Chapter 85

Once again, the familiars started fighting, but when Erika brought honey, they quieted down, so I handed the new branch design plans to Therese.

"Hmm... So you're placing the atelier on the first floor and using it as a reception area, right?"

Therese looked at the plans and asked.

"There's no one at the reception."

Everyone agreed to improve that lonely entrance.

"The branch manager's office is also on the first floor, right?"

"There are five of us, including the branch manager."

There are really so few of us.

"What will you do if the staff increases in the future?"

"Even if it does, considering the size of this town and the popularity of the branch, I think it will be around 10 or 20 people. If it exceeds that, we can renovate the second floor."

This town's branch isn't very popular.

"I see..."

"Therese, do you know any alchemists who might come to this branch? Even someone without qualifications would be fine."

"I'm sorry... I only know people from my school..."

You don't have any friends...

"You're even worse than me. I have Adelheid, an irreplaceable friend."

"Whaaat! Worse than Sieg-kun..."

Do you really have to be that shocked?

"Sieg, Adelheid isn't from your school; she's your apprentice. You're even worse than Therese, who has many friends from her school."

Dorothee, who was drinking honey happily, corrected me.

"Ah, right. Therese, just asking, but will no one from your school come?"

"Probably not... Also, it's too far, and it doesn't have a good image. It feels like a remote countryside."

"Well, I thought the same before I came here."

"But once you come, you realize it's a well-developed and nice town. However, people in the capital and the north don't know that. Plus, there's the image of Riet as a place of exile because Sieg-kun was sent here."

Don't make it sound like it's my fault.

"Will you come?"

"Sorry... Personally, I think this quiet place is fine, but I'm part of the magic stone creation team. Right now, every town is busy with airship construction, and there's a war in the north, so I can't leave."

Magic stones are a general term for stones with magical power, like mana stones or water stones. Therese is good at enchanting and is part of that specialized team. Indeed, a 4th-class ace can't leave.

"Can't be helped..."

"Yeah. Also, I have one apprentice, but she's a city girl and definitely won't want to come."

If Therese comes, her apprentice will come too, naturally.

But of course, if I return to the capital, what will happen to the three girls?

I can't take them, can I?

This place will collapse.

"Alright, I understand. When you get back, please promote this town to your schoolmates or anyone else."

"Sure, I can do that. It is a nice town, after all."

This quiet and timid person probably prefers such a town.

"Back to the topic, is this design okay for the branch?"

"The head office has given the go-ahead, so it should be fine. Rubert said the mayor has also approved it."

Rubert mentioned earlier that the pressure from various places included our own branch chief.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you. How long will it take? We can't keep working in this room forever."

We don't do much work here, just studying.

"How long do you need?"

"Three days."

Normally, it would be impossible, but that's what alchemists can do. In fact, there are construction alchemists who can build a simple fort in a day.

"Don't push it... We need to procure materials, and we don't know if the specialized staff are available."

"Then, one week."

"One week... I'll submit the application, but I can't guarantee it will be approved."

"Submit the application in 10 days. But write in the remarks that excellent alchemists from the capital can do it in a week, but we'll wait 10 days."

I want to push it more, but Therese won't write it.

"Will you really write that?"

"The remarks section is for such things."

Not really.

"Okay, I'll try... What about the branch manager's approval?"

"I'm in charge of this project, so if I say it's fine, it's fine."

"Sieg-kun, you've become the king of the Riet branch."

"It's not like that. The branch manager is competent, so he trusts me with the work. A boss who doesn't give stupid orders is the best."

I had many such bosses in the head office and in my previous life. I often wondered what their thought processes were and wanted to peek into their heads.

"That's... well..."

Therese seems to be struggling with her boss too.

But unlike me, she doesn't rebel.

I don't know if that's good or bad.

"You seem to be bottling it up and getting depressed."

"I'm fine. I have an apprentice who listens to me."

You have a well-balanced apprentice.

So do I.

"Got it. Well, good luck."

"Thanks. Sieg-kun, it must be tough for you too, but good luck. I'll be going now... I'll talk to the mayor and the military and then head back."

"Already? Are you doing a day trip?"

"Yeah... I'm busy... I might have work when I get back too..."

The magic stone creation team is tough.

Well, there's a war, so it can't be helped.

"Alright, I'll leave the application to you. Dorothee, we can finally go home."

"Finally, I can see Chris-sama."

That's great.

"Chris hasn't come back yet..."

"Huh? Then I'll be alone at home?"

You'll be home alone.

Poor you.

"Um... Do you want to come to my place?"

"Does Therese have familiars?"

"I'm not a mage like Sieg-kun or Chris, so I don't have familiars."

Alchemists usually don't have familiars.

The three girls don't have them either.

"Then, let's go to Therese's place. This place isn't bad, but we need to go back to the capital to welcome Chris-sama."

Dorothee, who finished her honey, flew and perched on Therese's shoulder.

"Alright, Sieg-kun, see you later. Good luck with the exams, everyone."

Therese stood up and bowed.

"See you."

"Thank you."

"Take care of the application."

"Be careful on your way back."

Therese smiled and left the room after we said our goodbyes.

"Dorothee is gone too."

Leonor, who was fond of Dorothee, said a little sadly.

"She was noisy."

"Yeah. But she's cute. I want a familiar too."

"I recommend a cat."

They are very cute.

"No, I'll pass. They would definitely fight with Helen."

They would, wouldn't they...

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