Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 134

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Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Four: Dedicated Hard Worker

When she woke up in the morning, she opened the window and first let fresh air into the room while letting in the morning sunlight. She washed her face with water from the basin, wiped her face with a towel, brushed her teeth, and changed clothes in the blind spot by the window.

After combing her hair and getting herself mostly ready, Karen left her room as usual.

“Good morning…”

“Good morning, Harald.”

When Karen woke up and came down the stairs, Harald walked by unsteadily with dark circles under his eyes. She wondered when he had woken up—or rather, if he had slept at all last night.

There was no point in warning Harald, so Karen went to protest to Yuluyana, who was probably relaxing elegantly while drinking tea that he had likely made Harald prepare for him in the living room.

“Master, please don’t cut into Harald’s sleep time so much. Even when I tell him to rest during the day, he says he’s working and won’t take a break.”

Karen wanted to introduce a two-day weekend system, but Harald had reacted so violently against it that she had given up on the idea for now. From Harald’s perspective, trying to create days when he wasn’t needed seemed like some kind of preliminary step for Karen to fire him.

“I’m not forcing him to keep me company. Harald wants to learn alchemy from me of his own free will.”

“Lord Yuluyana is absolutely right. So please don’t worry about me, Lady Karen…”

Harald poked his face into the living room briefly, then wandered back to his housework unsteadily.

“Master, even so, please be mindful to ensure he gets enough sleep.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

“By the way, what do you think of Harald from your perspective, Master?”

“Regarding non-magical material potions, he can make almost any potion in the areas you taught him. This tea also has awakening effects. However, he still can’t quite make minor healing potions—he’s just one step away.”

Yuluyana had asked to use Karen’s alchemy workshop for Harald’s instruction, and since the alchemy cauldron had originally been given to her by Yuluyana, Karen had permitted its use while she was sleeping.

Even with instruction from Yuluyana, an S-rank alchemist, Harald apparently still couldn’t make minor healing potions. No matter how well one could make potions from non-magical ingredients, one couldn’t become an alchemist without being able to make minor healing potions.

Karen sighed and dropped her shoulders.

“I see… That’s unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate? That’s wrong. Harald’s magical power is below F-rank, you know? With magical power that’s practically nonexistent, he’s one step away from being able to make minor healing potions. Something like this normally wouldn’t be possible.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“Even your original magical power level of D-rank would normally make it difficult to create minor healing potions. Yet you can make fifty minor healing potions with that amount of magical power, Ms. Karen. That’s what’s strange.”

“So it seems.”

“I should conclude that you have some secret, and Harald has inherited that secret. Moreover, that secret isn’t restricted from being spoken about by the goddess…”

As Yuluyana sank into contemplation, Karen raised her voice a bit:

“I’m invited to the National Foundation Festival tonight! I’ll be going!”

Yuluyana—who sometimes waved his hand absently even when no one was listening—fluttered it dismissively now to silence Karen.

“Lady Karen, have a safe trip.”

“I’ll be late tonight, so I’ll probably stay at Earl Ehlertt’s estate, but I might come home, and if you are awake when I get back, Harald, I’ll be really angry.”

“Yes.”

“I know it’s pointless telling you, Harald, but still…”

Harald, who had come out to see her off, smiled wryly.

If Yuluyana told Harald to do this or that, there was no way Harald could refuse.

“This might displease you, Lady Karen, but I’m not being forced to keep Lord Yuluyana company—I truly am receiving instruction of my own free will.”

“That’s probably part of it, but…”

“I desperately want to become an alchemist, Lady Karen. I was someone who should never have been able to become anything at all—yet someone said I might be only one step away from being an alchemist. And that someone stands at the very end of this path.”

“Harald…”

Harald spoke earnestly to Karen.

Hearing those words, it was painfully clear that he truly wanted to learn of his own volition.

“I won’t cause you any trouble, Lady Karen. So please forgive me for wanting to do everything possible during this opportunity when the whimsical Lord Yuluyana is willing to teach me.”

“…I understand. But sleep at night. And eat your meals. If you don’t sleep and eat, your mind won’t work properly, and even if you study hard, it won’t stick in your head.”

“Understood, Lady Karen.”

Harald smiled and nodded with narrowed eyes.

Even as he replied, it didn’t feel like he was really taking Karen’s words to heart.

Both Yuluyana and Harald were good at giving responses, at least.

“If you don’t sleep properly and eat properly, you won’t grow big!”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sighing at Harald, whose expression had changed slightly, Karen got into the carriage she had called.

The carriage departed for the Ehlertt family’s estate so she could help prepare for the National Foundation Festival.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 133

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Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Three: Guild Staff’s Rules 2 (Natalia’s POV)

Natalia of that time had not a shred of humility and was far too blunt. The spirited adventurers didn’t mind even if she was cheeky, and the guild staff spoiled Natalia, saying that someone with that much strength of character was suited to be the Adventurers’ Guild staff.

She had memorized the entire etiquette guide for dealings with nobles, but when it came to forming friendships with peers her own age, she couldn’t tell what words were acceptable and what were not. From the perspective of boys and girls her age, she must have been an irritating presence—something the current Natalia could understand.

Besides Karen, there were other peculiar individuals who approached such a Natalia. They were people who wanted connections with the Adventurers’ Guild through Natalia, who was slated to become guild staff.

Marian was particularly easy for Natalia to understand. Born into a family positioned highly among the trading companies belonging to the Merchants’ Guild, Marian approached Natalia with the attitude that she was a person of equal standing in similar circumstances. She was trying to get close to Natalia—who had Adventurers’ Guild staff as parents and whose future was promising—to make connections. Even before entering the commoners’ school, Natalia had already anticipated she would end up dealing with such people.

To be honest, while she found it galling to be thought of as equal to the Merchants’ Guild, Natalia attempted to interact with Marian, thinking she was better than most among those she’d encounter at the school. As one topic of conversation, Natalia asked Marian for advice on how to make peace with people who might one day become adventurers. But the words that came back were of no reference at all. Marian laughed, saying she should just ignore such insignificant people, and if they interfered with her belongings, she should counter with the law. But from Natalia’s perspective, that wasn’t the Adventurers’ Guild way. It was a distinctly Merchants’ Guild approach—a merchant’s way of thinking.

Even if guild staff lacked the strength of adventurers, they had another kind of power—the ability to move adventurers’ hearts. After Natalia decided to keep Marian at arm’s length, it was Karen who reached out to her.

Initially, Natalia thought Karen also wanted connections with the Adventurers’ Guild. But Karen had simply approached her out of concern for Natalia’s isolation. When Karen first spoke to her, she didn’t even know Natalia’s background.

Perhaps because Karen’s father was an adventurer, Natalia quickly became close with Karen. From what she heard later, Karen had apparently frequented the Adventurers’ Guild from childhood, too. Still, Karen mainly interacted with low-rank adventurers while Natalia mostly encountered high-rank adventurers her parents were in charge of, so they had missed each other.

Natalia thought she had said many rude things to Karen as well, but Karen found such a Natalia amusing. She got angry together with her about the harassment, and when money was stolen and Natalia was about to skip lunch, Karen shared her delicious homemade lunchbox. When Natalia consulted her about wanting to change the situation, Karen was surprised, saying, "You wanted to change it?!" and gently taught her points for improvement.

Karen would have stayed with her regardless of whether Natalia changed. Because she could believe that, Natalia was able to honestly think she wanted to change.

Eventually, as Natalia changed, her relationships improved dramatically, and many people flocked to become close with her. Among them were those who had kept their distance from Natalia until then, as well as those who still approached her not for who she was, but for her family background.

Surrounded by many people, it must have looked to Karen like there was no longer any need to worry. Karen was also busy with her fiancé and other matters, so she tried to distance herself from Natalia, but Natalia chased after such a Karen.

Chasing after her, this time Natalia tried to help Karen—taking class notes in place of the dozing Karen, mediating between Karen and teachers who felt uncomfortable with Karen’s frequent absences.

When Karen’s dream became to be an alchemist, Natalia, who was familiar with guild systems, could predict the various difficulties that would befall Karen in the future.

Before she knew it, she was consulting with her parents about wanting to become Alchemists’ Guild staff instead of Adventurers’ Guild staff. Fortunately, her parents supported her, and through their connections, Natalia became the Alchemists’ Guild staff.

Unlike the Adventurers’ Guild, the Alchemists’ Guild was like sitting on a bed of nails, but she didn’t find it painful.

The lamp flame flickered, and Natalia’s reverie was suddenly interrupted. This won’t do, Natalia shook her head. In her hands was the statement the Alchemists’ Guild planned to announce. She had been reviewing it to ensure no disadvantage would come to Karen, but apparently, she had gotten lost in memories without realizing it.

When she looked up, the Alchemists’ Guild office was dark. The sun had set long ago. But there were still people scattered about. Guild staff were always stationed there in preparation for emergencies.

“To have the Alchemists’ Guild issue such a statement—Karen really is amazing.”

Reading through the statement again, Natalia chuckled softly. She had long agonized over whether to stop Karen’s devotion to Lyos, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. The sight of Lyos being helped by Karen overlapped with her own past self, who had been helped. Rather than feeling anger toward Lyos, who had abandoned Karen after being helped, she first thought that it was probably normal. Even so, Natalia had no intention whatsoever of behaving like Lyos.

“It was really good that I let that request through.”

Everything began with the request from Ehlertt. Even if Karen had hesitated to take that step forward, Natalia had intended to stay with her forever as she was. But Karen tried to change, to take on the request. Natalia decided to give such a Karen’s back a big push. As expected, Karen was flustered, but as a result, everything moved in a good direction.

“Natalia, it’s time to go home.”

“Mr. Gab, you were still here?”

“That’s my line. If I let you go home late, I’ll get scolded. Hurry up and get ready to leave.”

“Yes sir.”

One of the A-rank adventurer party members that her mother had been in charge of as Adventurers’ Guild staff. After Gabriel retired from being an adventurer, he chose to join the Alchemists’ Guild for his second career. Natalia secretly flattered herself that one reason Gabriel chose to become a member of the Alchemists’ Guild as his second career after retiring from adventuring was because he cared about her.

Of course, it was probably just that he felt like family toward Natalia, the daughter of the mother who supported the adventurers she was in charge of like family.

Could Natalia also support the alchemists she was in charge of like family, as her mother had? She was confident about Karen, but as guild staff, was she properly supporting the other people as well?

“If you’re walking me home, Mr. Gab, then I’d like to go on foot.”

“Hmm? Sure. But when you’re alone, take the carriage home even during the day.”

“Yes sir.”

Natalia replied obediently like a child. For now, at least. Someday, if she became a fine guild staff member like her parents. If Gabriel could acknowledge that someday—

“Hehe.”

“You’re in a good mood, Natalia. Well, your alchemist just made it to C-rank, after all.”

At Gabriel’s completely off-target assessment of her mood, Natalia laughed even more cheerfully as they walked together down the night road home, where spring’s pleasant atmosphere was beginning to drift in.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 132

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Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Two: Guild Staff’s Rules (Natalia’s POV)

“Mr. Gab! Karen accepted the Alchemists’ Guild’s proposal!”

“Oh, really! Her accepting our proposal means my meddling will be forgiven in return, right?”

“Rather than forgiveness, Karen wasn’t angry to begin with. The things that make her angry are different from those of other people.”

At that moment, she heard quiet whispers.

“She played it well, didn’t she? Who’d have thought that eternal F-rank would suddenly jump up to C-rank?”

“Still, she must have known that’s why she was watching over her. But how could she tell?”

“Must be family connections. Probably some special magic tool or something. Unlike us—studying hard, training, still stuck at D-rank but joining the guild to do what we could for alchemy—the ones with connections have it easy.”

Natalia glanced in their direction. The guild staff in the back of the counter looked startled when they noticed Natalia’s gaze after a while. Natalia gave the two of them a bright smile. The man responded with a sheepish grin, while the woman looked as if she were about to click her tongue.

Natalia sighed inwardly. If this were Karen, she could disarm people of all ages and genders with her smile. But when Natalia smiled, it didn’t work the same way. Women directed hostility toward her, and while she could mollify men, they became strangely familiar and even tried to touch her.

It never went as smoothly as it did for Karen.

In the past, she would have confronted them directly about what they were saying and given her honest opinion, enraging them. She wanted to think she had changed a little since then. But even if Natalia tried to change, they fundamentally didn’t welcome her presence—someone who had entered the Alchemists’ Guild through connections from the Adventurers’ Guild.

Like Gabriel, Natalia was also an outsider to the Alchemists’ Guild people.

“But Natalia, you have good foresight. Or maybe an eye for people? How did you know that girl would amount to so much?”

Gabriel spoke without seeming to notice the whispers. The Alchemists’ Guild was not a lenient place where one could be allowed to give support just for the sake of wanting to. So Natalia smiled brightly and said as she always did:

“I believed Karen would surely accomplish it.”

“I heard that she was once said to be a potential genius alchemist.”

Indeed, Karen had once been lauded as a possible genius. However, while she could make minor healing potions, she naturally couldn’t produce many due to her magical power limitations, which meant she was destined to remain F-rank for a while. Natalia, who had been by Karen’s side, knew this well.

Yet, in truth, it was simply what Natalia had wanted to believe. However, she didn’t say this and deflected the question with a meaningful smile.

People usually inherited the family business. Among them, those with special talents joined guilds to hone their skills and pursue specialized professions. Among the various guilds, the Adventurers’ Guild was particularly revered, followed by the Alchemists’ Guild. Those without family businesses, unable to find work, and lacking talent were destined to become low-rank adventurers.

In such a world, Natalia was destined from birth to become an Adventurers’ Guild staff member, as both her parents were Adventurers’ Guild staff.

Guild staff had the job of being in charge of and assisting those who belonged to their respective guilds. For example, even if Adventurers’ Guild staff couldn’t fight like adventurers, they were considered to have performed equivalent work as their partners. It was such an elite profession that only exceptional people could be employed, which was why most hiring was done through connections. Connection-based hires came in two main forms: former adventurers recruited for their experience, or family members of current guild staff.

Natalia was a special case who had been pushed into the Alchemists’ Guild through Adventurers’ Guild connections. Gabriel was also a special case as an alchemist who had formerly been active as an adventurer, both arrangements made by the current guildmaster of the Alchemists’ Guild.

Even with connections, it wasn’t easy to get employed as guild staff. In Natalia’s case, while she had originally been slated to work at the Adventurers’ Guild, she had been assigned numerous tutors from childhood and given strict elite education on par with nobility, with almost no time for play. Naturally, she had no friends of similar age. Her parents, who had been overwhelmed with their duties as guild staff, apparently noticed their daughter’s situation when Natalia turned fourteen and was about to come of age, and thought it was problematic.

Despite thinking it unnecessary, Natalia was persuaded to view it as a social observation and ended up attending a school for commoners.

Honestly, Natalia found it ridiculous. She was set to be employed at the Adventurers’ Guild in one more year and had already learned everything necessary for that purpose. She had been cherished from childhood by guild staff in the capital and high-rank adventurers. Why should she have to attend a commoners’ school now?

While boasting to her parents that it would be a complete waste of time, Natalia reluctantly enrolled in the school.

She was disgusted shortly after enrollment. Though her classmates varied in age, they clustered with acquaintances from before enrollment, and their future jobs were either undetermined, not particularly impressive family businesses, or they were headed for low-rank adventurer status at best. To such people, Natalia’s confirmed position as Adventurers’ Guild staff was apparently too dazzling, and she ended up being subjected to annoying gossip from early after enrollment.

Having been persuaded by her parents that it was social observation, Natalia attempted dialogue with them, though she felt they weren’t worth engaging with. Her approach seemed poor, and Natalia began experiencing harassment, like having her belongings hidden or water thrown on her.

It was then that Natalia began to dimly understand the true meaning of the task her parents had given her. As guild staff, she would have to interact with many people. Not just high-rank adventurers, but low-rank adventurers as well. She couldn’t dismiss them just because they were low-rank. Among them might be adventurers who could become high-rank in the future.

And those who harbored resentment toward Natalia and harassed her were people who might become adventurers she would be in charge of in the future. Yet Natalia didn’t know how to handle them. While she had boasted to her parents and thought she should solve this problem herself since she would become guild staff in one year, she couldn’t come up with a solution. Looking back now, Natalia could see that she had been far too arrogant then, but without that self-awareness, she was beyond help.

One of those who approached such a Natalia was Karen.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 131

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Now, there are images for Karen, Julius, Natalia, Sara, and Sieg.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-One: The Alchemists’ Guild’s Kindness

“Karen, did you forget to buy anything?”

“Hmm. Probably not.”

On the fifteenth of every month, a large market was held where many people came out from towns around the capital. Karen had come shopping in preparation for joining the dungeon investigation team. Tim was carrying the luggage. Since Tim was strong enough to match his high magical power, Karen didn’t hesitate to have him carry the luggage just because he was a child.

“It seems I can share the same tent space as Lady Waltride, and I don’t need to prepare a sleeping bag either, so I really only need personal items. They said I could just bring myself, but I can’t exactly do that.”

“I wanna go on the dungeon investigation too!”

To Tim’s eyes, they probably looked like a hero’s party. While it had been a bolt from the blue for Karen, she had come to think of it as a good opportunity. She had entered the shallow layers of the dungeons before. She wasn’t entirely uninterested in the deep layers either.

However, that wasn’t a place someone like Karen, who couldn’t fight, should venture into out of mere curiosity. If she went there by herself, she would lose her life. If she were to prepare thoroughly, she would need to hire guards, but it felt wrong to put guards in danger just for curiosity’s sake.

If it were necessary for alchemical research, there would be merit in doing so, but Karen couldn’t even tell whether it was necessary for her research at this point. However, regardless of Karen’s will, they were going to take her there. While the situation was ominous, she decided to gratefully use it as material for her research.

“I’m home!”

“Welcome back, Karen!”

“Huh? Natalia, what are you doing here?”

“I came because I had business with you.”

When she returned home, Natalia was standing in the entrance hall, and Karen’s eyes widened.

“Aren’t you still working? You usually send an errand boy, but you came directly—did something happen?”

At Karen’s observation, Natalia smiled brightly.

“While it might be fine for E-rank or D-rank alchemists, we couldn’t possibly trouble a C-rank senior alchemist to come to us.”

“So that means—ah, never mind the reception room. Come into the living room instead!”

“Hehe.”

Pushed by Karen into the living room, Natalia sat on the sofa and carefully took out a small box from her bag. It was a beautiful wooden box with mother-of-pearl inlay work.

“Congratulations on your advancement to C-rank, Karen.”

Karen received the wooden box and opened the lid. Inside, a jet-black brooch made of adamantite—the same magical metal as the alchemy cauldron Karen had received from Yuluyana—sat on a velvet cushion.

“Thank you… I thought I’d have to take another examination, but is this okay?”

“When Master Yuluyana has acknowledged you, who else needs to verify it?”

“I’m his disciple, though. Aren’t you worried about favoritism?”

“He would never compromise when it comes to alchemy.”

“That’s certainly true.”

The people at the Alchemists’ Guild probably knew even better than Karen that Yuluyana would never lie about anything related to alchemy.

“There are various benefits to advancing to C-rank. There were some for D-rank too, but since there’s a lot of overlap, I’ll skip over those quickly.”

“Ehehe.”

“First, from C-rank onward, restrictions on accessing research papers are lifted. However, you may still need to meet conditions set by individual authors to read them. Most can be resolved with money.”

Another benefit was the ability to purchase rare magical materials and tools from the Alchemists’ Guild. Purchases were apparently permitted from D-rank, but some restrictions were removed from C-rank onward.

Other benefits included being able to exhibit in the Alchemists’ Guild section of the annual Kingdom Exhibition, participate in the grand auction hosted by the Kingdom of Earthfill, and receive treatment equivalent to nobility in various places. Though Natalia explained everything, Karen’s eyes began to glaze over around the middle.

“If you’re likely to forget, you can read this booklet.”

“The benefits are really impressive and numerous.”

“You’re a senior alchemist now. Not everyone can become one. No matter how much magical power someone has, it’s common for them to get stuck at D-rank and never advance further. You’ve now become someone every country would want to recruit.”

“I don’t really feel it yet.”

“Well then, let me make a proposal that will make it feel real.”

A proposal? Karen tilted her head as Natalia smoothly presented a single sheet of paper.

“This is a statement the Alchemists’ Guild plans to announce at the inter-guild assembly on the fifth of next month. I’d like you to review it, and if there are no problems, we’ll announce it. By then, you’ll already have departed with the dungeon investigation team.”

Looking at the contents written on the paper Natalia had presented, Karen’s eyes widened.

“…A protest against the Gubert Trading Company? Why would the Alchemists’ Guild do such a thing for me? If it’s to curry favor with my master, I don’t think it would be very meaningful.”

While Yuluyana did care about Karen, he had absolutely no interest in Karen’s principles or assertions.

“It’s to curry favor with you, Karen. As I keep saying, you’re a C-rank alchemist now.”

At Natalia’s words, Karen looked at the text again. It was a protest letter about a C-rank alchemist’s house being burned down in a dispute with the Gubert Trading Company.

“I was still an E-rank alchemist when it was burned down, though.”

“But you’re C-rank now. It’s unacceptable for a C-rank alchemist’s house to be burned down over a dispute with a mere B-rank trading company.”

“Mere? If it’s B-rank, isn’t that higher than me as a C-rank?”

“The Merchants’ Guild is of lower status compared to the Adventurers’ Guild or Alchemists’ Guild.”

Natalia wore a smile on her bright red lips. It was a somewhat venomous smile reminiscent of the old Natalia. Natalia was born into an elite family with parents who worked as guild staff at the Adventurers’ Guild, and since she was promised from birth to become a guild staff member of the Adventurers’ Guild, she used to have a strong sense of being chosen.

Yet at some point, she had softened, and before Karen realized it, she had joined the Alchemists’ Guild instead of the Adventurers’ Guild. That same Natalia now wore a smile tinged with venom she hadn’t worn in ages as she spoke:

“It’s different from adventurers or alchemists who advance to C-rank with the goddess’s permission. To advance in the Merchants’ Guild, you don’t need any divine permission. The Merchants’ Guild is just imitating the Adventurers’ Guild and the Alchemists’ Guild. Their so-called B-rank is laughable.”

“Natalia, take it easy, okay?”

“I won’t say this in public.”

Compared to the days at the commoner school, when she’d boldly snap back at kids whispering about her family with, “Are you jealous because you’re from F-rank families?”, she had certainly softened.

At first, Karen had thought Natalia might get along well with Marian, but before she knew it, Natalia was always staying with Karen.

“Anyway, the point is that a mere B-rank of the Merchants’ Guild shouldn’t interfere with a C-rank alchemist.”

“Won’t this cause a fight?”

“The Alchemists’ Guild will handle it, so Karen, you can devote yourself to your research without worry.”

Rather than the Alchemists’ Guild, it seemed like Natalia would be the one taking on the fight.

“That’s reassuring.”

Karen chuckled softly and let out a breath.

“…It’s really getting to the point where even if they apologized now, it would be too late, but I guess it can’t be helped.”

Originally, it was the Gubert Trading Company that had started it all. For the sake of protecting those Karen would leave behind when she had to head to the dungeon, Karen decided to gratefully accept the Alchemists’ Guild’s kindness.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 130

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Chapter One Hundred and Thirty: Sudden Turnaround 2

Even so, Karen looked up at Gabriel. He was someone from the higher-ups of the Alchemists’ Guild whom she had only seen from a distance. It seemed he cared quite a lot about Natalia.

“No matter how cute Natalia is, isn’t there too much of an age gap?”

Gabriel’s eyes widened in shock as Karen furrowed her brows deeply.

“Like hell I’d lust after a friend’s brat! Don’t go imagining weird things!”

“Ah, so that’s the kind of relationship you had. My apologies.”

“Oh, Karen, really… It’s nothing like that with Mr. Gab. He’s a friend of my father and mother. Practically like family.”

While saying this, Natalia seemed unusually embarrassed, and Karen stared intently at Gabriel with dilated, pitch-black pupils.

“Hmm. I see…”

“Don’t look at me with those strange eyes… Instead of saying stupid things, go home quickly and devote yourself to training for Natalia’s sake. For some reason, Master Yuluyana, who’s famous for not taking disciples, has made you his disciple! Learn all you can.”

Karen didn’t reply and placed a bottle she took from her pouch onto the counter with a soft clink, her face composed.

“What’s this?”

“A medium healing potion.”

“Huh?”

While Gabriel made a puzzled face, wondering what she was talking about, Natalia’s eyes grew round as saucers and her cheeks flushed rose-colored.

“Karen, don’t tell me!”

“I became able to make them yesterday.”

“That’s so like you, Karen!”

Natalia jumped out from behind the counter and hugged her. Karen caught Natalia’s body and made a peace sign toward the dumbfounded Gabriel.

“If you had rejected my rank advancement application, the capital’s Alchemists’ Guild would have become a gathering of idiots with no discernment. Thanks to Natalia’s keen insight, that didn’t happen!”

“—It’s definitely a medium healing potion.”

Gabriel confirmed through his monocle-shaped appraisal mirror.

“Is there anyone who can testify that you made this?”

“I made it in front of my master.”

“If it’s Lord Yuluyana, there’s no doubt. Well, seriously?”

“I told you so, Mr. Gab. I knew Karen would accomplish something amazing!”

“So it seems. Hah… Indeed, thanks to your foresight, the guild’s reputation can be preserved.”

If they had rejected Karen’s rank advancement application for reasons like lack of experience or something, and then she fulfilled the requirements for an even higher rank advancement, it would apparently affect the guild’s reputation. Though Karen didn’t understand why skipping rank advancements was problematic, it seemed she hadn’t made Natalia’s efforts go to waste. That was all that mattered to Karen.

“You look like you don’t get it.”

“Ehehe.”

“For example, if you wanted to become D-rank but our guild obstructed you, and then you went running to another guild, dangling the medium healing potion that’s a requirement for C-rank. Wouldn’t that make it seem as if we deliberately tried to keep you from becoming D-rank?”

“Well, I suppose so. Though the actual reason was that my delivery record was too short.”

“That’s also a legitimate reason, but—if rumors spread that we obstructed the advancement of someone capable of becoming C-rank, it would be fatal for the Alchemists’ Guild.”

From C-rank onward, one became a senior alchemist. Those who embodied proof that the goddess recognized their ability to work for the sake of the country and the world. Anyone who interfered with them would be severely punished as someone who hindered national defense.

Gabriel let out a deep, deep sigh and looked at Natalia.

“…Natalia, you really, truly did well. Thank you for persistently persuading us yesterday. Thanks.”

Gabriel casually patted Natalia’s head with a gentle touch. Natalia looked quite pleased.

“Hehe. You’re welcome, Mr. Gab.”

Gabriel held his head in the same hand he had used to pat Natalia and groaned.

“Ah, crap. Why did things suddenly turn out this way?! We weren’t trying to stop the D-rank advancement out of malice!”

“I understand. There’s also the aspect that you were thinking of me due to my lack of experience.”

“But there are damn blockheads in this world who just don’t get that…!”

As Gabriel wailed, showing the sorrows of middle management, there was a presence of someone new entering the Alchemists’ Guild.

“Ah, there you are, Ms. Karen! How did your D-rank advancement go? If your application was rejected, why don’t you transfer to another guild with me instead of this guild that lacks discernment? Actually, there’s been a country that’s been recruiting me with good conditions for about a hundred years now.”

“There’s one of those blockheads I was talking about!”

Even if it was done with the other person’s best interests in mind, there were always those who would see anyone who stood in their way as an enemy. Teenagers in their rebellious years, and Yuluyana as well.

“My D-rank advancement went through! I’m about to be advanced to C-rank now!”

“Is that so? Hmm. Lately, this guild has been full of people obsessed with sticking to traditions, with no sense of novelty. I honestly thought they’d call you inexperienced, Ms. Karen, and refuse your promotion.”

“Lord Yuluyana, you were thinking such things…! No wonder you’ve been skipping recent meetings… You should have said something! Before abandoning our guild!”

“I’ve been saying it on and off for about twenty years now.”

“Ugh!?”

“What’s admirable about humans is their quick turnover, their ability to change. Those without that quality are meaningless to me.”

Gabriel’s cheek twitched at Yuluyana’s cold smile. Karen cleared her throat to mediate as his disciple.

“Master, I still intend to work hard in the Kingdom of Earthfill, so let’s research alchemy together in this country, alright?”

“If you say so, Ms. Karen, then I suppose I will.”

As Yuluyana broke into a grin, Gabriel rubbed his stomach with a haggard, pale face.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 129

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Nine: Sudden Turnaround

“Harald, please forgive my rudeness up until today. From now on, won’t you open up to me and talk about alchemy through the night?”

“Um…”

“Eh, what? What what what what what what? How did the situation turn out like this!?”

When Yuluyana woke at lunchtime and offered his apology, Harald, in his apron, looked lost, and Tim’s face showed sheer astonishment.

Harald gulped and nodded.

“A-All right.”

“Harald, you don’t have to forgive him so easily, you know? Master said some pretty terrible things, right?”

“Don’t say such cold things, Ms. Kareeen.”

When Karen advised Harald while arranging plates on the table, Yuluyana let out a pitiful voice.

“Master, I think you should apologize to Harald more properly!”

“Then, Harald, if there’s something you want, you should tell me. I’m prepared to show respect to someone who can make potions that I cannot make. I’ll give you something worthy enough for you to forgive me.”

“No, I’m used to such treatment, so there’s no question of forgiving or not forgiving. Please don’t worry about it. Just having Lord Yuluyana, an S-rank alchemist, say such things to me when I’ve only learned to make one potion is an honor.”

Harald seemed genuinely honored and had a face full of pride. Karen’s brows slanted into a troubled, almost sorrowful look.

“Ehhh, don’t say things like that.”

“Lady Karen, this really isn’t something for you to worry about.”

“Wait—you can make potions now?”

Having understood from the flow of conversation, Tim’s eyes went wide. Harald’s expression became tense. After taking a deep breath—clearly bracing himself for whatever Tim might say—Harald nodded.

“Yeah… I found out I could make them yesterday, apparently. I made one this morning too.”

“You’re amazing!”

Tim’s eyes sparkled without pretense. Though Harald smiled bashfully, he tried to maintain a stern expression and muttered in embarrassment, "It’s not like my magical power rank went up or anything.”

Yuluyana sat down in his chair and sighed while assuming a posture to naturally enjoy lunch.

“Sigh, I used to look down on humans, you know. But seeing humans who haven’t lived even a fraction of my lifespan making one discovery after another, I decided to change my way of thinking. That was when I was around three hundred years old… I might have been making the same mistake as back then.”

“You realized you shouldn’t treat people carelessly just because they have little magical power?”

“Yes. Even those with minuscule magical power still have the potential for discoveries.”

It wasn’t really about potential or not, but for Yuluyana, this was progress. Deciding to think of it that way, Karen stuck a little flag she had made into her omelet sandwich.

“Welcome, Karen! I successfully secured your promotion to D-rank in the meeting!”

When Karen visited the Alchemists’ Guild, Natalia greeted her energetically.

“Amazing! In just one day!?”

“You said you wanted to be promoted to D-rank quickly. I delivered a grand speech at yesterday’s after-work meeting!”

Natalia took Karen’s arm, led her to the counter, and presented a silver tray with a new brooch and booklet in front of Karen.

“With this, you are officially a D-rank alchemist.”

“Thank you, Natalia.”

“Congratulations, Karen.”

Looking closely, Natalia’s complexion was somewhat poor. Karen thanked her and picked up the silver brooch while feeling somewhat apologetic. Probably because she had ascended a step, Karen could now make medium healing potions. Therefore, even if Natalia hadn’t forced things through, Karen could already become C-rank, skipping D-rank entirely.

“By the way, what brings you here today?”

“Well, you see…”

The beautiful silver brooch bore the pattern of a serpent devouring itself. As Karen traced the Ouroboros mark while hesitating about how to bring up her topic, a shadow loomed up from behind Natalia.

“You are Karen, disciple of Lord Yuluyana, correct?”

“You are… the vice guildmaster?”

“Yes. I’m Gabriel, vice guildmaster of the Alchemists’ Guild.”

Gabriel, an A-rank alchemist and vice guildmaster. A combat-type alchemist who had fought for many years as both adventurer and alchemist. After retiring from adventuring in his forties, he was promoted straight to A-rank as an alchemist—an unusual leap, granted in part because the adventurer party he belonged to had been A-rank. Later, he was recommended as vice guildmaster.

There were traces of him having been handsome in his youth, but now he was an uncle with an unkempt beard. With a bear-like physique, he looked nothing like an alchemist. His stern expression gave off tremendous intimidation.

“Karen, to get you promoted to D-rank, our Natalia made quite a number of enemies.”

“Mr. Gab!? You don’t need to tell Karen such things—”

“No, I should tell her, Natalia. You get too heated when it comes to this girl. Now that she’s beginning to stand out, people have revised their judgment of you, saying your zeal wasn’t misplaced. But yesterday, you nearly ruined that reevaluation.”

“Um, what do you mean?”

To Karen’s questioning, Natalia looked like she wanted to stop him. But she couldn’t stop Gabriel’s words and could only wring her hands.

“Karen, do you know why you were able to remain an F-rank alchemist for seven years? Normally, someone judged talentless would have been made to quit long before.”

“Eh? Um, I heard that continued membership was possible as long as I kept making potions.”

“That’s what the rules say, but the performance of the guild staff member in charge of you—meaning Natalia—would continue to decline because of you. To prevent this, it’s normal to cut off any so-called alchemist who can’t even make it to E-rank. It’s better for the person’s future too, rather than clinging to a field they have no talent for.”

“Natalia, were the guild’s results bad because of me…?”

“I’m excellent, so I made up for it with other work. So you don’t need to worry about it, Karen.”

Though Natalia said this, Gabriel seemed to have a different opinion and shook his head.

“Yesterday, Natalia swore at the meeting that she would stake everything to make you a D-rank alchemist.”

“Stake everything…?”

“Natalia prophesied that you would rise to C-rank in no time. She declared that if this prophecy proved wrong, she wouldn’t regret losing all her positions. On top of that, she provoked us by saying that if we failed to recognize your talent and didn’t approve your promotion to D-rank, the capital’s Alchemists’ Guild would become a laughingstock as a gathering of blind fools. Many were clearly offended, but you were promoted to D-rank in deference to Natalia’s oath.”

“Oh, really…”

Natalia held her head in her hands. It seemed she had intended to hide from Karen that she had forced things through, if Gabriel hadn’t said anything.

“If you don’t fulfill Natalia’s prophecy, Natalia will literally lose everything. I’ll protect her, but my influence as an outsider is weak despite my position as vice guildmaster. The bigwigs who climbed to the guild’s upper ranks through proper procedures are displeased with Natalia for skipping steps. So, Karen—don’t disappoint Natalia.”

She wanted to be promoted to D-rank as quickly as possible. To fulfill Karen’s wish, Natalia had truly fought for her.

Not just this time, but probably all along, she had been fighting for Karen in places Karen didn’t know about. Even Karen being able to remain an F-rank alchemist was thanks to Natalia.

“Thank you, Natalia. …I’m sorry for always, always causing you trouble. I’m sorry I couldn’t listen to all the words you said, thinking of me.”

“Don’t apologize. I give advice, but the final decision-making power about your future always belongs to you yourself, so there’s no need for you to obediently listen to my every word. That’s natural, isn’t it?”

Saying this, Natalia chuckled softly.

“Besides, Karen. Your outburst at the Gubert Trading Company was cool… even though you completely ignored my advice.”

Karen gave a sheepish grin.

“…Sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology; I want words of gratitude. Make me feel like I had a hand in your great achievement, Karen.”

“Of course, when I become an S-rank alchemist, the greatest contributor will be you, Natalia!”

Because Natalia was there, Karen could take that step forward. It was undoubtedly Natalia who blocked Karen’s retreat after she had moved forward on drunken momentum. At Karen’s words, Natalia laughed melodiously.

“How honored I am. Those words alone are more than enough.”

At Natalia’s beaming face, Karen also broke into a smile.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 128

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Eight: Successful Creation 2

“It’s become a potion, Harald…”

“Huh?”

“It’s become a non-magical material potion! This!”

Karen pressed the appraisal mirror against Harald and tried to make him peer into the cup, but Yuluyana pushed both Karen and Harald aside, peered into the cup himself, and gulped down his saliva.

“This isn’t a potion that Ms. Karen made… right… If it were Ms. Karen’s potion, it would be a fatigue recovery potion, not a minor fatigue recovery potion…”

Yuluyana turned around and looked down at Harald as if seeing him for the first time.

“This, by someone with no magical power…”

“It’s not that he has no magical power, just very little of it, Master.”

Karen corrected him, had the bewildered Yuluyana step aside, and pressed the appraisal mirror into Harald’s hands.

“Alright, now it’s your turn to appraise, Harald.”

Having watched Karen and Yuluyana make such a fuss, he probably had some inkling of what was happening. Harald also swallowed his saliva and held the appraisal mirror over the honey lemon water he had prepared with trembling hands.

“Lady Karen, didn’t I just dilute the potion that you made with hot water…?”

Eventually, Harald said cautiously in a trembling voice.

“Then, bring the honey lemon you used.”

Harald brought the bottle of honey lemon while looking down. Even when they appraised it, nothing appeared.

“Even if the appraisal shows nothing, isn’t it possible that this honey lemon has already been influenced by you, Lady Karen, and started becoming a fatigue recovery potion?”

“Hmm…”

Considering Harald’s cautious words piled upon caution, Karen infused magical power to investigate whether this honey lemon was in the process of becoming a fatigue recovery potion. Yuluyana, who had been peering down from above, muttered quietly.

“It turned into a fever-reducing potion, right?”

“Which means it wasn’t in the process of becoming a fatigue recovery potion.”

“…Could it really be that I made this potion…?”

After a single tear fell, Harald’s tears wouldn’t stop.

“Congratulations, Harald!”

“Thank you, Lady Karen…!”

Harald crouched down on the spot and began crying out loud. Karen gently stroked his back.

Harald cried so much that he became unsteady, so after Karen forced him—who insisted he was still on duty as long as she was awake—into a room to sleep, Yuluyana spoke:

“Ms. Karen, you didn’t seem very surprised. Do you understand why he can make non-magical material potions?”

“I don’t know if this is the correct answer, but I have several theories.”

“…Could you tell me? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand it at all.”

Master Yuluyana, with a face showing he was at a loss, asked his disciple Karen for guidance.

“I think it’s because Harald has almost no magical power.”

“Because he has no magical power…?”

“Non-magical materials also have no magical power, Master. How well can you ‘understand’ that state?”

“I see. Understanding of being without magical power…”

“And understanding of the effects of non-magical materials, I suppose.”

“Understanding of effects?”

“Earlier, Master, you didn’t quite grasp that something like honey lemon has effects even before becoming a potion, did you?”

“…I do understand that it has effects. However, I also understand that those effects don’t have much impact on the body as they are. To give an analogy, if the effect when it becomes a magical medicine is one hundred, then as raw material it might be one thousandth, or even less than one ten-thousandth.”

“But for Harald, who has almost no magical power, it’s different.”

Seeing Harald affected by poisonous mushrooms, and actually eating poisonous mushrooms herself in a state with no magical power, Karen had been wondering about something. For people whose bodies were filled with magical power and thus unaffected by the poison of non-magical poisonous mushrooms, how much would the effects of non-magical ingredients actually work?

“Harald clearly knows which ingredients make him feel worse when eaten and which make him feel better. He must have lived his life knowing this painfully well. Even without turning non-magical materials into potions, he knows from experience that there are effects there. I’ve thought for a while that he probably ‘understands’ this better than anyone else.”

“Are you saying that you knew that magicless—I mean, Harald would eventually make non-magical material potions?”

Hearing Yuluyana call Harald by name, Karen grinned.

“I wasn’t expecting quite that much. But it’s a pleasant miscalculation!”

“I see… But how did you come to understand what it means to be with no magical power, Ms. Karen?”

“I—”

Because I have memories of living in a world without magical power in my previous life. But having no intention of saying that, Karen smiled and gave a different explanation.

“I sometimes use up all the magical power in my body. If you tried it too, you might be able to make non-magical material potions!”

“ That would be impossible for me.”

“Well, I won’t force you, but—”

As Karen thought it was unfortunate that if a long-lived being like Yuluyana could make non-magical material potions, it would be reassuring, Yuluyana shook his head to stop her.

“That’s not it. We fairy folk called elves die if we use up our magical power.”

“Eh?”

“Most of this body is composed of magical power. That’s why we’re born with large amounts of it. We simply can’t live without it in the first place. I thought humans were similar, but considering that there are those with so little magical power they’re called ‘magicless,’ I suppose there’s no problem living without magical power.”

“I-I see… I didn’t know that. I’m sorry.”

Though she hadn’t intended it, Karen had essentially recommended self-harm to Yuluyana. To Karen, who bowed her head, Yuluyana said magnanimously:

“No, no, it’s fine. However, you should stop recommending that others use up their magical power, Ms. Karen. Not just fairy folk, but humans can also die if they exhaust their magical power.”

“Y-You’re right. The reason people say using up one’s magical power is dangerous must be because some really can die from it.”

“Yes. Those unusually long-lived for humans often have parts of their bodies replaced by magical power.”

“Replaced by magical power…”

“That’s why many high-ranking adventurers don’t leave bodies behind. Haven’t you heard of this?”

“I-Indeed… I have heard that… but I thought that was just because they die deep in dungeons, so their bodies aren’t found…”

To Karen, who gulped, Yuluyana continued with a smile:

“They simply vanish the moment they die. Leaving only the parts of their bodies not replaced by magical power, and the areas where magical power remains most concentrated.”

“…That’s like how monsters die.”

Monsters also disappear after being killed, and some time passes. Otherwise, dungeons would always be bloody messes. What remains afterward are parts of the monster and magic stones. And if you’re lucky, drop items as gifts from the goddess.

At Karen’s words, Yuluyana’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Rather, when we see someone who leaves a corpse when they die, we fairy folk think, ‘they died like a human.’”

“Ah, that’s right. Elves also pass away in that way. Sorry, I keep saying one thoughtless thing after another.”

Even as Karen zipped her mouth shut, Yuluyana didn’t seem offended.

“No… It’s interesting to learn your honest way of thinking, so I don’t mind. I see, so this way of thinking that places such importance on bodies with so little magical power is the key to making non-magical material potions…”

“This is just my guess, though, so I don’t know if it’s correct!”

She emphasized this to Yuluyana, who was sinking into the depths of thought. Karen decided to end today’s alchemy and began cleaning up.

As she cleaned, her thoughts turned to Harald in the basement room, and once again Karen smiled warmly.

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