Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 270

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Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy: Mushroom Sandwiches and Herb Tea

“Amazing! These are actually potions!”

In front of Karen’s tent. On the unfolded folding table, sandwiches and herb tea prepared for lunch were lined up for everyone. Petra examined them with a small monocular-shaped appraisal mirror and let out a cheer.

Just earlier, she had been grumbling while watching Karen make lunch, saying she should just leave it to a cook, but now she had performed a complete and artful reversal. The sheer sincerity of her delight was almost artistic in itself, and Karen watched her with a warm smile.

“So some effect got attached.”

At Karen’s words, Petra’s eyes widened as she turned around.

“Why don’t you know about it yourself?”

“I just made them while thinking I wanted everyone to be energetic—I didn’t intend to make potions. Well, if a good effect got attached, that’s good.”

“How is that even possible…?”

Petra looked visibly shaken.

Karen didn’t appraise everything every time she cooked. Sometimes she was hungry and ate while cooking.

Since Karen was currently accompanied by several nobless, even though things were casual, she really couldn’t keep them waiting.

“What was the appraisal result?”

“Apparently, they have an energizing effect.”

“Ahaha! That’s a vague appraisal result.”

“That’s because you made them that way!”

Petra was right. Probably, it wasn’t because Petra’s appraisal mirror was of low quality. Even with Karen’s mirror, the result wouldn’t change much.

The bread was sliced thin, toasted, and topped generously with mushrooms sautéed in trent oil with salt and pepper. They were autumn-flavored sandwiches layered with prosciutto and crisp lettuce.

“Lady Karen, so these are potions, correct? Are you sure it’s all right without us paying…?”

“It’s just lunch, so please eat without worrying.”

Next to Rosine, showing a reserved attitude, Petra had already begun praying, "I give thanks for the abundant blessings granted by the goddess.”

“Master Licht, please eat too if you’d like.”

“Julius is a noble, so hiring a cook is normal.”

“Pardon?”

At Karen’s puzzled expression, Licht snorted through his nose.

“Unlike commoners, even if you’re good at cooking, it won’t earn you points as a wife, you know?”

Licht apparently intended this as a warning to Karen.

Unlike the girls elegantly holding knives and forks, Licht grabbed the sandwich with his hands and bit into it boldly. After freezing for a moment, he chewed the lettuce with crunching sounds and said with a sour face:

“…Delicious.”

“I’m glad.”

Karen smiled brightly and carried sandwiches and herb tea to Urte and Sepl, who were at a distance.

The herbal tea was a chamomile potion, something she had already written about in her papers, so some people had come to know of it. Its effect was likely fatigue recovery.

“Karen, are you sure it’s okay to take that attitude with a noble?”

“Yeah, Little Karen. Even if we’ll protect you no matter what, still…”

“Ah, it’s fine.”

Karen smiled at Urte and Sepl, who spoke in low voices out of concern for her. Perhaps worried about Licht’s good hearing, their voices were frighteningly quiet.

“Those young ladies aside, that man is strong, Karen. Don’t forget that he’s a higher rank than you, than us.”

“Yes, Ms. Urte.”

Karen gave an obedient response and returned to the nobles’ table.

Petra said with a serious expression:

“Say, Karen, wouldn’t this go well with wine?”

“Good observation, Lady Petra. It would. But how old are you? You should refrain from drinking until you’re an adult…”

“I’m obviously over fifteen! You can tell by looking!”

“I personally believe one shouldn’t drink until twenty.”

That said, Karen herself had already been drinking since eighteen, so she wasn’t in a position to speak so pompously. And in this world, one became an adult at fifteen, and there wasn’t even a law against children drinking alcohol in the first place.

Rosine also blinked curiously.

“My, wine is safer to drink than water, you know? When I was eleven, our territory was attacked by a horde of monsters, and we barricaded ourselves in the mansion with the people, but at that time, even three-year-old children drank the wine stored in our house rather than stagnant water. Unlike water, it doesn’t spoil.”

“Please stop talking about things that make the meal unpleasant, Lady Rosine.”

Chatting noisily, the two noble girls brazenly entered Karen’s tent to search for alcohol. Since the person who prepared this tent—either Alise or Helfried—had thoughtfully arranged it, various types of alcohol were placed inside.

Hearing the girls’ cheers as they apparently found it right away, Karen felt warmth.

Licht, who remained behind, said:

“Those supporters over there are right, you know? Karen. You seem to be underestimating me, but even though you’re a B-rank alchemist, I’m a higher rank than you in every sense.”

Even though Urte had suppressed her voice to the extreme, he had apparently heard anyway.

Having conquered the twentieth floor of a dungeon, Licht’s ability was equivalent to a B-rank adventurer. He wasn’t an opponent that C-rank Urte or D-rank Sepl could stand against.

And even though they both were B-rank, Licht—an heir to a titled noble house with adventurer-level strength—was overwhelmingly above Karen.

“I think you should fear and respect me more, but could you tell me what you’re thinking, taking such an attitude? Alchemist Karen. Depending on your answer, you’ll find yourself in a difficult situation.”

To Licht’s threatening words, Karen said:

“The moment Mr. Julius introduced you to me, I lost every reason to fear you, I suppose?”

“Huh?”

Licht furrowed his brow, clearly showing irritation. She could even feel a slight pressure of magical power. But Karen didn’t feel frightened in the least.

“There’s no way Mr. Julius would introduce me to someone harmful to me. After all, I’m loved by him!”

“Wha—”

“So you’re definitely Mr. Julius’s friend, Master Licht.”

At Karen’s words, Licht’s eyes widened round and he froze.

“Maybe it started because you got hold of Mr. Julius’s weakness… but he must think of you as a very close friend, right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have introduced you to me!”

Karen said this proudly with a smug face.

Looking up at Karen like that, after losing words for a while, Licht eventually collapsed onto the table.

“…Damn it… I hate that you almost convinced me…!”

“Ahahahaha.”

Sitting next to Licht holding his head, Karen also started eating her sandwich.

The mushrooms sautéed in trent oil were lightly seasoned, making the saltiness of the prosciutto pair perfectly. Thanks to the boldly stuffed lettuce, her mouth felt refreshed, and it seemed she could eat endless amounts of the oil-soaked bread deliciously.

Completely at ease, Karen opened her mouth wide and took a big bite of the sandwich. Licht glared at her sideways with half-closed eyes, but Karen paid him no mind at all.

However, Karen soon straightened her back as if sensing something.

With Urte and Sepl at her sides—she saw Gottfried approaching.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 269

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine: What to Do with These Feelings (Licht’s POV)

“So, Master Licht, you’re not joining the hunting festival and instead want to judge whether your friend’s fiancée is truly worthy of him, right? That’s fine! Let’s stick together!”

“Could you stop saying everything before I even get the chance?”

Karen had been exactly right. However, it was vexing to have the person he was trying to test accept it. Still, he had no objection to that proposal.

Licht sighed and said:

“So, what are your plans for today? I intend to accompany you to see your true self.”

“Mostly business, I suppose.”

“Potions?”

“Yes. Under the pretext of selling potions, I plan to take in children with little magical power who are mistreated in the territories of the nobles gathered here.”

“Charitable activities before announcing your engagement to Julius? How touching. Are you already feeling like you’ve joined the ranks of nobility?”

Noble women often did charitable work. It was one means for those who were exempted from battle by bearing children but still wished to contribute to their territory or country.

When Licht spoke cynically, thinking she was imitating that, Karen’s eyes widened. Would she cry? Licht panicked slightly, but for some reason, she was impressed.

“I see, so that’s what people think of me…!”

“What’s with that reaction…?”

“It’s a secret.”

With a smile, Karen said so and proceeded to carry out charity work alongside her sales, just as she had declared.

With the earnings of a B-rank alchemist, supporting them might be possible, yet she continued to casually promise to take in more children. Was she planning to sacrifice the children’s futures to gain favorable impressions from nobles before her engagement to Julius?

—Still, even as he was suspicious, he didn’t truly doubt her.

After all, Licht had begun keeping an eye on Karen long ago.

Helfried Ehlertt had at one point set out to conquer the territorial capital dungeon. When he gathered people, his stated purpose was "for Ehlertt." Since the dungeon had nearly collapsed during the previous earl’s time, there was the perfect excuse of preventing a tragedy from occurring again.

However, everyone understood that the conquest of the territorial capital dungeon was for the earl’s son, Sieg. An enormous reward was promised, and from among the volunteers attracted by that reward, the strong were selected, and Licht was among them.

In Licht’s grandfather’s generation, the Zenkel family had still been a viscounty. However, his grandfather became an earl for the achievement of conquering a dungeon in the vicinity of the Ehlertt territory, and the Zenkel Earldom was given the land around that dungeon as territory, becoming the small lord of Zenkel territory.

Things were fine when his grandfather and that party were still active as a fighting force. However, maintaining a dungeon was originally a difficult enterprise. Originally no more than a minor vassal house, the Zenkel Earldom nearly collapsed under the sudden weight of responsibility; they even struggled to manage a dungeon cleared only to the tenth floor, and by his parents’ generation, it was already on the brink of collapse.

Dungeons weren’t simply better the deeper they were. If you conquered too much, eventually you wouldn’t be able to manage it. The fact that the Ehlertt Earldom continued to maintain countless dungeons, including the territorial capital dungeon within its territory, and supported a large population was a tremendous achievement.

Returning territory was shameful for a noble. Returning a title was also shameful. Causing a dungeon to collapse was a grave sin.

Licht had understood since childhood that things couldn’t continue as they were. His desperate training to become strong and volunteering for the Ehlertt territorial capital dungeon conquest party were for money. With money, he could hire people and attract adventurers.

To rebuild his territory, Licht had come to serve even an unseemly lord who made excuses that it was for his territory out of love for his child. The one who led Licht and the others was that lord’s younger brother, Julius.

At first, Licht had harbored resentment toward Julius too. However, Julius was strong. Inside the dungeon, constantly alongside the danger of death, his strength was such that one couldn’t help but follow him—eventually, Licht’s anger turned toward Earl Ehlertt, who had driven Julius to deadly ground for the sake of his own child.

Certainly, for nobles, it was standard practice to entrust decisions about their own fate to the head of the family for the sake of the house. Still, after having Julius risk his life in dungeon conquest, was he now going to have Julius stake his life again? When Licht learned that Julius was about to be used as bait to bring a commoner woman alchemist into the Ehlertt Earldom, he tried to storm into the Ehlertt estate.

Helfried, Earl of Ehlertt.

Despite not knowing what Julius had been through—!

It was Julius who stopped Licht from protesting. It was always like that. Far from finding being used by his brother burdensome, Julius even actively wished to be used. As if he thought that otherwise, he had no value in existing.

Licht was strictly forbidden from both protesting to Earl Ehlertt and making contact with Karen. To Julius, Licht was merely someone who had unavoidably conquered the dungeon together with him.

Licht knew that his trust, his respect, and his anger on Julius’s behalf were all unwanted interference to Julius. But even so, he couldn’t overlook it.

While being careful not to be exposed to Julius, Licht had independently gathered information about Karen. So he knew Karen’s character. She wasn’t someone who would use children and then easily discard them.

He believed he understood Julius’s feelings as well.

Perhaps because he had persistently pressed the matter, or because he had kept his reservations about Karen hidden on the surface—

Julius told Licht that he had, of his own will, revealed his secret to Karen, and permitted Licht to meet Karen.

Did he think Licht would leak the secret? That secret, which Licht knew Julius wanted to hide so badly he was nearly driven mad?

—Unable to settle his lingering unease, Licht chose to skip the hunting festival and monitor Karen up close.

He wanted to directly confirm what kind of person the woman Julius had chosen was.

And that woman, with whom he exchanged words directly, was strangely overfamiliar, rude even, and showed no fear of Licht at all—so much so that it actually made Licht uneasy.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 268

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight: Mutual Understanding

Even though Julius had opened his heart to her to such an extent, Karen still had a secret she kept hidden. But as Julius said, their marriage was approaching. Karen should probably come clean soon too.

“Mr. Julius, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about after the hunting festival ends.”

What did Julius think her talk would be about?

He gazed at Karen and narrowed his eyes.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Um, whether you’ll enjoy it is about fifty-fifty, I’d say…? I’m thinking of revealing my secret to you.”

Suppose someone claimed they remembered their past life… If one could believe that story, it would be interesting in its own way.

“You mean you’ll open your heart to me, right? Then there’s nothing but anticipation.”

Saying that, Julius took Karen’s hand and kissed it.

“Well then, I’ll be going, Karen.”

“Take care, Mr. Julius.”

“Hey, hey, you two. I’m going too, you know.”

Left out of the loop, Licht asserted himself.

Karen responded smoothly:

“Take care, Master Licht.”

“You could just call me Licht, you know.”

When Julius glared at him, Licht ran off laughing. Watching his retreating figure and sighing, Julius looked down at Karen again.

“That man was a party member when I conquered the dungeon in Ehlertt territory. Friend or not, I wanted to introduce him to you.”

Weren’t comrades who had crossed the boundary between life and death together bound by ties stronger than friendship in a sense?

Karen had now reached the point where she could be introduced to someone so close to Julius.

“I’m very happy you introduced him to me. It really feels like we’re engaged!”

“Well, as you saw, he’s a frivolous man. If he causes you any trouble, tell me immediately. I’ll dispose of him.”

“Ahahaha! You really do get along well.”

Julius smiled at Karen’s laughter and kissed her cheek.

At that moment, even the earlobe with her earring grew warm, and feeling as if both sides had been kissed, Karen blushed bright red.

“Kyaa!? Mr. Julius!”

“Fufu, well then, I’m off.”

This time, Julius truly mounted his horse and departed for monster hunting for the festival, leaving Karen behind. She watched intently until Julius’s figure disappeared into the forest.

Then, Karen turned her gaze toward the direction Licht had left. Though he hadn’t seemed like it with his goofy demeanor, he was apparently strong enough to take part in conquering the twentieth floor of a dungeon. Karen had wanted to talk a bit more to find out what kind of person Julius’s friend was.

Just as she was thinking that, the forest bushes she happened to be looking at rustled. Was it a small animal, or perhaps a monster?

Petra and Rosine, who had been keeping their distance, rushed back to Karen’s side, and from even further behind them, Sepl and Urte moved forward. As a formation to protect Karen was established, what emerged from the bushes was a human.

“Huh… Master Licht? Didn’t you just depart for the hunting festival—”

“I pretended to depart and came back, Karen.”

Licht said this while brushing off leaves stuck all over his body, apparently from lurking in those bushes.

“I wanted to talk a bit more with you, since your engagement to Julius has been decided.”

“So you pretended to go to the hunting festival to deceive Mr. Julius.”

“’Deceive’ sounds so bad.”

Though he smiled casually, Licht’s eyes were serious.

“I was just thinking I’d like to talk with you more as well, Master Licht.”

“Oh? We’re on the same wavelength, aren’t we? Maybe it’s destiny after all.”

Licht narrowed his eyes.

He had refined features, though not as much as Julius. With a gallant face giving off a unique sex appeal, he sought agreement with slanted eyes as if inviting Karen.

When Karen nodded, saying, "That’s right," the light faded from the depths of Licht’s eyes.

“We both love Mr. Julius very much, after all, don’t we?”

“…If you put it that way, I have no choice but to nod, do I?”

Licht let out a deep sigh and dispersed the flirtatious atmosphere.

Looking at Karen with light returned to his eyes, Licht shrugged his shoulders.

“It seems you won’t fall so easily, even if other noble men besides Julius make passes at you. I’m relieved for now.”

“I kind of understand now why Mr. Julius wouldn’t let me meet you until now, Master Licht.”

“Part of it is probably because I’d make passes at you.”

“As Mr. Julius’s friend, you’re worried he might get caught up with some strange woman, right? I understand.”

“You’re not supposed to understand that!”

A sharp retort came back. Perhaps he had a natural tendency for retorts.

“You do realize I’m currently suspecting you might be that ‘strange woman,’ Karen?”

“Please, suspect me all you like. I’ll do my best to be recognized by Mr. Julius’s important friend!”

“—Important friend, huh. I wonder about that.”

Contrary to the brightness he had shown in front of Julius, Licht said this with a cynical smile.

“I challenged the territorial capital dungeon together with Julius for the sake of the Ehlertt territory, as a noble of Ehlertt. It was a difficult journey, so I pressed Julius—who had his share of unknowns—to reveal his secret as a kind of ritual to strengthen our bond for clearing the dungeon.”

Karen widened her eyes slightly.

The secret was probably the secret of his birth. That secret, which he surely hadn’t wanted anyone to know, Julius had exposed because he wanted to conquer the dungeon for Sieg’s sake. He had been trying to attract personnel who could fulfill Sieg’s request by becoming famous.

“We certainly grew closer by holding each other’s secrets. We also conquered the dungeon. Now, even if I act like his friend, Julius doesn’t outright deny it.”

However, Licht looked at Karen with dark eyes.

“You, to whom he revealed his secret of his own accord, are different from me.”

Was it guilt or a sense of wrongdoing for having drawn out Julius’s secret by using Sieg’s life as leverage? Karen swallowed hard at Licht, who had abandoned the hunting festival and come to her as atonement for that.

“…So compared to me, it’s unrequited love?”

“It’s not romantic feelings, you know!?”

Though it hadn’t been that kind of atmosphere, he apparently couldn’t help but retort.

Julius’s friend, Licht. Karen steadily deepened her understanding of him.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 267

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven: Friend Introduction

“Julius! And Miss Karen, the B-rank alchemist!”

The one who called out was an unfamiliar young noble. However, Karen also felt like she had seen him earlier. Looking closely, he was the person who had asked Helfried a question about the solid panacea Karen had made.

Karen straightened her back. Having become a B-rank alchemist, she had gained the right to converse with nobles on somewhat equal terms. However, she was only permitted to act as an equal with middle-ranking nobles at most.

Even among lower-ranking nobles, she had to be careful with lords holding titles or their successors.

She had been warned by the etiquette teacher that Alise had arranged for her to be careful in her conduct when dealing with titled middle-ranking nobles or their heirs, even if they lacked land. With second sons and beyond of middle-ranking noble families—say, an earl’s daughter—a certain degree of rudeness was tolerated.

But if the opponent was a high-ranking noble, Karen had to pay sufficient attention to her behavior.

The man with light brown hair down to his shoulders smiled and fixed his gaze on Karen, grinning broadly.

Seeing that he seemed to know Julius, that earlier question was—

“I apologize for my rude question about your potion earlier. Panaceas are so rare that many people who don’t need them don’t even know what kind of magical medicine they are. Unlike materials like pelt that can be processed into protective gear, or claws, fangs, and scales that can be processed into weapons and equipment.”

The young man glanced toward Helfried. Looking over, a large crowd was swarming around Helfried near the rewards.

“My question served as a catalyst, and now questions are flooding Earl Ehlertt. Once everyone properly understands what panaceas are, they’ll all be chomping at the bit even for the third-place reward. The earl suggested your relationship with the B-rank adventurers, and it should have become harder for even those who originally knew the value of panaceas to try anything strange with you.”

Saying that, he winked at Karen.

As she suspected, that question had been planted.

When Karen looked around at his words, there were several nobles watching her closely. Hidden among the jealous gazes related to Julius, she hadn’t noticed, but there were probably nobles who knew the value of the panaceas Karen made.

“In the bustle of the hunting festival, someone might foolishly think no one would notice if a single alchemist disappeared.”

Saying that, his expression clouded for just a moment, but the shadow quickly disappeared.

“Even so, it’s my first time meeting you, Miss Karen. Julius just wouldn’t let me meet you!”

Speaking cheerfully, he took Karen’s hand and tried to kiss it.

Julius slapped his hand away so forcefully that it made a sound, and Karen was taken aback.

Julius inserted himself between Karen and him and said:

“I permitted you to greet Karen because you said you wanted to, but I told you to stop with the frivolous attitude, didn’t I? Licht.”

“It’s just a greeting to a lady, Julius. It’s manners.”

“Even if it’s manners, what’s unpleasant is unpleasant.”

“Isn’t calling it unpleasant a bit harsh?”

Karen had never seen anyone exchange words with Julius so casually.

As Karen stood there dumbfounded, Licht turned to her.

“If a noble who greets every woman with a kiss were to skip you alone, you’d feel bad too, wouldn’t you?”

“Well… that’s certainly true.”

As Karen nodded, thinking that would indeed be an unpleasant attitude, Julius held his head.

“Karen, don’t be deceived by this man’s frivolity.”

“How rude to call me frivolous. I’m simply making an effort to get to know women I think are promising when I meet them, in order to find my destined woman.”

“Karen is not your destiny.”

“I know that! Julius, your face is scary.”

As Licht pointed that out in an airy tone, Julius covered his face with his hand and let out a deep sigh.

“He’s this kind of man, you see… I didn’t want to introduce him to you, Karen.”

“But I’m Julius’s one and only best friend! If you’re getting married, you have to let me meet her.”

“Best friend or not, it’s true I knew I’d have to introduce you eventually.”

“’Or not’ is such a cold thing to say!”

“You’re a friend of Mr. Julius!”

When Karen said this with sparkling eyes, Licht grinned.

“Let me introduce myself properly. Julius’s best friend, Licht Zenkel. Nice to meet you, Miss Karen.”

“He’s the next head of the Zenkel Earldom and has a territory with a dungeon, Karen.”

Since Karen still couldn’t identify nobles by name alone, Julius explained it to her.

“It’s a small territory, though.”

“Small territory?”

“If the dungeon within a territory has only been cleared up to the tenth floor, the range of its influence remains limited, resulting in a smaller land. Such territories are referred to as small territories.”

In other words, he was someone whose status required careful handling.

However, rather than going for a kiss, he extended his hand in a friendly gesture.

Julius watched Licht with a somewhat displeased expression, but since he allowed it, Karen—who trusted Julius—had no reason to hesitate.

She smiled and shook his hand in return.

“I’m Karen, a B-rank alchemist. There’s no need to address me with ‘Miss’—please just call me Karen!”

“Oh, really? In that case, just call me Licht!”

“Yes, Master Licht!”

“You can drop the formality, Karen. If you’re Julius’s fiancée, you’re as good as my best friend too.”

“Hey, Licht—”

“Julius, stop glaring!”

Licht laughed as he slung an arm around Julius’s shoulders. Seeing Licht joking around with Julius, who had a fed-up expression, Karen blinked, feeling dazzled. She had never seen Julius with such an expression. Surely, he was someone Julius could trust from the bottom of his heart. Julius had introduced Karen to such a person.

He had revealed the weaknesses he had hidden for so long and had begun expressing his emotions much more honestly. Forced into nobility against his will, Julius had spent his life striving to act like a proper noble since childhood just to survive. And yet, he had been able to cast aside the customs he had clung to. As a result of not properly and politely accepting handkerchiefs, it was Karen who got glared at, though.

At any rate, the distance between Karen and Julius had grown much closer. Heading toward the New Year Festival engagement, she felt their hearts were in greater harmony than ever.

Realizing that problems were being solved one by one and they were progressing toward a smooth sailing future, Karen smiled. Noticing Karen like that, Licht narrowed his eyes while being put in a headlock by Julius.

“I’m counting on you to take care of Julius—ow ow ow ow ow!”

“That’s not for you to say. It’s about time we go.”

“You didn’t have to introduce us right before the hunting festival started. I wanted to talk more with Karen.”

“That’s exactly why I chose this timing.”

They seemed to have a very casual relationship.

Giving up on Licht, who kept grinning despite being roughed up, Julius sighed in resignation and looked toward Karen.

When he gazed at her, those golden eyes melted sweetly. Now, surely, the secrets Julius had been hiding from Karen were gone. Karen felt that instinctively.

“I will dedicate to you the crown of the hunting festival queen, Karen.”

“That’s what it’s called when the festival’s winner dedicates their prize to the woman they admire. Though I’ll be the one winning. Unlike you, who were flirting with Karen, I don’t have a fiancée, so I’ve been training the whole time, you know?”

“They often say having someone you love makes you stronger, don’t they? I’ll prove that right here and now.”

“To think you’d start saying things like that.”

Licht laughed teasingly, and Julius smacked him.

It felt like she had taken another step toward a completely fulfilling marriage.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 266

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Six: Beginning of the Hunting Festival

“As Earl Ehlertt, I would first like to express my respect to all who have gathered for the Ehlertt Earldom’s hunting festival.”

A large crowd had gathered in the plaza surrounded by tents. Helfried used a voice-amplifying magical tool to express his gratitude to those assembled.

“Glory shall be bestowed upon those who achieve the greatest military exploits during the hunting festival. The period is two weeks. The Ehlertt Earldom shall grant rewards to the top three honorable places.”

At Helfried’s signal, the cloth covering the prepared pedestals was removed.

“To the third place goes the pelt of the Platinum Silver Wolf, once the ruler of the twentieth floor of the Ehlertt capital dungeon, and a solid panacea. To the second place goes its fangs and a solid panacea. And to the first place—I present a scale of the Black Dragon of Thorn Forest passed down in the Ehlertt Earldom, and a solid panacea.”

Each time a reward was announced, murmurs spread through the plaza. The reaction to the final reward was especially loud.

“The Ehlertt family only brings out the Black Dragon scales on the most important occasions. That should show how seriously Brother Helfried regards this hunting festival.”

“Is that the dragon that became the origin of the Earldom’s coat of arms?”

“Yes. It was a massive dragon, so some of its materials still remain.”

The Ehlertt Earldom’s coat of arms depicted thorns and a black dragon. When Karen heard the origin story, she had thought it was a legend created to add prestige to the family. However, it seemed there truly was a history of defeating a dragon and pacifying this land in the past.

“Please be careful not to venture too deep into the Great Eastern Forest or the Bruière Mountains. These are dangerous places as there are multiple unconquered dungeons, and monsters continue to overflow from them. Particularly, there is an unconquered dungeon gate near the northern part of the Great Forest. It’s close enough to see with the naked eye if you climb that hill, so everyone should take caution.”

“Earl Ehlertt, may I inquire about the rewards?”

A noble youth dressed as an individual participant rather than a knight raised his hand.

“Go ahead.”

“What exactly is this ‘solid panacea’ that is included in all the rewards for the top three places?”

In her heart, Karen made a fist pump, thinking, "Thank you for asking!”

“It’s a new potion created by Karen, a B-rank alchemist who is on good terms with our family. It’s a small panacea but in solid form with excellent portability, and can be taken as a meal by dissolving it in hot water.”

“Hoh. That’s an interesting potion.”

The youth said this in a manner that, contrary to his words, didn’t seem very interested.

Unlike adventurers attacking dungeons with minimal personnel and luggage, nobles conquered them with large armies that even included cooks, so he probably didn’t understand the convenience of ready-made solid soup. Though there was a waiting list, he could purchase ordinary medium panaceas from Karen, so he apparently didn’t feel it was a good deal.

Having contributed to the rewards, Karen wished the reaction had been more enthusiastic.

“It’s a potion already adopted by the B-rank adventurer party ‘Crimson Thunder.’ In recognition of providing that potion, Alchemist Karen has apparently concluded a sponsorship contract with them. Currently, the Crimson Thunder is conquering the Ehlertt territorial capital dungeon. With their ability, there’s a prospect they can conquer the thirtieth floor, predicted to be the current deepest level.”

“The Crimson Thunder, that party that’s been conquering dungeon after dungeon…?”

“If it’s them, they’ll really conquer it.”

“If they conquer the thirtieth floor, they’ll be A-rank adventurers, right? I want a potion used by A-rank adventurers…!”

Gasps could be heard from here and there. The nobles seemed to have developed an interest in the solid panacea precisely because Thor was using it.

Rather than feeling professional frustration, Karen felt proud as an older sister. As she surveyed people’s faces with a triumphant expression, she suddenly felt something was off.

Among those who had gasped, there was one group with strangely dark expressions. As she observed them, it became clear they didn’t welcome Thor’s conquest, and Karen frowned. They wore the uniforms of the Ehlertt Earldom’s knight order. At their center was Knight Captain Gottfried.

“Now then, I hereby declare the start of the hunting festival!”

Startled by Helfried’s booming voice, Karen snapped out of it and averted her gaze from Gottfried.

“Everyone, as nobles, as the strong, I ask you to exert your full strength to hunt monsters for the protection of our nation!”

“For the Ehlertt Earldom!”

“For the Kingdom of Earthfill!”

“In the name of Royal Ancestor Sybilla!”

The nobles responded to Helfried’s declaration. Their unified voices roared, shaking Karen’s eardrums like a thunderous battle cry. At this moment, she keenly felt how everyone’s feelings were completely united in the purpose of hunting monsters and protecting human territory.

Karen got goosebumps from the exhilaration of hearts becoming one. This was the hunting festival. For the first time, Karen understood how important this festival was to the nobles.

“Well then, I’ll be going, Karen.”

Julius took Karen’s hand and kissed it.

At that, resentful gazes stabbed into Karen. They were probably the gazes of the young ladies whose handkerchiefs Julius had refused to accept.

When she wondered how he had refused them, it turned out Julius had honestly declined, saying he couldn’t accept handkerchiefs from anyone other than the person he loved.

It was a breach of manners, which earned him disapproval—and that disapproval ended up being directed at Karen.

“…I’m sorry, Karen. I thought it would be fine if only I were resented.”

Julius apparently also noticed the gazes and apologized to Karen with eyebrows in a distressed shape.

At Julius making such a pitiful expression, Karen shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re going to perform well at the hunting festival for me, right?”

“Yes. I’ll dedicate my victory to you. I’ll surely achieve first place in military exploits and offer you the reward.”

“Then I’ll call it even with that. I don’t actually dislike being looked at with jealous gazes either!”

When Karen appealed to her vanity so Julius wouldn’t worry, he narrowed his eyes lovingly.

“If only you knew, even a fraction, how deeply I cherish your strength…”

While watching Karen’s reaction, Julius brought his face closer. Before long, he kissed Karen on the cheek. The heartfelt kiss was adorned by the envious gazes of women who couldn’t hide it even with their fans.

Just as Karen felt her bold heart filled with happiness, a teasing whistle rang out.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 265

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Five: Desire

“What’s the matter, Mr. Julius?”

“…Ah, Karen.”

Julius looked down at Karen as if awakening from his thoughts and smiled faintly.

“That young lady tried to become my lowest-ranking wife, but her goal was you, right?”

“It seems so.”

Karen still suspected the possibility that Ottilie was using it as a pretext to approach Julius. However, if she believed Ottilie’s claims, it seemed Karen was the goal.

“When I think that she tried to use me to get close because she wanted your help, it feels unpleasant somehow. I was surprised to feel such emotions even toward a woman who tried to become my wife.”

Julius exhaled heavily, his gaze turning toward Karen, filled with suppressed feelings.

“Perhaps it’s because I felt that you would accept all of me?”

By “all,” Julius likely meant his upbringing. It seemed he had considered his mother to be part of a past too difficult to accept. It had been something Karen might have almost brushed off, yet for Julius it had been of utmost importance.

“I end up having foolish desires.”

Julius muttered in a low voice as if spitting out mud.

“Even though I don’t want to get in your way—”

Karen gasped softly at that point.

“In other words, you were even jealous of Lady Ottilie for me, Mr. Julius!?”

Karen’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Faced with her sparkling light blue eyes, Julius swallowed the dark words he had been about to spit out and nodded.

“…Well, I suppose that’s what it comes down to.”

“Kyaa!”

To Karen, who let out a delighted squeal, Julius smiled as if his energy had drained.

“Yes… in other words, even if I come to harbor desires that would hinder you… I can’t win against you. They say the one who falls in love loses, after all.”

“That’s not true! Mr. Julius, if the one who falls in love loses, then I lost first!”

To Karen, who said this while holding both cheeks and beaming, Julius stated decisively.

“No. I lost before you did.”

“Huh…?”

Karen looked up at Julius with a blank expression. Looking down at such a Karen, Julius deepened his smile.

It might have been called a sweet smile, but the tent’s dimness cast a shadow over it. Just as Karen was about to open her mouth about that, deliberate coughing echoed through the tent.

“If you two are going to flirt, I’ll be outside the tent.”

“I’ll go as well! Please don’t leave me behind!”

Petra and Rosine left the tent with exasperated faces. Though their flirting had just ended, the two didn’t seem to realize it.

Karen looked up at Julius again and tilted her head.

“…You don’t mean we met somewhere before meeting through Master Sieg’s request, do you?”

“At the very least, you didn’t have feelings for me when you completed Sieg’s request, right? You even turned down my proposal.”

Indeed, looking back, what she had felt for Julius then had been nothing more than admiration. A faint feeling of longing as one would direct at an idol. While she would be happy to become acquainted with him, it was an emotion toward Julius’s appearance and reputation, not a feeling directed at what was inside Julius.

Karen suppressed the urge to excitedly demand to know when Julius had come to like her.

Julius’s expression was dark.

He was probably thinking something negative.

He had a somewhat negative side.

It was an aspect of Julius’s personality that Karen had only recently noticed.

“Mr. Julius? What do you mean by desires that would get in my way?”

“Since I promised not to get in your way, it’s a wish that can’t be granted.”

“You could at least say it out loud, like before.”

Julius’s wish that she wouldn’t cheat on him. It was hurtful that he thought it couldn’t be granted.

“It’s a far more foolish wish than earlier.”

“What if it might unexpectedly come true if you try saying it?”

Julius glanced at Karen and sat down beside her on the sofa. Then, he suddenly pressed her down against the sofa.

She didn’t let out a delighted squeal. Because inside Julius’s golden eyes, looking down at Karen, light swirled round and round.

Though her heart pounded at his closeness, Karen exhaled softly and kept her composure.

“…I don’t want any other men, and even women, to approach you. I want you to be only with me and look only at me.”

“Ah, that can’t be granted.”

When Karen cut him down in one stroke, Julius furrowed his brow. Karen pinched his cheek at close range.

“Don’t make such a hurt face. Even without any promises, such a wish wouldn’t come true! I have work to do, after all!”

“I know, Karen. I find you dazzling as you work as an alchemist. Therefore, even though I don’t want to get in your way, I end up having desires that would.”

Cornering Karen in the corner of the sofa, Julius whispered.

“I find myself wanting to live together with just the two of us in a small house in a forest far from human habitation, unknown to anyone.”

It was a strangely detailed wish. If he had acted to fulfill that wish before Karen became a B-rank alchemist, when she was still a much weaker alchemist, Karen would have been helpless. However, Julius had never once ignored Karen’s will for the sake of his own desires.

“If we hide away so no one knows, you won’t be taken from me either…”

As Karen saw it, Julius was experiencing magical power intoxication. His eyes unfocused, Julius spoke as if in delirium.

If this magical power intoxication was from ascending a step, Karen would have joyfully enjoyed this situation. However, this magical power intoxication was an affliction from Julius’s anxiety.

Even while cornering Karen in the corner of the sofa, Julius’s body didn’t touch Karen. It seemed he was maintaining his reason by doing so. Karen worried about whether to touch Julius or not, and eventually stretched out her arms and slowly embraced that large body.

“Mr. Julius, I won’t be taken by anyone. Not even by you, if you want.”

“…Not even by me, you say.”

“You sound unhappy about that!”

As Karen laughed and clung to Julius, eventually Julius embraced her back. While being hugged painfully tight, Karen looked up at Julius from within those arms. Julius, no longer even smiling and expressionless, looked down at Karen.

When his doll-like, beautiful face became expressionless, its force increased all the more. Moreover, since the identity of that increased force was his obsession with Karen, Karen grinned and said:

“I’ll give myself to you of my own will, Mr. Julius, so don’t try to take me—just wait properly.”

“…I see.”

“Getting from me is definitely more worthwhile than taking!”

“…That may be so.”

“And, and, obviously, I can’t avoid approaching anyone other than you, but I don’t want to make you feel bad, so if there’s a man whose approach to me you absolutely can’t bear, please tell me. I’ll make an effort to distance myself too. Ah, but it would be troublesome if it’s too frequent.”

Julius’s eyes sparkled for a moment, but he immediately lost the highlight in his eyes.

“However, you would wonder why I chose that man and wanted to exclude him.”

“I would wonder why, yes.”

“If that man had feelings for you, it would be troublesome if I ended up making you aware of where that man’s heart lies when you hadn’t paid him any mind.”

“That’s oddly specific?”

Moreover, it assumed that some man was in unrequited love with Karen—and that she hadn’t even noticed it.

“If someone had unrequited feelings for me, I’d obviously notice. And if I did, I wouldn’t get close to him. Though for work, I’d like you to tolerate some level of interaction.”

“You absolutely wouldn’t notice.”

Julius declared heavily.

Karen pursed her lips in protest.

“Are you saying I’m dense?”

“I like you just the way you are now, Karen.”

Julius said with a bright smile.

Karen was easily won over.

“Well, if you like me, Mr. Julius, then that’s okay…!”

Julius let out a deep sigh and smiled as if resigned.

The magical power intoxication seemed to have subsided.

That meant Julius’s heart had calmed down.

Karen let out a smile of relief, then tried to separate from Julius.

However, Julius didn’t release his hands, keeping them in the position of embracing Karen’s waist.

“Um, Mr. Julius…?”

“I want to hear your feelings too, Karen.”

Understanding what Julius was trying to make her say, Karen’s cheeks flushed red. She had said it many times, and if anything, she had even desired marriage from the beginning, but being asked to say it anew was embarrassing.

“…I also like you, Mr. Julius.”

To Karen, who said this while fidgeting, Julius laughed as if breaking free.

“If you like me, then even someone like me must be acceptable.”

His cheerful smile was bright, dazzling, and pierced her chest.

Rather than being captivated, Karen found her eyes welling up, and she simply smiled softly.

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