Chapter 3

"We will be arriving at Riet soon. Please prepare to disembark."

Hearing the announcement from the speaker, I looked out the window and saw the sea, forests, and fields stretching out below.

"What a rich natural landscape."

"Yes, it’s quite nice. I like this kind of scenery too."

Come to think of it, a colleague once mentioned that they had a longing for country living.

At the time, I replied, "The countryside is just a place to be exiled; there’s nothing good about it..."

Thinking about it now, that was a condescending remark, dismissing someone’s aspirations.

It’s just a reason to be disliked.

Moreover, the person who said that ended up being exiled, which is not at all amusing.

"What do you do in the countryside?"

"Rather, what do you do in the city?"

...Well?

"I guess... it didn’t matter to me, a man with no hobbies or friends."

It’s the same anywhere.

"Let’s try our best. First, we should build a friendly relationship with our colleagues."

"I understand. Besides the Augustus incident, the Adele incident is even more significant."

If Adele hadn’t come to see me off, I would have never realized it.

I have no intention of attending a school reunion, but it’s bound to turn into a terrible gossip session.

"By the way, I think Sieg should try to be more relaxed."

"Relaxed?"

"Sieg is a serious person, but you have a bit of a workaholic tendency. You should value your private time more. Otherwise, you won’t get married and might end up dying alone."

Marriage...

"I don’t need it. I have you."

As long as I have you.

"Sieg... I’m happy, but please don’t say such sad things."

"Alright, alright. Value your private time, right? It’s not just about women. I’ll go fishing in the sea."

I’ll make a magical device for that.

"Wow! That sounds great!"

Helen looked up at me happily.

What a cute girl.

I once heard that keeping a cat would delay your marriage, and this is exactly the case.

I don’t need anyone else but this girl.

As I stroked Helen, the airship began to descend.

Once it had come to a complete stop, I got up and left the airship.

Walking down the gangway from the docked airship and through the gate, I arrived in the town.

"It’s more prosperous than I thought."

I had expected a more rural town, but it’s quite developed.

It’s not as glamorous as the capital, but it’s calm and not bad.

The roads are properly paved with stone, and there are buildings that, though old, give a modern feel.

This world isn’t as advanced as modern Japan.

However, it’s quite modern, with airships, trains, and telephones.

But all of these are powered by magic, not science.

Moreover, they were developed through alchemy.

"It’s not really a city, is it?"

"Indeed. Well, I’m starting over here. The most important thing is not to be disliked by my colleagues."

This is crucial.

"I agree."

"Thanks, Helen."

You’re my only hope.

"Leave it to me."

"Alright. Let’s go and greet them."

My work starts tomorrow.

In the past, I would have started work tomorrow, but now, I’m going to properly introduce myself beforehand.

Well, it’s because Helen told me to...

"Where is the branch office?"

"I know the address, but..."

I don’t have a map.

There should be a guide somewhere.

As I started walking, I noticed a woman at the end of the street.

Normally, I wouldn’t even notice her and would ignore her.

However, she was looking at me intently while comparing something in her hand.

"Do you know her?"

Helen seemed to notice and asked.

"Hmm... I don’t think I know her..."

But then, there’s Adele.

I might just be forgetting.

I’ve never been to this town, but students from the magic school come from various places, and it’s entirely possible that she could be a classmate.

Thinking this, I took a closer look at the woman.

She had silver hair down to her shoulders and a flower hairpin.

She wasn’t very tall, probably around 155 cm.

Her figure was slender but had a feminine curve.

Her face had a gentle and cute appearance.

"I don’t know her."

Who is she?

Could she be a recruiter?

"Really? Sieg has a criminal record, you know."

I know.

But this time, I really don’t know.

I had looked through the magic school’s alumni directory while on the airship and tried to remember faces, so I’m sure of it.

By the way, I remembered that Adele wasn’t just a classmate but also in the same group during practicals.

I was hurt by being disliked, but I had hurt Adele even more.

"Hmm... I’ll ignore her for now."

"Sieg..."

Helen’s pitiful voice made me wonder if I had made the wrong choice, but then she approached me.

I couldn’t ignore her, so I waited.

"Excuse me, are you Siegfried Alexander?"

She knows me?

"Who are you?"

Go away.

"Sieg! You heard me!"

Even though I didn’t say it out loud...

"Sorry. Can we start over?"

"Eh? Oh, sure."

The woman nodded and moved away.

Then, a few meters away, she turned and approached me again.

"Excuse me, are you Siegfried Alexander?"

...What?

From the beginning?

"...Yes, I’m Siegfried. Pardon me, have we met before?"

Helen, perched on my shoulder, nodded in satisfaction.

"No, I’m Erica, an alchemist at the Riet branch of the Alchemists’ Guild. I’m here to pick you up, Siegfried."

A colleague...

I’m glad we started over...

"Thank you. But my work starts tomorrow, right?"

"I heard you’re from the capital. You’re probably not familiar with this town, so I thought I’d show you around."

Erica smiled.

Then, she started to distort.

"Oh... Helen, everything’s distorting in front of me."

"Sieg! Stay calm! Don’t purify it!"

Is this the difference in human nature?

I wouldn’t even think of such a thing...

"Are you okay? Do you feel unwell? Maybe from the long journey?"

"N-no, I’m fine. Sorry, could you show me to the branch office? I want to greet the branch manager."

"Sure. This way."

Erica smiled and nodded, then started walking, so we followed her.

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