put the letter away and started the work of making magic stones for the day.

Erika also began the task of turning iron ore into iron.

After a while, Helen fell asleep, and the branch manager came up the stairs.

"Hey, you're working hard."

The branch manager came over to us.

"Thank you."

"Is something the matter?"

"No, I just heard we received an urgent request."

Did Erika report it?

I didn't.

"It's not a big request, but the deadline is very tight, so we're pushing hard."

"Ah, that's right, that's right. I'll leave that to you."

In other words, I have to make the invoice.

I haven't even made an estimate, and they shortened the deadline without consulting me, so I'll overcharge them.

"Branch Manager, can you inform the mayor or the high-ranking military officials about this urgent request?"

"Huh? Are you trying to prepare in advance?"

"Well, something like that. Besides, I think this is something that Lieutenant Esmarh is doing on his own without the higher-ups knowing. After all, an urgent request for magic stones is impossible."

No matter how noble he is, a lieutenant can't just move several million on his own.

"I see... How's the progress?"

"Currently, 62 out of 100 are done. I plan to finish today and deliver them tomorrow."

"...Is it really going to be done that quickly?"

"I'm a third-class alchemist. I may not be the best person, but I have the skills."

I'm a skilled person who was on the path to becoming an elite.

"You're saying that yourself..."

"It's the truth. I've never failed a request."

"No, that's not what I meant..."

You're the one who's not the best person...

"...That's also the truth."

"Alright... I understand. I'll go to the city hall and the military now."

"Thank you."

The branch manager left, so I resumed my work.

When lunchtime came, I ate and then continued working in the afternoon.

"Erika, you finished the second one pretty quickly."

Erika had finished turning the second iron ore into iron.

It was 2 PM, earlier than yesterday.

"Yep!"

"The third one will be even faster."

"I'll do my best!"

We continued working, and it was past 5 PM.

I glanced at Erika, who was seriously alchemizing, and the iron ore was 80% turned into iron.

"It's not urgent, so you can finish it tomorrow."

"I want to finish this."

I understand the feeling.

If it's just a little more, I want to finish it too.

"Make sure to put in the overtime pay."

"It's actually my first time..."

It's a pretty relaxed workplace...

"I see..."

...What should I do?

Actually, I only have two more to finish.

Should I finish and go home early?

What do you think?

I glanced at Helen.

"Sieg, you've been working non-stop since last night. Why don't you take a break? It's not good for your health."

Take a break and sync the time...

"Alright... Erika, want to have some coffee?"

"Sure, I'll prepare it."

"It's okay. I'll do it to change the mood."

I stopped Erika, who was about to get up, and went to where the tea set was to prepare the coffee.

After preparing two cups of coffee, I placed one on Erika's desk and sat down.

"Thank you."

"Yeah."

I took a sip of coffee and, to buy some time, took out Adele's letter and opened it.

Then, I started reading the letter.

"What does it say?"

Helen asked.

"It says they've received the apology and are no longer upset."

"That's good."

Is this just a formality?

"It also says they were happy about the hotel and mentions the formality of having dinner."

The one about having dinner when I return to the capital.

"It's not a formality."

I won't be going back to the capital, so it is a formality.

"Actually, I won't go to any dinner. What would Adele and I talk about?"

"Well, you were classmates and worked at the same place, so you can talk about school days or work."

That's the problem...

After all, I don't remember.

"If that time comes, you can mediate. Your cute presence will make everyone smile."

"Sad... Is there anything else written?"

Anything else...

"It says, 'How is your life there? Is your work busy?'... Huh? Do I have to reply to this?"

After all, they're asking a demoted person?

Are they trying to start a fight?

No, Adele isn't that kind of person...

"If they're asking, you have to reply."

Really...

I thought it would end with an apology and thanks.

"I have to write another letter..."

"It's normal. You're friends, right?"

Normal...

"Hey, are Sieg and Adele really friends? We haven't had a decent conversation."

The letter starts with "Dear Sieg."

"We'll have one. That's what the letter is for."

It's troublesome, I don't need friends, I want to ignore it...

That's what I'm thinking right now...

"Erika, do you have friends?"

I thought it might be intrusive, but I asked anyway.

"Yes, I do."

Well, Erika is friendly, so she probably has many friends.

"Have you ever found it troublesome?"

"Yes, I have."

Huh?

"Surprising answer..."

"People have moods and bad days. Sometimes we fight, and it doesn't feel good, but there are many more happy memories of playing and spending time together. Those are much more significant."

I see... I shouldn't think in black and white.

"Should I write the letter?"

"I think it's a good idea. And I was thinking, you should ask Adele about her work too."

Huh?

"Why?"

"I think Adele is asking about your work because she wants you to ask about hers. Women are like that."

"...Is that so?"

I looked at Helen.

"They probably want you to listen to their complaints."

"Can I write those complaints in this letter?"

"She's a reserved person."

Well, she is a noble lady...

"Is there any benefit for me if I ask?"

"You shouldn't ask. I don't know what will happen. You two haven't started anything yet, and no one knows what will happen. But, Sieg, you've always considered social interactions as a disadvantage and cut them off. That's why you failed. This time, try to dive in."

Diving into the unknown is scary.

I'm confident in being disliked.

"What do you think, Erika?"

"I think so."

Immediate answer...

"Alright, I'll write it..."

Since both of them said so, I decided to write it and got back to work.

Thank you for reading.

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