Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 132

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

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.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 131

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

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.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 130

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

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.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 129

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

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.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 128

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

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.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 127

Previous chapter Index Next chapter

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Seven: Successful Creation

“Ms. Karen, it seems the time has finally come for us to discuss alchemy together!”

At night, when Karen returned to the alchemy workshop, Yuluyana was waiting for her. Karen said with a wry smile:

“Master. I’d love to talk with you, but I have to participate in the dungeon investigation, and since I don’t know how long it will take, I need to make a large quantity of fever-reducing potions for the children suffering from the Bloodline Blessing before I go.”

Karen herself had many things she wanted to discuss with Yuluyana for research purposes. But the Gubert Trading Company was obstructing that. However, even if she hadn’t been recommended by the Gubert Trading Company, she probably would have ended up participating anyway for Waltride’s sake, since Waltride was participating.

“Then let’s talk while you make them!”

“It’s… not impossible, but won’t the quality drop?”

“I’ll also teach you how to make various potions that will be useful for dungeon expeditions! Let’s talk! With me!”

Yuluyana really wanted to talk with Karen. For him, alchemy was more important than anything else, and everything else didn’t matter. Karen proceeded with preparations for potion creation while asking casually:

“What do you want to talk about with me, Master?”

“About the ‘understanding’ that became the reason you ascended a step.”

“…How do you know that ‘understanding’ was the reason I ascended a step? Other people think it’s proof that the goddess recognized my protest against the Gubert Trading Company.”

Karen knew such rumors were circulating, yet she let them spread without denying them—because she was angry too.

“Well, you’re an alchemist. When it comes to ascending steps, it’s always due to ‘understanding’ of alchemy. So what exactly did you ‘understand’?”

Yuluyana asked with an excited expression. Karen opened her mouth to answer that question—and closed it.

“…Um.”

For some reason, she didn’t want to say it. Yuluyana was her alchemy master, and as his disciple, Karen should tell him about her alchemical situation and seek his guidance. Even when she opened her mouth, no words came out. It wasn’t that she couldn’t say it. If she wanted to say it, she probably could. The herbs had transformed—into something other than potions.

And yet, that simple fact was something she just couldn’t bring herself to say.

“Hmm. You really did ascend a step through ‘understanding.’”

“Master? Um, what do you mean by that?”

“I think you’ll understand if you think about it a little, Ms. Karen. You ascended a step through ‘understanding’—meaning that ‘understanding’ has enough value to allow one to ascend a step. The goddess is stopping you from carelessly spreading something of such value.”

“The goddess is stopping me?”

“We call it the ‘goddess’s restriction.’ I don’t recommend breaking through that restraint. It means going against the goddess’s will.”

Karen fell silent. And then she immediately opened her mouth about a different matter:

“So that’s why knowledge is kept secret? Knowledge is something that should deepen the more it spreads.”

“I don’t know if it deepens, but I think you’re right with that way of thinking.”

“The access restrictions on reading academic papers as well?”

“Yes. Although there are the goddess’s restrictions, they become looser for documents. The goddess also permits those who absolutely cannot reach understanding on their own to receive help from documents. However, if you try to read documents to gain knowledge beyond your capacity, your eyes will slide right over them.”

“I’m hearing about this for the first time…”

When Karen said this in amazement, Yuluyana grinned broadly.

“It’s a truth of the world that only those who have ascended a step of understanding are permitted to know! Welcome, Ms. Karen. I thought you would eventually come to this side.”

Even though she was busy, Karen nodded in bewilderment, thinking it was good to know this, even if it meant stopping her work. The truth of the world—the world’s secrets. Karen had touched them. That’s why the goddess permitted her to ascend a step.

With the sensation of crossing a great line, Karen shivered. The depths of her chest were bubbling with heat. She wanted to use that heat for something immediately.

“Please try making a healing potion, Ms. Karen. Before making potions for work, let’s accurately measure your current abilities.”

“Yes, Master.”

Karen nodded obediently and began making a healing potion. A healing potion made using herbs that Harald had gathered, following the usual procedure. Yuluyana narrowed his eyes behind his appraisal mirror glasses and grinned.

“—Magnificent, Ms. Karen.”

“No way.”

Karen also hurriedly appraised the healing potion she had created with her appraisal mirror and was speechless for a while.

Herbal Potion

Healing Effect (Medium)

“…A medium healing potion.”

“Normally, to become able to make medium healing potions, one must first find a magical ingredient that resonates with one’s own magical power to amplify the potion’s strength. To think you made a medium healing potion by yourself! Ms. Karen, you are indeed different from other humans in some way!”

After praising Karen unreservedly, Yuluyana looked toward the door with half-closed eyes.

“Which makes it all the more regrettable that you keep someone near who shouldn’t be kept close, wasting time on him.”

When Karen looked in that direction too, Harald was standing frozen by the alchemy workshop door. In his hands was a tray with two cups on it. He had probably brought tea for Karen and Yuluyana, who were doing alchemy until late at night.

“Master, Harald helps me. You must have assistants too, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, but they’re not useless people without magical power.”

“Because he has almost no magical power, I can entrust him with herb gathering! Besides, Harald can do anything that doesn’t require magical power!”

“I think what can be done without magical power is limited.”

When Karen glared at Yuluyana with a sullen expression, Yuluyana sighed and backed down. Yuluyana and Harald were always like this. He was just indulgent toward Karen, so he allowed Karen’s selfishness. He wasn’t accepting Karen’s words. Karen sighed inwardly.

“Harald, give me the tea. I was just getting thirsty.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Thank you for bringing it. This is honey lemon water, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Um, I was taught that it’s effective for fatigue recovery.”

When Harald recited what he had learned from Karen while shrinking back, Yuluyana snorted through his nose.

“That’s only when it’s made into a potion.”

“No, Master. Even without making it into a potion, honey lemon has fatigue recovery effects!”

“Hmm, is that so?”

After giving Yuluyana, who had made the mistake yet responded with feigned disinterest, a sharp glance, Karen took a sip of the honey lemon water—and her eyes widened.

“This… did you put magical power into it while pouring the hot water?”

“Yes. Um, I tried to learn with my body exactly what you taught me, Lady Karen… er, my magical power is small, so I couldn’t put much in… was it bad?”

Without even looking at Harald, who asked fearfully while minding Yuluyana’s gaze, Karen was staring intently at the contents of the cup in her hand.

“Um, Lady Karen?”

Karen took another sip of the honey lemon water, confirmed the clearly different effect on her body compared to when she drank ordinary honey lemon water, then peered at the honey lemon water through her appraisal mirror and gasped.

Karen was more astonished than when her own healing potion had become a medium healing potion.

Honey Lemon Water

Recovers fatigue (Small)

The honey lemon stock was something Karen had made. But that was still just material whose effects hadn’t been determined.

From there, whether to make it into a fever-reducing potion, an immune-boosting potion, or a fatigue recovery potion would be determined by infusing magical power from now on. Even though Karen hadn’t infused magical power, the honey lemon water that Harald had made had become a non-magical material potion.

Why? How come? Karen’s head filled with question marks.

But more than anything, Karen’s eyes filled with tears of joy for Harald’s sake. Being stared at with teary eyes, Harald still didn’t understand what had happened and looked up at Karen with a blank expression.

Previous chapter Index Next chapter