Chapter 93

Leaving the head office room, I descended the stairs.

When I reached the third floor, I knocked on a certain door.

"Y-Yes?"

"Who is it?"

This voice... is it Dorothea?

I opened the door and peered inside.

There, I saw Therese working at her desk, and a crow perched on the desk lamp.

Since Dorothea is here, it seems Chris hasn't returned from her business trip yet.

"Hey, looks like you made it back safely."

"Oh, Sieg... "

"Sieg, isn't it? It's been a while."

"A while? We met a few days ago."

"A few days is a long time... Master Chris... Kaah..."

Such a sad cry...

Chris, get back here soon.

Even the usually noisy Dorothea is completely down.

"You don't look so good... and Therese, you don't seem to be doing well either. Your eyes look dead."

She's always gloomy, but she seems even more down than before.

"I've been busy... I worked through the night yesterday."

That's tough.

"Want a potion?"

"Please..."

I closed the door and went to Therese, placing the special potion I made on her desk.

"Here."

"Thank you..."

Therese downed the potion in one go.

"What about your apprentice? They should help you in times like this."

"I let them rest because they have an exam tomorrow. I want them to focus on that."

Ah, that makes sense.

"What level are they?"

"Level 9, so they're taking the Level 8 exam."

Like Adelheid.

"Are they talented?"

"Yeah, they're much more talented than me."

I can't really trust what this humble and self-deprecating person says.

"I see... Well, my team is also taking the exam, so I hope we all do well."

"Um... Sieg, why are you here? Did you come to see me... No, that's impossible."

Sorry, but I didn't come to see you, and I have no intention of visiting the other senior disciples or apprentices.

"I have a small favor to ask. Do you have any spare thunderstones?"

"Thunderstones? I think we do have some."

Of course, this is the head office.

It's different from our place.

"Actually, the head office received a request from His Majesty to make a magic sword."

"His Majesty... Wait, the King!? Oh my..."

She's weak when it comes to status.

"Yeah. I'm here to help with that."

"Oh, I see. I thought you came to accompany your apprentice for the exam."

I had no intention of accompanying them.

"Well, I'm here to help with that. I need thunderstones as materials for the magic sword."

"Sure, but we don't have enough people to extract the elements or enchant them."

What?

"Who are you talking to? What's the highest level in your team?"

"It's me, Level 4..."

You...

You really are the ace.

"I know you're busy. I'll do it, so it's fine."

I can't ask a senior disciple in this state to do it.

"Right... By the way, Sieg, you're good at enchanting, right?"

"That's right. So, just giving me the materials is enough."

"Got it. Let's go to the workshop. They should be there."

Therese stood up.

"Will Dorothea wait here?"

"I'll go... Haah..."

She's really down.

Even Helen, who used to argue with her a lot, wouldn't be this quiet.

"Come here."

When Therese called, Dorothea perched on her shoulder.

They really are a gloomy pair, but I won't say it.

"Therese, I'm counting on you."

"Okay. This way."

We left the room and walked down the corridor.

When we entered a room at the back, we arrived at the shared atelier of the magic stone production team, which I've visited a few times.

The room was reasonably spacious, and two women were working, looking busy.

"Good work."

When Therese greeted them, the two women turned around.

"Oh, Therese."

"Good work, Therese."

They must be a junior and a senior.

"Sorry, but the head office ordered us to share some thunderstones."

Ah...

"And iron ore too."

"Ah, right. Is that okay?"

Therese asked the senior woman for confirmation.

"Well, if the head office says so, it's fine. Take what you need."

"Thank you."

"Um, Marta, where are the thunderstones?"

The senior asked the junior.

"Over there."

The junior, Marta, stood up and walked to the back, and we followed her.

We arrived in front of several wooden boxes containing various magic stones.

"These are the thunderstones, and these are the iron ores."

The junior pointed to the boxes alternately.

"Therese, you can appraise them, right? Help me."

"Sure."

"Then, take care of the iron ores. Focus on quality."

"Got it. It's a request from His Majesty, after all."

We sat down and started selecting.

"Sieg... Didn't you transfer to Riet?"

"Here to help the head office. I have an apprentice."

"Hmm..."

What? What's with this person?

Do I know her?

"Do you have a problem?"

"Not really, but I was just wondering... Sorry?"

Eh...

Did I do something?

Wait... Marta, right?

Marta from the magic stone production team... Ah, the classmate Adelheid mentioned on the airship.

"It's not bad. I came for an important job. But, Marta, aren't you taking the exam tomorrow?"

"I'm skipping it this time. I couldn't find enough time to study and don't feel confident."

It's that busy here...

"Well, it's best to go at your own pace. By the way, you might know, but Adelheid is here."

"I heard from a call. She invited me to have a meal, but it seems a bit difficult."

It's definitely Marta, my classmate.

Phew...

But I don't recognize her at all.

Still, I've been here a few times, so we must have met before.

"Don't overdo it. Your health is your capital. Ah, do you need a potion?"

"Sieg's potions work well..."

Therese suggested with a slightly dangerous smile.

"N-No, I'll pass. It's not that bad..."

Is it being seen as a suspicious potion?

"Well, I won't force you. But, Adelheid won't be leaving right after the exam. You could at least have lunch with her. I'm saying this, but friends are important."

"It's strange to hear that from Sieg..."

"Finally, a social misfit realizes that one can't live alone..."

The gloomy duo, they're noisy.

"You guys have no friends either... What's wrong?"

Marta has a strange look on her face.

"No... Sieg, have you changed?"

I don't know.

"You can greet and chat now."

Maybe it's all thanks to that pickup book.

Thanks to everyone's support, this work will be published in book form.

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I will keep you updated on the book information.

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