Chapter 86

Therese and Dorothee had been back in the capital for a few days, and it was finally the day before they were to head to the capital.

Today would be their last study session, so they decided to review everything the three girls had learned.

Erika was weak in chemistry, especially alchemy reactions, and Leonora struggled with physics.

Adele was fine with both, but she was anxious about the practical exams.

However, they had focused on their weak subjects, so I didn't think there would be any problems.

Erika, who had been preparing for a while, would probably pass, and I thought Leonora and Adele were doing well enough to pass if they just did their best.

"Hey, Sieg, how about we go on a date in the capital the day after the exam?"

Leonora invited him with a seemingly relaxed attitude.

"Sorry, I'll probably be working."

"Work? The magic sword project?"

"Yeah. It'll probably take more than two days. You might have to go back without me."

After all, I can't let this one fall short of the previous flame magic sword.

I should have kept it at B-rank.

"Is that so..."

"I'm sorry, I'm a workaholic."

"You're still holding a grudge... Well, if it's work, there's nothing you can do. Especially if it's a request from His Majesty. As a noble, I can't even say, 'Which is more important, work or me!?' even if my mouth were to split open."

Being a noble is tough.

But I don't really need to say that.

"I hear that line sometimes, but isn't it comparing apples to oranges? Family is more important than work, and you work for your family, don't you?"

Well, I don't know, since I've never had a wife or children.

"You're right, but if you work too hard and neglect your family, that's putting the cart before the horse. Of course, there are times when you can't help it because of work."

Hmm...

"Troublesome."

"Don't worry. We're in the same workplace, so I understand."

Sure, sure.

"Um, Sieg, what should we do when we get back from the exam if you can't come back?"

Erika asked.

"Quartz is out of the question, so maybe recovery ointment? Tell Lutz to borrow some soldiers and go gather the ingredients in the forest."

"Ah, right. Then we'll do that..."

"Outside..."

"Are you going to hurt your back again? Maybe you should use the recovery ointment you made?"

All three of them looked a bit reluctant.

"If you don't want to, I can ask the branch chief to share some magic herbs. The headquarters have plenty, right?"

"Is that okay?"

Probably not.

"A little won't be noticed, and it's fine. No one will blame you. Even if the audit points out that the magic herbs are a bit short, you can just say it was a synthesis error. It's not a significant amount, so they'll let it slide."

After all, the audit focuses on larger projects and won't even look at magic herbs.

"Is that so? Then please ask for a little. I'm scared of going outside."

"I'm scared too."

"Besides, walking is tiring."

Leonora, you should exercise more.

I won't be responsible if you get fat in the future.

"Alright. I'll ask. Then, after the exam, make the recovery ointment. If I'm still here, just make it on your own."

Adele knows the recipe, and it's a low-difficulty item, so it shouldn't be a problem even without me.

"Got it. We'll do that."

"There's still time before the deadline, so take your time..."

While we were talking about our plans after the exam, the doorbell rang.

"Is it a customer? I'll go check."

Erika got up and went to the front door.

When she opened it, it wasn't a customer but the branch chief.

"Ah, branch chief. Good work."

"Yeah... Sieg, the alchemists from the capital who will rebuild the branch have arrived."

Oh! They're here.

"Finally. I was thinking that if they came while I was away, you'd have to deal with them, so I hoped they'd come quickly."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

Again, again.

You must be busy reading the newspaper.

"Well, it's just a conversation. So, where are they?"

"Outside."

We left Erika's room and went to the front of the branch.

There, five men were standing.

"It's been a while, Sieg. To be caught in a fire in a place you were demoted to, you really are unlucky."

One of the young men stepped forward and spoke.

"Not really."

Hmm... Who is he?

He's clearly giving off a familiar vibe...

"Hmph. Writing such arrogant things in the remarks... Thanks to that, our chief went ballistic, saying, 'That young punk!'"

The headquarters has many departments, which are divided into teams.

These guys are from the construction department, while I was in the development department.

So, even if we were former colleagues, I shouldn't know them well.

Yet, they seem so familiar...

We might really be acquaintances.

"That was a mistake. But if it's the headquarters' construction department, you can do it in three days, not a week."

"We could if it was just a matter of doing it. But it's wartime, and the cost of materials has skyrocketed because we're mass-producing airships. Without the chief's push, it would take a month. Your school's '24 hours in a day' is really pushing it."

"24 hours in a day," "168 hours in a week" are phrases the chief often says.

So, as his disciples, we often say them too.

"Without a branch, we can't do our work."

"You're as selfish as ever."

As always...

He must be an acquaintance.

But I have no memory of him.

I looked at Adele for help.

She came closer and whispered in my ear.

"...We graduated from the same magic school, the same year."

Classmates...

"...Classmates?"

I whispered back.

"...Different class. It's Wolfgang Barden."

Not classmates, thank goodness.

If we were in different classes, it's understandable that I wouldn't know him.

"What are you two whispering about?"

Wolfgang frowned, looking irritated.

"We're not whispering. We're just discussing something."

"Right. Wolfgang, how long will it take?"

Adele asked.

"I'd like to say three days, but we need to clear the debris and level the ground, so it'll take a bit longer."

"I see..."

Adele looked at me.

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Clearing the debris will take time.

"Right."

"Wolfgang, we're heading to the capital tomorrow, so please consult with the branch chief if anything comes up."

"Capital? Is there something going on?"

Well...

"Don't forget the state alchemist exam. Are you taking it?"

"Ah, right, it's the day after tomorrow. I'll take it next time. So, is everyone else going to be away except the branch chief? You too?"

"I'm not taking the exam. The chief has given me a job."

"My condolences. Being a disciple is tough."

Not really.

Since they're giving me an extraction machine and a decomposition machine, it's more like I'm getting a bonus.

"Since that's the case, I'll leave it to you. Make it a good one."

"Why don't you try to get rid of that provoking habit? Of course, we'll make it good."

I'm not provoking.

The construction department's workers are just noisy.

"Sure, sure. Well, see you."

"Alright. Let's get to work..."

The five alchemists, led by Wolfgang, started their work.

"Branch chief, I'll leave it to you."

"Got it. When will you be back?"

"The exam is the day after tomorrow, so we'll probably be back the night after that. However, I have a job from the chief, so it'll take a few more days."

"Hmm... Since you're going, Erika and the others might as well take a break and sightsee in the capital. There won't be much work when you get back, right?"

Is that okay?

"Can we make it a fake business trip?"

"You're going to make a magic sword, right? Helping with that is fine. As a disciple, it's only natural."

That's the idea.

"What do you think?"

I asked the three girls.

"We'll help, or rather, observe. And sightsee."

"Sounds good."

"Besides, we want to start working in the new branch as soon as possible."

They agree.

"Alright, branch chief, we'll be gone for a bit."

"Sure. You all do your best on the exam."

The branch chief called out to the three girls.

"Thank you!"

"We'll do our best!"

"Please take care of the rest."

We said goodbye to the branch chief, returned to the dorm, and resumed our study session.

When night fell, we prepared for the days ahead and went to bed early.

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