Chapter 72

After delivering the appraisal report to the official named Roubert, I walked around the town.

As evening approached, I checked into the hotel and looked out over the town from the suite on the top floor.

Then, the phone in the room rang.

"Hello."

"This is the front desk. There's a call from the capital. Would you like me to connect it?"

It's the head of the department.

"Please do."

"Understood. Please hold on a moment..."

I waited, looking out the window.

Soon, the hold music stopped.

"This is Claudia. Is that Chris?"

Indeed, it's the head of the department.

"Yes, it's Christoph."

"I see. You've arrived in Riet as scheduled, I presume?"

"Yes, I arrived at noon and completed the appraisal."

"Good work. How was Sieg?"

Every time he opens his mouth, it's Sieg, Sieg...

This guy really likes Sieg.

Well, I can't say I don't understand.

They say the more troublesome a child is, the cuter they are.

"He seemed energetic as usual, and as cheeky as ever."

We've known each other for a long time, but I've never felt any respect from him.

"That's good. If he wasn't cheeky, it would be scary."

Indeed.

He must be quite depressed about the demotion.

"Head of the department, he doesn't change no matter where he goes, in a good way."

He's too stubborn.

"Maybe. But we need him to change in a bad way."

"I felt he was trying to change."

I never thought I'd hear the word 'smooth' from him.

"I see... He put out a fire, so he must be trying to change."

I heard from the branch manager of Riet, who was in the capital, that a fire broke out in this town and Sieg stopped it.

I thought it was a joke...

"There's a special feature in the local newspaper here. They praise him as a 'Genius Alchemist of the Capital' and the 'Best Mage in the Country.'"

"Hmm...! Bring that newspaper back."

Sure, sure...

"He even mentions the principles of a state alchemist that you used to talk about."

Though he read it in a monotone.

"Finally, my words have reached that fool."

Well, in a way, they are similar.

They both refuse to change their minds.

"Maybe. Please read it in detail. I'll be back in about a week."

"Understood. How was the Riet branch?"

"Exactly as reported. There are four alchemists, and they were making Wednesday stones outside, so the branch was empty. It looked like they had fled in the night."

They should at least have someone at the reception.

"Even with the branch manager, there are only five."

"That's impossible."

"There are no volunteers, so there's nothing we can do. Sending someone by force would only lead to conflict with Sieg, and nothing good would come of it."

In this situation, anyone would think being transferred to the Riet branch is a demotion, and Sieg is there... It's tough.

"Can we rely on Sieg to do well?"

"He can. I don't order the impossible from those who can't do it."

The head of the department highly evaluates Sieg.

No, all of us, his fellow students, do.

And we also evaluate his personality very low.

"Is that okay? He looks down on people without hiding it."

"He's trying to change. Let's hope for the best. How were the colleagues? The three apprentices?"

"One is a local alchemist named Erica. She seemed like a kind and gentle person, so she should get along well with Sieg."

Well, more like she might ignore Sieg's insults.

"Hmm, I know Adele, but who's the other one?"

"Leonora von Letchert. She's the daughter of a noble from a port town in the west. It seems her relationship with her parents is a bit strained, and I couldn't get much information."

"Are they on bad terms?"

"Leonora wanted to become an alchemist, but her parents wanted her to marry into a good family. That's why they had a falling out. It's a common story among nobles."

Parents may wish for their children's happiness, but it may not be what the children want.

"Hmm... What about their personalities?"

Sigh... She sounds like a mother-in-law...

"I did some inquiries in town. Erica and Leonora have good reputations. Adele is new, so there's not much to say."

They were known for their beauty, but that's irrelevant.

"Good reputation? A woman's evaluation is often based on appearance, so it's not very useful."

"They seem to work diligently. They're bright and cheerful, and they have good reviews from the office."

I heard from an official named Roubert, and he praised them highly.

"Then there shouldn't be any problems."

Overprotective...

Why do I have to do a background check on Sieg's surroundings during this busy time?

"I think it's fine. They seemed to work well together."

"Understood. What about their skills?"

"Adele is 9th grade, the other two are 10th grade. But they were making Wednesday stones and can do enchantments, so they should level up soon."

Enchantment is a 6th-grade barrier.

And 10th or 9th grade isn't the level to do such work.

Well, it's probably because there are few people.

And Sieg could do enchantments since he was a child, so he doesn't know the norms.

"Because Sieg is their teacher... He might push them to get their qualifications."

I think so.

Qualification levels are a clear indicator, and the ambitious Sieg will likely push his apprentices to get them.

"Probably. That's all for the investigation. Is that it?"

"No, can you do one more thing for me?"

Eh...

"Um, I'm not free either..."

I came to this town because the head of the department asked me to investigate, but I really need to go on a business trip.

"It's fine. There are 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week."

A common phrase when issuing urgent requests...

"What do you want me to do?"

"Investigate the nobles and influential people in the town."

I can do that at the office...

"Understood."

"Oh, and while you're at it, investigate the three apprentices a bit more."

Mother-in-law...

"Understood. That's all."

"Yes, please."

I hung up the phone and saw a crow outside the window, so I opened it.

The crow flew into the room through the window.

"I'm back."

The crow landed on the table, flapping its wings.

It's my familiar, Dorothea.

"Welcome back. How are Sieg and the others?"

"They were working all the time. Crying Helen was sleeping."

"Did they talk?"

"They were talking normally. Even Sieg was talking. Maybe he likes kids like that? Girls who don't contradict him."

I wonder...

I've never seen Sieg talk like that.

"I see... Dorothea, I have a job from the head of the department."

"What is it?"

"An investigation into those women."

"Me? Do I have to do it?"

She looks really reluctant.

"I'm on a business trip. I can fly back to the capital when I'm done."

"That's so far..."

"There's no choice. It's an order from the head of the department."

I don't like it either.

"Sir Chris... You should tell the head of the department, 'If you have time to act like a mother-in-law, why don't you find a husband for yourself?'"

"I can't say that..."

I'd be killed.

Thank you for reading.

If you found this story 'interesting!' or 'I want to know what happens next!', please bookmark it or rate it with '★★★★★'.

Thank you!