Chapter 92

"Alright, it's about the magic sword, right?"

The chief got to the point.

"It was a request from His Majesty. He's like a child, isn't he?"

"Adel's grandfather is the same. Those old men are really foolish."

I didn't say that, and I don't think that.

"Well, if it's a request, we can't refuse. So, what are the specific details of the request?"

"Just like I said before, it's to create a magic sword that surpasses the one you made, the Flame Sword."

"Is that all? Any other requests?"

"No. The request is simply to create a magic sword of higher quality than that one."

Really, he's such a kid.

"Just to let you know, the magic sword from Adel's grandfather, which was delivered through a colonel of the Riet army, is ranked A."

"A rank higher than A, then?"

A+ or S rank?

By the way, there's no such ranking system.

"Even if you make the same Flame Sword, there won't be much difference."

"Probably not. His Majesty isn't a mage or an appraiser. Something that's clearly better would be better."

I see...

"Should I make a Lightning Sword...?"

"Lightning attribute... Indeed, it's rare."

There are only a few in the world.

"Can you get His Majesty's confirmation on that? Of course, I'll charge a reasonable fee."

"I think the fee won't be a problem... But is it okay to make something like that? We are in the middle of a war, you know."

He's probably worried about being asked to make more.

"Just say that you happened to get some good materials and fudge it. Besides, Lightning Swords are hard to control and can't be used in war."

There are only a few in the world because they are difficult to make and don't have the corresponding effect. A Flame Sword is generally stronger.

"Hmm, you've already made a Flame Sword, haven't you..."

"Magic swords aren't something that can turn the tide of a war. It would be better to make airships."

Well, from what Therese and Wolfgang say, they are probably already making them. I hope the airship production team I was fired from is doing well.

"Maybe the military pressure will get you back into the airship production team. They are quite aggressive and might even start a fight with the August family."

"I don't want that. If I get busy, I'll just get fired again, right?"

When the war ends, the pressure will decrease, and I'll be let go again. Then, no team will accept me, and I'll end up back in Riet. What an idiot. If that's the case, I might as well stay in the white-collar Riet branch from the start.

"Well, maybe. So, how long will it take to make the Lightning Sword?"

"It depends on the materials. Do you have any Lightning Ore?"

"I don't know. Ask the magic stone production team. Therese's team."

They seem busy, and I might be unwelcome...

"I'll go to Therese's workshop after this."

"Alright. The reward will be the extraction machine and the disassembly machine, right?"

Oh, right.

"Can I also get some Magic Grass?"

"Huh? Magic Grass? Why? Isn't it sold around here?"

It's probably sold in the capital.

In the worst case, I can buy it and charge the military for it.

"It's not sold in Riet. There was a mistake by the office, and a large order for Mana Potions was given to incompetent civilians who wasted them, so they disappeared from the market. Now, I have a request from the military for healing ointments, but the Magic Grass I managed to collect burned up."

I really hate fools.

"Ah... That's tough."

"Even if we go to collect it ourselves, our team consists of two women who can run 50 meters in 15 and 12 seconds, and a timid woman who can't even touch a fish."

"Wow... That's bad..."

"They are like three Therese's in our team."

Therese can't do sports and is timid.

"Many alchemists can't fight, but this is extreme."

"Maybe the era of alchemists fighting is over. It's a complete division of labor now."

Just 10 or 20 years ago, alchemists would go out to gather materials and use magic or fight. Even this chief is an excellent mage and quite strong.

"Well, that's a good thing, I guess... I understand. How much Magic Grass do you need?"

Great. The chief is generous.

"Thank you."

"By the way, you can also take healing ointments."

"No, I'll have the three girls make them."

I don't want to lose my job.

"I see... It's training for your disciples. They are 10th and 9th level, right?"

"Two weeks from now, they should be 9th and 8th level, right?"

The results will be announced in two weeks.

"Hmm... You're quite confident. Are they that good?"

"Who knows? They are below me."

"You..."

The chief frowned.

"It's the truth. I don't think they are worse or better than my fellow students or the people working in this headquarters. The important thing is their motivation and drive."

They already showed talent by passing the 10th level. They could also do enchantments. Of course, there are differences in the amount of magic power, creativity, and concentration, but at this level, it's all about effort.

"Do your disciples have motivation and drive?"

"Yes. It's a kind of motivation and drive that I can't understand."

"What do you mean?"

"Erika wants to improve the local Riet. Leonora and Adel just want to do alchemy. That's their motivation. I can't understand it."

I don't care about my hometown, and I joined the Alchemists' Guild to avoid talking to fools as much as possible.

"Hmm... Sieg, you wanted to advance in your career, right?"

"That's right."

Not anymore.

The demon of ambition has left me.

"Past tense... Understand this: everyone has their own way of life, and different likes and dislikes. The same goes for work. There are those who want money, those who work for their families, and so on. Don't deny someone just because you can't understand them. To be clear, I don't understand the motivation of those three either."

"But you don't say it out loud?"

"Of course not. There's nothing more annoying than having your way of life denied."

That's true.

"By the way, why did you become an alchemist, Chief? You reached 1st level and became the chief. What was your motivation?"

"I can't tell the other disciples, but I'll tell you. I hate nobles. I wanted to be above them, even a little."

I can't tell the others. There are quite a few nobles, including Chris.

"I don't like nobles either, but that much?"

"I graduated from the same magic school as you, but it was terrible back then. I got 100 points, but a noble who got 80 points was rated higher."

What's that?

"Really?"

"Now, the power of the nobles is declining, and they are more rounded, but back then, the class system was deeply ingrained."

"Wow... My three nobles are nothing like that."

Leonora and Adel, of course, and even the branch chief, who is quite old, is normal.

"It's because of the audits. There are fewer people who do that kind of thing nowadays."

Well, there are still some.

August is an idiot.

"So that's the chief's motivation. But you've reached the top, haven't you?"

"That's right. I've advanced to a certain extent, and those old-fashioned ideas have decreased. That's when I started taking disciples. I guess I had the time and resources."

I see...

The chief has also become more rounded.

"That's why, Sieg... Take care of your disciples. You definitely wouldn't have taken disciples when you were in the headquarters. You took them because you had the time and resources. That's important, so don't let it go."

Oh... The master is sounding like a master. If those three girls take disciples in the future, I'll say the same thing.

"Understood."

"Good."

"Then, I'll go to Therese's place. Please confirm with His Majesty if the Lightning Sword is okay."

"Got it."

I stood up, bowed, and left the room after the conversation ended.

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