Chapter 81

When I called headquarters, I could hear the ringing tone.

"This is the Alchemists' Association Headquarters."

The ringing stopped, and the voice of the receptionist from the other day came through the receiver.

"This is Siegwart from the Riet branch. Connect me to the Chief, please."

"Understood. Please hold for a moment."

As the receptionist said this, the line switched to hold music.

"Sieg, do you want sugar?"

"I prefer honey."

"Ms. Leonora asked Sieg-sama!"

How noisy...

"I don't need sugar... Hello?"

I called out when the hold music stopped.

"Sieg? What's this about sugar?"

It was the Chief.

"It's about tea. I'm calling from a colleague's house because I don't have a phone. The branch's phone was also burned."

"Ah, I see. Why don't you buy a phone? You should have enough savings for that."

"Who would I call?"

"......You can call anytime."

I'm not calling.

Don't pity me.

"Anyway, the branch chief said to call. It seems there's an issue with the branch."

"Yes, it's a serious matter. It seems the local king is getting too full of himself. That's why I hate fools."

Normally, someone close would stop them. A typical fool surrounded by yes-men.

"Indeed. We need to restore the burned branch. Is it possible?"

"It's impossible. It's completely burned. We need to rebuild it."

"I see... I'll send someone over. Please explain the situation to them."

Who's coming?

"Please do it soon. We can't work."

"Probably there won't be much work anyway. Why don't you take a break?"

"I can't. We're finally getting back on track and regaining trust."

I'm not lying, but more importantly, leaving the fire site as it is would be bad. After all, our house is behind it, and I can't help but see it when I open the front door. Adel might not care much since she just arrived, but Erica and Leonora are not in a good mood.

"I see... Then, I'll hurry. By the way, do you have any requests?"

"We're having a meeting with four people and making floor plans."

"New construction, huh? You're really excited..."

That's good, right?

"It's for the mental health of the staff. Some of the long-term staff were crying."

They weren't crying, though.

"Hmm... I see. Pass it on to the person in charge."

"Ah, and one more thing. Please make it fireproof."

"Ah... That makes sense. I understand your feelings. Pass that on to the person in charge too."

There, there.

"Then, I'll leave it to you. Oh, and Dorothee, Chris's familiar, is still here. Could you arrange for her to be picked up? She says flying back to the capital is tiring."

"Dorothee? Ah... Chris's Hysteric Glass..."

"Who's hysterical? She's smarter than your stupid vulture!"

You heard that clearly...

"Who's stupid, you Hysteric Glass?"

This voice belongs to Karlsten, the Chief's familiar, a vulture.

"You, you!"

"Dorothee, what's wrong? Don't flap your wings inside the house. Feathers..."

Dorothee's black feathers were falling on the floor.

"Sorry."

Dorothee, who likes blondes, apologized sincerely.

"Chief, don't provoke the familiars. They don't get along."

"Ah, right. Karlsten, go for a walk in the sky."

"Sure."

Birds don't get along with each other either.

"Anyway, please take Dorothee back. By the way, where's Chris?"

Dorothee is calm in front of Chris, so it would be good if he came.

"He's on a business trip and hasn't returned yet. If Dorothee is there, I'll send one of our people...?"

One of our people?

A colleague?

"Anyone is fine, but please send someone competent. A talkative person is a waste of time."

"Hmm... Well, considering the situation. Got it. By the way, can you come here for a bit?"

Huh?

"Why? Are you transferring to the capital?"

"No way. You said you'd work until the Riet branch is back to normal."

I did say that.

But it burned down.

"Then, what's the matter?"

"I have a job for you."

"What is it? Something quick, please."

"Actually, the Emperor asked me to make a magic sword. I'm good at making staffs, but I have no interest in swords, so I don't know how to make them."

A magic sword?

"The Emperor wants a magic sword? For what?"

"You made a magic sword for Adel's grandfather, right?"

What?

"No, I've never met Adel's grandfather. I don't even know his name or face..."

"Ah... You received a request for a magic sword from a colonel in the Riet army, right?"

I remember that.

It was a request to make up for a major's misconduct.

"I accepted it. I made an A-rank fire magic sword."

"A-rank...?"

"I wanted to improve my reputation. I'm actually good at making magic swords."

They look cool.

"That's it. That magic sword was given to a field marshal, who is Adel's grandfather."

What?

"Is Adel's grandfather that important? I heard he's just a minor noble from the countryside?"

"Rank in the military doesn't depend on status. It's about strength."

Hmm...

Is Adel's boldness despite her fear of even touching fish inherited from her grandfather?

"So why the Emperor? Did he want one?"

"It seems Adel's grandfather was very pleased with the magic sword you made and boasted about it everywhere. The Emperor heard about it."

They're both kids.

Like elementary school students.

"Stupid. So he asked your master, the Chief, to make a better magic sword?"

"Exactly. He thinks, as a master, you can naturally do it. He doesn't understand anything."

He doesn't understand.

Alchemists have their own specialties and preferences. For example, Erica is good at making bricks and ingots, and Leonora likes making medicine. Alchemists have their own fields of expertise, which become more pronounced the higher they go.

"Help me?"

"Please. I'm good at enchantments, but I've never touched a magic sword."

The Chief would be like that.

Most people who like swords are men.

"When? I can't leave now."

"There's the National Alchemist Exam next weekend. Come then. Your apprentices will be taking the exam, right?"

Ah, that time.

"Can I leave the branch?"

"There's no branch, is there?"

Well, that's true, but he doesn't understand people's feelings.

"Sure, but I'll be back in 2-3 days."

"Okay, thanks. Make it in 2-3 days."

He wants me to do everything...

Can it be done in 2-3 days?

It's impossible, right?

"I'll charge for the subcontracting."

"I'll give you an extraction machine and a disassembly machine. Better ones than the burned ones."

Hmm.

That's good.

"Alright."

"Sure. Thanks."

The Chief said this and hung up.

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